Travel to GERMANY
Germany, (officially: the Federal Republic of Germany), (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the largest country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany is a federation of 16 states, roughly corresponding to regions with their own distinct and unique cultures. Germany is one of the most influential nations in European culture, and its influence on world economy cannot be denied. Known around the world for its precision engineering and high-tech products, it is equally admired by visitors for its old-world charm and "Gemütlichkeit" (coziness), or guest-friendly-ness. If you have perceptions of Germany as simply homogeneous, it will surprise you with its many historical regions and much local diversity for its relatively small size.
Berlin
Hamburg
Cologne
Dresden
Dusseldorf
Frankfurt
Nuremberg
The Baltic Sea Coast
The Rhine Valley
Franconian Switzerland
Black Forest
Lake Constance
The Bavarian Alps
Heidelberg.
The Castle Road
UNDERSTAND
Electricity
The electricity supply runs at 230V 50Hz. Almost all outlets use the Schuko plug, most appliances have a thinner but compatible Europlug. Adapters for other plugs are widely available in electronics stores.
REGIONS
Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states (called "Bundesländer" or, shortened to, "Länder" in German). Three of the Bundesländer are actually city-states: Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. The states can be roughly grouped by geography as listed below.
Northern Germany (Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein)
Wind-swept hills and the popular vacation destinations of the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts.
Western Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland)
Wine country and modern cities sharply cut by the breathtaking Rhine Valley and Moselle valley.
Central Germany (Hesse, Thuringia)
The green heart of Germany, with some of the most important
historical and financial cities and the ancient Thuringian Forest.
Eastern Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt)
highlighted by the eccentric and historic capital Berlin, and rebuilt historic Dresden, "Florence on the Elbe".
Southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria)
Black Forest, Alps, and Oktoberfest. The Germany of Lederhosen, Dirndls, postcards and HighTech Companies.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
- Heuneburg, Baden-Württemberg (seat of an important Celtic prince in the Late Hallstatt Period).
- Hochdorf and Hohmihele, near Ludwigsburg (tombs of Celtic princes).
- Limes, about 550 kilometers, from Regensburg to North of Mainz (Roman fortifications against the barbaric German tribes).
- Trier, (oldest German town with the best preserved Roman buildings north of the Alps).
- Xanten, (excavations of the Roman town Colonia Ulpia Traiana, rendering a complete picture of a Roman colonial town).
TALK
The official language of Germany is German. The standard form of
German is called "Hochdeutsch" (High German). This is accent-free or
better dialect-free German, the "official" form of the language. It is
understood by all and spoken by almost all Germans. However, every
region has its historical dialect, which might pose a challenge
sometimes to those who speak even good German and even to native
speakers as well. This is usually noticeable only in the south and
rural areas of the north and east. Thus, when traveling in Bavaria,
Saxony and Baden, you are stepping foot in places where dialect remains
a strong part of the local identity. The general rule is that south of
the Main River divides north Germany from the south in both language
dialects and local culture.
All Germans learn English at school, so you should be able to get by
with English in most places. Many people--especially in the tourism
industry and higher educated persons--also speak French, Russian or
Spanish, but if you can't speak German, English remains your best bet.
Even if one member of the staff doesn't speak English, you are likely
to find someone who does and is more than willing to help you. In the
southeastern part of that area, a small Slavic community of 50,000 also
speak the Sorbian language, the least spoken modern Slavic language
today, but widely protected from near-extinction since 1945.
If you address a German with English, always first ask "Do you speak
English?" or even better its German translation, "Sprechen Sie
Englisch?" as that is considered a sign of politeness.
Germans less fluent in the English language often answer questions
very briefly (one or two words) because they feel uncertain how to
create a complete English sentence. This might sometimes appear
impolite but is not at all meant this way. Germans less fluent in
English also often say "become" instead of "get" because the German
word "bekommen" ("get") is phonetically so close to "become". Since
it's polite to reply "Bitte" if someone thanks you, Germans may
literally translate this with "please" instead of "here you are" or
"you're welcome". Another source of confusion is that Germans call
mobile or cellular phones a "Handy" and many of them regard this as an
English word.
While Germany uses the 24 hour format for times, people very often
use 12 hour times in conversations. There is no real suffix like
"AM/PM", though you can add "vormittags" (before noon) and
"nachmittags" (after noon) when it's not clear from the context.
Another difference is that when saying the time is 7:30, English
speakers would say "half (past) seven" whereas Germans say "halb acht"
("half eight"). In addition, Germans say two-digit numbers "backwards":
instead of "twenty-two" they say "two and twenty." Numbers below 20
are said the same way as in English. This becomes especially important
when you inquire for prices, although most who speak English with you
should use the correct form. It is still better to double-check what is
really meant.
DO
Germany offers virtually every activity you can imagine. Most Germans are members of a sports club and visit cultural events less often. Due to the federal structure every region has its own specific activities. In 2010 the city Essen is the european capital of culture. Through the year many attractions in Essen will be shown.
Nature
Due to its size and location in central Europe, Germany boasts a
large variety of different landscapes, offering many activities related
to nature, from hiking in the forests to exploring the picturesque
islands off the northern coasts!
- Seacoasts: Germany's north has coasts to the North Sea and the
Baltic Sea. The landscape, especially along the North Sea shore is very
flat, the climate is rough with strong winds and mild, chilly
temperatures. Due to the south-easterly winds that press water into the
German Bight, tidal variations are exceptionally high, creating the
UNESCO's World Heritage "Wattenmeer": Vast areas of the seabed are
uncovered twice a day, allowing one to walk from one of the numerous
islands to another. The North Sea islands just off the coast are very
picturesque, although mostly visited by the Germans themselves. Most of
the north sea islands are free of car traffic and guarantee a silent
holiday. Out in the German Bight lies the country's only off-shore
island, Helgoland. Thanks to the strong winds, Wind-Surfing is possible
all year round. Do not expect Hawaiian temperatures, though.
