Shopping in Germany can be a daunting experience if you are not familiar with how things work here.
The worst is probably grocery shopping. In South Africa there is usually someone at the till that bags your groceries for you. It is mostly a relaxed experience and you can even pay some of your utility bills at the till.
In Germany, there are no grocery packers and the workers at the till are extremely fast and efficient. So much that you do not even have time to pack in your own groceries. And don’t even dare to ask for a plastic bag! The best is to take your own reusable bags with you and pack your items into the trolley so that you can bag them at your leisure.
Payment options have changed since the Corona pandemic, and more stores are accepting cash cards and mobile payments. Credit cards are still not accepted at all stores.
Shops like Rewe now have self-help tills where you scan your own items and pay. It works with the weight of your items that you have to unpack before scanning so it is suited when you have only a few items.
Another difference to shopping in SA is the personal service you get in some stores, especially clothes or speciality shops.
Often you will get a salesperson asking if they can help you, and if you do need help they will make a great effort to give the correct advice.
Some clothing stores will help you with your wardrobe or give advice on what to wear to a specific event.
In some shoe shops, the attendant will ask if want to keep the box (die Schachtel). The next question will then be if you need a bag or have a bag (die Einkaufstüte or just Tüte). If you brought your own you can just answer “ja ich habe eine dabei Danke”
Something you should never do is make use of the advice in a shop and then go buy the item online. This is not fair towards the salesperson.
Clothes
We understand that shopping for clothes can be a daunting task, with so many options and stores to choose from. That’s why we’ve created a page dedicated to helping you find the best places to shop for clothes. Whether you’re looking for trendy boutiques, affordable department stores, or high-end designer labels, we’ve got you covered.
We also have a detailed page specifically dedicated to clothing sizes for women.

Where to shop for clothes
We understand how difficult it can be to find the perfect shop where you can buy new clothes. That’s why we took the initiative to put together a comprehensive list of shops that we believe could be helpful in your search. If there are shops that you believe should be included

Clothing sizes – Women
Woman’s Clothing The following table is a rough guide for Woman’s clothing. Most online shops will have a measurement guide, but even then it might not fit as expected. Shoes This is not a precise conversion, but a rough indication. This for men’s and women’s shoe sizes Vocabulary English German Bra
Grocery shopping

Grocery Shopping
Grocery Shopping in Germany Made Simple Stepping into a German supermarket for the first time can feel overwhelming. The store layout is unfamiliar, your go-to brands might be missing, and figuring out what to call plastic wrap in German can be challenging. This guide is here to help! We’ve gathered
House and home
Information about bed, duvet and pillow sizes in Germany.

Beds, Mattresses and Duvets
The sleeping arrangements in Germany is a bit different from what we are used to in South Africa. The average German couple sleeps on a bed base with two single mattresses and each with their own duvet.Some would argue for this but I would at least want to share a
Additional information

Similar Shops
Back home, you know exactly in what shop to look for specific items, where to find quality products and what shops have cheaper options.We tried to make a comparison of SA and German shops in the list below. You welcome to send us your suggestions via or Contact us page Related

Product Substitutes
Most products we know in South Africa are available in Germany, but unfortunately not all of them. Here is a list of product substitutes for some of them. I you would like more information about where to buy South African products in Germany, see our Products we love page. Food related products

Substitutes and Food Info
There are countless South African products that can be conveniently purchased online today. In those rare instances where you can’t find what you’re looking for in Germany, worry not, because there are plenty of excellent substitutes available that you can consider. We have taken the liberty of compiling a list
Some helpful phrases/Terms:
- No thank you, I am just looking – Nein danke, ich schaue mich nur um.
- Where are the changing rooms – Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen?
- Can I try it on? – Kann ich es anprobieren?
- I’ll take it – Ich nehme es
- How much does it cost? – Wieviel kostet es?
- Do you need a bag? – Brauchen Sie eine Tüte?
- Do you want a receipt? – Möchten Sie einen Beleg?
- Special offer – das Sonderangebot
- Sale – der Ausverkauf
- Shopping basket – der Einkaufskorb
- Shopping trolley – der Einkaufswagen
- to pay – bezahlen
- Bakery – die Bäckerei
- Department store – das Kaufhaus
- Sweet Shop – der Süßwarenladen
- Butcher – die Fleischerei oder die Metzgerei
- Chemist – die Aphoteke
- Supermarket – der Supermarkt
- Till or checkout- die Kasse
- The price – der Preis
- Bag – die Tasche
For more have a look on this page
Related content

