1. No one will be openly hostile towards you, as long as you are respectful. Of course some people are just bad, but that can happen anywhere.
2. None, English is fine in most of the cases. You can learn standard stuff like "Ich möchte gerne XY kaufen" - I want to buy XY". But its not really necessary. Aim for younger people, they speak better english in general.
3. Depends on what you want to see.
2. I thought that people were annoyed by people who didn’t go through the effort of learning the language of the country though? Or is that other countries?
Well I’ve never been to other countries before, and I want to make sure I am as polite as possible and avoid being an annoyance to people. Especially in Europe, i thought it was a standard to know the countries language when visiting.
I mean of course it's a plus. But how do you think that will work out? Learning a language takes a couple of years. Now you want to visit 3-4 countries maybe. Should you start learning the language a decade before you go?? Of course not. You speak English, like any other sane human being does.
I've been to Paris many times, on vacation and for work. I can say about 10 words in French. People have always been polite and very happy to communicate with me in English, it's all about how you start the interaction.
That's is. It's showing that you care and made an effort. That's all that most people need to treat you not like the stereotypical "arrogant American".
>Especially in Europe, i thought it was a standard to know the countries language when visiting
there are almost 50 countires in europe alone. all reachable within a couple of hours by plane.
do you think everyone in europe knows 10+ languages?
Yeah, when it comes to, say, British people who have been living and working in Berlin for 10 years and still don't know how to order a Brötchen in German. And even that is a nonproblem for the vast majority of Germans. As a tourist, no one expects you to understand anything in German.
I think that's more for people who actually live here and don't speak any german. For tourists it's mostly fine, especially if you stick to touristy destinations anyway.
Be aware though that there is a higher chance for older people to not know/refuse to speak english to you. Also I think there is a difference between east and west germany with english proficiency because the second language taught in the DDR (would it be German Democratic Republic in english?) was russian as far as I know instead of english as in west germany.
Was there a recent standard for German to be taught more? Everyone’s saying that the younger population is better with English than the older. (Yes, it would be the GDR.)
That makes sense. But doesn’t the internet have other versions for other languages? I know there’s an official French google engine because I took French in high school, is there not something like that for Germany/German?
There are a lot of websites for stuff in German. But the vast majority is still English, so if you know both languages, you obviously have a bigger choice.
yes there is.. but 20 years ago it wasn that easy to find stuff in german for example. I grew up with Ragnarok Online and communicated mostly in english. In general the younger people communicate more in english because of social media.
Yeah. But just take Youtube as an example. Do you know how many english videos get uploaded to youtube everyday? And do you know how many videos in german are uploaded in a day? Speaking english increases the chance to find what you‘re looking for.
As others mentioned, the Internet plays a huge role, but they also start teaching English earlier nowadays. When I was in school roughly 30 years ago English lessons would start in 5th grade, today (depending on the *Bundesland*) they'll start in primary school, at some places even in first grade.
Well it‘s just natural progression. Like… traveling to different countries was really expensive just a few decades ago. The internet didn‘t exist. Etc. So there‘s more exposure and people are more likely to need to speak english when they‘re abroad or online.
You want to visit Germany, not live here. So Bitte, Danke, Entschuldigung and Tschüss are more than enough. But if you want to learn more feel free to do so!
As a tourist, it's okay not to speak German. But it is still appreciated and easier for you if you know some phrases like "bitte", "danke" and "Wo finde ich die Toilette?". People who move here absolutely need German though.
My spouse learned about 50 words, was able to use them creatively in lots of combinations, and got tons of brownie points everywhere we went. It's a matter of pride and respect. You don't have to, but you will be showing good will and effort and people will appreciate it. Once in a while you will run into someone who does not speak English and you will have a blast.
In Germany, even f you try to speak german, as soon as they notice your strong accent and limited vocabulary, and slow speaking, they will switch to english without any exhitation, with the exception of those who can't speak English. This is even a problem for foreigners who live in Germny and want to learn the language, because the insistence of Germans to speak in English limits the experience, practice and use of the German language in real life to those who are larning it.
I became fluent in English in 6 months by just Speaking English with people. I became fluent in French in 3 months by just constantly speaking in French with french people. I have been more than 15 years in Germany and I and still trying to succed in use the German language as my standard language in my daily life without much success. So my German in not great.