- Forests: Germans are fanatic about their forests. While they are
much smaller now than they used to be in medieval times, they are
still huge compared to forests in other, especially western and
southern European countries and only thinly populated. Among others, the
Black Forest and the Bayerischer Wald have been declared national
heritage and will, over the course of the next centuries, slowly return
into a wild state. Although Germans love to go for long walks and
hikes in these dark and humid woods, there's space enough for everyone
to get lost. If you take one of the smaller paths you may not meet
another person for the rest of the day (this in a country of 230 people
per square kilometer). Especially the more remote areas are of an
almost mythical beauty. It is no wonder the brothers Grimm could
collect all those fairytales among the dark canopies, and a large part
of the German poetry circles around trees, fog and those lonely
mountain tops. Even Goethe sent his Faust to the Brocken for his most
fantastic scene. Today, wild animals, although abound, are mostly very
shy, so you might not get to see many. While a few wolves in Saxony and
a bear in Bavaria have been sighted, their immigration from Eastern
Europe caused quite a stir. In the course of events "Bruno" (the bear)
was shot, and while the wolves are under heavy protection local hunters
have been suspected of killing them illegally. The most dangerous
animal in Germany's forests is by far the wild boar, especially sows
leading young are nothing to joke about. Wild boar are used to humans,
since they often plunder trash cans in villages and suburbs and their
teeth can rip big wounds. If you see one, run.
- Mountains: The centre half of Germany is a patchwork of the
so-called "Mittelgebirge": Hilly rural areas where fields and forests
intermix with larger cities. Many of these hillranges are tourist
destinations. Most notably are the Bayrischer Wald (Bavarian Forest),
the Black Forest, the Harz, the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) and
Elbsandstone Mountains. In the extreme south, bordering Austria,
Germany contains a small portion of the Alps, Central Europe's highest
elevation, rising as high as 4000m (12,000 ft) above sea level, with
the highest summit in Germany being the Zugspitze, at 2962m (9717 ft).
While only a small part of the Alps lie in Germany, they are famous for
their beauty and the unique Bavarian culture. A lot of people go there
or further south into neighboring Austria, Switzerland and
Liechtenstein for skiing in the winter and hiking and climbing in the
summer.
- Lake Constance: Lying along the country's south-western border
with Switzerland and Austria, Lake Constance is Germany's largest
fresh-water lake. The area around the Lake and up the lower Rhine
valley has a very mild, amenable climate and fertile grounds, making it
the country's most important area for wine and fruit growing.
- The Romantic Road (Itinerary): is the most famous scenic route
in Germany. It starts in Würzburg and ends in Füssen. Most important
points to visit on the Romantic Street are the cities: Würzburg,
Harburg, Donauwörth, Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Definitely
recommended--the best preserved Medieval city in Germany by far, with
its original, complete city walls and no modern construction--if you
can stand the crowds of tourists that have taken over the town, see
this city. Some areas of the old city are less picturesque but very
residential in character, including the high street. Be aware that the
city closes extremely early, and the last trains leave around 20:00, or
8pm), Landsberg am Lech and Augsburg. Most notable wider areas are:
Taubertal, Nördlinger Ries and Lechrain. (For cyclists there's a special
route available called "Radwanderweg Romantische Straße".)
- Bertha Benz Memorial: This tourist route follows the tracks of the world's first long-distance journey by automobile in the year 1888, performed by Bertha Benz, the wife of Dr. Carl Benz, the inventor of the automobile. It starts and ends in Mannheim. Important cities along Bertha Benz Memorial Route are: Heidelberg, Wiesloch (with the world's first filling station, a pharmacy), Pforzheim, Bretten, Hockenheim and Schwetzingen. Important landscapes: Rhine Valley, Odenwald and Black Forest.
Sports
Germany is crazy about football (soccer to North Americans) and the
German Football Association DFB is the biggest FA association in the
world with 6.35 million members (8% of the German population) in more
than 25,000 clubs. Every village has a club and the games are the main
social event on weekends. Participation is strongly encouraged.
In the winter many people go skiing in the Alps in Bavaria close to Munich.
Almost every middle-size German city has a spa (often called "Therme") with swimming pools, water slides, hot tubs, saunas, steam baths, sun roofs etc. The sauna areas are coed and people are nude there.
Cultural Events
Germany has world class opera houses (especially Berlin, Bayreuth,
and Munich) and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is known as one of
the Top3 orchestras in the world. Several theatres in bigger cities
play outstanding classical and contemporary plays. Germanys prides
itself in the wide varierty of cultural events and every city works out
a cultural agenda.
Musicals
Musicals are popular in Germany. Although there are some touring
productions from time to time, most shows stay in a specific city for a
few years. Most shows belong to the company called "Stage
Entertainment". The main 'musical cities' are Hamburg, Berlin,
Oberhausen, Essen, Stuttgart, Bochum and Cologne.
BUY
Currency
Germany is part of the European Union and the Eurozone; as such it
replaced German marks with the euro (symbol: €) in 2002. If you have
marks remaining from previous trips, they can still be exchanged at
certain banks: inquire first before you attempt to convert your marks.
Do not expect anybody to accept foreign currencies or to be willing to exchange currency. An exception are shops and restaurants at airports and also - more rarely - fast-food restaurants at major train stations. These will generally accept at least US dollars at a slightly worse exchange rate. If you wish to exchange money, you can do so at any bank, where you can also cash in your traveller's cheques. Currency exchanges, once a common sight, have all but disappeared since the introduction of the euro. Again, international airports and train stations are an exception to this rule. Swiss Franc can sometimes be accepted near the Swiss border.
While German domestic debit cards (and, to a lesser extent, PIN-based Maestro cards) enjoy almost universal acceptance, this is not true for credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) or foreign debit cards (VISA Debit/Electron etc.), which are not as widely accepted as in other European countries or the United States.
Don't be fooled by seeing card terminals in shops or other people paying with cards - these machines may not necessarily be programmed to accept foreign cards, so it is best to inquire or look out for acceptance decals before shopping or fuelling your car.
Hotels, larger retailers, chain gas stations and nationwide companies accept credit cards; supermarkets, discount stores or small independent shops tend not to. Some places impose a minimum purchase amount (typically 10 euros) for card payments. Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card or foreign debit card, but you'll need to know your card's PIN for that.
Tipping
Unlike in some other countries, service staff is always paid by the
hour (albeit not always that well). A tip is therefore mainly a matter
of politeness and shows your appreciation. If you didn't appreciate the
service (e.g. slow, snippy or indifferent service) you may not tip at
all.
Since the introduction of the Euro, a tip (Trinkgeld, lit. "drink money") of about 5-10% is customary if you were satisfied with the service. Nonetheless, service charge is already included in an item's unit price so what you see is what you pay.
Tipping in Germany is usually done by mentioning the total while paying. So if eg. a waiter tells you the bill amounts to "€13.50", just state "15" and he will include a tip of €1.50.
