Germany Travel Guide for Americans

Get a prepaid SIM card immediately upon arrival at any airport carrier store or MediaMarkt. Vodafone, Telekom, or O2 all work; Vodafone is slightly most reliable. Cost: €10–15 gets you the card plus €10–20 credit. Data plans are cheap: €20 gets unlimited data for 30 days (just activate once you're there). Alternatively, buy a eSIM from Airalo ($10 for 20GB, good value for US-based plans you activate remotely). All carriers include EU roaming so you're covered in Austria, Czech Republic, etc. Skip renting a phone or using US roaming—German carriers are cheap enough that it makes no sense.

Germany tips way less than the US—don't fall into the trap of tipping 20%. At restaurants: 5–10% is standard (literally say 'Stimmt' meaning 'keep the change' or tell them your total with tip when paying, not after). Taxis: round up to nearest euro or add 5%, but not obligatory. Hotel staff: €1–2 per night for housekeeping if they did good work, totally optional. Bars: no tipping on beer, but round up your bill if sitting down. Tour guides: €3–5 is fine. The key difference: Germans see tipping as optional gratitude, not an expectation. Don't overthink it—Germans tip less and the service is still excellent because their min wage and labor laws are strong.

Germany is very safe for tourists—violent crime is low, theft is manageable if you're smart (watch bags on trains and in busy markets), and police are visible and helpful. Berlin has sketchier neighborhoods (parts of Kreuzberg, Neukölln late night), but daytime is fine everywhere. Main risk: pickpockets at major tourist sites and train stations (keep wallets in front pockets, use anti-theft bags). Bike theft is rampant if you use rentals—don't leave expensive bikes unattended. Overall safety ranking: among the safest countries in Europe. Avoid large protests (anti-immigration demos happen, just skip them). Public restrooms sometimes cost €0.50–1 and go toward a toilet credit—plan accordingly.