South Africans in Germany

July

Most people in Germany take their summer holidays in either July, August or September.
For most Germans, Spain is the number one summer holiday destination, with Mallorca being the most popular island to visit. Greece and Italy are also highly sought-after locations, with their beautiful beaches and rich history. Another great summer holiday destination is Malta, where they speak English and offer a unique blend of European and North African cultures.
If you’re looking to stay closer to home, there are plenty of amazing travel destinations within Germany to choose from. The Ostsee, Nordsee, Sylt, and Lake Constance are just a few of the top-rated destinations that offer beautiful scenery, cultural attractions, and outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Tourist accommodation types

Germany, known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities, offers a diverse range of accommodation options to suit every traveler’s needs. Here’s a guide to some

Travel in the Schengen Area

Travel within the Schengen Area “The Schengen Area is a zone comprised of 29 European states which have officially abolished passports and other types of border control at their mutual

The weather is perfect for outdoor activities and al fresco dining. The Germans calls a braai grilling, and they like to grill sausages, vegetables, and even cheese. There are some rules around braaing at your home and also for doing it in a public space.

Grilling in public

When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a

Braai Season

Summer is finally here and it is time to invite friends to kuier around the braai. But before you light your charcoal, check out the rules and regulations that

In summer, public swimming facilities (Freibad) will be open to visitors. Other options are to swim at a beach, a Baggersee or a lake.
You can find a list of all the lakes (der See/Seen) in Germany on this website.
Other outdoor activities that are very popular during summer are hiking and biking. There are many websites and apps available with easy-to-follow routes.

Most fruit trees will be heavy with fruit by now. In Germany, there are rules about when you are allowed to pick fruit from trees that do not belong to you. The general rule is that if the trees belong to a fruit farmer you are not allowed to pick the fruit, if the trees do not belong to a fruit farmer, then you can pick fruit for your own use.
For each Bundesland, there might be different rules. Here is a short article about it (in German).
Websites with more information on where you can go pick fruit, also from farmers, are Mundraub and https://www.streuobstwiesen-boerse.de/,

Season	Summer
Time	Central European Time (CET), Summertime – the same time as South Africa until the last Sunday of October, when Wintertime starts (30 October 2022).
Weather	The average day temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. The days become shorter. There are still many hours of sunshine.

There might still be some Pollen in the air, have a look at the Pollenkalender here

Plan your month

everything you need to know

Festivals

The warmer weather and long nights mean that the summer Festivals are in full swing.
Cities come alive with street parades, music, markets, food and enough to drink.

Holidays

Most Federal States begin their summer holidays in July. There are no public holidays in July.

Events

Events listed on our website

Some foods and drinks to try

01.

Mirabelle plums are sweet and delicious, bursting with flavour that will satisfy your taste buds. Try them as a snack or in culinary creations.

02.

You will find the best ice-cream at Italian Gelato shops. Do try Spaghetti Eis

03.

Strawberries (Erdbeeren), Red currant berries (Johannisbeeren), Blueberries (Blaubeeren), Gooseberries (Stachelbeeren) and Cherries (Kirschen) are still in season

04.

Aperol Spritz
Campari Orange
Elderflower Cocktail (Hugo)
Spritzers(Schorle)
Fruit Punch (Fruchtbowle)
Cold Duck (Kalte Ente)
Sagria
Beer and wine cocktails

05.

Another seasonal fruit is the Damask Plum ( Zwetschgen). It is not to be confused with normal plums (Pflaumen). Most bakeries will sell Zwetschgenkuchen or Zwetschgendatschi. Eat it with a big dollop of cream or ice cream. You can also substitute the Zwetschgen for Mirabellen

06.

Rhubarb is a staple ingredient in many popular German recipes, such as rhubarb cake (Rhabarberkuchen) and rhubarb compote (Rhabarberkompott). Its tart flavour complements sweet dishes well, creating a unique and delicious contrast that many people enjoy.

