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Germany
Hamburg during C hristmas, Germany iStock photo / Think stock

Hamburg during C hristmas, Germany iStock photo / Think stock

Practical Info
Germany
Required Clothing

European clothes according to season with light- to mediumweight in

summer, medium- to heavyweights in winter. If you're intending to visit
the mountains and particularly if you're planning a long-distance hike
it's best to take waterproof gear and extra layers with you, no matter
what the time of year.

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round two-pin plugs are in use.

Social Conventions

Handshaking is customary, and it is considered rude to address people

by their first name unless invited to do so. Normal courtesies should be
observed. Before eating, it is normal to say "guten Appetit" to the other
people at the table to which the correct reply is "danke, gleichfalls"
(Thank you, the same to you). If youve been invited to eat at a
German house, it is customary to present the hostess with unwrapped
flowers (according to tradition, you should always give an uneven
number, and it is worth noting that red roses are exclusively a lover's
gift).

In shops and other businesses, courtesy dictates that visitors should

utter a greeting such as "guten tag" (or "grss gott" in Bavaria) before
saying what it is that they want; to leave without saying "auf
wiedersehen" or "tschss" can also cause offence. Similarly, when
making a telephone call, asking for the person you want to speak to
without stating first who you are is impolite. Casual wear is widely
acceptable, but more formal dress is required for some restaurants, the
opera, theatre, casinos and important social functions. Smoking is
prohibited where notified and on public transport and in most public
buildings.

Phrases
Beer = Bier

Closed = Geschlossen

Danger = Gefahr / Vorsicht

Do you speak English? = Sprechen Sie Englisch?

(polite) / Sprichst du Englisch? (informal)

Doctor = Arzt / rztin (female)

Eight = Acht

Eighty = Achtzig

Entrance = Eingang / Einfahrt (vehicles)

Exit = Ausgang / Ausfahrt (vehicles)

Fifty = Fnfzig

Five = Fnf

Forty = Vierzig

Four = Vier

Friday = Freitag

Goodbye = Auf Wiedersehen / Tschs (informal)

Hello = Guten Tag

Hotel = Hotel

How are you? = Wie geht es Ihnen? (polite) / Wie

geht es dir? (informal)

How much does it cost? = Wieviel kostet das?

I'm very well = Mir geht es gut

I don't understand = Ich verstehe nicht

I feel ill = Ich fhle mich unwohl

Menu = Speisekarte

Monday = Montag

My name is = Mein Name ist

Nine = Neun

Ninety = Neunzig

No = Nein

One = Eins

One Hundred = Hundert

One Thousand = Tausend

Open = Geffnet

Please = Bitte

Restaurant = Restaurant

Saturday = Samstag

Seven = Sieben

Seventy = Siebzig

Six = Sechs

Sixty = Sechzig

Sunday = Sonntag

Ten = Zehn

Thank you = Danke

Thirty = Dreissig

Three = Drei

Thursday = Donnerstag

Today = Heute

Toilets = Toiletten / WC

Tomorrow = Morgen

Tuesday = Dienstag

Twenty = Zwanzig
 Two = Zwei

Wednesday = Mittwoch

Where is ? = Wo befindet sich ?

Wine = Wein

Yes = Ja

Language

German is the official language. Regional dialects often differ markedly

from standard German. Minority languages include Danish and Sorbic,
while some English and French is also spoken.

Shopping Eating
Opening Hours Regional Specialities

Most large shops are open Mon-Fri 0900-2000 and

Sat 0900-2000. All shops, except a few bakeries, Bratwurst (grilled sausage).
are closed on Sunday. Eisbein mit sauerkraut (leg of pork) and
mashed potatoes.
Schwbische maultaschen (large savoury
Credit Cards ravioli from Stuttgart).
Eierpfannkuchen (pancakes).
These are widely accepted in most shops, petrol Schwarzwlder kirschtorte (Black Forest
stations, mid- to upmarket restaurants and gateau).
hotels. All major credit cards are accepted, but it
is advisable to carry cash as well. Cheques are
very rarely used. Tipping

It is customary to tip taxi drivers,

Travellers Cheques hairdressers, cloakroom attendants, bar and
restaurant staff; a 10% tip is standard.
To avoid additional exchange rate charges,
travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques
in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Visitors Drinking Age
are advised to have their traveller's cheques
exchanged at bureaux de change (called 18.
Wechselstuben) as banks often refuse to change
them and they are not accepted as payment in
stores. Food Drink

There's nothing to mark out German

Exchange Rates produce as particularly risky to general
health (although it has a partly founded
AUD 1 = EUR 0.71 reputation for being fatty). Tap water is
safe to drink.
EUR 1 = EUR 1.00

GBP 1 = EUR 1.19

USD 1 = EUR 0.75

Rates c orrec t as of 1 0 D ec 2 0 1 3

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