7 things you shouldn’t do when you’re in Germany
The Germans will give you a herzlich willkommen in their country. Welcome, make yourself at home – but according to German unwritten rules. These 7 things you shouldn’t do when you’re in Germany make the difference between “Wilkommen zurück!” and “Auf Nimmerwiedersehen!”
And honestly: you’ve probably already got a few of them on your record…
1. Arriving late for a reservation: das ist nicht gut
Germans are crazy about punctuality. Or allergic to being late—it amounts to the same thing. Reservation at 19:00? Then you’ll be sitting at the table at 18:55. Casually arriving late is something you do in Paris, not Potsdam. Don’t want deadly looks from the staff and fellow diners? Make sure your watch is accurate to the second.
2. Only carrying your debit card
Holding a euro coin may feel like an antique find from the Copper Age to some people. Not to Germans: they’re more than happy to pay with it. At least half of everyday payments in Germany are still made in cash. Germans consider that safe and convenient.
Germans and cash
According to my German colleague, Germans would rather not pay by card because of the monitoring. If you pay by card, the bank (and, in their eyes, therefore the government too) knows exactly where you’ve been. And it’s more expensive; the business owner has to pay for card payments and pass the cost on to the customer, which is why companies choose not to offer them. Okay, one final reason: Germans like to hold on to traditions. The shift toward paying by card is definitely happening more and more, so don’t worry that you’ll have to hit the German streets with hundreds of euros in cash. But carrying a few tens of euros in cash is absolutely a good idea in Germany.
3. Driving slowly in the left lane
The German Autobahn is sacred. The left lane is for overtaking. Period. If you’re driving at 110 while everyone else comes hurtling along at 200 km/h, you’re not just annoying, but dangerous too. Whether you’re driving a Polo or a Porsche: gib Gas oder geh nach rechts.
Rules are rules
At the same time, our eastern neighbors are hugely into rules. If there’s a speed limit, you stick to it. You don’t protest a fine: rules are rules.
4. Ordering non-alcoholic beer (and nothing else)
Germans generally have a deep love of beer. It’s embedded in the culture: just look at the many Oktoberfests, beer gardens and breweries. Yes, Germans love beer. No news there. But if you show up with “Ich hätte gerne ein alkoholfreies Bier,” you’ll still be looked at somewhat pityingly, despite the worldwide rise of alcohol-free beer. No problem if you’re the designated driver, but do you really want to integrate? Start with a Weißbier mit Prozente.
5. Not speaking a single word of German
Yes, you’d better get your high-school German grammar book down from the attic, or at least download Duolingo. If you don’t speak a single word of German, you may well find yourself getting a cold reception in Germany. In big cities like Berlin, you’ll naturally get by better with English. Visiting smaller German cities and villages? Have some German words ready. Even if you’re not good with languages, or don’t know any, you can get a long way with gestures, a bit of humor and your hands and feet. For example, try memorizing these funny German expressions. Vielen Dank on behalf of our eastern neighbors.
6. Skipping the supermarket: a waste of your money
A great many products in German supermarkets are much cheaper than here in the Netherlands. It’s not for nothing that Picnic delivers a whole lot of products from Germany; the price difference can be truly enormous. So be sure to dive into that German supermarket and leave some room in your suitcase. Driving? Fill that trunk with Currywurst chips, sickly sweet Haribo and ridiculously cheap shampoo. Pro tip: Aldi in Germany is a different planet from the one here. Go experience it.
7. Moving slowly in the supermarket
The French don’t like rushing around in the supermarché. They take their time. Strolling along the aisles, chatting with the neighbor you happen to run into… In Germany, you’re better off not doing that. At least not if you’re getting in someone’s way. They value what they call Bahnhof-höflichkeit : politeness in public. Among other things, that means quickly packing your groceries at the checkout so you don’t hold up the rest of the line. No time for dawdling, just like in that left lane.
Check, check, Deutschland done!
Whether you’re going for culture, currywurst or simply cheap fuel, these 7 do’s & don’ts for Germany will help you avoid cultural blunders and make things more pleasant for both you and your German neighbor. Bitte schön.
5 German words you absolutely need to know
If you’re going to Germany, it’s smart to have at least a few basic words ready. Not only will you score points with the locals, it will also help you out at the bakery, on public transport or on a Biergarten terrace.
Here are 5 useful German words (and what they mean):
Entschuldigung: Sorry / Pardon. Handy if you ram someone with your shopping cart in the supermarket.
Bitte: Please / You’re welcome. Multifunctional, like our “please” and “you’re welcome”.
Danke: Thank you. This is the minimum effort required to come across as likable.
Rechnung, bitte: The bill, please. Essential in restaurants, and yes, always with a 5–10% tip.
Sprechen Sie Englisch?: Do you speak English? Save yourself with this sentence in case of a language emergency. Bonus points for politeness.
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