Depends where you are and how urgent it is! I used to walk home from college, I had to find a place to pee in public as unless I knock on a strangers door I had no option, I had 5-7 times the public toilets was locked that I walk by
I am from germany so my opinion is somewhat subjective but imao public drinking isn't that big of a deal. Yes in the US youre not allowed to drink publicly, but you can still be drunk in public. and that's way more important for me than the drinking itself
A great German city to visit is FRIEDRICHSHAFEN on the beautiful Bodensee (Lake Constance). It's like a resort area with a nice area for walking along the lake. Also, it is where Germany built dirigibles (air ships) including the Hindenburg which famously crashed in Lakehurst, NJ as it was preparing to dock at its mooring station following a trip across the Atlantic. Friedrichshafen also has a huge "expo" for civil aviation called "Aero" which you might want to look into. Gute Reise!
@@FelixvonMontfort Sounds fantastic! I neglected to mention that the Bodensee borders on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Joel should visit all of them! ^_^ :)
Free WiFi in Germany is kinda meh, its pretty spread out but not really and most free WiFi networks are bad. Just notice most networks needs "signing" which mostly means tap a button and youre in
Was about to write something like that ^^' And with a lot of those toilets franchises you get a voucher, e.g. at a train station, to buy snacks with :)
@@mortuos557 Yeah. They may not be as abysmal as the free Autobahn rest stop toilets, but considering that you pay money for using them, they should be far cleaner than they usually are.
Yeah she makes good videos. One thing he should think about from this video is they often sayed its cheap in germany because the video is not from 2023. Most things are really not that cheap anymore in germany.
Concerning money: At the airport I would try to get 100€ in 10€ bills. If you have to pay something at a small bakery, it's better to have a 10€ bill than a 50€ or 100€ bill.
Yes, a 100€ should be your limit at the airport. Often 50€ could be enough. They have extortionate exchange rates there. It's just to cover the basics until you can reach a normal bank in a city somewhere with more reasonable exchange rates.
Please don't just visit the big cities, also have a look at the smaller ones and the nature in between: I can recommend the Mosel valley between Koblenz and Trier, including Trier (oldest town in Germany, founded by the Romans) // The whole Bodensee region (Lake Constance), bring some swimwear to go swimming in the lake // Rothenburg ob der Tauber, take the nightwatch man guided tour // Rügen island // take a boat trip from Hamburg to Helgoland // Aachen, just another beautiful medieval town with rich history. Ok, there's too much to do for a single trip. Keep it relaxed 😅
Yes, T r i e r is so beautiful and interesting. 👍 It is a really nice town ! I like it. Not too big, not too small. You can see and learn a lot there about history, visit a museum, do some shopping, or just relax in one of the Cafés, Bistros and Restaurants.🍾 It is possible to make a tour by boat/ ship 🚤, or rent a bike and travel along the riverside. Or go hiking, swimming, to the cinema, theater, .and so on. .. You can reach Trier with a car , by train,🚇 a bus ( or even with a ship) 😉 you can Google for "Trier" or "Porta Nigra". 🏰 Another nice town is "Speyer" , in my option, when you don't want to visit only the big cities. I don't know, perhaps watch the " Museum of Technik" / Technik Museum there and the cathedral/ Dom. ⛪ Have a great time here in Germany, 🙂and where ever you will travel in Europe. ✈
If you plan to go to Helogland you really shoule depart at Bremerhaven. But if you plan to be in Hamburg, you should trake the boattaxi/bus up the Elbe to see some nice places without paying much for the boatride.
Great advice. I would also add the Saarland as an underrated region that has a lot to offer like the Schlossberghöhlen in Homburg, sandstone caves that go several floors deep; nearby Schwarzenacker with rebuilt Roman houses; the Saarschleife with a "Baumwipfelpfad", a wooden construction on which you can walk through the forest on the level of the treetops and then even walk up much higher on their wooden tower to get a great overview of the Saarschleife. Nearby is Villa Borg, a reconstructed Roman villa where they also have various events like the "Roman days" on 5th and 6th of August; the word heritage Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill which you can visit to see impressive wind machines the size of old steam locomotives to blow wind into the blast furnace. They also have exhibitions, this year on Julian Rosefeldt and the urban art exhibition where graffiti from various artists is shown. Then there is Saarlouis, the "secret capital of the Saarland" with a charming old city center; Saarbrücken, the actual capital with various interesting buildings and also a charming old city center and various other places to see like "Steine an der Grenze", a collection of various stones that were carved along the border between Germany and France by various artists. Additionally, it is located next to Luxembourg and France, so you might fly to Luxembourg as an alternative to flying to Frankfurt and start your trip from there, then maybe visit a castle in France like Château Malbrouck and/or Château des Ducs de Lorraine and then go on to start visiting Germany by visiting the Saarland. A trip Luxembourg - France - Saarland will take about one hour since its all so close. You could pass the actual town of Schengen which gave the name to the Schengen zone since it sits right at the border of the three countries.
A nice all weather coat is well advised. The weather in summer can be about anything between 15 and 35 depending on where you are at and there are mountain regions as well. Shoes? Unless you intend to go to the opera, you'll be fine wearing your favs. But you will do a lot more walking than in the US. Wifi is widely available in much of Europe in the cities. In the country side, it may be harder to find a public place with wifi, but any hotel or hostel has it.
Since recently there is the Deutschland Ticket, that brings you basically everywhere in Germany, within or between cities for just 49 EUR a month. Just be aware, that the fast inter-city trains (and maybe a few other transportations like Flix bus) are not included.
Its hard to get the Deutschland Ticket as a Tourist since its actually a Subscription based Model. The DB Itself even Requires a Schufa Auskunft for whatever Reason.
@@DantoriusD I think you are wrong. From what I read it is possible to get the ticket as a foreigner even without a European bank account by using PayPal.
Definitely bring some pairs of shoes you can walk in. Sometimes I see tourists walking around in their high heels or other fancy but uncomfortable shoes, and since Germany has a lot of pedestrian-only areas especially in the old town parts of large cities, you will be doomed to walk a lot. Make sure you have at least one pair of shoes you can walk in for at least four hours straight. Oh, and if you are accompanied by someone with an inclination to higher heeled shoes: if you're not used to cobblestone, those might prove very inconvenient, if not hurtful. Flat shoes. Sneakers. Heavy outdoor shoes, especially if you plan on going hiking. But on cobblestone, high heels are ankle-wreckers. And something waterproof. Yes, Germany has experienced draughts during the very hot summers in the last few years, but IF it starts to rain, it might rain on end. Usually, you don't need a warm jacket then, but something to fight off the rain. Although, you will readily find those in any clothing store, and umbrellas on every other street corner, if you want to take the risk.
The weather in Germany can be very mixed in the summer. I would definitely take sturdy shoes, sports shoes, sandals and bathing slippers and bathing gear with me, if you want to swim in the sea, in the swimming pool or in the lake.
Careful with Flixbus, while this service is cheaper than the trains, they're also slower. I'd sy, they're okay if you don't want to travel more than 300km in one direction. As for clothing, the tip for a second set of clothes to change into when it's wet is very imporant. I believe mid June to mid July is Germany's monsson season, after that it gets hot and dry here - but obviously, this can't be set in stone. A raincoat helps =D
In my experience they are also unreliable. They once canceled my bus because there weren't enough bookings. As I didn't read my emails, I was stranded. Americans will probably not consider German trains expensive, so it's worth checking these first. PS: As buschhuhn9197 hints, applying the word 'monsoon' to anything in Germany is ridiculous. Sometimes there an hour in a later summer afternoon with rain that can be described as torrential. But never anything as bad as what I have experienced in two Mediterranean cities (Barcelona and Thessaloniki), who in turn still have nothing that could be called monsoon.
Flixbus gets inconvenient as soon as you are not travelling between bigger cities. And monsoon? What? Weather in Germany in summer is quite unpredictable. It helps to check weather trends beforehand. But layering is the magic word.
I know you are no fool, but layers of clothing will still be important for a European summer. When you came last year it was the middle of a heatwave- but you should be prepared for for changeable weather. Obviously you won't need a thick coat- but layers of T shirt, then warm hoodie, with a raincoat are essential. The weather can change several times during a day.
It's been pretty wet and cool this spring in northern Europe. Unfortunately I won't be at home in Amsterdam to show you around this summer, as I'll be prancing around in Florida from June 14th until September 6th 🙂 My tip for you: contact your German fans and see if they'll let you bunk at their place. Not having to pay for a hotel or hostel may save you a shitload of money. I've had an American friend staying at my place for 2 weeks and he was quite happy to sleep on the air mattress I had for him.
If you have T-Mobile US then for some of their plans you get roaming free service in Germany. Well, as T-Mobile is a German company. It even extends to many other European countries as well. Even calls between Germany (plus certain European countries) and the US are covered. It may even be worth to upgrade your plan for a month for international roaming. Verizon and AT&T also have plans but those are a lot more expensive.
Don’t bring any weapons like knifes, guns or tasers. Those are not allowed and are definitely going to be take away from you ( I think you could actually get arrested too if you bring those but I’m not sure )
Many Americans complain about costs for the "public restroom" in Germany. BUT: i have been many many times in the USA and many of the public restrooms are A PAIN! They are not maintained, dirty, stinky etc.pp. - if have seen some where you will definately vomit.... Most German "toilets" (we dont say "restroom") are maintained and clean. You will definately prefere these over the american stinky restrooms!
Hamburg is a must have to visit. In addition, a few kilometers up the Elbe in the direction of the North Sea is a large fruit-growing area for apples and cherries and the beautiful small town of Stade with its medieval city center, which is largely a pedestrian zone.
Thats wrong. The toilet cleaners getting normal income. If you pay 1€ at the automat to get in, this is for the company who sells toiletvisit. People who clean the toilet have normally a liitle plate on a desk and to pay there its voluntary.
@@elmarwinkler6335 you are right tho. The money collected from the use of the toilets is also in part used to pay the workers, the rent for the property, water, heating and taxes.
You should search for Deutsche Bahn German Rail pass. You can use any train (even the fast ICEs) for the amount of days you choose (between 3 to 15 days). It is even cheaper when your under 27 or when your traveling with another person. It might be worth it if you use the train system a lot and I guess you will because there are so many great cities all over Germany.
the weather is pretty unpredictable in germany, even in the summer. sun, rain, wind, heat, mild temperatures,... basically pack for spring weather as well as summer weather and you should be fine. remember that you'll walk a lot and use public transport so you'll be outside a lot also free wifi can be found but it's not common enough to rely on it imo especially outside of like shopping districts
@@Jade-ns9tg there is always the odd day when you made special plans... especially in northern germany. better safe than sorry. or just get a sweater here, if you need it.
The weather can be a bit changeable/unpredictable everywhere. Typical summer weather basically means hot (though not so hot that we would have or need air conditioning) with optionally a thunderstorm in the early evening. But almost anything up to hail (but normally not snow) _can_ happen even in summer. Especially on the coast and in the Alps, be prepared for very sudden changes in the weather. Most Americans are surprised how far north Europe is. In terms of latitude, Scandinavia roughly corresponds to Alaska. Germany's southernmost point is slightly north of Montréal. Rome is slightly north of New York. Europe is warmer than it 'should' be due to the effects of the Gulf Stream and the Mediterranean Sea.
