Inside Germany: Swiftmania, Hasenbrot, and travelling abroad with the €49 ticket

Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

Several states break for the summer holidays 

This week saw schools in several German states close for the long summer break, heralding the start of lazy days in the sun and holidays in scenic locations. Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland all went on vacation this week, with Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein due to follow on Monday.

That means the only two states still at school are the southern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, which kick off their summer holidays on the 25th and 29th respectively. For the next few weeks, it’s safe to assume that roads and trains will be busy throughout Germany - particularly for those heading to popular destinations like the northern coast or the mountains.

For many, the holidays got off to a bumpy start after a global IT glitch led to disruption at numerous airports around Germany on Friday. Berlin was the first to announce that all flights were suspended due to the Microsoft glitch, with Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Stuttgart airports swiftly following suit.

READ ALSO: How Germany is being hit by Microsoft's 'blue death' glitch

While passengers at Frankfurt got off relatively scot-free, a spokesperson did say that flights at certain airlines - including Eurowings, Turkish Airlines and RyanAir - were affected. Operations have now resumed at most airports, but there could still be delays. 

On a more positive note, if you’re wondering how to keep yourself (and your kids) entertained through the long summer break, we’ve got a tonne of articles on the site to inspire you. From the best camping spots and most beloved beaches to Germany’s favourite cycling tours and tips for travelling with children, we’ve got you covered for a memorable vacation. 

Tweet of the week

We’d also like to know the German word for bananas that end up all mushy and brown in your backpack. (Asking for a friend, of course.)

German word of the day

HASENBROT (Rabbit Bread)

Uneaten sandwiches that you take with you to work or school but then bring home again. If you have rabbits, they’ll enjoy the extra snack (that explains the name). For lack of rabbits, your partner might be happy to have a bite. pic.twitter.com/4UfHUFsQve

— BerlinCompanion (@kreuzberged) July 15, 2024

Where is this?

This is, of course, the city of Swiftkirchen - formerly known as Gelsenkirchen - where a stone was laid on the ‘Walk of Fame’ this week in honour of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour appearances in the city.

The pop superstar arrived in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday and played three concerts at the Veltins arena to tens of thousands of adoring fans, who also spent time singing karaoke in ‘Swift Town’ and travelling on the Taylor Swift streetcar. She’s now set to head to Hamburg for two shows next week and to Munich for a further two shows the week after. 

The Walk of Fame is normally reserved for people who actually come from Gelsenkirchen, so the honorary appearance is only temporary - but we’re sure Taytay was thrilled at the gesture. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Taylor Swift's Germany concerts

Did you know?

Everyone knows about the Deutschlandticket, Germany’s nationwide travel pass priced at just €49 per month (for now at least). But did you know that you can also travel to a handful of cities abroad without spending another cent?

In several of Germany’s neighbouring countries, cities or towns just over the border are included in the travel offer, meaning you can end up in Austria, Switzerland, France or the Netherlands while travelling on the €49 ticket. 

While some of these destinations are small towns like Vaals in the Netherlands or Kelmis in Belgium, you can also visit some gorgeous cities like Salzburg and Basel. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that travel in Luxembourg is completely free of charge, so you can reach any destination here by simply travelling to the border with your Deutschlandticket in tow.

This week, The Local also reported that some young people under the age of 28 can use their €49 ticket to travel all the way to Paris and anywhere in France’s Grand-Est region during July and August.

The scheme is a joint project between the government of the Grand-Est region and state leaders in Saarland, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland Palatinate, allowing young people to travel between these two regions and enjoy intercultural experiences.

With all the exciting destinations on Germany’s doorstep, we’re certainly hoping that more schemes like this will be rolled out in future to allow budget, eco-friendly travel to other countries. Free trip to Copenhagen, anyone?