What Tourists Should Know Before Visiting Germany
Live from Berlin, Germany at the Rotes Rahaus! I want to share with you some of the basic
cultural differences in Germany, from the U.S. Here are some of our German travel tips for your first visit to Germany.
Languages Spoken in Germany
Most likely, people will speak English. Be nice and learn a few words like “Please” and “Thank You,” which will make a big difference for your experience. It will be easy, however, to find someone who speaks English and can help you out.
Tip for Germans visiting the US: German is seldom spoken, so you’ll really need to learn some English before you visit.
Money in Germany
In Germany, they use the Euro. The Euro comes in several bills (500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5) and the coins here are actually valuable. The 2 Euro coin is worth more than $2, so keep track of them. ATM’s are widely available and they are you can choose German language or English. In Germany, cash is king. That said, if you use a credit card, try to bring one with the chip in it, as those are more widely accepted in Germany, and throughout Europe. Look for a Commerzbank or Deutsche Bank ATM machine, as they will likely take U.S. cards.
Tip for Germans visiting the US: Credit cards are widely used, and it can be difficult to use $100 or $50 bills. Try to have $20 or lower amounts with you.
Electrical Outlets in Germany
The plugs and the voltage for electrical outlets are different between Germany and the U.S. In the U.S. we have two straight plugs, while Germany has two circle plugs. Your computer and mobile phone will have a converter built in, but you still need an adapter to charge anything.
Restaurant Service in Germany
Service is not as accommodating in Germany as it is in the U.S. They are professional, but will not come back to your table over and over like American waiters will do. This means you need to be ready with your order when they come to take it. They won’t keep coming back to wait for you to be ready. German etiquette does not call for tipping. Sometimes, they will add a 19% service charge for a large group. Keep an eye out for added gratuity, which is sometimes added as a “tourist tax.”
Service in the U.S. is very friendly and helpful. In Germany, they are helpful, but you have to ask sometimes, and it’s not always very friendly.
Tip for Germans visiting the US: tipping 15-20% in the U.S. is standard practice.
Getting Around Germany
Trains in Germany are the best and easiest way to get around. The trains go everywhere in Germany, with good timetables and it’s simple to use. In the cities, you can use buses, trams and subways. Even the smaller towns in Germany will have bus service, making it easy to get around the country without a rental car.
Tip for Germans visiting the US: cars are king in the U.S. Outside of the largest cities, there is not good public transportation.
Hotels in Germany
In Germany, a double room means two twin beds that can be pushed together to sleep two. It’s not like the US, with two queen or king size beds. If you’re traveling with children, especially teenagers, you need to request a triple room, or consider getting two rooms. Some hotels in Germany will have rules as to the number of occupants. Don’t be surprised by the thin hotel towels in Germany! They aren’t the lush, thick towels we are accustomed to in the States.
Tip for Germans visiting the US: A double room means two large beds that can sleep up to four people per room.
To learn more about Germany, check out our other videos: Five Things You’ll Love and Hate About Germany and Top Ten Sites Near Berlin.
10 MORE Things That SHOCK Tourists about Germany