@@johaquila You lost me at Mediterranean, how does that help? Or do you just mean general proximity to large bodies of water (so actually North and Baltic Sea, too)?
The thing is that public bathrooms in the US are both free (provided by the city, state etc. ) and often MUCH cleaner (had some exceptions to that in bigger cities though) and more inclusive (equipped for families, people with disabilities, elderly, gender neutral etc.) than in Europe. The European approach to public toilets is a disgrace. I am German and currently living in the US for a bit and this difference really stands out. People also really seem to be able to behave like adults and keep the toilets also e.g. at work / university clean.
If you plan to visit Berlin (as you have stated in another video) you should make a detour to Potsdam (~30 min by train). Many castles, palaces, and parks here.
The most important tips: - Check all you electronics if they are able to deal with 230Volt. - Avoid ANY weapons, including knifes with long blades or spring blades. - Think of a backup concept for pictures and videos in case your camera or phone gets lost.
bring a light jacket with you - Sommer in Germany can be really frustrating :D Places to visit - depent in which area you will be, but you should def. visit some castles, in my area I would recomment to visit (please be aware, this is just my thoughts on it) 1. Burg Hohenzollern 2. Schloss Lichtenstein 3. Wilhelma (this is a zoo) 4. Alte Brücke Heidelberg (a bridge, you have to see it - very nive area also) 5. Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg 6. Europa-Park (if you like theme parks - this is my one to go park in Germany) 7. Schlossplatz Stuttgart 8. Titisee (beautiful) 9. Bodensee 10. Luisenpark Mannheim 11. Fernsehturm Stuttgart 12. Rulantica (you can do that in combination with the Europa Park) 13. Todtnau Waterfalls 14. Schluchsee 15. Hasenhorn Coaster 16. Blautopf (Blaubeuren) 17. Wallfahrtskirche Basilika Birnau ..... there are a ton of things to see in only one area in Germany :D also you have to try the food here: 1. Döner (streetfood) 2. Käsespätzle 3. Schnitzel (Jägerschnitzel, Wienerschnitzel) 4. Knödel mit Rotkraut und Rolladen And the beer.... :D I hope you have a wundervoll time in Germany and enjoy every second of it!
If u want to go clubbing be sure to bring jeans, in most clubs u don't get in with shorts. (For normal clubs jeans + a normal t-shirt + sneaker works great; for more fancy clubs blue jeans or sneaker are a no go, will need more fancy clothes especially trousers and for example chelsea boots; to get into Techno clubs is the most easy just don't overdress and wear black on black on black, the more fucked up the better mostly, but you NEED black clothes and some pair of black sneakers is not a need but great)
Btw. Just dm me or comment if u have questions, I'm like a 6feet 3inch guy with a big build and a more middle eastern look. I'm playing the to get into clubs game already on "hardcore" so if I can get in you should have no problem at all as a more sweet and kind looking american.
A lot of the public toilets in railroad stations now accept cards/phone payment. Plus, they give you a coupon so you get 50 Cents off in some shops in the station.
Why not a EU-Trip? Like: Prag > Saxonian Switzerland > Dresden > Spreewald > Berlin > Somthing with Nature in Between > Hamburg > Amsterdam > Northern See > Bruessels - like 1 Day City, one day nature, and just 1-2h trainride between the locations. 3 or 4 countries
If you need to go to a doctor as uninsured is not that expensive in Germany when you only need a prescription. It may be around 50-100 Euros, probably even less. As an emergency solution not that bad. I did this once as I was living outside of Germany and went to a specilist for lung issues. Not insured in Germany. Had extensive testing done. Took around 2-3 hours and spent only 126 Euros. The regular price for a doctor visit including examination is 25 Euros. Additionally the cost for a prescription. That's a few Euros. Not expensive! Some in Germany say it is expensive as they are not used to pay more than 10 Euros a quarter for the doctor due to the national healthcare. But it's not :) I'm a German living outside of Germany for quite some time now. Hopefully you won't need it but no need to panic if you do!
You should definitely look up whether your can use your eSim in Germany. eSim is generally not that well-established in Germany yet (and Europe for that matter). That's why the new iPhones still come with a sim slot here, while they don't in the US. It's probably best to look up the details
I do have an eSIM on my German Vodafone contract. Why should it not work? The thing is more about the price - a regular American contract will be crazy expensive to use here (roaming costs). But you can add a second eSIM to your iPhone, e.g. from providers like Airalo or Nomad that specialize in international roaming SIMs.
Quick heads-up about flixbus: yes, they are cheaper but definitely check the departure/arrival places. For example, flix bus does not stop in cologne but in Leverkusen (a city next to cologne). Both are connected very reliably by train but it will be an additional cost and wazted time for you, depending on what your plans are. DB (the train company) dislikes flixbus because it takes away their customers so they try very hard to make it impossible for flixbus to put their bus stops anywhere. Thats why sometimes you literally have to go the extra mile for the better price. Also, while DB is unreliable in itself, flixbus is also not the most trustworthy. They might say they have wifi and toilets on board but dont rely on it! Personally I would take DB over flixbus any time.
@@melchiorvonsternberg844 Meine Info ist tatsächlich auch ca 3-4 Jahre alt, aber die haben hinterm Bahnhof die Haltestelle verboten, sodass man nur noch in Leverkusen einsteigen konnte und dort eben mit der SBahn hinfahren musste... ich nehme an, dass das immernoch so ist
From my experience from living in Germany, the need to always have cash has significantly changed in the last few years due to Covid. In the past it was true that you needed cash especially for small amounts. The reason for that was not that Germans like cash, but that the banks charged the shop a fee for card-transactions, so paying with cash was actually cheaper. For higher amounts paying with cards was always very common here, so for example if you went shopping for cloths you usually didn't need cash. Then that nasty virus came and you didn't want to have it in your purse, so people preferred to pay contact-less and even smaller amounts were paid without cash. Nowadays you can pay with your card almost everywhere. There are still a few shops who don't accept cash, so you better have a few Euros, just in case, but most likely you're not going to need cash. For the shopping cart you need something as big as a coin, but that doesn't have to be a coin. That's no fraud, because you will get back whatever you have put in. "Shopping cart chips" are often given away for free, so if you are at a (larger) grocery store and you don't have a coin, just go to the Information counter and ask if they have a "Einkaufswagen-Chip" for you. On the list of usefull apps I would add a good weather forecast app. Some other comments already said it: weather in Germany can be changing relatively fast, so it's good to know what's coming. My personal favorit us the "Warnwetter" app by the DWD (German weather service), which costs 1,99 € in the full version, a free version is available but with significantly less features. This is the app I use since years and I'm very satisfied with, there may be other good weather apps as well.
Well, you will need some cash at least for every bakery or street Food shop over here. Never saw a bakery or a shop that sells stuff out the window who took cards. Especially US/International cards.
@@Jade-ns9tg do you live in a very small town or something? in my city (250k people) every bakery takes card nowadays, i only need cash for döner and shopping carts hhh
@@mel_ooo living in the "Speckgürtel" of Berlin since corona started. Befor that in other citys way above 100k. So yeha all my "big town" exp. is from pre corona time. Maybe that makes the difference here. Don't know how much it changed in over all germany. BUT even if they take EC Card nowadays, they most definitely do not take international cards. Shops need to pay for those banking services. That's also the main reason why so many shops did not had card paying before corona. And i guess international card services will coast them extra.🤔 Only as far as i know. take it with a grain of salt.
When you want to take the train (Deutsche Bahn; DB) and the train is cancelled or you miss a second train because the first got delayed, you typically can still use your ticket for the next best train without paying for a new ticket. I think it's only for ICE (long-distance train) tho.
applies to all trains; the train you take instead just can't be "higher" that the ticket you bought for the journey, eg if you buy an IC ticket and that train gets canceled, you have to take another IC train, but you cannot take an ICE (IC Express) train. Express trains are in general considered "higher" in value as they are faster with less stops. You are even allowed to deviate from the paid original route, as you pay for air distance, not travel distance. To some extend, of course. Your deviation must make sense in regards to your paid journey.
I'm not sure how this is in the US (maybe you can tell me), but if you're in Germany (or Europe) and meet one of those wlid looking big guys with long Hair, beard and Tattoos everywhere (looking like a Viking, ready to bite your Head off), you can be pretty sure that this is a really nice guy 😂 Those are german Metalheads and they are known as very peaceful, polite, helpful and always ready to have a giant amount of beer with you.
I even think it's cheap with the public toilets. The Sanifair toilets at motorway service stations are the most expensive. You have to consider that the public toilets have to be cleaned by the staff (the salary has to be paid, or the contractual costs for cleaning companies), and costs for waste water and water, toilet paper, and possibly also heating costs if the rooms are heated. Not to mention electricity costs for lighting or the electric hand dryer. Damage caused by vandalism must also be covered by insurance or paid for by the city. All this costs money. Specific food items that may not be brought in are meat, eggs, and milk or cheese products. This is forbidden because of the risk of epidemics. Likewise, some animals that can be bought in other countries may not be flown to Germany. (If they are protected species/animal welfare). Pets such as dogs or cats may be brought along, but I think they have to be registered beforehand and also have certain up-to-date vaccinations. A corresponding vaccination certificate must be available for the animals.
It must also be considered that you normaly get a "cupon" from that restroom that you may use in the location you are in. For example the toilets in Karlsruhe main station are 50 cents but also give you a 50 cent cupont that you can use at any shop in that main station.
@@Ijanon was will ich mit einem 50 ct Coupon. Dafür bekommt man ja noch nicht mal einen Kaffee, geschweige denn ein Stück Kuchen oder so. Es geht mir mehr darum das es mir lieber ist, 50ct für eine öffentliche Toilette zu zahlen und zu wissen das die sauber ist. Alles andere spiel keine Rolle.
Free WiFi is generally NOT a thing but I have been to one (literally one) city that had free WiFi in the entire inner city and *some* supermarkets, hardware stores and such in bigger cities may also have free WiFi. If you desperately need WiFi, try to find an Edeka (grocery store) or Hornbach (hardware store). The bigger, the more likely they are to have it. If you are outside a lot, you WILL need sunscreen. Especially as a tourist. Well, if you generally don't care, don't bring any but you'll get sunburnt nevertheless. I'd just buy some at DM tho.
So cool you‘re coming to Germany! You should definitely visit Hamburg (I live there too)! It‘s the second biggest city in Germany and so beautiful! Let me know if you‘re planning to visit, I would love to show you my city!
5:15 Imho, you should generally pack for terrible (and I mean terrible) heat but bring one sweater and a thin rain jacket, just in case. Quick tip: tube scarves are great wind protection with minimal space requirements. They can function as beanies and such, too.
I don't know how is it in the US, but Google maps is super helpful for metropolitan public-transport planning, telling you were the stops are, how to get there, which bus / tram / metro to take, including all the transfers with departure timings.
Flixbus is cheaper but not everywhere available and you are more independent with a train because flixbusses are driving not that often so watch for both Bus and train.
Summers in germany aren't necessarily hot and when it rains it can get a bit cool. This spring there was a lot of rain in some parts of germany so just be prepared for everything. Have fun travelling.
