I'm going to Germany in the summer with my boyfriend and his family..any reccomendations?

Question

Im SO excited!! It's my first time out of the country. How should I act, what places should I see?

Answer 1

I'm sorry, but I need to step in here and say that I STRONGLY disagree with the lady that said: "Don't be offended, but Germans don't like Americans" and "Germans are rude".  In my experience: as long as you don't go over there with this attitude "I'm from America - the best Dam country on earth" they won't hate you.  I'm American - and I can't stand the Americans that go to Europe with that attitude.  As long as you aren't one of them, no one is going to hate you.

What the Germans (and now most Americans) hate is George W. Bush and his policies and the way he handled this whole war in Iraq.  Germans are very sophisticated and know a great deal about world news, current events and politics and love to have great discussions.  If you are not up-to-date on what is going on in world events, it's best not to get into these discussions because you'll end up feeling very silly when they bring up something you aren't aware of.

Also, the news here in the USA is very edited, so, even when you hear about how we screwed up on the evening news: They aren't giving us all the facts, just the basic "on a need to know basis" only.  The rest of the world is getting ALL the facts - so they know more about the situation than we do - even with things that happen IN the USA.  Keep that in mind before you start defending our policies, that they are armed with more information than we are.  

Like I said, Germans love to get into great discussions (I mean great as in "enjoyable and informative" not "really long".)  So, it's a terrific opportunity to learn about the world from a different perspective.  People here in the USA, tend to be really shallow so it's almost impossible to find really deep conversations here like you can in Europe.  Just make sure you start getting your news from other sources besides Americans ones.  I suggest: BBC, France2 and DeutschWelle.  

Try to learn a lot more about news that is happening around the world as well as Europe.  Learn the names of Prime Ministers and what parties they come from and if they are liberal, conservative or in between.  How has their leadership affected the lives of people living in those countries?  Don't focus so much on only what is happening in our country.  Then you can enjoy some terrific conversations that you won't get back at home in the States where everone is so uptight and politically correct, they refuse to discuss certain things.  That's one of many things I really miss about Europe and the people that live there.

One of the other things I miss about them is their very generous hospitality.   GERMANS are NOT RUDE!  Not unless you are rude to them first.  (That's why I got so angry when I saw that girl's response up above.) They are direct and do not sugar coat the truth, but that is not being "rude".  For example, if you tried on a pair of pants and said: "Does this make my butt look fat?" another American would lie to you and say: "of course not, your so thin, you have nothing to worry about.  Everything looks great on you.  If you like those pants you should get them."  A German would probably say: "Maybe those aren't the best style for you.  Let's try something different.".  See?  Not rude.  Maybe not what you want to hear.  However, its better than having someone not want to hurt your feelings and let you walk around looking ridiculous in pants that don't fit you correctly.  Just don't be over-sensitive.

As for what to see - there are a lot of great suggestions here - so I won't repeat them.  Even the girl who said "Germans are rude" had a few good ideas on places to visit.  I just saw those comments and had to say something in defense of the German people.

Answer 2

The beer festival at Hamburg if I'm not mistaken

Answer 3

Germans are not rude and they do not hate Americans.  I am American and have lived in Germany since 1989 and have never had any problems here.

To the OP, it really depends on where you are going in Germany.  There are so many things to do and see here but if you are going to be in Berlin then it wouldn't make much sense to recommend Schloss Neuschwanstein or The Eagles Nest in Berchtesgarten.

Answer 4

Well, don't be offended - they don't like Americans over there. What places? Castle Neuschwanstein - but it really depends where you are going, because it's not really close by each other (sights in Germany).

Go to Berlin, they have a little bit of everything to see and to buy.

If you are 16 you can drink beer, so have a Bananenweizen or Colaweizen. Or just a plain "Pils" but I personnally don't like that too much (regular beer).

Try all kinds of different meals - we know how to cook in Germany!

And go to a lake or a puplic swimming pool (called Schwimmbad) that's where most teenagers go in the summertime and it's not like in the States, it's normally big and is more like a little water park.

