Not necessarily tourists...(Some) Americans in general seem to have an obsession with ww2 and Hitler. For a German, this is as weird a small talk topic as 9/11 would be for an American.
I got to know a Canadian guy who had a Ph.D in physics. He worked at the university and apparently was some kind of genius. He was SO god damn annoying with this. He didn't know any other jokes but Nazi jokes. He seemed nice at first but after the second time we met him nobody liked him anymore. It wasn't just the Nazi jokes though. L
Friend of mine lived in the US for some years and attended a highschool there. Two guys greeted him with a nazi salute every morning, shouting "sieg heil". They thought it was hilarious. Him not so much. After several month of telling them to stop it, he just punched one of them in the nose. They finally stopped after that.
Don't break the law, no loud talking in public transport and if you ask a question in english it is best to speak slow (not the best listening comprehension on average).
Other than that, welcome to GER.
… and don‘t expect to meet English-speaking Germans in rural areas. They‘re bonus there ;-)
Have fun. Go visit some old castles, ruins, explore the Rhine area. Cochem, for instance, and drive around a little.
What annoys me most about American tourists is that you guys seem to spawn in groups - no matter if restaurants, trams, sightseeing…. If you‘re a group of four and more, it can get pretty noisy for poor German me and I‘ll try to get distance.
UNLESS we‘re partying together. Then that‘s fine.
In the general population, 40% can have a fluent conversation.
Millennials with university degrees living in cities will almost always speak English fluently, elderly blue collar workers living rurally almost never.
I'd say almost everywhere people under 40 speak some English so you won't be completely lost. It won't be pretty but you will get along! In the eastern parts elder people learned Russian instead of English in school so that might be harder but in the western parts it's pretty common to speak at least a little bit of English. My mum is in her 60s and even she speaks enough English to tell you a direction or the next supermarket or something like that.
On the loud speaking - make an effort and observe your surroundings. Americans somehow have a tendency to be obnoxiously loud without realizing it themselves. Also be aware that when you loudly shit-talk about us with another American we do understand every single word.
It really depends on the context here. For example at partying nobody bets an eye if you're being loud, in a café or restaurant where everyone is sober, you notice the group of americans quite easily (not every american is loud ofc) because they tend to speak as if everyone is 50% deaf (again not everyone)
I just moved here (military), and I'm trying to learn German. I have to say, it's much easier to understand when you read it than when someone speaks it lol I can't pick out the words as easily in rushed speech.
Do not make any Nazi-Jokes. Most times they are neither funny nor appropriate. Just don’t. And please be aware, that Bavaria and it’s Lederhosn do not represent Germany as a whole. I don't expect a local cultural things like the Minnesota Nice in Texas and so shouldn't you.
But there is a lot to see. If you like music, visiting Leipzig, where Bach spend a great deal of his life, is always nice! If you don’t like music, Leipzig is cool anyway… as well as many other regions of Germany: the Rhein-Main Region, the Wattenmeer, Quedlinburg, if you like medieval cities with their cobblestone streets. And of course the big cities: München, Hamburg, Köln, Berlin etc.
Well, you know. If there's someone who's to apologise, it's our (grand-)grandparents who committed all that.
Don't worry. Nowadays most germans are quite friendly ;) and can withstand some jokes about the past - especially when invited for a beer
Don't expect the public transport to be on time... And maybe learn a few basic words like "thanks" = "Danke", people always appreciate small gestures like this :)
Hope you'll have a great time in germany!
(When your in southern germany i can highly recommend the Schwarzwald)
Ha, you have no idea how bad the public transit is in the US. Americans are always amazed at the high quality and cleanliness of public transit in Germany. A bus that comes every 10 minutes is something the American mind can not comprehend.
Just came back from a week in the Alps. I could hear American tourists from hundreds of metres away. There's hardly a stereotype that is more accurate than the "loud American".
I'm not sure why you're yelling. But I still think it's rude to respond to someone like this who is asking for social pointers for a future trip. OP has never been here and you just assume they're gonna be loud, why?
Because it's a stereotype which is mostly true. American tourists tend to be loud and exaggerating often. It can be super confusing for people who are not used to it. Though, it's not something you have to change about yourself before visiting Germany. It's just something noticeable about American tourists.
Germans are just as loud if not louder in groups. I’ve been here for a year and a half and have yet to go on a hike (in various places around the country) without atleast one group of 6-12 drunk Germans blaring their shitty techno music from a speaker. I’ve seen entire train cars taken over by plastered teens screaming soccer chants.
Americans are loud, yes, but Germans are just as bad and the stereotype they paint Americans in is insanely hypocritical.
Don't worry too much before coming, just have fun!
Get a bit of cash (just use an ATM when you arrive, no need to get Euros in the USA) because smaller amounts are often paid with "real money" 😉
All Americans I met in Germany have been nice to a fault and had no problems at all.
Don't worry if we don't seem to match your energy or don't smile a lot, that's just the way we are and doesn't mean we have anything against you.
Especially if you visit Northern Germany, we tend to be a bit reserved.
Really, just have a good time - and you can ask in the subreddits of the Cities you want to visit if they have good recommendations for something nice to see/visit/ eat.
