When you mention Germany, you automatically think about many different things like hiking, parties, castles, sausages, beer, seriousness and food. This country has a lot more to offer than what you might think at first glance. There are many different art and music festivals you want to be a part of, tremendous cathedrals, beautiful forests, historic cities and a great cuisine. We tend to see Germans as very serious and although this is sometimes the case, in most situations Germans are not as they appear.
Travel Costs To Be Aware Of
- Food – Contrary to what you might think, German food is very cheap. It is a good idea to opt for the outdoor vendors as they offer sandwiches that are really tasty and cheap at the same time. The regular fast food joint will cost around eight dollars and beer is around 5 dollars for a pint. Asian food, middle eastern and Turkish food is quite cheap at around 5 dollars and one week of groceries will cost you around 50 dollars
- Accommodations – When compared with other countries in the Euro zone, Germany is very cheap. One night’s stay at hostels costs around 20 dollars and the private room in a hotel is around 60 dollars.
- Transportation – You need to avoid the high speed trains because they are quite expensive. The best thing that you can do is use intercity trains with second class tickets. Taking a slow train or maybe an overnight bus will save you a lot of money.
How To Save Money When Travelling To Germany
For starters, you should consider eating at vendors on the street. Beer halls are also a very good idea if you are looking for a good meal. Ethnic food is a lot cheaper so you can always go for Middle Eastern and Turkish. Most of the meals in a themed restaurant will be under 5 euro. Remember that Germany is known for its beer. It is cheap and strong so take advantage of the opportunity.
German offers many different free tours, especially in the big cities. These are great for saving money, learning about the city’s history and figuring out what you actually want to see without having to spend money in order to do this.
When thinking about transportation, most of the money is saved by booking the train ticket early. This will offer a discount of up to 50 percent. However, you need to book at least 7 days in advance.
The Main Travel Destinations To Consider In Germany
- Berlin –This is definitely a must see. The capital of Germany offers so many opportunities that you will love. It has one of Europe’s best nightlife scenes and although you might not actually like the city at first glance, if you plan, you will see that you can have a lot of fun while not spending a lot of money.
- Oktoberfest – This is the largest 2 weeks beer festivals in the entire world. There are so many things that you can do and it is a guarantee that you will have a great time even if you just spend a few days enjoying Oktoberfest.
- Lake Constance – The lake is located on the border with Austria and Switzerland. It is the country’s largest fresh water lake and the entire area around it has an amiable, mild climate. It is a great area for fruit and wine production.
- Munich – You will love the city if you love history. There are so many things that remind us of how life was in the past. However, this is a more expensive city when compared to Berlin. Even so, it is a great destination. If you are in the area, make sure that you also consider some of the close-by Bavarian towns and do not forget about Olympia Park.
- The Black Forest – It is located close to the border with France and it has its name rooted in the many different dark green pine trees that are present. Many hiking trails can be explored and it is a guarantee that you will want to spend some time in the local areas as they are famous for the typical German food and cuckoo clocks.
- Trier – History is huge in Trier as it is the oldest of all German cities. The history of the town is of over 2000 years. You can learn so many interesting things here. For instance, 6 Roman emperors had their home in Trier. Many ancient ruins exist and you will surely want to visit the Black gate.
- Frankfurt – There are many different historical sights, restaurants and attractions that you will love. You will like the great exhibition hall that is among the largest around the world and science lovers will want to visit some of the museums present there.
Tips About Germans To Remember
You will want to learn more about Germans before you go to Germany. This is common sense and you need to pay attention to not upsetting people. After all, you are visiting the country and you are a guest there. Manners are highly important in such a setting. With this in mind, here are some things you have to remember:
- Handshakes – All Germans enjoy a strong handshake. Eye contact is recommended.
- Direct And Reserved – This is something that needs to be understood since Germans are direct and reserved, all at the exact same time. You will not find it easy to get them to feel warm towards you but it is a guarantee that they will say what they think, which is a great trait to have.
- Manners – It is very important that you apologize in the event that you are late since Germans are punctual. Call ahead whenever you will be late with over a quarter of an hour and when you are invited to the home of a German, take a gift with you. Also, remember that you need to eat all on the plate or the person that serves you will think that you did not enjoy the meal.