Tipping in other situations (unless otherwise indicated):
- Taxi driver: 5%-10% (at least €1)
- Housekeeping: €1-2 per day
- Carrying luggage: €1 per piece
- Public toilet attendants: €0.30-0.70
- Delivery Services: 5%-10% (at least 1€)
Shopping
In common with most other Western European languages (but unlike
English), in German a comma is used to indicate a decimal. For example,
2,99€ is two euros and 99 cents. The "€" symbol is not always used and
may be placed both in front or after the price. A dot is used to
"group" numbers, so "1.000" would be one thousand. Mainly to make large
numbers easier to read. One dot for three digits, one million would be
"1.000.000".
Taxes: Retail prices are reasonable and lower than in northern European countries but the value added tax, V.A.T., "Umsatzsteuer" (official, but even politicians use this rather sparsely) or "Mehrwertsteuer" (most Germans use this word) has been increased to 19% from 2007 onwards and therefore prices will slightly rise. Fuel, sparkling wine, spirits and tobacco are subject to even higher taxes, the first of those excise taxes - the "Branntweinsteuer" (spirit tax) - first being imposed on Nordhäuser Branntwein (the ancestor of Nordhäuser Korn) in 1507, the certainly most ridiculous of them - the sparkling wine tax - being introduced by Emperor Wilhelm II to finance the Kiel Canal and his war fleet. Some German brands of high end goods such as kitchen utensils, stationery, and hiking gear are considerably cheaper than abroad. V.A.T. is always included by law in an item's pricetag (only exception is for goods that are commercially exported but then duties might apply). There exists a reduced V.A.T of 7% i.a. for hotels (but not for edibles consumed within), edibles (certain items considered luxury goods, e.g. lobster, are exempted from this reduction), print products, public transport (short-distance only) and admission price for opera or theatre.
Supermarkets: Many Germans rather look for prices than for quality when shopping for food. As a result, the competition between food discounters (which might be the cause of this very specific behaviour) is exceptionally fierce (in fact, WalMart had to retract from the German market because it failed at competing on price) and results in very low food prices compared to other European countries (though not compared to North America or the UK - as a general rule, a discount German supermarket will have similar quality compared to a North American discounter, but at mid-range prices). The chains "Aldi", "Lidl", "Penny" and "Plus/Netto" are a special type of supermarket (don't call it "Supermarkt" - Germans call it "Discounter"; a Supermarkt/super market has slightly higher prices, but also a much wider range of products): Their range of products is limited to the absolute necessities of daily life (like vegetables, pasta, UHT-milk, eggs, convenience foods, toiletries etc.), sold in rather simple packaging for tightly calculated prices. While quality is generally surprisingly high (at least in relation to price levels), do not expect delicatessen or local specialties when you go to shop there. Many Germans buy their daily needs there and go to the more "standard" supermarket (like the chains Rewe, Real, Tengelmann/Kaisers, Globus, Famila or Edeka) to get more special treats. These however, are few in number, often far outside of town, and don't offer the selection of a Sainsbury's, Tesco, or Wal-Mart, but their personnel is trained to be especially helpful and friendly. Don't blame discounter personnel for being somewhat harsh; although they are paid slightly better than usual, they have to cope with a grim working atmosphere and a significantly higher workload than colleagues in "standard" supermarkets and therefore are certainly not amused about being disturbed in getting their work done. Beside those major chains, Turkish supermarkets which can be found in townships with predominantly Turkish population can be a worthwhile alternative since they combine the characteristics of discounters (low price levels but limited assortment) with those of "standard" supermarkets ((Turkish) specialties and usually friendly personnel).
Similarly it applies to clothes; although competition on this market is not that fierce and quality varies, cheap clothing of sufficient quality might be bought at C&A, but don't expect designer clothes though. During the end-of-season sales you should also compare prices of conventional stores since they may be even cheaper than the discounters. H&M sells cheap, stylish clothing, but with notoriously awful quality.
Be prepared to bag your own groceries and goods as well as provide
your own shopping bags for doing so. While most stores provide plastic
as well as canvas shopping bags at the checkout, you are charged for
them. The Germans think it is more environmentally-friendly to re-use
bags rather than get a new one each time. It's a good reminder to also
keep a euro coin handy for the buggys/shopping carts. They all require a
euro to use the cart but you get it back once your shopping is done.
At most super markets you can spot a canister with lots of cardboard
boxes in it, usually after the cash point. You are allowed to take
cardboard boxes from there! It's a service the markets offer and also a
easy waste disposal for them. Just tell them you are getting yourself a
box when the cashier starts to scan your goods, come back and start
packing.
If you are looking for organic products, your best bet is to visit a
"Bioladen" or "Biosupermarkt". (Bio- generally means organic.) There
are also many farmers selling their products directly ("Hofladen"),
most of them organized in the "Bioland" cooperative. They offer
reasonable food at reasonable prices.
Factory Outlets: Germany has only about 6 Factory Outlet Centers,
but approximately up to 1000 Factory Outlets called "Fabrikverkauf".
Local Products: You can find local food products (not necessarily
organic) in most places at the farmer's market ("Wochenmarkt" or simply
"Markt"), usually once or twice a week. While you your chances on
finding english-speaking sellers there may be somewhat reduced, it's
nevertheless quite fun to shop there and mostly you will get fresh and
good quality food for reasonable prices. Most winemakers sell their
products either directly or in "Winzergenossenschaften" (winemaker
cooperatives). These wines are almost always superior to the ones
produced by German wine brands. Quality signs are "VdP"
("Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter", symbolized by an eagle) and
"Ecovin" (German organic winemaker cooperative). Wines made of the most
typical German wine varieties are usually marked with "Classic".
Souvenirs: German honey is a good souvenir, but only "Echter Deutscher
Honig" is a guarantee for reasonable quality. Along the German coasts,
smoked eel is quite a common delicacy and a typical souvenir.
Cigarettes are easily available in most kiosks,
supermarkets and newsagents. Cigarette machines are often dotted around
towns and cities (be aware you will need an EU driving licence or a
debit card with an electronic chip to "unlock" the machine). As of July
2009, a pack of 17 costs around €4.20 and a pack of 24 costs around
€5.70. The legal age to smoke in Germany is 18. Many Germans buy paper
and tobacco separately as this is cheaper.
