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 Even amid restrictions, the Christmas spirit in Germany is alive and kicking. Here are seven key traditions you'll likely see (or taste) in the Bundesrepublik. https://www.thelocal.de/20201211/seven-top-german-christmas-traditions-still-taking-place-in-2021 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:21:37 +0100 seven-top-german-christmas-traditions-still-taking-place-in-2021 Second homes in the mountains or on the coast of Germany were already in demand before the coronavirus crisis. Now the pandemic is increasing the desire for people to keep distance in their own vacation property. https://www.thelocal.de/20210203/holiday-homes-in-increasing-demand-in-germany Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:47:35 +0100 holiday-homes-in-increasing-demand-in-germany Various German states have plans to open back up their tourists sectors over the coming Pentecost holiday, also known as Whitsun. Here's a look at what is possible where. https://www.thelocal.de/20210518/which-german-holiday-hotspots-are-opening-up-for-pentecost Tue, 18 May 2021 18:04:10 +0200 which-german-holiday-hotspots-are-opening-up-for-pentecost Some German states, including Bavaria, have announced that hotels will reopen after months of a Covid -shutdown. We looked at what the next weeks have in store. https://www.thelocal.de/20210504/when-will-tourism-in-germany-open-up-again Tue, 04 May 2021 19:26:31 +0200 when-will-tourism-in-germany-open-up-again The German government has warned that people will only be able to go on holiday after Whitsun this year, meaning a wait until the end of May before Germans can travel. https://www.thelocal.de/20210112/dont-expect-to-be-able-to-travel-until-late-may-german-government-warns Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:48:33 +0100 dont-expect-to-be-able-to-travel-until-late-may-german-government-warns A young German pilot said Sunday he traced a giant syringe in the sky as a way of marking the start of Germany's roll out of vaccines against the coronavirus. https://www.thelocal.de/20201228/german-pilot-traces-giant-syringe-in-sky-to-mark-covid-jabs Mon, 28 Dec 2020 10:09:19 +0100 german-pilot-traces-giant-syringe-in-sky-to-mark-covid-jabs There are conflicting messages about whether people can or should travel during the festive holidays. Here's what we know about travelling in Germany, abroad and what politicians are saying. https://www.thelocal.de/20201210/what-you-need-to-know-about-travel-in-germany-and-abroad-at-christmas-and-new-year Thu, 10 Dec 2020 15:53:31 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-travel-in-germany-and-abroad-at-christmas-and-new-year A police union boss has encouraged people not to immediately call the police if they suspect their neighbours are holding an illegal Christmas get-together, saying that “a bit of moral courage is necessary.” https://www.thelocal.de/20201222/german-residents-told-not-to-call-police-over-every-covid-christmas-rule-break Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:05:34 +0100 german-residents-told-not-to-call-police-over-every-covid-christmas-rule-break Gerhard Berndt's model railway has been three decades in the making, but this year it's really been full steam ahead for the 72-year-old Berliner. https://www.thelocal.de/20201218/pandemic-keeps-german-model-trains-chugging-along Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:54:08 +0100 pandemic-keeps-german-model-trains-chugging-along Shortly before the start of stricter lockdown measures on Wednesday, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on people to stand together amid what he called necessary restrictions. https://www.thelocal.de/20201214/pandemic-wont-rob-us-of-our-future-says-german-president-ahead-of-hard-lockdown Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:00:19 +0100 pandemic-wont-rob-us-of-our-future-says-german-president-ahead-of-hard-lockdown Experts are urging German politicians to put the country on lockdown 'until at least January 10th' due to the worsening situation. https://www.thelocal.de/20201208/scientists-plead-for-hard-lockdown-in-germany-as-fears-grow-over-covid-19-spike-at-christmas Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:17:56 +0100 scientists-plead-for-hard-lockdown-in-germany-as-fears-grow-over-covid-19-spike-at-christmas The premier of Bavaria on Tuesday said he planned to keep the Alpine slopes of his German state shut over the Christmas holidays to combat Covid-19 and urged European nations to follow suit. https://www.thelocal.de/20201124/avoid-a-second-ischgl-bavaria-urges-ski-slopes-to-close-across-europe-over-winter-break Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:14:52 +0100 avoid-a-second-ischgl-bavaria-urges-ski-slopes-to-close-across-europe-over-winter-break The pandemic means the holiday season won't be the same for anyone this year. What might it be like in Germany? https://www.thelocal.de/20201123/what-will-christmas-2020-be-like-in-germany Mon, 23 Nov 2020 16:46:40 +0100 what-will-christmas-2020-be-like-in-germany Despite the coronavirus pandemic, travel is still on the minds of many Germans. A comprehensive survey looks at where they're eager to go in the coming year. https://www.thelocal.de/20201116/this-is-where-and-how-germans-plan-to-holiday-in-2021 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:09:32 +0100 this-is-where-and-how-germans-plan-to-holiday-in-2021 For people living outside their home country, planning for the holiday season is complex at the best of times. How are your plans changing this year? https://www.thelocal.de/20201103/tell-us-how-has-the-pandemic-changed-your-german-christmas-plans Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:05:04 +0100 tell-us-how-has-the-pandemic-changed-your-german-christmas-plans With German Reunification Day falling on a Saturday this year, we asked The Local readers if they think Germany should allow for a replacement day off on a weekday. Here's the verdict. https://www.thelocal.de/20201002/should-germany-ensure-workers-get-a-day-off-for-every-public-holiday Fri, 02 Oct 2020 13:36:40 +0200 should-germany-ensure-workers-get-a-day-off-for-every-public-holiday Germany on Friday added all of Spain, excluding the Canary Islands, to its list of high-risk coronavirus areas, the health ministry said, in a major blow to top tourist destinations like Mallorca. https://www.thelocal.de/20200814/germany-set-to-declare-spain-as-high-risk-coronavirus-area Fri, 14 Aug 2020 19:20:04 +0200 germany-set-to-declare-spain-as-high-risk-coronavirus-area Germany lifted its travel warning for several coastal regions of Turkey on Tuesday, ceding partially to weeks of campaigning by Ankara, whose tourism industry relies heavily on German visitors. https://www.thelocal.de/20200804/germany-lifts-travel-warning-for-four-turkish-regions-coronavirus Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:06:56 +0200 germany-lifts-travel-warning-for-four-turkish-regions-coronavirus Austria has withdrawn a general travel warning for Germany's most populous state issued after a massive coronavirus outbreak at a meat processing plant. https://www.thelocal.de/20200629/austria-relaxes-general-travel-warning-for-german-state-of-north-rhine-westphalia Mon, 29 Jun 2020 11:02:48 +0200 austria-relaxes-general-travel-warning-for-german-state-of-north-rhine-westphalia Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many more Germans are holidaying at home. Now tourist bosses say popular destinations are almost fully booked already. https://www.thelocal.de/20200619/holiday-homes-at-north-and-baltic-sea-90-percent-full-as-germans-choose-staycations Fri, 19 Jun 2020 10:48:28 +0200 holiday-homes-at-north-and-baltic-sea-90-percent-full-as-germans-choose-staycations