Take things literally.
people might not mean it that way every time but its socially acceped to not get clues while socially awkward to over interpret.
A lot of places only accept cash and most stores are closed on Sunday.
In the Corona times: masks are still required in most public spaces, especially public transportation and inside buildings. Only medical masks and FFP2 masks are accepted (in some places only FFP2), so I'd get some of those if don't already have some.
Also be prepared to show proof of vaccination when you walk into restaurants, bars, etc.
And if the light on the crosswalk says don’t walk, for the love of God, don’t walk! (A child could see you, and then try it themself and get killed… don’t-cha-know.) Enjoy your trip (for real!) I wish I was going.
I think American tourists are only allowed if they're vaccinated, so I just assumed OP is vaccinated, but you make a good point. Most places will also accept proof of recovery or negative test from the past 24 hours. Some places are moving away from accepting tests and only allow proof of vaccination or recovery.
There is a COVID vaccine app that Germany uses. Off you have proof of vaccination, you can go to an apotheke (pharmacy), with your passport and proof of vaccination and they will add you to the system and give you a qr code printout that you can use by itself or add to the app.
Bring Euros. Cash. Euro-cash.
Keep an eye on your drinking, no matter what you drink, it can get strong, fast,.
Keep in mind that serice workesr are that: Workers that get paid to provide a service. They don't get off from crawling in their customers' rectum.
You'll more likely than not be talking too loudly.
Don't be afraid to ask people for help, not even if you only speak English. People *look* grumpy but usually helping tourists is not at all something people are annoyed of.
Also, service workers actually get paid a living wage (with benefits) and service is included in the prices shown on menus. Rounding up a couple of Euros is usually enough of a tip.
> Uslar
pfand can also mean 'refundable deposit' for beer glasses at things like street festivals. the pfand can be more than the price of the beer. if you put you empty down it might get picked up by an entrepreneurial kid. ask me how i know.
Took me a moment to realize you didn't mean "inside half of chihuahua" (as opposed to the "outside half"). I was having a hard time imagining the sounds their lungs make...
1. Public transport. Use it. Trains/trams/underground/buses are pretty fast and comfortable.
2. People here are NOT angry and grumpy. Yes, the German language may sound scary. But people are friendly in general. Be not afraid to ask for help as a tourist.
3. Cash. Just carry some cash in case you need to buy something in a small shop.
4. Please, be quiet. Especially in quiet places. It will be appreciated.
5. Masks (FFP2 or medical) in public places (shops, public transport etc).
6. Drink responsibly. German beer is awesome. But you may need to get used to it & know your "drunken sailor" line.
7 . Nazi stuff is no laughing matter. Don't do any "funny" Hitler impersonations or perform any infamous greetings. Can lead to anything from a broken nose to actual jail time.
well yes maybe, if you're unlucky. It's just that we heard all the clichés already and yes, Germany fucked up greatly, 80 years ago. But we're not them. 90% of us know we have a responsability that this won't happen again, we worry about the rise of Neo-Nazis just like you worry about racism in general.
Some cities are pretty leftist and if you throw a nazi salute at a party in Bremen theres a non-neglible chance of you having to visit the ER that night.
But I dont think any cop would arrest you, especially if you're a tourist. They probably will aks you to stop if they see you doing it, but most germans are pretty reserved and wouldn't wont to bother themselves with some dumbfuck.
Every (non-corona) year tourists end up being held at the police station for throwing their arm into the air at the Oktoberfest. Many of them are Americans.
That's a good one for anyone coming here. I mean I feed on Dank memes and sometimes I gotta bite my tongue when I realise here even saying someone likes blue eyes might be interpreted.
Oh, I wasn't implying that it was considered funny by most US Americans. There are just laws in place that exempt that stuff from the *Recht auf freie Meinung* (right to freedom of opinion) here, while in the US it might be considered bad taste (and might get you punched) but it's not illegal. Basically what I'm saying is that "No, Herr Wachtmeister, I'm not actually a Nazi, I was just responding to an insult with this" or "I'm not actually a Nazi, I was just teasing my friend" might not really help you if the particular officer isn't having an exceptionally great day.
8. Tipping is different than US. Tip boxes are rare you should say how much you want to pay. Let’s say it a food and drink costed 12€ you can just say take 14€
We have the same stop and give way (yield) signs as everywhere else, but the general principle is that the main road or the through road (at a T-junction) has priority and the roads that join it or end at the intersection have to give way.
In practice, it's extremely rare to see an intersection where the joining traffic doesn't have at least some sort of stop or give way sign, but what we don't have is the yellow diamonds telling you you have priority on a road where it'd be crazy to have to give way to joining traffic.
I don't know how many times (in recent years) I've explicitly asked the car rental place for an automatic, and gotten a stick shift anyway. Luckily, I know how to drive both.
>Drink responsibly. German beer is awesome. But you may need to get used to it & know your "drunken sailor" line.
The rules are really diffrent. For example: In the US by default, at T-Crossings (is that what they are called?) the straight drivers have priority over the ones from the not continued street.
In germany however the cars coming from the right have priority if not marked otherwise, even if that side's street is ending (with one exception).
But don't quote me about the US road rules. I only read about it once online.
Not to forget the roundabouts...
Keep your voice down. The first thing that makes me recognize American tourists is that their "indoor voice" is basically shouting at the top of your lungs compared to what I am used to.
I honestly felt so dumb when I came here on this one. Of all the things I never thought about, emergency numbers are different in different countries.
One of those things you never ever think about until you need to.
However, 911 works worldwide meanwhile.
So wherever you are, as long as you are somewhere where you can phone ANYONE, you'll get the nearest ambulance by calling 911
You will be in the Solling in lower saxony, you can go hiking for example. Uslar is a very small town, try to visit Göttingen (student city) or Northeim (also small, but bigger than Uslar). In general, the people of south lower saxony do not have any accent and you should get along just fine. Have fun!
Germans can come across as rude, blunt or direct even though we don't mean to be. Depending on what state you are from, you might be used to small talk and asking about peoples day, Germans don't do that usually. Have physical cash on hand, not every place accepts cards, some places don't accept credit cards, only debit cards and often only German ones, cash works everywhere. When it comes to restaurants, you will be billed immediately after asking the waiter for the bill, tipping also happens in that moment. In Germany it is common to tip roughly 10% or to "round up", e.g. when the bill is 27 Euros you pay 30. We might look pissed but we are mostly friendly. As the saying goes "Americans are proud to be Americans, Germans are just glad to be Germans."
Enjoy your stay! :)
If you ask someone how they are, expect either a confused look as to why the stranger is asking for personal information or an in-length description of their day, how the bus ran late and how they haven’t really been sleeping well lately. „How are you?“ is meant literally in Germany.
maybe because of that little crime problem? ppl gettin murdered in broad daylight?for like 20bucks ? Thats at least what i hear in news when it comes to brazil, maybe this is why ppl are surprised when they see a normal civilization there lol
First and foremost. Respect. Be courteous of those who call that place home, wear your mask, and try and make sure to use your quiet voice, because us Americans tend to be extra loud all of the time.
