Quick answer
Germany is easier for vegetarians than its sausage-heavy image suggests. Berlin is one of Europe's most vegan-friendly cities, and Munich's beer halls serve pretzels, Obatzda and cheese spätzle. Every big city has Indian restaurants. Watch for meat stock in soups and potato salad, gelatine in desserts and sweets, and eggs in noodles and cakes. Supermarkets label vegetarian food clearly.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Brezel (soft pretzel)
Bavaria's pretzel, eaten with butter or Obatzda for breakfast or in beer gardens.
Obatzda
A Bavarian spread of soft cheese, butter, paprika and onion; some cheeses use animal rennet.
Spargel (white asparagus)
In season from April to late June, served with potatoes and melted butter; hollandaise sauce contains egg.
Flammkuchen
Thin flatbread with crème fraîche and onions; the classic version has bacon, so order the vegetarian one.
Apfelstrudel
Apple strudel; order it with ice cream rather than vanilla sauce, which contains egg yolk.
Käsespätzle
Egg noodles baked with cheese and fried onions. No meat, but the noodles contain egg.
Kartoffelsalat
Bavarian potato salad is often dressed with beef stock or bacon; ask before ordering.
Bratwurst and currywurst
Sausages; Berlin's currywurst stands often sell a vegan version.
Schnitzel
Breaded veal or pork; some restaurants offer a celeriac or vegan schnitzel.
Döner kebab
Turkish-German street food; falafel and halloumi wraps from the same stalls are good vegetarian swaps.
Black Forest gâteau
Chocolate sponge, cherries, cream and kirsch; contains egg and alcohol, and some bakeries use gelatine.
Maultaschen
Swabian pasta parcels usually filled with meat; spinach versions exist.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich bin Vegetarier / Vegetarierin. | I am vegetarian (male / female). |
| Ohne Fleisch und ohne Fisch, bitte. | Without meat and fish, please. |
| Ohne Ei. | Without egg. |
| Ist da Fleischbrühe oder Gelatine drin? | Does this contain meat stock or gelatine? |
| Ohne Zwiebeln und Knoblauch. | Without onion and garlic. |
| Danke schön. | Thank you. |
Is Germany easy for vegetarians?
Yes, more than most people expect. Menus mark vegetarian (vegetarisch) and vegan dishes, supermarkets such as REWE, Edeka, Aldi and Lidl carry large meat-free ranges with clear labels, and bakeries on every corner sell pretzels, rolls and cakes. Berlin is one of Europe's most vegan-friendly cities. Traditional Bavarian food is meat-heavy, but even the beer halls have a few vegetarian dishes.
Where can you find Indian food?
Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg all have plenty of Indian restaurants, mostly North Indian, with a few South Indian places in Frankfurt and Berlin. Smaller towns like Füssen, near Neuschwanstein, and the Black Forest villages have little or nothing, so carry snacks on day trips. Indian grocery stores in the big cities sell ready-to-eat curries, atta and namkeen.
German palates are mild, so ask Indian restaurants for "Indian spicy" if you want proper heat.
What hidden ingredients should you watch for?
- Gelatine: in gummy sweets, many cakes and cream desserts. Look for vegetarian or vegan labels on sweets.
- Meat stock (Brühe): in soups, potato salad and some sauces.
- Lard (Schmalz): a spread served with bread in beer halls.
- Eggs: in spätzle, most pasta, cakes and sauces.
- Rennet: many traditional cheeses use animal rennet; the vegetarian label confirms they do not.
Beer gardens and beer halls
Traditional Munich beer gardens let you bring your own food to tables without tablecloths and buy only drinks, which suits Indian families with packed meals. Teetotallers can order alcohol-free beer, apple spritzer (Apfelschorle) or Spezi.
Tips for Jain travellers
Onion and garlic are everywhere outside Indian restaurants. Big-city Indian restaurants can cook Jain food on request; for day trips, carry khakhra and thepla.
Plan more with things to do in Germany, where to stay in Munich, the Germany trip cost page, our 6-day itinerary and the Germany visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to find Indian food in Munich?
Can I bring my own food into a Munich beer garden?
Are German gummy sweets vegetarian?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
