What are some interesting facts about Germany?

1. Germany was the first country to adopt daylight saving time.

2. Berlin has more bridges than Venice, Italy.

3. Escaping from prison is not considered a crime in Germany. The law in the country recognizes that being free is a basic human instinct, therefore, prisoners have the right to attempt escape.
4. It is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn, Germany's federal highway system.

5. German laws may ban names that do not denote gender or surnames used as first names.

6. In 2014, the most popular names in Germany were Sophie/Sofie for girls and Maximilian for boys.

7. Fanta was invented in Germany as a result of World War II due to the ban on importing the syrup used in Coca-Cola's recipe into the country. The German subsidiary then decided to create its own product for the national market, and that's how Fanta came about!

8. Higher education in Germany is free, even for international students.

9. Over 800 million currywurst are eaten in Germany every year. It's a German fast food dish that's basically a pork sausage seasoned with ketchup and curry, and usually served with fries.

10. German is still the language with the most native speakers in Europe.

11. Seven cities have been capitals of Germany at some point: Aachen, Regensburg, Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg, Berlin, Weimar, Bonn, and Berlin again to this day.

12. Bach, Beethoven, Goethe, Kant, Nietzsche, among other famous musicians, writers, and philosophers, were German.

13. Munich has the second most punctual international airport in the world, second only to Tokyo.

14. Some of the world's most important inventions were discovered in Germany: the light bulb, the automatic calculator, the car, insulin, paraffin wax, gasoline/diesel engines, among countless others.

15. Germany is the second most popular destination among expatriates, especially Turks, Poles, and Italians.

What things should you never do in Germany as a tourist?

 Below are a few small things I've noticed since I started living here, and these might be very useful tips.

1. NEVER download movies, games, music, software, etc. through pirated channels! While browsing the internet might be considered a gray area, downloading is a serious offense here and you could face a hefty fine if caught.
2. Although many sections of theAutobahn(Highways) have no speed limit, although some sections do. Take them seriously.
3. If you happen to be driving or walking along the road and witness an accident or someone being injured, you MUST call 112 to report an emergency, even if you didn't help the person. Ignoring an injured person and simply walking away is a crime.
4. Pedestrians always have the highest priority on the road.
5. While Germans can be loud during a soccer match, they generally prefer peace and quiet. Try not to be noisy at your accommodation. You could receive a warning from the police if your neighbor takes it too seriously.

Edit: I forgot to mention the most important thing. That would be point 0.

Never forget to validate your ticket in Germany if you're traveling on public transport. Even if you've bought a ticket, if you haven't validated it, it's the same as traveling without one.I know it sounds ridiculously stupid, but that's how DB (Deutsche Bahn) has done it.Your ticket is considered validated only if it has a date and time stamp.Generally, a weekly, monthly, or annual pass doesn't need validation, as they are pre-validated with the dates. But I assume that as a tourist you can't buy monthly passes.

There are DB employees who wear ordinary clothes and travel with you on trains. You'll never notice them until they show their ID and start checking passengers and asking for tickets. They especially frequent airport routes where there are more tourists. This is because the more people they catch without tickets, the more commission they can earn.

What are some mind blowing facts about Germany?

 

1. Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a population of 82 million among which 15 million people are of non-German descent.
2. 
   

1. There are over 150 castles in Germany.
2. The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
   

1. Beers
   There are 1,300 beer breweries in Germany, nearly four times as many as all the other countries in the EU combined, making some 5,000 kinds of beer. German people are the world's third biggest beer drinkers after the Czechs and Austria.
   This love affair is truly made manifest during a span between late September and early October, when Oktoberfest is celebrated in Munich. Millions from around the world flock to the city to take part in the spectacle, where girls in dirndl dresses serve very strong beer in Maßkrug one-liter mugs. Perhaps not surprisingly, this excessive consumption can lead to problems, such as people fighting or passing out from intoxication. Those given to such massive overindulgence are dubbed Bierleichen (beer corpses).
   

1. Germany is one of the last Western European countries not to have banned smoking in workplaces, and restaurants.
   One of the political reason for this is that the Nazi officially frowned on smoking, and post-war German legislators have been afraid of imitating Nazi regulations.
2. The oldest sun observatory currently known in Europe is the so-called Goseck circle in Saxony-Anhalt. It was built some 7,000 years ago.
3. Ulm Cathedral is the tallest church in the world, with 161.53 metres (530 feet) in height.
   

1. The German Autobahn
   It is the oldest motorway network in the world (first section completed in 1932), as well as one of the densest (12,000 km for a country of 357,021 km²). It is also the only one in Europe to have no general speed limit. 65% of the Autobahn (highway) has no speed limit. The federal expressways of Germany are known for one thing—their lack of speed limit. With the exception of certain areas, such as those under construction, the entire network of highways operates under an unenforced advisory limit of 130 kph (81 mph). Studies have shown that despite the potential for recklessness, the average driver clocks in around 140 kph (87 mph). Germany is, however, the home of several high-performance automobile manufacturers, like Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, and BMW, and it is not uncommon to see vehicles traveling in excess of 240 kph (150 mph). While accidents are comparatively rare on the autobahn, any crash at such a speed is catastrophic.
   

1. Holocaust Denial
   It is quite understandable that the people of Germany wish to put the darkest parts of their history behind them. But there is a vast difference between moving on and forgetting. While the Nazis were conquered and the concentration camps liberated nearly 70 years ago, there are still many people alive who remember the tragedy of those days. Despite the vast preponderance of evidence, many even claim that the Holocaust never happened. This is a crime in 17 countries, including Germany. Penalties can include fines and even prison time. Even performing the Seig Heil Nazi salute in Germany can earn you three years behind bars

1. Wedding Abductions
   In rural sections of Germany, the bride is often “kidnapped” by friends prior to the wedding, forcing the groom to hunt for her. Typically, she is moved between a series of taverns. The husband-to-be buys his friends rounds of beer as he searches for his fiance. It is not unheard of for this ritual to devolve into drunken chaos.
   

References:
http://www.eupedia.com/germany/trivia.shtml
http://truenomads.com/2013/04/interesting-facts-about-germany/
http://listverse.com/2013/07/21/ten-fascinating-facts-about-germany/

What are the top 10 mind blowing facts about Germany?

 

1. In Germany, It is legal for a prisoner to escape from jail because it is a basic human instinct to be free.
2. Approx 65% of the Autobahn (highway) has free from speed limit in Germany.

3. About 2000 schools were closed in Germany due to scarcity of children from 1989 to 2009.

4. Hamburgers are named after city Hamburg, Germany.

5. 60% of YouTube videos are blocked in Germany.

6. Mercedes is the most driven taxi in Germany.

7. World’s first ever magazine was launched in Germany in 1663.

8.The tradition of a Christmas tree has come from Germany.

9. It is illegal to run out of fuel on highways in Germany.

10. In Bavaria, Germany, beer is officially considered a food.