Yes but also it can be very hot, when I was in Berlin in July a couple or years ago it was so hot I didnt wanna do anything or walk around.. haha I didnt expect it to be that hot in Germany.. yes be prepared for anything good tip
@@skyxii_ The last few years have been extreme, but this year it seems to be a bit more "normal". As my dad described it: "German weather used to be 8 months of winter, and 3 months of rain".
It gets hotter every year. 2022 was a horrible summer in the South (not near the Alps). No rain for months and temperatures only between 30 and 40°C. Super hot and super dry.
I would defenetly recommend you visiting the lower Rhineland. Düsseldorf and Cologne are two major cities with a lot of touristic atraction. And you can see a lot of Roman builds in Xanten, Neuss or Cologne for example which are some of the oldest cities in germany. In the area is also Wuppertal with its suspended monorail you reacted to. Its also a good middle point if you intend to visit the netherlands, the north like Hambourg, the east like Berlin, Dresden, or the south like München and Stuttgart the lower Rhine is quite in the middle of that with good public transit links. If your visiting Düsseldorf you can let me know i can show you around Düsseldorf and Neuss.
Can I give you some humble advice? Fly to Amsterdam in the Netherlands and stay in Amsterdam for a few days. Then you will get used to the cultural difference and English is spoken almost everywhere in Amsterdam. You then acclimatize a little faster and then enjoy your holiday in beautiful Germany.
you should definitly focus on visiting northern germany aswell cuz most americans only visit southern germany and i think they'll miss a lot and don't get a overall view about germany
Even in Summer, you might need those layers. Especially around the first decade of August, temperatures can drop. And if you are planning to go to the coast of the North Sea (which is recommended!), you will need something to break the wind, and temperatures can easily drop to the low 50ies (or around 10 degrees Celsius).
One thing I always make sure I pack before travelling to Europe from the UK is paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen. We can buy those in supermarkets here for about 50p a packet but in most European countries you have to visit a pharmacy, explain why you need them and then pay about €8.00 for a very small packet of tablets.
You don’t have to explain anything, but the pharmacist is legally required to make sure you’re fit to take any requested medication. I don’t know how many pills you pop a day, but paracetamol is rather heavy on your liver, Aspirin can be upsetting for your tummy, and the effect on reducing blood to clod (which can be beneficial) but can be a serious problem in case you have an accident or need an operation. I am quite happy that a professional structure is in place in Europe.
i dont know if it differs so heavily from region to region but i dont have to explain anything if i want to buy a 50pc package of 400mg ibus, and for 600mg you need a recipe from a doc^^
If it is urgent, you better have your coins ready. There might be a turnstile preventing you from fast access. In some venues, the door only opens if you put in a coin in the assigned slot. Most often you pay for the maintenance and cleaning. Very often there is a difference between free and payable. Paying is often just a type of deposit; you get all or most of it back if you shop something in the venue. Also often, you will get a voucher that is good for a year, so you can collect them, instead of using it every time to buy something unneeded at that moment.
2:31 ehhh, you might want to avoid Wildpinkeln (urination in public) if you are caught, you will be fined and the fines vary from municipality to municipality and go from 30 to 500 Euro. If you get caught and there are children and/or teenagers around you even can be put in jail. So the one Euro (for very clean tiolets and a safe space) is not too much.
Joel, the Deutsche Bahn has normaly something for international students, So you can get one ticket for the whole of Germany, even maybe Europe. In the bus you stay seated, in the train you can often stand up, take a walk to the waggon with the restaurant, or someone comes by where you can order or buy a meal. I am not a big fan of Deutsche Bahn, but to travel through Germany/Europe, is is more convenient than flying. And it is more ecological 😃. In the Apotheke (pharmacy) you can get Ibuprofen up to 400mg and other medication, without prescription, the nice apothecary will mopst certainly help you. be safe Elmar from Germany
If you need a coin for the toilet or a shopping cart and only have a note, don't desperately run around like the cartoon figure in the video, but go in the nearest shop and ask them if they can change your note (or any other coins that are "too big") into the coins you need. Maybe you could even ask random people (though sadly many might think you're a scammer or thief nowadays and be suspicious or ignore you altogether). Summers can be very hot, the last two summers were really hot in my region, but it varies. And summers usually aren't continuously hot, there can be really cool and/or rainy days inbetween.
The toiletries, as far as I've gathered from My Merry Messy (German) Life are a) much cheaper yet b) much higher quality with c) much lower amounts of additives here in Germany than in the US. Often American expats visiting with their relatives back in the States pack their suitcases full of the affordable German toiletry articles. So bring what you need for one or two days, then drop into a local Drogerie / drug store for your toiletries of choice. Remember, no stores are open on Sundays or on public holidays, so consider that for your plans. Restaurants are open on Sundays. If you are totally strapped for something essential, try a larger city with a major train station or an airport. You will find some stores in the central stations or at airports open on Sundays, but at outrageous prices and very little selection. So be warned; they will skin you alive. If you can, wait another day, go shopping on Monday regularly. Food shouldn't be a problem on Sundays however. Many excellent choices available everywhere to eat out. Most bakeries will be open on Sunday mornings, or maybe even afternoons if they have an attached café with seating available. If you can't find one by simply looking around; google will help. Most bakeries will be registered on google maps. Apps: find a text translator that allows you to scan anything and it will translate it. It may help in case something isn't obvious, or there is no other English translation. Especially menu items on a restaurant's menu may need some assistance. Sure, it won't work 100% but it should give a fairly reasonable approximation in most cases. If you really need to, get a speech to text translator app as well. However the majority of Germans will speak a fairly reasonable English. Yeah, sure, with some accent in many cases, but still understandable, even if they claim to speak 'only a little'. Bahn.de is the website of THE major German train and rail provider. Basically everything concerning public transport for any major distances can be found in it. Flixbus.de is the bus site. Sure, it is cheaper, but often you need a lot of patience. The busses can get stuck in traffic, so they are often delayed. They are also very slow compared to trains, so unless you wish to spend a majority of your trip on busses watching the landscape roll by from the Autobahn, consider maybe using the trains instead. That doesn't mean that the trains are on time, hell no. The Deutsche Bahn is notorious for being unpunctual to the extreme. Having only ten minutes delay is considered almost an accomplishment. Dropped or cancelled trains are also fairly common so don't rely absolutely on the Bahn for transport if you definitely need to be somewhere on time. Plan ahead accordingly, and maybe take a train an hour earlier or so. The Eurorail passes are probably a great idea if you intend to travel around Europe for even one or two trips. They used to be so affordable that buying one for any long-distance round trip already saved you the money for the Eurorail pass instead of buying the single use ticket itsself. Especially if you apply the student discounts.
At this time you should not care about clodes....only about shirts and shorts....ITS Summer 😎 And dont travel by train !!!!!!!! ITS Just a big mess!!! DB will destroy your Holiday!!!! FlixBus yes,plain yes,everything but Not the train!!!!!!
There are 3 options for using public transport: Flixbus is cheap and slow. P.e. Traveling from München to Berlin is for about 35-40 Euro and takes 12 hours. The "Deutschland -Ticket" for 49 Euro is for the "slower" trains "Nahverkehr". But be careful. It is 49 € PER MONTH and you have to subscibe it. So don't forget to cancel the subscribtion. From München to Berlin it takes 10 hours by "Nahverkehr". The "high-speed-trains" (ICE, IC/EC TGV ...) are most expensive. From München to Berlin it's at 100 - 180 € but only takes 4,5 hours. If you use highspeed -trains, check offers like "Bahn-Card" or discounts for early booking.
You must visit the Blackforest, or you haven`t seen Germany. The worldfamous CooCoo Clock (Kuckucksuhr) is made only in Blackforest (The real thing! ...copies are made in China) You might wanna visit Titisee and Feldberg for example.
most important thing to keep in mind is: Germans in 2023 call Berlin the "Federal Capital Slum(!)" (by far highest crime rate in Germany, highest unemployment rate, Arab mafia clans, lowest education level, highest unemployment and poverty rate) and Munich is called "Germany s powerhouse ( by far lowest crime rate, highest earning power, lowest poverty and lowest unemployment rate, highest education level etc.) and most Italian town".... :-) and AVOID North Rhine Westphalia, Germany s "caliphate" with cities such as Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Cologne, Dusseldorf at all cost, or else you ll be SHOCKED in 2023....
I don't know when your university breaks for summer. If you'll be in Europe the end of June, try to get tickets for the Glastonbury Festival 23-25. Among 200 acts, will be: Elton John, Cat Stevens, Arctic Monkeys, Guns n' Roses, Lewis Capaldi, Manic Street Preachers, Fatboy Slim, Blondie, Lana del Rey. In Berlin, Germany, the following weekend is the big fusion festival, a big counterculture event held just outside the city. There you'll see an entirely different and wild other side from how most US people expect German youth to behave. You'll never forget the beginning, and likely won't ever remember the end!! 😂🥳🤯
.... Category 14: You don't need to bring your own bread and steak to Germany. Germany actually has a few Bakeries and Butchers. Category 15: In order to pack your travel essentials, it is especially important for trips to Germany to stow them in a suitcase. Category 16: Don't forget your books "Germany for Dummies" and "Traveling for Dummies" 😜
Forget free WiFi in Germany. :P It's better, to buy a cheap unlocked Smartphone in advance and get a Prepaid Sim Card here. (Or, if you are T-Mobile US Customer, ask your provider if there is EU roaming possible).
You can bring another phone where you can put a physical SIM card. Roaming will cost you a lot, especially overseas!!! Look up for a plan for public transportation befor you depart the US. If you buy single tickets for each trip, that will cost a lot. Train travelling is expensive. A few years ago there was a plaan EURO26, for individuals under 26 years. I hope you will also visit Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czeh Republik, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia. There are beautiful historical places.
Very important: SIM card for mobile internet with enough data for your visit. There are international roaming providers where you can top up your data as needed when needed by credit card. Orange Holiday Europe with 20 GB and 120 minutes worldwide calls for 55€ for example. Or when maybe your own provider like T-mobile US (which is a subsidiary of German Telekom) and there you can get for 50$ 15 GB data plan and you can use your regular mobile number. Don’t forget your international charging plug. Europe has different outlets.
Hey Joel, for travelling you might wanna watch "Lauren in Germany". Singer from Wales, working in Germany. She has a very romantic view on place to visit. But it is surely worth, watching that. About what to bring home to the US: a guy once stated that he lives on Hawaii. Visiting Germany once a year. And he buys 200 bars of chocolate, which saves him 600$. What to bring to Germany? If you have friends into cooking: bring smoked oysters. Less than 3$ a can in the US. Hard to find and extremely expensive in Germany. Drop me a line if your reoad leads you to Hamburg. I could name a few places to go.
You received information for places of interesst in southern Germany, outside of Bavaria. In northern Germany, i would like to recommend you stay, at first, at Hamburg. Hamburg offers a lot of places of interesst. From there you might go by train to Kiel, where you could walk over the remnants of a WW2 heavy cruiser buried under a parking lot. From Kiel you should go to Laboe, either by bus or ferry, and visit the Marine-Ehrenmal and to Möltenort for the Memorial of all lost German submariners during WW1 & WW2 . From Hamburg you may also travel to Lübeck. Or else, if you are visiting at the right time of the year to the "Heuler-Aufzuchtstation" at Friedrichskoog.