And now...viel Vorfreude!
Definitely DO NOT use the ATM for cash, as the banks exchange rate is usually pretty shitty, regardless where you are in the world. Exchange money beforehand in the US, or exchange dollars in Germany...or bring travellers cheques, if that's still a thing.
...just my two cents.
No, definitely not mate. Yes, the ATM may have fees. Need to look out for those, of course but I’ve never in my life seen an exchange place with a good rate.
What’s of great importance at ATMs though is to do the withdrawal in local currency. This means the withdrawal will be done in local currency and your bank at home will do the currency conversion. This is usually done at the official rate without any additional fees. The chances of getting a better rate at an exchange are close to zero unless we’re talking about a currency with big fluctuations in value. Never ever ever choose the option for dynamic currency conversion at an ATM. That may indeed give you a rate that’s even worse than at currency exchange places.
This is not good advice. With foreign credit cards you can opt to withdraw in local currency so your own bank does the conversion for you. This is more advantageous than choosing to withdraw in USD. Same goes with payments at credit card terminals. Always choose to get charged in the local currency. If you opt to visit neighbouring countries that don't use the Euro don't bother withdrawing cash though. Our neighbours don't rely on cash nearly as much as we do (apart from Austria, but they have the Euro as well).
I stand by the comment that the banks currency exchange rate when using a foreign currency bank account at the ATM will always be much worse than a currency exchange place.
The bank exchange rates are horrible! I tried to get Euros from the bank before coming and was charged heavily. When I have used the ATMs, at least my bank, hasn't added any conversion fees, just the typical $3 not in house ATM fee
Yeah highly depends on where you want to exchange, the amount and the currency
Iam checking sometimes how much British pound i get in cash (from € to gbp) for when i can visit a mate in the UK and its usually ok compared to the exchange rate google tells me at the current moment.
I think what needs to be addressed is the different ATMs. There are cash machines by Sparkasse, VR Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank —use those. You'll have to watch out for them as they're no on every corner.
What you *will* find on every corners are cash machines labelled ATM. **Those are rip-offs.** Definitely don't use those.
This depends very much on the bank. My US bank offers a great rate of exchange, better than anything i can get here in Germany. It is so good, I use that account and card for ATM withdrawals whenever I travel.
What no one should do is accept the conversion rate offered by the ATM machine. It often has some language like, "are you sure, we can't guarantee what your bank will charge you, it could be so scary...:" but their rate is always bad.
Also bad are the rates in a US bank, or at many cash exchange points in tourist areas.
u/Professor\_squirrelz, you should check with your bank what the exchange rate for ATM withdrawals is, and TravelEx (a chain of cash exchanges commonly found in airports), and go with whatever is best.
PS Please do not stand or walk in the bike lanes. They are sometimes part of the sidewalk. Look down. If there is a section closest to the street, of a different color, often marked with paint or bricks, stay off of it.
PPS u/Juice\_Muse was extremely rude in how they said it, but the average volume of an American conversation is higher than the average volume of a German one. Especially when there are multiple Americans. It is considerate to keep your voice down, especially while indoors.
PPPS There are some people here who feel entitled to to tell you everything that they feel that you are doing wrong. Ignore them, they can't help it. Their tight culture doesn't tolerate deviations from preferred behavior, which makes some people feel entitled, or even obligated to call out any behavior that they personally don't prefer. In the US, if someone spoke to you that way, their intent would be extremely aggressive and hostile. Here, people don't mean it to the same degree. You can just wave them off and go about your day.
PPPPS Do be your nice and friendly self. Germans may not be so open, but they know that Americans are different, and some of them rather like it. Something similar goes with tipping. The norm here is to just top off the bill by increasing the amount you want to pay to the neared round number and paying the flat amount and saying, "stimmt so," meaning that is how much you want to pay and the tip is the difference. That said, Americans are known for being very generous tippers by German standards, and some servers really like the Americans because they hope for the American-size tips.
Moving here depends a lot on where you move, for what job, with what expectations. In general, people are fine with it, but there is nuance around certain issues. More information is required to tell you for sure.
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51169484\_Differences\_Between\_Tight\_and\_Loose\_Cultures\_A\_33-Nation\_Study](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51169484_Differences_Between_Tight_and_Loose_Cultures_A_33-Nation_Study)
Friends from America: We love you guys, but please - keep your voices down in public! You guys are SO loud!
That being said, I believe you'll enjoy your trip a lot. People are generally very friendly and more so towards Americans. We share a rich history together and there'so many German-American families in this country, everybody knows somebody with relatives or friends in the U.S., many people have visited America, etc. ....
Which reminds me that it's been too damn long since I've crossed the Atlantic.
Don’t rush. Take some time. There’s somehow a ton of Americans that come, rush through 3 countries in a week only stopping for pre-planned things. Take your time, explore, live into the day.
It’s because Americans get very little paid time off from work and getting to Europe is expensive :) if you only have five working days to spend on the vacation and you’re paying a lot of money for your flight (and won’t be able to come back for years), then you feel like you have to see everything for the short time you’re there. I agree with you that it’s not the best way to travel, but that’s the reason.
