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Tips, curiosities and funny stories
 About life in Germany

Experience the diversity of Germany: Immerse yourself in the everyday life of students, read fascinating testimonials from young professionals, and discover tips for must-see places. Here you’ll get a taste of life in Germany.

  • Disposable, Reusable, Detour: Bottle-deposit

    Germany’s Bottle Obsession

    Tossing an empty bottle in the bin? Unthinkable in Germany! The deposit system is considered a prime example of efficiency and sustainability – and yet it is full of contradictions. Between the ideal of reusability, the reality of disposability and the frustration of deposit machines, there is more than meets the eye.

    A picture of deposit bottles lined up in the shape of a heart Picture © picture alliance / Global Travel Images | Jürgen Held Picture © picture alliance / Global Travel Images | Jürgen Held

  • Everyday Life in Germany: Dinner Edition

    Dinner at a Friend’s House

    Take off your shoes, bring some wine and (don't) help out. Lena Maurer from South Tyrol loves to spend evenings at friends' homes. That's why she knows how a 'typical German' dinner invitation works.  A personal insight.

    Collage of food photos from above, shoes and an arm serving potatoes on a plate. Graphic © Lena Maurer Graphic © Lena Maurer

  • Everyday Life in Germany: Public Transport Edition

    The Germans and Public Transport

    Different countries, different customs. Lena Maurer from South Tyrol talks about her little culture shock moments from everyday life in Germany. This time: Germans and public transport.

    Various photographs on a blue background. Picture 1: Vintage picture of the escalator. Image 2: Bird's eye view of a platform crowded with people. Image 3: A subway sign with the U crossed out. Picture 4: A sign with a subway and several S-Bahn signs and the location 'Jungfernstieg'. Graphic © Lena Maurer Graphic © Lena Maurer

  • 9 stories about Germany’s favorite food staple

    Our Daily Bread

    Sweet, salty, sour – German bread comes in many forms. Some varieties are so iconic, they even star in their own TV shows!

    You can see a bread shelf with various breads and rolls Picture (Detail): picture-alliance / Chad Ehlers | Chad Ehlers Picture (Detail): picture-alliance / Chad Ehlers | Chad Ehlers

  • Berit Glanz on youth language and online culture

    Skibidi

    Our new columnist Berit Glanz is fascinated by the language of internet culture – and lately amused by how parents have stormed the digital stage, playfully parodying their kids’ favourite slang.

    A purple-tinted photo shows a dove with a shopping cart, one on the left and one on the right edge of the image. From the TikTok video by @schnecke_123 / Image edited From the TikTok video by @schnecke_123 / Image edited

  • Everyday Life in Germany: Game Edition

    “Don’t Get Cross – It’s Just a Games Night”

    Games are the same everywhere – and yet never quite alike. Between “Mensch ärgere Dich nicht” (Man, Don’t Get Angry) and “Bargis”, one can discover not only how much a games night is shaped by culture, but also how familiar the foreign can feel. A journey into the world of games with our author Ahmad Kalaji.

    A collage with pictures of game elements. A photo of UNO cards and a photo of a little boy getting annoyed while playing Ludo. Graphic: Jennifer Engl| Illustrations: Canva.com | Pictures: on the left: picture alliance / dpa-tmn | Christin Klose; on the right: picture alliance / Westend61 | Mareen Fischinger Graphic: Jennifer Engl| Illustrations: Canva.com | Pictures: on the left: picture alliance / dpa-tmn | Christin Klose; on the right: picture alliance / Westend61 | Mareen Fischinger

  • Frankly ... integrated

    Studying with an Immigration Background

    What influence does an immigrant background have on education and educational opportunities in Germany? Sineb El Masrar writes about the decisive factors in getting students from immigrant families through school – and into university.

    Pupils sit at separate tables Photo (detail): Bernd Wüstneck © picture alliance / dpa Photo (detail): Bernd Wüstneck © picture alliance / dpa

  • Detours | Zipfelbund

    Germany from all sides

    The name alone is puzzling: what on earth is meant by the word “Zipfelbund”? And what might a Zipfel Passport, Zipfel Prize and Zipfel Pact refer to? But be warned: you will need quite a bit of time if you want to see everything.
     

    Where in Germany will you get to if you want to visit the Zipfelbund? Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

  • #MyJob

    “Germany is worth it”

    Alejandro – Alex – Madrigal works as a data analyst in Berlin. The Costa Rican came to Germany in May 2022 on a “jobseeker visa”. One thing is for certain: he wants to stay.

    young man Photo (detail): © Ula Brunner Photo (detail): © Ula Brunner

  • For-free Shops

    It’s a Gift!

    “For free” and “shop” – is that a contradiction in terms? Not in Germany’s 25 or so for-free shops: they offer second-hand shopping at zero cost. The reality is colourful, democratic and highly sustainable.
     

    Step inside: “Umsonstladen Greifswald” – the Greifswald for-free shop. Photo (detail): © Umsonstladen Greifswald Photo (detail): © Umsonstladen Greifswald

  • Detours | Augsburg

    Outstanding Water Culture

    It’s hard to believe, but Augsburg has more bridges than Venice, not to mention wonderful fountains and countless small streams running through the city! The Romans built the first aqueduct and the Augsburgers later perfected the water system – a prime example of Swabian engineering skill in Bavaria’s oldest city.
     

    Venice? No, Augsburg! Incidentally, there are more bridges here than in the Italian city of gondolas. Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

The Magazine

#Deutschlandnofilter

What should I cook when the fridge is empty at the end of the month? How can I save the world along the way? And how do I survive my studies? Discover more tips, quirky facts, and funny stories about life in Germany in the online magazine “#DeutschlandNoFilter.”

#DeutschlandNoFilter

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