ALLTOURS

Are There Other German Customs Americans Might Find Surprising?

1. The Silence of Sunday in Furtwangen

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg

In Germany, even mowing your lawn or washing your car on a Sunday can invite a police visit or an angry neighbor's complaint.

2. Beelitz's Obsessive White Asparagus Season

Beelitz, Brandenburg

For a few intense weeks each spring, Germany becomes a nation utterly obsessed with "white gold," elevating asparagus to a near-sacred culinary event.

3. The Unyielding Bottle Deposit in Freiburg

Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg

Throwing away an empty plastic bottle or glass beer bottle in Germany isn't just wasteful; it's literally throwing away money and an act of social defiance.

4. Stuttgart's Strict Pedestrian Etiquette

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg

Crossing the street against a red pedestrian light in Germany, even when no cars are in sight, can draw a public scolding or even a fine.

5. Hamburg's Reserved Approach to Small Talk

Hamburg, Hamburg

Unlike the American tendency to strike up casual conversations, unsolicited small talk with strangers in Germany, especially about personal topics, is often seen as intrusive.

6. Eberswalde's Unseen Bread Culture

Eberswalde, Brandenburg

Far more than just a side dish, German bread is a cultural institution with hundreds of varieties, often forming the centerpiece of meals, even dinner.

7. The Sacred Silence of the "Ruhewagen"

On an ICE train journey across Germany

On German intercity trains, entering a "Ruhewagen" (quiet carriage) means committing to absolute silence, where even hushed conversations are frowned upon.

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