NEWBIE DECISIONS
Welcome to my website, I guess you are thinking about going to the next Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, and you want as much
information as possible to help you make decisions, well done, you have come to the right place, however first things first DON'T PANIC!
You have obviously heard of this wonderful festival and you are doing some homework to find out some more information...excellent, I
hope you find this website useful, as you have made it this far I guess you are doing quite well...
So if you have never been to WGT before you probably have a host of questions that you want to answer...
I will try to answer them here, if you don't see your answer send me your question and I will answer it directly (no worries).
I've planned this website for you, to try and answer the key questions...
I have listed a few key questions below. The rest of this website will answer more of your questions and will go into far more detail on
each subject. See you in Leipzig!
GETTING TO LEIPZIG
When should I book my travel?
This will depend on where you live, if you live outside central Europe then I guess you will be flying into Germany. If you live in the UK
then flights will be on sale six/seven months before you travel, go for a budget airline. Tickets will be at their cheapest when they first go
on sale, and will rise in price rapidly after the first couple of weeks. If you live in the USA then flights will be available early too, however
the price will fall, reaching a low point two months before you want to fly. If you live outside of Europe then I guess the best advice is to
check airline prices as early as possible and purchase your ticket when they reach your budget.
What method should I use to get to Germany?
If you live on mainland Europe or you don't like air travel then you can drive to Leipzig or get the train. Driving will take the longest,
approximately 24 hours from the UK (depending on where you live in the UK). Train travel will be quite expensive, more so than using a
budget airline. You should be able to book a ticket right across Europe from a travel agent or on the web depending once again on
where you live. If you live outside of Europe you may find it cheaper to fly to the UK or another European Capital and then use a budget
airline to get to Germany. The cost of an average budget airline ticket form Stanstead London to Berlin (return) is £60.
What is the best Airport to fly into?
You have a few choices, there are two similar airports in Berlin and two small airports around Leipzig. Once again depending on where
you live will dictate where you can fly into. If you live outside Europe then you will probably fly into Tegel Airport, west Berlin. In you live in
the UK you will have the choice of all four airports above, depending on what airline you use. All have their advantages and
disadvantages, however they all provide easy access to Leipzig by public transport.
How do I get to Leipzig from Berlin?
The best method is the ICE train, it takes an hour and twenty minutes to travel the 120km from Berlin to Leipzig with only a couple of
stops on the way. I advise purchasing your train ticket online before you travel and then simply making your way to Berlin Hauptbahnhof
for the trip down to Leipzig.
ACCOMMODATION
Where should I stay?
Your accommodation in Leipzig will once again depend on your budget. You have a few options, there are a host of hotels in and
around Leipzig, or you could use one of the few hostels, or you could decide that you want to camp. If you go for a hotel pick one that is
within your budget range as close to the Hauptbahnhof in Leipzig as possible (that way you will be central to all the venues and the best
of the shopping in Leipzig). The same goes for the Hostels. If you are camping you have fewer choices, you can camp at the Agra the
main venue for WGT or on one of the outer town sites. I have provided a list of 50 hotels on the Hotel Listing page, and various people
have rated them from a Goth point of view.
When should I book?
Book your hotel/hostel as soon as you know you want to go to the next WGT. I book a year in advance, reserve your hotel (its free) send
them an email or use their site. The later you book the less choice you will have. Wave Gotik Treffen is not the only event that will
happen in Leipzig whilst you are there. If you are going to camp at the Agra simply book your WGT ticket and camping ticket at the same
time from the official website. Hostels will fill very fast, once again send them an email as soon as you can to reserve your place.
When is the latest that I can book a hotel?
Although all the popular hotels fill fast you can book a decent hotel up to 1-2 week before WGT. I have done this for friends and people
that have asked for help with booking. Many of the people that reserve hotel rooms will hand them back (especially if they have to travel
long distance, and don't have the funds to make it to the festival) about a month before the festival.
What is the best hotel in Leipzig?
Tough question, depends on what you want...