Opening hours
Due to a federal reform, opening hours are set by the states,
therefore opening hours vary from state to state. Some states like
Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have no more strict opening
hours from Monday to Saturday (however, you will rarely find 24 hours
shops other than at petrol stations). Sunday and national holidays
(including some obscure ones) is normally closed for shops everywhere
in Germany, including pharmacies. However single pharmacies remain open
for emergencies. Shops are allowed to open on Sundays on special
occasions called "Verkaufsoffener Sonntag”. Every German city uses that
days except Munich.
As a rule of thumb:
- Supermarkets: 8 or 9AM – 8PM
- Big supermarkets 8AM - 10PM
- Shopping centers and large department stores: 10AM - 8PM
- Department stores in small cities: 10AM - 7PM
- Small and medium shops: 9 or 10AM – 6.30PM (in big cities sometimes to 8PM)
- Petrol stations: in cities and along the "Autobahn" usually 24h a day
- Restaurants: 11.30AM – 11 or 12AM(midnight), sometimes longer, many closed during afternoon
Small shops are often closed from 1 to 3PM If necessary in many big
cities you will find a few (sometimes more expensive) supermarkets with
longer opening hours (often near the main station). Bakeries usually
offer service on Sunday mornings (business hours vary) as well. Also
most petrol stations have a small shopping area.
In some parts of Germany (like Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and the
Ruhr area) there are cornershops called "Kiosk", "Trinkhalle"
(drinking hall) or "Büdchen" (little hut) that offer newspapers, drinks
and at least basic food supplies. These shops are often run by Arab or
Turkish immigrants and are, depending on the area, open till late
night.
Basic supplies can usually be bought around the clock at gas
stations. Gas station owners work around opening hour restrictions by
running 7-Eleven style mini marts on their gas station property. Be
aware that prices are usually quite high. Another exception to this law
are supermarkets located in touristy areas. Towns designated as a
Kurort (health resort) are allowed to have their stores open all week
during tourist season. Just ask a local for those well-kept secret
stores.
EAT
German food usually sticks to its roots and a typical dish will
consist of meat with some form of potatoes and gravy, accompanied by
vegetables or salad. The modern German cuisine has been influenced by
other European countries such as Italy and France to become a bit
lighter. Dishes show a great local diversity and it might be
interesting to discover those. Since most bigger employers have a
canteen for their employees, you will find few sandwich shops and
takeaways and eating out culture in Germany is dominated by the
Gasthaus/Gasthof and Restaurants to have proper food. Putting places to
eat in 6 categories gives you a hint about the budget/taste. Starting
from the lower end, these are:
Imbiss
'Schnellimbiss' means quick snack, and is what you will see on the
sign of German stalls and small shops that sell primarily sausage
(Wurst) and fries (Pommes Frites). Sausages will include Bratwurst,
which is fried and usually a boiled pork sausage. A very German variant
is Currywurst: sausage chopped up and covered in spiced ketchup,
dusted with curry powder. Beer and often harder liquor are available in
most.
'Döner Kebab' is Turkish veal, chicken or sometimes lamb stuffed into
bread, similar to Greek Gyros and Arab Schawarma. Even though
considered Turkish, it's actually a speciality which originated in
Germany. According to its legend, it was invented by Turkish immigrants
in West-Berlin during the 1970s. In fact, the 'Döner' is Germany's
most beloved fast food. The sales numbers of 'Döner' exceed those of
McDonald's and Burger King products by far.
Nevertheless, fast food giants like McDonald's, Burger King and Pizza
Hut are in most towns. Nordsee is a German seafood chain, they offer
'Rollmops' - soussed herrings - and many other fish and seafood snacks.
However, many independent seafood snack-bars (most common along the
German shores) offer slightly better and slightly cheaper seafood.
Bakeries And Butchers
Germans have no tradition for sandwich shops but you will find that
bakeries / butchers sell quite nice take away food and are serious
competition for the fast food chains. Even the smallest bakeries will
sell many sorts of bread or rolls, most of them darker (for example,
using wholemeal or more rye flour) than the white bread popular around
the world and definitely worth a try. Even if they don't already have
it prepared, almost all butchers will prepare a sandwich for you if you
ask. Some butchers even prepare meals for you. This butcher 'imbiss' is
mainly popular in southern Germany, and the quality and freshness of
food is usually high.
Biergarten
Here you will get the obvious drink. In traditional beergardens in
Bavaria it is possible to bring your own food if you buy drinks. Most
places will cater simple meals. A very good place for beer and bavarian
food is the Biergarten of "Kloster Andechs" close to the Ammersee
(round 40km south of Munich).
Brauhaus
Microbreweries sell their products straight to the customer and sometimes you will find some nice food there as well.
Gasthof/Gasthaus
Probably 50% of all eating out places fall into this group. They are
mainly family-run businesses that have been owned for generations
comparable to taverns/pubs in the UK. You can go there simply for a
drink, or to try German food (often with a local flavor). Food quality
differs significantly from place to place but the staff will usually
give you an indication of the standard; regulations require restaurant
owners to indicate certain possibly harmful ingredients (e.g.
glutamates/MSG) by footnotes - a menu containing lots of such footnotes
usually indicates low quality; if a cheap "Gasthaus" / restaurant is
overcrowded with Germans or Asians, this indicates at least sufficient
quality (unless the crowd is caused by an organized coach excursion).
Restaurant
Germany has a wide range of flavors (e.g. German, Chinese, Japanese,
Thai, Polish, Indian, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek, Turkish) and
almost all styles of the world are represented.
Turkish cuisine in Germany ranges from simple "Döner" shops to mostly
family-run restaurants offering a wide variation of usually very cheap
(in relation to German price levels) Turkish home cooking.
You will rarely find restaurants catering for special needs within
Germany (e.g. kosher restaurants are common only in cities with a
notable Jewish population like Berlin), although most restaurants will
prepare special meals or variants for you if they are neither relying
on convenience foods only nor too fancy. Most restaurants have at least
some vegetarian meals. For muslims it is recommended to stick to
Turkish/Arabic restaurants. At some Turkish or Arab food stalls
vegetarians might find falafel and baba ganoush to suit their tastes.
For not-so-strict Jews the halal Turkish food stalls are also the best
option for meat dishes.
In most restaurants in Germany you can choose your own table. You can
make reservations (recommended for larger groups and haute cuisine on
Saturday nights) and these are marked by reservation cards
("Reserviert"). In expensive restaurants in larger cities you will be
expected to make reservations and will be seated by the staff (who will
not allow you to choose your table).
Restaurants in commercial areas often offer weekday lunch specials.
These are cheap (starting at €5, sometimes including a beverage)
options and a good way to sample local food. Specials tend to rotate on
a daily or weekly basis, especially when fresh ingredients like fish
are involved.