I am shure that you whant to visit Hamburg and MiWuLa, but the smaler cities are nice too. Frankfurt (Main) or "Mainhatten" can be also nice. Regarding Apps: Instead of just Google Maps I would recomend OSMAND because most times the data of openstreetmap are more accurate.
As a German who travel a lot i can tell you that you absolutey should not spent to much time in big citys! Go around and visit the country. In the east a must visit is Dresden (city Trip) ,the Spreewald region!!!😊 Also dont spent to much time in Bavaria! speacialy Munich!, Munich is a very expensive richbitch City nothing else..... Also a must see is the Saar-Mosel Region,one of the most beatyful reagions in Germany,If you come to this region let me know and i will guide you dude 😎✌️
Idk if any body mentioned it already.. But there is now the 49€ ticket in Germany. With that you can go around Germany for a whole month with public transport. Like.. Every where. The only down side is, you cant use the Fernverkehr (like an ice, ic, ec) with it. It's still probably better than flixbus.
For a trip in summer you don't need any special clothes. Jeans, T-Shirts, Sneakers and you'll be fine. Some kind of jacket or hoody in case it's a bit colder and windy or it rains. I wouldn't travel with an umbrella. If it turns out you want one it's easy to get one for a few Euros. E-SIM is the right call. You don't need Rossman or dm for regular toiletries - every supermarket (grocery store) sells them. Rossman and dm just offer more variety, wider selection. The need for cash is greatly reduced since the pandemic. Many shops that didn't have readers got them during the pandemic. At least in the big cities. But debit cards (here known as EC cards) are more widely accepted than credit cards. But unless you're in a village there's always a bank or at least ATM nearby. You'll need power adapters. WiFi is often available in cafes (and always in hotels) similar to the US. Supermarkets and other shops sometimes have wifi. Public transport increasingly offers it too (this can be flaky though). Only rent a car if you travel in rural areas. Otherwise it's better to use public transport. Parking is a major hassle in German cuties and we don't have chessboard blocks with the simple street layouts that come with them (which makes driving as a tourist in the US very simple:) ). I imagine our streets to be nightmarish for American tourists only staying for 2 or 3 weeks. Everything is curved, complicated, tight, busy, surprising one-way routes etc... Subway, bus, bikes and scooters are easily available. Possibly confusing: "Inner city" in Germany often means the most expensive business and/or leisure areas. German cities are generally walkable. Public toilets cost money, but what these expat videos fail to mention is that cafes and restaurants (any place you sit down to consume food and drink) always have toilets and these are almost always free for guests (there's some regional variance to this). So you don't really have to worry about restroom access or coins while out for lunch, coffee or dinner. Germans are less immediately going into smalltalk with strangers than Americans. Doesn't mean we're rude it dislike you. We just don't want to bother strangers that's all. If you approach somebody with a question you'll likely get a helpful answer. Germans use less circumventional communication. That is us often misunderstood as being rude or unfriendly. But to Germans this is understood as being direct and honest. Actual unfriendly assholes and rude people also exist of course. Many service positions that are normal for the US (parking lot attendants, people who carry your luggage to your hotel room, valet parking) either don't exist in Germany or are way more rare (again, there's some regional variance). In a non-fancy regular restaurant there's usually no host showing you to a table. It's normal to go in and just sit down at a table.
Aspirin (ASA), paracetamol and IBU400 can be bought over the counter in pharmacies = Apotheke. Heavier medications require health insurance and a doctor's visit. Then everything costs 5 to 10 euros. Get travel health insurance ! or ask your current health insurance company Remember that Sundays and public holidays have restaurants open, but no regular shops. Airports, train stations and petrol stations may also have shops open on Sundays. but expensive. Bakeries may be open on Sunday mornings.
Hey Joel, first and foremost let me make a compliment: I am a 61 year old German without children. But If I had a grandson I would be happy if he was like you! So, you may regard me as your Grandma, haha! Now what I guess is really important: Concerning your phone - please do not count on "free public Wi Fi" in Germany. It might be......erm.... okaaaayyyy (with a little salty emphasis on ok) in the capital cities, but even in the 'big but not capital' cities it is more or less a matter of luck, and in small or very rural locations it is really rare. I'd bet my right hand - if you rely on it you'll be lost! Not a single country in Europe is worse with 'all about cell phones' than Germany! And seriously, this is not complaining on high level like we Germans love to do, it is true. The second thing is the weather. Yes, the summer months can be very hot and dry around here, but still our weather is pretty unpredictable. There might be rainy days in summer, thunderstorms or a foggy day. So at least a "light and waterresistant" jacket makes much sense to have! I hope you will enjoy your journey and I am looking forward on hearing what you will have experienced when back in the US. Take care and be blessed!
Unless you have a really big backpack and/or are going to be here for only a few days and/or don't mind wearing the same clothes for several days, I can't imagine you will be able to do without at least a small suitcase. Do you really want to be lugging everything around with you everywhere you go? Most of the cautions have already been noted in the comments. Just because you happened to be in the UK during a major heatwave last summer, don't count on that! Summer temperatures can vary widely, even dipping down into the 50s or 40s °F on rare occasions, and if it's raining and the wind is blowing, you will feel cold. But don't get into too much of a tizzy about what to bring. After all, if push comes to shove, you will be able to buy just about anything you need here (personal medicines being a major difference). Oh, and don't expect to get even OTC medicines in a supermarket; you will always have to go to a pharmacy (Apotheke). I'm sure you'll be fine.
Taking the bus depends on how much time you have - Taking a bus from Berlin to Munich will be an 11 hour-trip on flixbus compared to a 4 hour rail journey.
General packing advice: unless you're allergic to some (skin)care products, don't bring any from home. Just hit a grocery store or a dm (drugstore without a pharmacy) and get your stuff there. No point in using up packing space for stuff that might leak while on the plane, also shopping for everyday stuff in another country is so interesting! Oh and electronics: don't bring your 110v appliances. A different plug won't help you, you would need an actual converter and those are encyclopedia sized boxes. (I had us Military neighbors. They got their converter things for their tv and kitchen appliances and such). If push comes to shove you can always buy a cheap hairdryer here.
10:00 Free Wi-Fi isn't widespread. It'll be available in hotels, airports, some trains, but otherwise better expect it not to be present. Regarding the SIM card, yes you can buy them at Aldi, Lidl, Penny and some other supermarket chains, and the deals are generally good (I'm on Aldi with their Comb S rate which gives me 3GB internet plus unlimited national calls and texts for 4 weeks at 7.99 euros). An important thing they didn't mention in the video is that the SIM won't work out of the box. You need to register it with the provider after purchase through a rather complicated online process. Be prepared that this will be a thing you can't avoid.
If your travelling plans bring you to Dortmund, mayor city in the east of the "Ruhrgebiet", i invite you to a typical german BBQ at my place. I would collect you from the bus/train station and bring you back afterwards. Looking forward to it.
Free Wifi is not really a thing here yet, its getting more, especially with covid but I wouldn't count on it being available everywhere.Some Cafes and Supermarkets have it but they dont always work. Starbucks is actually the most widespread for Wifi in a coffee shop but we don't have Starbucks everywhere, so especially smaller cities could be a problem. So I would recommend a pre-paid sim card with Data just in case :)
Please do bring some warm cloths with you. Summer in Germany is not always summer. Last July we had 15 degrees celsius in July and the week after over 20, especially if you plan to go to the south. Good Luck!
book "deutschlandticket" before... you could use one month long all busses and regional trains unlimited.... for just 49 euro. Book it! its mega chance to drive through the country
Well Flixbus is cheeper but there are sometimes pretty crazy people driving with you. My first and last time was to Hamburg and someone was completely drunk and vomited in the bus. So I think I have not to tell anyone how unpleasant the journey on the last hours to our destination was 😂 But it will be easy to travel around. The DB can be complicated, especially as a foreigner with 5 minutes or less time to change trains. But way more comfortable then Flixbus in my opinion. But you can also book trains with 10-15 minutes to change trains. I would always book those. The train has often delays, so plan enough time, that you could get the next train even if you are delayed a few minutes:) Have a lot of fun in Germany ☺️
As you see, the comments are full of germans telling you "Hey Joel, come over here, we'd love to have you" 😂 So if you put some work in getting connected, I'm pretty sure you won't have to pay for any hotels. - "couchsurfing" is an option in Germany. - but be aware, you'll have to drink lots of beer with your hosts 😂
Yes to Public Drinking, No to Public Urination.
That also depends on wether or not you’re in the countryside or the city (some cities are also at a point where everything is lost and no one cares)
@@nosomusk864still wouldn’t risk it, if you’re not familiar with the place you’re at
Depends where you are and how urgent it is! I used to walk home from college, I had to find a place to pee in public as unless I knock on a strangers door I had no option, I had 5-7 times the public toilets was locked that I walk by
Public urination can be fined in Germany.
I am from germany so my opinion is somewhat subjective but imao public drinking isn't that big of a deal. Yes in the US youre not allowed to drink publicly, but you can still be drunk in public. and that's way more important for me than the drinking itself
A great German city to visit is FRIEDRICHSHAFEN on the beautiful Bodensee (Lake Constance). It's like a resort area with a nice area for walking along the lake. Also, it is where Germany built dirigibles (air ships) including the Hindenburg which famously crashed in Lakehurst, NJ as it was preparing to dock at its mooring station following a trip across the Atlantic. Friedrichshafen also has a huge "expo" for civil aviation called "Aero" which you might want to look into. Gute Reise!
As I am from the Bodensee, I highly recommend a bike tour around the lake. 3 countrys in a few hours.
@@FelixvonMontfort Sounds fantastic! I neglected to mention that the Bodensee borders on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Joel should visit all of them! ^_^ :)
Berlin! Not club Berghain…definitely try a CurryWurst! Love you Joel!! Love from LA (Los Angeles not Louisiana)
Free WiFi in Germany is kinda meh, its pretty spread out but not really and most free WiFi networks are bad. Just notice most networks needs "signing" which mostly means tap a button and youre in
In cities you don't want to drive a car. Best way to get around are bicycles and public transport.
the thing is for that 50cents you get a clean toilet not a scene out of saw
Was about to write something like that ^^' And with a lot of those toilets franchises you get a voucher, e.g. at a train station, to buy snacks with :)
tbh. do you? really? might just be my confirmation bias speaking but feels like the sanifair ones are always at least somewhat dirty
@@mortuos557 Yeah. They may not be as abysmal as the free Autobahn rest stop toilets, but considering that you pay money for using them, they should be far cleaner than they usually are.
Ahh yes takes me back to New Delhi!😱☢
More like 1€
Feli from Germany has a video called "13 things you need to know before going to Germany ", maybe that would also help you to prepare for your trip.
Yeah she makes good videos. One thing he should think about from this video is they often sayed its cheap in germany because the video is not from 2023. Most things are really not that cheap anymore in germany.
@@flashback0994 compared to some regions in the USA it still is. It really depends on your point of reference.
