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I had the opportunity to go to Germany for two weeks and there were a few things I noticed while being there. It was a business trip so my weekdays were spent in the office and I was able to go out after work and on weekends. I stayed in Walldorf but got out to Heidelberg over the weekend so most of my observations are based off these locations, but it also extends to the rest of the country. I’ve made a list of a few things to know before visiting Germany.
1. Water at restaurants is not free
This was probably the hugest shock to me. Coming from America, I’m used to being offered water at restaurants for free. In fact, it’s very typical to get refills throughout the meal. However, I noticed that in Germany when I ordered wine, I don’t automatically get water with it. I started consciously ordering water and noticed the hefty cost that comes with it and that refills aren’t free. There was a particular restaurant I went to and a glass of water was €4.50 and beer was €3. That was the day I figured out why people just drank beer with their meals no matter the time of the day. I’m not even sure why beer is cheaper than water but I got accustomed to drinking it during my meals because I guess that’s the German way.
2. You can drink in public
I’ll cheers to that! The legal drinking ages are 16 for beer and wine & 18 for spirits. Most places don’t allow drinking in public transit or train stations so be aware of that (why will you even want to drink on the bus anyway?) Honestly, with the high cost of bottled water, you’re going to be drink beer all day anyway.
3. No Uber/Lyft
Another shocker for me. Just like in Vancouver, Ubers aren’t allowed in Germany. If you’re not renting a car and don’t want to get lost on their public transit system, your only option is to take taxis. The good news is most of their taxis are Mercedes so you’ll be riding in style. The bad news is you better know exactly where you’re going to and know how to explain it to someone who might not speak English. It’s much easier if you’re staying in a hotel because there’s a good chance the driver will know where it is. If it’s an Airbnb, make sure you have the address so that they can put that into their GPS.
4. Different Plugs
Make sure you buy an adapter before going to Germany. Note that the plug in Germany is different from the one in UK & Ireland. You also need a voltage converter if you have American appliances. The good thing is that some chargers such as MacBook chargers and iPhone chargers don’t need converters. Others might need so check out the labels to figure out if all you need is an adapter.
5. Don’t jaywalk
Simple put, Germans don’t like jaywalkers. You might be scolded by the drivers so wait until the pedestrian light turns green or find a cross walk without a light.
6. Tax is included in the price
When will America adopt this system? It’s so refreshing to pay exactly what’s on any price tag. If you’re from Europe you probably won’t care much about this because you’re used to it, but your friends across the Ocean are thoroughly pleased by this.
7. Don’t expect people to know English
You probably know that Germany is a German-speaking country. That’s a pretty obvious fact. However, in a non English-speaking country, people in the bigger cities most times have some understanding of English. Not in Germany. You will probably run into someone on the street with perfect English but when you actual need to communicate about something important, there will be no English speaking person in sight. I don’t really learn phrases before I travel because it’s probably not going to help, but there are a few words that might help if you go to Germany. It was confusing trying to figure out which bathroom/toilet is for women so I’ve included that. For anything more than this, use Google Translate.
“Guten Morgen” – Good Morning
“Danke”– Thanks
“Damen”– Women’s
“Herren”– Men’s
8. You will smell like smoke. yuck!
If you’re someone who doesn’t like being around people who smoke cigarettes, you’ll be in for a surprise. The law around smoking indoors is very confusing. Best believe, if you go to the club, people will be actively smoking inside and you’re going to stink when you leave. I wonder who thought hotboxing with cigarettes would be a good idea. Anyway, I believe all these clubs have to be 18+ but I don’t know if they check IDs but they do have bouncers at the door. There’s almost no way you can get around this smoking indoors thing. Just try to go to the least smokey club.
9. Have cash!
As some say, Cash is King! A lot of places take all Visa, MasterCard and Amex (Sorry Discover) so you won’t need to worry about cash but some places only take cash. Some places even go as far as only taking a specific type of German card. One of best meals I had was at a place like that and I can’t imagine if I didn’t have cash. I would’ve seriously missed out. Most taxis are also cash only so at some point, you will definitely need cash. There are ATMs everywhere so it’s pretty easy to withdraw Euros with an international card. When you have cash, I would advise to pay with card in places that accept it and reserve your cash for places that don’t. This would minimize paying ATM fees and carrying a lot of cash on you.
As you’ll be using cash, be prepared to have a lot of coins. And when I say a lot, I mean A WHOLE LOT. They have €1 and €2 coins so don’t neglect the coins just yet as they would add up to something substantial. It’s very easy to neglect coins in America as the highest currency is just $0.25. Every time you want to pay, focus on using coins because even if you have a substantial amount of coins left when you want to leave, you wouldn’t be able to change it back to your home currency and it would pretty much go to waste. To avoid this waste, I usually use a coin wallet so that I can have my money easily sorted out.
10. “Still or sparkling? Gas or no gas?”