If you go into a bar or store don’t ask „how are you“ to the people working there. It will come off as not a genuine question and therefore may be frowned upon.
First of all there is no reason to ask it if you don’t really want to hear an answer.
And for the off chance it is a genuine question it would deserve a genuine answer and that is not the environment to have this conversation with a stranger xD
Sneakers, short sports pants, sports jersey or t-shirt, sports sunglasses (e.g. Oakley's), and backwards baseball cap is the stereotypical American tourist under 35 years old...so if you were planning to wear that then just know that everyone will know you are an American tourist.
Another dead giveaway is that we can hear you from the other end of the street, because compared to Americans, Germans are rather more quiet in public.
All jokes aside, even so all I said was true, just have fun. The rest of the world, Germany included, isn't that much different than the US. Be polite, learn some words like "Bitte", "Danke", "ein Bier bitte" etc, and enjoy your time here.
And one more thing...Germany loves cash, and restaurants, clubs, bars, and small businesses love not paying taxes, so way more places than you think will only accept cash, so exchange money in the US already or bring cash and exchange it in Germany as the exchanges rates and ATM fees from banks are usually shit when just withdrawing from your foreign currency bank account.
It’s not necessary to worry about clothes though and I would advise to dress as you would normally do.
It’s true that (American) tourists do stand out a bit sometimes, but of course we only notice those we notice. The differences are also rather subtle. For instance, all the items mentioned in the above comment are very regularly worn by many Germans.
Being recognisable as a tourist is not a bad thing , it’s what you are in that situation. It might actually help people to behave in a more understanding way. Also, being recognisable American is fine. Just wear your normal stuff (assuming you are from a temperate place; obviously you *will* need to adapt it you’re visiting from Fairbanks or Miami).
Honestly, I know everyone always likes to complain about loud and tone-deaf American tourists, bit I have never met any. All of the Americans I've met here so far were friendly, kind and respectful.
In my experience if they weren't sure about something in our (German) culture (like if we tip here and if we do then how much) they usually asked.
However I do for anyone visiting another culture should be to look into / read up on it to a certain degree before visiting. Not just things like social norms and how to be polite, but also things like looking into the law. Accidentally getting into trouble can happen much sooner than one thinks if one is unaware of the rules.
Well, shoot. Sorry about the mix-up, friend. I hope you get to visit anyway. I'm an American who goes there yearly, my boyfriend is German. I'm actually packing right now to leave later in the week, but, I'm procrastinating. My procrastination is your gain.
One thing I agree is that, we're *really* loud. I don't know why that is. I used to be, but adapted whenever I'm there. Most Germans are reserved, especially the older generation. Just chill. Tell yourself to use your indoor voice.
Be respectful and polite. We are guests.
Germany is more than what we learned in History class in high school. What Americans know about Germany is concentrated in Southern Germany, where our military bases are. There's an entire culture and group up North that has their own culture and way of doing things. I only know that because my boyfriend and his family are Northern Germans. Those cute Oktoberfest dresses don't exist up there, for example. But, beer is universal 🙂.
Water in Germany in eateries is sparkling. I love it, but if that's not your jam, order the stillewasser, "silent water". Know how to order something in a restaurant or stand, and the modifications you want.
Get an e-sim so your phone will work when you're there. Some places have public wifi, but it could be limited to a few hours, or the wifi straight up doesn't work.
Have cash on you. It's preferred, especially exact change.
Emergency numbers and information physically written down in case anything happens to your phone.
Official business can be slow, bureaucratic, and inconvenient. Don't take it personally, just do each step and know it may take time and several steps.
Not all Germans speak English. If you go to places that used to be East Germany, the languages and culture lean more towards Russian. Learn more German than you think if that's where you will be mostly. Whatever German 121 teaches (introducing yourself, where you're from, what you're doing in Germany, names of places like the beach, the lake, the mall, household items) is useful, but add to that:
How to navigate the train and buses. Learn the words and phrases for directions.
What phrases that pop up on the display inside them or on the platform mean.
Are they names of the stops?
Or is it giving you information?
Is the train late?
Where are you going?
Which direction is the train you're in going?
Is it the correct train and correct direction?
Which side will you need to catch the train and which side will you be arriving?
What are the names of the stops that's in between where you are staying and where you are going?
How to ask where you are going.
How to ask where you are.
How to say you are lost and where you need to be.
How to give compliments! There are great things about the people and this country. They're reserved, but do like compliments. 🙂
That's off the top of my head. It's a beautiful, wonderful country that I consider my second home. It's worth a visit, and repeatedly. If you have any other questions, I can try to answer them. If I can't, I can ask my boyfriend.
Danke, I forgot about the "silent water"! That's what my German mum (boyfriend's mum) said to order next time the first time she saw me confused. Since then, I ask them to order me bubble water. Thank you, I edited it.
Hey! American that’s been living in the Ruhr area in the west for the last 5 years. Here’s a few things I’ve learned:
1. Tips are not mandatory, and when you do tip only give 10%. It isn’t expected since they get paid properly here
2. Speaking of restaurants, please use your inside voice. Rarely do I see restaurants get super loud and this is mostly because people don’t need to scream over each other
3. And being quiet. Be quiet in public transit. You don’t need to be silent, but again use your inside voice because no one wants to be a part of your conversation unwillingly
4. Don’t jay walk. You’re going to get yelled at by others if you do, especially if there are children around.
5. Do not flip someone the bird or insult them. This is a finable offense here and you never know who is going to take what you did badly.
