12 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Germany!
When I moved to Germany back in the winter of 2012, I had a really tough time. I still remember, for the first few weeks, I was getting off like 2-3 stops after my home and walking all the way back. I didn’t know I had to press the stop button for the bus to actually stop.
I made pretty much every mistake you can imagine. I was overwhelmed, lonely, and totally unprepared. But over time, I figured out how things work here. And now, I want to share all that knowledge with you in this article—so you don’t end up making the same mistakes I did.
These are the things I really wish someone had told me before I packed my bags and got on that plane:
1. Sundays are Closed
I remember walking out on my first Sunday thinking I’d grab a few groceries for the week. But I came back empty-handed because I hadn't heard about the Ladenschlussgesetz or Germany’s store closing law. According to this, it's illegal for shops to open on Sundays.
Now there are exceptions, like cafés and restaurants, especially in bigger cities. But other than that, everything—and I mean everything—is closed.
In Germany, Sundays are meant to be quiet and peaceful. And it’s not about religion or any tradition—it’s about rest. In fact, Germans take this so seriously that even things like vacuuming or doing laundry on a Sunday can get you in trouble.
Coming from a place like India, where everything’s open most of the time, this was a real cultural shock. At first, it felt inconvenient. But now I’ve grown to love it. It makes you plan better and start the week rested and relaxed.
2. Recycling
Let me tell you—recycling in Germany is not about doing something for the environment. Here, it’s serious business and basically a way of life. But the system is so complicated that it is easy to mess it up.
So here’s the thing: you’ve got yellow for plastics and packaging, blue for paper and cardboard, green or brown for organic waste, and black or gray for everything else. But it doesn’t stop there. Glass bottles go in public bins—also sorted by color. The brown glass here. Green glass there. White glass somewhere else.
And then there’s the Pfand system. You pay a deposit when you buy bottled drinks like beer, water, or soda and then you get that money back when you return the empty bottle to the store.
Now, all of this might sound like a lot, but once you get used to it, it makes you more mindful about your usage. And this is also a major reason why the streets and neighborhoods in Germany are so clean. Honestly, I kind of wish more countries took this seriously.
3. Follow the Rules
One of the first things you’ll notice about living in Germany is that people really follow the rules. And Germany does have some strange laws. It is illegal to run out of gas on the highway. It’s illegal to wash your car at home. And many others.
First, I thought it was a bit too much. Like, is it really that bad if I cross the street when there are no cars? It is. Not only will people give you the death stare, but someone might literally yell at you. Just don't take it personally, it’s how things work here.
If you are used to downloading music or movies from the internet through torrents or other unofficial sites, just know that in Germany, it’s straight-up illegal. There are companies here whose full-time job is hunting down people who pirate stuff online. And if they catch you? You’re looking at fines of around €800 to €1000 for your first offense.
So if you’re planning to move to Germany, here’s the best advice I can give you: Play by the rules. Even if they feel small or unnecessary. When everyone respects the rules, there’s order, there’s safety, and things just work better.
4. Learn the Language
This one is important. Learn German before you come here, at least the basics. Even the basic stuff—like signing a contract or sorting out bills—becomes much easier if you understand even a little bit of the language.
Also, if you can speak a little German, it shows that you respect the culture and that you’re not just here to pass through. It will make a real difference in how people treat you.
So if you’re serious about staying in Germany for the long run, start learning the language now. Join a language course, if you can afford it. If not, use apps like Duolingo or just learn from YouTube. There’s plenty of free stuff out there.
But whatever you do, try to learn at least the basics, before you get on that flight.
5. Be on Time
If there’s one thing you don’t want to mess up in Germany, it’s being late. Time is a big deal here. And by “on time,” it's usually to the minute, not even one or two minutes later. If something starts at 3, most people show up at 2:50. And wait until it gets to 3 to knock on the door.
Sure, buses can be late, you might get a flat tire—life happens. But the thing is, everyone’s time is valuable. And it’s just not fair to make someone wait because you didn’t expect the traffic.
6. Cash is King
Here’s something that caught me by surprise when I moved to Germany. You’d think that in one of the most innovative, tech-forward countries in the world, paying with a card would be the norm, right? Not exactly. Turns out, cash is still king in Germany.
Even places with card machines will often only accept German debit cards—not international ones. That said, things are slowly changing. But until card culture fully catches up, here’s my advice: always carry some cash with you.
7. Nudity is Normal
Alright, let’s talk about something that might catch you off guard the first time you see it—public nudity is completely normal in Germany. Now, I don’t mean people are walking around the supermarket naked. But if you go to a sauna, a beach, or even certain spas, clothes are optional.
Even in some parks and lakes, you might see people sunbathing or swimming without anything on. And here’s the thing—no one stares, no one acts weird. It’s just… normal.
Coming from a place where nudity is either taboo or sexualized, this was a total shock at first. But like everything else, just realize that it's a way of life here. So if you’re planning to visit a sauna or head to the beach—just be mentally prepared for it.
8. Get the Right Insurance
Here’s something you probably haven’t heard much about before moving to Germany—private liability insurance. It’s a big deal here. And, it’s something you should have.
It covers you in case you accidentally hurt someone or damage their property. Like if you crash your bike into someone’s car… or break a window in your rented apartment. Stuff like that can get really expensive.
So yeah—just get it. It’s not that costly, and it can save you from a lot of stress later.
9. Prepare for Long, Depressing Winters.
Germany has all four seasons. And the winters here can be rough. The temperatures drop to below zero, everything turns grey, and people start walking around like they’ve given up on happiness.
And if you are alone, it can make you really depressed. So trust me when I say—you need to find your tribe. It doesn’t matter what it is. A church, an expat group, a hiking club—anything. If you have the right people around you, then winter in Germany will feel a lot less heavy.
10. Water
Okay, so in most countries, water is just… water. But in Germany? Not so simple.
Here, you’ve basically got three types—still, sparkling, and something called “classic.” Sparkling is the one with gas or soda, and Germans absolutely love it. They even mix it with fruit juice and call it Schorle. Now, “classic” is like sparkling, but just less fizzy—kind of a middle ground. And then you have still water, which is just regular water without gas.
Oh, and a side note—tap water in Germany is super clean, still, and completely safe to drink. So if you’re not into bubbles, just fill up from the sink.
11. Bureaucracy
Everyone talks about how complicated and slow German bureaucracy is, but you don’t really get the full picture until you’re actually here.
There’s so much red tape, that it will test your patience like nothing else. Doctors, government offices, electricity providers, everyone prefers phone calls and post over emails.
Honestly, I think Germany might be the only country where fax machines are still a thing. So here’s my advice: keep all your important documents organized in files. You’ll thank yourself later.
12. Direct Communication
You may have heard the stereotype a million times—“Germans are super direct”—but I didn’t get what that really meant until I experienced it myself.
Back home in India, people rarely say what they really think. You have to read between the lines, figure out the hints, and navigate around what’s actually being said. But Germans? Nope. They say it like it is. No beating around the bush. No sugarcoating. Just straight-up honesty.
Now, I’ve grown to appreciate it. But when you’re not used to it, it can definitely catch you off guard.
So, there you have it—twelve things I wish I knew before moving to Germany. But here’s my biggest advice: be patient. Be patient with yourself, with the culture, with the system, and with the people around you. Things won’t happen overnight, but eventually—they will fall into place.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Disclaimer: The Content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal or other advice. It is important to do your own analysis before making any decision.
