Skip to main content
+
International sign language Go to search Open language menu Open meta menu
Close the language menu
Close meta menu

Day-to-day life in Germany

Topics on this page

Food and drink in Germany

Kultur zum Essen: Deutschland ist bekannt für die Vielfalt seiner Brote.
German bread - world famous and diverse
There are more than 3,000 different types of bread in Germany. Learn some fascinating facts and figures about German bread culture.
For many people, the Christmas goose is an absolute must.
Eating Christmas: Three Traditional German Dishes for December
Christmas season in Germany conjures many things: winding Weihnachtsmärkte, seasonally draining wallets, the good cop/bad cop judicial balance of St. Nick and terrifying (at least in Bavaria) counterpart Krampus. One thing a German Christmas should always conjure: food, and plenty of it.
So schneidet man den Baumkuchen laut Konditoreien nicht an.
German cake is an international hit
What actually is Baumkuchen? Why does it enjoy such popularity internationally? Where does its name come from? Find out all about the cult cake here.
Dinner plate with the flag of Germany on it.
A culinary journey
What do people from Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia or Rhineland-Palatinate eat? Typical dishes that were created under the influence of neighbouring countries.
Sind die Deutschen wirklich so verrückt nach Kaffee? Ja!
Soft spot for tradition
Coffee and cake are an integral part of everyday life in Germany? Read here how much truth there is in this cliché – and how it came about.
Die deutsche Küche bietet für jeden Geschmack etwas.
A culinary tour of Germany
From Weisswurst sausage to gherkins from the Spreewald: let us take you on a tour of German cuisine highlights.

Sustainability

In Deutschland sind Mülltrennung und Recycling sehr wichtig.
How does waste separation work in Germany?
The land of colourful bins: Germans sort their waste carefully – and turn it into new products. A short guide. 
Ankathrin Förster mit der Wurmkiste
Worm box and sustainable bank account
Meals, clothing, travel: Ankathrin Förster and her family live sustainably wherever possible.
Verpackungsmüll belastet die Umwelt.
Clever ideas for less waste
Coffee to go and takeaway pizza generate a huge amount of waste. Deposit schemes for packaging show that there’s a more ecofriendly way.
Regionale Lebensmittel landen in der Erntekiste
Off to the fields
Die Kooperative in Frankfurt supplies city dwellers with organic vegetables – and motivates them to go out into the fields themselves.
Auf Helgoland können Besucher Babyrobben beobachten.
Travelling for nature lovers
Seals, stars and a special overnight experience: we present three examples of how sustainable holidays in Germany can be unforgettable.
Dieses Haus besteht unter anderem aus Stroh.
Eco-conscious construction with clay and straw
A house made of straw? Absolutely! The people of Sieben Linden build using natural materials – and in a way that’s especially sustainable.
Do you know about sustainability?
Who agreed the 17 sustainability goals?
What is one of the three pillars of sustainability?
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Which sector produces the most greenhouse gases in Germany?
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
How much electricity was generated from renewable energy sources in Germany in 2024?
What is “Earth Hour”?
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
You really are a sustainability expert!
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more
Oops, take another look:
Geben die Linie vor: die 17 Ziele der Agenda 2030

The global community has set itself ambitious goals for sustainable development. Together with its partners, Germany is contributing to change.

Find out more

Travel and accommodation in Germany

Video Play video

Dieses YouTube-Video kann in einem neuen Tab abgespielt werden

YouTube öffnen

Third party content

We use YouTube to embed content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to see this content.

Open consent form

Piwik is not available or is blocked. Please check your adblocker settings.

ICE
Getting around in Germany
From visa to voltage: Useful information and important telephone numbers for travellers in Germany
JDH
Youth hostels in Germany
The youth hostel is an idea “made in Germany”. Germany’s youth hostels offer guests stays in special places.
Die DJH freut sich auf die Weltkonferenz der Jugendherbergen 2024. Travel
Youth hostels
Youth hostels – a meeting place to relax and engage in dialogue
A German educator had the vision of a youth hostel more than a hundred years ago. Today there are more than 400 such facilities in Germany.
Khaled Elbarbary vor idyllischer Schwarzwaldkulisse Travel
Weekend trips
Castles and cars: expats offer travel tips
People who are new to Germany are curious to find out more about the country. We asked three expats about their favourite places and travel recommendations.
49 € Ticket Deutschland-Ticket
One ticket for the whole country.
The Deutschland-Ticket: one single ticket is valid for local and regional travel by bus and on the rails across the whole of Germany for €49 a month.
Jugendherberge Beckerwitz - Hostels
Accommodation in Germany
There are many ways to bed down for the night. What would you care for: a five star hotel, a family pension, a farm or a youth hostel?

