https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed German tipping culture, with its traditional rhythms of rewarding excellent service or rounding up is being turned on its head by the arrival of the cashier’s tip screen. Here's how basic transactions are changing. https://www.thelocal.de/20250716/how-the-tip-button-is-changing-tipping-culture-in-germany Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:43:58 +0200 how-the-tip-button-is-changing-tipping-culture-in-germany Are public toilets free of charge in Germany? Can you use a restaurant's facilities? And what about peeing standing up? Let us share our knowledge of German toilet culture so you don't get caught out. https://www.thelocal.de/20260122/explained-the-rules-and-etiquette-for-using-germanys-public-toilets Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:08:18 +0100 explained-the-rules-and-etiquette-for-using-germanys-public-toilets The German dedication to 'Lüften' (ventilation) does not stop when the temperatures plummet. So how often should you do it in winter, and what are the techniques to know about? https://www.thelocal.de/20260120/reader-question-how-often-do-i-have-to-air-out-my-german-flat-in-winter Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:12:31 +0100 reader-question-how-often-do-i-have-to-air-out-my-german-flat-in-winter From singing certain lines of the national anthem to sending birthday greetings on the wrong day, there are many ways to make yourself unpopular in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20230217/25-sure-fire-ways-to-annoy-a-german Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:06:44 +0100 25-sure-fire-ways-to-annoy-a-german Getting along with your neighbours is essential if you want an easy life - but there are a few unwritten rules in Germany that you may not even know you're breaking. https://www.thelocal.de/20231115/10-ways-you-will-accidentally-annoy-your-german-neighbours Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:26:08 +0100 10-ways-you-will-accidentally-annoy-your-german-neighbours From scavenging for mushrooms to drinking Apfelwein, autumn is a truly magical season in Germany. Here's how to make the most of the fall months just like the locals do. https://www.thelocal.de/20220923/10-ways-to-enjoy-autumn-like-a-true-german Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:05:58 +0200 10-ways-to-enjoy-autumn-like-a-true-german As the chilly autumn days set in, hoards of Germans wrap up warm and venture out into the forests to forage mushrooms. Here are some of the best spots to go to - and some tips for getting started. https://www.thelocal.de/20241004/revealed-the-best-places-to-go-mushroom-foraging-in-germany Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:35:55 +0200 revealed-the-best-places-to-go-mushroom-foraging-in-germany As the colder months hit, you may find you transform into an entirely different person - and someone altogether more German. If the cooler, darker days are having an effect on you, you probably relate to one of these personality types. https://www.thelocal.de/20241008/which-german-autumn-personality-type-are-you Tue, 08 Oct 2024 18:47:02 +0200 which-german-autumn-personality-type-are-you Porcini, chanterelles, and puffballs: numerous varieties mushrooms pop up in Germany, especially in rainy regions when the weather is warm. But before you go foraging, you need to know the basics about how to stay safe. https://www.thelocal.de/20250903/how-to-stay-safe-when-foraging-for-wild-mushrooms-in-germany Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:08:56 +0200 how-to-stay-safe-when-foraging-for-wild-mushrooms-in-germany One of the most difficult things about moving to a new country is immersing yourself in the culture and history. Here are eight effortless ways to deepen your knowledge of Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20240216/8-easy-and-fun-ways-to-learn-more-about-germany Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:29:40 +0100 8-easy-and-fun-ways-to-learn-more-about-germany With public transport connections, parks and wide pavements, German cities are generally designed with pedestrians in mind. It's something the US and other countries could learn from, writes journalist Rachel Loxton. https://www.thelocal.de/20250803/opinion-german-cities-are-designed-for-walking-and-it-benefits-everyone Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:08:31 +0200 opinion-german-cities-are-designed-for-walking-and-it-benefits-everyone It is news that will leave brewers feeling flat – German beer sales hit their lowest level in the first half of the year since records began over three decades ago. https://www.thelocal.de/20250801/german-beer-sales-fall-to-record-low Fri, 01 Aug 2025 19:29:52 +0200 german-beer-sales-fall-to-record-low Swimming in an outdoor pool in Germany is one of the most popular summer past-times. Here are the rules and finer points of etiquette you need to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20250623/freibad-the-etiquette-rules-you-need-to-know-for-germanys-outdoor-pools Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:04:05 +0200 freibad-the-etiquette-rules-you-need-to-know-for-germanys-outdoor-pools From beer in the morning to boozing on trains, German drinking habits can be hard to get your head around. We asked our readers to share their thoughts on Germany's drinking culture: the good, the bad and the ugly. https://www.thelocal.de/20250513/beer-is-cheap-and-everywhere-how-germanys-drinking-culture-surprises-foreigners Tue, 13 May 2025 18:03:34 +0200 beer-is-cheap-and-everywhere-how-germanys-drinking-culture-surprises-foreigners Want to have the best chance of being treated like a true Berliner when visiting or living in the German capital? We've got you covered with these eight top tips. https://www.thelocal.de/20240718/the-ultimate-guide-to-looking-and-sounding-like-a-local-in-berlin Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:34:02 +0200 the-ultimate-guide-to-looking-and-sounding-like-a-local-in-berlin Punctual, organised, lovers of beer... we all know the stereotypes about Germans. But how well do you know the stereotypes for each of the German regions? https://www.thelocal.de/20220708/thrifty-swabians-and-haughty-hamburgers-a-guide-to-germanys-regional-stereotypes Fri, 08 Jul 2022 19:20:03 +0200 thrifty-swabians-and-haughty-hamburgers-a-guide-to-germanys-regional-stereotypes Germany's much-revered beer garden season is once again open but there are certain cultural quirks and German lingo that everyone should know before heading to a "Biergarten", writes Tom Pugh. https://www.thelocal.de/20250429/everything-you-need-know-about-germanys-sacred-biergarten-culture Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:36:41 +0200 everything-you-need-know-about-germanys-sacred-biergarten-culture From famous folk festivals like Oktoberfest to its summer beer garden culture, drinking plays a huge role in life in Germany. We'd love to know what surprised you about the country's boozy customs after moving here, and if you think it should change. https://www.thelocal.de/20250424/tell-us-what-do-you-think-of-the-drinking-culture-in-germany Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:18:49 +0200 tell-us-what-do-you-think-of-the-drinking-culture-in-germany You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local. https://www.thelocal.de/20240424/six-unique-german-noises-to-make-that-will-help-you-sound-like-a-native Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:23:41 +0200 six-unique-german-noises-to-make-that-will-help-you-sound-like-a-native Locals from Germany's most westerly city like to greet each other with a secret hand symbol when they meet elsewhere in the world. Though the symbol is a source of pride in Aachen, the tradition has a long - and rather dark - history. https://www.thelocal.de/20250109/klenkes-the-strange-hand-gesture-you-need-to-know-in-the-german-town-of-aachen Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:44:34 +0100 klenkes-the-strange-hand-gesture-you-need-to-know-in-the-german-town-of-aachen