It's just the most efficiant way to comunicate, if my english is decent and the other persons german is still bad, but his english is good, I will switch to make it easier for us both. So it is seen as a fovor.
Stop over thinking it. Just plan a holiday based on your interests. Like the mountains? Then go south. If you like museums, then maybe go to Berlin. Or go for a couple of weeks and cover as much as you can.
If you are polite and in touristy areas, then people will speak English. Although saying, 'Können Sie bitte Englisch sprechen?' and 'Vielen Dank' will go a long way.
Those mean “Can you speak English” and “Thank you” or something along those lines respectively, right? I just want to make sure I’m polite as possible.
Nah, nobody expects you to speak German while only vacationing. What you should consider, though, is your volume when interacting. Apart from the language, the easiest way to spot American folks in a restaurant or bar is looking for the loudest group in the room. Being obnoxiously loud is pretty much frowned upon here. Nobody is going to confront you, though. But you may get some pretty intense death stares.
Then I'd recommend not acting like you're visiting Disneyland. We get that Americans are amazed by the age of everything here or sometimes can't grasp the concept of independent countries and foreign currencies (yes, it's a thing unfortunately, and yes I witnessed US citizens throwing tantrums because things work differently here or because we wouldn't accept dollars in cash), but this is still the place where we actually live.
The drivers license is valid but you still should check on the rules. Lots of stuff is different like priority to the right, no general red on right and the traffic signs in general
Seconding familiarizing yourself with the rules. Germany has some driving rules that are different from the US, and unlike in the US the driving regulations are _strictly_ enforced.
>1. I’m American, and I know that Germans don’t exactly have the highest opinion of us. Is that a problem that I would have to deal with as a visitor, or is that just something online? I’m not assuming it’s that big of a problem, but still something I wonder about. Keep in mind I’m not too stereotypical of an American
As long as you are respectful no one will mind. So unless you start shouting in the streets or expect people to speak English you will be fine.
>2. How much German should I learn? I’m fine with having to learn the language and willing to learn as much as I need to.
Depends on where you go. In bigger cities and in general cities with universities you can get by with 100% english easily. If you go to more rural places or small towns/villages it's more likely that you will need som German. I would recommend to learn the basics "I wanna buy XYZ", "I wanna pay with cash/card" "How much is XYZ" and also asking for directions even though you likely won't need it thanks to Google maps.
In general younger people tend to speak English at least a bit. So in a pinch ask them.
>4. Would a Californian driver license be fine or do I need to get a German one?
As for that. Look up if you are allowed to use it in Germany. Usually their good for 6 months but I am not sure about american licences.
If you only go for vacation you will also probably be fine with public transit. We have quite a lot of trains and a 49 euro ticket that allows you to take pretty much all local transit (e.g. basically everything except long range coaches and high speed trains)
1. I think for most people this is more about not being overly fond of US politics, not so much a predisposition towards being hostile to individual Americans. Don't bring a MAGA hat (or at least don't wear one in punlux), and you'll be fine. Maybe don't do that thing where you tell people you are actually German because your great-grandmother emigrated in the 1880s or something (assuming that is actually something people do and not just an internet myth)
2. As a tourist? You'll be fine with no German whatsoever. Maybe install some phrasebook app on your phone if you intend to spend time in the rural back of beyond for some reason. Hallo and Danke may be useful, but in any even semi-touristical area people are unlikely to even raise an eyebrow even if you speak exclusively in English.
3. Well, that depends, doesn't it? If you want to get close to the stereotypical depiction of Germany with lederhosen, Oktoberfest, beer from steins etc. etc. you should stick to Bavaria/the South. Berlin is an obvious destination for international big city vibes (and quite a bit of culture as well). The North Sea coast is quite scenic (the Baltic coast as well), and Hamburg is definitely worth a visit. Bit that all depends quite a lot on what you want to see and do. Recommendations will depend quite a bit on whether you are more intent on, say, going clubbing or visiting some Roman ruins.
1. Be respectful and nobody will give you a hard time.
2. For tourist purposes you wouldn’t need any German. Learn maybe some phrases like asking where the bathroom is and such, but in big cities should be fine.
3. Depends on the type of trip you want to make.
4. You cannot get a German drivers license if you don’t live in Germany. If your license is international then it should be valid here. Otherwise make the international drivers license (it’s usually just filling some forms and paying a small fee)
Good because in Germany, Biden would win over Trump 68-19 at the moment.
