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Jump right in:

• Practical information
• Cost of living
• Culture and social Etiquette
• Driving
• Public transport in Germany

Practical information

In this section, we provide key information about the country, such as emergency numbers, as well as the public holidays you should be aware of. Knowing about these basic aspects of German life will help you find your feet quicker. Embassies and consulates, representing nearly every country in the world, can be found in major German cities and towns. Emergency services are also readily available.

Main embassies

Germany is home to over 150 foreign embassies and consulates. All embassies can be found in the capital city of Berlin. Consulates can be found throughout other German cities, such as Bonn, Munich, Frankfurt, and more. The diplomatic mission of your country will be able to assist you in the following cases. If you:

• need a list of local lawyers and interpreters
• want to contact a local doctor for medical treatment
• have to get in touch with your family and friends back home
• need to safely acquire money from relatives or friends
• have lost your passport/ID card
• need information on the local police and legal procedures

Main airports in Germany

Here are the busiest airports in Germany:

• Frankfurt
• Munich
• Dusseldorf
• Berlin Tegel
• Hamburg

Emergency numbers

Germany has two primary emergency numbers:

• 112 for medical and fire emergencies. Use this number if you need an ambulance.
• 110 for police services.

Public holidays in Germany

While Germany has no official religion, the country has largely been influenced by two denominations of Christianity: Catholicism in the south and Protestantism in the north. Because of this, Germany has nine public holidays and a smattering of regional holidays that are only celebrated in certain states. Bavaria, with 13, has the highest number of public holidays in Germany.

Public holidays

• New Year’s Day (Neujahr) — 1 January
• Good Friday (Karfreitag) — moveable religious holiday in late March or April
• Easter Monday (Ostermontag) — moveable religious holiday in late March or April
• Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) — 1 May
• Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) — moveable religious holiday in May or June
• Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) — moveable religious holiday in May or June
• German Unity Day (Tag der deutschen Einheit) — 3 October
• Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtsfeiertag) — 25 December
• Boxing Day (2. Weihnachtsfeiertag) — 26 December

Regional holidays

• Three Kings Day (*Heilige Drei Könige) — 6 January — Celebrated in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxon Anhalt
• Carnival (Fasching) — moveable religious holiday in February or early March — Celebrated throughout Germany, but not considered a public holiday
• Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) — moveable religious holiday in late May or June — Celebrated in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and some local authorities in Saxony and Thuringia
• Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) — 15 August — Celebrated in Saarland and some local authorities in Bavaria.
• Oktoberfest — late September to early October — two-week folk festival held in Munich with Oktoberfest-themed events throughout Germany, not considered a public holiday
• Day of Reformation (Reformationstag) — 31 October — Celebrated in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and parts of Thuringia
• All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) — 1 November — Celebrated in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and parts of Thuringia.
• Repentance Day (Buß- und Bettag) — a Wednesday in mid-November — Celebrated in Saxony, schools closed in Bavaria

Although not recognized as holidays, Germany has many public festivals during the summer months and winter months (close to Christmas). Be sure to check the regional happenings of your specific German state.

German police

For the most part, German law enforcement has a good reputation. However, human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have criticized the police for a lack of disciplinary measures when officers have been accused of using excessive force. An example of such an alleged incident was a police clash with demonstrators. Police have also been criticized for allegedly mistreating asylum seekers. In big cities, there’s a higher chance that the police will know some English or another foreign language. In the unlikely event that you must deal with the German police as a witness, victim, or potential suspect, we recommend requesting an interpreter.

Cost of living

Is it expensive to live in Germany?

Despite Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich’s jump in average living costs in recent years, no German city ranks among the 50 most expensive expat destinations worldwide. This means average living expenses throughout Germany are more affordable than in Vienna, Milan, London, and Amsterdam.

Average household expenses

• For a single person the average monthly expenses in Germany are 1,900 EUR (approx. 2,250 USD) per month.
• For a household of 4 the average is 4,300 EUR (approx. 5,100 USD).

Keep in mind that these averages vary depending on your or your family's personal lifestyles, so don’t let the numbers scare you just yet.

Healthcare expenses

Healthcare costs in Germany are reasonable as long as you are part of either the public health system or have private health insurance. If you join the public system, the percentage you’ll owe to the state is taken from your monthly salary. Germany’s healthcare contribution costs are 14.6 to 15.6%. Half of this is paid by the worker and half by the employer. There may also be a low supplemental rate on top of this, at an average of 1.6%, which is paid equally by employer and employee. Public healthcare covers treatments and services, such as immunizations, prescriptions, and dental checks.

Private health insurance

If you earn more than 69,300 EUR (approx. 81,500 USD) a year, you can choose private insurance, which offers benefits such as shorter waiting times to see a doctor and the option to choose which specialist sees you. Private insurance costs vary depending on the package. The price ranges from 200 EUR to over 500 EUR (approx. 235 to 600 USD) per month, depending on what is included.

Find out more in our article about healthcare in Germany.