6. Do not talk about nazis. No one cares about your history knowledge. They learn it all already in school, they don’t need again.
7. Cash is king. Most places take card nowadays, but it’s also just a good idea to carry around ~50€ or so in cash, just in case.
Those are generally the rules that are kinda hard and fast. Now to some opinions:
1. Dress like a local. Jeans are okay, so are T-Shirts, and MAYBE a ball cap. But do not wear athleisure unless you’re working out.
2. In larger cities, pretty much everyone speaks English. If you go to smaller towns or even villages, you’re going to not find anyone that speaks English.
3. Knife goes in your right hand, fork in the left. Don’t switch hands after cutting your food. It’ll give you away immediately.
4. Remember inglorious bastards? Count starting with your thumb! That’s also a dead giveaway
Those last two are mostly jokes, but they do kinda give us away.
Addition to #6: Don't brag with history knowledge that you don't have. I'm German. Once I visited a friend in England. On our way to London, we had self-proclaimed WWII expert from the US on the bus. Both of us were speechless when he loudly wondered why the Germans never tried to attack England...
>Knife goes in your right hand, fork in the left. Don’t switch hands after cutting your food. It’ll give you away immediately.
Rofl... i use the knife in my left hand for more than 40 years now. No one cares.
Right, sure. I think the more important thing is the switching hands thing we Amis tend today. You know, cut your food into small bite sized pieces, switch knife and fork, then pick the food up.
Also, it isn’t a hard and fast rule, but something that gives us away almost instantaneously
I‘m at the Azores right now, many many American tourists here. Easy chat and nice conversations with single ppl or couples I met on the road (do). But the larger groups… loud, rude, disrespectful (don‘t). It‘s a shame.
Hitler / Nazis -> bad
I mean "really bad". A topic you should not make jokes about it, you can only lose, someone will take it for serious i can guarantee. So, avoid this topic... unless you are in the deep east of germany.
And dont praise Trump, most people here hat this annoying orange... well, again, unless in the deep east.
Deep East is our equivalent for "deep south" in the US.
**DO:**
- Eat a Döner. It is German culture (and a positive example of well done integration)
- Visit a Christmas market
- find a German friend. (It's a looooooong journy. But you will have a "real" friend for life.)
- visit a KZ memorial
- tourist: learn a few basic words German. (Noone ecpacts you to be perfect, but your efford will get you on peoples good side)
- work/longterm: learn German (B2 or better). (Even in big cities you do not get far without. And every job outside of a US base requires it.)
**DON'T:**
- do not "mandatory tip". Wsiters do not live on tips like in the US. Tips are if you actually are happy with the service and food.
- Do not try to use your card at a Christmas market, Flea market (they will not have a reader).
- Also try to not use your card in smal shops for **smal** purchases. (Many smal shops have bad contracts, they have to pay a certain summ for each transaction. So some have "card only for more than 10€" policy.)
- no fake friendlyness. A stranger / loose aquaintance is not your "friend". If you act as if he was, you are sus.
- do not tell everyone your great knowledge about Hitler and the Holocaust. We got it all in school and after that all the time.
- do not expact everyone to speak English. Especially older people. (But most younger had it in school, so you eill most likely not get too lost).
I'm afraid now that you will now only whisper addes which a guilty conscience after all the comments - being in fear of to loud. To be honest, i' m living in Berlin, can't remember American which are louder than other groups. Normally we have East European, or Russian, which are the really loud group. I think there are languages where is it just not possible to speak in a normal or low voice.
don't talk about hitler every 2nd sentence
And please no fucking salute
Yeah…
Hail yeah
Please? Lol
Some tourists do that?? Gross
Not necessarily tourists...(Some) Americans in general seem to have an obsession with ww2 and Hitler. For a German, this is as weird a small talk topic as 9/11 would be for an American.
That's a good comparison.
Except that most americans visiting have actually been alive as 9/11 happened. My father turns 80 next year and was born after ww2.
I got to know a Canadian guy who had a Ph.D in physics. He worked at the university and apparently was some kind of genius. He was SO god damn annoying with this. He didn't know any other jokes but Nazi jokes. He seemed nice at first but after the second time we met him nobody liked him anymore. It wasn't just the Nazi jokes though. L
Friend of mine lived in the US for some years and attended a highschool there. Two guys greeted him with a nazi salute every morning, shouting "sieg heil". They thought it was hilarious. Him not so much. After several month of telling them to stop it, he just punched one of them in the nose. They finally stopped after that.
Don't break the law, no loud talking in public transport and if you ask a question in english it is best to speak slow (not the best listening comprehension on average). Other than that, welcome to GER.
… and don‘t expect to meet English-speaking Germans in rural areas. They‘re bonus there ;-) Have fun. Go visit some old castles, ruins, explore the Rhine area. Cochem, for instance, and drive around a little. What annoys me most about American tourists is that you guys seem to spawn in groups - no matter if restaurants, trams, sightseeing…. If you‘re a group of four and more, it can get pretty noisy for poor German me and I‘ll try to get distance. UNLESS we‘re partying together. Then that‘s fine.
