How to Use "How Are You?" in German When Traveling

If you’re visiting Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, knowing "how are you in German" can help you connect with locals. While basic greetings like "Hallo" (Hello) or "Guten Tag" (Good day) are useful, adding "Wie geht’s?" can make interactions more friendly.

For example, when checking into a hotel:

Guest: "Guten Abend! Wie geht es Ihnen?" (Good evening! How are you?)
Receptionist: "Danke, mir geht’s gut! Und Ihnen?" (Thanks, I’m doing well! And you?)

Or when meeting new people:

You: "Hallo! Ich bin Alex. Wie geht’s dir?" (Hello! I’m Alex. How’s it going?)

Using these phrases makes a great impression and helps you engage in small talk while traveling.