Dating In Germany [The Ultimate Guide For Foreigners] (2023)

FAQs

What is the German dating habit? ›

The German approach to dating: slow and steady

They prefer to go on casual dates and use the dating phase to get to know you better. So, the first date or even the first few dates might not be as romantic as you hope. Although casual dating is the norm, it's implied that you won't be playing the field.

Go on a First Date: drinks, sometimes dinner, an event, whatever. A kiss or three is expected if both have a good time. If one/both did NOT have a good time (or if it fails to develop into a romantic spark), they will often never see each other again.

Meeting new people is relatively easy in Germany and dating practices are similar to other European countries. Teenagers generally begin to socialize with peers at school, within their neighborhood, or through social activities and local clubs.

Dating A German Means Exclusivity

Germans don't mess around, and when they give you their valuable time and energy, they expect the same from the other person wholeheartedly. Going out with other people at the same time is pretty much like cheating and conveying that you are not seriously interested.

The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.

Flirting In German: It's All In The Eyes

It just means sexy eye contact could involve a little more “innuendo” than usual. This does not mean it'll necessarily be accompanied by a smile, or that you'll be invited with a lingering gaze. A favorite move when flirting in German is the “look, but then quickly look away.”

Two Kisses: Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia, Brazil (though, like France, the number can differ by region), and some Middle Eastern countries (though not between opposite sexes)

Oftentimes, they don't explicitly ask you out on a date but rather phrase it like “do you want to go for coffee sometime?” so it becomes hard to tell what their intention is. Furthermore, many Germans like to keep their distance until they get to know you better, so it may be best not to get too personal too quickly.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin's open attitude to sex and relationships make it one of the best cities for singles in Europe, where over 51% of the population is single.

The cost of living: average values for Germany in 2022

According to Destatis, it adds up to €2,507 a month, with 37% of this going towards housing and energy costs and 15% on food, alcohol, and tobacco (as of September 2022). If you calculate this on an annual basis, the average cost of living in Germany is €30,084.

What is best before date in Germany? ›

The best-before date (“Mindesthaltbarkeit / MHD” in German) is a date that comes with a recommended storage temperature. It can usually be found on processed food, such as cookies and yogurt.

The lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. The highest is set at 18 years – in Malta. About half of the Member States apply different age limits to sexual acts between young persons.

Parship. Parship is the most popular dating website in Germany, thanks to its aggressive marketing. They promise that every 11 minutes, a single is falling in love via Parship. Their focus is also long-term serious relationships.

Germans are, as a whole, not especially touchy-feely type people, so the lack of intimate physical touch also functions as a bonus lifehack of living and working in Germany. Organize yourself and pay attention to details.

Three kisses in a row is a new type of kiss that a person in love gives to the one they love. These kisses are short ones that come one after the other. If they give you these magical three kisses, one after the other, they want to make sure that you know that they love you.

Butterfly kisses are when you gently flutter your eyelids against another person's check or arm. It tickles, and feels a bit like butterfly wings on your skin.

Germans are extremely punctual and well-mannered. Showing up late, losing your cool, or raising your voice are all considered rude and thoughtless. If you step out of line, don't be surprised or offended if someone corrects your behavior, as this is very common in the German culture.

Physical Contact: People tend not to touch one another very much during communication unless they are close friends. Touching someone on the shoulder or arm to emphasise a point is generally acceptable, but can otherwise be seen as a sexual advance.

In Germany, intense eye contact is a daily occurrence – to such an extend that expats and visitors have dubbed it “The Germanic Stare Down.” German pedestrians also use it to communicate, and the right amount of eye contact at the right time can mean “I am walking here, and it's not my fault if you don't move over and ...

Unlike other languages, the German expression “Ich liebe dich” is almost exclusively used in romantic relationships. Nevertheless, Germans like to express their love for their friends and family too. In most cases, they say “Ich hab' dich lieb,” which could be translated as “I have love for you.”

How do Germans distinguish between friend and girlfriend? ›

All of these relationships are expressed by the same word Freund for a male friend/boyfriend and Freundin for female friend/girlfriend.

A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.

In Germany you will probably see couples holding hands or kissing openly on the streets. Do not feel uncomfortable or angry about this as it is considered normal. Holding hands is an expression of love and affection; good friends will usually not walk side by side holding hands.

While in other countries, such as France or most parts of South America, a hug or a kiss on the cheek are common, even in daily business culture. In Germany, however, you shake hands with both genders. In more relaxed situations, you can give hugs and people won't refuse them.

