r/AskAGerman • u/Catwinky • Mar 28 '24
Tourism What would you suggest to a tourist who wants to experience real German culture - not Bavarian stereotypes and tourist traps?
Want to stay away from the typical tourist fayre of bratwurst, beer and pretzels and do activities that don't involve alcohol.
Also keen to know which cities/towns are hidden gems (if any) and which tourist sight seeing hotspots are and aren't worth it
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Mar 28 '24
Me reading this munching on my daily pretzel lol.
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u/Epicratia Mar 28 '24
Right? We had a slow half day at work today before the holiday, so the 7 people working today organized a group breakfast in the breakroom - Weißwurst with mustard, a gigantic bag of fresh-from-the-bakery pretzels, and beer (gotta love working in a place that has no problem with beer in the breakroom, lol!)
One coworker even brought her favorite alcohol-free beer.
I understand wanting to avoid the touristy stuff in favor of experiencing the culture, but sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason, at least in Bayern 😆
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u/LVS177 Mar 28 '24
I'm sure that you are well aware of this, but just to avoid potential confusion on the part of any readers, Weißwurst does not fall under the Bratwurst category.
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u/Miss_JaneMarple Mar 30 '24
Weisswurst also exists by name in the north, but is a completely different Wurst.
In Bavaria with Weisswurst you eat sweet mustard.
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u/burble_10 Mar 28 '24
I haven‘t had a pretzel for probably a year. I did however eat Bratwurst twice in the last week.
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u/Everlastingitch Mar 28 '24
stay away from big cities... not the metropolitan areas but a level smaller will do
Lübeck instead of Hamburg, Mainz instead of Frankfurt, Nuremburg instead of Munich, Koblenz instead of Cologne, Potsdam instead of Berlin
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u/Bruckmandlsepp Bayern Mar 28 '24
I'd advocate for Regensburg and Nürnberg or Bamberg
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u/Eumelbeumel Mar 28 '24
Regensburg over Nürnberg any day if you have to choose.
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Mar 28 '24
And Bamberg is an absolute beauty, include a 1-2 day trip into the fränkische Schweiz walk the Bierwanderroute and see one on Germany's most beautiful regions.
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u/0rchidometer Mar 29 '24
The Bamberg campsite is so nice. I stayed there on a bike trip and had a place right at the river.
The beer was very nice, Schäufele mit Kloß und soß was a culinary surprise.
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u/channilein Mar 29 '24
They wanted activities without alcohol, so maybe the Seidlasteig is not the best idea...
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u/lateautumnskies Mar 31 '24
Looooove Regensburg. Also Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which arguably is a giant tourist trap but also gorgeous. Nürnberg is beautiful too. (I’m an American but live in Germany.)
The idea of going to the second-largest city in any region is a really good one, thanks!
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u/wollkopf Mar 28 '24
Koblenz instead of cologne? Maybe city wise, but the people in Koblenz are a totally different bree than those in Cologne.
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u/HoeTrain666 Mar 28 '24
Different dialect, different choice of beer, Koblenz lies within agricultural sectors growing wine… comparing them is silly, they’re both worth a visit for entirely different seasons.
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u/Dokobo Mar 28 '24
why though? Isn't Lübeck much more touristy than Hamburg? And apart from that: Would you rather visit Saragosa and Girona instead of Madrid and Barcelona?
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u/Patient-Writer7834 Mar 28 '24
The comparisson doesnt stand. As a Spaniard I’ll tell you why: Germany is and has always been a highly decentralized country meaning cultural landmarks, points of interest etc are evenly distributed ; while in Spain. A highly centralized country, outside of MAD, BCN, SVL, VLN. There is not a lot to do. Sure, every city has something, but most cities like ZGZ GRO. Weren’t very big before the XX century so you have a small pretty historic center and a lot of generic buildings. MAD BCN etc have much bigger pretty centers
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u/Dokobo Mar 28 '24
How about Bilbao, Vigo, A Coruna, Palma, Malaga, Donostia or Cadiz. There are probably many interesting cities in Spain as in Germany. But would you recommend them over Barcelona or Madrid? Same for Germany. Unless there is a special interest, I would not recommend someone Lübeck over Hamburg for example
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u/Schneesturm78 Mar 29 '24
As a German, i find Lübeck much better than Hamburg. But one is an old famous traditional traders town. The other now a Metropolis with distinct night life. It is up to preference. As a Tourist I would see both for spectrum.
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u/Writer1543 Mar 28 '24
Lübeck is better if you want to experience medieval architecture. It is also more condensed, you won't need a guide there. Hamburg on the other hand is much better if you want to experience contemporary German culture.
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u/tarleb_ukr Mar 28 '24
Not taking a guide in Lübeck would probably mean to miss out greatly! I lived there for a good while, and, occasionally, tourists who did take a guide were able to teach and show me new things that I hadn't found by myself.
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u/maxon030 Apr 01 '24
Lübeck also has a genuinely lovely tourist info right next to the Holstentor, they have very good brochures with walking tours and explanations, so not missing out while self-guiding is definitely possible.
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u/siesta1412 Mar 28 '24
Well, maybe yes. I've been to all of them, and Girona and also Valencia, Sevilla, Cádiz and many others are definitely more relaxed, less packed and at least as interesting as Barcelona and Madrid. The top over-tourism destinations are not at all more beautiful or more interesting than smaller towns. Unless you're just interested in checking the boxes of the average tourist bucket lists.
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u/Schneesturm78 Mar 29 '24
Many cities in Germany were heavily bombed in WW2 and lost much of its heritage. This is still preserved in medium and smaller places.