Mandatory contributions

In Germany, an employee must spend about 20%-22% of their gross salary on things like mandatory contributions to healthcare, unemployment funds, and the national pension plan.

Income tax is progressive, starting at 14% for low-paid workers and gradually increasing, reaching 42% for higher earners and 45% for top earners. With the help of a tax consultant, many expats and professionals can benefit from deductions and allowances in the German tax system.

You can find more information about the German tax system in our banks and taxes guide.

Monthly cost of living in Germany by city

Rent prices

To give you some perspective on rental prices in Germany, here are the average prices for a small apartment in the most expensive and cheapest cities:

The cost of utilities in Germany is among the most expensive in all of Europe. The average price for the whole country is about 300 EUR (approx. 350 USD) per month. Depending on your package and internet provider, a standard Wi-Fi setup should cost between 30–40 EUR per month (34–45 USD).

Grocery prices and eating out

In comparison with some other European countries, Germans spend less on food. This happens for two reasons. First, Germans can choose to go grocery shopping at many different small retail outlets and supermarkets. Secondly, Germans have a different attitude towards eating out than, for example, the Italians or the French. Eating out is considered a treat rather than a way of life, which explains the relatively low monthly expenditures at restaurants. You can expect to pay around 15 EUR (approx. 18 USD) for a meal in an inexpensive restaurant and 70 EUR (approx. 80 USD) for a three-course meal at a middle range restaurant.

Food and alcohol prices in Germany

Culture & social etiquette

German cultural customs generally impose a certain formality when interacting with strangers and casual acquaintances.

Proper forms of address

When you meet a German for the first time, polite German custom requires you to be very formal. You should make direct eye contact, shake hands firmly, and use formal greetings. German custom places emphasis on the correct form of address and a person’s title, particularly if interacting with business contacts, a person you have never met before, someone older than you, or other people entitled to your respect. Be sure to use the polite form of “you” (“Sie”) when addressing a German for the first time. Also use Herr/Frau (Mr./Ms.) + title + last name: for instance, Herr Doktor Meier.

Formal greetings

First names and the casual form of address (“du”) are reserved for friends, family, and younger people, like university students. In young or trendy businesses, most people will be on a first-name basis immediately.

You can start with simple sentences such as:

• Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt: Good day, Herr Schmidt.
• Wie heissen Sie?: What is your name?
• Wie geht’s Ihnen?: How are you?
• Guten Morgen, Frau Müller. Es freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen: Good morning, Ms. Müller. It is a pleasure to meet you.

On the phone

Politeness is also recommended when making phone calls in Germany. Don’t phone people at home late at night, early in the morning, or during lunch hours (generally from 13:00 to 15:00). Sunday is an especially bad day to disturb someone, as they are protected as “days of rest from work and of spiritual improvement”.

Always remember to say your full name when answering the phone:

• Hallo, John Smith am Apparat: Hello, this is John Smith speaking. When calling someone who isn’t a close friend of yours, treat the person on the other end of line with formal courtesy, even if it’s only the receptionist offering to forward your call.

• Guten Tag, hier ist John Smith. Könnte ich bitte mit Herr Doktor Meier sprechen?: Good afternoon, this is John Smith speaking. Could I talk to Dr. Meier, please?

Out in public

You should take care not to invade other people’s personal space, to snap your fingers, to point at someone, or to raise your voice (unless it’s an emergency and you urgently need help, of course). When you need to make your way through a crowd or accidentally bump into someone, a quick Entschuldigung (I’m sorry) is considered polite.

Breaches of etiquette, like spitting on the street, listening to loud music, littering the pavement, smacking chewing gum, or public drunkenness in any other context than the Munich Oktoberfest, are frowned upon.

Modesty & rule following

Showing lots of skin or excessive displays of affection are only common among teens and younger Germans, especially in the bigger cities. Even there, they might encounter odd looks, raised eyebrows, or disapproving remarks from more conservative Germans.

Remember that Germans take stopping at traffic lights (obviously while driving, but also as a pedestrian) and other road rules very seriously. Unless the green man is showing at a crossing, you should wait to cross. Not only could you put yourself in danger by attempting to cross the road too soon, but you could draw disapproving stares and even a verbal telling off from a passer-by.

Smoking

It’s illegal to smoke in public places in Germany, including in bars and restaurants. It’s up to individual states to decide specific non-smoking laws. Bavaria is especially tough for smoking. It’s forbidden to smoke indoors at any bar or restaurant there. You can freely smoke outside anywhere in the country.

Recycling in Germany

Germans have a blue bin for paper, a brown or green biodegradable bin, a yellow plastic bin, and a black bin for other waste.

In addition, Germany has an ingenious recycling system where you can take plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans — bearing the Einweg recycling mark — to supermarkets, and get 0.25 EUR (0.30 USD) back for plastic and aluminum. When returning glass, you’ll receive 0.08 EUR (0.09 USD). This is the deposit that is paid when someone buys a drink in one of these recyclable containers.

