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WEATHER

The Local’s ultimate guide to summer in Germany

Whether you plan to pack your summer with extreme sports or spend it drinking beers in a Berlin park, we've got you covered in our comprehensive guide.

Published: 23 May 2016 10:54 CEST
The Local's ultimate guide to summer in Germany
Photo: DPA

As every lover of Germany knows, while the Central European winters can be brutal they're more than made up for by glorious summer.

With the warm weather comes a wealth of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Federal Republic – or just to sit outdoors in a trendy part of town drinking Radler or cocktails.

Whatever it is that gets you out catching rays, there's one thing above all that will bring rewards in the German summer: planning!

So here are some of the things The Local journalists past and present think you shouldn't miss this summer – from boozing to bicycles:

1. Get a refreshing summer drink to slake your thirst

Photo: DPA

Litres of beer not your thing on a hot day? Fear not! It's perfectly acceptable to drink wine mixed with sparkling water or hyper-caffeinated ice tea instead – and there's plenty of other possibilities to explore…

2. Get wet and wild in the great outdoors

Photo: jkb / Wikimedia Commons.

Many Germans head off to Italy, Spain or the south of France to clash with Brits for the best sun loungers in the warmer months. We think they're missing a trick – there are endless lakes and sea beaches in the Federal Republic they could be enjoying instead.

3. Get on your bike

Photo: DPA

The Dutch and the Danes are famous for their cycling – but Germans put in a good effort to keep up with the neighbours with their thousands of kilometres of cycling trails. From the saddle you'll see sides of Germany you might never experience otherwise.

4. Get stuck into extreme sports

Photo: Alma/Wikimedia Commons

All that nature isn't just good for lying on or looking at. Adventurous people come alive in summer as suddenly the weather is perfect for feats of physical daring – whether on land, in the water, or up in the air.

5. Just get weird

Photo: DPA

Ok, ok – there are plenty of wholesome, family-friendly things you can do in the summer in Germany. But it wouldn't be the same if there weren't also opportunities to get naked or bring your lederhosen-clad toddler to the beer garden. These are just some of the most bizarre things Germans get up to in the summer.

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FLOODS

German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

Water levels on the Elbe and Oder rivers in Germany are rising, sparking preparations for floods as the clean-up across central Europe gets underway.

Published: 19 September 2024 10:12 CEST
German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

As several countries in Europe face the devastating aftermath of severe flooding following torrential rain, communities in some regions of Germany are trying to manage rising water levels. 

According to a forecast by the state flood centre, the water on the Elbe river has not yet reached expected peaks. In the city of Dresden, the Elbe rose above the six-metre mark on Wednesday. There, as well as in Schöna on the border with the Czech Republic, the flood peak is expected on Thursday.

There is a cautious all-clear along other rivers in the east and south of Germany. Further north, however, Brandenburg is looking anxiously at the Oder river, which is expected to bring more water in the coming days.

READ ALSO: Parts of Germany hit by flooding as torrential rain wreaks havoc across central Europe

Flood crisis teams are due to meet in Frankfurt (Oder), located at the border with Poland, and other municipalities in Brandenburg on Thursday. A level 1 flood alert was issued for sections of the river on Wednesday.

According to the State Office for the Environment, floodplains and meadows close to the banks are expected to start flooding, with the areas of the Oder village of Ratzdorf to Eisenhüttenstadt particularly affected.

The state office believes the highest alert level – level 4 – with a water level of around six metres will be reached in the next few days near Ratzdorf, where the Oder reaches Brandenburg territory.

Clean-up work underway in central and eastern Europe

In the flood-hit areas from Poland to the Czech Republic and Austria, the clean-up work has now begun, but the situation is only slowly easing.

In many places, the emergency services are still struggling with masses of water. Soldiers are also providing support in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the authorities are not yet giving the all-clear. So far, more than 20 people have tragically lost their lives in the region due to the extreme weather.

In the Polish city of Wroclaw in the west of the country, the flood wave was not expected until Thursday night. As several tributaries that also carry a lot of water flow into the Oder between Olawa and Wroclaw, the possibility of flooding in the Lower Silesian metropolis cannot be ruled out, said an expert.

Flooding in Bresgau Poland

A drone captures the high water levels in Bresgau, Poland, on September 19th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/PAP | Maciej Kulczynski

Flood defences in Wroclaw have been reinforced as a precautionary measure. One third of the city of 630,000 inhabitants was flooded during the Oder flood in 1997.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Poland on Thursday afternoon. According to the EU Commission, the trip is being organised at the invitation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer are also expected to attend the meeting.

The talks are likely to focus on the question of funds from Brussels for reconstruction although the extent of the damage is still unclear.

With reporting from DPA

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