Without a doubt, Germany is one of the most amazing places to visit in the heart of Europe. You can find so many things to discover when traveling in this beautiful country: historic cities, beautiful scenery, outstanding architecture, exciting nightlife options, various festivals, and events. Plus, don’t forget about the excellent food and beer!
The cultural richness in Germany can certainly give you plenty of reasons to plan your next trip to Deutschland. Here are 15 unique and interesting facts about Germany (that you probably didn’t know)!
Germany Has Over 1,000 Different Types of Sausages
Germany is well-known for its delicious sausages. Yet, you may find it hard to believe that Germans have more than 1,000 different types of sausages!
The most popular sausage varieties include Bratwurst, Weisswurst, Frankfurter, Knackwurst, and Teewurst. Since the different types of sausages are flavored with different spices, they are all worth tasting. Make sure to try as many of these tasty sausages while staying in Germany!
The First Oktoberfest Was Actually a Wedding
The Oktoberfest, the famous German festival is held in Munich each year. But what many people don’t know is that the first Oktoberfest in 1810 was organized to celebrate the marriage of the Crown Prince of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It happened only later on that the yearly anniversary grew into a huge festival with beer and German food specialties that nowadays attracts over 6 million visitors each year.
Unfortunately, the Oktoberfest was canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But hopefully, in 2022, the festival will take place as usual.
There Are More Than 400 Zoos in Germany
The first thing I bet you didn’t know is that there are more than 400 registered zoos throughout the country.
The Zoological Garden in Berlin (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is one of the largest zoos in the world and the oldest one in Germany (founded in 1844). This zoo has an enormous collection of species: you can discover about 1,200 species on 84 acres (34 ha) of land.
No wonder that a high number of visitors are coming to see this zoo each year. Just in 2019 alone, the Berlin Zoo had more than 3 million visitors!
Germany Has the Highest Smartphone Usage in the World
According to Newzoo, in a 2020 analysis, Germany’s population has the highest percentage of smartphone users in the world. With a total population of 83.9 million people and 67.14 million people using smartphones, Germany has a smartphone penetration rate of 80%.
Compare that to other major countries like the US and China, whose rates are 72.1% and 59.9% respectively, and you can see how mobile-first the country really is.
Some of the World’s Most Spectacular Castles Are Located in Germany
When visiting Germany, you can explore some of the most spectacular castles in the world as there are numerous castles located throughout the country. – According to some estimations, there are more than 20,000 castles in Germany!
Just to mention a few castles to visit, below you find a list of Germany’s most beautiful castles:
- Eltz Castle
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Hohenzollern Castle
- Marburger Schloss
- Hohenschwangau Castle
Forests Cover About One-Third of the Country
If you love the stillness and beauty of forests, then Germany is definitely one of the best travel destinations for you. Interestingly, forests and woodlands cover about one-third of the country. Thus, you have many beautiful forest areas to visit once you arrive in Germany.
Probably, the most amazing forest in Germany is the Black Forest which is a 6,009 km² large woodland in Baden-Württemberg. A must-see place for nature lovers!
Germans Are the Best in European Beer Production
While many people think that Germans are world champions in annual beer consumption, the truth is that the Czechs are better at beer drinking.
However, when it comes to beer production, Germans can be proud of themselves. Germany stands in first place in Europe. More than 1,300 breweries are located in the country.
Most German Shops Are Closed on Sundays
Since Sunday is a rest day for Germans, in general, shops are closed on this day of the week in Germany. Of course, there are some exceptions. So, you can find some shops open, such as bakeries, grocery stores at train, bus, and metro stations, and shops at the gas stations.