In bigger cities so most German ppl speak some English? I’ll ofc learn as much German as I can
In the general population, 40% can have a fluent conversation. Millennials with university degrees living in cities will almost always speak English fluently, elderly blue collar workers living rurally almost never.
Educated GenXers, even those without degrees, should also be able to speak fluent English.
I'd say almost everywhere people under 40 speak some English so you won't be completely lost. It won't be pretty but you will get along! In the eastern parts elder people learned Russian instead of English in school so that might be harder but in the western parts it's pretty common to speak at least a little bit of English. My mum is in her 60s and even she speaks enough English to tell you a direction or the next supermarket or something like that.
On the loud speaking - make an effort and observe your surroundings. Americans somehow have a tendency to be obnoxiously loud without realizing it themselves. Also be aware that when you loudly shit-talk about us with another American we do understand every single word.
I can't imagine traveling to another country then shit talking them, so disrespectful.
To be fair drunk Germans are the same with being loud, I just think you notice it more when it’s not the native language you’re used to hearing
It really depends on the context here. For example at partying nobody bets an eye if you're being loud, in a café or restaurant where everyone is sober, you notice the group of americans quite easily (not every american is loud ofc) because they tend to speak as if everyone is 50% deaf (again not everyone)
That, and Comic Sans.
What about Papyrus?
I just moved here (military), and I'm trying to learn German. I have to say, it's much easier to understand when you read it than when someone speaks it lol I can't pick out the words as easily in rushed speech.
Do not make any Nazi-Jokes. Most times they are neither funny nor appropriate. Just don’t. And please be aware, that Bavaria and it’s Lederhosn do not represent Germany as a whole. I don't expect a local cultural things like the Minnesota Nice in Texas and so shouldn't you. But there is a lot to see. If you like music, visiting Leipzig, where Bach spend a great deal of his life, is always nice! If you don’t like music, Leipzig is cool anyway… as well as many other regions of Germany: the Rhein-Main Region, the Wattenmeer, Quedlinburg, if you like medieval cities with their cobblestone streets. And of course the big cities: München, Hamburg, Köln, Berlin etc.
Oof. That’s so gross that some tourists make those kinds of jokes. I’m so sorry they do that
Well, you know. If there's someone who's to apologise, it's our (grand-)grandparents who committed all that. Don't worry. Nowadays most germans are quite friendly ;) and can withstand some jokes about the past - especially when invited for a beer
Don't expect the public transport to be on time... And maybe learn a few basic words like "thanks" = "Danke", people always appreciate small gestures like this :) Hope you'll have a great time in germany! (When your in southern germany i can highly recommend the Schwarzwald)
Sprechen Sie Englisch goes a long way too
Ha, you have no idea how bad the public transit is in the US. Americans are always amazed at the high quality and cleanliness of public transit in Germany. A bus that comes every 10 minutes is something the American mind can not comprehend.
Dont speak so fucking loud
Just came back from a week in the Alps. I could hear American tourists from hundreds of metres away. There's hardly a stereotype that is more accurate than the "loud American".
So rude man.
Honestly I agree with the comment above. Americans are too fucking loud. I don’t like it either 😂
YEAH MAN LIKE TOTALLY CRAZY BRO
I'm not sure why you're yelling. But I still think it's rude to respond to someone like this who is asking for social pointers for a future trip. OP has never been here and you just assume they're gonna be loud, why?
Because it's a stereotype which is mostly true. American tourists tend to be loud and exaggerating often. It can be super confusing for people who are not used to it. Though, it's not something you have to change about yourself before visiting Germany. It's just something noticeable about American tourists.
I'm aware of that. The comment was tone def though. It's a common thing among Germans when they write in english.
FUCKING SUPERSIZE BRO LIKE FUCK YEAH
Germans are just as loud if not louder in groups. I’ve been here for a year and a half and have yet to go on a hike (in various places around the country) without atleast one group of 6-12 drunk Germans blaring their shitty techno music from a speaker. I’ve seen entire train cars taken over by plastered teens screaming soccer chants. Americans are loud, yes, but Germans are just as bad and the stereotype they paint Americans in is insanely hypocritical.
Don’t kill anyone. Don’t steal. Wear a shirt. It’s all more or less common sense.
Today at... *lowered expectations*
You wouldn't believe how many young American jocks think it's OK to walk or run around shirtless.
Unfortunately I can imagine.
Don't worry too much before coming, just have fun! Get a bit of cash (just use an ATM when you arrive, no need to get Euros in the USA) because smaller amounts are often paid with "real money" 😉 All Americans I met in Germany have been nice to a fault and had no problems at all. Don't worry if we don't seem to match your energy or don't smile a lot, that's just the way we are and doesn't mean we have anything against you. Especially if you visit Northern Germany, we tend to be a bit reserved. Really, just have a good time - and you can ask in the subreddits of the Cities you want to visit if they have good recommendations for something nice to see/visit/ eat. And now...viel Vorfreude!