Many restaurants offers all-you-can-eat-buffets where you pay around
10 euros and can eat as much as you want. Drinks are not included in
this price.
Table Manners
At very formal events and in high-end restaurants, a few deviations
of German customs from western standards should be noted:
* It is considered bad manners to eat with your elbows resting on the table. Keep only your wrists on the table.
* When moving the fork to your mouth, the curved end should point upwards (not downwards as in Great Britain)
* When eating soup or other food from your spoon, hold it with the
tip towards your mouth (not parallel to your lips as in, again, Great
Britain). Spoons used to stir beverages, e.g. coffee, should not be put
in the mouth at all.
* If you have to leave the table, it is fine to put your napkin
(which should have rested, folded once along the center, on your lap
until then) on the table, to the left of your plate, in an elegant
little pile -- unless it looks really dirty, in which case you might
want to leave it on your chair.
Typical Dishes
Hearty Bavarian food on a fancy plate. Left to right: Schnitzel, pork
belly (Schweinebauch) with red cabbage (Rotkohl), Weißwurst with
mashed potatoes (Kartoffelpüree), Bratwurst on sauerkraut
Rinderroulade mit Rotkraut und Knödeln: this dish is quite unique to
Germany. Very thin sliced beef rolled around a piece of bacon and
pickled cucumber until it looks like a mini barrel (5cm diameter)
flavoured with tiny pieces of onion, German mustard, ground black
pepper and salt. The meat is quick-fried and is then left to cook
slowly for an hour, meanwhile red cabbage and potato dumplings are
prepared and then the meat is removed from the frying pan and gravy is
prepared in the frying pan. Knödel, Rotkraut and Rouladen are served
together with the gravy in one dish.
Schnitzel mit Pommes frites: there are probably as many different
variations of Schnitzel as there are restaurants in Germany. They have
in common a thin slice of pork often covered in egg and bread crumbs
that is fried for a short period of time and it is often served with
fries (that's the Pommes frites part). Variations of this are usually
served with different types of gravy: such as Zigeunerschnitzel,
Zwiebelschnitzel, Holzfäller Schnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel (as the
name suggests, an Austrian dish – the genuine article must be veal
instead of pork, which is why most restaurants offer a Schnitzel Wiener
Art, or Viennese-style schnitzel which is allowed to be pork). In the
south you can often get Spätzle (pasta that Swabia is famous for)
instead of fries with it. Spätzle are egg noodles typical of south
Germany – most restaurants make them fresh. It is very common to find
Schnitzel on the menu of a German restaurant, it might even be the most
common dish in German restaurants.
Rehrücken mit Spätzle: Germany has maintained huge forests such as
the famous Black Forest, Bayrischer Wald and Odenwald. In and around
these areas you can enjoy the best game in Germany. Rehrücken means
venison tenderloin and it is often served with freshly made noodles
such as Spätzle and a very nice gravy based on a dry red wine.
Wurst “sausage”: there is no country in the world with a greater
variety of sausages than Germany and it would take a while to mention
them all. “Bratwurst“ is fried, other varieties such as the Bavarian
“Weißwurst“ are boiled. Here is the shortlist version: “Rote” beef
sausage, “Frankfurter Wurst” boiled pork sausage made in the Frankfurt
style, “Pfälzer Bratwurst” sausage made in Palatine style , “Nürnberger
Bratwurst” Nuremberg sausage – the smallest of all of them, but a
serious contender for the best tasting German sausage, “grobe
Bratwurst”, Landjäger, Thüringer Bratwurst, Currywurst, Weißwurst ...
this could go on till tomorrow. If you spot a sausage on a menu this is
often a good (and sometimes the only) choice. Often served with mashed
potato, fries or potato salad.
Koenigsberger Klopse: Literally "meatballs from Koenigsberg", this is
a typical dish in and around Berlin. The meatballs are made out of
minced pork and are cooked and served in a white sauce with capers and
rice or potatoes.
Matjesbrötchen: Soussed herring or "roll mops" in a bread roll, typical street snack.
Local Specialities
Starting from the north of Germany going south you will find a
tremendous variety of food and each region sticks to it origins. The
coastal regions are fond of seafood and famous dishes include
“Finkenwerder Scholle”, going south to the region of Cologne you will
find Sauerbraten (a roast marinated in vinegar), if made really
traditionally it's from horse meat.
Labskaus (although strictly speaking not a German invention) is a
dish from the north and the opinions about this dish are divided, some
love it, others hate it. It is a mash of potato, beetroot juice and
cured meat decorated with rollmops and/or young herring and/or a fried
egg and/or sour cucumber and/or beetroot slices on top. The north is
also famous for its lamb dishes, the best type of lamb probably being
"Rudenlamm" (lamb from Ruden, a small island in the Baltic Sea; only a
few restaurants in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania serve this), the
second best type being "Salzwiesenlamm" (salt meadow lamb). The
Lueneburger Heide (Lueneburg Heath) is famous not only for its heath
but also for its Heidschnucken, a special breed of sheep. Be aware that a
lot of restaurants import their lamb from New Zealand though because
it is cheaper. Crabs and mussels are also quite common along the German
coasts, especially in North Frisia.
A specialty of Hamburg is "Aalsuppe" which - despite the name (in
this case "Aal" means "everything", not "eel") - originally contained
almost everything - except eel (today many restaurants include eel
within this soup, because the name led tourists into confusion). At the
coast there's a variety of fish dishes. Beware: if a restaurant offers
"Edelfischplatte", the fish may be not fresh and even (this is quite
ironical) of poor quality. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that,
for eating fish, you visit specialised (or quality) restaurants only. A
fast-food style restaurant chain serving quality fish and other
seafood at low prices all over Germany is "Nordsee", though you will
rarely find authentic specialties there.
Pfälzer Saumagen: known for a long time in Palatinate, but difficult
to find outside of this area. The dish became well known to the general
public in Germany as then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s favorite dish,
especially when this was enjoyed by him and the Russian president
Mikhail Gorbatchev on a State visit in Germany in Deidesheim. Pictures
of the feast are shown in the restaurant “ Deidesheimer Hof” in
Deidesheim. Literally this is pig stomach filled with a mash of potato
and meat, cooked for 2-3 hours and then cut in thick slices often served
with sauerkraut.
Swabia is famous for Spätzle (a kind of noodle), "Maultaschen"
(noodles stuffed with spinach and mince meat, but lots of variations,
even veggie ones, exist).