@@flashback0994 Groceries definitely still are a lot cheaper in Germany than in other countries, even with inflation
Americans: Please don't bring your guns!!! (We probably produced them anyway, but we rather sell them, than use them)
And don't bring NAZI memorabilia, also produced in Germany ;)
Concerning money: At the airport I would try to get 100€ in 10€ bills. If you have to pay something at a small bakery, it's better to have a 10€ bill than a 50€ or 100€ bill.
I agree, 10€ and 20€ bills are best!
Yes, a 100€ should be your limit at the airport. Often 50€ could be enough. They have extortionate exchange rates there. It's just to cover the basics until you can reach a normal bank in a city somewhere with more reasonable exchange rates.
Please don't just visit the big cities, also have a look at the smaller ones and the nature in between: I can recommend the Mosel valley between Koblenz and Trier, including Trier (oldest town in Germany, founded by the Romans) // The whole Bodensee region (Lake Constance), bring some swimwear to go swimming in the lake // Rothenburg ob der Tauber, take the nightwatch man guided tour // Rügen island // take a boat trip from Hamburg to Helgoland // Aachen, just another beautiful medieval town with rich history.
Ok, there's too much to do for a single trip. Keep it relaxed 😅
Yes, T r i e r is so beautiful and interesting. 👍 It is a really nice town ! I like it.
Not too big, not too small. You can see and learn a lot there about history, visit a museum, do some shopping, or just relax in one of the Cafés, Bistros and Restaurants.🍾 It is possible to make a tour by boat/ ship 🚤, or rent a bike and travel along the riverside. Or go hiking, swimming, to the cinema, theater, .and so on. .. You can reach Trier with a car , by train,🚇 a bus ( or even with a ship) 😉 you can Google for "Trier" or "Porta Nigra". 🏰
Another nice town is "Speyer" , in my option, when you don't want to visit only the big cities. I don't know, perhaps watch the " Museum of Technik" / Technik Museum there and the cathedral/ Dom. ⛪ Have a great time here in Germany, 🙂and where ever you will travel in Europe. ✈
If you plan to go to Helogland you really shoule depart at Bremerhaven. But if you plan to be in Hamburg, you should trake the boattaxi/bus up the Elbe to see some nice places without paying much for the boatride.
Great advice. I would also add the Saarland as an underrated region that has a lot to offer like the Schlossberghöhlen in Homburg, sandstone caves that go several floors deep; nearby Schwarzenacker with rebuilt Roman houses; the Saarschleife with a "Baumwipfelpfad", a wooden construction on which you can walk through the forest on the level of the treetops and then even walk up much higher on their wooden tower to get a great overview of the Saarschleife. Nearby is Villa Borg, a reconstructed Roman villa where they also have various events like the "Roman days" on 5th and 6th of August; the word heritage Völklinger Hütte, an old steel mill which you can visit to see impressive wind machines the size of old steam locomotives to blow wind into the blast furnace. They also have exhibitions, this year on Julian Rosefeldt and the urban art exhibition where graffiti from various artists is shown. Then there is Saarlouis, the "secret capital of the Saarland" with a charming old city center; Saarbrücken, the actual capital with various interesting buildings and also a charming old city center and various other places to see like "Steine an der Grenze", a collection of various stones that were carved along the border between Germany and France by various artists.
Additionally, it is located next to Luxembourg and France, so you might fly to Luxembourg as an alternative to flying to Frankfurt and start your trip from there, then maybe visit a castle in France like Château Malbrouck and/or Château des Ducs de Lorraine and then go on to start visiting Germany by visiting the Saarland. A trip Luxembourg - France - Saarland will take about one hour since its all so close. You could pass the actual town of Schengen which gave the name to the Schengen zone since it sits right at the border of the three countries.
Potsdam is a must see!!!
kempten is older
A nice all weather coat is well advised. The weather in summer can be about anything between 15 and 35 depending on where you are at and there are mountain regions as well. Shoes? Unless you intend to go to the opera, you'll be fine wearing your favs. But you will do a lot more walking than in the US. Wifi is widely available in much of Europe in the cities. In the country side, it may be harder to find a public place with wifi, but any hotel or hostel has it.
Since recently there is the Deutschland Ticket, that brings you basically everywhere in Germany, within or between cities for just 49 EUR a month. Just be aware, that the fast inter-city trains (and maybe a few other transportations like Flix bus) are not included.
Its hard to get the Deutschland Ticket as a Tourist since its actually a Subscription based Model. The DB Itself even Requires a Schufa Auskunft for whatever Reason.
@@DantoriusD Oh, that´s not a problem. His Schufa should be clear. 🤣
@@fipsvonfipsenstein6704 jeah because hes a Tourist and not registered Citizen. You dont get the Ticket as a Tourist.
@@DantoriusD I think you are wrong. From what I read it is possible to get the ticket as a foreigner even without a European bank account by using PayPal.
@@DantoriusD they want to enslave you into the subscription - but you can actually just buy a single month without any requirements at all
Student discounts are really important. Because where you can use them they are typically around the 20-40% mark. Especially transportation.
Wow good saving, I hope Joel reads this comment, well said.
Joy, I was a student but never used student discount
Definitely bring some pairs of shoes you can walk in. Sometimes I see tourists walking around in their high heels or other fancy but uncomfortable shoes, and since Germany has a lot of pedestrian-only areas especially in the old town parts of large cities, you will be doomed to walk a lot. Make sure you have at least one pair of shoes you can walk in for at least four hours straight. Oh, and if you are accompanied by someone with an inclination to higher heeled shoes: if you're not used to cobblestone, those might prove very inconvenient, if not hurtful. Flat shoes. Sneakers. Heavy outdoor shoes, especially if you plan on going hiking. But on cobblestone, high heels are ankle-wreckers.
And something waterproof. Yes, Germany has experienced draughts during the very hot summers in the last few years, but IF it starts to rain, it might rain on end. Usually, you don't need a warm jacket then, but something to fight off the rain. Although, you will readily find those in any clothing store, and umbrellas on every other street corner, if you want to take the risk.
Things definitely not to bring to Germany: Guns
The weather in Germany can be very mixed in the summer. I would definitely take sturdy shoes, sports shoes, sandals and bathing slippers and bathing gear with me, if you want to swim in the sea, in the swimming pool or in the lake.
Careful with Flixbus, while this service is cheaper than the trains, they're also slower. I'd sy, they're okay if you don't want to travel more than 300km in one direction. As for clothing, the tip for a second set of clothes to change into when it's wet is very imporant. I believe mid June to mid July is Germany's monsson season, after that it gets hot and dry here - but obviously, this can't be set in stone. A raincoat helps =D
In my experience they are also unreliable. They once canceled my bus because there weren't enough bookings. As I didn't read my emails, I was stranded. Americans will probably not consider German trains expensive, so it's worth checking these first.
PS: As buschhuhn9197 hints, applying the word 'monsoon' to anything in Germany is ridiculous. Sometimes there an hour in a later summer afternoon with rain that can be described as torrential. But never anything as bad as what I have experienced in two Mediterranean cities (Barcelona and Thessaloniki), who in turn still have nothing that could be called monsoon.
Flixbus gets inconvenient as soon as you are not travelling between bigger cities. And monsoon? What? Weather in Germany in summer is quite unpredictable. It helps to check weather trends beforehand. But layering is the magic word.
"Definetely bring a second pair of shoes"
Me, a german, who has exactly one pair of shoes for everyday life and wears them at every weather...
My thoughts. What is a second pair of shoes? 🤣
I know you are no fool, but layers of clothing will still be important for a European summer. When you came last year it was the middle of a heatwave- but you should be prepared for for changeable weather. Obviously you won't need a thick coat- but layers of T shirt, then warm hoodie, with a raincoat are essential. The weather can change several times during a day.
It's been pretty wet and cool this spring in northern Europe. Unfortunately I won't be at home in Amsterdam to show you around this summer, as I'll be prancing around in Florida from June 14th until September 6th 🙂 My tip for you: contact your German fans and see if they'll let you bunk at their place. Not having to pay for a hotel or hostel may save you a shitload of money. I've had an American friend staying at my place for 2 weeks and he was quite happy to sleep on the air mattress I had for him.
Great advice!! To travel in Germany could be so much fun, if not the hotels and hostels would be that expensive.
If you have T-Mobile US then for some of their plans you get roaming free service in Germany. Well, as T-Mobile is a German company. It even extends to many other European countries as well. Even calls between Germany (plus certain European countries) and the US are covered. It may even be worth to upgrade your plan for a month for international roaming. Verizon and AT&T also have plans but those are a lot more expensive.
Don’t bring any weapons like knifes, guns or tasers. Those are not allowed and are definitely going to be take away from you ( I think you could actually get arrested too if you bring those but I’m not sure )
Many Americans complain about costs for the "public restroom" in Germany. BUT: i have been many many times in the USA and many of the public restrooms are A PAIN! They are not maintained, dirty, stinky etc.pp. - if have seen some where you will definately vomit.... Most German "toilets" (we dont say "restroom") are maintained and clean. You will definately prefere these over the american stinky restrooms!
Hamburg is a must have to visit.
In addition, a few kilometers up the Elbe in the direction of the North Sea is a large fruit-growing area for apples and cherries and the beautiful small town of Stade with its medieval city center, which is largely a pedestrian zone.
The "toilet money" is mostly for the people that have to keep the toilets clean.
Nah, it's for making profit off of people's basic needs.
Thats wrong. The toilet cleaners getting normal income. If you pay 1€ at the automat to get in, this is for the company who sells toiletvisit. People who clean the toilet have normally a liitle plate on a desk and to pay there its voluntary.
@@haggihug3162 Thanks Haggi, I am a naive 64 year old. I just wanted to point out, nothing is for free, not even Death. You be safe.
@@elmarwinkler6335 you are right tho. The money collected from the use of the toilets is also in part used to pay the workers, the rent for the property, water, heating and taxes.
@@eily_b ridiculous. You let me piss for free in your toilet?
You should search for Deutsche Bahn German Rail pass. You can use any train (even the fast ICEs) for the amount of days you choose (between 3 to 15 days). It is even cheaper when your under 27 or when your traveling with another person.
It might be worth it if you use the train system a lot and I guess you will because there are so many great cities all over Germany.
the weather is pretty unpredictable in germany, even in the summer. sun, rain, wind, heat, mild temperatures,... basically pack for spring weather as well as summer weather and you should be fine. remember that you'll walk a lot and use public transport so you'll be outside a lot
also free wifi can be found but it's not common enough to rely on it imo especially outside of like shopping districts
Mild temperatures in german high summer? When was that the case the last time? 8-10 Years ago or so? :D
@@Jade-ns9tg there is always the odd day when you made special plans... especially in northern germany. better safe than sorry. or just get a sweater here, if you need it.
@@gescheharm5881 True. Especially on the coast the wind can cause quite a lot of wind chill.
The weather can be a bit changeable/unpredictable everywhere. Typical summer weather basically means hot (though not so hot that we would have or need air conditioning) with optionally a thunderstorm in the early evening. But almost anything up to hail (but normally not snow) _can_ happen even in summer. Especially on the coast and in the Alps, be prepared for very sudden changes in the weather.
Most Americans are surprised how far north Europe is. In terms of latitude, Scandinavia roughly corresponds to Alaska. Germany's southernmost point is slightly north of Montréal. Rome is slightly north of New York. Europe is warmer than it 'should' be due to the effects of the Gulf Stream and the Mediterranean Sea.