Music and new friends

treffen Living in Germany
Friendship
How and where can I get to know people?
New to a German city? We'll show you the quickest way to make contacts and where you can meet people.
Auf Partys laufen Songs, die über Social Media zum Hit werden. Youth culture
Techno, rap, pop
This is the music German teenagers listen to
Music is a vital element in the lives of lots of young people. Here you can find out which music genres are particularly popular among young people in Germany.
Hörtraum: Gitarrenklänge, dazu das Rauschen von Wind und Wasser.
Delightful sounds
What Germans like and don’t like to listen to – a foray into some of the tops and flops of the worlds of sound

Family, children and housing in Germany

So wohnen Deutsche: Das deutsche Durchschnittswohnzimmer. Housing Living Discovering German living rooms
Selbstbewusst: Kinder wissen, was sie wollen What makes children tick?
Quiz
What do you know about young people in Germany?
Jugendliche
How many people aged between 15 and 24 are there living in Germany?
Jugendliche
Which values are most important to young people?
Jugendliche
What do young people in Germany see as the major issue?
Jugendliche
What percentage of young people believes that Germany offers them every opportunity to achieve their life goals?
Jugendliche
Which social platform is the most popular with Generation Z?
Jugendliche
In Germany, over ten million children and young people are members of a sports club. Which is the most popular sport?
Kinder legen Hände übereinander zum Schwur
Young people in Germany
There are almost three million university students in Germany.

Facts and figures: How many young people live at home? How many are doing an apprenticeship? Answers to the six most important questions about young people.

Find out more

Children in Germany – quick facts

10.5 million children currently live in Germany.
6 is the usual age at which kids start school.
18 is the age of legal majority.
72 percent of children live with both parents in the same household.
24 percent have no siblings.
40 percent of children under five come from a migrant background.

Life in the city and in the country

Alleen sind ein Markenzeichen Brandenburgs. Where the countryside lives and breathes
Landleben Yen for country life

Quick facts

77 percent of Germans live in cities or urban areas.
15 percent of Germans live in villages with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
79 large cities are to be found in Germany. These are cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
4 very large cities with over a million inhabitants are to be found in Germany: Berlin (3.5 m), Hamburg (1.7 m), Munich (1.4 m) and Cologne (1.05 m)
9 people live in Germany’s smallest independent municipality, Hallig Gröde.
44 percent of Germans would prefer to live in the countryside.

How to – tips for day-to-day life

Waleo teilt ihre Erafhrungen als Expat in Deutschland.
Five things I would have liked to know as an expat
Waleo is an expat from Nigeria – she shares her experiences and gives important tips to anyone wishing to move to Germany.
Dos and Don'ts in Deutschland: Zu spät kommen? Geht gar nicht.
Just don’t!
Typically German? These nine things really don’t go down very well in Germany. A tongue-in-cheek warning.
Die meisten Menschen in Deutschland leben zur Miete.
Finding a flat in Germany
Here we show you how to find a new home in Germany and what you should bear in mind when looking for accommodation.
Ärztliche Leistungen bezahlen in Deutschland die Krankenkassen.
Who pays in the event of sickness?
In Germany, health insurance companies pay the costs of healthcare - you will find answers to your questions here.
Feyza Bayraktar in der türkischen Metzgerei Tuna
Daily life for a Muslim in Germany
Muslims are the second-largest religious group in Germany. Feyza Bayraktar and Erdin Kadunić talk about how they practise their faith.
Tourist looking at Berlin city map
Seven things you must do while in Germany
Experience, try and enjoy: things you really shouldn’t miss out on doing when you come to Germany.

