Where?
Key Phrases: Sightseeing
At Sights
Museums
Art and Architecture Terms
Churches
Castles and Palaces
German / English Dictionary
English / German Dictionary
Whether you’re touring a museum, going on a city walking tour, visiting a church, or conquering a castle, these phrases will help you make the most of your sightseeing time.
Key Phrases: Sightseeing
| Where is / are the...? |
Wo ist / sind...? voh ist / zint |
| tourist information office |
das Touristeninfo dash too-ris-tehn-in-foh |
| toilets |
die Toiletten dee toy-leh-tehn |
| main square |
der Hauptplatz dehr howpt-plahts |
| city center |
das Zentrum dahs tsehn-troom |
| old town center |
die Altstadt dee ahlt-shtaht |
| entrance |
der Eingang dehr īn-gahng |
| exit |
der Ausgang dehr ows-gahng |
| town hall |
das Rathaus dahs raht-hows |
| museum |
das Museum dahs moo-zay-um |
| cathedral |
der Dom dehr dohm |
| church |
die Kirche dee keerkh-eh |
| castle |
die Burg dee boorg |
| palace |
das Schloss dahs shlohs |
| ruins |
die Ruine dee roo-ee-neh |
| amusement park |
der Vergnügungspark dehr fehrg-new-goongs-park |
| aquarium |
das Aquarium dahs ah-kwah-ree-oom |
| zoo |
der Zoo dehr tsoh |
| best view |
der beste Ausblick dehr behs-teh ows-blik |
| viewpoint |
der Aussichtspunkt dehr ows-sikhts-poonkt |
| Is there a festival nearby? |
Gibt es in der Nähe ein Fest? gibt ehs in dehr nay-heh īn fehst |
German has a number of ways to say “tourist information office”—you’re likely to see Touristen-Informationszentrum, Besucherinfozentrum, Tourismusbüro, Fremdenverkehrsamt, and more. Most German speakers, however, will understand what you mean if you just ask for the Touristeninfo.
Tickets and Discounts
Information and Tours
Visiting Sights
Signs at Sights
| ticket desk |
Kasse kah-seh |
| ticket |
Eintrittskarte īn-trits-kar-teh |
| combo-ticket |
Kombi-ticket kohm-bee-“ticket” |
| price |
Preis prīs |
| discount |
Ermässigung ehr-may-see-goong |
| Is there a discount for...? |
Gibt es eine Ermässigung für...? gibt ehs ī-neh ehr-may-see-goong fewr |
| ...children |
...Kinder kin-dehr |
| ...youths |
...Jugendliche yoo-gehnd-likh-eh |
| ...students |
...Studenten shtoo-dehn-tehn |
| ...families |
...Familien fah-meel-yehn |
| ...seniors |
...Senioren zehn-yor-ehn |
| ...groups |
...Gruppen groop-ehn |
| I am... |
Ich bin... ikh bin |
| He / She is... |
Er / Sie ist... ehr / zee ist |
| ... ____ years old. |
... ____ Jahre alt. ____ yah-reh ahlt |
| ...extremely old. |
...extrem alt. eks-trehm ahlt |
| Is the ticket good all day? |
Gilt die Eintrittskarte den ganzen Tag?
gilt dee īn-trits-kar-teh dehh gahnt-sehn tahg |
| Can I get back in? |
Kann ich wieder hinein?
kahn ikh vee-dehr hin-īn |
You may be eligible for a discount at tourist sights, in hotels, or on buses and trains—ask.
In some cities, several worthwhile sights are covered by a single combo-ticket. Figure out which sights you plan to visit, then do the arithmetic to see if the combo-ticket will save you money.
| information |
Information / Auskunft in-for-maht-see-ohn / ows-koonft |
| tour |
Führung few-roong |
| in English |
auf Englisch owf ehng-lish |
| Is there a...? |
Gibt es...? gibt ehs |
| ...city walking tour |
...eine geführte Stadtführung ī-neh geh-fewr-teh shtaht-fewr-oong |
| ...audioguide |
...ein Audioguide īn ow-dee-oh-“guide” |
| ...local guide (I can hire) |
...einen Stadtführer (den ich buchen kann) ī-nehn shtaht-fewr-ehr (dayn ikh bookh-ehn kahn) |
| ...city guidebook |
...einen Reiseführer für die Stadt ī-nehn rī-zeh-fewr-ehr fewr dee shtaht |
| ...museum guidebook |
...einen Museumsführer ī-nehn moo-zay-ums-fewr-ehr |
| Is it free? |
Ist es kostenlos? ist ehs kohs-tehn-lohs |
| How much is it? |
Wie viel kostet das? vee feel kohs-teht dahs |
| How long does it last? |
Wie lange dauert es? vee lahng-eh dow-ehrt ehs |
| When is the next tour in English? |
Wann ist die nächste Führung auf Englisch?
vahn ist dee nehkh-steh few-roong owf ehng-lish |
Stadtführer means “city guide.” As in English, it can refer either to a guidebook or a live tour guide.
