What to Know Before Going to Germany
Things I learned in Germany so you don’t have to
As with every foreign country, things are going to be a little different from America. This can be both favorable and unfavorable. I noticed a variety of these differences throughout our trip in Germany, some more important than others, and thought they would be good to share with you as you plan your trip.
There is literally no free water at restaurants or bars anywhere in all of Germany
Beer is cheaper than water
When you do order water (do it for your kidneys people), make sure you clarify STILL or they will automatically bring you sparkling and I don’t know about you but that shit is gross no matter what Kim K says
As usual, I have to mention the toilet situation. It flushes to save water, so you have to hold down the top of the button and then press down on the bottom to make it stop or it’ll just keep going
Electric scooters are a must while in Germany. The major cities have them e v e r y w h e r e. The most scooter friendly city was definitely Munich because of the nice roads and bike lanes
Speaking of Munich, it was the cleanest city of all the ones we visited
Speaking of bike lanes, don’t walk in bike lanes - the bikers will get mad and honestly it’s just annoying
Tipping is a BIG American thing, which is why I always do some research on how much to tip and if at all. I also like to ask a local if I get to talking to anyone just to make sure the information on the internet was correct. From my experience - round up your bill. They don’t expect you to tip at all but we always did. When they bring out the electric card reader, just ask them to type in a flat number. For example - if your bill is 38.90, have them round up to $40. If you’re paying in cash, think 10-15%
SO many places are cash only, bring more euros than you think you’ll need
Smoking - ugh I am so sorry if you smoke but I just cannot stand the smell of cigarettes. Especially whatever ones they smoke in Germany. And it seemed that more people smoked than didn’t. They still allow smoking in some bars! Hot tip we learned: If you don’t want to smell like smoke while you drink, go into a bar that sells food because they don’t seem to allow smoking in those establishments
2 days at Oktoberfest is perfect, but locals will usually only go for one. Any more than that and I can't guarantee you’ll leave Germany with your liver fully functioning and all your brain cells still intact. Read more about Oktoberfest on my blog post
They low key have some really good wine in Germany, which I personally wasn’t expecting since all you ever hear about in the beer
If you are going to rent a car - keep in mind that almost all of their cars are stick shift
Mostly everyone speaks English so just worry about learning a few basic words like thank you, hi, etc.,
Danke (Don-keh) = thanks
If you are staying in Airbnbs, just know that the lights in apartment hallways throughout Germany need to be pressed to turn on and will turn off on their own to conserve energy. I was under the impression at our first Airbnb that we were being haunted by an old German man who hated my voice because every time we walked into the hallway of the apartment building we were staying at, the lights would turn off and it would become pitch black. So yes, just press the button on the wall, they aren’t ghosts
WC = wash closet and it means bathroom
IMPORTANT: Bring a jacket if you go in September/October, it gets a bit chilly, especially in Northern Germany!
That’s all the little tips I can think of for now, but if there’s anything else notable you learned while in Germany, I’d love to hear about it and compare our experiences! Read my 12-Day Germany Itinerary to start planning a trip of your own! Germany is a beautiful country and well worth the visit!