@@johaquila You lost me at Mediterranean, how does that help? Or do you just mean general proximity to large bodies of water (so actually North and Baltic Sea, too)?
It's the same in the Netherlands, you pay but you get a clean toilet, and someone needs to get paid for that, nobody works for nothing..
Look up Sanifair. They are making LOTS of money from their autobahn toilets alone. It's not that they pay cleaning staff from that. It's for profit
The thing is that public bathrooms in the US are both free (provided by the city, state etc. ) and often MUCH cleaner (had some exceptions to that in bigger cities though) and more inclusive (equipped for families, people with disabilities, elderly, gender neutral etc.) than in Europe. The European approach to public toilets is a disgrace. I am German and currently living in the US for a bit and this difference really stands out. People also really seem to be able to behave like adults and keep the toilets also e.g. at work / university clean.
If you plan to visit Berlin (as you have stated in another video) you should make a detour to Potsdam (~30 min by train). Many castles, palaces, and parks here.
please vist the north. I am from Bremen and most people generalize from Munich to whole germany. But in the north is a lot diffrent.
You don't pay for being allowed to pee, but for having a clean toilet.
The most important tips:
- Check all you electronics if they are able to deal with 230Volt.
- Avoid ANY weapons, including knifes with long blades or spring blades.
- Think of a backup concept for pictures and videos in case your camera or phone gets lost.
2:31 No we know why your name is J “Pee” S :)
bring a light jacket with you - Sommer in Germany can be really frustrating :D
Places to visit - depent in which area you will be, but you should def. visit some castles, in my area I would recomment to visit (please be aware, this is just my thoughts on it)
1. Burg Hohenzollern
2. Schloss Lichtenstein
3. Wilhelma (this is a zoo)
4. Alte Brücke Heidelberg (a bridge, you have to see it - very nive area also)
5. Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg
6. Europa-Park (if you like theme parks - this is my one to go park in Germany)
7. Schlossplatz Stuttgart
8. Titisee (beautiful)
9. Bodensee
10. Luisenpark Mannheim
11. Fernsehturm Stuttgart
12. Rulantica (you can do that in combination with the Europa Park)
13. Todtnau Waterfalls
14. Schluchsee
15. Hasenhorn Coaster
16. Blautopf (Blaubeuren)
17. Wallfahrtskirche Basilika Birnau
.....
there are a ton of things to see in only one area in Germany :D
also you have to try the food here:
1. Döner (streetfood)
2. Käsespätzle
3. Schnitzel (Jägerschnitzel, Wienerschnitzel)
4. Knödel mit Rotkraut und Rolladen
And the beer.... :D
I hope you have a wundervoll time in Germany and enjoy every second of it!
If u want to go clubbing be sure to bring jeans, in most clubs u don't get in with shorts. (For normal clubs jeans + a normal t-shirt + sneaker works great; for more fancy clubs blue jeans or sneaker are a no go, will need more fancy clothes especially trousers and for example chelsea boots; to get into Techno clubs is the most easy just don't overdress and wear black on black on black, the more fucked up the better mostly, but you NEED black clothes and some pair of black sneakers is not a need but great)
Btw. Just dm me or comment if u have questions, I'm like a 6feet 3inch guy with a big build and a more middle eastern look. I'm playing the to get into clubs game already on "hardcore" so if I can get in you should have no problem at all as a more sweet and kind looking american.
If you are in Berlin, try to book a tour at Berliner Unterwelten.
A lot of the public toilets in railroad stations now accept cards/phone payment. Plus, they give you a coupon so you get 50 Cents off in some shops in the station.
Why not a EU-Trip? Like: Prag > Saxonian Switzerland > Dresden > Spreewald > Berlin > Somthing with Nature in Between > Hamburg > Amsterdam > Northern See > Bruessels - like 1 Day City, one day nature, and just 1-2h trainride between the locations. 3 or 4 countries
If you need to go to a doctor as uninsured is not that expensive in Germany when you only need a prescription. It may be around 50-100 Euros, probably even less. As an emergency solution not that bad. I did this once as I was living outside of Germany and went to a specilist for lung issues. Not insured in Germany. Had extensive testing done. Took around 2-3 hours and spent only 126 Euros. The regular price for a doctor visit including examination is 25 Euros. Additionally the cost for a prescription. That's a few Euros. Not expensive! Some in Germany say it is expensive as they are not used to pay more than 10 Euros a quarter for the doctor due to the national healthcare. But it's not :) I'm a German living outside of Germany for quite some time now. Hopefully you won't need it but no need to panic if you do!
You should definitely look up whether your can use your eSim in Germany. eSim is generally not that well-established in Germany yet (and Europe for that matter). That's why the new iPhones still come with a sim slot here, while they don't in the US. It's probably best to look up the details
I do have an eSIM on my German Vodafone contract. Why should it not work? The thing is more about the price - a regular American contract will be crazy expensive to use here (roaming costs). But you can add a second eSIM to your iPhone, e.g. from providers like Airalo or Nomad that specialize in international roaming SIMs.
@@cdhagen I wasn't sure, so I thought better to be safe than sorry.
Quick heads-up about flixbus: yes, they are cheaper but definitely check the departure/arrival places. For example, flix bus does not stop in cologne but in Leverkusen (a city next to cologne). Both are connected very reliably by train but it will be an additional cost and wazted time for you, depending on what your plans are. DB (the train company) dislikes flixbus because it takes away their customers so they try very hard to make it impossible for flixbus to put their bus stops anywhere. Thats why sometimes you literally have to go the extra mile for the better price. Also, while DB is unreliable in itself, flixbus is also not the most trustworthy. They might say they have wifi and toilets on board but dont rely on it! Personally I would take DB over flixbus any time.
Wie die halten nicht mehr in Köln? Ich bin vor Jahren nach Köln gefahren mit dem Flixbus...
@@melchiorvonsternberg844 Meine Info ist tatsächlich auch ca 3-4 Jahre alt, aber die haben hinterm Bahnhof die Haltestelle verboten, sodass man nur noch in Leverkusen einsteigen konnte und dort eben mit der SBahn hinfahren musste... ich nehme an, dass das immernoch so ist
@@Xerame506 same experience here. Plus broken toilets.
@@Chuulip Verstehe... Was für ein Dreck!
From my experience from living in Germany, the need to always have cash has significantly changed in the last few years due to Covid. In the past it was true that you needed cash especially for small amounts. The reason for that was not that Germans like cash, but that the banks charged the shop a fee for card-transactions, so paying with cash was actually cheaper. For higher amounts paying with cards was always very common here, so for example if you went shopping for cloths you usually didn't need cash. Then that nasty virus came and you didn't want to have it in your purse, so people preferred to pay contact-less and even smaller amounts were paid without cash. Nowadays you can pay with your card almost everywhere. There are still a few shops who don't accept cash, so you better have a few Euros, just in case, but most likely you're not going to need cash.
For the shopping cart you need something as big as a coin, but that doesn't have to be a coin. That's no fraud, because you will get back whatever you have put in. "Shopping cart chips" are often given away for free, so if you are at a (larger) grocery store and you don't have a coin, just go to the Information counter and ask if they have a "Einkaufswagen-Chip" for you.
On the list of usefull apps I would add a good weather forecast app. Some other comments already said it: weather in Germany can be changing relatively fast, so it's good to know what's coming. My personal favorit us the "Warnwetter" app by the DWD (German weather service), which costs 1,99 € in the full version, a free version is available but with significantly less features. This is the app I use since years and I'm very satisfied with, there may be other good weather apps as well.
Well, you will need some cash at least for every bakery or street Food shop over here. Never saw a bakery or a shop that sells stuff out the window who took cards. Especially US/International cards.
@@Jade-ns9tg do you live in a very small town or something? in my city (250k people) every bakery takes card nowadays, i only need cash for döner and shopping carts hhh
@@mel_ooo living in the "Speckgürtel" of Berlin since corona started. Befor that in other citys way above 100k. So yeha all my "big town" exp. is from pre corona time. Maybe that makes the difference here. Don't know how much it changed in over all germany. BUT even if they take EC Card nowadays, they most definitely do not take international cards. Shops need to pay for those banking services. That's also the main reason why so many shops did not had card paying before corona. And i guess international card services will coast them extra.🤔 Only as far as i know. take it with a grain of salt.
cash is freedom simple as
@@Jade-ns9tg yeah they changed it during covid but yeah idk if they'd take international cards..
When you want to take the train (Deutsche Bahn; DB) and the train is cancelled or you miss a second train because the first got delayed, you typically can still use your ticket for the next best train without paying for a new ticket. I think it's only for ICE (long-distance train) tho.
applies to all trains; the train you take instead just can't be "higher" that the ticket you bought for the journey, eg if you buy an IC ticket and that train gets canceled, you have to take another IC train, but you cannot take an ICE (IC Express) train. Express trains are in general considered "higher" in value as they are faster with less stops. You are even allowed to deviate from the paid original route, as you pay for air distance, not travel distance. To some extend, of course. Your deviation must make sense in regards to your paid journey.
I'm not sure how this is in the US (maybe you can tell me), but if you're in Germany (or Europe) and meet one of those wlid looking big guys with long Hair, beard and Tattoos everywhere (looking like a Viking, ready to bite your Head off), you can be pretty sure that this is a really nice guy 😂
Those are german Metalheads and they are known as very peaceful, polite, helpful and always ready to have a giant amount of beer with you.
Hannover is a must. It’s the Capital of Lowersaxony
I’m so happy for see you traveling to Europe and wishing you all the best. Do brush up on a bit of German and have a blast.
I even think it's cheap with the public toilets. The Sanifair toilets at motorway service stations are the most expensive.
You have to consider that the public toilets have to be cleaned by the staff (the salary has to be paid, or the contractual costs for cleaning companies), and costs for waste water and water, toilet paper, and possibly also heating costs if the rooms are heated. Not to mention electricity costs for lighting or the electric hand dryer. Damage caused by vandalism must also be covered by insurance or paid for by the city. All this costs money.
Specific food items that may not be brought in are meat, eggs, and milk or cheese products. This is forbidden because of the risk of epidemics. Likewise, some animals that can be bought in other countries may not be flown to Germany. (If they are protected species/animal welfare). Pets such as dogs or cats may be brought along, but I think they have to be registered beforehand and also have certain up-to-date vaccinations. A corresponding vaccination certificate must be available for the animals.
It must also be considered that you normaly get a "cupon" from that restroom that you may use in the location you are in. For example the toilets in Karlsruhe main station are 50 cents but also give you a 50 cent cupont that you can use at any shop in that main station.
@@Ijanon was will ich mit einem 50 ct Coupon. Dafür bekommt man ja noch nicht mal einen Kaffee, geschweige denn ein Stück Kuchen oder so. Es geht mir mehr darum das es mir lieber ist, 50ct für eine öffentliche Toilette zu zahlen und zu wissen das die sauber ist. Alles andere spiel keine Rolle.
Free WiFi is generally NOT a thing but I have been to one (literally one) city that had free WiFi in the entire inner city and *some* supermarkets, hardware stores and such in bigger cities may also have free WiFi. If you desperately need WiFi, try to find an Edeka (grocery store) or Hornbach (hardware store). The bigger, the more likely they are to have it.