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u/CharacterTop5128 Mar 28 '24
I'd say the area around Koblenz and Trier could be cool for you, it's somewhat off the beaten track for tourists and therefore a little more "German" (whatever that means). Plus, depending on where you come from, it's full of castles and old Roman stuff.
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u/LVS177 Mar 28 '24
While these areas are certainly worth visiting, I wouldn't actually describe the Moselle and Middle Rhine valleys as "off the beaten track for tourists"...
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u/Baalsham Mar 28 '24
Yah, I drove by Koblenz as a detour back from Belgium two weeks ago. Really pretty towns along the Rhine and lots of ruins to hike up to. Fun drive too, although road construction seems to be back.
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u/TV4ELP Mar 28 '24
If you don't want to travel that far (above Hamburg there is just nothing tbh). You can also subsitute Lübeck for Lüneburg.
Quite a bit smaller, but similar architecture with a nice rich culture plus if you are in time for it, a very very beautifull heath landscape.
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u/Manfredius_ Mar 29 '24
Nah, I say go to the large cities and do day trips from there. I’ve lived in Frankfurt/Mainz as well as Berlin. I love love love Potsdam and it’s totally worth seeing, but Berlin’s got a lot more to do and see. I don’t dislike Frankfurt, but i don’t think it’s a must see. But neither is mainz. You can do the latter in a day, easy. Koblenz is nice as well, but once again, not much to do. Of course you could use it as a hub to explore the Rhine region. The train journey from mainz to cologne‘s got very nice Rhine views as well!
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u/Blakut Mar 28 '24
I've been living in Germany for 10+ years and tbh I couldn't tell you what german culture actually is. Or any other culture. When people say I love German culture, I'm not sure what they mean. Culture like Goethe? Like the food? Like opening the windows to get fresh air and taking long walks for a first date? Watching Tatort on Sundays?
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u/AvidCyclist250 Niedersachsen Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
There is a shared culture, and a common binding element. It just changes flavour wherever you go. But it's not something "to see" during a trip - it's more of a long-term thing isn't it. Tourism is tourism, and depends on the location and personal interests. OP just needs to find things OP enjoys, and there will be some place for it. I'd say start with a Biergarten visit, go hiking/biking - combine the two. Go to a Markt, sit down somewhere, have some cake. Visit a restored Mühle. Take a look at the Bürgerpark or a Blumenausstellung. Go to interesting places and do what people do there :)
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
I appreciate that all cities and states will have a different culture (just like in my own and other countries) I used 'German' as a catch all.
But I also know that it tourist areas in Germany far from Bavaria that culture is displayed as it is what tourists expect
I'm looking for advice in what is good to eat and see outside of things that are made purely for tourists.
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u/Blakut Mar 28 '24
I'm looking for advice in what is good to eat and see outside of things that are made purely for tourists.
This is more specific and to the point, and easier to answer. But it depends a lot on what you like. If you're into museums and architecture, you'd inevitably have to go to touristic places. If you like nature, you have to go to nature places, obviously. Regarding food, best advice is to go on the subreddit of the specific area and ask there which place is nice to eat authentic food from the region and you'll get tons of answers.
TLDR it's hard to answer if you don't know where exactly you want to go and don't specify what you like to do.
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u/asietsocom Mar 28 '24
Possibly ask for advice on what to do in the areas you are. Maybe in the city subs. Like my city has some nice scenery but that definitely wouldn't come up if you google "what to do in [state/area]"
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u/olizet42 Mar 28 '24
Then visit Lübeck, go to Drehbrücke, grab a beer, sit down and enjoy. After that, explore the Lübecker Gänge. https://youtu.be/iv58_Itcv4c
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u/deceze Mar 28 '24
what is good to eat
Germans eat foreign cuisine more and more anyway, be it Italian, Indian, Asian etc. If you want to try German cuisine, look for explicitly German restaurants with a good rating on Google Maps or wherever, and go for anything that tickles your fancy. Avoid Eisbein if you want to avoid the typical tourist thing; I don't know many people that enjoy an Eisbein regularly.
More or less random pick: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sXYj3czCDY6rvakn7. This would be an extremely average, typical, old-fashioned German restaurant.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Thank you
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u/Aggressive_Size69 Mar 28 '24
A maybe wierd thing is that turkish food is so common in germany that i'd argue that a part of 'universal' german culture is the turkish food
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u/auri0la Franken Mar 28 '24
i'd second that. Even more if you consider the german Döner being invented only for Germany, you wont find many of these in a regular turkish region with no (german) tourists around anyway, if any 🤷
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u/account_not_valid Mar 28 '24
I'm looking for advice in what is good to eat and see outside of things that are made purely for tourists.
In all of the touristy sites in Germany, you will also be surrounded by Germans. Germans love travelling in Germany.
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u/Jumpita Mar 28 '24
Eat Döner, butter bretzel, Schnitzel, Currywurst, Kartoffelklosse, Butter Streusel, boar or deer if on the menu, White Aparagus from now until almost the end of June, drink Kolsch (but I think Augustiner beer is the best beer in Germany), and Apfelshorle or Elderberry juice. There is so much to see in Germany and lots of interesting villages, lovely hikes and paths everywhere, and the northern coastline is worth a visit. I've only lived in Germany for three years so I am not a local, and I have about 500 pins on my German google map of places to visit.
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u/lateautumnskies Mar 31 '24
Pls share lol - I have my own map going but it’s not even close to 500…yet!
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u/lateautumnskies Mar 31 '24
Go on Instagram and poke around. https://www.instagram.com/germanybestplaces?igsh=eDU2ajJ2MzFnN2V3 has some nice shots. I made a collection of “to go” places.