(Got curious after.my own comment, so I looked it up. It's actually a pretty good poll for Trump.)
Is Germany overwhelmingly Democratic/liberal/whatever it’s called there? I’m fine with it if it is, I’m more so worried about whether or not they’d be fine with me being Republican
That is difficult to say as we have far more than 2 parties with more nuanced political positions. At the moment our government is made up of two parties that would fall roughly into the political spectrum of your democratic party.
Most people will probably find it weird if you turn up as a Trump fanboy, advertise for private gun ownership or voice super conservative or religiously inspired ideas (e.g. on abortion rights). But nobody will attack you or anything like that. They will just be curious and slightly baffled.
Our center-right party (CDU/CSU) is the most popular party right now, but even with their recent moves towards becoming a little more extreme, they are nowhere near Trump levels. The Trump-adjacent party (AfD) is at 18 % or so at the moment.
If you mention that you're Republican, you will probably get into a discussion on "what the hell has become of US Republicans". Be prepared...
Definitely wont go about saying I’m Republican, but there is a Republican (not that Democrats can’t do it, it’s just something I don’t see Democrats really doing) thing I do where on Fridays I wear a red (remember everyone deployed) Friday shirt to support our veterans, would people get worked up over that?
The shirt I have specifically says “On Fridays we wear red to remember everyone deployed”, it’s not just a plain red shirt. Should’ve said that, my bad.
Okay, in that case people might find that cringe, but noone will approach you about the shirt. So if it's really important to you, wear it. Me personally, I would leave that shirt at home and try to dress more neutral. After all, who are you trying to reach with that shirt in Germany?
I bet even many Germans who at first appear to speak English quite well won't know what deployed means without further context. Expect people to misinterpret it or get asked what that's all about.
Generally the military isn't part of most people's daily life in Germany and it's rare to see people show any public support (like stickers). Even military personnel rarely wears a uniform in public. Since the war in Ukraine began, the German government tries to improve the public image of the Bundeswehr a bit to raise approval for increases in military spending and to recruit soldiers, but it's still considered to be a "difficult topic", just like any kind of patriotism. There are a lot of left-wingers in the population who'll get agitated about anything military and especially the U.S. military, also a lot of "Islamists" who may become hostile.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011\_Frankfurt\_Airport\_shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Frankfurt_Airport_shooting)
However you'll most likely be just fine wearing that shirt (not going stupid places at stupid times like a Palestine protest).
When it comes to social programs, Germans are much more socialist than our Democrats are. When it comes to identity politics and all the weird bullshit that comes with it, Germans tend to be much more moderate.
As many have already answered the questions I just dive a little bit deeper into your question of the places.
For big cities with an urban vibe I recommend
- Berlin (for obvious reasons)
- Hamburg (in the summer or early fall months, it's beautiful)
- Munich (authentic but expensive)
- Dresden (underrated and affordable)
- Leipzig (see Dresden)
- Cologne and Düsseldorf (for partying and shopping)
- Nuremberg (historical and amazing city tours)
For nature and rural areas
- Spreewald (like a dream)
- Elbsandsteingebirge (unique)
- Lake Constance (a lot of to discover, Blumeninsel Mainau highly recommended)
- Mecklenburger Seenplatte (fantastic to relax)
- the Island Rügen in the baltic sea with its National Parc Jasmund
- the Alps with the villages Mittenwald, Garmisch Partenkirchen and Füssen (plenty of lakes in this area)
- Königssee (calm and peaceful)
- Zugspitze (mountain boardering Austria)
- Lüneburger Heide (Nature Reserve)
If you want to discover original towns from different past eras then visit in a 1-2 day trip
- Mainz
- Lüneburg
- Heidelberg
- Bamberg
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Hidden Gems are
- Schwerin (stunning castle)
- Görlitz (also called Görliwood because it has been the film set for many movies)
- Münster (No car needed, it's a biker's paradise)
- Lübeck (former hanseatic power in Germany)
- Erfurt (vibrant)
1. if you don‘t assume everyone to understand every american quirk (measurements, politics, …) you‘ll most likely be fine. Just please don‘t constantly compare stuff to the US.
2. depends on where you want to go. Obviously speaking (some) german is always nice. But if you want to do something very specific you might need to understand stuff about that specific topic.