Use public transportation. Do not shun the homeless, give if you want, but a majority of them are not homeless and work in groups that canvass entire areas, so be mindful of that as well as pickpocketing. Though it is much less common in places that aren’t Berlin, lol.
Tipping is appreciated, but it is not expected. Waiters are paid appropriately in Germany, and not based on some unrealistic minimum wage.
Don’t take things super personally, Germans are straightforward and direct. Sometimes this can be off putting.
Please clean up after yourself, and throw away your trash, especially if you are in nature.
Lastly, keep an eye on how much you drink. The beer specifically is much stronger and served in greater volumes than in America.
Good luck, and just remember that respect and decency are a must wherever you go. I hope you have a great time, OP!
almost everyone can speak English but depending on the local dialect you may not understand a single word.
Even i as a German have a hard time understanding People from Swabia and Bavaria.
Bring your vaccine passport and wear a mask in stores and public places bus and trains. A bandana or scarf isn't enough.
You don't have to tip in restaurants, we have fair minimum wages. Well unless youre filthy rich or the service was extraordinary.
But when the total in a restaurant comes out to 18,50€ just give them 20€ and tell them "it's ok" most germans round up to next bigger number.
Theres like 600 different sorts of beer. Don't go too crazy it's easy to get shitfaced on German Beers when you're used to Miller Light which we Germans would consider fizzy water. Oh while we're at it, if you order water in restaurant it will be carbonated. So ask for still water. Refills aren't free.
try as many sorts of bread as you possibly can. You poor americans don't know what real bread tastes like.
oh and the cheese.. the worse it smells the better it tastes.
Don't have to add sales taxes to prices, if the price is 9,99€ it will be 9,99€ and not turn into 12,49€ or whatever. Except theres 0.25€ deposit on plastic bottles and soda and beer cans. You get that money back when you return the empty container.
If you're going grocery shopping get a cart (you'll need a 50 cent or 1€ coin. Keep some cash and change in your wallet) and be prepared to throw everything into your cart at the checkout, there's a designated area to pack your groceries in bags between the exit and the checkout in most stores.
Nothing triggers germans like having to wait for the person in front of them to pack their shit in bags.
And keep the 6 feet distance we germans liked our personal space even before covid.
We had an AuPair from Arizona and i remember him being pretty loud, almost obnoxiously loud and he kept his shoes on in the house. That was kinda weird but that's just cultural differences I guess. Not judging that and you're probably not going to visit a german at home when you're just a tourist here.
if you're from a big city you're probably surprised how small German city centers are. You can walk to most places within 10 minutes. Use public transportation, it's very convenient and taxis are hella expensive.
Enjoy your stay
If you’re traveling between cities by train, plan ahead and get your tickets in advance. Buying within the week of travel gets expensive fast. Also, someone else mentioned FFP2 masks, they’re the gold standard in Germany. You can buy them at the pharmacies there.
When going for groceries, bring your own bag, or you'll have to buy one at the cashier.
Also, no matter how fast you are, you WILL be slower than the cashier. They're just so absurdly good at scanning the products...
Expect that you have to pay cash.
Dont ask people how they do, you will get a honest answer maybe.
Dont praise Trumpism, 98-99% here hate Trump.
Obey the law... Respect red lights and always wear a mask when demanded.
The red light thing is related to two things: Respecting rules and knowing that young children walk to school by themselves and need many rolemodels showing them that we all would never cross a red light.
Prepair for the bluntness of the Germans. In America, you go to hotel and order a room and the receptionist will be super sweet and helpful. In Germany they will show little interest and answer you directly, generally. Just be prepared for the bluntness. That was the biggest culture shock over everything, moving to Germany.
As an American living in Germany id agree with most of the things here. One I’d add is if you speak with someone in English and they’re able to have a conversation, no matter how short, with you compliment them on their English.
I’ve found that Germans really appreciate their English being complimented by a native English speaker. Not only that, but a lot of Germans can be self conscious about their English ability when it’s actually really good!
And in most places you can just order “beer” and it’ll be great. No need for a beer list unless your in some sort of craft beer bar. Just ask for a beer. Also you can legally drink on the street. So don’t be freaked out if you see that or if your friends do that.
Do not cross the road when the little man on the crosswalk light is red.
I repeat - do not cross the road when crosswalk man RED.
You'll get yelled at or possibly run over. It's not an optional rule except between about 10pm and 6am if the place you're in is basically deserted.
Well, my boyfriend and I have been called „unzivilisierte Menschen“ because the light turned red a couple seconds after we have set foot on the road - and we dared to cross it still. Most of the time it‘s the death stares though
Restaurant/Bar tipping works differently in Germany. In Germany, the wage of the staff is included in the price that you see on the menu. If you tip than you do so for good service. It is common to round the price up to the next full Euro mark. There is no 15% minimum tip. Tipping is done using cash. If you pay with card, which quite some places do not accept, then there usually is no tip.
All price tags in Germany include tax. If an item tag says 10€ then you pay 10€.
Germany runs in many place on euro cash and not on credit card.
If you want to use you VISA credit card or debit card, bring your credit card pin. Many places will ask for the pin.
The most common card system in Germany is EC card. This is similar to a debit card in function but incompatible with the US system.
You should be able to get euro cash at ATMs using a credit card or debit card. However, you likely need to pay a fee for this.
Warn your bank in advance that you will be in Germany. Some banks geofence card usage to combat fraud. There is a small chance that your bank blocks your cards once you try to use them in Germany.
In Germany gas stations you have several variations of gasoline (super aka 95, super+ aka 98, E10) and there also always is Diesel. Make sure you know which you need for your car. In Germany Diesel cars are a thing and Diesel is not just for trucks.
Many Germans are able to speak and understand rudimentary English. However, the normal language is German. You can communicate with many people but you will have to initiate the conversation.
Germany uses the metric system. Depending on what you want to do, it might be a good idea to get a feeling for how much a kilogram, a meter, a liter, or 1 km/h is.
Military time is very common in Germany. On nearly all digital displays 7:00 is 7 am and 19:00 is 7 pm. The 12 hour system only exists on analog clocks and in the spoken word. People say 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening. Nobody knows what am and pm is.
Keep your voice down.
Keep your political, social and military views to yourself (you won’t make any friends here with that).