In Bavaria this may be Schweinshaxe mit Knödeln (pork's leg with
knödel, a form of potato dumplings), "Leberkäs/Fleischkäse mit
Kartoffelsalat" (kind of meat pie and potato salad), "Nürnberger
Bratwurst" (probably smallest sausage in Germany), Weißwurst (white
sausages) and "Obatzda" (a spicy mix of several milk products).
The south is also famous for its nice tarts such as the
"Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte" (tart with lots of cream and spirit made
from cherries).
A delicacy in Saxony is Eierschecke, a cake made of eggs and cream similar to cheese cake.
A specialty of the East is "Soljanka" (originating from Ukraine, but
probably the most common dish in the GDR), a sour soup containing
vegetables and usually some kind of meat or sausages.
Seasonal Specialities
White “Spargel” (asparagus) floods the restaurants in April/June all
over Germany and it is delicious especially in and around Baden-Baden
and the small town of Schwetzingen ("The Spargel Capital"), near
Heidelberg, in an area north and north-east of Hannover (Lower Saxon
Asparagus Route"), as well as in the area southwest of Berlin,
especially in the town Beelitz and along the Lower Rhine, especially
"Walbecker Spargel" (Walbeck is a suburb of Geldern). Many vegetables
can be found all around the year and are often imported from far away.
Whereas asparagus can be found only for 2 months from mid April to mid
June and is best enjoyed freshly after harvest it stays nice for a
couple of hours or till next day. The asparagus is treated very
carefully and it is harvested before it ever is exposed to daylight and
only then it remains white. When exposed to daylight it changes its
color to a green and it might taste bitter. Therefore, white asparagus
is considered to be better by most Germans.
The standard Spargel meal is the spargel stalks, hollandaise sauce,
boiled potatoes, and some form of meat. The most common meat is ham,
smoked preferred; however you will find it teamed with schnitzel (fried
breaded pork), turkey, beef, or whatever is available in the kitchen.
Another example of a seasonal specialty is "Grünkohl" (kale). You can
find that mainly in lower saxony, namely the southern and
south-western parts such as the "Emsland" or around the "Wiehengebirge"
and the "Teutoburger Wald", but also everywhere else there and the
eastern parts of north-rhine-westphalia. It is usually served with a
boiled rough sort of sausage (called "Pinkel") and roasted potatoes.
Travelling in lower-saxony in fall, you should get it in every sort of
"Gasthaus".
White asparagus soup: one of the hundreds of different recipes that
can be found with white asparagus is soup. Often it is made with cream
and has some of the thinner asparagus pieces.
Lebkuchen: Germany has many nice Christmas biscuits and gingerbread. The best known are produced in and around Nuremberg.
Stollen is a kind of plaited bun during the Advent season and
yuletide. Original Stollen is produced only in Dresden, Saxony, however
you can buy Stollen everywhere in Germany (although Dresdner Stollen
is reputed to be the best (and - due to the low salaries in Eastern
Germany - comparatively cheap)).
Around St. Martin's day, roasted ducks and geese ("Martinsgans") are
quite common in German restaurants, usually served with "Rotkraut" (red
cabbage) and "Knödeln" (potato dumplings).
Miscellaneous
Germans are very fond of their bread, which they make in many
variations. This is the food that Germans tend to miss most when away
from home. Most people like their bread relatively dark and dense and
scorn the soft loaves sold in other countries. Bakeries will rarely
provide less than twenty different sorts of bread and it's worth trying
a few of them. In fact, many Germans buy their lunch or small snacks
in bakeries instead of takeaways or the like. Prices for a loaf of
bread will range from 0.50 € to 4 €, depending on the size (real
specialties might cost more).
Vegetarian
Most restaurants have one or two vegetarian dishes, but there aren't
many places which are particularly aimed at vegetarian or vegan
customers, except some places in big cities like Berlin. If the menu
does not contain vegetarian dishes, do not hesitate to ask for. Be
aware when ordering to ask whether the dish is suitable for
vegetarians, as chicken stock and bacon cubes are a commonly
"undeclared" ingredient on German menues.
However, there are usually organic food shops ("Bioladen",
"Naturkostladen" or "Reformhaus") in every city, providing veg(etari)an
bread, breadspreads, cheese, icecream, vegan cream topping, tofu and
seitan. The diversity and quality of the products is great and you will
find shop assistants that can answer special nutritional questions
profoundly.
Allergy & Celiac Sufferers
When shopping for foods, the package labeling in Germany is generally
reliable. All food products must be properly labeled including
additives and preservatives. Be on the look out for "Weizen" (wheat),
"Mehl" (flour) or "Malz" (malt) and "Stärke" (starch). Be extra
cautious for foods with "Geschmacksverstärker" (i.e. flavour enhancers)
that may have gluten as ingredients.
* Reformhaus - a 3.000 strong network of health food stores in
Germany and Austria that has dedicated gluten-free sections stocked
with pasta, breads and treats. Reformhaus stores are usually found in
the lower level of shopping centres (i.e. PotsdamerArkaden, etc.)
* DM Stores - the CWS/Shopper's Drug Mart equivalent in Germany has dedicated wheat and gluten free sections
* Alnatura - natural foods store with a large dedicated gluten-free section
SMOKING
The German federal-states started banning smoking in public places and areas in early 2007, however the laws vary from state to state. Smoking is generally banned in all restaurants and cafes. Some places may provide separate smoking areas but it is best to enquire when booking. A loophole in these laws allows clubs and bars to advertise as a "Raucherclub" or "smoker's club", and therefore allow patrons to smoke, though sometimes charging an entrance fee. These establishments are often smoke-filled and extremely unpleasant. Savvy travelers ought to avoid them. Otherwise smokers should be prepared to step outside if they still want to light up. Smoking is banned on all forms of public transport including on railway platforms (except in designated smoking areas, which are clearly marked with the word "Raucherbereich" [smoking area]). The laws are strictly enforced.
DRINK
Legal drinking age is 18 for spirits (drinks containing distilled alcohol) and 16 for everything else (e.g. beer and wine).
Beer
For centuries, beer-making in Bavaria has been governed by the
Reinheitsgebot (purity law) that was made national policy with the
unification of Germany in 1871, which states that German beer may be
made only from hops, malt, yeast and water. The Reinheitsgebot has come
down with the European integration, but German breweries still have to
stick to it since for them, national law applies.
