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LIVING IN GERMANY

8 things you need to know if you are staying in Germany this summer

Germany is a great place to be in the months of July and August, but daily life can be impacted. From restricted services to empty cities and ticks, we look at what you should know about the summer months.

People enjoy summer sun at the Starnberger See in Percha, Bavaria.
People enjoy summer sun at the Starnberger See in Percha, Bavaria. Photo: Peter Kneffel

Although Germany is not a traditional summer holiday destination, it’s still popular thanks to the good weather, beautiful nature and culture-filled cities. 

So what can you expect if you’re staying in the country this summer?

Cities can empty out

Many Germans choose to go on holiday during the months of July and August when schools are off to destinations such as Austria, Italy and Spain. 

But lots of people choose to take a break in Germany itself and head to stunning spots such as Könnigsee in Bavaria or the Baltic or North Sea coast.

As people flock abroad or to these nature spots, busy cities can end up having a rather tranquil feel to them. This can be the best time to make the most of city parks and get some good ice cream without the queues you usually have to deal with. 

But tourist spots will be busy 

The tourism industry has ramped up again after the Covid pandemic. This is good news for local economies but it can be slightly annoying if you were hoping for a quiet day out. There’s no getting around this but you can try and plan timings carefully. When going to a very touristy area, arrive earlier or later to beat the crowds. 

If you’re driving, you’ll find traffic can be heavy on the roads in summer particularly on the weekends after schools break up. In Germany, federal states have their own differing timetables for when schools take their break. Check them out in our story here:

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in July 2023

Brandenburg Gate in berlin

Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jonathan Penschek

Services can stop 

Day-to-day services can be impacted because of people taking their holidays in the summer months.

For instance, your doctor or dentist might be away for a few weeks or even a whole month (August is a very popular time for Germans to do that). If you have a chronic condition that requires regular health visits, it’s worth asking your health practice if it will be closed at all so you can get a back-up plan in place. Some doctors will have another professional cover for them, while others might direct you to a hospital in an emergency. 

Similarly, if you have a repeat prescription, get stocked up to make sure you’re not caught out during the summer months.

In general, public service slows down in Germany during the summer months. That means it could be even harder to set up things like visa appointments, registering your address or getting in touch with the tax office. If you need anything done quickly, get plans in place as soon as possible. 

Shops and stores can close at short notice

Independent shops, bars, cafes and other establishments often close their doors to give staff some time off, while some operate with reduced hours during summer. This is something that you usually stumble upon at short notice. For instance, you could find a local shop is closed suddenly with a sign on the door that says “Sommerurlaub bis August 18th” (summer holiday until August 18th).

Similarly, if it gets too hot, some venues declare a “Hitzefrei” (literally – “heat free”) day, meaning they think it’s too hot to work. Your only option is: come back another day! 

Lakes and beer gardens are packed

Germans love to enjoy the summer weather with a swim or beer (or both!). On a sunny weekend afternoon you’ll find it difficult to get a spot at the lakeside unless you get there early. Beer gardens are also packed out with revellers making the most of light-filled days. 

The winter is a long one in Germany so we thoroughly advise you make like the Germans and spend lots of time outdoors during the summer. 

READ ALSO: ‘Go early and stay late’: Your tips for making the most of Germany’s lakes

People will be naked

If you do go to a lake then be prepared to see some nudity. Stripping off is nothing unusual in Germany. 

This is the country of FKK – Freikörperkultur – a movement that translates to free body culture.

FKK comes to life in summer when you’ll find designated spots at beaches around lakes or the sea, and even parks, such as the Englischer Garten in Munich and Tiergarten in Berlin. 

The general etiquette is simple: don’t stare and don’t take photos or videos. If there’s an FKK sign then be aware that you may be required to take your clothes off. If that’s not for you, head to the part of the beach where people are wearing their swimsuits and speedos.

A sign for an FKK beach in Saxony-Anhalt.

A sign for an FKK beach in Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Matthias Bein

Watch out for ticks

When you’re out and about in Germany over summer, you should be aware that you’ll come face-to-face with bugs, such as mosquitoes and wasps. 

But a more serious one to watch out for is ticks as they can carry dangerous diseases. For summer 2023, the whole of Germany has been classified as a risk area for tick-born encephalitis (TBE) by the Robert Koch Institute.

Some of the worst areas are known to be the northern slopes of the Erzgebirge, the Bavarian Forest, and the Alpine foothills. But ticks can appear anywhere. They generally live in long grass, bushes and wooded areas.

There is a vaccination against TBE, which is worth considering for those planning an outdoor holiday in Germany. Ask your doctor for more information.