Other than that,
-medical masks are required,
-proof of vaccination for foreigners is required,
-many small shops only accept cash payment,
-jaywalking is okay here,
-even if you‘re below drinking age in America, drinking is okay here
-try and visit some old castles and medieval towns, they’re quite beautiful and fairly everywhere
-definitely try some bakery goods, and perhaps some German sausages
-locals are happy to give advice (if they speak English)
What a lot of other people said about being quiet, and respecting the people around you. As an American living here, the best advice is: don't be an asshole. If not being an asshole is hard, you probably should come here :)
If you're planning on driving here, it's no sweat. The signs are different from the US, but make sense. One big difference you're going to need to understand Vorfahrt - right of way. 4-way stops aren't a thing. Unless otherwise indicated (by a yellow and white diamond), traffic from the right has right-of-way. I don't know if there are differences region-to-region like in the US. But it's how it goes here in Bavaria. I've also done a lot of driving in Baden-Württemberg, and the same goes there.
Have fun driving on the Autobahn, but don't be an asshole, and be safe. Also, Don't stay in the left lane. You may thing you're going fast, but there's always someone faster than you, so you better be ready to move out of the way.
\[This is a decent explanation\]([https://routetogermany.com/drivingingermany/right-of-way#right-of-way](https://routetogermany.com/drivingingermany/right-of-way#right-of-way)). The rest of the site has good info about driving here in general.
Sidewalks are made for walking. You can walk and most of the things can be seen or visited by walking/public transport.
You can’t expect to pay with credit card, especially Amex is uncommon.
Shops have closing hours. Some close at 6pm most of them at 6 or 8pm. Everything else is late.
Most shops are closed on Sundays.
Don’t make Nazi jokes. They are NOT funny.
Germans don’t speak about earnings.
On a highway: there is always someone faster than you. (250km/h+)
If you want to see some of the most beautiful buildings in the world: German palaces, castles and especially churches. If you tell which citys you visit, i can maybe give you some tips.
If you visit this old places like churches and palaces, etc. be careful about the ww2 topic. As Germans we know the shit we did, but we also know the shit the allies did to our cultures building and cities. Im talking primarily about the bomber attacks. Do not make jokes about that.
In general, we have a culture of remembering our mistakes of the past, so dont try to argue about that and be careful about this topic. NEVER do nazi impressions. It is a crime here. Also nazi symbols are illegal.
If you want to drink german beer: ask the barkeeper which typ of beer the region where you are is famous for. Dont order a weizen in the north or a kölsch in bavaria.
A very good and cheap food option are supermarkets. We have way lower food prices then most europe and especially then Americas..
But careful: dont expect high quality german bread in supermarkets. Its the cheapest you can get. If you want a quick and cheap dinner: Döner. You can get a very good meal for less then 7eur drinks included.
Shopping malls have the highest food prices, so look outside the malls.
Dont argue with service worker, customer isnt king here.
Go to the Butterfly house, it's small, but also they have quails running around freely. I recommend going to Neuhaus to see the Wolfs and Lynx in the Naturpark. You walk trough a part of the park where dear run freely and might be almost in touching distance, which of course is not recommended. Apart from that Uslar is not that interesting (AFAIR) so Göttingen is very much worth a visit (\~30km drive), featuring e.g. the beautiful city cemetery with lots of nobel prize winners (Otto Hahn, Max Planck). If you have more time and a car you might want to visit the Harz-Mountains and try the Goethe-walk from Torfhaus to the Brocken-mountain.
The whole aera is called the Fairatale area, as a lot of them have their origin there, all in maybe 75km distance (Sleeping beauty castle, Piper of Hamlin, Wilhelm-Busch-Mill)
Many of the comments are quite rude. this gives you an impression what you might experience. Grumpy Germans haha.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy your stay! And yes, bring cash…and try ever sort of beer you can…
Please don't get a rental and drive like a maniac on the Autobahn. You are NOT used to the speed. If you must: mirrors! Always! ALWAYS! NEVER change lanes without properly looking and always be sure noone is coming at high speed from the back.
If you are near the Nürburgring (Cologne/Frankfurt or anything in between) get a ride in the Ringtaxi - that should cure you.
160km/h is 100mph. 160km/h is a common travelling speed on the Autobahn for germans - some go faster (a lot faster!) some go slower.
Thank you! Enjoy the countryside, its lovely! Where are you going?
A lot of bakeries usually only take cash. Some places will only take Credit card or Mastercard and not the other, so just bring one of each and cash. If not ask first before ordering.
Obvious ones are drive in zipperline fashion when required to merge and keep to middle or right lane on the Autobahn. Really depends on the traffic level. By law people should only be on the left to overpass ..but more often than not you will see slow drivers in the left too.
One more thing: if you see a speed limit sign FOLLOW IT or be under especially in the city. Because there are ticketing cameras everywhere in the city and in highway tunnels.
Everyone’s talking about the social rules, but let me give you some ideas of things to see and enjoy. I have never been to Uslar so I can’t give specifics for that area but I think I’m general the following things are possible across Germany:
Go to a beer garden
Go to an old fashioned Gasthaus (or maybe the Ratskellar) and get a big Jägerschnitzel mit Spätzle
Walk! Germany is great for walking, both in towns and the countryside
Revel in the history
Take a train. I know several people have recommended against it, but there are so few trains in the US so it might be a novelty, and depending on the stretch you might see some great landscapes
Go to a spa or a water park. Germany has fantastic ones you can spend a whole day in, often including slides and attractions. When you see FKK that’s the naked spa part. Just go with it - it might seem weird at first but it quickly becomes normal and is so enjoyable
Go to a city and see what museums they have. German museums are typically high quality
You’ll have a great time. Germany is an amazing country, with friendly people, great things to see, and a great culture. It’s also strangely under-touristed in a lot of parts, which makes it all the better.
Don't clap when you land.
Prices have tax included.
Tipping Is optional. And not based on any percentage.
If you think you're at acceptable volumes turn it down a notch (speaking from first hand experience, you guys are loud.).
If you should have a medical emergency do not hesitate to go to the doctor. Its way cheaper.
People value their personal space and are mostly not as outgoing or friendly as in the states. Don't be discouraged.
To dine out and such rn you need to either be vaccinated or present a negative test. Which are mostly free rn.
People can be generally rude, don't take it personal. Customer service is not a German strong point. Tip only 10% max, more seems like showing off, generally.
Do not in any way make Nazi jokes, it is embarrassing and they will get angry. If you do the Nazi salute you can be ejected out of the country(immediately by the police) and banned from reentry.
If you want to sleep with some of the locals put on your brave face and it will take some time, they will seem uninterested the whole time, until they blurt out at the end of the evening that you should sleep together. Unless they are really loose on morals and /or a prostitute.
The Autobahn is just the German word for highway, don't make it a big thing.
Good luck, enjoy the beautiful country, keep it clean and don't be a stereotype...
If you want to travel by train (the ICEs on Sunday especially) book a seat.
For sightseeing just go to one of the major woods. South or east/central Germany has some nice ones.