For the most part, water is always still in America. Only a few places give you an option between still & sparkling water. That isn’t the case in Germany. In fact, their water of choice is sparkling and it’s available EVERYWHERE. Most places will be straightforward and ask you “Still or sparkling?” while others will ask “gas or no gas?”. I personally felt like that was a very bizarre way to describe the water. Just note that gas is sparkling water and no gas is still water. If you don’t specify, you will be given sparkling water and if you’re a still water fan like I am, you will be disappointed.
11. Public free wifi in certain places
We all know networks charge ridiculous fees for international roaming and data usage. Depending on the length of your stay, it might not make sense to pay for the monthly international plan. The good news is that in some bigger cities, there is free wifi easily available. This was a huge perk for me because I always like to be online and post on my Instagram story 🙂 Most of the free wifis will open a login page when you try to connect and it will probably be in german. You don’t need to understand the language to navigate the page and figure out if they want you to connect with your email before they let you use the service. If there’s anything about Euros on that page then it’s not free.
12. Get to the point when ordering
To be very honest, it was very hard for me to adjust to this initially. When I go to a restaurant, the last thing I want to happen is to be disappointed by the food. This makes me pretty indecisive when it comes to picking what I want. I’m one of those people who like to engage with my waiter to figure out what I would like. It’s not like that in Germany. When you say you’re ready to order, the waiter expects you to only give them your order. Nothing more. They get really frustrated when they come around and you are chatting with the people you’re with to still determine what you want to get. And if you tell the person that you’re not ready at that point and that (s)he should come back, goodluck. Goodluck because it will take quite some time before you will get your order in. This is one of the major things to know before visiting Germany and if you’re like me, it will definitely take some time to adjust. The major thing is to decide before calling the waiter to take your order if you don’t want bad service.
13. No need to tip as much
The last point may or may not be related to the tipping culture. Unlike America where the waiters earn their wages off tips, the German waiters are paid with salary and tips are merely a nice addition. Most people advice to just round-up to the next Euro when tipping. So if you have a €19.70 bill, you can round-up to €21. Tipping between 5% – 10% is normal culture. It’s initially weird tipping so low coming from America but that’s how it is in Germany and most of Europe so I can’t complain. More €€ in my wallet.
14. No ice in drinks
I know a lot of people who love to have a lot of ice in their drinks. I think it’s an American thing and I find it kind of strange because you get so little drink and a lot of ice. Well, if you’re like me, you will be pleased because ice isn’t served with drinks in Germany. I asked and the logic behind it is that their drinks are in the fridge so already cold enough. You can always ask for ice but don’t be too disappointed if they tell you they don’t have any.
15. Germany shares border with 9 different countries
You know what that means? You’re a day trip away from visiting another country. The countries bordering Germany are Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
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Now that you’ve read on things you should know before you visit Germany, I hope you’re interested in checking it out. You can always book your flight now or check out what prices are in advance. Are there any other things to know before visiting Germany? Let me know in the comments!
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October 26, 2018
“Germany shares border with 9 different countries” Wow! I hadn’t thought of it
November 21, 2018
I know right! It presents an amazing opportunity to travel to various places.
October 31, 2018
lol the tax thing would be sooo nice! ugh. i had heard that beer was cheaper than water before, that’s hilarious. germany sounds so cool it’s definitely staying on the bucket list.
November 21, 2018
I’m so tired of the tax increasing the prices at checkout. I definitely miss Germany for that!
November 8, 2018
Great info! I visited Germany this fall and found ALL of these to be true. We were in some smaller towns where it seemed no one else spoke English. That was a challenge but such a good experience. We were the odd ones out and were totally immersed in German culture. And we rented a car and drove (VERY fast!) on the Autobahn. So fun!
November 21, 2018
I didn’t get to rent a car but it would’ve been really cool to drive on their roads without speed limits.
November 8, 2018
Wow! I had no idea about the water thing. This is full of really great advice. Thanks so much for sharing this.
November 21, 2018
You’re welcome!
November 8, 2018
Great tips, not a fan of the heavy smokers but I have always wanted to go to Germany bc my mothers family is from there, hopefully, one day I will get to use these tips.
November 21, 2018
Pull the trigger and book the trip! Maybe start planning for next year or 2020 so that you actually make it there, especially as you have family heritage from there.
November 10, 2018
Great list! We spent several weeks this summer exploring Germany in our motorhome- what an incredible country! But you’re right about some of the surprises- the water caught us out too!
November 10, 2018
Hi Oke,
I am German and live in Germany and I think some of your experiences are very unusual and not typical for Germany:
1. Normally beer is not cheaper than water – there is a law in Germany saying that at least 1 drink in a restaurant has to be as cheap as the cheapeast alcoholic drink (which is water in most cases)
2. Uber is also available in Germany (eg in Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt). There is also another taxi alternative which is called MiniCar
3. In bigger cities most people – especially younger people – speak fluent Englisch
4. Since a few years it is not allowed to smoke in restaurants, clubs, bars etc. There are only a few exceptions
5. I also don‘t understand point 12. Of course when you tell a waiter you are ready to order, he thinks you are ready to order.
