Ten Things to Know Before traveling to Germany

By The Excellence Center In Europe / In Germany

Ten Things to Know Before traveling to Germany: traveling to Germany may not seem as culturally different as visiting some countries in the Middle East, Africa, America, even some other European countries in Europe. America, but Germany has plenty of rules, social norms, and other things to know before visiting and enjoying Germany.

The traveler, whether in a professional, academic, or leisure capacity, will be aided by knowing a few tips before traveling to Germany.

Small Talk

The first thing from the list of Ten Things to Know Before traveling to Germany is the people of the Mediterranean region and the Arabian Peninsula tend to more openness in social conversations than Germans. There is an emphasis on diplomacy, politeness, and courtesy in interactions with others.

In contrast, Germans are known for short conversation; the answer to a question may be a “yes” or a “no” without further comment. When there is an additional comment, it may well consist of very few words. The visitor should not feel “brushed off”; the brief conversation reflects cultural norms.

Praise

Expressions of exaggeration are not desirable in Germany. Germans are quite literal. It is advisable to not use exaggeration in Germany because such use appears to be dishonest. Germans, unlike Americans, do not use words such as “best”, “coolest” and “most beautiful”.

Instead, expect to hear expressions, such as “good quality” or “very good”. Do not expect to hear words of hyperbole, aggrandizement, or persuasion from the seller. A seller’s role is limited to explaining the merits of the piece only if asked to do so.

Honesty

The Germans are known for their candor and honesty. For example, when you ask railroad employees about ticket prices, do not be surprised if you are advised to buy a certain set of tickets because they save you money. Likewise, employees making a change after purchase may be generally trusted to give you the correct change.

Ten Things to Know Before traveling to Germany

Restaurants

When you enter a restaurant, do not expect a waiter or hostess to open the door for you, greet you with a broad smile, or bring you the menu as soon as you sit down. He or she will tend to you in due course, and you may have to wait a few minutes. You will first be asked what you would like to drink before ordering food.

Remember that if you ask for water, do not forget to describe the type of water you would like: gas or plain. “Gas water” (water that has bubbles in it) is popular in Germany. German cuisine is not as varied as French or Italian, or American. It is based mostly on meat and potatoes of all kinds, whether grilled, fried, or spiced.

The potato is the main ingredient that is present in almost all dishes. When tipping it is not necessary to calculate a certain percentage of the total invoice. A bill of 80 Euros, for example, would require no more than a 5 Euro tip.

Shopping

As previously mentioned, Germans do not use expressions of exaggeration. For example, when you enter a shoe store, do not be surprised if the seller says, “Be aware that the material of this shoe may be soft and comfortable, but it is not an original leather.”

It is his or her duty to draw your attention to the fact of what you are considering buying. Dissembling or downplaying an issue is not a method of marketing or promotion.

When visiting Germans in their homes

When you enter a German home, first ask your host or hostess if he or she would prefer that you remove your shoes. The German word for this query is Hausschuhe. Do not be surprised to see Einsteckpantoffel, a large sandal for guests at the entrance to the house.

Punctuality

If you have a working appointment or a meeting with a German, it is good for you to commit to the specified time, to be punctual. If a German tells you that he or she can meet you in a quarter of an hour, it means the meeting will take place in 15 minutes, not 30 minutes.

Typically appointments should be made at least two weeks in advance, and not at the last minute. The accuracy of train times can be relied upon; if there is a delay, it will be a very brief minute or two.

Love of the environment

Do not be surprised if a salesperson asks you if you would like to have your purchases put into a bag. Germans prefer to economize on bags as much as possible because bags are environmentally harmful.

In supermarkets, recycled bags are preferred over plastic bags. Before you throw anything into a waste bin out in public, take time to notice if the trash is divided into several bins for recycling.

Smoking

Although smoking in restaurants and closed spaces has been banned for years, it is necessary to point out that smoking is not allowed at train stations (except in designated areas). Do not try to bypass the law as security personnel are always on guard.

Appearances

The last thing from the list of Ten Things to Know Before traveling to Germany is that Germans dislike bragging to such a degree that wealthy residents will hide their houses and villas by planting dense and high trees around the homes. When you make your way through German cities, do not expect to see the latest fashion trends with their raucous cries sweeping the streets.

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