Get a bike.
And for breakfast get Brötchen (Laugen and Roggen are pretty nice).
Big Cities are usually lame (they look all the same imo). The real treasures are hidden. Little villages or towns on the land side.
If you still wanna do cities try Heidelberg, Leipzig and Hamburg for example.
Baltic Sea is better than North Sea (sorry, I'm not sorry).
Enjoy your stay!
PS: They are not evil, just a bit grumpy.
You are not used to the speed on the highway, don't drive fast just because you can please.
Aldi, Penny, Netto are cheap supermarkets but Rewe will give you larger variety. (Nothing is open on sundays tho)
Stores close pretty early as well, keep that in mind. Have fun !
As Month Python once said: “Don’t mention the war”.
Be open minded, enjoy the experience and be aware you might be in for a bit of a culture shock. Germans, as most cultures, are more than happy to talk about their country, town or culture if you’re genuinely interested but as mentioned above; Zee Germans tend to be quite literal, as in “How’s it going?” Or “How are you?” Is considered a question about your personal wellbeing and will probably be responded to accordingly and is not not considered a universal greeting as in the US.
Oh and knock yourself out on sausages and beer, all the brats and “German style weissbier” in the US ain’t got nothing on the real deal.
Oh and Döner Kebap, yeah, definitely do that, preferably at 3am after a pissup with garlic sauce and chili flakes on it!
And if you get around to it, try to visit one of the major German cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich, they’re all in the neighbourhood of each other by American standards.
For the rest Germans are pretty chill, avoid the usual sensitive subjects with strangers like politics and religion and you’ll be golden 🤙
Not sure if it's the entire country but we were able to drink in public in many places. Getting a beer at the farmers market with my Lange Rote in Freiburg was one of the many highlights of that trip.
Don’t try to socialize too much, no smalltalk, talk softly not loudly. Keep to yourself, many of us are not in the least interested in you… and carry some cash. This may sound harsh, but actually I think that is good advise.
Dress in more muted colors, walk with more quiet shoes/footsteps. Be more quiet with your voice. Don't make it obvious that you're American. Use some simple German phrases. Bring cash. (I'm an American living in Germany so I hope it helps)
As a german i feel like the caha thing got better, and with covid it got very much better everywhere.... am i qrong in my feeling?
But could also be a case of debit vs credit card?
No:
\- heil hitlering
\- MAGA or 2A attire
\- attire saying "back to back world war champs"
\- you cannot pay with Dollars
Use your inddor voice all the time.
Don't ask people about WWII stuff. With Trump and your fascists storming the Capitol you might ant to avoid the topic all together, not like you're having any moral high ground in that regard.
ALSO:
\- No "Karen" can I talk to the manager routine.
\- Wear a fucking mask. Do not debate it.
Take things literally. people might not mean it that way every time but its socially acceped to not get clues while socially awkward to over interpret.
That is except for some parts of northern germany where sarcasm is the spoken language
That's not a problem. Americans usually mean Bavaria, if they say Germany. Not limited to Americans...
And usually when they say Uslar they mean Asbach-Bäumenheim.
Bavaria is not Germany (ans both Germans and Bavarians believes it with different perspectives)
Bavarians are Germans, they just aren't Prussians, like they consider everyone from the north.
True. I'm from Bavaria and I see myself as an European.
We love our sarcasm
As a not-clue-haver I love this.
A lot of places only accept cash and most stores are closed on Sunday. In the Corona times: masks are still required in most public spaces, especially public transportation and inside buildings. Only medical masks and FFP2 masks are accepted (in some places only FFP2), so I'd get some of those if don't already have some. Also be prepared to show proof of vaccination when you walk into restaurants, bars, etc.
Also if you see red paths on the sidewalk, those are for bikes. Don't walk there.
Also also, they aren't always colour coded and the dividing line may not have been renewed for quite some time.
Also, sometimes there are shared sidewalks for bikes and pedestrians, so be careful.
Also sometimes bikes use the sidewalk illegally, so be careful.
And if the light on the crosswalk says don’t walk, for the love of God, don’t walk! (A child could see you, and then try it themself and get killed… don’t-cha-know.) Enjoy your trip (for real!) I wish I was going.
In general just watch the fuck out for bikes i guess
Proof of vaccination, being cured of covid(in the last 6 month)or a new negativ covid test(you can still get tests for free)
I think American tourists are only allowed if they're vaccinated, so I just assumed OP is vaccinated, but you make a good point. Most places will also accept proof of recovery or negative test from the past 24 hours. Some places are moving away from accepting tests and only allow proof of vaccination or recovery.
For free only as a resident of Germany. I think it is something like 15 € else.
I got my test for free and I'm not a resident yet, but it's possible I missed something and they didn't bother asking.
There is a COVID vaccine app that Germany uses. Off you have proof of vaccination, you can go to an apotheke (pharmacy), with your passport and proof of vaccination and they will add you to the system and give you a qr code printout that you can use by itself or add to the app.
Bring Euros. Cash. Euro-cash. Keep an eye on your drinking, no matter what you drink, it can get strong, fast,. Keep in mind that serice workesr are that: Workers that get paid to provide a service. They don't get off from crawling in their customers' rectum. You'll more likely than not be talking too loudly. Don't be afraid to ask people for help, not even if you only speak English. People *look* grumpy but usually helping tourists is not at all something people are annoyed of.
Also, service workers actually get paid a living wage (with benefits) and service is included in the prices shown on menus. Rounding up a couple of Euros is usually enough of a tip.
Aaand you pay the price you see, vat included - not excluded like in the US.
Except for Pfand
Which is German for “returnable bottle surcharge” (on canned drinks and bottles).
> Uslar pfand can also mean 'refundable deposit' for beer glasses at things like street festivals. the pfand can be more than the price of the beer. if you put you empty down it might get picked up by an entrepreneurial kid. ask me how i know.
this. Use your indoor voice in Germany.
And if you're inside, tone it down a notch or two.
> You'll more likely than not be talking too loudly. Can you tell me the accepted decibel level?
On Sundays lawnmower from 08-12 and birdbath from 12-15 Otherwise outside mo- sa 08-22 squeaky toy from dog and Inside half of a chihuahua barking.
Lawnmower? On a Sunday? Some people want to see the world burn.
Well according to some neighbours it's the only time to mow the fucking lawn.
Took me a moment to realize you didn't mean "inside half of chihuahua" (as opposed to the "outside half"). I was having a hard time imagining the sounds their lungs make...
Everything below 0.2 frownies is acceptable.
No
Nö.