A non-dangerous but very annoying part of living in Germany in summer is the fruit flies. These little flies can infest your kitchen if you’re not careful. Keep on top of cleaning, don’t leave food out and take out your bins often to keep these guys from taking over. 

READ ALSO:

Public transport can be less reliable 

Summer is a time when authorities plan construction and maintenance work. For instance, rail operator Deutsche Bahn is carrying out a major programme in North Rhine-Westphalia this summer to upgrade rail tracks. 

Keep an eye out for Ersatzverkehr (replacement) transport if a train service is out and factor that into your day – it usually means that the journey takes a lot longer than usual. 

READ ALSO: The train routes in North Rhine-Westphalia that will be closed this summer

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For members

INSIDE GERMANY

Inside Germany: Becoming German, European election vote and the Scottish ‘Mannschaft’

From what we can expect from voters at the European elections to what citizenship means to foreign residents and the Scottish take on the German word 'Mannschaft', here are a few things we're talking about this week.

Inside Germany: Becoming German, European election vote and the Scottish 'Mannschaft'

Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

What can we expect as Germany goes to the polls for Europe?

On Sunday, EU citizens living in Germany will cast their vote to elect a new European parliament. 

A lot has changed since the last elections were held back in 2019 – the UK has since left the EU (meaning no Brits in Europe can vote unless they have an EU citizenship), we’ve experienced a worldwide pandemic and war has broken out in Europe. 

The big story of 2019 from Germany was the Green surge. 

Although the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) received the largest share of votes (28.7 percent), the Greens won more than 20 percent of the vote in Germany, increasing by about 10 percent from 2014.

Support for the conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) dropped considerably. 

So what can we expect from voters in Germany this time? 

According to recent polls, the conservatives are likely to secure a victory on the German side of things. The CDU and CSU will scoop up around 30 percent of the vote, according to surveys.

poster urging people to vote

A giant poster announcing the upcoming European elections, on the facade of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, eastern France. Photo: FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left SPD, on the other hand, is only polling between 14 and 16 percent. 

The poll figures for the Greens have fluctuated. The INSA institute reported in April that the Greens could receive 11.5 percent of the vote. But recent polls show the party receiving between 13 and 15 percent – a significant drop from 2019. 

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has also lost support. While pollsters INSA predicted the party would take 22 percent of the vote back in February, recent polls put them on 14 to 17 percent.

Meanwhile, the Free Democrats (FDP), currently in government with the SPD and Greens, have been hovering between just three and five percent in polls since the beginning of the year.

Aside from these well-known parties, there are also a number of smaller ones.

If you’re eligible to vote, who will you be choosing? Good luck at the ballot box and make sure to check The Local’s coverage as the results come in. 

READ ALSO:

Germany in Focus podcast

After devastating floods in Germany that have claimed lives and cause huge destruction, we talk about how communities are coping and the areas most at risk of flooding on this week’s podcast. We also get into predictions for the European parliamentary elections and answer a reader question on how much you need to earn to qualify for German citizenship, 

With the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament coming up on June 14th, we share some interesting facts about the stadiums involved and talk about the importance of football culture in Germany with guest Kit Holden. 

What does German citizenship mean to foreign residents in Germany?

With the new citizenship law coming into force later this month, we asked The Local readers to share their feelings about citizenship and the process in a questionnaire. More than 100 people filled out our survey in just a few days and were delighted to hear about the different experiences. 

In the first of our articles, we looked at what securing a German passport means to residents. 

Of 121 readers who took our survey, 81 percent intend to apply for citizenship, while 12 percent are still unsure. 

About six percent said they will not apply, and a few respondents had already naturalised. 

A German citizenship certificate and passport.

A German citizenship certificate and passport. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez

For many people, a huge benefit of citizenship is about gaining freedom of movement. 

“Free movement with the world’s strongest passport is the main goal here,” Khandakar Rahman from Bangladesh, told us. 

Others mentioned that they would feel more integrated – and have course receive full rights to voting. 

Kristian from Norway said the would “finally be an EU citizen, to be able to vote, and also to actually be German”.

READ MORE: What would German citizenship mean to foreign residents?

The Scottish ‘Mannschaft’ set to take on Germany 

As Germany is about to take on Scotland in the opener for UEFA Euro 2024, ad executives for the Scottish soft drink Irn Bru have outdone themselves. 

They’ve launched an advert playing around with the nickname for Germany’s national football – ‘Die Mannschaft’ 

READ MORE: German word of the day – Mannschaft 

I was keen to know what Germans felt about this advert featuring a guy in a kilt talking about how Scotland’s ‘Mannschaft’ may even reach the semis. 

While many Germans thought it was funny, a few pointed out that the advert technically doesn’t use the word correctly. 

One thing for sure is that the Scottish love it. 

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