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Do's and Don'ts in Germany
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Do wish others at your table Guten Appetit before you begin eating, and don’t begin drinking before wishing others Prost!.

Don't mail a big stack of postcards from Germany if you’re going to another country. German postal rates are very high.

Do slow down and enjoy being in Germany. Try a late afternoon kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake), and take two or three hours at dinner. Germans think dinner shouldn’t be hurried (and the cooks and waiters apparently agree). You’ll always have to ask for your check (again, the waiter doesn’t want to rush you). Just say “Zahlen, bitte” and pay the waiter.

Do learn a few basic words of German. Danke means “thank you,” bitte means “please” and bitte schon means “you’re welcome.” There are also different ways to say hello. Bavarians say “Gruss Gott” while the rest say “Guten Morgen,” “Guten Tag” or “Guten Abend,” depending on the time of day. A simple, informal “Hallo” will also do.

Do stop at any local festivals that you encounter. You’ll experience Germany at its best.

Do keep small change handy. You will need it to use the public toilets (including those at railway stations).

Don't be shy about attending cultural performances if you don’t speak German—the beauty of the event will transcend the language barrier.

Don't make international calls from your hotel (you’ll be socked with a tremendous surcharge). Phone from the post office instead. The least expensive way to phone is to get a calling card before leaving home and place calls home through your phone company’s international operator.

Don't be surprised to find that most museums are closed Monday.

Do take a coat and tie, as casinos and some restaurants require them.

Do get out of the way fast if you hear a waitress yell “vorsicht!” when you’re in a beer hall.

Do attend an open-air performance at the Harzer Bergtheater in Thale.

Do look for the small black rat in the bottom left corner of the bas-relief of the Last Supper that’s behind the main altar of the old cathedral in Lubeck. Touching the rat is supposed to bring good luck....

Tipping: Round up your bill to the next Deutschemark or so in restaurants and taxis and give the tip directly to your waiter or cabdriver.