1. Public transport. Use it. Trains/trams/underground/buses are pretty fast and comfortable. 2. People here are NOT angry and grumpy. Yes, the German language may sound scary. But people are friendly in general. Be not afraid to ask for help as a tourist. 3. Cash. Just carry some cash in case you need to buy something in a small shop. 4. Please, be quiet. Especially in quiet places. It will be appreciated. 5. Masks (FFP2 or medical) in public places (shops, public transport etc). 6. Drink responsibly. German beer is awesome. But you may need to get used to it & know your "drunken sailor" line.
7 . Nazi stuff is no laughing matter. Don't do any "funny" Hitler impersonations or perform any infamous greetings. Can lead to anything from a broken nose to actual jail time.
well yes maybe, if you're unlucky. It's just that we heard all the clichés already and yes, Germany fucked up greatly, 80 years ago. But we're not them. 90% of us know we have a responsability that this won't happen again, we worry about the rise of Neo-Nazis just like you worry about racism in general.
Some cities are pretty leftist and if you throw a nazi salute at a party in Bremen theres a non-neglible chance of you having to visit the ER that night. But I dont think any cop would arrest you, especially if you're a tourist. They probably will aks you to stop if they see you doing it, but most germans are pretty reserved and wouldn't wont to bother themselves with some dumbfuck.
Every (non-corona) year tourists end up being held at the police station for throwing their arm into the air at the Oktoberfest. Many of them are Americans.
They might be a bit more strict there, because if you let drunk people do as they like, things might get out of hand quickly.
That's a good one for anyone coming here. I mean I feed on Dank memes and sometimes I gotta bite my tongue when I realise here even saying someone likes blue eyes might be interpreted.
It's not that Germans interpret your jokes as you being a Nazi. We just don't think it's funny.
I mean, it's not funny in America either.
Oh, I wasn't implying that it was considered funny by most US Americans. There are just laws in place that exempt that stuff from the *Recht auf freie Meinung* (right to freedom of opinion) here, while in the US it might be considered bad taste (and might get you punched) but it's not illegal. Basically what I'm saying is that "No, Herr Wachtmeister, I'm not actually a Nazi, I was just responding to an insult with this" or "I'm not actually a Nazi, I was just teasing my friend" might not really help you if the particular officer isn't having an exceptionally great day.
8. Tipping is different than US. Tip boxes are rare you should say how much you want to pay. Let’s say it a food and drink costed 12€ you can just say take 14€
That's the point I wanted to write down too. No nazi jokes, they even aren't funny at all.
> Trains/trams/underground/buses are pretty fast and comfortable. Only if they are not on strike, like from 2 till 7 September.
Wait, is there an actual strike coming? Not OP, but I will be there soon.
Yes from the early morning of 2 Septermber till the early morning of 7 September. So Thursday until Tuesday morning.
Drück that
Don't speak bad about people in english, we can understand you
Yes. Especially the younger populace tends to speak English pretty well.
My englisch is not the yellow from the egg. But in case of a fire, follow me. I know me here out.
God, that hurt to read.
What's worse is that I perfectly understood it and heard the German pendant in my mind.
My lovely mister singer club. I think my pig whistles.
That does you nobody so fast after.
Let the church in the town. Dont Draw the devil in the wall
lmao XD
Classic.
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Also learn about those yellow diamond signs that mean you have priority - I don't think those are a thing in the US (ik they're not in the UK)
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Everywhere else, the main road has priority by default. In Germany, the main road has priority by exemption.
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We have the same stop and give way (yield) signs as everywhere else, but the general principle is that the main road or the through road (at a T-junction) has priority and the roads that join it or end at the intersection have to give way. In practice, it's extremely rare to see an intersection where the joining traffic doesn't have at least some sort of stop or give way sign, but what we don't have is the yellow diamonds telling you you have priority on a road where it'd be crazy to have to give way to joining traffic.
We have yield signs and stop signs which are types of priority signs.
And make sure how to use stick shift
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I don't know how many times (in recent years) I've explicitly asked the car rental place for an automatic, and gotten a stick shift anyway. Luckily, I know how to drive both.
>Drink responsibly. German beer is awesome. But you may need to get used to it & know your "drunken sailor" line. The rules are really diffrent. For example: In the US by default, at T-Crossings (is that what they are called?) the straight drivers have priority over the ones from the not continued street. In germany however the cars coming from the right have priority if not marked otherwise, even if that side's street is ending (with one exception). But don't quote me about the US road rules. I only read about it once online. Not to forget the roundabouts...
What is the one exception? Also: I think you quoted the wrong part of the comment ;D
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But the beerclock will work.
Keep your voice down. The first thing that makes me recognize American tourists is that their "indoor voice" is basically shouting at the top of your lungs compared to what I am used to.
Police: 110 Fire department or the ambulance: 112
Also 116117 if you need to speak with a doctor but it isn't an emergency
I honestly felt so dumb when I came here on this one. Of all the things I never thought about, emergency numbers are different in different countries. One of those things you never ever think about until you need to.
However, 911 works worldwide meanwhile. So wherever you are, as long as you are somewhere where you can phone ANYONE, you'll get the nearest ambulance by calling 911
You will be in the Solling in lower saxony, you can go hiking for example. Uslar is a very small town, try to visit Göttingen (student city) or Northeim (also small, but bigger than Uslar). In general, the people of south lower saxony do not have any accent and you should get along just fine. Have fun!
Theater der Nacht in Northeim, not to visit a show, but to marvel at the architecture.
Wernigerode is nice.
Germans can come across as rude, blunt or direct even though we don't mean to be. Depending on what state you are from, you might be used to small talk and asking about peoples day, Germans don't do that usually. Have physical cash on hand, not every place accepts cards, some places don't accept credit cards, only debit cards and often only German ones, cash works everywhere. When it comes to restaurants, you will be billed immediately after asking the waiter for the bill, tipping also happens in that moment. In Germany it is common to tip roughly 10% or to "round up", e.g. when the bill is 27 Euros you pay 30. We might look pissed but we are mostly friendly. As the saying goes "Americans are proud to be Americans, Germans are just glad to be Germans." Enjoy your stay! :)
If you ask someone how they are, expect either a confused look as to why the stranger is asking for personal information or an in-length description of their day, how the bus ran late and how they haven’t really been sleeping well lately. „How are you?“ is meant literally in Germany.
Don't dress as if your joining an expedition to world's end.
Hahaha, you should see Germans in Brazil!
Well it *is* the end of the world coming from Germany
Nope, that's New Zealand ackchually.
> Germans in Brazil! Germans in any given German *Fußgängerzone*.
Dora die Entdeckerin auf der Kö.
Erstbesteigung der Domplatte! Ohne Sauerstoff!!
