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’.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
The direct way that Germans communicate can be a culture shock to foreigners, as many of our readers attest to. But there are also some ways you can deal with it and remember it's not always a bad thing.