Kisses on the lips or cheeks as a way to greet someone in Germany is not a common practice at all. Even among close family and friends, it's a rare occurrence. However, kissing on the cheeks is more culturally accepted in neighboring Austria but still reserved for close family and friends.

Unless both persons to be wed speak German fluently, you will need to bring a translator or interpreter with you to the Town Hall when you give notice of the impending marriage. Preferably, the same translator or interpreter should also translate during the wedding ceremony.

Schatz (treasure)

You don't have to go to the end of the rainbow to find it, because "Schatz" is by far the most common German term of endearment. It's popular among lovers and old married couples, but also used for children.

They tend to be quite calculated and patient at the start of a new relationship. You will also notice that sex isn't always the first thing on the German mind. Many foreigners, especially women, find this very refreshing when going out with German men.

What is the most English friendly city in Germany? ›

If you're an international looking to move to Germany, you'll want to find a city where English is spoken a lot. Which cities are these in Germany? A study shows: The German cities with best English are Karlsruhe, Munich, Dresden, Bremen and Düsseldorf.

The German city which has most immigrants is Frankfurt.

It is continental Europe's largest financial center and has a population of approximately 2.5 million in the city and surrounding urban area. The city is in great demand of software developers, programmers, architects, IT consultants, nurses, teachers, etc.

While the cost of living in Germany is slightly above the EU average, it is still cheaper to live there than in France, the Netherlands, or even Italy! When considering the cost of living in Germany vs. the U.S., you'll find that the cost of living in Germany is nearly 19% lower.

The cost of living in Germany is quite reasonable compared to other European countries. You will need around 934 euros a month to cover your living expenses in Germany as of 2022.

According to Statista, in 2021, the average gross annual salary in Germany was 47.700 euros a year, or 3.975 euros a month. The numbers above are for all of Germany. However, the average gross salary will depend greatly on your location, professional experience, education, size of the company, and gender.

The number version is pretty much like the American version of the date. Instead of using slashes, however, German uses periods, and you put the day before the month. So November 4, 1990 would be written in English as 11/4/1990, but in German as 4.11. 90 (and make sure you don't confuse this with April 11!).

German Unity Day | October, 3

The German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is the most important non-religious holiday in Germany. It's a national holiday where Germans are granted a day off work on October 3rd. The holiday was founded in 1990 after the reunification of West and East Germany.

Can a 30 year old date a 15 year old in Germany? ›

The age of consent in Germany is 14, as long as a person over the age of 21 does not exploit a 14- to 15-year-old person's lack of capacity for sexual self-determination, in which case a conviction of an individual over the age of 21 requires a complaint from the younger individual; being over 21 and engaging in sexual ...

Flirting In German: It's All In The Eyes

It just means sexy eye contact could involve a little more “innuendo” than usual. This does not mean it'll necessarily be accompanied by a smile, or that you'll be invited with a lingering gaze. A favorite move when flirting in German is the “look, but then quickly look away.”

Go on a First Date: drinks, sometimes dinner, an event, whatever. A kiss or three is expected if both have a good time. If one/both did NOT have a good time (or if it fails to develop into a romantic spark), they will often never see each other again.

German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another's privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of 'order' is more apparent than in German business culture.

Attachment to order, organisation and planning is a stereotype of German culture. Germany is perceived to have an abundance of rules (for example, copyright trolls often come from Germany) and Germans are generalized as enjoying obeying them.

Tradition in the north and west of Germany states that unmarried men must sweep the steps of their town hall dressed as women until they are kissed by a virgin.

China has retained its position as Germany's top trading partner in 2022, according to a recent report from Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This marks the seventh consecutive year that China has held this position.

Despite all the changes in society, Germany remains a country with conservative values. The system of government, strong civil society and respect for human rights are considered the cornerstones of Germany, and are awarded due recognition as such.

Germans are extremely punctual and well-mannered. Showing up late, losing your cool, or raising your voice are all considered rude and thoughtless. If you step out of line, don't be surprised or offended if someone corrects your behavior, as this is very common in the German culture.

What qualities are Germans known for? ›

Marriages are considered legal unions or "legally binding contracts" between the persons involved. Marriage has traditionally been protected from the outset under the Constitution. Everybody getting married in Germany must first appear physically at a Standesamt for a civil ceremony.

All foreigners marrying in Germany require an official Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry or Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) or Certificate of Single Status (Ledigkeitsbescheinigung) to obtain a marriage license at a Civil Registry Office (Standesamt).

03/8​Germany

It seems Germans are in no hurry to tie the knot—the average age at which people in Germany get married is 33.1 years.