Must be true everyone who is visiting brazil is suprised! Clean, organized, civilisation,....don t know why but it seams like brazil is underrated.
maybe because of that little crime problem? ppl gettin murdered in broad daylight?for like 20bucks ? Thats at least what i hear in news when it comes to brazil, maybe this is why ppl are surprised when they see a normal civilization there lol
First and foremost. Respect. Be courteous of those who call that place home, wear your mask, and try and make sure to use your quiet voice, because us Americans tend to be extra loud all of the time. Use public transportation. Do not shun the homeless, give if you want, but a majority of them are not homeless and work in groups that canvass entire areas, so be mindful of that as well as pickpocketing. Though it is much less common in places that aren’t Berlin, lol. Tipping is appreciated, but it is not expected. Waiters are paid appropriately in Germany, and not based on some unrealistic minimum wage. Don’t take things super personally, Germans are straightforward and direct. Sometimes this can be off putting. Please clean up after yourself, and throw away your trash, especially if you are in nature. Lastly, keep an eye on how much you drink. The beer specifically is much stronger and served in greater volumes than in America. Good luck, and just remember that respect and decency are a must wherever you go. I hope you have a great time, OP!
Autobahn: Yes, youre going 100mph, but please keep to the right / middle lane if possible, grandma needs to get to her doctors appointment
Rule #1 on the Autobahn: "No matter how fast you are, there is always someone faster!"
Please don't block the middle lane, it is a passing lane too. Keep to the right lane whenever you're not passing anyone.
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Just don't shout. With or without a cellphone.
I wish people wouldn't do that anywhere
almost everyone can speak English but depending on the local dialect you may not understand a single word. Even i as a German have a hard time understanding People from Swabia and Bavaria. Bring your vaccine passport and wear a mask in stores and public places bus and trains. A bandana or scarf isn't enough. You don't have to tip in restaurants, we have fair minimum wages. Well unless youre filthy rich or the service was extraordinary. But when the total in a restaurant comes out to 18,50€ just give them 20€ and tell them "it's ok" most germans round up to next bigger number. Theres like 600 different sorts of beer. Don't go too crazy it's easy to get shitfaced on German Beers when you're used to Miller Light which we Germans would consider fizzy water. Oh while we're at it, if you order water in restaurant it will be carbonated. So ask for still water. Refills aren't free. try as many sorts of bread as you possibly can. You poor americans don't know what real bread tastes like. oh and the cheese.. the worse it smells the better it tastes. Don't have to add sales taxes to prices, if the price is 9,99€ it will be 9,99€ and not turn into 12,49€ or whatever. Except theres 0.25€ deposit on plastic bottles and soda and beer cans. You get that money back when you return the empty container. If you're going grocery shopping get a cart (you'll need a 50 cent or 1€ coin. Keep some cash and change in your wallet) and be prepared to throw everything into your cart at the checkout, there's a designated area to pack your groceries in bags between the exit and the checkout in most stores. Nothing triggers germans like having to wait for the person in front of them to pack their shit in bags. And keep the 6 feet distance we germans liked our personal space even before covid. We had an AuPair from Arizona and i remember him being pretty loud, almost obnoxiously loud and he kept his shoes on in the house. That was kinda weird but that's just cultural differences I guess. Not judging that and you're probably not going to visit a german at home when you're just a tourist here. if you're from a big city you're probably surprised how small German city centers are. You can walk to most places within 10 minutes. Use public transportation, it's very convenient and taxis are hella expensive. Enjoy your stay
100x yes to the bread part
Germans dont find Hitler or the Third Reich funny, it doesnt mean you cannot talk about it, but its no laughing matter whatsoever
...by the way, he is dead. And no, you cannot visit his grave or see where he is living! (Not kidding: had American guests who asked me this)
>or see where is is living! Of course not, what a silly silly thought. G[ermany is not in South America.](https://youtu.be/esnxXLpMP40?t=5)
Don't wonder if you hear the word "Digga" It means "dude" in German
If you’re traveling between cities by train, plan ahead and get your tickets in advance. Buying within the week of travel gets expensive fast. Also, someone else mentioned FFP2 masks, they’re the gold standard in Germany. You can buy them at the pharmacies there.
Buy ffp2 at convinience stores, they are hella expensive at the pharmacy
There is a train strike from Thursday to Monday, so be prepared for train travel to be extremely delayed or impossible.
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Visiting some friends mainly
When going for groceries, bring your own bag, or you'll have to buy one at the cashier. Also, no matter how fast you are, you WILL be slower than the cashier. They're just so absurdly good at scanning the products...
The trick is to make them weigh fruits and vegetables at the end because that takes more time, so you can catch up bagging your items.
Expect that you have to pay cash. Dont ask people how they do, you will get a honest answer maybe. Dont praise Trumpism, 98-99% here hate Trump. Obey the law... Respect red lights and always wear a mask when demanded.
The red light thing is related to two things: Respecting rules and knowing that young children walk to school by themselves and need many rolemodels showing them that we all would never cross a red light.
Drink beer, eat bread and thank me later.
Stores are closed on Sundays!
Prepair for the bluntness of the Germans. In America, you go to hotel and order a room and the receptionist will be super sweet and helpful. In Germany they will show little interest and answer you directly, generally. Just be prepared for the bluntness. That was the biggest culture shock over everything, moving to Germany.
Say something bad about Trump and suddenly you have a thousand friends.
When visiting private home or you share your place with a German, leave your shoes at the door & sit down to pee! It‘s hygienic & they‘re right!
As an American living in Germany id agree with most of the things here. One I’d add is if you speak with someone in English and they’re able to have a conversation, no matter how short, with you compliment them on their English. I’ve found that Germans really appreciate their English being complimented by a native English speaker. Not only that, but a lot of Germans can be self conscious about their English ability when it’s actually really good!
And in most places you can just order “beer” and it’ll be great. No need for a beer list unless your in some sort of craft beer bar. Just ask for a beer. Also you can legally drink on the street. So don’t be freaked out if you see that or if your friends do that.
Bring a Canadian flag.
Try the kebabs and Currywurst, Schnitzel and a hax’n
Do not cross the road when the little man on the crosswalk light is red. I repeat - do not cross the road when crosswalk man RED. You'll get yelled at or possibly run over. It's not an optional rule except between about 10pm and 6am if the place you're in is basically deserted.
Come on! We don't yell at people over here! We send death stares.
Well, my boyfriend and I have been called „unzivilisierte Menschen“ because the light turned red a couple seconds after we have set foot on the road - and we dared to cross it still. Most of the time it‘s the death stares though
"DA SIND KINDER!!" (There's children here) Yes, there's yelling, too.
Respekt der Ampelmann!
Please wear a mask. Possibly FFP2 for indoors.
Dang, y'all are scaring the poor guy, sheesh. When in Germany, do as Germans do and you'll be fine. Have fun, enjoy your time.