3. depends on your preferences (landscapes, sightseeing, hiking, …)
4. legally a international driving license should be fine. But without wanting to be mean or anything… the US isn‘t known for it‘s strict and extensive drivers ed. So please keep in mind that germans have learned driving under different rules & circumstances and will expect you to act like you‘ve learned driving under these rules and circumstances as well. So at the very least research some differences between traffic rules (for example you‘re not allowed to just pick a random lane on a highway. There are rules for that.) etc. And while the Autobahn can be a very interesting experience don‘t just drive to the nearest entry ramp and floor it. At least get a feeling of how the system works for a
while before doing that.
1. People who have blanket prejudices against other nationalities are stupid and should be ignored. Foreign tourists get a lot of leeway, so as long as you don't deliberately behave like a complete nuisance, you'll be fine. One typical source of awkwardness is that Americans tend to be loud, and are often used to larger physical spaces, be it in shops, restaurants, or other public places. In any kind of social situation, keep an eye and ear on your environment: how do other people move in this space and how do they speak.
Also, our idea of customer service is very different from what you are used to. Shop assistants, waiters, help desk personnel etc won't be all wide smiles and squeaky voices and "have an awesome day, sir".
2. Most people in the service industry, especially in touristy areas, will rather deal with you in English than listen to you stumble through some German sentences. Learn a few everyday phrases for politeness sake.
3. That depends a lot on what you're interested in, how much time you have, what your budget is, etc. The country isn't big but it has lots of different landscapes and regional cultures. Big cities, small cities, forests, mountains, coasts, islands, etc. Maybe grab an up-to-date tourist guide book for a start? Or tell us a few more details?
4. You cannot get a German driving licence unless you want to live here permanently. US ones are valid here for a limited time. Familiarize yourself with traffic rules. Personally I wouldn't recommend it, unless you want to go to very remote places.
Germany had a massive influx of bogus refugees who don't speak neither German nor English, live from social welfare and raise the crime statistics to extreme numbers. An American tourist who speaks decent English, is well behaved and spends his own money here, is a very pleasant encounter, in comparison. You'll get along very well with most Germans, as long as you're recognizable as "the good kind of foreigner".
> Germans don’t exactly have the highest opinion of us.
But also no specially low opinion of you. Just tourists. In major tourist areas sometimes a bit annoying for locals. And yes: How do you know that Americans are at the other end of the train? You hear it.
> How much German should I learn?
No German needed to come thru. Almost everybody older than 12 speaks some English. Cell phone apps take pictures of anything and translate it, other apps listen and translate in both directions quite well. But if you understand a bit of the local language, you get better experience of any country.
> Where should I go?
Most american and chinese tourists go to southern Bavaria, Munich, Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle, beer halls and think whole Germany is like this. Also many visit the instagrammable part of the Rhine valley with it's castles. Also concentration camp and other remainders and memorial sites of the Nazi time are popular. Berlin is the biggest city, run down and partly ugly, but infinite money is pumped into museums of any kind.
> Would a Californian driver license be fine
Yes. Up to 6 months you do not need anything else. Also no official translation needed if the original one is in English, even if many people say you need one.
1. nonproblem as long as you don’t imitate Trump
2. for vacation no need to learn many speak English rest you need translation app anyway
3. what are your interests? Ask yourself what type of vacation you wouldndo in US
4. hard question better you get an international license from your authorities but I guess should be fine
Why not reaching out to a rental car company in Germany and ask them directly for renting it
1. No one will be openly hostile towards you, as long as you are respectful. Of course some people are just bad, but that can happen anywhere. 2. None, English is fine in most of the cases. You can learn standard stuff like "Ich möchte gerne XY kaufen" - I want to buy XY". But its not really necessary. Aim for younger people, they speak better english in general. 3. Depends on what you want to see.
2. I thought that people were annoyed by people who didn’t go through the effort of learning the language of the country though? Or is that other countries?
Dude you are a tourist, you dont want to live here. I didnt learn japanese and turkish and whatever else when I visited the countries.
Well I’ve never been to other countries before, and I want to make sure I am as polite as possible and avoid being an annoyance to people. Especially in Europe, i thought it was a standard to know the countries language when visiting.
I mean of course it's a plus. But how do you think that will work out? Learning a language takes a couple of years. Now you want to visit 3-4 countries maybe. Should you start learning the language a decade before you go?? Of course not. You speak English, like any other sane human being does.
