I just took a 2-week vacation in Bavaria, and indeed, the rampant smoking was shocking to me as an American. However, I did not see it inside, only outside. It was especially annoying when I wanted to look at a restaurant's menu outside and some idiot with a cigarette was standing in the doorway; I just went by and found another restaurant when that happened. I saw tons of people (usually male) smoking outside right next to doorways, in entranceways, on the sidewalks, etc., many times in the rain and cold. The level of cigarette smoking, plus the poor city air quality due to all the diesel cars, really made me question if I could stand living in Germany any time in the next 20 years (probably about as long as it'll take to become more like America now).
However, I did not once see anyone smoking indoors, and it seemed to be illegal in public places from what I could tell. Are things different in Berlin?
It's illegal in Berlin as well but completely unenforced in bars and clubs. Also in general the smoking population of adults is like 1/3 of men and 1/4 of women. I'm an occasional smoker and I even find it disgusting.
I was in Berlin exactly a year ago, and it is indeed unberable. Think bars so filled with smoke you can't see all the way across the room. Smoking outside just wasn't a thing, and it was in the 30s when I was there, so while there is in general a good outdoor drinking culture where you can avoid it for much of the year, in the winter you just can't.
I had to leave some places because it was so unbearable.
Probably not then? Restaurants were fine. I am not sure where the line is drawn between a bar and restaurant though, but you can likely see or smell the smoke long before you enter a place, so it shouldn't be hard to avoid.
I just took a 2-week vacation in Bavaria, and indeed, the rampant smoking was shocking to me as an American. However, I did not see it inside, only outside. It was especially annoying when I wanted to look at a restaurant's menu outside and some idiot with a cigarette was standing in the doorway; I just went by and found another restaurant when that happened. I saw tons of people (usually male) smoking outside right next to doorways, in entranceways, on the sidewalks, etc., many times in the rain and cold. The level of cigarette smoking, plus the poor city air quality due to all the diesel cars, really made me question if I could stand living in Germany any time in the next 20 years (probably about as long as it'll take to become more like America now).
However, I did not once see anyone smoking indoors, and it seemed to be illegal in public places from what I could tell. Are things different in Berlin?