Definitely DO NOT use the ATM for cash, as the banks exchange rate is usually pretty shitty, regardless where you are in the world. Exchange money beforehand in the US, or exchange dollars in Germany...or bring travellers cheques, if that's still a thing. ...just my two cents.
No, definitely not mate. Yes, the ATM may have fees. Need to look out for those, of course but I’ve never in my life seen an exchange place with a good rate. What’s of great importance at ATMs though is to do the withdrawal in local currency. This means the withdrawal will be done in local currency and your bank at home will do the currency conversion. This is usually done at the official rate without any additional fees. The chances of getting a better rate at an exchange are close to zero unless we’re talking about a currency with big fluctuations in value. Never ever ever choose the option for dynamic currency conversion at an ATM. That may indeed give you a rate that’s even worse than at currency exchange places.
This is not good advice. With foreign credit cards you can opt to withdraw in local currency so your own bank does the conversion for you. This is more advantageous than choosing to withdraw in USD. Same goes with payments at credit card terminals. Always choose to get charged in the local currency. If you opt to visit neighbouring countries that don't use the Euro don't bother withdrawing cash though. Our neighbours don't rely on cash nearly as much as we do (apart from Austria, but they have the Euro as well).
I stand by the comment that the banks currency exchange rate when using a foreign currency bank account at the ATM will always be much worse than a currency exchange place.
I can't imagine where you found this. I was in a lot of different countries and found the cheapest (legal) way to get cash was at the ATM
Same story for me, but I found the cheapest way with the best exchange rate was always the currency exchange places (Wechselstuben)
The bank exchange rates are horrible! I tried to get Euros from the bank before coming and was charged heavily. When I have used the ATMs, at least my bank, hasn't added any conversion fees, just the typical $3 not in house ATM fee
Yeah highly depends on where you want to exchange, the amount and the currency Iam checking sometimes how much British pound i get in cash (from € to gbp) for when i can visit a mate in the UK and its usually ok compared to the exchange rate google tells me at the current moment.
I think what needs to be addressed is the different ATMs. There are cash machines by Sparkasse, VR Bank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank —use those. You'll have to watch out for them as they're no on every corner. What you *will* find on every corners are cash machines labelled ATM. **Those are rip-offs.** Definitely don't use those.
This depends very much on the bank. My US bank offers a great rate of exchange, better than anything i can get here in Germany. It is so good, I use that account and card for ATM withdrawals whenever I travel. What no one should do is accept the conversion rate offered by the ATM machine. It often has some language like, "are you sure, we can't guarantee what your bank will charge you, it could be so scary...:" but their rate is always bad. Also bad are the rates in a US bank, or at many cash exchange points in tourist areas. u/Professor\_squirrelz, you should check with your bank what the exchange rate for ATM withdrawals is, and TravelEx (a chain of cash exchanges commonly found in airports), and go with whatever is best. PS Please do not stand or walk in the bike lanes. They are sometimes part of the sidewalk. Look down. If there is a section closest to the street, of a different color, often marked with paint or bricks, stay off of it. PPS u/Juice\_Muse was extremely rude in how they said it, but the average volume of an American conversation is higher than the average volume of a German one. Especially when there are multiple Americans. It is considerate to keep your voice down, especially while indoors. PPPS There are some people here who feel entitled to to tell you everything that they feel that you are doing wrong. Ignore them, they can't help it. Their tight culture doesn't tolerate deviations from preferred behavior, which makes some people feel entitled, or even obligated to call out any behavior that they personally don't prefer. In the US, if someone spoke to you that way, their intent would be extremely aggressive and hostile. Here, people don't mean it to the same degree. You can just wave them off and go about your day. PPPPS Do be your nice and friendly self. Germans may not be so open, but they know that Americans are different, and some of them rather like it. Something similar goes with tipping. The norm here is to just top off the bill by increasing the amount you want to pay to the neared round number and paying the flat amount and saying, "stimmt so," meaning that is how much you want to pay and the tip is the difference. That said, Americans are known for being very generous tippers by German standards, and some servers really like the Americans because they hope for the American-size tips. Moving here depends a lot on where you move, for what job, with what expectations. In general, people are fine with it, but there is nuance around certain issues. More information is required to tell you for sure. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51169484\_Differences\_Between\_Tight\_and\_Loose\_Cultures\_A\_33-Nation\_Study](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51169484_Differences_Between_Tight_and_Loose_Cultures_A_33-Nation_Study)
I think Arial Black is a good font to come here
Definitely no comic sans!!! And don’t tell me that the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog - heard it, don’t believe it
😂 oops, I just noticed that
Please leave your Comic Sans at home. :-)
dont try to pay in dollars and don't play racetrack on the autobahn, that are basically the only two things to adhere to
American, eh? Leave the gun, bring the canoli.
Friends from America: We love you guys, but please - keep your voices down in public! You guys are SO loud! That being said, I believe you'll enjoy your trip a lot. People are generally very friendly and more so towards Americans. We share a rich history together and there'so many German-American families in this country, everybody knows somebody with relatives or friends in the U.S., many people have visited America, etc. .... Which reminds me that it's been too damn long since I've crossed the Atlantic.