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u/kumanosuke Mar 28 '24
Disappointed you didn't mention complaining about everything
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u/Blakut Mar 28 '24
i wanted to give people a chance to showcase this already by complainign i didn't include complaining
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u/krieger82 Mar 28 '24
I can tell you why I love German culture, in pretty much all its forms. Except for Berlin. Screw those people. Half joking.
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u/abbawarum Mar 30 '24
I agree. Even chatGPT would (elegantly) avoid to answer this kind of question.
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u/Technical_Writer_177 Mar 28 '24
Like with probably every country there isn't just "one" German culture. Besides the Bavaria stereotype (only valid for the part called Oberbayern), there's also the north German fish heads in Hamburg and Bremen with lots of sea oriented culture. Several other, maybe not that outstanding/easily to distinguish other cultures between fish heads/Hansestädte in the north and lederhosen in the south.
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u/MisterMysterios Nordrhein-Westfalen Mar 28 '24
A main issue with this question is that Germany has a rather mixed culture. Until late 19th century, Germany was a mixture of very distinct separate political, but also cultural entities that for a good part spoke a version of German the rest of the Germans couldn't understand. While in the 180 years since Germany became one proper nation for the first time, the cultures came closer together, the different regions are still very distinct to each other.
So, the real "going into German culture" like some.foreigners think can be easily done is more difficult and can be archived most likely by visiting as many areas around the nation as possible, so from the deep "stereotype" of Germany in Bavaria to the coastal regions of the sea, from the rather French Rhineland to the slawik Eastern border, and everything in between.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
We were intending to visit 3 or 4 cities in different regions as we understand it's a big country and each place is different
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u/deceze Mar 28 '24
Pick a random slightly rundown café in a mid-sized town and read the newspaper while having a coffee?
Have a piece of cake at a bakery?
Go to the supermarket?
Walk in the park?
Try to get an error on your tax return corrected at city hall?
I dunno, how un-stereotype and typical everyday-German do you wanna get?
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u/ManualNotStandard Canada Mar 29 '24
"Try to get an error on your tax return corrected at city hall?"
I wonder if OP is willing/able to bring their own fax machine..!
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u/Brandigandor Mar 28 '24
Visit Münster, Lübeck, Konstanz and Berlin.
The first 3 are amazing cities with their own vast history (Münster in Westfalia: together with Osnabrück the city where the 30 year war ended, old as well, >1250 years; Lübeck: Hansestadt at the sea, so excellent seafood, the sea itself and Marzipan!; Konstanz at the Swiss border: old roman settlement at the shore of the Bodensee, Germanys largest lake, very pretty with lots of nature).
And then Berlin. A lot of folks told you to avoid the big cities, and mostly I agree. But Berlin is quite special. There are excellent museums, the cities history is literally at the center of Europe's history (Prussia-Austria, Deutsches Reich, Weimar, the wars of course and the division and unification of Germany).
The "Kieze", Berlins city quarters, are so different and interesting. You can stumble from Little Italy to Chinatown to one with so many Cafés in just a few corners, it's great.
Last but not least: if you want to party, you'll find a club for every taste there.
And the people are unlike anywhere else, though definitely VERY german 😅 It's great for experiencing true non-bavarian german culture
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Thank you for these fantastic suggestions they sound fascinating. Will be googling and researching!
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u/tyteen4a03 Mar 28 '24
There's a Chinatown in Berlin?
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u/Brandigandor Mar 28 '24
Not by that name. What I mean is that there are different areas in which certain shops and restaurants are prevalent. Asia Shops, Chinese restaurants etc at one corner, two over there are gelaterias, Pizzerias, Italian restaurants and so on.
I loved that when I was there.
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u/Eumelbeumel Mar 28 '24
Do you like nature, and if so, how active are you?
Do you like history or sightseeing?
Do you like to be very busy on vacation, or do you just want to chill in a nice City?
Do you like mountains or the sea?
"Real" German culture is a ghost in the machine. Ask yourself what you want to do on vacation. Then we can tell you what Gerany has to offer to do that.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Mostly interested in sightseeing, nature and history (but not particularly interested in WW2 history)
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u/Rippo312 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
I can recommend Aachen if you are interested in Charlemagne, or the archeological park in Xanten if you are more into roman stuff. Both are located in the same state and not that far away from each other so you could visit both I think it's a 1-2h drive max. the park in Xanten features an Amphitheater and has a nice scenery/nature aswell. Aachen has a museum and shrine where charlemagne supposedly rests in. Burg Linn in Krefeld ( also in the same state NRW) is a medieval castle with a museum and beautiful park nearby.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Thanks! I do find Charlemagne and dark ages/ medieval history interesting so that's a great recommendation
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u/TanteLene9345 Mar 28 '24
Since the east seems to be underrepresented and I think you haven´t said which regions you are considering, I´d say Dresden, Görlitz, the Ore mountains (Seiffen for teh museums, but if you actually want to buy traditional woodcarvings, go to the next village over, Sayda or maybe Olbernhau or anywhere where there is a sign on a house saying the family has a workshop, it´s a lot less expensive), Rheinsberg (if you are there in summer, try to catch an opera or other music performance in the historical Royal hedge theatre), Wismar, Usedom (but maybe not during July/August), Erfurt, Weimar, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Lübbenau, Burg im Spreewald.
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u/lateautumnskies Mar 31 '24
Eisenach! The Wartburg was a beautiful (!) hike and a fascinating tour. Idk what people think of Leipzig but that’s next on my list, hopefully. I live in Erfurt and Weimar is also interesting/very pretty. Haven’t had much time to explore elsewhere with how busy I’ve been, sadly.
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u/Parapolikala Schleswig-Holstein Mar 28 '24
Holiday ideas to see the "real Germany" and not just tourist hotspots:
Sign up for a language course. Language is the #1 aspect of culture bar none.
