How to be the Perfect Tourist in Germany!

Germany is waiting for you! We love tourists 😍... if they play by the rules 😅

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to DW Travel

Would you like to find out more about DW Travel?

DW Travel is showing you the captivating world of travel. Come along with us to regions and cities in Germany, throughout Europe and to far-away destinations.

#visitgermany #shorts

[e.]

I don't think that these are the most important ones for tourists. Maybe the quiet times are important to know. Chewing with open mouth is rude almost anywhere in Europe/westeen culture (I don't speak for other cultures due to be lack of knowledge and them), the napkin thing isn't really a big thing.
More important things to know when in a restaurant: do not "customise" your order too much, it comes across as entitlement and interfering with the chef's creations (it's okay to ask if you have dietary restrictions, like food allergies). Don't expect free water or refills, if you ask for free tap water, you'll come across as a cheap freeloader (restaurants make most of their revenue from drinks, not food here), Americans: do tip - those travel blogs are lying to you (Germans at least "round up" or tip around 10%, 15 is kind, 20 very generous). Don't expect the servers to be at your side at all times, German restaurants have fewer servers per table and they're trained to keep in the background. German patrons view being left in peace as a sign of good service, they will see American style service as annoying (having to interrupt conversations to reassure the server that they're fine) and weird. On the flip side, waving at or calling the server to order more drinks or pay the check is totally okay (do it with a smile and a friendly tone of voice), you don't have to wait until they come to you.
Other important etiquette rules for tourists:
1. Public transport: you have to buy your public transport ticket before you enter the train/bus, there are no turnstiles but random ticket checks. You pay at least a 60 Euro fine if you're caught without one. Download the public transport apps for the VC area, the night be an option to buy tickets via app. They also help navigate the system. Don't be too loud on public transport. That's rude
2. Road traffic: the traffic lights are too be obeyed, even for pedestrians. Even if there's no car anywhere. Drivers actually do stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings and pedestrians expect the car to stop and behave accordingly. Keep a look out for small children walking around without adult company, it's normal for groups of primary school children to walk themselves to school. They're less visible between parked cars, so be careful. You only overtake on the left on the highway and you immediately move back to the right. You keep a very comfortable distance between you and the car before you.
3. Don't film or take pictures of people without their expressed consent (Google the "right to your own image" laws to understand the details and exceptions of the law). Those aholes who provoke people until they react and then film then to make them look like a Karen in order to get more clicks would be breaking the law in Germany. Don't film with drones if you don't a permit from the municipality in which you're filming, that's also against the law.
4. Don't ever do the Nazi salute in Germany, also be very careful when joking about the Third Reich. You can joke, but there's a nuance to what's funny and what's just tasteless that you might not get as an outsider. It's easier to avoid them altogether until you have a better grasp of the nuance (if you plan on staying longer).

I've got more, but I need to go to bed now ...

[s.l.c.]

My best friend is german so I vacation there a lot, word of advice for English speaking tourists "who can speak some german" if you're in a shop, café, restaurant etc if you speak to someone in german and they immediately switch to English. Continue in English, knowing some german is often met with appreciating the effort, however what you just said in german was too broken or unintelligible to understand/Continue the interaction in, it will make it easier on both .

[philip.morris]

Germany's Europe's best kept secret. I love it

[hape]

The fork stays always in the left hand, and the knife in the right hand.

[DevarshRBhatt]

What do you mean put a napkin on my leg? I need to feed some food to my pants and shirt😂

[andregessoartes]

Hello Like for you
Fantastic Channel 👏👏👏👏👏

[lolaartemis]

These seem like typical for America rules too. Only, I wouldn't call or make noise from 9 pm to 9 am.

[_temporary]

Why can't I talk with my mouth full ? Why i need to eat with fork and spoon and handkerchief ? 😢