GERMANY | ILLUMINATION | TRAVEL

7 Foolproof Tips for Traveling and Surviving in Germany

The One-Minute Guide

1. Don’t Be Late!

In Germany, we value punctuality. Keeping another person waiting can be considered rude because no one has an infinite amount of time.

2. Take Care of Your Shoes!

When we visit someone’s private home, we ask the host before we enter their house or flat whether we should leave our shoes outside. If in doubt, it is better to take them off.

3. Recycling Is King!

It is common practice in Germany to separate waste properly. Most waste can be recycled. Apart from that, the waste fees can be very high, which is why most people try to avoid non-recyclable waste.

4. How To Address Other People Appropriately?

In most cases, adults address each other with the polite form “Sie”. The more casual form “Du” is usually only used if both parties have explicitly agreed on it.

5. How Much Tip Is Appropriate?

In restaurants, it is usual to tip the waitress around 5 to 10%. If you buy takeaway food, however, no tip is required. Of course, you can give a tip anyway.

6. The Big Taboo.

Language and symbols or gestures from the Third Reich should be avoided at all costs. Some of them are even strictly forbidden and can result in heavy penalties.

7. Respect the Night’s Rest.

From 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. there is night rest in Germany. Noise should be avoided during that time. In exceptional cases, the night’s rest can be bypassed, provided that an agreement is reached with the neighbors beforehand.

Now You!

• What are the “dos” and “don’ts” in your country?

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