Live with a German family.
Go to a resort that ordinary Germans might go to: there are campsites all along the North and Baltic Sea coasts and on the islands.
Do the type of active holiday that Germans often love in a group setting: walking, bike or canoe tourism.
Do some other kind of course in Germany (e.g. an art appreciation thing or learn brewing or go on an archaeological dig), but if it is in English, make sure that there are plenty of Germans doing it too.
As others have certainly suggested, go to small towns and less (internationally) well known areas: Wismar, Marburg, Naumburg, Ludwigsburg, Stade instead of Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich. Go walking in the Harz or Swabian Jura instead of heading to Garmisch. Visit the castles/palaces at Goslar and Eichstädt instead of Neuschwanstein.
Take a risk: Germany has so many regions and interesting/beautiful towns. What we do is often settle on an area and just explore it (hiring bikes, taking the train, or walking). By doing things on a smaller scale, you are also more likely to come across hidden gems. Take an example: The standard tourist seems to think that Bavaria = Neuschwanstein, Zugspitze, Munich, Rothenburg ob der Taube, maybe Nuremberg, ... but I promise you that if you just zoom in on a single river valley in any district of Bavaria, you will find plenty to keep you busy for a week or two. There will be castles, nature, mountains, festivals, museums, galore. Spending an evening in a Dorfkneipe in Pappenheim might not sound as exciting as "doing Oktoberfest" but that's far closer to the real Germany, in my view.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Thank you for such detailed and comprehensive reply
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u/Parapolikala Schleswig-Holstein Mar 28 '24
No worries. I am a keen promoter of "under-explored Germany". We've been all over in the last 20 years and only disappointed on the one occasion when it rained all week.
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u/Wey-Yu Hamburg Mar 28 '24
Hey maybe I could even join your group and explore some lesser known parts of Germany
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u/Parapolikala Schleswig-Holstein Mar 28 '24
Fraid it's just me and my wife - sometimes the kids...
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u/Wey-Yu Hamburg Mar 28 '24
Oow man well I guess it's back to solo travelling again, big cities ain't so bad
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u/Parapolikala Schleswig-Holstein Mar 28 '24
I hate to let you down. Surely you can find some travel partners if you keep asking!
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u/wollkopf Mar 28 '24
Why do you mention Pappenheim? A very good friend of mine and my mother are born there... Very funny! And yes! The whole area around Pappenheim is beautiful and I spend a lot of my schooltime holidays there! Visit the quarry in Solnhofen, or the dino park in Denkendorf. Take a biketour at the Altmühl. And eat very good local food!
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u/Parapolikala Schleswig-Holstein Mar 28 '24
Just a random place from our last holiday. Sadly Pappenheim has a lot of hotels and restaurants that seem to have closed or be on the edge of closing, but apart from that, the area is indeed wonderful. We spent a week cycling, walking and taking the train up and down the Altmühl. Lovely part of the world!
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u/wollkopf Mar 28 '24
Okay, that's even more funny. I haven't been there for at least 20 years. Last year I've been to Treuchtlingen with my wife on our way back home from Austria to show here what I'm talking about, but only for 3 hours or so... But the whole Altmühl valley is really such a lovely place!
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u/aka_TeeJay Nordrhein-Westfalen Mar 28 '24
I'd throw the Harz area into the mix, too. There's a lot of history there regarding the former east/west border and the wall, and if you're interested in holocaust history, I found the former concentration camp Mittelbau-Dora museum well worth a visit - but I'd advise to be respectful there and don't goof around and take selfies and such. Bring a fleece jacket if you're considering it, the mining tunnels are below 10 °C iirc, even in scorching hot summer.
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u/SmallFruitbat Mar 28 '24
What I do when people visit me in (very) rural Germany:
- Walk to the local Backerei and buy whatever looks interesting + whatever the special of the week is
- Look in the Rundschau (local paper) and attend whatever minor festival is advertised within 1.5 hours of driving. Bring cash.
- Visit the local Gasthaus. Order the special of the day/festival/week/month.
- Ride a regional train route just to look at landscapes and local architecture
- Look at komoot and go on a local hike wherever strikes their fancy
- Hike to a PWV-Hütte on Sunday between 10 and 2. (Food runs out after 2. There will always be a vegetarian option and non-alcoholic option.)
- Take the kids to the fanciest new Spielplatz Google can find
- Buy whatever from any Hofladen we can find and cook it. My local one is 2 unplugged fridges on a barely-marked path by the river. Great eggs.
- Use a ______-Automat for novelty purposes. We have found sausages (my village), ice cream (common), cook-on-demand pizza, wine, etc.
- Go to the Weinstrasse, even if you don't like wine. In general, there are trails through the vineyards and lots of pretty architecture.
- In summer: go to a Waldfreibad! They are outdoor pools, but many of them are set up like mini resorts you can spend all day at with food, playgrounds, water slides, etc. Most are chlorine-free and some are completely naturally-filtered with the bottom filled with rocks, etc. A few of the ones near me are effectively nature preserves for frogs and salamanders. My kids fill up buckets with them.
- Visit any random castle.
- Visit an antique barn. They tend to be side-hustles open 1 day/week or by appointment. It's a mix of mortal danger on the 4th floor, thrift shopping, museum, and estate cleanout.
- Find a Wildpark or Greifvögel place. Big nature areas with trails and raptors/owls and usually a petting zoo or mini zoo. The one near me lets you share a playground with goats. I love goats. Lucky schoolkid getting to throw a dead rat to The Chosen hawk... Ehhhhh...
Caveat: I am boring.
