10 MORE CULTURE SHOCKS of Visiting Germany

Ten MORE Things That Shock Tourists in Germany

We’re in Munich Germany, sharing ten more things that shock visitors to Germany. Our YouTube fans loved our first “Ten Shocks of Germany” video so much, we decided to share more. After living in Germany for a number of years, and returning every year for 20 years, Germany has a special place in the Wolters’ World travel annals (and heart).

German Culture Shock #1: German Line Culture

There’s a stereotype of Germans being very orderly, and it’s generally very true. Unless you are in line, then orderliness goes out the window. Rather than lining up, Germans crowd into a big blob. A tourist can’t leave space between them and the person ahead, or that space will be filled with a new person. When boarding a train or a bus, travelers must be ready to defend their space and keep up with the crowd.

German Culture Shock #2: Germans Love Rules & Regulations

Germans love their rules and regulations and they like to have everything spelled out for them. This is especially prevalant when doing business in Germany, but tourists will notice this in all of the forms and bureaucracy that’s required when visiting Germany. Germans have no qualms of letting you know when you aren’t following their rules and regulations. Jaywalking is a prime example where Germans will halt you if you attempt to cross against the light. This can be shocking to tourists from more laid-back countries where rules are seen as guidelines.

German Culture Shock #3: Germanisms

There are some funny, kooky little Germanisms that can shock tourists on their first visit to Germany. Instead of clapping at the end of a presentation, Germans knock on the table. The Germans have funny hand gestures to indicate someone is crazy (waving hand in front of the face) or stupid (pointer finger tapping the temple.) Germans are also big on having titles, so when forms are filled out, a title is required. Our train tickets come addressed to “Mr. Doctor Professor Mark Wolters” because every title is important in Germany. There are over a dozen ways Germans will say “Prost” or Cheers! All of these Germanisms are fun, but can be shocking. And don’t be shocked if you are flying with Germans and they all clap upon landing!

German Culture Shock #4: Everything Requires a Stamp

If there’s no stamp, it didn’t happen. Germans love their stamps and certificates. Even when speaking fluent German, you can’t convince a German that you’re fluent in the language unless you have a certificate to prove it. Travelers must keep their paperwork in order when traveling to Germany, and if a stamp is required, make sure you get one!

German Culture Shock #5: Germans Speak English Really Well

Many tourists are shocked to learn that most Germans speak English really well. They prefer if travelers attempt a bit of German first, and it will really open them up. They might chuckle at a poor German attempt, but they’ll switch to English pretty easily.

German Culture Shock #6: Germans Are Very Nice

This comes as a shock to many travelers, but Germans are actually really nice, wonderful people. Germans have a stereotype for being cold, mean and uncaring, but it’s really not true. It may take a bit to break through the shell, but once travelers start chatting up the Germans and getting to know them, it’s surprising how kind they can be.

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German Culture Shock #7: There’s More Than Bratwurst or Pork

Yes, Germans love their pork and it’s served everywhere, in many forms, but Germany is also a great place to find vegetarian and vegan food. Germans, being very helpful, will go out of their way to make sure travelers can find food they will like, and the menus are labeled really well. Germany is a multicultural country, so there are many cuisines to choose from. Tourists might be shocked to find that the most popular snack in Germany is the doner kebab, from Turkey!

German Culture Shock #8: The Pfand, or Glass and Bottle Deposit

This one always surprises tourists. Many places will charge a deposit (or pfand) on glasses and bottles. This is common at Christmas Markets, where Gluhwein is served in festive mugs. You can keep the mug, but you won’t get your deposit back. This can make your initial bar bill quite shocking if you have four or five mugs that you’re paying a deposit on. This also applies to bottles and cans, which have a smaller deposit, so don’t throw them away.

German Culture Shock #9: Driving on the Autobahn

Driving on the Autobahn for the first time can be shocking. They do drive really fast, and there’s a special fast lane, but some people are also shocked to learn that there are speed limits on the autobahn. Sometimes. When there are speed limits, it’s important to follow them, as there are also cameras on-hand to catch any traffic violations.

Read: 10 Things That SHOCK Tourists When They Visit Germany (another 10 aside from this list)

German Culture Shock #10: Germans Free Body Culture

The last shock that some tourists get in Germany is the Freikörperkultur, or the “Free Body Culture.” Germans are very open with nudity, so it’s not uncommon to see naked bodies at the beach or in the park. For tourists visiting from more modest countries, this can be shocking, but the Germans think nothing of it. Travelers with children should exercise extra caution, though, especially with the television. It’s not uncommon to stumble across soft-core porn on the regular TV channels in the evening.

Germany is amazing, and we keep returning year after year. There are so many places to visit and things to see. If you enjoyed these German culture tips, check out some of our other posts about Germany!