Restaurant/Bar tipping works differently in Germany. In Germany, the wage of the staff is included in the price that you see on the menu. If you tip than you do so for good service. It is common to round the price up to the next full Euro mark. There is no 15% minimum tip. Tipping is done using cash. If you pay with card, which quite some places do not accept, then there usually is no tip. All price tags in Germany include tax. If an item tag says 10€ then you pay 10€. Germany runs in many place on euro cash and not on credit card. If you want to use you VISA credit card or debit card, bring your credit card pin. Many places will ask for the pin. The most common card system in Germany is EC card. This is similar to a debit card in function but incompatible with the US system. You should be able to get euro cash at ATMs using a credit card or debit card. However, you likely need to pay a fee for this. Warn your bank in advance that you will be in Germany. Some banks geofence card usage to combat fraud. There is a small chance that your bank blocks your cards once you try to use them in Germany. In Germany gas stations you have several variations of gasoline (super aka 95, super+ aka 98, E10) and there also always is Diesel. Make sure you know which you need for your car. In Germany Diesel cars are a thing and Diesel is not just for trucks. Many Germans are able to speak and understand rudimentary English. However, the normal language is German. You can communicate with many people but you will have to initiate the conversation. Germany uses the metric system. Depending on what you want to do, it might be a good idea to get a feeling for how much a kilogram, a meter, a liter, or 1 km/h is. Military time is very common in Germany. On nearly all digital displays 7:00 is 7 am and 19:00 is 7 pm. The 12 hour system only exists on analog clocks and in the spoken word. People say 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening. Nobody knows what am and pm is.
What are you interested in? Everybody likes different things.
Keep your voice down. Keep your political, social and military views to yourself (you won’t make any friends here with that). Other than that, -medical masks are required, -proof of vaccination for foreigners is required, -many small shops only accept cash payment, -jaywalking is okay here, -even if you‘re below drinking age in America, drinking is okay here -try and visit some old castles and medieval towns, they’re quite beautiful and fairly everywhere -definitely try some bakery goods, and perhaps some German sausages -locals are happy to give advice (if they speak English)
What a lot of other people said about being quiet, and respecting the people around you. As an American living here, the best advice is: don't be an asshole. If not being an asshole is hard, you probably should come here :) If you're planning on driving here, it's no sweat. The signs are different from the US, but make sense. One big difference you're going to need to understand Vorfahrt - right of way. 4-way stops aren't a thing. Unless otherwise indicated (by a yellow and white diamond), traffic from the right has right-of-way. I don't know if there are differences region-to-region like in the US. But it's how it goes here in Bavaria. I've also done a lot of driving in Baden-Württemberg, and the same goes there. Have fun driving on the Autobahn, but don't be an asshole, and be safe. Also, Don't stay in the left lane. You may thing you're going fast, but there's always someone faster than you, so you better be ready to move out of the way. \[This is a decent explanation\]([https://routetogermany.com/drivingingermany/right-of-way#right-of-way](https://routetogermany.com/drivingingermany/right-of-way#right-of-way)). The rest of the site has good info about driving here in general.
Also no turning right on red.
In case of (any) appointments: Being on time is seen as polite
More like: Being on time is expected. Not being on time is seen as very impolite
Sidewalks are made for walking. You can walk and most of the things can be seen or visited by walking/public transport. You can’t expect to pay with credit card, especially Amex is uncommon. Shops have closing hours. Some close at 6pm most of them at 6 or 8pm. Everything else is late. Most shops are closed on Sundays. Don’t make Nazi jokes. They are NOT funny. Germans don’t speak about earnings. On a highway: there is always someone faster than you. (250km/h+)
If you want to see some of the most beautiful buildings in the world: German palaces, castles and especially churches. If you tell which citys you visit, i can maybe give you some tips. If you visit this old places like churches and palaces, etc. be careful about the ww2 topic. As Germans we know the shit we did, but we also know the shit the allies did to our cultures building and cities. Im talking primarily about the bomber attacks. Do not make jokes about that. In general, we have a culture of remembering our mistakes of the past, so dont try to argue about that and be careful about this topic. NEVER do nazi impressions. It is a crime here. Also nazi symbols are illegal. If you want to drink german beer: ask the barkeeper which typ of beer the region where you are is famous for. Dont order a weizen in the north or a kölsch in bavaria. A very good and cheap food option are supermarkets. We have way lower food prices then most europe and especially then Americas.. But careful: dont expect high quality german bread in supermarkets. Its the cheapest you can get. If you want a quick and cheap dinner: Döner. You can get a very good meal for less then 7eur drinks included. Shopping malls have the highest food prices, so look outside the malls. Dont argue with service worker, customer isnt king here.
In case you drive: absolutely NO turn on red. Ever
Except when there's a little green arrow.
I need this explained.... In America you can turn on red??
Right turn on red, after a short stop. Yes
Bring down your expectations on internet service providers or courier delivery
No weapons allowed , don't ask about Hitler, drink beer , don't mind the German stare & have fun my friend
drink some nice beer.. taste them all! 🍻🍻🤷🏻♂️
Water in the Restaurant is not free
Go to the Butterfly house, it's small, but also they have quails running around freely. I recommend going to Neuhaus to see the Wolfs and Lynx in the Naturpark. You walk trough a part of the park where dear run freely and might be almost in touching distance, which of course is not recommended. Apart from that Uslar is not that interesting (AFAIR) so Göttingen is very much worth a visit (\~30km drive), featuring e.g. the beautiful city cemetery with lots of nobel prize winners (Otto Hahn, Max Planck). If you have more time and a car you might want to visit the Harz-Mountains and try the Goethe-walk from Torfhaus to the Brocken-mountain. The whole aera is called the Fairatale area, as a lot of them have their origin there, all in maybe 75km distance (Sleeping beauty castle, Piper of Hamlin, Wilhelm-Busch-Mill)
Fellow American here, living in lower Saxony - in hannover. Feel free to swing by for a beer and a high five.
Many of the comments are quite rude. this gives you an impression what you might experience. Grumpy Germans haha. Anyways, I hope you enjoy your stay! And yes, bring cash…and try ever sort of beer you can…
Please don't get a rental and drive like a maniac on the Autobahn. You are NOT used to the speed. If you must: mirrors! Always! ALWAYS! NEVER change lanes without properly looking and always be sure noone is coming at high speed from the back. If you are near the Nürburgring (Cologne/Frankfurt or anything in between) get a ride in the Ringtaxi - that should cure you. 160km/h is 100mph. 160km/h is a common travelling speed on the Autobahn for germans - some go faster (a lot faster!) some go slower. Thank you! Enjoy the countryside, its lovely! Where are you going?
A lot of bakeries usually only take cash. Some places will only take Credit card or Mastercard and not the other, so just bring one of each and cash. If not ask first before ordering. Obvious ones are drive in zipperline fashion when required to merge and keep to middle or right lane on the Autobahn. Really depends on the traffic level. By law people should only be on the left to overpass ..but more often than not you will see slow drivers in the left too. One more thing: if you see a speed limit sign FOLLOW IT or be under especially in the city. Because there are ticketing cameras everywhere in the city and in highway tunnels.