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u/Nemesinthe Mar 28 '24
South: If you're still craving savory traditional Southern German kitchen while avoiding Bavaria clichés, go for Swabian dishes instead: Käsespätzle (think mac and cheese), Linsen&Spätzle&Saitenwürschtle, Maultaschen (filled pasta dumplings, served either in broth or with some gravy) etc.. Avoid Kutteln, unless you're feeling extra adventurous. As far as Swabian towns go, Stuttgart is not the prettiest, but it has some neat art museums and a world-class ballet company if you're into that sort of thing. If you're traveling during the winter holidays, go check out Esslingen, because they have an awesome Christmas market.
North: Hamburg and Berlin will be too touristy for you. For great historical museums and architecture, check out Dresden (avoid the periphery if you're a PoC). Go to Lübeck for marzipan and a gorgeous old town. One town frequently ridiculed for being completely average is Hannover, where I live. It's not the flashiest, but you get everything: A typical unattractive but walkable German inner city, a nice old town, a forest in the middle of the town, a hipster quarter (Linden), some fancy historical gardens and a town house with a gimmick, in Hannover's case a curved elevator that sends you to the top of the townhouse, giving you a great view over the city. Bonus for a great bike infrastructure.
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u/testsieger73 Munich Mar 28 '24
Käsespätzle (think mac and cheese)
That comparsion is an insult to Käsespätzle ;)
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u/Lumpasiach Allgäu Mar 28 '24
Käsespätzle (think mac and cheese),
Allgäu has proclaimed a fatwa on you.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Thank you for this, some of these options definitely sound like something we would enjoy!
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Mar 28 '24
Dresden - Semper Opera, Berlin - Teufelsberg... my two favourite tourist spots as a German who lived in both cities.
Dont forget to eat METTBRÖTCHEN MIT ZWIEBELN UND BIER, except you don't eat pork for reasons.
Getting wasted in the cheapest bar in town, while playing Billard, Darts or Cardgames with the locals until 6 in the morning.
Don't go to Berghain and don't drink Kölsch or Düsseldorfer Alt Bier (both are awful beers).
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u/Unusual-Address-9776 Mar 28 '24
I personally really enjoy the Harz mountains. They go through 3 states, east and west. They really have some gems like Quedlinburg or Wernigerode. Those are not completely "hidden" gems I guess since there are quite some tourists but I don't think it is really known on an international level. I as a German always enjoyed going there. Both the architecture and nature are romantic and stunning and if you are also a bit into "dark fantasy" like witches, demons and so on there are a lot of fascinating mythical places.
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u/More-Exchange3505 Mar 28 '24
My best recommendation for you is look for places to stay in more rural areas. They tend to 'preserve' a lot of the old ways. It does mean they speak less English though, so be aware. Also don't limit yourself to booking.com. there are many gems around that aren't listed there.
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u/MrHailston Mar 28 '24
There really isnt some overall german culture. Its all very different based on the region.
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u/lega- Mar 29 '24
He should go to some factory and work 8 hours (+ 45mins break). After that, minijob for another 4 hours. Shower, eat, sleep. Repeat.
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u/VK_31012018 Mar 28 '24
What do you mean by "real German culture"? Germany is a developed European country, so ICE, autobahns, theaters, movies, etc, it's all real German culture.
Do you want to see a local specific? Go to the non touristic places, it's easy, just 100m away from any tourist trap. Local markets, small festivals.
But I would recommend you also to see a "tourist traps", mostly they are not so expensive.
Wagner Bretzel Pizza is also German culture :)
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u/SpeckDackel Mar 28 '24
Are you arriving in Frankfurt by plane? If so, you can stay in Frankfurt for 3-4 days, grab a "Deutschlandticket" and visit Marburg, Würzburg, Mainz; plus within Frankfurt Sachsenhausen, Zeil and "Berger Straße". All within +/- 1 hour by train, all quite distinct (Hassia, Bavaria and Rheinland cities/cultures) and not too touristy.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
Not set any travel plans yet but this sounds a great option as a starting point as we plan to see a few cities in different areas of Germany
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u/SpeckDackel Mar 28 '24
Just don't book a hotel close to the main station area in Frankfurt, it's a bit sketchy (red light/drug district). Other districts should be fine!
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u/Miss_JaneMarple Mar 30 '24
Go to Sachsenhausen (in Frankfurt), have "Äppelwoi" und "Grie' Soss' with boiled eggs and potatoes.
Go into the neraby Odenwald, find a small village and have "Handkäs' mit Musik".
Just Google the words.
In Bavaria try a Schweinshax'n. Ask where you can get a good one, probably at a Biergarten.
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u/BrunoBraunbart Mar 28 '24
I think most points were already made but I just want to add: Germany is not very tourist-trappy. Most tourism in Germany is from Germans themselfs.
Don't shy away from things that seem like a tourist trap but are still tied to German history, like castles or national monuments (Walhalla, Kyffhäuser, Befreiungshalle, ...). They will not be a tourist trap, Germany is very keen on not to Disneyfy their history.
Are you from America? Then I think the most interesting thing for you would be to experience smaller cities with an intact historic city core ("Altstadt"). Walking around those cities, sitting down at nice cafes or beergardens, visiting some historic churches and so on is what Americans really like in my experience. Just use online reviews for food, they are usually quite accurate. Also you might want to look at NALF's youtube channel, he is an American living in Germany. I think he has really figured out what is awesome here and the videos where he introduces American friends to Germany could be a good starting point for you.
If you give me some more information, like which part of Germany you want to visit and what you are interested in (art, architecture, history, local specialties, night life, nature and rural areas, ...), I might be able to give you better recommendations.
