Germany dos and don'ts

Are you planning a trip to Germany? Like every country, Germany has its own set of unique customs. Something that you’re used to doing in your country might be considered rude in Germany.

Do

• Shake hands when you’re introduced to someone – it’s impolite not to.

• Say Prost! (cheers!) before you sip your beer – and look your drinking buddy in the eye when you say it.

• Feel free to have serious discussions in social settings – Germans like talking politics and philosophy. They don’t relish idle chit-chat or small talk.

• Say your name at the beginning of a phone call, even if it’s followed by ‘do you speak English?’

• Address people with the formal ‘you’ (Sie). If the familiar ‘you’ (Du) is cool, they’ll let you know.

• Hit the ATM – cash rules in Germany and many restaurants don’t take credit cards.

Don’t

• Be late – everyone else will be on time.

• Send a German friend lilies – they’re for funerals. Carnations symbolise mourning, too.

• Dig into that Sauerkraut before your host says ‘Guten Appetit’ (good appetite).

• Stroll in the bike lane. You’ll get bruised or yelled at (or both). It’s marked red for a reason.

• Jaywalk. Nobody else does, and you might get fined.

• Drink yourself into a stumbling fool. We know the beer goes down easy, but public drunkenness is frowned upon.

Also, download our consolidated PDF for free: DosAndDontsInGermany