Once you use the recycling machine, you’ll get a receipt to get your money back or to deduct its value from the cost of any items you buy. Alternatively, to donate the money to a good cause, you can select the machine’s spenden option.

Driving

Here you’ll find the famous Autobahn, where only 30% of the highway has a speed limit, attracting motorists who want to test their high-powered engines. But Germany is conscious about the environment — the capital Berlin has a Low Emission Zone, and there is pressure from the Green political party to introduce speed limits along the entire Autobahn.

How to get a German driver’s license

You should go to the driver’s license office (��ü������������𾱲Բ��ٱ������) at your local citizens registration office / district city hall (��ü�������������) or city/town hall (Rathaus). Bring the following documents and information to get your new driver’s license at the driver’s license office:

• passport or German ID card
• 1 passport photo
• your valid foreign driver’s license
• you’ll need to have your license translated into German unless you’re from the EU, EEA, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, or Senegal

Driving with a foreign license in Germany

Whatever legitimate driver’s license you have, you’ll generally find you can use it to drive in Germany for a short period of time. The license must not expire during this time.

• If you have a driver’s license from a state outside the EU and the EEA, you can generally use it to drive in Germany for six months after you’ve established residence in the country. After that, you’ll require a license issued in Germany.

• If you’re driving in Germany with a European driver’s license, or a license from a country that’s part of the EEA agreement, it should be valid until its natural expiry date. However, it must be a domestic license not an International Driving Permit.

Rules for driving in Germany

• The legal age for driving in Germany is 18.
• Drive on the right side of the road.
• Drinking and driving is banned: the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5 g alcohol/liter of blood.
• It’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident without getting help.
• Keep your driver’s license and vehicle registration with you when driving in Germany.
• You can only drive into low-emissions zones if you have a sticker showing that your car’s emissions are low enough.
• Germany is a hands-free country, meaning you’re permitted to use your mobile device when driving as long as it has a feature allowing you to keep both hands on the steering wheel. You’re not allowed to wear headphones while driving.
• You must carry a warning triangle and a first aid kit.

Speed limits

The speed limit throughout most of Germany is between 50 to 130 km/h (31 to 81 mph).

• 50 km/h: in built up areas such as towns and cities
• 100 km/h: outside built up areas
• 130 km/h: on highways that have a speed limit

Renting a car in Germany

Here are some tips about driving a rental car in the country:

• You can rent a car in Germany using the license from your country of origin. You must have had your license for at least one or two years, depending on the rental company.
• If your local driver’s license is written in a non-Roman/Latin language, such as Arabic or Japanese, you’ll require an International Driving Permit or an official translation into English.
• You usually have to be over 21 years old to rent a car in Germany.
• Most cars will have a stick shift (manual gear stick).
• You may want to consider leasing a car if you’re planning on using it for more than a few weeks. It’ll include auto insurance coverage.

Public transport in Germany

A wide range of public transport options offer modern, safe, and regular services. There is the U-Bahn subway, the S-Bahn urban train, buses, streetcars, light rail, and taxis.

However, in bigger cities like Berlin, strikes, big events, construction work, and many other aspects affect public transport, resulting in trains or subways being late or not showing up at all. You’ll have to get used to double-checking the live public transport status, and always be ready to change your route.

Opinion

Public transport is incredibly expensive and unreliable. It feels like they are not regulated at all and can do whatever they please. It is cheaper, faster, more reliable, and more comfortable to go into the city by car than take public transport which is crazy. And I'm not even mentioning travel outside the city ... DB tickets are super expensive, their trains are always late or get canceled, and it is just a mess overall. I love traveling by train but I really don't want to go anywhere anymore. Buses are not better either. (Hungarian expat in Berlin)

Opinion

Travel and transport costs in Germany

You can buy tickets for transport which allow you to travel on any form of public transport in the town or city, including buses and trams.

• A single ticket or EinzelTicket costs around 3.20 EUR (3.80 USD) and normally you can use it for 1.5 hours. During this time, you can stop as many times as you want and use different forms of public transport.
• A day ticket, or TagesTicket, lets you travel around the zone you choose for a whole day. This is not always for a full 24 hours, so check your ticket carefully. The tickets cost 6–12 EUR (7–14 USD).
• A group ticket, or GruppenTicket/GruppenTagesTicket, allows up to five people to travel around for one day in a chosen zone. It costs between 12 and 33 EUR (14–39 USD).
• The Deutschland Ticket lets you travel on all local and regional public transport. It costs 58 EUR (67 USD) per month.

Deutsche Bahn trains

�¾��ٳ� , you can get a monthly train ticket to travel across Germany at discounted prices. You can also buy the BahnCard to save money on flexible and saver fares. A regular fare monthly pass for public transport in all cities is 59 EUR. You can check for discounts and special offers on .

Taxi

In Germany, taxi apps offer 24 hour service and the most competitive ride prices, here are the most popular ones:

Public transport for those with physical impairments

Germany’s public transport system is often easily accessible to people with disabilities. Lots of underground stations have an elevator for wheelchair users, passengers in mobility scooters, or parents with baby strollers.