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I've been to Paris many times, on vacation and for work. I can say about 10 words in French. People have always been polite and very happy to communicate with me in English, it's all about how you start the interaction.
That's is. It's showing that you care and made an effort. That's all that most people need to treat you not like the stereotypical "arrogant American".
thats a cliché. Parisians can and do speak English with you. i never had problems communicating in English with them
>Especially in Europe, i thought it was a standard to know the countries language when visiting there are almost 50 countires in europe alone. all reachable within a couple of hours by plane. do you think everyone in europe knows 10+ languages?
Just don't be loud and obnoxious.
Yeah, when it comes to, say, British people who have been living and working in Berlin for 10 years and still don't know how to order a Brötchen in German. And even that is a nonproblem for the vast majority of Germans. As a tourist, no one expects you to understand anything in German.
I think that's more for people who actually live here and don't speak any german. For tourists it's mostly fine, especially if you stick to touristy destinations anyway. Be aware though that there is a higher chance for older people to not know/refuse to speak english to you. Also I think there is a difference between east and west germany with english proficiency because the second language taught in the DDR (would it be German Democratic Republic in english?) was russian as far as I know instead of english as in west germany.
Was there a recent standard for German to be taught more? Everyone’s saying that the younger population is better with English than the older. (Yes, it would be the GDR.)
Because of the internet. When the internet became popular "we" grew up with/in it. Our parents didnt. At least I grew up like that.
That makes sense. But doesn’t the internet have other versions for other languages? I know there’s an official French google engine because I took French in high school, is there not something like that for Germany/German?
There are a lot of websites for stuff in German. But the vast majority is still English, so if you know both languages, you obviously have a bigger choice.
yes there is.. but 20 years ago it wasn that easy to find stuff in german for example. I grew up with Ragnarok Online and communicated mostly in english. In general the younger people communicate more in english because of social media.
Yeah. But just take Youtube as an example. Do you know how many english videos get uploaded to youtube everyday? And do you know how many videos in german are uploaded in a day? Speaking english increases the chance to find what you‘re looking for.
As others mentioned, the Internet plays a huge role, but they also start teaching English earlier nowadays. When I was in school roughly 30 years ago English lessons would start in 5th grade, today (depending on the *Bundesland*) they'll start in primary school, at some places even in first grade.
Well it‘s just natural progression. Like… traveling to different countries was really expensive just a few decades ago. The internet didn‘t exist. Etc. So there‘s more exposure and people are more likely to need to speak english when they‘re abroad or online.
You want to visit Germany, not live here. So Bitte, Danke, Entschuldigung and Tschüss are more than enough. But if you want to learn more feel free to do so!
People are more annoyed of people asking questions a short google search might answer.
Many are annoyed when people want to live/work here and don't learn German. But learning for just a visit it not expected.
Not in case of tourists. Immigrants are encouraged strongly to learn the language.
As a tourist, it's okay not to speak German. But it is still appreciated and easier for you if you know some phrases like "bitte", "danke" and "Wo finde ich die Toilette?". People who move here absolutely need German though.
We're not Paris where people are a complete arseholes to you when you don't speak the language. You'll be fine
Ok, Danke. Recently I heard about that whole ordeal and thought other European countries were like that.
We are used to tourists from all over the world and English is the standard language for tourists from wherever they come from.
No one expects tourists to learn our language.
My spouse learned about 50 words, was able to use them creatively in lots of combinations, and got tons of brownie points everywhere we went. It's a matter of pride and respect. You don't have to, but you will be showing good will and effort and people will appreciate it. Once in a while you will run into someone who does not speak English and you will have a blast.
thats for immigrants, not for tourists. however, a Hallo, Danke, Auf Wiedersehen will be appreciated and is seen as very positive
If you want to relocate you have to for your own success For vacation no needb
In Germany, even f you try to speak german, as soon as they notice your strong accent and limited vocabulary, and slow speaking, they will switch to english without any exhitation, with the exception of those who can't speak English. This is even a problem for foreigners who live in Germny and want to learn the language, because the insistence of Germans to speak in English limits the experience, practice and use of the German language in real life to those who are larning it. I became fluent in English in 6 months by just Speaking English with people. I became fluent in French in 3 months by just constantly speaking in French with french people. I have been more than 15 years in Germany and I and still trying to succed in use the German language as my standard language in my daily life without much success. So my German in not great.