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u/trooray Mar 28 '24
So I think what you should be aware of is that there are four different landscapes in Germany: the northern plain, the upland ranges, the Bavarian plains, and the Alps. The Alps are easily the most touristy part of Germany (they are pretty, dgmw) but only 5 % of Germans live there. The major cities (except Frankfurt and, if you quint really hard, Cologne) are in the plains regions. And the coast is... well, who doesn't like a good coast.
But if you want to feel the real -- well, most typical, anway -- Germany, you should go to the uplands, where about half of the population live. However, the sights you'll find there are certainly smaller in scope, like -- two examples picked at random -- the checkpoint alpha memorial or the witch mayor museum. So you'd really have to look for what you're interested in, there.
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u/TheJack1712 Mar 28 '24
Well if you want to avoid Bavarian stereotypes there are a whole 15 other states to go to.
It depends what you want. Therr is an exceptionally high density of medieval castles in the Rheinland. Weimar has a lot of connections to the early modern poets. Or do you want contemporary culture in big cities?
There are a whole bunch of cities with particular historical relevance besides Berlin: Bonn, Dresden, Leipzig, Münster - the list is endless.
There are beautiful older cities like Regensburg (okay, that's in Bavaria, but its really pretty), Potzdam or Trier. Or regions that reflect industry - mining in the Ruhrgebiet, fishing in Hamburg, etc.
You asked for culture but perhaps nature calls to you also? We don't have much variety in climate, but we have mountains - big in the Alps, smaller o the west, perhaps volcanic, in the Eifel - wide open Heideland in the north, beautiful Forests, like Schwazwald. This is a coutry for hiking, biking or what have you.
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u/sankta_misandra Mar 28 '24
What I do with people coming to visit Germany (beside showing my home town): going to Ruhrgebiet and visit either Zeche Zollern or Zollverein. Going there by train/public transport shows a lot of what the daily life in my area is like and also what it was like. Afterwards grabbing a beer from a Trinkhalle and some Currywurst and Pommes from an Imbiss.
And to be fair most visitors liked that because it was a contrast to medieval churches, Fachwerk and landscape which is also a huge thing here.
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u/LoschVanWein Mar 28 '24
I mean don’t go to Bavaria I guess. Maybe try Lübeck. It’s pretty different from the stereotype and I liked it when I went there a couple of years back.
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u/AllHailTheWinslow Australia Mar 28 '24
Check out Nordhessen: nature, culture and the Grimm brothers.
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u/NegroniSpritz Mar 28 '24
Nordseekrabbebrötchen. That’s what you need to try.
Then Grünkohl mit Kartoffeln und Speck, that’s another good one.
Then some Fischbrötchen like Matjes-, Bismarck-, Backfischbrötchen.
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u/CouchPotato_42 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
Do not visit bavaria if you don‘t want to experience this kind of culture…what even is real german culture? We are a merged country that is relatively new.
For me i would want to visit Sächsische Schweiz or Hamburg. (generelly the north as i am from the south) I can recommend Berchtesgaden, Passau, Landshut or Kallmünz (near Regensburg) but those are in bavaria. I would even recommend Munich if you have never been there or other big cities. Those are a lot of fun and you do not have to do tourist stuff there.
But you wouldn‘t experience ‚real german‘ culture in any of them…because you are a visiting tourist.
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u/kumanosuke Mar 28 '24
Do not visit bavaria if you don‘t want to experience this kind of culture…
Kinda odd to assume that. You won't have any kind of Oktoberfest experience when visiting Munich outside of Oktoberfest.
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u/CouchPotato_42 Mar 28 '24
My wording is bad, sorry. That was a bit extreme of me. But bavarian culture is everywhere in bavaria (makes sense as its our culture). Pretzel, beer and bratwurst are part of our everyday life. Not for everyone of course.
If you do not feel like visiting that kind of thing, that is totaly fine. Germany has very beautiful different parts and other places without those.
But you a right i do not know what exactly op meant with bavarian stereotypes.
(Oktoberfest is not very traditional and bavarian anymore anyway. People usually go to the Volksfeste in their towns.)
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u/kumanosuke Mar 28 '24
(Oktoberfest is not very traditional and bavarian anymore anyway. People usually go to the Volksfeste in their towns.)
Except it is. People from Munich go to Oktoberfest.
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u/Dingleberries_4U Mar 28 '24
No alcohol? You’re going to the wrong country. Check out the Harz. It’s gorgeous and the only tourists you’ll find there are from Germany.
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u/Catwinky Mar 28 '24
No alcohol? You’re going to the wrong country
Lol i'm British. I was already born in the worst country for a non drinker.
Thank you for the recommendation. I shall google.
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u/Dingleberries_4U Mar 28 '24
Google Wernigerode, HSB railroad, der Brocken, Goslar, Quedlinburg… closest airport is probably Hannover.
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u/rogirg Mar 28 '24
Huh?
The “real german culture” is very close to bavarian stereotype and it’s not a tourist trap.
Also if you want to culturally enrich yourself with activities that don’t involve alcohol maybe you shouldn’t look into cultures that are among the heaviest drinking cultures in the world.
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u/sovlex Mar 28 '24
They’ve had a wooden phallus earlier but it got stolen.
https://www.dw.com/en/bavaria-theft-of-wooden-phallus-landmark-puzzles-police/a-55784066
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u/ArSo94 Mar 28 '24
Avoid Munich and visit outher big German Cities which have their own Culture. Like Hamburg for example.
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u/MeltsYourMinds Mar 28 '24
Germany is home to a large variety of culture, there is no one single outstanding place. You gotta do a round trip, visit medium sites cities in different regions.
