Visitor Essentials

Basic Greetings

• HelloHallo
• Good morningGuten Morgen
• Good eveningGuten Abend
• GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen
• Thank youDanke
• PleaseBitte

Everyday Words

• YesJa
• NoNein
• Excuse meEntschuldigung
• SorryEs tut mir leid
• HelpHilfe

Useful Questions

• Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?
• I don't understandIch verstehe nicht
• Can you help me?Können Sie mir helfen?
• Where is…?Wo ist…?

Food & Shopping

• WaterWasser
• FoodEssen
• HalalHalal
• VegetarianVegetarisch
• Bill, pleaseDie Rechnung bitte

The Pfand deposit system

Most bottles and cans carry a refundable deposit (Pfand):

Buy bottle → Return bottle → Get refund

Look for the Pfand symbol, then return empties at the machine inside any supermarket to get your deposit back.

Watch: how the Pfand system works

Where to buy water & return Pfand

Bottled water and Pfand return machines are available at all major supermarkets:

Eating out

• Not all restaurants are halal — look for signs labelled “Halal” or “Helal”.
• Turkish and Arab grocery stores and restaurants usually offer certified halal meat.
• Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King are generally not halal, though vegetarian options are available.

Useful phrases

• Is this halal?Ist das halal?
• Does this contain pork?Enthält das Schweinefleisch?

Packaged food — ingredients to watch

Always check labels for Schweinefleisch (pork), Alkohol / Ethylalkohol (alcohol), and Gelatine (often pork-based). Marshmallows, jellies, and gummies often contain pork gelatin — choose products labelled “vegan” if unsure. Some breads contain alcohol; safe options include:

🥖 Brot · 🥐 Brötchen (rolls) · 🌾 Vollkornbrot (whole grain) · 🥨 Brezel (pretzels) · 🫓 bakery sourdough

Before you buy — check the label

• Look for a Halal-certified stamp or logo on the packaging, and only purchase the product if it is there.
• Where there is no halal stamp (or it does not apply), use Google Translate's camera to scan and read the ingredients before buying — watch for the pork, alcohol, and gelatine terms listed above.

Find halal nearby

Search for halal restaurants and shops around the venue:

Good to know

• Typical hours: Mon–Sat 7:00–20:00 (varies). Check Google Maps for exact timings.
• Almost all shops are closed on Sundays by law.
• ATMs (Geldautomat) are at stations and city centres.

Money & tipping

The currency is the Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash as small bakeries, kiosks, and market stalls may be cash-only. Tipping isn't mandatory — it's normal to round up or leave about 5–10% in restaurants and taxis, usually handed directly to staff or by telling them the total.

Types of trains in Germany

• ICE (InterCity Express) — Germany's fastest long-distance trains, connecting major cities. Not covered by the Deutschlandticket.
• IC / EC (InterCity / EuroCity) — Long-distance trains within Germany and neighbouring countries. Not covered by the Deutschlandticket.
• RE (Regional Express) — Fast regional trains with fewer stops. Covered by the Deutschlandticket.
• RB (Regionalbahn) — Local regional trains stopping at most stations. Covered by the Deutschlandticket.
• S-Bahn — Urban and suburban trains connecting city centres with surrounding areas. Covered by the Deutschlandticket.

The Deutschlandticket is valid on RE, RB, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses — but not on ICE, IC, or EC trains.

Choosing the right ticket

• Short stay: buy day tickets or multi-day tickets (such as 10-day passes), depending on the length of your stay.
• 1 month or longer: the Deutschlandticket (€63/month) gives unlimited travel on local and regional public transport across Germany.

Need more details? Download the DB Navigator app or visit Deutsche Bahn (DB) for routes, schedules, and ticket information.

Frankfurt public transport

For the easiest experience, we strongly recommend the RMVgo app (Frankfurt & Rhine-Main):

• Official app for all local travel in Frankfurt.
• Shows live routes, platforms, and travel times.
• Lets you buy day tickets, group tickets, and single tickets.
• Works across Frankfurt & surrounding cities (e.g. Mainz, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt).

Tickets & validation

App tickets are already valid. A paper ticket must be stamped in the yellow/orange validation box before/at boarding. Carry your passport/ID and visa in case of checks.

Getting around locally

• Apps: DB Navigator (nationwide), RMV (Frankfurt/Hanau).
• Ride services: Uber and Free Now in major cities.
• Short hops: bike-sharing (Nextbike, DB Rad+) and e-scooters (Tier, Lime) — all app-based.

Baby essentials

Diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, feeding items, and baby-safe sunscreen are easily found at dm and Rossmann. Affordable trusted in-house brands:

Medical care for children

For minor issues, pharmacies (Apotheke) can advise and provide over-the-counter medicines. In emergencies, call 112.