Some sights are tourable only by groups with a guide. Individuals usually end up with the next German tour. To get an English tour, call in advance to see if one’s scheduled. Individuals can often tag along with a large English tour group.
| opening times |
Öffnungszeiten urf-noongs-tsī-tehn |
| last entry |
letzter Einlass / letzter Eintritt lehts-tehr īn-lahs / lehts-tehr īn-trit |
| What time does this open / close? |
Um wie viel Uhr ist hier geöffnet / geschlossen? oom vee feel oor ist heer geh-urf-neht / geh-shloh-sehn |
| When is the last entry? |
Wann ist letzter Einlass? vahn ist lehts-tehr īn-lahs |
| Do I have to check this? |
Muss ich das an der Garderobe abgeben?
moos ikh dahs ahn dehr gar-deh-roh-beh ahp-gay-behn |
| bag check |
Garderobe gar-deh-roh-beh |
| floor plan |
Orientierungsplan oh-ree-ehn-teer-oongs-plahn |
| floor |
Etage / Stock ay-tah-zheh / shtock |
| collection |
Sammlung zahm-loong |
| exhibition |
Ausstellung ows-shtehl-oong |
| temporary exhibit / permanent exhibit |
Sonderausstellung / Dauerausstellung zohn-dehr-ows-shtehl-oong / dow-ehr-ows-shtehl-oong |
| café |
Café “café” |
| elevator |
Aufzug owf-tsoog |
| toilets |
Toiletten toy-leh-tehn |
| Where is ____? |
Wo ist ____? voh ist ____ |
| I’d like to see ____. |
Ich möchte gerne ____ sehen. ikh murkh-teh gehr-neh ____ zay-hehn |
| Photo / Video OK? |
Ist Fotografieren / Videofilmen OK? ist foh-toh-grah-feer-ehn / vee-deh-oh-fil-mehn “OK” |
| (No) flash. |
(Kein) Blitz. (kīn) blits |
| (No) tripod. |
Stativ (verboten). shtah-teef (fehr-boh-tehn) |
| Will you take my / our photo? |
Machen Sie ein Foto von mir / uns? mahkh-ehn zee īn foh-toh fohn meer / oons |
| Please let me / us in! (if room or sight is closing) |
Bitte, lassen Sie mich / uns hinein! bit-teh lah-sehn zee mikh / oons hin-īn |
| I promise I’ll / we’ll be fast. |
Ich verspreche, mich / uns zu beeilen. ikh fehr-shprehkh-eh mikh / oons tsoo beh-ī-lehn |
| I promised my mother on her deathbed that I’d see this. |
Ich habe meiner Mutter am Sterbebett versprochen, das zu sehen.
ikh hah-beh mī-nehr moo-tehr ahm shtehr-beh-beht fehr-shprohkh-ehn dahs tsoo zay-hehn |
Once at the sight, get your bearings by viewing the Orientierungsplan (floor plan). Standort means “You are here.” Many museums have an official, one-way route that all visitors take—just follow signs for Rundgang.
First figure out which line is for buying tickets (Kasse or Eintrittskarten) and which is for the entrance (Eingang). Some larger museums might have separate entrances for individuals (für Einzelbesucher), for groups (für Gruppen), and for people who already have tickets reserved (mit Reservierung).