Gardening Rules
Garden Laws in Germany: A Quick Guide If you’re a proud plant parent or weekend weed warrior here in Germany, you might be surprised to find that your garden is subject to some pretty specific rules. This isn’t just about making things look neat — it’s about noise, nature, and neighbourliness. Whether you’re tending to your tulips in a tidy suburban plot or growing boereboontjies on your balcony, there are a few legal bits and seasonal tips worth knowing. Did you know your garden and the local green spaces are living habitats for wildlife and insects? If you cut back or trim your plants too soon, you are removing necessary pollen sources for insects, such as bees and butterflies. It can also reduce or eliminate habitat for birds and small mammals that are dependent on these for food and shelter Some laws and regulations to know Trimming Regulations According to Article 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), excessive cutting and grafting of trees, hedges, shrubs, and woody plants are prohibited between 1 March to 30 September. This is referred to as Pflanzen-Schonzeit. You are allowed to gently trim vegetation for general care and maintenance. If birds are nesting in a tree or bush, you are not allowed to trim it Quiet Hours You are only allowed to mow your lawn from Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 in the morning to 20:00. You are not allowed to mow your lawn on a Sunday or a public holiday. If your tools do not have the correct EU Environment labels, you can only use them from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. The fines are quite hefty. Compost, But Don’t Offend Composting is encouraged, but your pile shouldn’t smell like something died in it. If it becomes a nuisance, you could face fines — so no meat, dairy, or cooked food, and make sure it’s turned regularly. Watch the Fence Boundary hedges and trees must keep a respectful distance. Each federal state has different requirements, but as a rule of thumb: Hedges under 2m: at least 50 cm from the boundary. Trees: often need 1–2m clearance, depending on height and type. Weed killers The use of weed killers is only permitted on agricultural, horticultural and forestry areas. Weed killers may not be used on paved surfaces. These include paths and squares such as sidewalks, park and cemetery paths, garage entrances, courtyard areas, sports facilities, communal and commercial areas of all kinds. It is irrelevant whether the herbicides are approved or are home remedies such as vinegar or road salt. Violators face fines of up to € 50,000. See the Plant Protection Act for more information. Why You Shouldn’t Mow Over Spring Bulbs Too Soon When your lawn transforms into a colourful spring wonderland — with anemones, dandelions, tulips, crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, snowdrops, or lily of the valley — it’s tempting to tidy up as soon as the petals drop. But hold off on that mower! Those leaves may look a bit untidy, but they’re doing crucial behind-the-scenes work. After blooming, the leaves continue to photosynthesise — converting sunlight into energy. This energy is stored in the bulb underground, fueling next year’s flowers. If you cut the leaves too early, you rob the bulb of its ability to recharge, and next spring’s display might be disappointing or even absent. While there may not be a federal law that specifically bans mowing over bulbs too early, many German towns — especially ones pushing “natural lawn” or Bienenwiese initiatives — have local ordinances or at least recommendations encouraging delayed mowing in spring, naturalising flower lawns and leaving parts of the garden wild for biodiversity. In some districts (like parts of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony), early mowing in public green spaces or rented allotment gardens (Schrebergärten) may even go against local garden rules (Gartenordnung). It’s always worth checking your municipality or Kleingartenverein‘s guidelines. Delaying your mowing until bulb leaves fade isn’t just better for your plants — it’s better for bees, bugs, birds, and even your next bloom season. Think of it as nature’s recharge period: hands off, and let the garden do its thing. Regional laws Rules for gardening are also regulated by the federal states and sometimes also by the municipality. These can include the distance between trees, building a greenhouse, removal of lawn and bushes, stone gardens ( Schottergärten ) etc. Your rental agreement and home association rules can also dictate what you can and can not do. A common issue is plants or plant boxes on the balcony. Some examples: Nachbarrecht Baden-Württemberg Gerätehütten und Gartenhäuser Baden-Württemberg Schrebergarten (Allotment/urban gardens) These are small inner-city gardens. Finding one to rent is extremely difficult. They are also known as Kleingartenanlae or Gartenkolonie. Wohnglück has an article on how to get a Kleingarten Monthly Garden Task List Need a cheat sheet for what to do in the garden each month? Here’s your friendly South African gardener’s guide — Germany edition. 🌱 January Sharpen your secateurs and prep tools. Plan your garden layout or order seeds. 🌿 February Prune fruit trees before sap starts running. Start early seeds indoors (like tomatoes or peppers if you’re brave). 🌷 March Clear dead plant matter and prepare beds. Sow hardy veg like carrots, radish, and lettuce. 🌼 April Plant potatoes and onions. Begin hardening off indoor seedlings. 🌞 May Plant frost-sensitive veg and flowers outside (after Eisheiligen, usually around May 15). Mow the lawn regularly — within quiet hours! 🌻 June Keep an eye on weeds — they’ll try to take over. Mulch beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds. 🍓 July Harvest early fruits and berries. Water deeply, preferably early morning or evening. 🍅 August Continue harvesting — tomatoes, beans, zucchini. Prune hedges before the autumn growth spurt. 🍂 September Plant autumn bulbs (tulips, daffodils). Divide and transplant perennials. 🍁 October Rake leaves (some towns provide compost drop-off points). Wrap delicate plants in fleece or mulch for winter. 🌨 November Clean and store tools. Protect pots

South African Recipes
Click here to submit your recipe Seasonal recipes Resources on the web Ina Paarman Pinterest – on the Braai Jan Braai Watertand resepte vir oud en jonk Cape Malay Cooking with Fatima Sydow Boerekos Related pages