The domestic beer market is not dominated by one or a only a few big
breweries. Even though there are some big players, the regional
diversity is enormous, and there are over 1200 breweries with most of
them serving only local markets. Usually bars and restaurants serve the
local varieties that differ from town to town. When sitting in a
German Kneipe, a local beer is always a option, and often the only
option.
Specialities include Weizenbier (or Weissbier in Bavaria), a
refreshing top-fermented beer which is popular in the south, Alt, a
kind of dark ale that is especially popular in and around Düsseldorf,
and Kölsch, a special beer brewed in Cologne. "Pils", the German name
for pilsner is a light-gold colored beer that is extremely popular in
Germany. There are also seasonal beers, which are made only at
different times of the year (such as Bockbier in winter and Maibock in
May, both containing a greater quantity of alcohol, sometimes double
that of a normal Vollbier). Beer is usually served in 200 or 300ml
glasses (in the northern part) or 500ml in the South. In Biergartens in
Bavaria, 500ml is a small beer ("Halbe") and a liter is normal ("Maß"
pronounced "Mahss"). Except for in Irish pubs, pints or pitchers are
uncommon. For Germans, a lot of foam is both a sign of freshness and
quality; thus, beer is always served with a lot of head. (All glasses
have volume marks for the critical souls.) Additionally, Germans are
not afraid to mix beer with other drinks (though the older generation
may disagree). Beer is commonly mixed with carbonated lemonade (usually
at 1:1 ratio) and called a "Radler" (or cyclist so named because it is
commonly associated with a refreshing drink a cyclist might enjoy in
spring or summer during a cycling excursion) (or
"Alsterwasser"/"Alster" (after the river in Hamburg) in the north);
"Cocktails" of Pilsener/Altbier and soft drinks like Fanta, a
"Colaweizen" cola and dark wheat beer is another combination that can
be found. Very very popular und famous in all the world is Beck's (from
Bremen).
Pubs are open in Germany until 2 in the morning or later. Food is
generally available until midnight. Germans typically go out after 8PM
(popular places already fill up at 6PM).
Cider
Undisputed capital of "Apfelwein" cider in Germany is Frankfurt.
Locals love their cider and it is very popular around here. There are
even special bars ("Apfelweinkneipe") that will serve only "Apfelwein"
and some gastronomic specialities. Cider is often served in a special
jug called "Bembel". The taste is slightly different from Ciders in
other countries and tends to be quite refreshing. In autumn when apples
are turned into cider you might find "Frischer Most" or "Süßer"
signposted at some places. That is the first product in the chain of
"Apfelwein" production; one glass of it is nice, but after two or three
glasses you will have a problem unless you enjoy spending lots of time
on the toilet. In the Saarland and surrounding regions "Apfelwein" is
called "Viez". It varies here from "Suesser Viez" (sweet), to "Viez
Fein-Herb" (medium sweet) to "Alter Saerkower" (sour). The Viez capital
of that region is Merzig. During winter it is also quite common to
drink hot cider (along with some cloves and sugar). It is considered an
efficent measure against an upcoming cold.
Coffee
Germans drink lots of coffee. Currently, the port of Hamburg is the
world's busiest place for coffee trading. Coffee is always freshly made
from ground coffee or beans - no instant. However, persons coming from
countries with a great coffee tradition (like Italy, Portugal, Turkey,
Greece or Austria) might find the coffee that is served in normal
restaurants a bit boring. A German specialty, originating from North
Frisia but nowadays also common in East Frisia, is "Pharisäer", a
mixture of coffee and a spirit, usually rum, with a thick cream top. A
variation of this is "Tote Tante" (dead aunt, with coffee replaced by
hot chocolate).
Over the past few years, American coffee house chain Starbucks has
expanded into Germany, but mostly you will encounter "Cafés" which
usually offer a large selection of cakes to go along with the coffee.
Glühwein
Visiting Germany in December? Then go and see one of the famous
Christmas markets (the most famous taking place in Nuremberg, Dresden,
Leipzig, Münster, Bremen, Augsburg and Aachen) and this is the place
where you find Glühwein (mulled wine), a spiced wine served very hot to
comfort you in the cold of winter.
Spirits
“Kirschwasser” literally means cherry water; it certainly tastes of
cherry but on the other hand it is not regular drinking water. There is
a long lasting tradition in making spirits in Baden, and
“Kirschwasser” is probably the flagship product and it might encourage
you to taste other specialities such as Himbeergeist (from raspberry),
Schlehenfeuer (flavored with sloe berries), Williamchrist (pear) and
Apfelkorn (apple).
“Enzian” Bavarians like their beer as well their Enzian. A spirit
high in alcohol that is best as a digestive after a hefty meal.
"Korn", made of grain, is probably the most common spirit in Germany.
Its main production centre (Berentzen)lies in Haselünne, where tours
and tastings can be arranged in the distilleries. The town is located
near the river Ems in northwest Germany; for rail service to Haselünne
(very sparse) see Eisenbahnfreunde Hasetal.
In North Frisia, "Köm" (caraway spirit), either pure or mixed with tea ("Teepunsch", tea punch), is very popular.
"Eiergrog" is a hot mixture of egg liquor and rum.
Tea
Tea is also very popular, and a large choice is readily available.
The region of East Frisia in particular has a long tea tradition, and
is probably the only place in Germany where tea is more popular than
coffee. The East Frisian tea ceremony consists of black tea served in a
flat porcelain cup with special rock sugar (Kluntje) that is put in
the cup before pouring the tea. Cream is added afterwards, but is not
stirred into the tea.
Wine
Germans are just as passionate about their wines as they are about
their beer. The similarities don't stop here, both products are often
produced by small companies and the best wines are consumed locally and
only the remaining ones are exported. The production of wine has a
2000 year old history in Germany as learned from the Rheinisches
Landesmuseum Trier, but of course this was a roman settlement at this
time. Sunshine is the limiting factor for the production of wines in
Germany and therefore the wine production is limited to the south.
White wine plays a main role in the wine production, but some areas
produce red wines (Ahr, Baden Württemberg). White wines are produced
from Riesling, Kerner and Müller-Thurgau grapes (there are a lot more,
but to name them all would be too much), and produce generally fresh
and fruity wines. German wines can be rich in acid and are quite
refreshing. It is generally accepted that Riesling grapes produce the
best German wines, but they demand a lot of sunshine and they grow best
in very exposed areas such the Mosel, Rheingau, Bergstrasse,
Kaiserstuhl and Pfalz.
