How safe is it for an 18 yr old american woman to vist Germany alone?

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ARRGH!!!

Germany is one of the safest countries in the world. You will not have any problems taking the bus or the train, there are no robberies or such.
It is definitely a good idea, come and enjoy and don't worry!!!!

molly

That is a very good idea! Germany is one of the safest countries in the EU, and there is nothign to worry about. People are quite friendly (specially in little towns) and are willing to help even if you dotn speak german. I say it for experience i went to germany by myself when i was 17 and i dont regret it at all! the trains and buses are very safe and it is very simple to find out what to do and where to go. Germany is an amazing country with an amazing culture, you will be amazed! GOOD LUCK! and Auf widerzhen!

f w

SAFE. Germany is VERY, VERY SAFE. Even safer than traveling around the USA. I've been (alone) traveling to Germany to visit friends all over Germany since I was 15. It is a very, very safe, clean, and efficent country. (Not to mention GORGEOUS!) I've been told before my first trip (21 years ago when I was 15) that German people are very "Cold". I was told this by friends who are German and lived there - HOWEVER, I found out this is totally NOT the case. (Maybe they are just cold to each other?) As long as you don't go over with the attitude "I'm from the best damn country on earth!" and you are nice - you will find that the people are sooo friendly and will want to talk to you because they want to practice their English with you. You might even make some live-long friendships while you are there.

If you are going to explore on your own: remember - they use the metic system over there - so clocks go by military time 18:46 instead of 6:46Pm and the use Kilometers instead of Miles, centimeters instead of inches, millileters instead of tablespoons and teaspoons and celcius instead of farenheit. So get acquainted with some metric conversions before you go - or bring a metric converter with you.

Also, Do some research at home on the cities you want to visit - because some of the cities we know as "Vienna" and Munich" in English - you will not find on a train map in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Germany Munich is called "Munchen" and "Bavaria" is called "Bayern" In Austria, Vienna is called "Wein". So figure out where you want to go. And what these cities are called in Germany. Some of them are the same, but not always. Also - buy your EurRail pass while you are still here in the USA. You'll get a better deal.

Learn a few expressions: Like:

"where is the train station?" "Wo ist der Bahnhof" (Pronounced Voo ist dare Bann Hof).

"How much does that cost" "Viefiel costest das?" (Vee feel costda dos)

Can I please have.... "Kann Ich Bitte haben......" (Con Ick Bitter hoben...)

Do you understand English? "Verschteren sie English" (Fair Schtay Hen Zee English?)

If you are at a cafe - don't be afraid to ask people your age or a little bit older (20's & 30's) to recommend some things you should do or see. They might even invite you to join them for an activity or offer to take you along to a museum. You might even make some life-long friendships.

Have a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!! Take lots of pictures!!!!!!!! Always, always, always have your camera on you at all times - you never know when a precious gem of a picture you'll always want to remember will pop up!

Altstadtweib

It definetely is safer than in the USA!
Go for it! You will have such a blast. To travel on the trains is very easy.
Use your common sense while traveling just like you do at home!
Have a fun time.

Paris Hilton

I agree it's probably safer the cities in the United States...just use normal precautions...

Miss May

It's perfectly safe (far safer for an unaccompanied woman wandering than the typical American college town at night) and wonderful! I have a friend living abroad there, and I'm off to visit her in a few weeks. On my first trip out, I had to manage my way from the Frankfurt airport to her university town--public transit is well ordered, very clean and safe. I could manage without speaking a word of German, and this was a good hour and a half trip with a train change. Most stations have automatic terminals that can convert to English language, (usually a British flag signifies 'English language') and generally people are more than willing to help.

