10 Things Tourists Should Not Do When They Visit Germany
The DON’TS of Visiting Germany
Greetings from Munich, Germany! Today, we’re sharing the “don’ts” of traveling in Germany. There are so many things you should do when you visit Germany, like visiting Berlin, Munich or the Harz Mountains. Along with those, there are some things you shouldn’t do. Knowing these ahead of time will make your German vacation go more smoothly, with fewer unpleasant surprises.
Germany Travel Tip #1: Don’t Assume Any German Stereotypes
German stereotypes have many travelers believing that Germans are cold, uncaring people. It’s just not true. Germans are wonderful, helpful, kind people. For travelers who want to see this side of the Germans, it’s important to ask for help and begin the interaction. German service can come across as cold, but it’s very professional, and if questions are asked, they open up and become very helpful.
Read: 10 Things That SHOCK Tourists When They Visit Germany
Germany Travel Tip #2: Don’t Jaywalk
Anyone who jaywalks can expect a scolding from any nearby Germans. Germans are very rule oriented, and they really don’t like to see rules being broken. They have no qualms about calling out a rule breaker, so a traveler who tries to cross on red just might be a scolding from a nearby German grandma. (It’s possible to be fined for it, too!)
Germany Travel Tip #3: Don’t Forget the Pfand
The pfand is the deposit on glasses and bottles. Don’t throw these away, or leave glasses on the table when you leave a beer garden or Christmas market. At the Christmas markets, Glühwein comes in decorative mugs that make a great souvenir. They charge for the glühwein, and there’s an additional deposit of 3-5 Euros for the mug. Unless you want to keep all of the mugs and bring them home, make sure to get the deposit back by turning them into the bartender.
Germany Travel Tip #4: Don’t Forget a Gift if Invited to a German Home
Germans are very welcoming, so it’s not uncommon for a tourist to be invited into a German home. If this happens, its important to show gratitude with a small gift such as flowers, wine or candy. It’s also common to remove shoes upon entering a German home, and often there are guest slippers available.
Germany Travel Tip #5: Don’t Be Disrespectful at Concentration Camps & Jewish Memorials
A new disturbing trend in travel is taking selfies and acting silly at places like the Jewish Memorial in Berlin. It’s not a parkour course, it’s a memorial to slain Jewish people, and should be treated as such. When visiting the concentration camps, keep in mind what happened here and leave the selfie sticks behind.
Germany Travel Tip #6: Don’t Wait! (to Sit, to Pay, to Order, etc)
Germans are very efficient, and want to get things done. Germans are also very punctual, so travelers should be on time when expected. This is more evident in restaurants. Diners are expected to order right away once given the menus, so it’s not like the U.S. where the waiter keeps coming back to the table. Look at the menu right away and be ready to order. Similarly, when the meal is done, the check must be requested and they’ll bring it right away.
Read: What to Know Before You Visit Germany for the First Time
Germany Travel Tip #7: Don’t Experiment on the Autobahn
The Autobahn sounds really cool, but it can also be really scary for tourists. Driving 140km means you’re in the right lane, or the slow lane, while sports cars zoom by at unimaginable speeds. People not comfortable driving at high rates of speed should stick to public transportation, which is easy and goes everywhere in Germany.
Germany Travel Tip #8: Don’t Expect to Shop on Sundays
Most of Germany, except for museums and restaurants, is closed on Sundays. So, anyone visiting Germany for a long weekend should plan to do any shopping on Friday or Saturday. Generally, if there’s a shopping center attached to the train station, it will likely be open on Sundays. In December, many shops extend hours to Sunday for Christmas shoppers, but in general, don’t plan to shop on Sundays. Likewise, many museums close on Mondays, so plan accordingly for that as well.
Germany Travel Tip #9: Don’t Forget to Have Cash
Germans prefer cash over credit cards, so it’s always good to have some cash on hand when traveling in Germany. There are ATM’s all over, but credit cards are not accepted everywhere, especially if you stray off the tourist path.
Germany Travel Tip #10: Don’t Expect to See Half-Timbered Houses
Germany is much more than half-timbered houses and beer halls. Berlin, Munich and Hamburg are all very modern, rebuilt cities. Half timbered houses exist, but mostly in the Bavarian and southern regions of Germany. Travelers who explore many areas of Germany will realize there is a wide variety of cities and regions all in one country.
With these ten don’ts, you’re well on your way to a successful, enjoyable Germany vacation. For more Germany travel tips, check out some of our other blog posts:
- Five Things to Eat in Germany
- What to Know Before You Visit Germany
- Ten Shocks of Visiting Germany
- Ten MORE Shocks of Visiting Germany