WGT FESTIVAL AND OFFICIAL WGT PROGRAM / WEBSITE
When does the Official WGT Program get published on the WGT Website?
Dont panic the Official WGT Website does not publish the program till about 2 weeks before the festival. Only when all the venues and
bands have confirmed 100% is the program slowly published. It will be updated daily, so dont print it until you travel.
Where do I get an Official WGT Program?
When you go to get your wristbands or tickets in Leipzig you should also receive a folded black map of Leipzig, this will also have the full
WGT program on the reverse. The program will have all the venue on it and all the bands and other events that are taking place. If you
fail to get your hands on a program when you get your wristbands I would suggest heading to the WGT stall at the Agra where they
normally have spare programs.
LEIPZIG & WGT VENUES
What is the best method of getting around Leipzig?
Trams are the best method for getting around Leipzig, once you have your WGT ticket and armband you have free travel on public
transport (Note: Free travel is normally from noon Friday to noon Tuesday). If you are burdened with shopping then I recommend
jumping in one of the many taxis, they are quite cheap.
What is the main venue of the festival?
The Agra is the main location of the festival, there are 20 or so other venues but nothing the size of the Agra. If you didn't want to travel
around Leipzig you could spend all your time here (although that would be an utter shame, as you would not see the delights of the
other venues).
Is Leipzig safe?
The simple answer is yes, or its as safe as any other city in Germany. I have never heard of any trouble or muggings etc. The festival
has been going on for many years and the locals seem to not notice us.
I'm not Caucasian/European will I be safe?
The simple answer again is yes. The Festival has a very international flavour (with bands from all over the world playing) that will bring
people from every part of the world. There is a Goth/Fetish Shop in town ‘Hautnah’ that has a map of the world at the back of their store,
you are encouraged to place a pin in the map to show where you are from, by the end of the four days the map will be covered, people
will be at WGT that have come from South Africa, the USA, Australia, Japan, Chile, Israel, Mexico and just about every other nation. I
personally have found all these Goths from other nations to be extremely friendly, always willing to help you out if you can’t find
something or to point you in the right direction if you are lost.
GERMANY
Will my Mobile Phone work in Leipzig/Germany?
So long as you have enabled it via your service operator you should have no trouble making and receiving calls in Germany. There is
excellent reception just about everywhere except the Moritzbastei (as its underground)
What is the Time Zone in Leipzig/Germany?
German time is GMT + 1
This is the important bit it, remember to change your watch. It sounds like quite a simple task, however many people are caught out
each year, several people I know (including myself) have failed to change their watch and turned up late to meet people on the first day
(and I even managed to miss most of a band that I wanted to see on the Friday because I had failed to change my watch). Simple, but
with so much going on it becomes one of them things you forget to do.
Do I need to learn German before I go to Germany?
Whilst not 100% necessary it would be good if you know a few words of thanks. You may get a little stuck in bars and restaurants if you
don't know any German. Learn to order a beer, good morning etc. One positive outcome of the World Cup being held in Germany in
2006 (and of Leipzig being a host City) was that many people have been taught English, many Taxi drivers can now converse with you
as can many restaurant staff, and some trams have announcements in German and English.
The BBC website has some lessons to learn the very basics, if you have the time its worth checking it out. Other than that I would not
worry about it.
SOME OTHER INFO FOR NEWBIES
So here is some more random info for those going to Leipzig for the first time
Of Brightly Painted Lions
You will see these all over the city, they seem to be everywhere. They are all part of Leipzig’s Olympic Games Bid, probably the 2018 bid
now that London have won the host city for 2012. In Berlin they have something similar only in Berlin they have Bears.
What to Wear
With baggage allowances restricting what you can take with you its hard to look exceptional. With such long days I advise that you dress
as well as you can but stay comfortable, however don’t expect to look the best, some people really go for it and wear some amazing
clothes and have fabulous make up. Just one other thing to note, if you’re into the military look, be aware that it is illegal to display any
reference to the Swastika or to wear the Totenkopf. Many Germans wear militaristic clothing but not with all the emblems (a German
citizen was given a suspended two year jail sentence for wearing the ‘Hitler on Tour’ t-shirt that was also popular during the 80s in the
UK).