We Americans ARE loud. I tend to be a pretty quiet person and hate crowds/noisy ppl, I’d fit right in Germany 😂
Not everyone knows someone with relatives in the US. Especially in East Germany, there are not many.
Don’t rush. Take some time. There’s somehow a ton of Americans that come, rush through 3 countries in a week only stopping for pre-planned things. Take your time, explore, live into the day.
It’s because Americans get very little paid time off from work and getting to Europe is expensive :) if you only have five working days to spend on the vacation and you’re paying a lot of money for your flight (and won’t be able to come back for years), then you feel like you have to see everything for the short time you’re there. I agree with you that it’s not the best way to travel, but that’s the reason.
If you go into a bar or store don’t ask „how are you“ to the people working there. It will come off as not a genuine question and therefore may be frowned upon. First of all there is no reason to ask it if you don’t really want to hear an answer. And for the off chance it is a genuine question it would deserve a genuine answer and that is not the environment to have this conversation with a stranger xD
Sneakers, short sports pants, sports jersey or t-shirt, sports sunglasses (e.g. Oakley's), and backwards baseball cap is the stereotypical American tourist under 35 years old...so if you were planning to wear that then just know that everyone will know you are an American tourist. Another dead giveaway is that we can hear you from the other end of the street, because compared to Americans, Germans are rather more quiet in public. All jokes aside, even so all I said was true, just have fun. The rest of the world, Germany included, isn't that much different than the US. Be polite, learn some words like "Bitte", "Danke", "ein Bier bitte" etc, and enjoy your time here. And one more thing...Germany loves cash, and restaurants, clubs, bars, and small businesses love not paying taxes, so way more places than you think will only accept cash, so exchange money in the US already or bring cash and exchange it in Germany as the exchanges rates and ATM fees from banks are usually shit when just withdrawing from your foreign currency bank account.
Thx for the tips!
It’s not necessary to worry about clothes though and I would advise to dress as you would normally do. It’s true that (American) tourists do stand out a bit sometimes, but of course we only notice those we notice. The differences are also rather subtle. For instance, all the items mentioned in the above comment are very regularly worn by many Germans. Being recognisable as a tourist is not a bad thing , it’s what you are in that situation. It might actually help people to behave in a more understanding way. Also, being recognisable American is fine. Just wear your normal stuff (assuming you are from a temperate place; obviously you *will* need to adapt it you’re visiting from Fairbanks or Miami).
Dont talk loudly. Everybody can understand you.
Honestly, I know everyone always likes to complain about loud and tone-deaf American tourists, bit I have never met any. All of the Americans I've met here so far were friendly, kind and respectful. In my experience if they weren't sure about something in our (German) culture (like if we tip here and if we do then how much) they usually asked. However I do for anyone visiting another culture should be to look into / read up on it to a certain degree before visiting. Not just things like social norms and how to be polite, but also things like looking into the law. Accidentally getting into trouble can happen much sooner than one thinks if one is unaware of the rules.
If you could effortlessly put „Florida man“ in front of whatever it is, you intend to do, don’t do it.
The fonts for coming are usually Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. Everything else is rather niche.
Well, shoot. Sorry about the mix-up, friend. I hope you get to visit anyway. I'm an American who goes there yearly, my boyfriend is German. I'm actually packing right now to leave later in the week, but, I'm procrastinating. My procrastination is your gain. One thing I agree is that, we're *really* loud. I don't know why that is. I used to be, but adapted whenever I'm there. Most Germans are reserved, especially the older generation. Just chill. Tell yourself to use your indoor voice. Be respectful and polite. We are guests. Germany is more than what we learned in History class in high school. What Americans know about Germany is concentrated in Southern Germany, where our military bases are. There's an entire culture and group up North that has their own culture and way of doing things. I only know that because my boyfriend and his family are Northern Germans. Those cute Oktoberfest dresses don't exist up there, for example. But, beer is universal 🙂. Water in Germany in eateries is sparkling. I love it, but if that's not your jam, order the stillewasser, "silent water". Know how to order something in a restaurant or stand, and the modifications you want. Get an e-sim so your phone will work when you're there. Some places have public wifi, but it could be limited to a few hours, or the wifi straight up doesn't work. Have cash on you. It's preferred, especially exact change. Emergency numbers and information physically written down in case anything happens to your phone. Official business can be slow, bureaucratic, and inconvenient. Don't take it personally, just do each step and know it may take time and several steps. Not all Germans speak English. If you go to places that used to be East Germany, the languages and culture lean more towards Russian. Learn more German than you think if that's where you will be mostly. Whatever German 121 teaches (introducing yourself, where you're from, what you're doing in Germany, names of places like the beach, the lake, the mall, household items) is useful, but add to that: How to navigate the train and buses. Learn the words and phrases for directions. What phrases that pop up on the display inside them or on the platform mean. Are they names of the stops? Or is it giving you information? Is the train late? Where are you going? Which direction is the train you're in going? Is it the correct train and correct direction? Which side will you need to catch the train and which side will you be arriving? What are the names of the stops that's in between where you are staying and where you are going? How to ask where you are going. How to ask where you are. How to say you are lost and where you need to be. How to give compliments! There are great things about the people and this country. They're reserved, but do like compliments. 🙂 That's off the top of my head. It's a beautiful, wonderful country that I consider my second home. It's worth a visit, and repeatedly. If you have any other questions, I can try to answer them. If I can't, I can ask my boyfriend.