| Eingang |
Entrance |
| Reservierungen |
Reservations |
| Kasse |
Ticket desk |
| Eintrittskarten |
Tickets |
| Erwachsene |
Adults |
| Kinder |
Children |
| Jugendliche |
Youths |
| Studenten |
Students |
| Senioren |
Seniors |
| Kombi-ticket |
Combo-ticket |
| Ermässigung |
Discount |
| Führung |
Guided tour |
| Ausstellung |
Exhibition |
| Orientierungsplan |
Orientation map |
| Standort |
You are here (on map) |
| Garderobe |
Cloakroom / Bag check |
| Erforderlich |
Required |
| Schliessfächer |
Lockers |
| Aufzüge |
Elevators |
| Zu den Austellungen |
To the exhibitions |
| Zammlung(en) |
Collection(s) |
| Rundgang |
Direction of visit (“this way”) |
| Fotografieren verboten |
No photography |
| Kein Blitz |
No flash |
| Stativ verboten |
No tripod |
| Nicht berühren |
Do not touch |
| Essen / Trinken verboten |
No eating / drinking |
| Nicht erlaubt / gestattet |
Not allowed |
| Verboten |
Forbidden |
| Ruhe |
Silence |
| Unter Restauration |
Under restoration |
| Verliehen an ____ |
On loan to ____ |
| Unterrichtsraum |
Classroom |
| Nur für Angestellte |
Staff only |
| Kein Ausgang |
Not an exit |
| Ausgang |
Exit |
| Notausgang |
Emergency exit |
Toilets are usually marked WC, but in spoken German you’d ask for die Toiletten. Asking for das Badezimmer (“the bath room”) would earn you some odd looks at a museum, castle, or anywhere you’d be unlikely to be looking for a soak in the tub.
Types of Museums
Art Appreciation
| museum |
Museum moo-zay-oom |
| gallery |
Galerie gah-leh-ree |
| art gallery |
Pinakothek pee-nah-koh-tehk |
| painting gallery |
Gemäldegalerie geh-mehl-deh-gah-leh-ree |
| modern art |
moderne Kunst moh-dehr-neh koonst |
| contemporary art |
Kunst der Gegenwart koonst dehr gay-gehn-vart |
| applied arts (arts and crafts) |
Kunstgewerbe / Angewandte Kunst koonst-geh-vehr-beh / ahn-geh-vahnt-eh koonst |
| folk museum |
Volksmuseum fohks-moo-zay-oom |
| historical museum |
Historischesmuseum / Geschichtsmuseum hee-stoh-ree-shehz-moo-zay-oom / geh-shikts-moo-zay-oom |
| town / city museum |
Stadtmuseum shtaht-moo-zay-oom |
| children’s museum |
Kindermuseum kin-dehr-moo-zay-oom |
| Jewish |
Jüdisches yew-dish-ehz |
| memorial |
Gedenkstätte geh-dehnk-shteh-teh |
| monument |
Denkmal dehnk-mahl |
| documentation center |
Dokumentationzentrum doh-koo-mehn-taht-see-ohn-tsehn-troom |
| concentration camp memorial |
KZ-Gedenkstätte kah-tseht-geh-dehnk-shteh-teh |
In many cities, most notably Berlin and Munich, you’ll see Alt (old) or Neu (new) as part of a museum’s name.
| I like it. |
Es gefällt mir. ehs geh-fehlt meer |
| It’s so... |
Es ist so... ehs ist zoh |
| ...beautiful. |
...schön. shurn |
| ...ugly. |
...hässlich. hehs-likh |
| ...strange. |
...seltsam. zehlt-zahm |
| ...boring. |
...langweilig. lahng-vī-lig |
| ...interesting. |
...interessant. in-teh-reh-sahnt |
| ...thoughtprovoking. |
...Gedanken anregend. geh-dahnk-ehn ahn-ray-gehnt |
| ...B.S. |
...Blödsinn. blurd-zin |
| I don’t get it. |
Kapier ich nicht. kah-peer ikh nikht |
| Is it upside down? |
Ist es verkehrt rum? ist ehs fehr-kehrt room |
| Who did this? |
Wer hat das gemacht? vehr haht dahs geh-mahkht |
| How old is this? |
Wie alt ist das? vee ahlt ist dahs |
| Wow! |
Fantastisch! / Toll! fahn-tahs-tish / tohl |
| My feet have had it! |
Meine Füsse sind ganz plattgelaufen! mī-neh few-seh zint gahnts plaht-geh-lowf-ehn |
Historical Terms
| art |
Kunst koonst |
| artist |
Künstler kewnst-lehr |
| painter |
Maler mah-lehr |
| painting |
Gemälde geh-mehl-deh |
| sculptor |
Bildhauer bilt-how-ehr |
| sculpture |
Skulptur skoolp-toor |
| architect |
Architekt arkh-i-tehkt |
| architecture |
Architektur arkh-i-tehk-toor |
| (self-)portrait |
(Selbst)bildnis (zehlbst)bild-nis |
| landscape |
Landschaft lahnd-shahft |
| still-life |
Stillleben shtil-lay-behn |
| original |
original oh-ree-gee-nahl (hard “g”) |
| restored |
restauriert reh-stow-eert |
| B.C. |
vor Christus (v. Chr.) / vor unserer Zeitrechnung (v.u.Z.) for krees-toos / for oon-zehr-ehr tsīt-rehkh-noong |
| A.D. |
nach Christus (n. Chr.) / nach unserer Zeitrechnung (n.u.Z.) nahkh krees-toos / nahkh oon-zehr-ehr tsīt-rehkh-noong |
| century |
Jahrhundert yar-hoon-dehrt |
| style |
Stil shteel |
| prehistoric |