Also note there are few places to sit at most of the venues where you will see bands play. If you have a long day of watching bands you
may want to wear clothes that are appropriate for sitting on the ground. Many people will dress to excess just to go shopping in the
Agra, however you very rarely see these people late at night.
Shoe and Boot advice
Now am I being stupid in giving advice about shoes/boots? Well if you read just about any review of WGT then you will read about how
sore peoples feet were after four days of standing on concrete. If you work on your feet you will probably be OK, for the rest of us
mortals wear shoes/boots that are comfortable (or take a second pair to change into), make sure you break in your New Rocks before
you go to Leipzig. You have been warned 'Treffen Foot' is a common complaint after a few days.
Drug Free Festival
I have never been offered drugs in Leipzig, and to my limited knowledge I have never seen drugs being used at any event or venue. If
you are going to WGT to rave your nights away then you may find yourself disappointed. Its not my place to judge, its just not my thing
but I am quite happy that the festival seems to be drug free.
German Goths
A few people have asked about German Goths over the last couple of years, they have asked will they be safe dressing up in amongst
German Goths or is there a difference. If I had to give an answer and if I was to use a stereotype for each country then I would say that
the average German Goth tended to dress more Trad Goth style, more lace and frills than we certainly see/wear in the UK. There are
also less New Rocks, the preference seems to be for a high paratrooper boot. However that said there is no way of spotting the
difference as Leipzig will be full of Goths from all around the World. Check out the Photo gallery on the official WGT website, here you
will find hundreds of photos of people that attend the festival.
If you have any more questions feel free to join my Yahoo group or email me
Welcome to my website, I guess you are thinking about going to the next Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, and you want as much
information as possible to help you make decisions, well done, you have come to the right place, however first things first DON'T PANIC!
You have obviously heard of this wonderful festival and you are doing some homework to find out some more information...excellent, I
hope you find this website useful, as you have made it this far I guess you are doing quite well...
So if you have never been to WGT before you probably have a host of questions that you want to answer...
I will try to answer them here, if you don't see your answer send me your question and I will answer it directly (no worries).
I've planned this website for you, to try and answer the key questions...
- First you will need to think about getting to Leipzig
- Second you will need accommodation for the period of the festival
- Thirdly you will need information about Leipzig and the various venues
I have listed a few key questions below. The rest of this website will answer more of your questions and will go into far more detail on
each subject. See you in Leipzig!
GETTING TO LEIPZIG
When should I book my travel?
This will depend on where you live, if you live outside central Europe then I guess you will be flying into Germany. If you live in the UK
then flights will be on sale six/seven months before you travel, go for a budget airline. Tickets will be at their cheapest when they first go
on sale, and will rise in price rapidly after the first couple of weeks. If you live in the USA then flights will be available early too, however
the price will fall, reaching a low point two months before you want to fly. If you live outside of Europe then I guess the best advice is to
check airline prices as early as possible and purchase your ticket when they reach your budget.
What method should I use to get to Germany?
If you live on mainland Europe or you don't like air travel then you can drive to Leipzig or get the train. Driving will take the longest,
approximately 24 hours from the UK (depending on where you live in the UK). Train travel will be quite expensive, more so than using a
budget airline. You should be able to book a ticket right across Europe from a travel agent or on the web depending once again on
where you live. If you live outside of Europe you may find it cheaper to fly to the UK or another European Capital and then use a budget
airline to get to Germany. The cost of an average budget airline ticket form Stanstead London to Berlin (return) is £60.
What is the best Airport to fly into?
You have a few choices, there are two similar airports in Berlin and two small airports around Leipzig. Once again depending on where
you live will dictate where you can fly into. If you live outside Europe then you will probably fly into Tegel Airport, west Berlin. In you live in
the UK you will have the choice of all four airports above, depending on what airline you use. All have their advantages and
disadvantages, however they all provide easy access to Leipzig by public transport.
