In July 2022, I fulfilled my lifelong dream of moving to Europe.
When my husband and I married in January that year, we didn’t opt for the typical wedding registry. Instead, we sold, donated, or tossed almost everything we owned. Even our cars — which we sold two days before we left the US — had to go.
We headed to Germany, a country we’d never visited, with just a few suitcases and our two cats. As soon as we arrived, we noticed a lot of cultural differences.
Here are seven things that surprised us about life in Germany.
Most places don’t have air conditioning.
After a tiring seven-hour flight from Boston to Frankfurt, a three-hour drive from the airport, and six flights of stairs to our apartment, we arrived in Düsseldorf and quickly learned air conditioning isn’t really a thing in Germany.
The large tilt-and-turn windows in our place didn’t have screens, only metal rolling shutters. This meant we couldn’t open the windows fully for fear our cats would try to go outside.
Instead, we cranked the metal shutters down early in the morning to keep hot air out and rolled them up at night to let in cool air.
We also stayed hydrated, added ice cubes to the cats’ water bowls, tried not to use the oven, took cool showers, and ordered a standing fan.
It blew my mind to learn that only about one in eight German households use air conditioning. Still, we had no choice but to adjust to that lifestyle.
Many apartments don’t come with equipped kitchens.
When I was apartment hunting, I was surprised that many rentals didn’t have kitchens stocked with a refrigerator, oven, cabinets, counters, a washing machine, or a dishwasher. Instead, there was typically only an empty room with appliance hookups.
That’s because tenants in Germany often take most of their kitchen appliances with them when they leave, or they sell the major parts to whoever is moving in. This allows tenants to personalize their spaces, can help landlords save on costs, and may encourage tenants to stay longer.
Public transit is easily accessible in most major cities.
Growing up in the Massachusetts suburbs, I relied on my car and only used the train to commute to Boston. Though I got a German driver’s license, I haven’t driven in the past four years.
My husband and I have moved to a few different cities within Germany, and luckily, always had easy access to public transportation.
A lot of stores are closed on Sundays.
We landed in Germany on a Sunday and soon learned that most shops, including grocery stores, were closed, forcing us to use a food-delivery app.
That’s because Sundays are rest days in Germany. Most people aren’t supposed to work or shop, though there are a few exceptions for touristy spots and gas stations.
Carrying cash is a necessity.
To avoid fees and mitigate security concerns, many restaurants, local businesses, market stalls, and cafés only accept cash payments.
Luckily, many larger businesses, grocery stores, and malls accept credit and debit cards and forms of digital payment.
Sparkling water is preferred over still.
In Germany, restaurants automatically serve sparkling water without ice. If a customer asks for ice in their water, it signals they’re an American.
There’s no social expectation to tip.
In Germany, tipping is appreciated but not expected.
At restaurants, it’s not common to add a tip to the receipt. Instead, people will leave a few euros on the table as a thank you.
The first time I went to pay at a hair salon, I was prepared to give a 20% tip. However, the stylist explained that although she appreciated the gesture, a 5% to 10% tip is typical. She also said some salons don’t process tips by card, so cash is preferred.
This story was originally published in September 2024 and most recently updated on September 25, 2026.
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