🇩🇪 Germany

Hej! I’m sharing a glimpse of my experience visiting prosperous Germany. I was there in 2025. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.

Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and does not cover all the wonderful local features and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Frankfurt am Main, Koblenz, Lahnstein, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bochum, Duisburg, Munich.

🏛 Top sights visited:

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇩🇪 Rammstein (band). Genre: industrial metal
• 🇩🇪 Tokio Hotel (band). Genre: glam rock
• 🇩🇪 Die Ärzte (band). Genre: pop punk
• 🇩🇪 Bakkushan (band). Genre: indie rock
• 🇩🇪 Johannes Oerding (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Herbert Grönemeyer (singer). Genre: pop rock
• 🇩🇪 Max Giesinger (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Nina Chuba (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Stefanie Kloß (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Nena (singer). Genre: europop
• 🇩🇪 Kyau & Albert (DJ duo). Genre: trance
• 🇩🇪 Alex C / Jasper Forks (DJ). Genre: house
• 🇩🇪 Ich + Ich (duo). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Juli (band). Genre: alternative pop
• 🇩🇪 LaFee (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇩🇪 Revolverheld (band). Genre: pop rock
• 🇩🇪 Oimara (singer). Genre: pop rock
• 🇩🇪 Orange Sector (band). Genre: electronic body music
• 🇺🇳 Scorpions (band). Genre: hard rock
• 🇺🇳 Modern Talking (duo). Genre: europop
• 🇺🇳 Scooter (band). Genre: happy hardcore
• 🇺🇳 ATB (DJ). Genre: progressive house
• 🇺🇳 Paul van Dyk (DJ). Genre: progressive trance
• 🇺🇳 Cosmic Gate (DJ duo). Genre: tech trance
• 🇺🇳 Marlon Hoffstadt (DJ). Genre: house
• 🇺🇳 La Bouche (duo). Genre: eurodance
• 🇺🇳 Cascada (band). Genre: eurodance
• 🇺🇳 Robin Schulz (DJ). Genre: house
• 🇺🇳 Schiller (DJ band). Genre: ambient
• 🇺🇳 Cinema Bizzare (band). Genre: glam rock
• 🇺🇳 Hanz Zimmer (composer). Genre: film score
• 🇺🇳 Bad Boys Blue (band). Genre: europop
• 🇺🇳 Timo Maas (DJ). Genre: progressive house
• 🇺🇳 Boney M (band). Genre: disco
• 🇺🇳 C. C. Catch (singer). Genre: europop
• 🇺🇳 Enigma (band). Genre: new age
• 🇺🇳 Tangerine Dream (band). Genre: kosmische musik
• 🇺🇳 Jam & Spoon (DJ duo). Genre: classic trance
• 🇺🇳 Kai Tracid (DJ). Genre: acid trance
• 🇺🇳 DJ Dean (DJ). Genre: hard trance
• 🇺🇳 Fischerspooner (DJ). Genre: electroclash
• 🇺🇳 Wolfgang Voigt (DJ). Genre: minimal techno
• 🇺🇳 Porter Ricks (DJ duo). Genre: dub techno
• 🇺🇳 Jan Jelinek (DJ). Genre: glitch
• 🇺🇳 Path of Samsara (band). Genre: stoner rock

🎚️ Authentic EDM genres:

• Kosmische Musik. Originated: early 1970s
• Electronic Body Music. Originated: early 1980s
• Classic Trance. Originated: late 1980s
• Eurodance. Originated: late 1980s
• Acid Trance. Originated: early 1990s
• Hard Trance. Originated: early 1990s
• Glitch. Originated: early 1990s
• Electroclash. Originated: early 1990s
• Dub Techno. Originated: early 1990s
• Minimal Techno. Originated: early 1990s
• Tech Trance. Originated: mid-1990s
• Progressive Trance. Originated: early 2000s

🍽️ Local food & drinks:

• 🥗 Rollmops (Rollmops)
• 🥙 Mettbrötchen (Mettbrötchen)
• 🥘 German Fries (Bratkartoffeln)
• 🥘 German Sausages (Deutsche Würste)
  • 🥘 Bratwurst (Bratwurst)
  • 🥘 Currywurst (Currywurst)
  • 🥓 Liverwurst (Leberwurst)
• 🥘 Sauerbraten (Sauerbraten)
• 🥘 Eisbein with Sauerkraut (Eisbein mit Sauerkraut)
• 🥘 Rinderrouladen (Rinderrouladen)
• 🍰 Black Forest Gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte)
• 🍰 Berliner (Berliner)
• 🍰 Gummy Bears (Gummibärchen)
• 🫓 Pretzel (Brezel)
• 🍶 German Liqueur (Brand: “Jägermeister”)
  Hessen - Regional Special:
• 🥙 Speckkuchen (Speckkuchen)
• 🥘 Frankfurter Rippchen (Frankfurter Rippchen)
• 🍰 Frankfurt Crown Cake (Frankfurter Kranz)
• 🧀 Handkäse (Handkäse mit Musik)
• 🍶 Hessian Apfelwein (Brands: “Kelterei Walther”, “Kelterei Possmann”)
  Rhineland-Palatinate - Regional Special:
• 🥘 Reibekuchen (Reibekuchen)
• 🥘 Saumagen (Saumagen)
• 🥫 Frankfurter Green Sauce (Frankfurter Grüne Soße)
• 🍶 German Wine (Brands: “Volk Riesling Trocken”, “Robert Weil Rheingau Riesling Trocken”)
  North Rhine-Westphalia - Regional Special:
• 🥓 Panhas (Panhas)
• 🥓 Flönz (Flönz)
• 🥙 Cologne Caviar (Kölscher Kaviar)
• 🥙 Halve Hahn (Halve Hahn)
• 🥙 Potthucke (Puffert)
• 🥘 Himmel und Erde (Himmel un Ääd)
• 🫓 Pumpernickel (Pumpernickel)
• 🍶 Kölsch Beer (Brands: “Gaffel Kölsch”, “Früh Kölsch”)
  Bavaria - Regional Special:
• 🥓 Gelbwurst (Gelbwurst / Gelbwuascht)
• 🥗 Obatzda (Obatzda / Obazda)
• 🥗 Kartoffelkäse (Kartoffelkäse / Erdäpfelkäse)
• 🥘 Leberkäse (Fleischkäse / Lebakaas)
• 🥘 Weißwurst (Weißwurst / Weißwuascht)
• 🥘 Schweinshaxe (Schweinshaxe / Schweinshaxn)
• 🥘 Schweinsbraten with Beer Sauce (Schweinsbraten mit Biersauce / Schweinsbratn mit Biersoß)
• 🥘 Bavarian Cabbage (Bayrisch Kraut / Bayrischkraut)
• 🍶 Hefeweizen Beer (Brands: “Hofbräu München”, “Paulaner”, “Erdinger”, “Weihenstephaner”)

🎬 Local movies:

• Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door). Year: 1997. Genre: tragicomedy
• The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen). Year: 2006. Genre: thriller
• Head Full of Honey (Honig im Kopf). Year: 2014. Genre: tragicomedy
• Who Am I (Who Am I - Kein System Ist Sicher). Year: 2014. Genre: thriller
• The Collini Case (Der Fall Collini). Year: 2019. Genre: drama
• Never Look Away (Werk ohne Autor). Year: 2018. Genre: drama
• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Das Parfum - Die Geschichte eines Mörders). Year: 2006. Genre: drama
• A Coffee in Berlin (Oh Boy). Year: 2012. Genre: tragicomedy
• Where Is Fred? (Wo ist Fred?). Year: 2006. Genre: comedy
• 100 Things (100 Dinge). Year: 2018. Genre: comedy
• Ludwig II (Ludwig II). Year: 2012. Genre: drama / history

🪔 Authentic features:

• Authentic Concept: Gemütlichkeit (Gemütlichkeit)
• Protestantism (Protestantismus)
• Allemande Dance (Allemande)
• Ore Mountain Wood Art (Erzgebirgische Holzkunst)
• Ottonian Architecture (Ottonische Architektur)
• Half-Timbered Architecture (Fachwerkbauweise)
• Mensch-Ärgere-Dich-Nicht Game (Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht)
• Cuckoo Clocks (Kuckucksuhr)
• German Beer Steins (Humpen)
• German Beer Culture (Bierkultur)
• German Philosophy (Deutsche Philosophie)
• German Folklore (Deutsche Folklore)
• German Fashion (Brands: “Hugo Boss”, “Tom Tailor”, “PUMA”, “Adidas”, etc.)
• German Cars (Brands: “Audi”, “Volkswagen”, “BMW”, “Mercedes-Benz”, “Porsche”, “Opel”, etc.)
• Authentic Musical Instrument: Zither (Zither)
• Authentic Garb: German Tracht (Tracht)
• Heritage of the Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Römisches Reich / Sacrum Imperium Romanum)
• Heritage of Prussia (Preußen / Prūsija)
  Hessen - Regional Special:
• Schwälmer Dance (Schwälmer Tanz)
• Authentic Garb: Hinterländer Trachten and Schwälmer Tracht (Hinterländer Trachten und Schwälmer Tracht)
  Rhineland-Palatinate - Regional Special:
• German Wine Queen Competition (Deutsche Weinkönigin)
• Westerwald Pottery (Westerwälder Steinzeug)
• Authentic Garb: Tugendpfeil (Tugendpfeil)
  North Rhine-Westphalia - Regional Special:
• Eau de Cologne Perfume (Kölnisch Wasser)
  Bavaria - Regional Special:
• Heritage of the Duchy of Bavaria (Herzogtum Bayern / Ducatus Bavariae)
• Heritage of the Kingdom of Bavaria (Königreich Baiern / Kinereich Baiern)
• Culture of Bavarians (Bayern / Boarn)
  • Schuhplattler Dance (Schuhplattler / Schuhplattler)
  • Aperschnalzen Tradition (Aperschnalzen / Apaschnoizn)
  • Gstanzl Singing (Gstanzl / Gestanzel)
  • Lüftlmalerei Mural Art (Lüftlmalerei / Lüftelmalerei)
  • Bavarian Brotzeit (Brotzeit / Brotzeit)
  • Bavarian Beer Gardens (Biergarten / Bierkeller)
  • Bavarian Folklore (Bayerische Folklore / Bairische Volkskultur)
  • Authentic Garb: Lederhosen & Dirndl (Lederhose und Dirndl / Lederhosn un Diandl)

🎊 Authentic holidays & celebrations:

• German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). Month: October
• Rosenmontag (Rosenmontag). Month: February or March
  Hessen - Regional Special:
• Lullusfest (Lullusfest / Lullusfest). Month: October
• Frankfurt Apple Wine Festival (Apfelweinfestival / Ebbelwoifest). Month: August
  Rhineland-Palatinate - Regional Special:
• “Rhine in Flames” Festival (Rhein in Flammen). Month: August
• Wurstmarkt (Wurstmarkt). Month: September
  North Rhine-Westphalia - Regional Special:
• Cologne Carnival (Kölner Karneval). Month: November
• Düsseldorf Carnival (Düsseldorfer Karneval). Month: November
  Bavaria - Regional Special:
• Oktoberfest (Oktoberfest / D’Wiesn). Month: September to October

💐 National flower:

• Cornflower (Kornblumen)
  Bavaria - Regional Special:
• Edelweiss (Alpen-Edelweiß / Edlweiß)

🦉 Local wisdom: “The devil’s favorite piece of furniture is the long bench.” / “Des Teufels liebstes Möbelstück ist die lange Bank." — German proverb

👨‍🎓 The oldest university: Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg), Heidelberg, est. 1386.