November 21, 2018
Hey Maike, I wrote this based off my personal experiences. You can check out the other comments on the post and see that people who visited Germany resonate with the points I brought up. Didn’t know there is Uber in Germany- I heard it’s illegal and it wasn’t available in any part of Germany I visited. I’ll be back in Germany next year so who knows, maybe my experiences will be different.
November 10, 2018
The free water thing gets me every time (and I’ve been to Germany a lot!) – it’s just not common, even in a lot of Europe. Though it’s partially because their tap water didn’t used to be safe to drink, and outside of major cities it sometimes still isn’t. So it makes sense, but still annoying! It also accounts for no ice in drinks since ice typically comes from tap water. Although in general, Europeans don’t put ice in their drinks, it’s a VERY American thing to do! And yes, America NEEDS to adopt the tax system that literally everywhere else (except Canada?) use! When I moved back there for a bit in my 20s, I always spent so much more than I intended because I forgot about the tax. I remember going into a store with $20, finding a shirt I loved for $19.99 and then being DEVASTATED at the checkout counter when they rung it up and I suddenly remembered they add sales tax at the till (minus a few lucky states). Heartbreaking!
November 21, 2018
I completely feel your pain with the whole tax system. It’s so annoying and I can’t figure out why USA won’t adopt it- we’re always trying to be different for some reason. Also, the water one was surprising for me. I’ve only experienced that in African countries but I was surprised that was the case in Europe.
November 10, 2018
This tips about Germany are so helpful, thank you! I had no idea that there were different drinking ages for wine/beer vs spirits, but actually it makes sense!
November 21, 2018
It’s probably confusing to have different drinking ages but they somehow make it work!
November 11, 2018
Reading some of these points made me miss Germany! I think I need to plan a visit. 🙂
November 21, 2018
Plan that trip and head back to Germany! If you write about your trips, send me the link so I can check it out.
November 15, 2018
Some useful tips there! Despite living in the UK, I’ve never been to Germany. Would love to visit Berlin in particular!
November 21, 2018
I will actually be in UK early next year and fly to Germany from there. It’s just a short flight in-between so add it to your bucket list and make it happen!
November 15, 2018
This is such good info! So disappointed about the no ice deal. Lol
I hope to go there one day!! 🙏🏻
November 21, 2018
Check it off your wish list soon! Book a trip on book.okeventures.com
November 15, 2018
Thanks for these things. I feel like I’m all set to go to Germany now!
November 21, 2018
Yay! If you write about your trip, send me the link so I can check it out 🙂
November 18, 2018
I’ll be in Germany for the new year. I drink a ton of water. Is carrying a water bottle acceptable in restaurants? Would they be upset? I am constantly moving and I dehydrate very quickly. I really am happy I stumbled upon this post good to know.
November 21, 2018
I’ll be in Germany a week after new years! It will probably be weird if you carry a plastic disposable water bottle to restaurants but if you carry a regular personal bottle then you should be fine.
November 18, 2018
Love Germany – I’ve been several times but it’s always a good reminder how different it is 🙂
November 18, 2018
Hi, Oke! Love the post! I actually live in Berlin and a lot of the things are spot on. I noticed that Uber is active again here, though. 🙂 But it’s not that popular. Taxis still rule the streets. 🙂
November 21, 2018
Glad to know uber is back. Maybe it will spread around the country? I heard it was illegal before.
November 25, 2018
Great info! absolutely handful as me and my partner are planning a trip to Europe next year thank you 🙂
November 25, 2018
Some useful tips here. I’ve visited Germany a few times so can relate.
November 29, 2018
Perfect timing! I’ve been thinking about what countries to visit next summer and this gives me a lot of food for thought on Germany… I”m sooo glad to know about the different drinking water issues!
November 29, 2018
I’ve been to Germany and these tips really nail it. You’ve covered everything people need to know who haven’t been. Awesome 🙂
December 6, 2018
Great tips! A lot of these things actually apply to other countries in Europe. I haven’t been to Germany yet but I experience similar things in Italy, France, etc.
December 6, 2018
I spent one month in Germany a couple of years ago, and your tips are bringing me back 🙂 I remember complaining as a poor backpacker that you need to pay for “gas or no gas” water at restaurants haha!
December 31, 2018
I feel your struggle! I have started to appreciate more the free water in restaurants in America.
March 14, 2019
My husband and I read your post together and felt enlightened by your awesome and surprising tips. No ice in drinks? Have your order ready BEFORE you call the waiter? Now, we will know better for our upcoming trip to Germany. Thanks for sharing.
March 14, 2019
Great info can’t wait to visit. I definitely struggle with water in Europe not being complimentary and without ice.