The best way to learn about wines is go to the place where they are
grown and taste them on the spot. This is called "Weinprobe" and is
generally free of charge though in touristic areas you have to pay a
small fee. Good wines usually go together with good food and therefore
it is well worth it to visit some of those places.
Another nice opportunity to get a taste of local wine is the
so-called Straußenwirtschaft, Besenwirtschaft or Heckenwirtschaft.
These are little "pubs" or gardens where a wine-producer sells his own
wine, normally with little meals such as sandwiches or cheese and ham.
Normally, they are open only in summer and autumn, and not longer than 4
months a year (due to legal regulations). As they are sometimes
located in the vineyards or in some backstreets, they are not always
easy to find, so you best ask a local for the next (or best)
Straußenwirtschaft he knows.
During the fall you can buy "Federweisser" in south-western Germany.
This is a partially fermented wine and contains some alcohol (depending
on age), but tastes very sweet.
Wine producing areas are:
Ahr Ahr is the paradise of German red wines. Half of the production
is dedicated to red wines and it is densely populated with
“Gaststätten” and “Strausswirten”. A saying goes: Who visited the Ahr
and remembers that he was there, hasn’t actually been there.
Baden: With approx. 15,500 hectare of wine yards and a production of 1
mn hectolitre Baden is Germany’s third biggest wine growing area. It's
the most southern German wine growing area and is Germany’s only
member of the European Wine Category B together with the famous French
areas Alsace, Champagne and Loire. Baden is more than 400 km long and
is split into nine regional groups: Tauberfranken, Badische Bergstraße,
Kraichgau, Ortenau, Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl, Tuniberg, Markgräflerland
and Bodensee. The Kaiserstuhl and the Markgräflerland are the most
famous areas for wine from Baden. One of the largest wine cooperatives
is the Badischer Winzerkeller in Breisach.
Franken: Franconia is in the northern part of Bavaria and you can
find there very nice wines. Some wines produced in Franconia are sold
in a special bottle called "Bocksbeutel".
Hessische Bergstrasse: located on the slopes of the Rhine valley it
is a quiet small wine producing area and wines are usually consumed
within the area in and around Heppenheim.
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: the steepest vineyards in Germany can be seen when driving in the Mosel valley from Koblenz to Trier.
Pfalz: biggest wine producing area in Germany. Has some excellent
wines to taste and a lot of nice villages embedded in vineyards.
Tasting wine in Deidesheim is a good idea and several prime producer of
German wine are all located on the main road. Want to see the biggest
wine barrel in the world then go to Bad Dürkheim.
Rheingau: is the smallest wine producing area, but it produces the
highest rated Riesling wines in Germany. Visit Wiesbaden and make a
trip on the Rhine to Rüdesheim.
Rheinhessen too is especially famous for its Riesling.
Sachsen: One of the smallest wine regions in Germany, nestled along the Elbe River near Dresden and Meissen.
Württemberg As it was mentioned before, here the rule, that the wine
production is consumed by the locals, strictly applies. The wine
consumption is twice as high as in the rest of Germany, regardless of
whether it's red or the white wine. The specialty of the region is the
red wine called Trollinger and it can be quite nice by German
standards.
Saale-Unstrut: located in the state Saxonia-Anhalt at the banks of
the rivers Saale and Unstrut it is most northern wine area in Europe.
STAY SAFE
Germany is a very safe country and the law is strictly enforced.
Pickpockets can be a problem in large cities or at events with large
crowds. Bigger cities also have their share of beggars and punks
usually watched closely by police. In general, they don't need to beg
because anyone complying with the rules of the German social system
receives enough money enabling her or him to buy food and drinks needed
for sustaining a humble life. There is also a risk that a beggar
belongs to a criminal gang not allowing him to keep any of the money for
himself.
Overt display of Nazism (e.g. saying "Heil Hitler" or "Sieg Heil" or
raising your hand for the Roman Salute), even jokingly and the
distribution of any goods having at least any potential to glorify the
Nazi Party and/or its ideology, including Mein Kampf, or of any
material questioning the extent of their crimes is heavily penalized in
Germany (up to five years in jail or a fine of up to 21,600 €).
Foreigners are not exempted from this law, and it is extremely likely
that it will be enforced with draconic strictness.
Emergencies
The nationwide emergency number is 112. It is used for any type of
emergencies (medical, fire, police). These numbers can be dialled
toll-free from any phone, including phone booths and mobile phones
(SIM-card required!). If you're reporting an emergency, the usual
guidelines apply: stay calm and state your exact location, the type of
emergency and the number of persons involved. Don't ever hang up — the
operator will terminate the call if all the questions about the
emergency are answered.
There are emergency telephones interspersed along the main motorways.
You can find the closest SOS-phone by the arrows on the reflection
posts.
Ambulances can be summoned via the national toll-free emergency
number 112 and will help you regardless of insurance issues. All except
for the smallest private hospitals (Krankenhäuser) have 24-hour
emergency rooms able to cope with all kinds of medical problems
although you may have to wait if your problem is not life-threatening.
Racism
Most foreign visitors will never deal with issues of open racial
discrimination or racism in Germany. Large cities in Germany are
cosmopolitan and multiethnic with large communities with origins from
all continents and religions. Germans are also very aware of the
historical burden of the Nazi era and are usually tolerant or at least
appear to be so in contacts with foreigners. Public displays of overt
antisemitism are strictly forbidden by laws that are very much
enforced. Non-white visitors may get an occasional wary look (often
caused by uneasiness or the feeling of insecurity) but very rarely any
verbal insults. The Hitler salute and the swastika are also banned, as
well as the public denial of the Holocaust. Violations of these laws
against racism are not taken lightly by the authorities. There is no
such tolerance for things like "I was only joking about the matter",
and it is considered very rude and tasteless behavior by most Germans.
The situation may be different in parts of Eastern Germany (including
the outskirts of East Berlin). The feeling of being left alone with
widespread underemployment and unemployment and the desperation caused
thereby can lead some people to xenophobia ("they are stealing our
jobs") and therefore racism, making them easily influenced by
right-wing groups. As a result there are more incidences of racist
behavior than in the West with occasional incidents of violence. Most
of these happen at night when groups of drunken "Neo-Nazis" look for
trouble (and solitary victims) downtown or near public transport
stations. It is unlikely (but not impossible) that white tourists get
into trouble with these aggressive youth as their sole purpose is to
show their might.
Large cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne have a
significant Turkish, Russian and Arab population. Similarly to t