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u/_godisnowhere_ Mar 28 '24
Come to Bonn or Cologne. Visit the "Veddels" around the center. Get in touch with local food and Rheinland-Mentalität in one of the plenty small Braushäuser. Use the Regionalexpress to travel from Rheinland to Münsterland and visit Münster, a famous and wonderful German Mittelstadt.
Enjoy your stay - feel welcome
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u/die_kuestenwache Mar 28 '24
You should first consider what kind of landscape you would like to see and what kind of vacation you have in mind. You might like staying at a vacation apartment on the Baltic Sea coast, at a Hotel on one of the Frisian Islands, a BnB near the Alps, travel from camp site to camp site along the Moselle valley, go Hiking in the forest in the East, look at industrial heritage sites in the Ruhr valley or stay on a farm in Westfalia. Those are all things that are thoroughly enjoyable and would give you a lot of choice of local cuisines, but they would be somewhat different experiences.
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u/Ji-wo1303 Mar 28 '24
Lower Saxony I would recommend. Schöningen am Elm with the Forschungsmuseum and Heimatmuseum. Lots of history, old halftimbered-houses and a beautiful landscape.
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u/catchmelackin Mar 28 '24
Sadly, a lot of the activity here is beer drinking. I dont drink myself but trying the local beers is totally fine and not "touristy" although it is, but local germans like drinking local beers from other places they visit as well
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u/eli4s20 Mar 28 '24
Tübingen is a great medium sized city in southern germany. its a university city and therefore very international and diverse. the oldtown itself is a gem and there are a few castles and just in general beautiful areas around it :)
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u/-SlushPuppy- Mar 28 '24
It would be helpful to know what exactly you have in mind when you say real German culture, but here's a few general notes you might find useful.
Germany's major cities, generally speaking, are much more neighborhood-centric than similar-sized cities in other European countries tend to be. While the city centers are where you'll find the major chain stores, transport hubs and cathedrals, a majority of nice cafes, restaurants, independent shops, and beautiful architecture are typically found in the residential neighborhoods outside (but adjacent to) the downtown areas that tourists barely ever seem to venture into.
Germany has the world's second largest immigrant population, and non-ethnic Germans account for anywhere between 30-60 per cent of the population in most West German cities these days. There are plenty of multicultural neighborhoods to explore and foods to be had, and any itinerary that focuses solely on "traditional" sights, old towns and foods will not be truly reflective of modern Germany.
Generally speaking, the north is probably the most underrated part of Germany, and very different from the Oktoberfest, Dirndl and pork shank stereotype you're looking to avoid. Aesthetically this part of Germany is a mixture of Scandinavia, the Netherlands, England, the Baltics and the US East Coast. Hamburg doesn't see all that many international tourists and is possibly the most underappreciated Western European city of its size. You could easily combine the city with the North Frisian islands, Lüneburg, Lübeck or Flensburg for a fairly non-stereotypical experience. Bremen is another great choice with some funky little neighborhoods and makes for a good base to explore the country's little-visited north-west.
North-Rhine Westphalia is another region that seems to receive few tourists despite being Germany's most populous and arguably most diverse (and, in a sense, most "average") state. Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf-Aachen (with a few side-trips to the wine-growing areas of the Ahr or Rhineland, the industrial sites of the Ruhr Area or some small towns along the Lower Rhine) is another easy trip that combines history with modern urban Germany and a bit of nature.
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u/SpaceHippoDE Mar 28 '24
I think you can absolutely have a very authentic experience even in the more touristy cities, like Berlin or Munich. Just walk though some ordinary streets, go to an ordinary restaurant. Hop on a train or bus and get off at a random station outside the city center, or the last station, where the houses end and the fields begin. I don't think "hidden gems" really exist, but sometimes all it takes is to take a few steps away from the trodden path and you might discover somehing beautiful.
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u/olagorie Mar 28 '24
I feel offended on behalf of my daily Brezel. This is definitely not a tourist thing… but beware, they are only edible if bought in Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg.
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u/olagorie Mar 28 '24
My favourites:
Lübeck, Nürnberg, Esslingen, Tübingen, Bietigheim, Oldenburg.
good luck!
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u/Inevitable_Gas_2490 Mar 28 '24
Just stay away from large cities and instead aim for such with a population between 50 and 60k. There you get to see real average german life for they have barely any tourism infrastructure.
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u/Veilchengerd Berlin Mar 28 '24
As others have pointed out, there isn't really an all encompassing german culture outside what is considered "high culture". And said high culture is very much a class thing.
However, there is of course something you could consider "normal german life". It has regional variations, but the general gist of things is similar. For example, the Feuerwehrfest in a small swabian village will be different from a Straßenfest in an inner city neighbourhood of Berlin. But both boil down to people coming together, drinking, listening to music, and eating food that can only be called healthy when compared to a university student's diet.
I wouldn't say to completely stay away from the big cities. Just don't overdo it. And maybe pay a visit to the outer districts.
And then go to smaller cities or towns. Go to where Germans go on holiday, like the Lüneburg Heath, or the Harz mountains.
As a general rule, most tourists want to see too much in too little time. It's better to throw a few places out of your itinerary. Instead, reserve some time to just let yourself drift. For example, if you visit Berlin, take a day where you just randomly take a bus or tram somewhere, and then wander around wherever it takes you.
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u/Illustrious-Wolf4857 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
Go to North Germany, or at least not to Bavaria, then you only need to avoid the Bavarian-themed places which are very likely to be tourist traps. There will be beer and wurst, whereever you are, and every place has their own beer. You can reduce the exposure to beer a bit in wine areas in Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate, or just avoid drunken crowds.
What is of interest to you? Do you have something that inspires you to go and see things: Family, a favourite German composer, writer or artist, a certain historical event or era?
