Germany Culture & Customs

Culture & Customs

With around 83 million people, Germany is the most populated country in Europe after Russia. More than seven million foreigners now live in Germany, most in the west; by far the biggest minority is the Turkish population (Berlin is reputedly the biggest Turkish community outside Istanbul), followed by immigrants from Eastern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet states.

Racial problems are relatively rare in Germany, but the international climate on terrorism in general has increased tension between local and Muslim communities, often hindering the integration process.

In general, Germans are open, personable and interested in enjoying life; a far cry from their common strict, regimented and serious reputation. In public, Germany has quite a formal culture, and manners remain important. A little politeness goes a long way with officialdom in particular and you should always introduce yourself by name when making a phone call.

A service charge of 15% is included in the menu price in restaurants, bars, etc all over Germany. It is typical to ‘round up’ the amount to a more even figure. A good rule-of-thumb is to add 3-5%, generally ending with a full Euro amount. Bartering is not a common practice, however may occur in the sale of larger items.

Predominant religions include Protestant (45%), Roman Catholic (37%), unaffiliated or other (18%).

When dining out in Germany, it not customary to be served ice water upon arrival in a restaurant. If you order water, you will be expected to pay for it as any other beverage. It is not common to request tap water and may be considered cheap, if not rude. Non-smoking sections are quite new to German restaurants and are definitely not the norm.