Welcome to our introductory page on German culture and life in Germany! On this page you’ll find links to our articles related to Germany – with information, photos, and resources to help you learn more about the sights to see, plus customs and daily life in Deutschland.
Topics Related to Germany
Below you’ll find links to our pages related to the culture and history of Germany. Also see our Germany for Tourists page.
- Germany: Facts and Figures – Country information
- Germany for Tourists – Helpful information for travelers
- Driving in Germany – The rules of the road and more
- The Autobahn – About the German, Austrian and Swiss autobahn network
- Driving on the Autobahn – Seven rules for driving on the high-speed autobahn
- The German Post Office has changed a lot over the last decade or so.
- History of Germany – Prussia, Germany (East and West) and the history of what is now the Federal Republic of Germany, with notable Germans, Austrians and Swiss, past and present
- Dialects – The German you hear isn’t always standard German.
- Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Notable People from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with bios
- Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) was West Germany’s very first chancellor.
- Michael Ballhaus (1935- ) is the German cinematographer behind famous Hollywood films such as Air Force One, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and The Departed.
- Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was a charismatic German-American rocket scientist (and former Nazi) who helped put Americans on the moon.
- Leonardo Dicaprio (1974- ) has a German mother, and his middle name is Wilhelm.
- Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) was a German film star who came to the US in 1930.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was Germany’s greatest author, dramatist and poet.
- Steffi Graf (1969- ) is a former German tennis champion, now living in Las Vegas, Nevada with her American husband Andre Agassi. Graf and Boris Becker were Germany’s “dream couple” of tennis in the 1980s.
- Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) was the famous King of Bavaria (1864-1886) who built Neuschwanstein Castle and other palaces. Learn more about the king and his Wittelsbach dynasty.
- Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, writer and journalist who published the “Communist Manifesto” in 1848.
- Angela Merkel (1954- ) is Germany’s current chancellor (since 2005).
- Jesse Owens (1913-1980), African American athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olymics in Berlin.
- Elvis Presley was a GI in West Germany in the early 1960s, the only time he traveled outside the United States!
- Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) invented the first digital, programmable computer.
- Notable Women from Austria, Germany, Switzerland
- Famous Graves in Germany – Where are they buried?
Expats in Germany
The German Way has many resources and lots of useful information for English-speaking expats living in Germany, Austria or German-speaking Switzerland.
- For Expats – Our starting page for expats
- Expat Checklist 1 – What expats need to do – before, during and after an expat assignment in German-speaking Europe.
- German Way Expat Forum – A place where expats can exchange information about life in German-speaking Europe.
- Living in Germany – Vital topics for expats: Health care, German red tape, getting a German driver’s license, watching German television,
German Culture and History
People, places and things you should know about Germany.
- Notable Germans – Biographies of famous and not-so-famous Germans, Austrians and Swiss
- The Berlin Airlift – A history of what the Germans call die Luftbrücke
- Berlin Wall Timeline – A chronology of the Berlin Wall – which begins before the Wall’s construction in 1961
- History of Germany – Prussia, Germany (East and West) and the history of what is now the Federal Republic of Germany
- Cultural Comparisons – Comparing life in the USA and Germany
- Christmas – Christmas Traditions in Austria, Germany, Switzerland
- Education – The education system in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Religion in Germany – Germany and the Protestant Reformation, the church tax, Scientology, etc.
- Terrorism in Germany – From the NSU to the RAF and RZ.
Travel and Germany
What you need to know about traveling to, from or around Germany and Europe.
- Know Before You Go – Information for travelers
- Dining Out in Germany – Tipping, table manners, etc.
- Germany for Tourists – Information for travelers
- Hotels and B&Bs – Find accommodations in Germany
- Air Travel – Flying to, from or in Europe and Germany
- Banks and Money – Money matters
- Castles and Palaces – A guide to castles in Germany
- Cell Phones in Europe – Will your US mobile phone work in Germany?
- Shopping in Germany – Credit cards, shopping hours and much more.
Next | Germany: Facts and Figures