Fruit and Veggies in Season

Vocabulary

German Barbecue	das Grillfest
a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.	die Gemütlichkeit
Man-made quarry filled with water	der Baggersee
Lake	der See
Ocean	das Meer
Beach	Beach
Vacation	der Urlaub
Trip	die Reise
Accommodation	die Unterkunft
Streuobstwiesen	Man-made Orchards and a form of fruit growing that is designed for multiple uses. The tall trees that are “scattered” in the landscape carry various fruits such as apples, pears, cherries, plums or walnuts. The meadow can be used as pastureland.

Sources

Outdoors

Most South Africans love being outdoors. This can sometimes feel like a challenge in Germany, where the weather can be unpredictable and often requires a

Swimming in Germany

Swimming options Private swimming pools are not so popular in Germany, but there are good public swimming options available. Public swimming pools / Öffentliche Schimmbäder

Cycling

Discover Germany on Two Wheels: Where Cycling Meets Culture and Scenic Adventure** Cycling in Germany is an integral part of the country’s culture, transportation system,

Weather in Germany

German Climate Germany’s climate is temperate and marine, with cold, cloudy winters and warm summers and in the south occasional warm föhn wind. The greater

Spring is finally here, but let’s not get overly excited, as temperatures will still take a few weeks to rise.
Although the trees will only begin to bloom in April, nature blesses us with the most beautiful flowers, like the cheerful Crocus, the elegant Narcissus and the stunning Tulips. These flowers can be seen in most gardens and meadows, adding a touch of colour and beauty to our surroundings.
There is also the anticipation of the upcoming Easter celebrations, and most houses and gardens will be decorated accordingly, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
Another great thing about March is the increase in daylight, which gives us more time to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us. Every day the sun comes up a minute or two earlier and sets a bit later.
Keep in mind that some places may still have snow, especially in the mountains. So, let’s embrace this transitional period with open arms and cherish all the little joys that come with it!

Season	Spring
Time	Central European Time (CET), one hour behind South Africa until the last Sunday of March, when Summertime starts (26 March 2022).
Weather	The temperatures average between 0.2 °C and 7.4 °C. Depending on the location, it could be warmer or colder. The average daily sunshine is 3.8 hours.

Here is a list of food traditionally eaten in Germany over the Easter period

Gründonnerstag:
Gründonnerstag sounds like green Thursday although it is derived from the old German word greinen, which means crying. Thus many people celebrate by eating green dishes, such as the following:
– Seven herb soup / Sieben Kräutersuppe
– Chervil soup / Kerbelsuppe
– Eggs in green sauce / Eier in grüner Sauce

Karfreitag:
Church bells are silent on Good Friday. Families may go to church and in some towns, such as Bensheim you will see processions.
Dancing is not allowed on Good Friday, neither are weddings. The shops are closed.
It is a tradition to eat fish at dinner with your family.
– Fish cakes with green sauce / Fishfrikadellen mit grüner Sauce

Ostersamstag:
In Northern Germany, people light Easter fires (das Osterfeuer) as a symbol of light in the darkness.
These fires are sometimes lit on Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Ostersonntag:
Families come together to celebrate. They may go to church together and then have a big brunch or a festive dinner.
The main dish is often lamb.
Children hunt for Easter eggs.

– Colorful boiled eggs / Bunte Frühstückseier – served with Black Forest ham and Emmentaler cheese
– Easter bunny brioches / Osterhasebrioches
– Roast leg of lamb with juniper berry sauce / Lammkeule mit Wacholderbeerensauce
– Biennenstich cake. Click on this link for other Easter cake recipes
– Easter lamb cake
– Hefezopf
– German Sweat Bread nests

Ostermontag:
Easter Monday is a day of remembrance and reflection.

Other Foods:
Before Easter, you will find Easter bread (das Osterbrot) in most bakeries.
Brightly colored boiled eggs and of course beautiful chocolate easter eggs in the bakeries
The asparagus season (die Spargelsaison) starts in the middle of April.
Traditionally the white variety is eaten with hollandaise sauce, potatoes, and ham.
To find out how to buy and store asparagus, as well as some recipes, read our page about the German white gold.