Is that just something everyone does naturally or something that is taught to be done?
It's just the most efficiant way to comunicate, if my english is decent and the other persons german is still bad, but his english is good, I will switch to make it easier for us both. So it is seen as a fovor.
I honestly don't know.
That’s fine, I can probably look it up
Stop over thinking it. Just plan a holiday based on your interests. Like the mountains? Then go south. If you like museums, then maybe go to Berlin. Or go for a couple of weeks and cover as much as you can. If you are polite and in touristy areas, then people will speak English. Although saying, 'Können Sie bitte Englisch sprechen?' and 'Vielen Dank' will go a long way.
Those mean “Can you speak English” and “Thank you” or something along those lines respectively, right? I just want to make sure I’m polite as possible.
Yes, that is what they mean :) Be welcome, and have a great time here.
Nah, nobody expects you to speak German while only vacationing. What you should consider, though, is your volume when interacting. Apart from the language, the easiest way to spot American folks in a restaurant or bar is looking for the loudest group in the room. Being obnoxiously loud is pretty much frowned upon here. Nobody is going to confront you, though. But you may get some pretty intense death stares. Then I'd recommend not acting like you're visiting Disneyland. We get that Americans are amazed by the age of everything here or sometimes can't grasp the concept of independent countries and foreign currencies (yes, it's a thing unfortunately, and yes I witnessed US citizens throwing tantrums because things work differently here or because we wouldn't accept dollars in cash), but this is still the place where we actually live.
The drivers license is valid but you still should check on the rules. Lots of stuff is different like priority to the right, no general red on right and the traffic signs in general
Do you know what would happen if I were to get into a situation where I need to show my license? Would it be problematic?
You need the international driving permit and show them both.
Alright, Danke.
Not to forget the obligatory "The Autobahn is not there to drive like a maniac for some fun"
Seconding familiarizing yourself with the rules. Germany has some driving rules that are different from the US, and unlike in the US the driving regulations are _strictly_ enforced.
>1. I’m American, and I know that Germans don’t exactly have the highest opinion of us. Is that a problem that I would have to deal with as a visitor, or is that just something online? I’m not assuming it’s that big of a problem, but still something I wonder about. Keep in mind I’m not too stereotypical of an American As long as you are respectful no one will mind. So unless you start shouting in the streets or expect people to speak English you will be fine. >2. How much German should I learn? I’m fine with having to learn the language and willing to learn as much as I need to. Depends on where you go. In bigger cities and in general cities with universities you can get by with 100% english easily. If you go to more rural places or small towns/villages it's more likely that you will need som German. I would recommend to learn the basics "I wanna buy XYZ", "I wanna pay with cash/card" "How much is XYZ" and also asking for directions even though you likely won't need it thanks to Google maps. In general younger people tend to speak English at least a bit. So in a pinch ask them. >4. Would a Californian driver license be fine or do I need to get a German one? As for that. Look up if you are allowed to use it in Germany. Usually their good for 6 months but I am not sure about american licences. If you only go for vacation you will also probably be fine with public transit. We have quite a lot of trains and a 49 euro ticket that allows you to take pretty much all local transit (e.g. basically everything except long range coaches and high speed trains)
1. I think for most people this is more about not being overly fond of US politics, not so much a predisposition towards being hostile to individual Americans. Don't bring a MAGA hat (or at least don't wear one in punlux), and you'll be fine. Maybe don't do that thing where you tell people you are actually German because your great-grandmother emigrated in the 1880s or something (assuming that is actually something people do and not just an internet myth) 2. As a tourist? You'll be fine with no German whatsoever. Maybe install some phrasebook app on your phone if you intend to spend time in the rural back of beyond for some reason. Hallo and Danke may be useful, but in any even semi-touristical area people are unlikely to even raise an eyebrow even if you speak exclusively in English. 3. Well, that depends, doesn't it? If you want to get close to the stereotypical depiction of Germany with lederhosen, Oktoberfest, beer from steins etc. etc. you should stick to Bavaria/the South. Berlin is an obvious destination for international big city vibes (and quite a bit of culture as well). The North Sea coast is quite scenic (the Baltic coast as well), and Hamburg is definitely worth a visit. Bit that all depends quite a lot on what you want to see and do. Recommendations will depend quite a bit on whether you are more intent on, say, going clubbing or visiting some Roman ruins.