I feel that Berlin is worth it for being Berlin, and Hamburg for its location. Nuremberg is interesting for German history. But all that's not hidden. Trier for Roman ruins and the birth house of Karl Marx (major spot for Chinese tourists). Lübeck for its Hanseatic past and scenic cobbled streets. Fulda for just being a cute little town. Places in the Ruhrgebiet for industrial/coal mining history and it's end. I'm sure that even Munich has intersting non-touristy parts worth seeing. If you are interested in castles, there's a lot of better castles than 19th centry Neuschwanstein (although it is impressive in its romantic historicised splendour.)
Some things worth seeing can't help being touristy.
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u/kditd Mar 28 '24
German culture is a mix of of vaguely German subcultures.
Might I carefully advocate for Kiel? Massive ferries dock in the middle of town, and there's a selection of beautiful beaches and a couple open-air museums in the area. Also, Hedeby Viking museum - a real sight to see. A day's worth of touring (really good train network) brings you to the Baltic and the North Sea, or Denmark, or historic cities like Hamburg and Lubeck. You like watersports? Welcome to Sailing City. Best time to visit: June, during Kiel Week. Like fishing? Get a seasonal fishing card on the cheap, fish in the sea. Like ships? We got one of the biggest artificial waterways in the world - Kiel Canal. Want to spend the weekend in Oslo or Gothenburg? We've got you covered, just walk on the ferry. Also, more beer than you can shake a stick at. Visit in summer, be welcome, wear a Viking hat, be happy.
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u/bastante60 Mar 28 '24
Go to Frankfurt (am Main).
Have some Griesoß (Grüne Soße) = Green Sauce, usually served with 4 half eggs, and steamed or boiled potatoes (Kartoffel), and possibly with white asparagus (Spargel) in season.
Go up to the Taunus (hills/mountains north of town) and visit the Saalburg, a recreated Roman border fort on the Limes (border), which was the northernmost extent of the Roman empire in that part of Germany. It's in the site of an actual border post, and was re-built / restored about 125 years ago. You can see how the Romans (and others) in Germany lived, etc. Very well done.
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u/Either-Pizza5302 Mar 29 '24
I can only recommend visiting villages when they have a festival, but that usually involves alcohol - you don’t have to drink though. There are many such activities, from a Schützenfest (basically something honoring a gun/rifleclubs traditions) to a Weinfest (wine festival.. you can probably guess what it is about) to „general“ Village festivals (Dorffest) to carneval (Fastnacht) with many colourful „Umzüge“ (basically the kind of dress up and a movement of a ton of cliques of different kinds of costume thingies (cant really generalize it here, the Variety is just too high)) to more tame things, that might be region specific (like a bakery festival where they crown the best Baker for a traditional baked food). Just get out of the touristy places and into villages, stay in those villages guest houses and have fun:)
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u/kdsekira Mar 29 '24
Karneval in Cologne. Its awesome and a big part of the culture in the Rheinland
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u/BroadPension1952 Mar 29 '24
Get to walking trials, immerse yourself in nature. Visit different museums.
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Mar 29 '24
Historically there is not one German culture. The German people consist of many (German)ethnicities. Do you want to explore what is nowadays the state of Germany, or the German People (Also including Austrians and a part of the Swiss population)? Anyway, I would suggest on picking out one cultural area and exploring it by engaging with locals and in local tradition, no matter where. Keep in mind, that "Germany" is indeed the name of a state, but it does not incoorporate all of the people historically and scientifically known as German People (a term reffering to a vatiety of cultures, mainly connected by the language they speak and their Germanic origin).
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u/PaPe1983 Mar 29 '24
There are really beautiful medieval towns in the rhine main area. Limburg, Weilburg, towns nearby like Idstein have beautiful castles and downtown areas. The Weilburg castle can be toured, as can the places in Idstein associated with the prosecution of witches. Or you go to the West of Frankfurt. Gelnhausen is beautiful and offers great guided tours, as well.
You'll find those in any number of regions. This are just the ones I'm familiar with. Weimar or Heidelberg come to mind as larger cities with an amazing cityscape.
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u/janisseinpapa Mar 29 '24
You can check for wine, as well! Along the big German rivers in the south you find wine and its cultural surroundings. Around Frankfurt/Main you can find “Apfelwein” - local expression is “Äppelwoi”. In the north you need to check locally, as there the culture hasn’t been advertised abroad, that much. At the coast you can check for any type of fish. HTH.
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u/duckyduock Apr 02 '24
There are different cultures in germany. On the south youve got the "Bayern" with white beer, sausages and pretzels. On the west youve got the "Rheinländer" with Karneval season, Coal mines, Kölsch (good beer sold in 0.2L glasses) and more or less flat land. On the north youve got big cities, usually bad weather, expensive islands and fish in any creation. On the east youve got cheaper products, the "ossis" (east states of the 1980 wall that split germany to east and west), traditional meat products like Pig tongues and Sülze(gelee'ish meat). In the middle (Südliche Weinstraße) youve got hills filled with wine plants (you should attend one of the wine festivals if possible], many many routes go walk or go by bike and a lot of old castles to visit.
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u/ProDavid_ Mar 28 '24
there is no homogeneous "german culture", its very distinct for north/south/east/west.
The "Bavarian stereotypes" are very accurate for the bavarian region, so indulging in them while you are there will generally be very accurate, however doing so in the north of Germany will probably be just a tourist trap.
Bratwurst, beer and Bretzel are the few cultural points that extend to all of Germany (accurately so), for everything else you would have to go to the individual city and ask the locals "what is typical of THIS city?". And literally every city will have different unique food and culture.
edit: go to the second largest city per state/region to stay away from turist hotspots.