GERMANY
Germany is a leading destination for those seeking education, career growth, and high living standards. It offers free or low-cost university education for both EU and many non-EU students, along with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. Professionals benefit from a robust economy, especially in engineering, manufacturing, and IT.
Germany is also central in Europe, making travel easy, and its blend of medieval towns, dynamic cities like Berlin and Munich, and efficient infrastructure make it attractive to both residents and tourists alike.
What’s taking YOU there?
General Etiquette & Culture you should know
Politeness
Germans value directness, formality and respect. Courtesy is important, especially in public and professional settings. Punctuality is seen as a sign of respect.
First names
Use formal titles like “Herr” (Mr.) or “Frau” (Ms.) plus the last name unless invited to use first name. First name use is more common among younger people and friends.
Tipping
Tipping is customary but modest. Rounding up the bill or adding 5-10% is normal in restaurants. You usually hand the tip directly to the server when paying.
Legal and Safety Rules
Drinking age
Legal drinking age is 16 for beer and wine, and 18 for spirits.
Drugs
Recreational drug use is illegal, including cannabis. Although some cities have decriminalized small amounts.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in most indoor public places, including restaurants, airports and public transport. Designated areas are common outdoors.
Practical Tips
Emergency Phone numbers
112 and 110 are the two most important. This is for medical assistance, ambulance, rescue and fire brigade
What type of chargers do they use for phones/laptops?
They use a F type of charger, where there are 2 parallel prongs.
What is the currency?
They use EUR, this converts from EUR 1 to USD $1.14
How to pay for parking?
Most locations in Germany you will find a pay-on-display machine that accept credit/debit cards, some machines do also accept coins, but you can also use apps such as EasyPark and Autopay