Language, Culture and Daily Life

Markets

• Schokomarkt (Chocolate Market)
• Christmas Market
• Umbrisch-Provenzialischer Markt 

Other Events

• Stocherkahnrennen (Punting Boat Race): Held at the end of May or beginning of June.

Offers by the University: University Events

1. LTT (Landestheater Tübingen)
   www.landestheater-tuebingen.de
2. Zimmertheater
   www.zimmertheater-tuebingen.de
3. Brechtbau Theater - Features student theater groups, some performances in English
   www.brechtbau-theater.de
4. Harlekin Theater
   www.harlekintheater.de
5. Vorstadttheater
   www.vorstadttheater.de
6. Sudhaus - Not only theatre but also concerts and parties
   www.sudhaus-tuebingen.de

Tübingen has several cinemas:

• Kino Museum
  www.tuebinger-kinos.de
• Kino Blaue Brücke
  https://blaue-bruecke.tuebinger-kinos.de/
• Kino Atelier
  https://kinoatelier.de

💡 Tip: Most movies are in German. Look for "OmU" (Original with Subtitles), "OmdU" (Original with German Subtitles), or "OmeU" (Original with English Subtitles) for films in other languages.

Regular theme weeks, such as CineLatino, French Film Days, and Arab Film Days, are also held. It’s worth checking these out!

During the summer, there is an open-air cinema: Sommernachtskino

Public holidays: Public holidays in Germany vary between states. On a public holiday, you don´t have to work and shops are closed. A list of public holidays in 2025 can be found here.

School holidays: In Germany, school holidays vary between states. In Baden-Württemberg, you can find general school holiday information here: Ferien

In restaurants, tipping is generally expected. A tip of around 10% is common at sit-down restaurants. For casual meals or drinks, rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip is acceptable.

If you are not satisfied with the service, it is not necessary to leave a tip. Conversely, if you receive exceptional service, a generous tip is a nice way to show your appreciation.

Store hours can vary. Shops in the town center are usually open from 10 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays until 4 pm, 6 pm, or 8 pm depending on the store. Supermarkets often have longer hours, typically from 7 am to 10 pm.

Note: Almost all stores are closed on Sundays. However, petrol stations and some bakeries remain open and offer fresh bread, croissants, and rolls on Sunday mornings.

Physical mail is common in Germany. Ensure your name is on the postbox to receive your mail, even if there is a single postbox for an entire building.

Regularly check your mailbox and read your letters. If you receive a letter you don’t understand, ask a German-speaking colleague or assistant for help.

To promote recycling, Germany requires a deposit on most beverage bottles and cans. The deposit ranges from 8 to 25 cents per container and is refunded when you return the empty bottles or cans to the supermarket.

Support the “Every Bottle Helps” initiative: Pfand gehört daneben

There is a wide range of German language courses available. For information on specific courses, please refer to: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/international/learning-languages/learn-german/