prähistorisch pray-hee-stor-eesh |
| ancient |
altertümlich ahl-tehr-tewm-likh |
| classical (period) |
klassisch klah-sish |
| Greek |
griechisch greekh-ish |
| Roman |
römisch rurm-ish |
| Byzantine |
byzantinisch bit-sahn-teen-ish |
| Islamic |
islamisch eez-lahm-ish |
| medieval |
mittelalterlich mit-tehl-ahl-tehr-likh |
| Romanesque |
romanisch roh-mahn-ish |
| Gothic |
gothisch goh-tish |
| Renaissance |
Renaissance reh-neh-sahns |
| Baroque |
barock bah-rohk |
| Neoclassical |
neoklassisch nay-oh-klah-sish |
| Romantic |
romantisch roh-mahn-tish |
| Impressionist |
impressionistisch im-preh-see-oh-nis-tish |
| Art Nouveau |
Jugendstil / Sezession (Vienna) yoo-gehnd-shteel / zeht-seh-see-ohn |
| Modern |
modern moh-dehrn |
| abstract |
abstrakt ahp-strahkt |
| contemporary |
gegenwarts / zeitgenössisch gay-gehn-varts / tsīt-geh-nur-sish |
In the prosperous late-19th century, many townhouses in the elegant Gründerzeit style were erected in the cities of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the early 20th century, Historismus (Historicism)—mixing and matching past architectural styles—was all the rage, particularly in Vienna.
| Golden Age |
Goldenes Zeitalter gohl-dehn-ehs tsīt-ahl-tehr |
| Middle Ages |
Mittelalter mit-tehl-ahl-tehr |
| medieval |
mittelalterlich mit-tehl-ahl-tehr-likh |
| city walls |
Stadtmauer
shtaht-mow-ehr (“mow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| Charlemagne |
Karl der Grosse karl dehr groh-seh |
| Holy Roman Empire |
Heiliges Römisches Reich hī-lig-ehs rurm-ish-ehs rīkh |
| Swiss Confederation |
Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft shwīt-sehr īd-geh-noh-sehn-shahft |
| Renaissance |
Renaissance reh-neh-sahns |
| Reformation |
Reformation reh-for-maht-see-ohn |
| Counter-Reformation |
Gegenreformation gay-gehn-reh-for-maht-see-ohn |
| Thirty Years’ War |
Dreissigjährige Krieg drī-sig-yehr-ee-geh kreeg |
| Austro-Hungarian Empire |
Österreichisch-Ungarisches Reich / Monarchie ur-steh-rīkh-ish-oon-gah-rish-es rīkh / moh-nar-kee |
| emperor |
Kaiser kī-zehr |
| imperial |
kaiserlich / Hof- (prefix) kī-zehr-likh / hohf |
| Ottomans |
Ottomanen oh-toh-mah-nehn |
| Prussia |
Preussen proy-sehn |
| Enlightenment |
Aufklärung owf-kleh-roong |
| Industrial Revolution |
industrielle Revolution in-doos-tree-ehl-eh reh-voh-loot-see-ohn |
| Romanticism |
Romantik roh-mahn-teek |
| World War I |
Erster Weltkrieg ehrs-tehr vehlt-kreeg |
| World War II |
Zweiter Weltkrieg tsvī-tehr vehlt-kreeg |
| Nazism (“National Socialism”) |
Nationalsozialismus naht-see-oh-nahl-zoht-see-ahl-eez-moos |
| “Final Solution” |
Endlösung ehnd-lur-zoong |
| Holocaust |
Holocaust hoh-loh-kowst |
| concentration camp |
Konzentrationslager (KZ) kohnt-sehn-traht-see-ohns-lah-gehr (kah-tseht) |
| resistance |
Widerstand vee-dehr-shtahnd |
| postwar |
Nachkriegszeit nahkh-kreegs-tsīt |
| Cold War |
kalter Krieg kahl-tehr kreeg |
| Iron Curtain |
Eiserner Vorhang ī-zeh-nehr for-hahng |
| Berlin Wall |
Berliner Mauer behr-lee-nehr mow-ehr (“mow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| German Democratic Republic (GDR, “East Germany”) |
Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) doyt-cheh deh-moh-krah-tish-eh ray-poob-likh (day day ehr) |
| Federal Republic of Germany (pre-1990 “West Germany,” post-1990 “Germany”) |
Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD) boon-dehs-ray-poob-likh doytch-lahnd (bay ehr day) |
| East Germans (impolite slang) |
Ossis oh-sees |
| West Germans (impolite slang) |
Wessis veh-sees |
| East German Revolution |
die Wende dee vehn-deh |
| Reunification |
Wiedervereinigung vee-dehr-fehr-īn-i-goong |
| European Union (EU) |
Europäische Union oy-roh-pay-ish-eh oon-yohn (eh oo) |
Today, Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms with the Nazi past) is a major issue in Germany. Many concentration camps and other wartime symbols have been turned into Gedenkstätte (memorials). A Dokumentationzentrum (documentation center) exhibits Nazi atrocities. The message of these sites is Vergesst es nie—“Never forget.” There are also many sights that celebrate the reunification of Germany after die Wende, literally “the turning point,” when East Germans rose up against the communist regime.