Germans are rude from nature - so don't get mad, they might bump into you or step on your toes or push you aside. That's normal.

I recommend Munich, Hamburg and Berlin (totally far apart, but the nicest) and lots to see.

Definetely go to an Italian Icecream Parlor and have some "Stracciatella" Ice Cream!!! But any Ice cream is great - so much better then in the States.

New comment:

I don't mean to offend anybody but I'm just being honest - one of the "qualities" Germans have.

Speaking as a GERMAN (and YES Ich bin Deutsche und es braucht mir keiner was andres erzaehlen!!! Ich werds ja wohl besser wissen!): They didn't like Americans BEFORE the war in Iraq, Missy! (And I never said we HATE Americans, I just said dislike, HATE is a strong word)  It's a little bit of everything: American soldiers impregnating German girls, all the military bases that there are still (how would YOU like to have army posts of a different country in YOUR cities??), well, also the fact that the States kicked Germany's behind in WW2. Another reason is, that Americans are considered (and this is NOT my personal     opinion)  wasteful; especially with gas (your cars need more than the same car in Germany for whatever reason), there is barely any carpooling (if you look on the freeway there is mostly only ONE person driving, at least in Houston), and another reason is, that Bushy doesn't want to sign the Kyoto protocol...

Then there is the recycling issue (in Germany we recycle everything, in the States I have to throw my batteries into regular trash cuz... they make it very difficult to recycle) and that Americans just keep going into other countries to make "peace". And then there is the fact that Americans have this attitude like "Deutschland Deutschland ueber alles" about their country and every German will understand what I mean by that.

Okay, so I just wanted to set this straight.

Germany is a beautiful country, she will have fun there, but lets just get the facts right YOU PEOPLE.

Answer 5

Many people have said their opinions, and echoing their sentiments - it depends on what time of year and where you are going.

A good mix of large towns, with smaller towns is also a good idea. You can't go to Munich and get a good "accurate" picture of traditional Germany, whereas some small towns offer a great pictureesque German environment (but you must watch out for the language constraints).

Why does it depend on what time of year? If you are coming late summer, I can surely recommend some tremendous wine festivals in the Rhineland Pfalz region (where we live) that are very serene, whereas coming Christmastime, you have some tremendous Weinachtsmarkts scattered throughout Germany.

Train travel is very easy (and I would highly recommend it), so really there should be no bounds to seeing and doing Germany except your own phsical constraints.

Enjoy!

Answer 6

Tell them you'd like to see the death camps from WWII.

Answer 7

Germany is beautiful....

Frankfurt: do the river cruise and visit heidelberg

Munich: you have the bmw museum and the allianz arena...do buy a beer jar as a souvenier

Berlin: Brandenberg gate, reminissants of the Berlin wall

Cologne: Cologne cathedral is a must see

If ur going during december, do go to nuremberg for the xmas market...there is plenty more..try driving on the romantic route as well its fabulous...hope you enjoy your trip:)

Answer 8

"B.'s" comments are stupid and dumb - she surely is not a German at all.   And Germans doesn't hate the Americans, but the Germans strongly dislike Bush and the current US government and Germans doesn't support the war in Iraq at all - that's a major difference.  

About your upcoming trip:  I don't know where you'll go - but, I advice you to see Hamburg, Berlin, Köln (Cologne) and also some other towns in this country.  The Cologne Cathedral is a must for foreign visitors!  

Usually, southern Germany is much more expensive than Northern Germany, but it's up to you where you will stay and make your tours.

Also read some good tourism website for Germany, like http://www.germany-tourism.de or the websites of these German towns you want to visit, like http://www.hamburg.de oder http://www.berlin.de

Also be aware that summer can be very hot & humid in Germany (up to 95-100° F).  

If you need more travel advices, you can email me (click at my profile here).

I hope you'll enjoy your trip to Germany!

Answer 9

Well, first of all...have fun...just act yourself!

If you are in the Frankfurt area, visit towns like Aschaffenburg, Gelnhausen, Ronneburg, and there is  this special little castle called: Schloss Mespelbrunn.

Have fun!