While Germans are (in)famous for reserving their poolside lounge with a towel while on vacation, there's no need to bring towels to the cinema. In most cases, you can request a seat assignment when you buy your ticket. That means you can buy ahead of time and show up just as the curtain rises, rather than waiting in line for hours to avoid the front row.

Typically, movie theater popcorn in Germany is coated with sugar rather than salt and butter. But many cinemas offer both varieties. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer the savory variety with your soft drink, it's best to be clear when ordering to avoid any unwanted surprises.

In the olden days, an employee carrying a big tray of ice cream on their waist - just like in a sports stadium - would come into the cinema after the commercials and film previews and before the movie started. That's because the reel needed to be changed and the viewers had a quick break. The sweet tradition is still observed in many older cinemas.

Unlike in many other European countries, English movies are not subtitled in Germany, they're dubbed. Voice artists are often contracted for life, so Germans know stars like George Clooney and Brad Pitt with completely different voices. In this case, they are voiced by Detlef Bierstedt and Tobias Meister, respectively. In larger cities, you'll find showings of Hollywood films in English, too.

Sometimes the best stories are told by the cinemas themselves. Germany still maintains many very old, tradition cinemas, like Berlin's Zoo Palast. Once considered the country's most glamorous cinema, stars like Romy Schneider and Sophia Loren celebrated their first big successes here. The cinema was recently renovated and reopened in 2013.

If you're watching a film in Germany, particularly in Berlin, chances aren't bad that parts of it were filmed just outside the door. The Babelsberg Film Studios in Potsdam have been in action for over a century, and blockbusters like "Valkyrie" (Tom Cruise) and "Monuments Men" (George Clooney, Matt Damon), both filmed in the German capital.