| cathedral |
Kathedrale / Dom / Münster
kah-teh-drah-leh / dohm / mewn-stehr |
| church |
Kirche keerkh-eh |
| chapel |
Kapelle kah-pehl-eh |
| altar |
Altar ahl-tar |
| bells |
Glocken glohk-ehn |
| carillon |
Glockenspiel glohk-ehn-shpeel |
| choir |
Chor kor |
| cloister |
Kloster kloh-stehr |
| cross |
Kreuz kroyts |
| crypt |
Krypta krip-tah |
| dome |
Kuppel koop-ehl |
| organ |
Orgel org-ehl |
| pulpit |
Kanzel kahnts-ehl |
| relic |
Reliquie reh-leek-vee-eh |
| sacristy |
Sakristei sah-krees-tī |
| stained glass |
Glasmalerei glahs-mah-leh-rī |
| steeple / bell tower |
Kirchturm / Glockenturm keerkh-toorm / glohk-ehn-toorm |
| treasury |
Schatzkammer shahts-kah-mehr |
| pope |
Papst pahpst |
| (holy) Mass |
(heilige) Messe (hī-lig-eh) meh-seh |
| When is the service? |
Wann ist der Gottesdienst? vahn ist dehr goh-tehs-deenst |
| Are there church concerts? |
Gibt es Kirchenkonzerte? gibt ehs keerkh-ehn-kohn-tsehr-teh |
| Can I climb the tower? |
Kann ich den Turm besteigen? kahn ikh dayn toorm beh-shtī-gehn |
Many town churches are called Frauenkirche, “Church of Our Lady.” In Catholic towns, a Heilige Messe sign lists the schedule for holy Mass, usually on Sa. (Saturday) and So. (Sunday). Options may include Mittagsrast (a midday service) or Friedensgebete (peace prayers).
| castle |
Burg / Schloss boorg / shlohs |
| palace |
Schloss / Palast shlohs / pah-lahst |
| royal residence |
Residenz reh-zee-dehnts |
| fortress |
Festung fehs-toong |
| hall |
Saal zahl |
| kitchen |
Küche kewkh-eh |
| cellar |
Keller kehl-ehr |
| dungeon |
Verlies fehr-lees |
| moat |
Burggraben boorg-grah-behn |
| castle wall |
Burgmauer boorg-mow-ehr (“mow” rhymes with “cow”) |
| tower |
Turm toorm |
| courtyard |
Hof hohf |
| fountain / well |
Brunnen broon-nehn |
| garden |
Garten gar-tehn |
| stable |
Pferdestall pfehr-deh-shtahl |
| granary |
Mauthalle mowt-hahl-eh |
| foxhole |
Fuchsloch fookhs-lohkh |
| king / emperor |
König / Kaiser kur-nig / kī-zehr |
| queen / empress |
Königin / Kaiserin kur-nig-in / kī-zehr-in |
| knight |
Ritter rit-ehr |
| dragon |
Drache drakh-eh |
German has a dizzying array of words that mean castle, including Burg, Kastell, Schloss, Festung (fortress), Residenz (royal residence), and Palast (palace).
You’ll see the words Burg (castle) and Berg (mountain) linked to the end of names (such as Rothenburg and Ehrenberg). Salzburg means “salt-castle.” Furt (as in Frankfurt or Klagenfurt) means “ford”—where a river could be crossed. By the way, a Bürger isn’t a sandwich—it’s a townsperson.
Hof, meaning “court” (in both senses of the word), appears in many imperial sight names. For example, the Hofkirche is the imperial church, and the Hofburg is the imperial castle.