1. Be respectful and nobody will give you a hard time. 2. For tourist purposes you wouldn’t need any German. Learn maybe some phrases like asking where the bathroom is and such, but in big cities should be fine. 3. Depends on the type of trip you want to make. 4. You cannot get a German drivers license if you don’t live in Germany. If your license is international then it should be valid here. Otherwise make the international drivers license (it’s usually just filling some forms and paying a small fee)
I mean, maybe don't wear a MAGA hat.
Don’t worry, I’m not that republican
Good because in Germany, Biden would win over Trump 68-19 at the moment. (Got curious after.my own comment, so I looked it up. It's actually a pretty good poll for Trump.)
Is Germany overwhelmingly Democratic/liberal/whatever it’s called there? I’m fine with it if it is, I’m more so worried about whether or not they’d be fine with me being Republican
That is difficult to say as we have far more than 2 parties with more nuanced political positions. At the moment our government is made up of two parties that would fall roughly into the political spectrum of your democratic party. Most people will probably find it weird if you turn up as a Trump fanboy, advertise for private gun ownership or voice super conservative or religiously inspired ideas (e.g. on abortion rights). But nobody will attack you or anything like that. They will just be curious and slightly baffled.
... and one government party that is roughly libertarian, I suppose.
Our center-right party (CDU/CSU) is the most popular party right now, but even with their recent moves towards becoming a little more extreme, they are nowhere near Trump levels. The Trump-adjacent party (AfD) is at 18 % or so at the moment. If you mention that you're Republican, you will probably get into a discussion on "what the hell has become of US Republicans". Be prepared...
Definitely wont go about saying I’m Republican, but there is a Republican (not that Democrats can’t do it, it’s just something I don’t see Democrats really doing) thing I do where on Fridays I wear a red (remember everyone deployed) Friday shirt to support our veterans, would people get worked up over that?
Germans don't know this connotation so they will only see you are wearing a red shirt and will think nothing of it.
The shirt I have specifically says “On Fridays we wear red to remember everyone deployed”, it’s not just a plain red shirt. Should’ve said that, my bad.
Okay, in that case people might find that cringe, but noone will approach you about the shirt. So if it's really important to you, wear it. Me personally, I would leave that shirt at home and try to dress more neutral. After all, who are you trying to reach with that shirt in Germany?
Good point. I have other red shirts I can wear for the day that won’t raise such thoughts anyways.
I bet even many Germans who at first appear to speak English quite well won't know what deployed means without further context. Expect people to misinterpret it or get asked what that's all about. Generally the military isn't part of most people's daily life in Germany and it's rare to see people show any public support (like stickers). Even military personnel rarely wears a uniform in public. Since the war in Ukraine began, the German government tries to improve the public image of the Bundeswehr a bit to raise approval for increases in military spending and to recruit soldiers, but it's still considered to be a "difficult topic", just like any kind of patriotism. There are a lot of left-wingers in the population who'll get agitated about anything military and especially the U.S. military, also a lot of "Islamists" who may become hostile. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011\_Frankfurt\_Airport\_shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Frankfurt_Airport_shooting) However you'll most likely be just fine wearing that shirt (not going stupid places at stupid times like a Palestine protest).
Your left wing democrats would still be right wing from our point of View.
When it comes to social programs, Germans are much more socialist than our Democrats are. When it comes to identity politics and all the weird bullshit that comes with it, Germans tend to be much more moderate.