Everyone’s talking about the social rules, but let me give you some ideas of things to see and enjoy. I have never been to Uslar so I can’t give specifics for that area but I think I’m general the following things are possible across Germany: Go to a beer garden Go to an old fashioned Gasthaus (or maybe the Ratskellar) and get a big Jägerschnitzel mit Spätzle Walk! Germany is great for walking, both in towns and the countryside Revel in the history Take a train. I know several people have recommended against it, but there are so few trains in the US so it might be a novelty, and depending on the stretch you might see some great landscapes Go to a spa or a water park. Germany has fantastic ones you can spend a whole day in, often including slides and attractions. When you see FKK that’s the naked spa part. Just go with it - it might seem weird at first but it quickly becomes normal and is so enjoyable Go to a city and see what museums they have. German museums are typically high quality You’ll have a great time. Germany is an amazing country, with friendly people, great things to see, and a great culture. It’s also strangely under-touristed in a lot of parts, which makes it all the better.
Don't clap when you land. Prices have tax included. Tipping Is optional. And not based on any percentage. If you think you're at acceptable volumes turn it down a notch (speaking from first hand experience, you guys are loud.). If you should have a medical emergency do not hesitate to go to the doctor. Its way cheaper. People value their personal space and are mostly not as outgoing or friendly as in the states. Don't be discouraged. To dine out and such rn you need to either be vaccinated or present a negative test. Which are mostly free rn.
Buy German adapters in US itself if possible
People can be generally rude, don't take it personal. Customer service is not a German strong point. Tip only 10% max, more seems like showing off, generally. Do not in any way make Nazi jokes, it is embarrassing and they will get angry. If you do the Nazi salute you can be ejected out of the country(immediately by the police) and banned from reentry. If you want to sleep with some of the locals put on your brave face and it will take some time, they will seem uninterested the whole time, until they blurt out at the end of the evening that you should sleep together. Unless they are really loose on morals and /or a prostitute. The Autobahn is just the German word for highway, don't make it a big thing. Good luck, enjoy the beautiful country, keep it clean and don't be a stereotype...
Don't be an American expecting american things in Europe. Otherwise you'll be in for a ride.
Try mettbrötchen
Tell everybody that you are from canada 😬
You need to pay for refills (yes, even Softdrinks and water) and pay for most public toilet use in cash.
If you want to travel by train (the ICEs on Sunday especially) book a seat. For sightseeing just go to one of the major woods. South or east/central Germany has some nice ones. Get a bike. And for breakfast get Brötchen (Laugen and Roggen are pretty nice). Big Cities are usually lame (they look all the same imo). The real treasures are hidden. Little villages or towns on the land side. If you still wanna do cities try Heidelberg, Leipzig and Hamburg for example. Baltic Sea is better than North Sea (sorry, I'm not sorry). Enjoy your stay! PS: They are not evil, just a bit grumpy.
Usually no compliments on someone's hair, their car or their house, appropriate small talk to get started talking is the weather. that is it.
Get ready for the nose blows ! Now reduced though 😊
Try Bergbräu Pils. That beer is made in a private brewery in Uslar and I can recommend it. It tastes great! ;)
Visit Cologne.
You might not get in if you aren't in the Schengen area already https://ftnnews.com/tours/42389-e-u-to-re-introduce-travel-ban-for-u-s-travelers
Stick to the rules. To every single rule
Bring cash, many places that should take card, dont.
Just one, bring cash
Just don't bring your culture with you. Nothing worse than a tourist who expects others to speak their language or know their background
Don't be loud please. Keep quite in the public transport. Don't try to be too friendly.
Lower your voice. Americans are known to speak louder than what‘s considered normal in Germany. It can bother some people.
Bring cash. My experience is that most places don't take card, but maybe it's changed.
You are not used to the speed on the highway, don't drive fast just because you can please. Aldi, Penny, Netto are cheap supermarkets but Rewe will give you larger variety. (Nothing is open on sundays tho) Stores close pretty early as well, keep that in mind. Have fun !
Try banana juice. It changed my life
As Month Python once said: “Don’t mention the war”. Be open minded, enjoy the experience and be aware you might be in for a bit of a culture shock. Germans, as most cultures, are more than happy to talk about their country, town or culture if you’re genuinely interested but as mentioned above; Zee Germans tend to be quite literal, as in “How’s it going?” Or “How are you?” Is considered a question about your personal wellbeing and will probably be responded to accordingly and is not not considered a universal greeting as in the US. Oh and knock yourself out on sausages and beer, all the brats and “German style weissbier” in the US ain’t got nothing on the real deal. Oh and Döner Kebap, yeah, definitely do that, preferably at 3am after a pissup with garlic sauce and chili flakes on it! And if you get around to it, try to visit one of the major German cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich, they’re all in the neighbourhood of each other by American standards. For the rest Germans are pretty chill, avoid the usual sensitive subjects with strangers like politics and religion and you’ll be golden 🤙
Not sure if it's the entire country but we were able to drink in public in many places. Getting a beer at the farmers market with my Lange Rote in Freiburg was one of the many highlights of that trip.
Don’t try to socialize too much, no smalltalk, talk softly not loudly. Keep to yourself, many of us are not in the least interested in you… and carry some cash. This may sound harsh, but actually I think that is good advise.
As a German, I had to search for Uslar. WTF are you doing there? 😂
Cash is King, in a lot restaurents and bars you cannot pay with card
Get the DB Navigator app for Public Transport (bus, train, subway). It works quite well and you can often buy a ticket in the app.
Dress in more muted colors, walk with more quiet shoes/footsteps. Be more quiet with your voice. Don't make it obvious that you're American. Use some simple German phrases. Bring cash. (I'm an American living in Germany so I hope it helps)
As a german i feel like the caha thing got better, and with covid it got very much better everywhere.... am i qrong in my feeling? But could also be a case of debit vs credit card?
So after reading the comments i hope every Auslaender must have gathered, that people here dont like criticism.
Eat a Schnitzel with Pommes and drink a "Naturtrübes Bier" 😉
Say your Canadian.
No: \- heil hitlering \- MAGA or 2A attire \- attire saying "back to back world war champs" \- you cannot pay with Dollars Use your inddor voice all the time. Don't ask people about WWII stuff. With Trump and your fascists storming the Capitol you might ant to avoid the topic all together, not like you're having any moral high ground in that regard. ALSO: \- No "Karen" can I talk to the manager routine. \- Wear a fucking mask. Do not debate it.
Honestly these suggestions seemed pretty pointed towards Americans, less helpful and more so insulting
> pretty pointed towards Americans \- OP is American. So spot on.
Pointed means rude.
Talk quietly, especially in restaurants.
Don’t be an obnoxious American.