Living in Dresden

The general range of opening hours for shops in Germany is Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
However, each shop determines its hours individually. As a rule of thumb, smaller shops in quiet streets have shorter opening hours (with most closing at 6 p.m. on weekdays and at 12 noon on Saturdays), while most city center shops close at 8 or 9 p.m. Late-night shopping for groceries is possible at so-called Spätshops/Spätverkauf (informally called Spätis), which have a special permit to open late. Shops are traditionally closed on Sundays.

As you may know from reading our formalities section on section “Banking & Money”, cash and debit cards are the prevailing means of payment in shops and restaurants in Germany. Smaller shops and restaurants may only accept cash payments. Credit cards and checks are uncommon and rarely accepted. So make sure to find a cash machine/an ATM before you head for a night on the town. They are marked with the eurocash (“ec”) sign.

How to tip in restaurants:
The Service is always included in the price of your food and drinks. However, in Germany we generally tip waiters and waitresses for good food and service at approx. 10% of the bill. The only time you don’t tip is when food or service were really bad. You don’t leave the tip on the table when you leave. Instead you round up the bill as you pay, e.g. when you are asked to pay 16.30 EUR, you want to say “Make that 18 EUR, please.”

Upon request, we will provide an up-to-date list of general practitioners and specialized doctors speaking English or other languages. You can also look up a doctor who speaks a certain language in the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Saxony‘s database. Note that the doctor but not all their staff may speak the respective language.

• Find here an overview of all emergency numbers and addresses of the Universitätsklinikum.
  Find here an overview of emergency numbers and addresses of the Städtisches Klinikum Friedrichstadt  and Städtisches Klinikum Neustadt/Trachau.

Find a hospital nearby here.

• If it is not an emergency, but you are sick during the night, on weekends/ public holidays and need a doctor please call the standby duty: 116 117 or 0351-19292, some of the staff speak English.
  Alternatively you may call the central emergency number of the Universitätsklinikum: 0351-458 4580.

For help in case of mental health emergencies always call 112 in life-threatening situations.

To talk to someone over the phone (also anonymously) in a difficult situation call the toll-free confidential helpline at 0800-111 0 111 or 0800-111 0 222 (around the clock) or the local crisis helpline 0351-804 1616 (Mon-Sun 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.). You can find further information in various languages on the website of Dresden’s psycho-social help services about the free counseling services offered and on the website of the Telefonseelsorge.

Find pharmacies near you on this map of pharmacies.

During the night, on weekends and holidays there is a emergency pharmacy service. Certain pharmacies are open or can be reached by ringing the bell at the door. Since the pharmacy in charge of the emergency service changes, you can either go to any pharmacy in your area, where the current emergency pharmacy is pointed out on the door or find it in the emergency service schedule of pharmacies.

• or another person is in a state of danger or desperate need
• have been a victim or witness of a criminal offense
• are able to give some information about current alerts
• have observed something strange or suspicious that should be checked/ investigated by the police

• Remember shoes, clothing and special features! Criminals very often change their clothes (jackets, hat, etc.). Even the haircut is changed. They rarely change their shoes – this little information may be very helpful to any police officer.
• Report harassments in public transport asap! Tapes will usually be deleted after 24 hours.
• You may take private pictures as evidence!
• Pulling the emergency brake while waiting at a tram stop will keep the doors open until the driver closes them manually.
• Non-assistance in emergency cases is a criminal offence.
• Get additional help and support from people around you. Meet police representatives in calm and orderly manner, no hectic rush.

Report a crime online via www.polizei.sachsen.de or personally at one of the police stations in Dresden.
Please note: as a non-native German speaker you have the right to an interpreter!

Xenophobic or racist incidents should be reported to:
HelpLine Dresden
0351 850 75 222
info@helpline-dresden.de
or at one of the police stations in Dresden