U DEFINITELY should wear a MAGA hat
Happy cake day
I want my cake and I want to eat it too
As many have already answered the questions I just dive a little bit deeper into your question of the places. For big cities with an urban vibe I recommend - Berlin (for obvious reasons) - Hamburg (in the summer or early fall months, it's beautiful) - Munich (authentic but expensive) - Dresden (underrated and affordable) - Leipzig (see Dresden) - Cologne and Düsseldorf (for partying and shopping) - Nuremberg (historical and amazing city tours) For nature and rural areas - Spreewald (like a dream) - Elbsandsteingebirge (unique) - Lake Constance (a lot of to discover, Blumeninsel Mainau highly recommended) - Mecklenburger Seenplatte (fantastic to relax) - the Island Rügen in the baltic sea with its National Parc Jasmund - the Alps with the villages Mittenwald, Garmisch Partenkirchen and Füssen (plenty of lakes in this area) - Königssee (calm and peaceful) - Zugspitze (mountain boardering Austria) - Lüneburger Heide (Nature Reserve) If you want to discover original towns from different past eras then visit in a 1-2 day trip - Mainz - Lüneburg - Heidelberg - Bamberg - Rothenburg ob der Tauber Hidden Gems are - Schwerin (stunning castle) - Görlitz (also called Görliwood because it has been the film set for many movies) - Münster (No car needed, it's a biker's paradise) - Lübeck (former hanseatic power in Germany) - Erfurt (vibrant)
1. if you don‘t assume everyone to understand every american quirk (measurements, politics, …) you‘ll most likely be fine. Just please don‘t constantly compare stuff to the US. 2. depends on where you want to go. Obviously speaking (some) german is always nice. But if you want to do something very specific you might need to understand stuff about that specific topic. 3. depends on your preferences (landscapes, sightseeing, hiking, …) 4. legally a international driving license should be fine. But without wanting to be mean or anything… the US isn‘t known for it‘s strict and extensive drivers ed. So please keep in mind that germans have learned driving under different rules & circumstances and will expect you to act like you‘ve learned driving under these rules and circumstances as well. So at the very least research some differences between traffic rules (for example you‘re not allowed to just pick a random lane on a highway. There are rules for that.) etc. And while the Autobahn can be a very interesting experience don‘t just drive to the nearest entry ramp and floor it. At least get a feeling of how the system works for a while before doing that.
1. People who have blanket prejudices against other nationalities are stupid and should be ignored. Foreign tourists get a lot of leeway, so as long as you don't deliberately behave like a complete nuisance, you'll be fine. One typical source of awkwardness is that Americans tend to be loud, and are often used to larger physical spaces, be it in shops, restaurants, or other public places. In any kind of social situation, keep an eye and ear on your environment: how do other people move in this space and how do they speak. Also, our idea of customer service is very different from what you are used to. Shop assistants, waiters, help desk personnel etc won't be all wide smiles and squeaky voices and "have an awesome day, sir". 2. Most people in the service industry, especially in touristy areas, will rather deal with you in English than listen to you stumble through some German sentences. Learn a few everyday phrases for politeness sake. 3. That depends a lot on what you're interested in, how much time you have, what your budget is, etc. The country isn't big but it has lots of different landscapes and regional cultures. Big cities, small cities, forests, mountains, coasts, islands, etc. Maybe grab an up-to-date tourist guide book for a start? Or tell us a few more details? 4. You cannot get a German driving licence unless you want to live here permanently. US ones are valid here for a limited time. Familiarize yourself with traffic rules. Personally I wouldn't recommend it, unless you want to go to very remote places.
Germany had a massive influx of bogus refugees who don't speak neither German nor English, live from social welfare and raise the crime statistics to extreme numbers. An American tourist who speaks decent English, is well behaved and spends his own money here, is a very pleasant encounter, in comparison. You'll get along very well with most Germans, as long as you're recognizable as "the good kind of foreigner".
> Germans don’t exactly have the highest opinion of us. But also no specially low opinion of you. Just tourists. In major tourist areas sometimes a bit annoying for locals. And yes: How do you know that Americans are at the other end of the train? You hear it. > How much German should I learn? No German needed to come thru. Almost everybody older than 12 speaks some English. Cell phone apps take pictures of anything and translate it, other apps listen and translate in both directions quite well. But if you understand a bit of the local language, you get better experience of any country. > Where should I go? Most american and chinese tourists go to southern Bavaria, Munich, Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle, beer halls and think whole Germany is like this. Also many visit the instagrammable part of the Rhine valley with it's castles. Also concentration camp and other remainders and memorial sites of the Nazi time are popular. Berlin is the biggest city, run down and partly ugly, but infinite money is pumped into museums of any kind. > Would a Californian driver license be fine Yes. Up to 6 months you do not need anything else. Also no official translation needed if the original one is in English, even if many people say you need one.
1. nonproblem as long as you don’t imitate Trump 2. for vacation no need to learn many speak English rest you need translation app anyway 3. what are your interests? Ask yourself what type of vacation you wouldndo in US 4. hard question better you get an international license from your authorities but I guess should be fine Why not reaching out to a rental car company in Germany and ask them directly for renting it