6 practical tips for your trip to Germany

Are you going on vacation to Germany and want to know all the practical tips? In this blog I tell you the tips you need to know when you go to Germany.

1. Ruhetag

In Germany, Sunday is a day of rest and this is also called ‘Ruhetag’. Most stores, businesses and supermarkets are closed on this day. Take note of this while doing your shopping.

2. Pfandsystem

Germany has a recycling system called the ‘Pfandsystem‘. When you buy cans of drinks and bottles of drinks, there is a small extra amount on them called ‘Pfand’. You get this back when you turn them in at special vending machines in the supermarket. It is therefore useful to keep these to get your money back.

3. Learn a few words of German

Germans can speak English well and especially in big cities and tourist spots. Nevertheless, it is always useful to speak a few words of German. “Guten Tag” means ‘good day,’ ‘bitte’ means ‘please,’ ‘danke’ means ‘thank you,’ and ‘sprechen Sie Englisch’ means ‘do you speak English?’. This can help you during your visit in Germany.

4. Public transportation

In Germany, the public super is well organized in major cities with streetcars, buses and subways. Furthermore, you also have the Deutsche Bahn which is the national train network if you want to travel from one city to another. Note that your train tickets are cheaper if you book them in advance. You can buy a ‘BahnCard‘ or a day pass if you want to visit several cities.

5. Visit in time

There are many places of interest to visit in Germany, such as museums and castles. Here it is good to go to these sights on time, because they open early and also close early (around 17:00) already. Therefore, plan this well when you are on vacation in Germany.

6. Environment

Germany is one of the greenest countries in Europe and considers environmental protection very important. Thus, all waste is separated from each other (paper, glass, green, plastic) and there is a clear system for recycling. Look carefully at where you dispose of your waste when you are in Germany.

Hopefully now you are all set for your trip to Germany and these tips have helped you. Are you going to Berlin during your trip in Germany? Then do the SmartWalk Berlin to know all the insides of the city! You walk the route yourself and can take breaks whenever you want.