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 part of Germany lies in the cool/temperate climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. In the northwest and the north, the climate is oceanic and rain falls all year round. Winters here are relatively mild and summers comparatively cool.In the east, the climate shows clear continental features; winters can be very cold for long periods, and summers can become very warm. Dry periods are often recorded. In the centre and the south, there is a transitional climate that may be predominantly oceanic or continental, according to the general weather situation. Winters are cool and summers warm, though maximum temperatures can exceed 30 °C for several days in a row during heat waves. The warmest regions of Germany can be found in the southwest.Here summers can be hot with many days exceeding 30 °C. Weather atlas gives a good overview of the climate per month Another good source of information by Region/Town is the Climatemps website. Here is an example of the weather data they have for Stuttgart Current weather conditions BERLIN WEATHER STUTTGART WEATHER FELDBERG WEATHER Towns with the most sunshine Freiburg and Chemnitz are known as the towns with the most sunshine hours in Germany.Looking for other sunny cities in Germany? You can see a comparison here. When you don’t feel yourself during the darker months, you might suffer from Seasonal affective disorder Warmest cities in Germany Frankfurt is the warmest city in the summer.The city with the highest average temperature for 2019 was Köln-Stammheim. Offenbach am Main is also on the list.Rostock is the coldest on average. Most Rainfall per city Halle / Saale has the least rainfall. It also seldom rains in Erfurt, Berlin and Magdeburg – they still have little sunshine (3.8 to 4.4 hours/day).According to Bild, A lot of rain falls in Oldenburg (1072 milliliters), Remscheid (942), Essen (931), Solingen (896) and Wuppertal (866).This means that North Rhine-Westphalia is not only one of the regions with the poorest sunshine but also one of the rainiest regions. Where to find the most Snow The snowiest location in Germany is the Zugspitze, standing at an elevation of 3,000 meters. While snow is most common in mountainous regions, lower-lying areas also experience snowfall, though less frequently. The heaviest snowfall typically occurs in January and February. Types of weather conditions Precipitation refers to any form of atmospheric moisture that falls to the Earth’s surface. There are various types of precipitation that can occur depending on the temperature and atmospheric conditions in a particular region. The most common types of precipitation include rain, snow, sleet, and hail. To read more about the difference between Graupel, Freezing rain, Sleet and snow, have a look on this page from NJ. der Regen Rain Rain occurs when liquid water droplets in the air combine and become heavy enough to fall to the ground der Hagel Hail Hail is formed when strong updrafts carry water droplets high into the atmosphere where they freeze and are repeatedly cycled through rising and falling air currents, forming layers of ice. der Dauerregen Constant or persistent rain The US National Weather Service has a good explanation of the different types of rainIn Central Europe one speaks of continuous rain when it continues with uninterrupted rainfall and a severity of more than 0.5 millimeters of precipitation per hour for a period of at least six hours. der Sprühregen or der Nieselregen Drizzle Fairly uniform precipitation composed exclusively of fine drops very close together. Drizzle appears to float while following air currents, but unlike fog droplets, it falls to the ground. Quite often fog and drizzle occur together. der Graupel / Graupel Also known as snow pellets.Graupel forms when snowflakes are coated with a layer of ice. Graupel is typically white and opaque. der Eisregen Freezing rain Raindrops becomes supercooled and freeze upon impact with any surface. This results in ice that can accumulate.Freezing rain occurs when the layer of freezing air is so thin that the raindrops do not have enough time to freeze before reaching the ground. Instead, the water freezes on contact with the surface, creating a coating of ice on whatever the raindrops contact. der Schneeregen Sleet Sleet is simply frozen raindrops and occurs when the layer of freezing air along the surface is thicker. This causes the raindrops to freeze before reaching the ground.Sleet occurs mainly just before snowfall and looks like hoarfrost droplets. In contrast to snow, sleet grains are easily breakable. Often these break when they hit the ground. der Schnee Snow Snow occurs when the temperature is cold enough for water vapor to freeze into ice crystals in the air. Snow is solid precipitation that falls from the sky in the form of ice crystals. The ice crystals look like six-pointed stars, needles, columns or plates. der Nebel Fog In the meteorological glossary fog is defined as ‘obscurity in the surface layers of the atmosphere, which is caused by a suspension of water droplets. By international agreement (particularly for aviation purposes) fog is the name given to resulting visibility less than 1 km. However, in forecasts for the public, this generally refers to visibility less than 180 m. Some also say that Fog is a cloud that reaches ground level (rolls in) Der Dunst Mist Mist is defined as ‘when there is such obscurity and the associated visibility is equal to or exceeds 1000 m.’ Like fog, mist is still the result of the suspension of water droplets, but simply at a lower density. Mist typically is quicker to dissipate and can rapidly disappear with even slight winds, it’s also what you see when you can see your breath on a cold day. Some also say that mist forms on the ground (rises) der Eisnebel Freezing fog The fog forms when the temps at the surface are below freezing.The accumulation will usually be horizontal due to the wind. This type of fog can occur when cold air
You must be logged in to post a comment.