Learn German for Travel

If you plan to travel around Europe, learning some useful German travel phrases is a fantastic idea. Around 100 million people in Europe speak German as either their native language or as a second, third, or even fourth language. They make up around 13% of all Europeans, so you’ll find German speakers in every country.

But you’ll find most German speakers in central Europe. If you’ve got a trip planned for central Europe, there’s no better language to learn than German. In this article, you’ll find out how to learn German for travel and why Busuu is the best language app to help you achieve your goals.

Discover the best way to learn German for your next trip

Get ready for a trip to central Europe

German skills will come in handy whether you’re exploring Berlin, skiing in the Austrian Alps or visiting Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. Chat with locals, plan trips and have unforgettable experiences.

Learn travel basics

Complete Busuu’s German for Travel course and learn the phrases you actually need when traveling in central Europe. This practical course will help you communicate confidently using common German phrases for travel.

Build a sustainable study habit

Learning a language doesn't need a huge time commitment. Busuu’s bite-sized lessons and handy mobile app help you build a habit you can stick to. You can make progress in German, no matter how busy you are.

Why you should learn German for travel

German is an important language in Europe, and around 100 million speakers (both native and non-native) speak it. Let’s look at the reasons why you should learn German for travel.

1) Visit central Europe

German is a useful language throughout Europe. But it’s most common in several countries in the center. It’s the – or one of the – official languages in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein. You’ll find German speakers in Belgium. And there are millions of people in other European countries who have learned German as a second or third language.

2) Mix with the locals

There are lots of fun things to do in central Europe. To make it even more fun, mix with the locals. Want to visit some of Berlin’s famous techno clubs? Ask the locals and find the best underground, not-world-famous places to go. Want to go snowboarding in Austria while avoiding the huge lines at the lifts? See if you can get any hints about lesser-known mountains from the locals. 

Or maybe you want to listen to classical music in the home of Mozart? Google will point you toward the Vienna State Opera or the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. But maybe chatting with the locals will help you find some classical music off the beaten track.

There’s no doubt you can do all of these things using only English, too. But where’s the fun in that? Get to know the locals in their own language and make some unbelievable and unique memories. And if you’re lucky, you might get invitations to places only the locals go.

3) Travel off the beaten track

Rural and small towns in central Europe are beautiful places, with towering mountains, sparkling lakes and historic architecture. Some of these are on the tourist trail with thousands of people getting off buses, taking photos and crowding restaurants. Learn some German, and you can confidently explore small, non-touristy towns instead. You can find more authentic experiences away from the crowds. 

4) Find your way around

The further off the beaten track you go, the less English you’ll find on street signs and announcements. 

Yes, we are in the 21st century, so you can find all the information you need on your smartphone. And Google Maps will always be there for you in a pinch. 

But why not leave your phone in your bag and explore properly? Rely on signs and announcements to find your way around, and you’ll learn new language while having interesting experiences. 

5) Have fun

How great would it be if you communicated with locals when drinking beer at Oktoberfest or snowboarding in Innsbruck? Just imagine how much fun it would be to order food in a restaurant successfully for the first time. 

Little – but successful – interactions like this are huge fun. They don’t seem important, but they actually are for language learners. Everyone has to start somewhere. And the sense of accomplishment you get from successfully communicating like this might inspire you to keep learning German long after your trip has finished.

Why Busuu is the best place to learn German for travel

Practice German with native speakers

Busuu’s online community is full of millions of language learners and native German speakers getting together to learn languages, support each other and build connections. You can practice speaking and writing, get feedback on your German and make friends. Have fun learning with real people and master the German you need for your next trip. 

Focus on the German you need for your travels

Spend time studying what’s important for your trip – German language for travel. You don’t need to write emails. You don’t need to worry about being formal. And you definitely don’t need to learn advanced grammar. You need real-life German that helps you communicate. With Busuu’s German for Travel course, that’s exactly what you get.

Learn German – no matter how busy you are

Busuu’s German for Travel course fits into your busy life. Busuu’s easy-to-follow lessons, short videos and mobile app allow you to study whenever you want. Have five minutes between meetings? No problem. Waiting for your baby to finally fall asleep? All good. On your evening commute home? Easy. You can prepare for your trip to central Europe and make progress in German, whether you have a lot or a little time to study.

Useful German travel phrases

Here are some useful German phrases for travelers that you can learn today.

The best German learning app for travel

Busuu is the best app to learn German for travel. Our German for Travel course includes everything you need to start conversations, find your way around new places, buy tickets, organize trips and ask the locals questions. Instead of wasting time focusing on complicated grammar or writing skills, focus on learning the practical German you’ll need on a trip to central Europe with Busuu’s German for Travel course.

Study at your own pace

Busuu’s German lessons are made for busy people. The bite-sized videos and easy-to-follow lessons fit into your day – no matter how busy you are. With Busuu, you can make progress with as little as five minutes of study a day. That’s it. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but those five minutes add up. And they’ll give you the German skills you need for traveling. 

Use advanced tools

Busuu’s advanced algorithms organize and optimize your study so you can focus on learning. The Busuu app tracks the words you’ve encountered in your lessons and identifies the words you can remember and the ones you struggle with.

The Busuu app uses all of this info to personalize your German study. It reminds you to review language when needed. There’s no more guesswork involved – you’ll review the right words at the right time for optimal memorization.

Join a community

Practicing is the best way to improve your German skills before your trip. But to do that, you need people to practice with. Luckily, Busuu’s worldwide online community includes millions of language learners and native German speakers waiting to help you achieve your goals.

You’ll get feedback from native German speakers on your speaking. They’ll give you tips to improve so you're ready to communicate on your trip.