If you are outside a lot, you WILL need sunscreen. Especially as a tourist. Well, if you generally don't care, don't bring any but you'll get sunburnt nevertheless. I'd just buy some at DM tho.
So cool you‘re coming to Germany! You should definitely visit Hamburg (I live there too)! It‘s the second biggest city in Germany and so beautiful! Let me know if you‘re planning to visit, I would love to show you my city!
5:15 Imho, you should generally pack for terrible (and I mean terrible) heat but bring one sweater and a thin rain jacket, just in case.
Quick tip: tube scarves are great wind protection with minimal space requirements. They can function as beanies and such, too.
Nice to visit: Hermannsdenkmal, Kyffhäuser-Denkmal and Elbsandsteingebirge. :)
During the summer the weather in Germany is really predictable and warm so u should be fine
Gen Z speaking who only grew up after the year 2003 when summers started getting hot and dry.
The public toilet will spotless. Every friend from the US to visit me here says they would happily pay to have clean public toilets in the US.
Come visit us in summer👍🏻 we want some vlogs bro
I don't know how is it in the US, but Google maps is super helpful for metropolitan public-transport planning, telling you were the stops are, how to get there, which bus / tram / metro to take, including all the transfers with departure timings.
Flixbus is cheaper but not everywhere available and you are more independent with a train because flixbusses are driving not that often so watch for both Bus and train.
Summers in germany aren't necessarily hot and when it rains it can get a bit cool. This spring there was a lot of rain in some parts of germany so just be prepared for everything.
Have fun travelling.
Yes but also it can be very hot, when I was in Berlin in July a couple or years ago it was so hot I didnt wanna do anything or walk around.. haha I didnt expect it to be that hot in Germany.. yes be prepared for anything good tip
It isn't hot here?!
Wow, I feel like I'm burning at some days, especially last year
@@skyxii_ The last few years have been extreme, but this year it seems to be a bit more "normal". As my dad described it: "German weather used to be 8 months of winter, and 3 months of rain".
It gets hotter every year. 2022 was a horrible summer in the South (not near the Alps). No rain for months and temperatures only between 30 and 40°C. Super hot and super dry.
@@eily_b Well it depends where in germany he is going to travel. As I said, it's just the best to be prepared for everything.
I would defenetly recommend you visiting the lower Rhineland.
Düsseldorf and Cologne are two major cities with a lot of touristic atraction.
And you can see a lot of Roman builds in Xanten, Neuss or Cologne for example which are some of the oldest cities in germany.
In the area is also Wuppertal with its suspended monorail you reacted to.
Its also a good middle point if you intend to visit the netherlands, the north like Hambourg, the east like Berlin, Dresden, or the south like München and Stuttgart the lower Rhine is quite in the middle of that with good public transit links.
If your visiting Düsseldorf you can let me know i can show you around Düsseldorf and Neuss.
ddorf beste
if u come i would a round tour east north south west
Can I give you some humble advice? Fly to Amsterdam in the Netherlands and stay in Amsterdam for a few days. Then you will get used to the cultural difference and English is spoken almost everywhere in Amsterdam. You then acclimatize a little faster and then enjoy your holiday in beautiful Germany.
That's true, but it's really hard to leave Amsterdam! Most of the time you're to stoned to find the exit 😂
...at least that's what I experienced.
you should definitly focus on visiting northern germany aswell cuz most americans only visit southern germany and i think they'll miss a lot and don't get a overall view about germany
Even in Summer, you might need those layers. Especially around the first decade of August, temperatures can drop. And if you are planning to go to the coast of the North Sea (which is recommended!), you will need something to break the wind, and temperatures can easily drop to the low 50ies (or around 10 degrees Celsius).
One thing I always make sure I pack before travelling to Europe from the UK is paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen. We can buy those in supermarkets here for about 50p a packet but in most European countries you have to visit a pharmacy, explain why you need them and then pay about €8.00 for a very small packet of tablets.
You don’t have to explain anything, but the pharmacist is legally required to make sure you’re fit to take any requested medication. I don’t know how many pills you pop a day, but paracetamol is rather heavy on your liver, Aspirin can be upsetting for your tummy, and the effect on reducing blood to clod (which can be beneficial) but can be a serious problem in case you have an accident or need an operation. I am quite happy that a professional structure is in place in Europe.
I didn't know that: but, then again, my annual consumption of painkillers is probably eight.
i dont know if it differs so heavily from region to region but i dont have to explain anything if i want to buy a 50pc package of 400mg ibus, and for 600mg you need a recipe from a doc^^
If it is urgent, you better have your coins ready. There might be a turnstile preventing you from fast access.
In some venues, the door only opens if you put in a coin in the assigned slot.
Most often you pay for the maintenance and cleaning. Very often there is a difference between free and payable.
Paying is often just a type of deposit; you get all or most of it back if you shop something in the venue. Also often, you will get a voucher that is good for a year, so you can collect them, instead of using it every time to buy something unneeded at that moment.
2:31 ehhh, you might want to avoid Wildpinkeln (urination in public) if you are caught, you will be fined and the fines vary from municipality to municipality and go from 30 to 500 Euro. If you get caught and there are children and/or teenagers around you even can be put in jail. So the one Euro (for very clean tiolets and a safe space) is not too much.
If you tell us the timeframe, we can recommend music festivals/ fairs/ sports events!
Free WiFi in Germany 🤣🤣🤣
Joel, the Deutsche Bahn has normaly something for international students, So you can get one ticket for the whole of Germany, even maybe Europe. In the bus you stay seated, in the train you can often stand up, take a walk to the waggon with the restaurant, or someone comes by where you can order or buy a meal. I am not a big fan of Deutsche Bahn, but to travel through Germany/Europe, is is more convenient than flying. And it is more ecological 😃. In the Apotheke (pharmacy) you can get Ibuprofen up to 400mg and other medication, without prescription, the nice apothecary will mopst certainly help you.
be safe
Elmar from Germany
Ibuprofen wofür?
@@lenalarose2555 Für Schmerzen und evtl. Fieber, Ibuprofen ist sehr beliebt in Amerika.
Ich hoffe das hilft weiter.
If you need a coin for the toilet or a shopping cart and only have a note, don't desperately run around like the cartoon figure in the video, but go in the nearest shop and ask them if they can change your note (or any other coins that are "too big") into the coins you need. Maybe you could even ask random people (though sadly many might think you're a scammer or thief nowadays and be suspicious or ignore you altogether).
Summers can be very hot, the last two summers were really hot in my region, but it varies. And summers usually aren't continuously hot, there can be really cool and/or rainy days inbetween.
how long will you stay?
The toiletries, as far as I've gathered from My Merry Messy (German) Life are a) much cheaper yet b) much higher quality with c) much lower amounts of additives here in Germany than in the US. Often American expats visiting with their relatives back in the States pack their suitcases full of the affordable German toiletry articles. So bring what you need for one or two days, then drop into a local Drogerie / drug store for your toiletries of choice.
Remember, no stores are open on Sundays or on public holidays, so consider that for your plans. Restaurants are open on Sundays. If you are totally strapped for something essential, try a larger city with a major train station or an airport. You will find some stores in the central stations or at airports open on Sundays, but at outrageous prices and very little selection. So be warned; they will skin you alive. If you can, wait another day, go shopping on Monday regularly.
Food shouldn't be a problem on Sundays however. Many excellent choices available everywhere to eat out. Most bakeries will be open on Sunday mornings, or maybe even afternoons if they have an attached café with seating available. If you can't find one by simply looking around; google will help. Most bakeries will be registered on google maps.
Apps: find a text translator that allows you to scan anything and it will translate it. It may help in case something isn't obvious, or there is no other English translation. Especially menu items on a restaurant's menu may need some assistance. Sure, it won't work 100% but it should give a fairly reasonable approximation in most cases.
If you really need to, get a speech to text translator app as well. However the majority of Germans will speak a fairly reasonable English. Yeah, sure, with some accent in many cases, but still understandable, even if they claim to speak 'only a little'.
Bahn.de is the website of THE major German train and rail provider. Basically everything concerning public transport for any major distances can be found in it.
Flixbus.de is the bus site. Sure, it is cheaper, but often you need a lot of patience. The busses can get stuck in traffic, so they are often delayed. They are also very slow compared to trains, so unless you wish to spend a majority of your trip on busses watching the landscape roll by from the Autobahn, consider maybe using the trains instead. That doesn't mean that the trains are on time, hell no. The Deutsche Bahn is notorious for being unpunctual to the extreme. Having only ten minutes delay is considered almost an accomplishment. Dropped or cancelled trains are also fairly common so don't rely absolutely on the Bahn for transport if you definitely need to be somewhere on time. Plan ahead accordingly, and maybe take a train an hour earlier or so.
The Eurorail passes are probably a great idea if you intend to travel around Europe for even one or two trips. They used to be so affordable that buying one for any long-distance round trip already saved you the money for the Eurorail pass instead of buying the single use ticket itsself. Especially if you apply the student discounts.
At this time you should not care about clodes....only about shirts and shorts....ITS Summer 😎
And dont travel by train !!!!!!!! ITS Just a big mess!!! DB will destroy your Holiday!!!! FlixBus yes,plain yes,everything but Not the train!!!!!!
There are 3 options for using public transport:
Flixbus is cheap and slow. P.e. Traveling from München to Berlin is for about 35-40 Euro and takes 12 hours.
The "Deutschland -Ticket" for 49 Euro is for the "slower" trains "Nahverkehr". But be careful. It is 49 € PER MONTH and you have to subscibe it. So don't forget to cancel the subscribtion. From München to Berlin it takes 10 hours by "Nahverkehr".
The "high-speed-trains" (ICE, IC/EC TGV ...) are most expensive. From München to Berlin it's at 100 - 180 € but only takes 4,5 hours. If you use highspeed -trains, check offers like "Bahn-Card" or discounts for early booking.
You must visit the Blackforest, or you haven`t seen Germany. The worldfamous CooCoo Clock (Kuckucksuhr) is made only in Blackforest (The real thing! ...copies are made in China) You might wanna visit Titisee and Feldberg for example.
most important thing to keep in mind is: Germans in 2023 call Berlin the "Federal Capital Slum(!)" (by far highest crime rate in Germany, highest unemployment rate, Arab mafia clans, lowest education level, highest unemployment and poverty rate) and Munich is called "Germany s powerhouse ( by far lowest crime rate, highest earning power, lowest poverty and lowest unemployment rate, highest education level etc.) and most Italian town".... :-) and AVOID North Rhine Westphalia, Germany s "caliphate" with cities such as Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Cologne, Dusseldorf at all cost, or else you ll be SHOCKED in 2023....