90% of the people there speak enough English to at least communicate. If the person is of the younger generation (looking younger than 40), there is a good chance that they are proficient enough to speak with you, and are often eager to do so. It's difficult sometimes for my American and English friends in Germany when they go out--they came to live in Germany to become proficient German speakers, but when the waiters hear the American or British-accented German, they want to practice English with native speakers! Enjoy your trip, I can't wait to get back myself!

dbdoit

My Dear you will be far safer wondering around Germany than on an Army Base with a bunch of Soldiers.
Baumholder is out in the country, very beautiful country, but still off the beaten path. You can wander around that town with no problem.
The info given is very good. Taking a train to another city is a good idea. Bring very comfortable walking shoes and take a train to Mainz, Frankfurt, Cologne(KÃ¶ln) for example. Do not worry about getting lost, you will always find someone who can speak English to help you out. Also the hotel on base may be able to arrange transportation to a larger city.
Most younger Germans have learned English and will happy to talk with you so they can practice their English speaking skills.
Go for it, have a great visit and good luck!

hausmaus

Of course, crime happen in Germany as same as all over the world, but it is much safer than the USA.

But Germans are more open and not so up-tied about sexuality than the Americans are. if you visit Germany in summer, it can happen, that you'll see woman in public parks taking a sunbath topless.
At news stands you'll see nudity and magazines which are sold in America only in adult stores, and adult stores you can find in the best parts of the city, and prostitution is legal.
But Germany has an extreme low rape rate.
You van legally smoke when you are 16, at the same age you can drink beer and wine, when you are 18 your considered adult and you can drink what ever pleases you.
In Germany the law regarding business opening ours has been changed and everyone can now more or less open their stores as long as they like (except on holidays and Sundays), but in small towns the stores close normally around 6:30 pm and are often closed for lunch between 1 and 2 or 3 pm.

And yes, Germans are friendly and the idea of the cold and military inclined German is a leftover from the war and the comics and sitcoms that followed.

Have fun and don't worry.

trancemix

Absolutely. Germany is a very safe country that, despite media stereotypes, is very accepting of tourists, especially Americans. yes, Germany did have a very shady past during WW2 but that is all in the past and remember most Americans can trace German heritage. You will find that traveling by train and walking around alone is not a problem at all. I lived in germany and found it to be 100 times safer than America. I have walked many dimmly lit streets at night in some sketchy areas and have never found myself in any danger. Muggins are generally rare, and if mugged the police are very responsive and speak very good english, if you don't know any German. Now Czech Republic and Poland are some other stories and generally are not as safe as Germany.

Lizzy

thatÂ´s no problem here!

Leeza

As a foreigner who has lived in Germany it is the safest country I have ever lived in, especially as a woman. I have only good things to say about it, even the derelicts and drug addicts are polite or at least keep their distance. I felt safe walking, catching the trains and being alone at night time in the city or suburbs. I would recommend you visiting and hope you have a wonderful time! It is a great idea to take the train to other cities, the trains run very efficiently in Germany and are very cost effective as well. You trip sounds like a fantastic time! Enjoy it :-) Happy travelling!!!!!!!

pro_and_contra

Baumholder is a small German community and yes, you will be safe there.
The area is hilly and has some beautiful scenic areas

Baumholder is located in west central Germany in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, about 70 kilometers from the French border,about two hours from Frankfurt, just off Autobahn #62, and between Kaiserslautern and Trier.

sellatieeat

Why not? go for it!

Jan H

Yes Germany is a very safe place for an 18 year old women. You won't get into trouble unless you are looking for it

fliege52000

Don't worry here is very safe place, but look for everything and watch where are you going. Staying at the hotel on a military base, there is very very saved place. Baumholder is a small town. People speaking English so there will be any problems.

t_maia2000

Since you already got all the thunbs up, I gather you might want some practical tips.

Go to
http://ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm
for some general info on Europe.

http://www.germany-tourism.de/
is the official tourism website from the German government. It leans a bit towards the sights in the western part, but since this is the area you'll be travelling in it is ok.

I can also recommend that you get yourself a good guidebook like Let's Go, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. (Get them abroad, English books are expensive in Germany.) Myself I like to use the Lonely Planet series. I've found the book on Germany to be surprisingly detailed. I occasionally use it, even though I am German!

Note that for every day travelling, you'll need to budget around 60 USD.

eudma

you might be ok. i went to sweden alone for four months at age 23. i got some gray hairs from that trip though. take nessesary precautions whatever you are doing. have a backup plan and tell someone where you are gonna be going etc. i honestly wouldn't recomend it in an foriegn area.

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