Facts and figures about day-to-day life in Germany

Fast drei Millionen Menschen in Deutschland studieren. Youth culture
Facts and figures
Young people in Germany
Facts and figures: How many young people live at home? How many are doing an apprenticeship? Answers to the six most important questions about young people.
Blindenleitsysteme ermöglichen eine selbständige Mobilität. Inclusion:
Participation
Inclusion in facts and figures
How many people with a disability live in Germany? How are they supported? Facts and figures about inclusion and participation.
Freiwilliges Engagement gibt es auch bei der Feuerwehr. Volunteering
Democracy in action
Millions of Germans get involved in voluntary work in their free time - facts and figures about their commitment.

Quick facts

61 per cent of young people in Germany are optimistic about their personal future.
90 per cent believe that family and children should not get a raw deal at work.
64 per cent of young people would like to have children later on.
89 per cent consider it especially important to have good friends.
64 per cent attach importance to respect and order.
31 per cent of the 14 to 17 year olds in Germany are interested in politics. 
68 per cent of 14 to 17 year olds consider democracy the best form of government.
Ostsee Travel in Germany Facts and figures Holidaying in Germany
Das Handy der Babyboomer: die Telefonzelle My Generation

Quick facts

41 million women live in Germany – two million more than men.
83.2 years is the life expectancy of women in Germany.
75 percent of women aged 20 to 64 work.
50 percent of university graduates in Germany are women.
44 percent of Germany’s government cabinet are women.
1.6 children are brought into the world by each woman in Germany, statistically speaking.

Motorways in Germany

Celebrations in Germany

Karneval in Deutschland Carnival curiosities
Fireworks Silvester How do Germans celebrate new year‘s eve?
Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt Christmas
Christmas markets
Magical Christmas markets
Germany’s cities are filled with the glitter and aromas of Christmas. Six popular German Christmas markets – and what makes them so special.
Wie deutsche Weihnachten feiern: Alles was ihr über deutsche Weihnachtstraditionen wissen müsst. Christmas
Traditions
How Christmas is celebrated in Germany
Spending Christmas with the Germans: Which rituals are important and why potato salad is part of a traditional celebration.
Weihnachtsmärkte gibt es in der Adventszeit überall in Deutschland. Christmas
Tips from expats
Expats experience the Advent season
How do German Christmas newbies feel? Expats talk about their experiences.

... and what about love?

Hand in Hand: Die Lebensformen werden pluraler In love, engaged, married
Anziehungskraft: Die Deutschen finden vieles attraktiv What we desire
Would you prefer to live in a big city or a small town?
How important is a vibrant nightlife to you?
Which party are you going to?
What do you do in your free time?
You’re a good fit for Leipzig!
Leipzig

Leipzig
What kind of character do you like a city to have?
You’re a good fit for Frankfurt!
Die Skyline von Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt
You’re a good fit for Berlin!
Berlin

Berlin
What kind of character do you like a city to have?
You’re a good fit for Cologne!
Der Kölner Dom ist für viele das Herz der Rheinstadt.

Cologne
You’re a good fit for Hamburg!
Hamburg und die Alster – immer eine Reise wert

Hamburg
Rather a city with international flair or regional charm?
You’re a good fit for Munich!
Frauenkirche mit Alpenpanorama

Munich
What do you find appealing about a town or city?
You’re a good fit for Stuttgart!
Schlossplatz in Stuttgart

Stuttgart
You’re a good fit for Dresden!
Die Kulturstadt Dresden bietet einzigartige historische Bauwerke.

Dresden
Rather by the sea or in the mountains?
How do you get around the town?
What appeals to you more?
You’re a good fit for Bremen!
Bremen: Partnerschaft mit Izmir als Zeichen der Solidarität

Bremen
You’re a good fit for Münster!
G7-Außenminister treffen sich in Münster

Münster
What do you do in your free time?
You’re a good fit for Kiel!
Kieler Woche

Kiel
You’re a good fit for Schwerin!
Ein Ort zum Feiern: Weltkulturerbe Schweriner Schloss

Schwerin
What is important to you in a city?
You’re a good fit for Heidelberg!
Die deutsche C40-Stadt Heidelberg

Heidelberg
What appeals to you more?
You’re a good fit for Magdeburg!
Magdeburg

Magdeburg
You’re a good fit for Erfurt!
Erfurt

Erfurt
What kind of character do you like a city to have?
You’re a good fit for Freiburg!
Freiburg cathedral: Repairs over

Freiburg
Where would you prefer to live?
You’re a good fit for Konstanz!
Konstanz

Konstanz
You’re a good fit for Erlangen!
Erlangen

Erlangen