I don't know when your university breaks for summer. If you'll be in Europe the end of June, try to get tickets for the Glastonbury Festival 23-25. Among 200 acts, will be: Elton John, Cat Stevens, Arctic Monkeys, Guns n' Roses, Lewis Capaldi, Manic Street Preachers, Fatboy Slim, Blondie, Lana del Rey. In Berlin, Germany, the following weekend is the big fusion festival, a big counterculture event held just outside the city. There you'll see an entirely different and wild other side from how most US people expect German youth to behave. You'll never forget the beginning, and likely won't ever remember the end!! 😂🥳🤯
.... Category 14: You don't need to bring your own bread and steak to Germany. Germany actually has a few Bakeries and Butchers. Category 15: In order to pack your travel essentials, it is especially important for trips to Germany to stow them in a suitcase. Category 16: Don't forget your books "Germany for Dummies" and "Traveling for Dummies" 😜
Forget free WiFi in Germany. :P It's better, to buy a cheap unlocked Smartphone in advance and get a Prepaid Sim Card here. (Or, if you are T-Mobile US Customer, ask your provider if there is EU roaming possible).
You can bring another phone where you can put a physical SIM card. Roaming will cost you a lot, especially overseas!!! Look up for a plan for public transportation befor you depart the US. If you buy single tickets for each trip, that will cost a lot. Train travelling is expensive. A few years ago there was a plaan EURO26, for individuals under 26 years. I hope you will also visit Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czeh Republik, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia. There are beautiful historical places.
Very important: SIM card for mobile internet with enough data for your visit. There are international roaming providers where you can top up your data as needed when needed by credit card. Orange Holiday Europe with 20 GB and 120 minutes worldwide calls for 55€ for example. Or when maybe your own provider like T-mobile US (which is a subsidiary of German Telekom) and there you can get for 50$ 15 GB data plan and you can use your regular mobile number. Don’t forget your international charging plug. Europe has different outlets.
Hey Joel, for travelling you might wanna watch "Lauren in Germany". Singer from Wales, working in Germany. She has a very romantic view on place to visit. But it is surely worth, watching that.
About what to bring home to the US: a guy once stated that he lives on Hawaii. Visiting Germany once a year. And he buys 200 bars of chocolate, which saves him 600$.
What to bring to Germany? If you have friends into cooking: bring smoked oysters. Less than 3$ a can in the US. Hard to find and extremely expensive in Germany.
Drop me a line if your reoad leads you to Hamburg. I could name a few places to go.
You received information for places of interesst in southern Germany, outside of Bavaria.
In northern Germany, i would like to recommend you stay, at first, at Hamburg. Hamburg offers a lot of places of interesst. From there you might go by train to Kiel, where you could walk over the remnants of a WW2 heavy cruiser buried under a parking lot. From Kiel you should go to Laboe, either by bus or ferry, and visit the Marine-Ehrenmal and to Möltenort for the Memorial of all lost German submariners during WW1 & WW2 .
From Hamburg you may also travel to Lübeck. Or else, if you are visiting at the right time of the year to the "Heuler-Aufzuchtstation" at Friedrichskoog.
I am shure that you whant to visit Hamburg and MiWuLa, but the smaler cities are nice too. Frankfurt (Main) or "Mainhatten" can be also nice.
Regarding Apps: Instead of just Google Maps I would recomend OSMAND because most times the data of openstreetmap are more accurate.
Free WiFi isn't that good. In public places it's really slow. In supermarkets or dm it's fine
As a German who travel a lot i can tell you that you absolutey should not spent to much time in big citys! Go around and visit the country. In the east a must visit is Dresden (city Trip) ,the Spreewald region!!!😊
Also dont spent to much time in Bavaria! speacialy Munich!, Munich is a very expensive richbitch City nothing else.....
Also a must see is the Saar-Mosel Region,one of the most beatyful reagions in Germany,If you come to this region let me know and i will guide you dude 😎✌️
Idk if any body mentioned it already.. But there is now the 49€ ticket in Germany. With that you can go around Germany for a whole month with public transport. Like.. Every where. The only down side is, you cant use the Fernverkehr (like an ice, ic, ec) with it. It's still probably better than flixbus.
For a trip in summer you don't need any special clothes. Jeans, T-Shirts, Sneakers and you'll be fine. Some kind of jacket or hoody in case it's a bit colder and windy or it rains.
I wouldn't travel with an umbrella. If it turns out you want one it's easy to get one for a few Euros.
E-SIM is the right call.
You don't need Rossman or dm for regular toiletries - every supermarket (grocery store) sells them. Rossman and dm just offer more variety, wider selection.
The need for cash is greatly reduced since the pandemic. Many shops that didn't have readers got them during the pandemic. At least in the big cities.
But debit cards (here known as EC cards) are more widely accepted than credit cards.
But unless you're in a village there's always a bank or at least ATM nearby.
You'll need power adapters.
WiFi is often available in cafes (and always in hotels) similar to the US.
Supermarkets and other shops sometimes have wifi. Public transport increasingly offers it too (this can be flaky though).
Only rent a car if you travel in rural areas. Otherwise it's better to use public transport.
Parking is a major hassle in German cuties and we don't have chessboard blocks with the simple street layouts that come with them (which makes driving as a tourist in the US very simple:) ).
I imagine our streets to be nightmarish for American tourists only staying for 2 or 3 weeks. Everything is curved, complicated, tight, busy, surprising one-way routes etc...
Subway, bus, bikes and scooters are easily available.
Possibly confusing: "Inner city" in Germany often means the most expensive business and/or leisure areas. German cities are generally walkable.
Public toilets cost money, but what these expat videos fail to mention is that cafes and restaurants (any place you sit down to consume food and drink) always have toilets and these are almost always free for guests (there's some regional variance to this).
So you don't really have to worry about restroom access or coins while out for lunch, coffee or dinner.
Germans are less immediately going into smalltalk with strangers than Americans. Doesn't mean we're rude it dislike you. We just don't want to bother strangers that's all. If you approach somebody with a question you'll likely get a helpful answer.
Germans use less circumventional communication. That is us often misunderstood as being rude or unfriendly. But to Germans this is understood as being direct and honest.
Actual unfriendly assholes and rude people also exist of course.
Many service positions that are normal for the US (parking lot attendants, people who carry your luggage to your hotel room, valet parking) either don't exist in Germany or are way more rare (again, there's some regional variance).
In a non-fancy regular restaurant there's usually no host showing you to a table. It's normal to go in and just sit down at a table.
Aspirin (ASA), paracetamol and IBU400 can be bought over the counter in pharmacies = Apotheke.
Heavier medications require health insurance and a doctor's visit. Then everything costs 5 to 10 euros.
Get travel health insurance ! or ask your current health insurance company
Remember that Sundays and public holidays have restaurants open, but no regular shops.
Airports, train stations and petrol stations may also have shops open on Sundays. but expensive.
Bakeries may be open on Sunday mornings.
Hey Joel, first and foremost let me make a compliment: I am a 61 year old German without children. But If I had a grandson I would be happy if he was like you! So, you may regard me as your Grandma, haha!
Now what I guess is really important: Concerning your phone - please do not count on "free public Wi Fi" in Germany. It might be......erm.... okaaaayyyy (with a little salty emphasis on ok) in the capital cities, but even in the 'big but not capital' cities it is more or less a matter of luck, and in small or very rural locations it is really rare. I'd bet my right hand - if you rely on it you'll be lost! Not a single country in Europe is worse with 'all about cell phones' than Germany! And seriously, this is not complaining on high level like we Germans love to do, it is true.
The second thing is the weather. Yes, the summer months can be very hot and dry around here, but still our weather is pretty unpredictable. There might be rainy days in summer, thunderstorms or a foggy day. So at least a "light and waterresistant" jacket makes much sense to have!
I hope you will enjoy your journey and I am looking forward on hearing what you will have experienced when back in the US. Take care and be blessed!
Unless you have a really big backpack and/or are going to be here for only a few days and/or don't mind wearing the same clothes for several days, I can't imagine you will be able to do without at least a small suitcase. Do you really want to be lugging everything around with you everywhere you go?
Most of the cautions have already been noted in the comments. Just because you happened to be in the UK during a major heatwave last summer, don't count on that! Summer temperatures can vary widely, even dipping down into the 50s or 40s °F on rare occasions, and if it's raining and the wind is blowing, you will feel cold.
But don't get into too much of a tizzy about what to bring. After all, if push comes to shove, you will be able to buy just about anything you need here (personal medicines being a major difference). Oh, and don't expect to get even OTC medicines in a supermarket; you will always have to go to a pharmacy (Apotheke).
I'm sure you'll be fine.
Taking the bus depends on how much time you have - Taking a bus from Berlin to Munich will be an 11 hour-trip on flixbus compared to a 4 hour rail journey.
General packing advice: unless you're allergic to some (skin)care products, don't bring any from home. Just hit a grocery store or a dm (drugstore without a pharmacy) and get your stuff there. No point in using up packing space for stuff that might leak while on the plane, also shopping for everyday stuff in another country is so interesting!
Oh and electronics: don't bring your 110v appliances. A different plug won't help you, you would need an actual converter and those are encyclopedia sized boxes. (I had us Military neighbors. They got their converter things for their tv and kitchen appliances and such). If push comes to shove you can always buy a cheap hairdryer here.
10:00 Free Wi-Fi isn't widespread. It'll be available in hotels, airports, some trains, but otherwise better expect it not to be present.
Regarding the SIM card, yes you can buy them at Aldi, Lidl, Penny and some other supermarket chains, and the deals are generally good (I'm on Aldi with their Comb S rate which gives me 3GB internet plus unlimited national calls and texts for 4 weeks at 7.99 euros). An important thing they didn't mention in the video is that the SIM won't work out of the box. You need to register it with the provider after purchase through a rather complicated online process. Be prepared that this will be a thing you can't avoid.
If your travelling plans bring you to Dortmund, mayor city in the east of the "Ruhrgebiet", i invite you to a typical german BBQ at my place. I would collect you from the bus/train station and bring you back afterwards. Looking forward to it.
Free Wifi is not really a thing here yet, its getting more, especially with covid but I wouldn't count on it being available everywhere.Some Cafes and Supermarkets have it but they dont always work. Starbucks is actually the most widespread for Wifi in a coffee shop but we don't have Starbucks everywhere, so especially smaller cities could be a problem. So I would recommend a pre-paid sim card with Data just in case :)
Please do bring some warm cloths with you. Summer in Germany is not always summer. Last July we had 15 degrees celsius in July and the week after over 20, especially if you plan to go to the south. Good Luck!
book "deutschlandticket" before... you could use one month long all busses and regional trains unlimited.... for just 49 euro. Book it! its mega chance to drive through the country
Well Flixbus is cheeper but there are sometimes pretty crazy people driving with you. My first and last time was to Hamburg and someone was completely drunk and vomited in the bus. So I think I have not to tell anyone how unpleasant the journey on the last hours to our destination was 😂
But it will be easy to travel around. The DB can be complicated, especially as a foreigner with 5 minutes or less time to change trains. But way more comfortable then Flixbus in my opinion. But you can also book trains with 10-15 minutes to change trains. I would always book those. The train has often delays, so plan enough time, that you could get the next train even if you are delayed a few minutes:)
Have a lot of fun in Germany ☺️
You crack me up Joel 😂😂 08:37 _"Sign me up!!"_
As you see, the comments are full of germans telling you "Hey Joel, come over here, we'd love to have you" 😂
So if you put some work in getting connected, I'm pretty sure you won't have to pay for any hotels. - "couchsurfing" is an option in Germany. - but be aware, you'll have to drink lots of beer with your hosts 😂