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 Sunset, deckchairs and a blockbuster under the stars – Germany’s 'Freiluftkinos' are a summer essential. But from language traps to chilly evenings, a little insider knowledge can make all the difference. https://www.thelocal.de/20260611/how-tomake-the-most-of-germanys-open-air-cinemas-this-summer Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:34:51 +0200 how-tomake-the-most-of-germanys-open-air-cinemas-this-summer It’s easy to notice things like cycle lanes, bakeries on every corner and the sheer number of public clocks when you first arrive in Germany. But which everyday features are conspicuous by their absence? https://www.thelocal.de/20260604/the-things-you-wont-see-in-germany-that-are-common-elsewhere Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:25:14 +0200 the-things-you-wont-see-in-germany-that-are-common-elsewhere Starbucks customers in Germany will soon see clearer tipping options at card terminals, as consumer watchdogs push back on manipulative prompts that take advantage of so-called ‘dark patterns’. https://www.thelocal.de/20260522/starbucks-warned-card-terminals-must-offer-obvious-no-tip-button-in-germany Fri, 22 May 2026 14:45:30 +0200 starbucks-warned-card-terminals-must-offer-obvious-no-tip-button-in-germany Somewhere between a pub, a dive bar and a community living room, the mighty Kneipe is a ubiquitous cultural cornerstone in Germany. Here's a pint-sized guide to its history. https://www.thelocal.de/20260515/prost-a-short-history-of-the-german-kneipe Fri, 15 May 2026 16:01:42 +0200 prost-a-short-history-of-the-german-kneipe Bernd das Brot is not your usual TV star. Yet the chronically depressed loaf has a legion of fans in Germany and across the world. Who is he? https://www.thelocal.de/20260510/who-is-bernd-das-brot-the-depressed-loaf-of-bread-loved-by-germans Sun, 10 May 2026 10:16:05 +0200 who-is-bernd-das-brot-the-depressed-loaf-of-bread-loved-by-germans 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