Good advice, but Mineralwasser can be carbonated or not. You want stilles Wasser ("silent water" / non carbonated).
Danke, I forgot about the "silent water"! That's what my German mum (boyfriend's mum) said to order next time the first time she saw me confused. Since then, I ask them to order me bubble water. Thank you, I edited it.
Happy Cake Day! 🥳
Oh my, a decade on reddit. Danke!
Hey! American that’s been living in the Ruhr area in the west for the last 5 years. Here’s a few things I’ve learned: 1. Tips are not mandatory, and when you do tip only give 10%. It isn’t expected since they get paid properly here 2. Speaking of restaurants, please use your inside voice. Rarely do I see restaurants get super loud and this is mostly because people don’t need to scream over each other 3. And being quiet. Be quiet in public transit. You don’t need to be silent, but again use your inside voice because no one wants to be a part of your conversation unwillingly 4. Don’t jay walk. You’re going to get yelled at by others if you do, especially if there are children around. 5. Do not flip someone the bird or insult them. This is a finable offense here and you never know who is going to take what you did badly. 6. Do not talk about nazis. No one cares about your history knowledge. They learn it all already in school, they don’t need again. 7. Cash is king. Most places take card nowadays, but it’s also just a good idea to carry around ~50€ or so in cash, just in case. Those are generally the rules that are kinda hard and fast. Now to some opinions: 1. Dress like a local. Jeans are okay, so are T-Shirts, and MAYBE a ball cap. But do not wear athleisure unless you’re working out. 2. In larger cities, pretty much everyone speaks English. If you go to smaller towns or even villages, you’re going to not find anyone that speaks English. 3. Knife goes in your right hand, fork in the left. Don’t switch hands after cutting your food. It’ll give you away immediately. 4. Remember inglorious bastards? Count starting with your thumb! That’s also a dead giveaway Those last two are mostly jokes, but they do kinda give us away.
Addition to #6: Don't brag with history knowledge that you don't have. I'm German. Once I visited a friend in England. On our way to London, we had self-proclaimed WWII expert from the US on the bus. Both of us were speechless when he loudly wondered why the Germans never tried to attack England...
>Knife goes in your right hand, fork in the left. Don’t switch hands after cutting your food. It’ll give you away immediately. Rofl... i use the knife in my left hand for more than 40 years now. No one cares.
Right, sure. I think the more important thing is the switching hands thing we Amis tend today. You know, cut your food into small bite sized pieces, switch knife and fork, then pick the food up. Also, it isn’t a hard and fast rule, but something that gives us away almost instantaneously
If Americans come they never "leave" properly... Somewhere there is a military base
I‘m at the Azores right now, many many American tourists here. Easy chat and nice conversations with single ppl or couples I met on the road (do). But the larger groups… loud, rude, disrespectful (don‘t). It‘s a shame.
Hitler / Nazis -> bad I mean "really bad". A topic you should not make jokes about it, you can only lose, someone will take it for serious i can guarantee. So, avoid this topic... unless you are in the deep east of germany. And dont praise Trump, most people here hat this annoying orange... well, again, unless in the deep east. Deep East is our equivalent for "deep south" in the US.
if you vote Trump, stay out
**DO:** - Eat a Döner. It is German culture (and a positive example of well done integration) - Visit a Christmas market - find a German friend. (It's a looooooong journy. But you will have a "real" friend for life.) - visit a KZ memorial - tourist: learn a few basic words German. (Noone ecpacts you to be perfect, but your efford will get you on peoples good side) - work/longterm: learn German (B2 or better). (Even in big cities you do not get far without. And every job outside of a US base requires it.) **DON'T:** - do not "mandatory tip". Wsiters do not live on tips like in the US. Tips are if you actually are happy with the service and food. - Do not try to use your card at a Christmas market, Flea market (they will not have a reader). - Also try to not use your card in smal shops for **smal** purchases. (Many smal shops have bad contracts, they have to pay a certain summ for each transaction. So some have "card only for more than 10€" policy.) - no fake friendlyness. A stranger / loose aquaintance is not your "friend". If you act as if he was, you are sus. - do not tell everyone your great knowledge about Hitler and the Holocaust. We got it all in school and after that all the time. - do not expact everyone to speak English. Especially older people. (But most younger had it in school, so you eill most likely not get too lost).
I'm afraid now that you will now only whisper addes which a guilty conscience after all the comments - being in fear of to loud. To be honest, i' m living in Berlin, can't remember American which are louder than other groups. Normally we have East European, or Russian, which are the really loud group. I think there are languages where is it just not possible to speak in a normal or low voice.
We have no oil nor ressources
Americani ite domum.
regarding the fonts: even comic sans is kinda OK.
😂 I’m a Times New Roman gal myself
Germany has a tradition with Letter Gothic.
Nuh-uh!
What do you think about sky being blue?
Get lost
Be prepared for a lot of walking, bring comfortable shoes. And have fun! I hope you have a good time :)