Oh so German!

Do bratwurst, beer gardens, and Lederhosen truly encapsulate Germany? Are fairy tales the country's secret obsession, and is every corner adorned with castles? Oh So German! offers glimpses of the many facets that compose the essence of Deutschland.

Oh so German! © Adobe Firefly | Edit: Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

German Cities

City Contours Düsseldorf
The Heart of North Rhine-Westphalia

Düsseldorf is the capital of one of Germany’s industrial heartlands, North Rhine-Westphalia. Sharvari Dixit Bhalerao, an Indian nutritionist living in Germany, takes us through a few cultural highlights in the city.

© Nimish Sawant
City contours Heidelberg
A City of Literature, Culture, and Contrast

Located along the Neckar River in the north of the south German state of Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg is blessed with an enticing combination of old-world charm, a young population, cutting-edge research, and stunning natural beauty.

© Nimish Sawant
City contours Weimar
“A Marvel in Thuringia's Heartbeat.”

Nestled in the heart of the German state of Thuringia, Weimar is a small city with significant political, artistic, and cultural influence. As the birthplace of the Weimar Republic and the playground of influential figures like Goethe and Schiller, it stands as a cultural hub with diverse attractions for visitors.

Detail © Nimish Sawant
LGBTQ+ friendly cities in Germany
A queer journey through the cities

Many German cities are today proud of their vibrant queer community. There are bars, clubs, events and initiatives that offer queer people a safe space. The ways to get there were very different.

Photo (detail): © mauritius images / SOPA Images Limited / Alamy / Alamy Stock Photos

Sports and Games

An Insider’s Perspective
Cricket in Germany

As a cricket enthusiast, you might think you would miss your go-to sport in Germany. But with over three hundred clubs, cricket is booming, defying Germany’s reputation as a football-dominated nation. In this article, we speak with Venkatraman Ganesan, former captain of the German National Cricket Team, to gain insights into the growing cricket scene in Germany.

© Venkatraman Ganesan
Fitness
5 Unusual Sports in Germany

Who is crazy enough to try and catch a ball on a broom? Who voluntarily runs after a plastic disc? The answer: quite a few. They enjoy a sport beyond the football league – on the lawn, under water, in the air.

Photo (detail): ©picture alliance / dpa | Lukas Schulze
Video Games from Germany
Typical German?

Germans like to play games. 53 percent of people over the age of 16 regularly play video games. And with a turnover of almost six billion euros, the gaming industry is now a significant economic factor. But which games come from Germany? And what makes them “typically German”?

© Deck13 Interactive
Tabletop Games
Let the Games Begin!

More board and card games are sold in Germany than in any other country. They guarantee fun, variety – and sometimes even divorce: an article about good moods and bad losers.

Photo (detail): © Adobe

Food

Dishes Named After Animals
Ten Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany

Have you ever wondered what a "falscher Hase" might be? A rabbit in disguise, perhaps? And how does "Bärendreck," meaning "bear dirt," relate to snacks? Here’s the ultimate list of German dishes that bear animal names.

© Getty Images
German coffee culture
Fancy coffee and cake?

There's nothing like a coffee in good company with a delicious piece of cake. The Germans even have their own word for it: Kaffeeklatsch. Get your cups out, we present five specialities of German coffee culture.

Photo (Detail): © toa-heftiba-W6sqUYIJRiw-unsplash
From farm to plate
Germany’s white gold

Spring in Germany is almost synonymous with blooming fields of white asparagus. But what is the fascination with this “white gold”? Our author explores this intrigue through a farm visit in Cologne and discovers a heartwarming love story from the 16th century.

Photo (detail): Saurabh Narang
The 10 most popular German street foods
Urban Bites: From Heritage to Hipster

Germany has never enjoyed the best reputation when it comes to cuisine. However today, the country has a lot more to offer than just sauerkraut and pork knuckle. Strongly influenced by migration in recent decades, the German street food scene now boasts an array of delicious dishes.

Foto (detail): picture alliance / abaca | AA/ABACA
Top Ten
Cologne Cafés for the Cold Season

To help you get through the winter, here is a selection of some of the best cafés in the beautiful city of Cologne.

© Katrin Ackermann

Stereotypes

Five typical German habits
That's how it's done here

No sense of humour, always overly punctual, taciturn and a little reserved – one nationality immediately pops into your head when you hear these descriptions: the Germans. The list could go on and on – here we look at five habits that are seen as “typically German”.

Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand
Stereotypes
In stereotypes we (should) trust

Stereotypes have a bad reputation, but beneath their hard, often exaggerated, easy-to-parody surface – valuable, shiny nuggets of truth lay just waiting for us to dig up. Let’s excavate five of the biggest German stereotypes and see what gems of insight lie glittering underneath.

