Germany
Last checked:
- Capital
- Berlin
- Currency
- EUR · Euro
- Languages
- German
- Plugs
- Type C, F · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag · Berlin
Symbols of reunified Germany; the Reichstag dome is free with advance online booking.
- Neuschwanstein Castle · Schwangau (Bavaria)
Fairytale 19th-century castle in the Alps; book timed tickets in advance.
- Cologne Cathedral · Cologne
Huge Gothic cathedral next to the main station; climb the tower.
- Marienplatz and Old Town · Munich
Centre of Munich with the Glockenspiel, beer halls and the Viktualienmarkt.
- Rhine Valley (Middle Rhine) · Bacharach / Rüdesheim / St. Goar
Castles, vineyards and river cruises between Koblenz and Bingen.
Getting around
Public transport
Deutschlandticket
Monthly subscription for unlimited local and regional transport (buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, regional trains) nationwide; not valid on ICE/IC. Buy only from official transport companies or the DB app; fake 'discount' resellers online sell invalid tickets.
Trains
DB Navigator (Deutsche Bahn)
Main app for trains in Germany, including ICE high-speed trains. Book early for Sparpreis fares. Also sells local tickets in many cities.
Public transport
Local transit apps (BVG, MVG, HVV)
City apps for Berlin (BVG), Munich (MVG) and Hamburg (HVV) sell day tickets and short trips. Paper tickets often must be validated before boarding; inspectors fine on the spot.
Ride-hailing app
Uber / Bolt / FREENOW
All operate in big cities like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt. Usually slightly cheaper than taxis with upfront prices. Berlin authorities have found many illegal operators on these apps; check the plate matches the app.
Taxi
Taxi
Cream-coloured metered taxis with regulated fares. Most take cards now, but confirm before the ride.
E-scooters
Lime / Tier-Dott / Bolt
E-scooters and e-bikes in most cities, paid per minute by app. Sidewalk riding is banned and drink-driving rules apply.
Buses
FlixBus
Cheapest way between cities, often a fraction of the train price but slower.
Money and cash
Currency: EUR · Euro
Germany is more cash-friendly than most of Europe. Cards and phone payments are now common, but some bakeries, small bars, kiosks and market stalls still take cash only or have a minimum for cards. Carry 20-50 EUR in cash. Use bank ATMs and choose to be charged in EUR.
Tipping
Tipping is customary but not mandatory. For table service people round up or add about 5-10%. Menu prices already include service and VAT, so there is normally no service charge on the bill. Tell the server the total you want to pay, or say 'Stimmt so' to keep the change.
| Restaurants | About 5-10%, or round up. Say the total when paying ('Dreißig, bitte'). Leaving coins on the table is less common than telling the server. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up to the next euro at table service; optional coins in a jar at counters. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Round up or about 5-10%. |
| Hotels | About 1-2 EUR per bag for porters; 1-2 EUR per night for housekeeping if you like (optional). |
| Tours and guides | Free walking tours rely on tips (around 10-15 EUR per person is common); a few euros for paid tours. |
| Food delivery | Round up or 1-2 EUR; can be added in the app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Not usually added; menu prices include service by law. Some places add a charge for large groups, which should be stated in advance. Tips are the worker's money: German law says employers cannot use tips to replace wages.
Pressure tactics to watch for
No widely reported pressure from staff, but card terminals increasingly show tip buttons with 10, 15 and 20% presets, and the 'no tip' option can be hidden in small text or on another screen. Those presets are above the local norm of rounding up or 5-10%. Look for 'Ohne Trinkgeld' or 'Kein Trinkgeld', or tell the server the total before they hand you the terminal.
Useful phrases
- Zahlen, bitte. The bill, please.
- Stimmt so. Keep the change.
- Ohne Trinkgeld, bitte. No tip, please (on the card terminal).
Etiquette
- Greet with 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo' when entering small shops; in Bavaria 'Grüß Gott' is common.
- Use 'Sie' (formal you) with strangers and staff until invited to use 'du'.
- Most shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays; quiet hours (Sunday, and about 22:00 to 06:00) are taken seriously in housing.
- Do not cross on a red pedestrian light, especially in front of children; it is frowned on and can be fined.
- Bottles and cans have a deposit (Pfand); return them to machines in supermarkets.
- Do not walk in bike lanes; cyclists will not slow down.
- Saunas are usually nude and mixed; sit on a towel.
- Nazi symbols and the Hitler salute are illegal, including as jokes.
Scams and how to handle them
Shell game
Where: Berlin tourist areas (Alexanderplatz, Unter den Linden, Museum Island) and markets
How it works: A dealer and fake winners invite you to bet on which cup hides a ball; you never win, and pickpockets work the crowd.
How to avoid it: Do not watch or bet. Berlin police actively warn about this.
Fake petition or charity
Where: Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Checkpoint Charlie
How it works: Someone, sometimes posing as deaf, asks you to sign a petition and then demands a cash donation; the clipboard can hide a theft.
How to avoid it: Say 'Nein, danke' and step away. Keep phones off tables.
Fake police
Where: Streets in big cities
How it works: People posing as plain-clothes police ask to check your wallet, cash, bank card or PIN, and take money.
How to avoid it: Ask for ID, never give your PIN, move to a public place and call 110 to verify.
Fake or cheap Deutschlandtickets
Where: Online shops and social media
How it works: Sites sell Deutschlandtickets at a 'discount' that are bought with stolen bank details and later cancelled, leaving you without a valid ticket.
How to avoid it: Buy only from Deutsche Bahn or official local transport companies.
'Free' gifts and roses
Where: Tourist landmarks
How it works: A bracelet, rose or gift is pushed on you and money is then demanded.
How to avoid it: Do not take it; hand it back and keep walking.
Taxi or rideshare overcharging
Where: Airports, stations, late-night areas
How it works: Unlicensed drivers offer vague 'fixed prices' or refuse cards and overcharge.
How to avoid it: Use official taxi ranks or apps, and check the car plate matches the app.
Dynamic currency conversion
Where: ATMs and card terminals
How it works: The machine offers to charge you in your home currency at a poor rate.
How to avoid it: Always choose to pay in EUR.
Safety
- Crime levels are similar to other Western European countries; watch for pickpockets and bag snatching at airports, stations and crowded events.
- Hotspots include Berlin's Alexanderplatz, Kottbusser Tor and Görlitzer Park, Frankfurt's station area and Christmas markets and Oktoberfest crowds.
- Never leave bags unattended; they may be stolen or treated as a security risk.
- Check your change and only exchange money at banks or ATMs; counterfeit notes circulate.
- Cities have low-emission zones; rental cars usually have the needed sticker.
- Bike lanes are busy; look both ways before stepping onto them.
How widely English is spoken
Good in big cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt) and among people under about 40; weaker among older people and in rural areas, especially in the former East.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Germany, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Germany
- Walk of Berlin: Berlin tourist scams
- The Local Germany: How the tip button is disrupting Germany's tipping culture
- IamExpat: Deutschlandticket scam sites on the rise
- The Berliner: Bolt, Uber and the ghost company scam
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.