Photo (detail): © Susi Bumms
Stereotypes
Germany For Experts

So Germans are punctual, humourless, drink beer and are world champion travellers? We’ve subjected seven stereotypes about Germany to close scrutiny, and made some surprising discoveries.

Photo (detail): © Adobe
Stereotypes
The Fine Art of German Nachhaltigkeit

Germans made headlines in the past as pioneers of recycling, photovoltaic technology and resistance to nuclear energy production, and still today they are proud of their ecological mindset. Yet signalling being nachhaltig is sometimes easier than actually being it.

Photo (detail): © Susi Bumms

That's so German!

Five inventions from Germany
Milestones

Germany, the land of poets and thinkers – and inventors. Many groundbreaking ideas that still shape our everyday lives today come from Germany. Here are five pioneering inventions made in Germany.

Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Konstantin Yolshin / Alamy / Alamy Stock Photos
Alternative fashion scenes in major German cities
Styled with pleasure

Style and fashion awareness in Germany? For a long time, this topic was met with little more than a pitying smile. But the picture has now changed – here are four stylish trends seen in major German cities.

Photo (detail): © Unsplash No revisions mlpZ452L6Zs
Six Unique German Place Names

“Your village is really ugly? Tear it down, that hell!” Oha – the Germans are real killers when it comes to bellyaching. Concealed within these two sentences are six intriguing place names, each carrying its own unique tale waiting to be unravelled.

© Juergen Lehle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Part 1: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 German Words You Should Know

The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

© Canva
Part 2: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 More German Words You Should Know

The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

© Canva
Picture Palace
5 Must-See German Christmas Movies

These movies will get you in the perfect mood for the Christmas season!

Photo (Detail): picture alliance/United Archives | United Archives / kpa Publicity
Tourism
Undiscovered Germany

As a holiday destination, Germany attracts visitors from all over the world because of its rich cultural and natural heritage. But what does Germany have to offer besides Cologne Cathedral, the Semper Opera House and Schloss Neuschwanstein? Check here to discover sights that you may not have been aware of.

Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa/Roland Weihrauch
House beautiful
Ten creative living spaces, made in Germany

A different way to live: unconventional and whimsical ideas from Germany.

Photo (detail): © picture alliance / dpa / Jens Wolf

Detours

A selfie at the Brandenburg Gate, a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle – all great. But which cities, landscapes and special places in Germany are also worth seeing? Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

Germany from all sides

The name alone is puzzling: what on earth is meant by the word “Zipfelbund”? And what might a Zipfel Passport, Zipfel Prize and Zipfel Pact refer to? But be warned: you will need quite a bit of time if you want to see everything.

Photo (detail): © Adobe
The Siren Song of Lorelei

Anyone who comes here – whether by mountain bike or on foot – will quickly fall in love with this region of culture, nature and wine on the River Rhine: it’s a very easy place to spend time.

Photo (detail): © Adobe

Guardians of the Night

It’s that tense moment when you’re standing outside a club: Will the bouncer let you in, or will it be a “Sorry, not tonight”? Apart from deciding who makes it past the doors, doorstaff are also responsible for ensuring that party-goers feel safe all night. Jonas Höschl and Sascha Ehlert portray five nightclub workers who together have over 50 years’ of doorstaff experience under their belt.

A Portrait of Bouncers
KILLA SCHUETZE, ROBERT JOHNSON (OFFENBACH) & TRESOR (BERLIN)

The Robert Johnson in Offenbach near Frankfurt am Main and Tresor in Berlin are both world-renowned clubs that have been around since the 1990s. Killa Schuetze has been guarding club doors for 15 years – first in Frankfurt, now in Berlin.

Photo: Jonas Höschl
A Portrait of Bouncers
ALEX WINKELMANN, BAR 25 & KATER HOLZIG (BERLIN)

In the 2000s, Bar 25 was one of the first clubs in Berlin where patrons could party for several days straight; and its successor club Kater Holzig continues to attract big crowds every weekend. Alex Winkelmann talks to us about his experiences.

Photo: Jonas Höschl
A Portrait of Bouncers
Kiki Gorei, Goldener Reiter (Munich)

Goldener Reiter opened in 2018 and is located on the edge of Munich’s Gärtnerplatz neighbourhood. Kiki Gorei has been a door supervisor at the club for ten years – and has no plans to stop.

Photo: Jonas Höschl

This might interest you too!

German City Portraits

German cities are as diverse as the landscape that surrounds them. In a series of city portraits, we embark on a journey through Goethe's homeland. Our authors have taken a close look at things small and large which make their cities so unique and lovable.

© Tobias Schrank
Detours

A selfie at the Brandenburg Gate, a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle – all great. But which cities, landscapes and special places in Germany are also worth seeing? Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

© Goethe-Institut e. V., Tobias Schrank
The German Language Column

Our column delves into navigating German language rules, tracing the origins of new words, and highlighting significant language usage shifts, offering insights into these engaging linguistic discussions.

© Goethe-Institut e. V./Illustration: Tobias Schrank
German Series in India
Binge Fever!

Television “Made in Germany” is having a golden moment with the rise of international streaming services. In this dossier, we highlight binge-worthy German serials and fill you in on where to watch them in India.

© Colourbox / Image editing Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
Current Music from Germany
Popcast

Rock, pop, hip-hop, electro: Together with Zündfunk, the Bavarian Radio's scene magazine, we showcase quality pop made in Germany.

© Goethe-Institut | Illustration: DOON 東
Germany #Nofilter

The magazine for German learners, German teachers and everyone interested in Germany: Stories about everyday life, career and studies, information about German cities, tips and trends.

© Goethe-Institut

Oh so German!

City Contours Düsseldorf The Heart of North Rhine-Westphalia

City contours Heidelberg A City of Literature, Culture, and Contrast

City contours Weimar “A Marvel in Thuringia's Heartbeat.”

LGBTQ+ friendly cities in Germany A queer journey through the cities

Sports and Games

An Insider’s Perspective Cricket in Germany

Fitness 5 Unusual Sports in Germany

Video Games from Germany Typical German?

Tabletop Games Let the Games Begin!

Food

Dishes Named After Animals Ten Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany

German coffee culture Fancy coffee and cake?

From farm to plate Germany’s white gold

The 10 most popular German street foods Urban Bites: From Heritage to Hipster

Top Ten Cologne Cafés for the Cold Season

Stereotypes

Five typical German habits That's how it's done here

Stereotypes In stereotypes we (should) trust

Stereotypes Germany For Experts

Stereotypes The Fine Art of German Nachhaltigkeit

That's so German!

Five inventions from Germany Milestones

Alternative fashion scenes in major German cities Styled with pleasure

Part 1: Intriguingly Untranslatable 5 German Words You Should Know

Part 2: Intriguingly Untranslatable 5 More German Words You Should Know

Picture Palace 5 Must-See German Christmas Movies

Tourism Undiscovered Germany

House beautiful Ten creative living spaces, made in Germany

Guardians of the Night

A Portrait of Bouncers KILLA SCHUETZE, ROBERT JOHNSON (OFFENBACH) & TRESOR (BERLIN)

A Portrait of Bouncers ALEX WINKELMANN, BAR 25 & KATER HOLZIG (BERLIN)

A Portrait of Bouncers Kiki Gorei, Goldener Reiter (Munich)

This might interest you too!

German Series in India Binge Fever!

Current Music from Germany Popcast

City Contours Düsseldorf
The Heart of North Rhine-Westphalia

City contours Heidelberg
A City of Literature, Culture, and Contrast

City contours Weimar
“A Marvel in Thuringia's Heartbeat.”

LGBTQ+ friendly cities in Germany
A queer journey through the cities

An Insider’s Perspective
Cricket in Germany

Fitness
5 Unusual Sports in Germany

Video Games from Germany
Typical German?

Tabletop Games
Let the Games Begin!

Dishes Named After Animals
Ten Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany

German coffee culture
Fancy coffee and cake?

From farm to plate
Germany’s white gold

The 10 most popular German street foods
Urban Bites: From Heritage to Hipster

Top Ten
Cologne Cafés for the Cold Season

Five typical German habits
That's how it's done here

Stereotypes
In stereotypes we (should) trust

Stereotypes
Germany For Experts

Stereotypes
The Fine Art of German Nachhaltigkeit

Five inventions from Germany
Milestones

Alternative fashion scenes in major German cities
Styled with pleasure

Part 1: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 German Words You Should Know

Part 2: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 More German Words You Should Know

Picture Palace
5 Must-See German Christmas Movies

Tourism
Undiscovered Germany

House beautiful
Ten creative living spaces, made in Germany

A Portrait of Bouncers
KILLA SCHUETZE, ROBERT JOHNSON (OFFENBACH) & TRESOR (BERLIN)

A Portrait of Bouncers
ALEX WINKELMANN, BAR 25 & KATER HOLZIG (BERLIN)

A Portrait of Bouncers
Kiki Gorei, Goldener Reiter (Munich)

German Series in India
Binge Fever!

Current Music from Germany
Popcast