How do I get to Leipzig from Berlin?
The best method is the ICE train, it takes an hour and twenty minutes to travel the 120km from Berlin to Leipzig with only a couple of
stops on the way. I advise purchasing your train ticket online before you travel and then simply making your way to Berlin Hauptbahnhof
for the trip down to Leipzig.
ACCOMMODATION
Where should I stay?
Your accommodation in Leipzig will once again depend on your budget. You have a few options, there are a host of hotels in and
around Leipzig, or you could use one of the few hostels, or you could decide that you want to camp. If you go for a hotel pick one that is
within your budget range as close to the Hauptbahnhof in Leipzig as possible (that way you will be central to all the venues and the best
of the shopping in Leipzig). The same goes for the Hostels. If you are camping you have fewer choices, you can camp at the Agra the
main venue for WGT or on one of the outer town sites. I have provided a list of 50 hotels on the Hotel Listing page, and various people
have rated them from a Goth point of view.
When should I book?
Book your hotel/hostel as soon as you know you want to go to the next WGT. I book a year in advance, reserve your hotel (its free) send
them an email or use their site. The later you book the less choice you will have. Wave Gotik Treffen is not the only event that will
happen in Leipzig whilst you are there. If you are going to camp at the Agra simply book your WGT ticket and camping ticket at the same
time from the official website. Hostels will fill very fast, once again send them an email as soon as you can to reserve your place.
When is the latest that I can book a hotel?
Although all the popular hotels fill fast you can book a decent hotel up to 1-2 week before WGT. I have done this for friends and people
that have asked for help with booking. Many of the people that reserve hotel rooms will hand them back (especially if they have to travel
long distance, and don't have the funds to make it to the festival) about a month before the festival.
What is the best hotel in Leipzig?
Tough question, depends on what you want...
- The Renaissance Leipzig Hotel if you want to be in the same hotel as many of the bands
- The Fuerstenhof Hotel if you want five star accommodation
- The Hotel Ibis Leipzig Zentrum if you want value for money
- The Seaside Park Hotel if you want four star luxury at an excellent price
- The Hostel Sleepy Lion if you want cheapness with excellent facilities and a building full of Goths.
WGT FESTIVAL AND OFFICIAL WGT PROGRAM / WEBSITE
When does the Official WGT Program get published on the WGT Website?
Dont panic the Official WGT Website does not publish the program till about 2 weeks before the festival. Only when all the venues and
bands have confirmed 100% is the program slowly published. It will be updated daily, so dont print it until you travel.
Where do I get an Official WGT Program?
When you go to get your wristbands or tickets in Leipzig you should also receive a folded black map of Leipzig, this will also have the full
WGT program on the reverse. The program will have all the venue on it and all the bands and other events that are taking place. If you
fail to get your hands on a program when you get your wristbands I would suggest heading to the WGT stall at the Agra where they
normally have spare programs.
LEIPZIG & WGT VENUES
What is the best method of getting around Leipzig?
Trams are the best method for getting around Leipzig, once you have your WGT ticket and armband you have free travel on public
transport (Note: Free travel is normally from noon Friday to noon Tuesday). If you are burdened with shopping then I recommend
jumping in one of the many taxis, they are quite cheap.
What is the main venue of the festival?
The Agra is the main location of the festival, there are 20 or so other venues but nothing the size of the Agra. If you didn't want to travel
around Leipzig you could spend all your time here (although that would be an utter shame, as you would not see the delights of the
other venues).
Is Leipzig safe?
The simple answer is yes, or its as safe as any other city in Germany. I have never heard of any trouble or muggings etc. The festival
has been going on for many years and the locals seem to not notice us.
I'm not Caucasian/European will I be safe?
The simple answer again is yes. The Festival has a very international flavour (with bands from all over the world playing) that will bring
people from every part of the world. There is a Goth/Fetish Shop in town ‘Hautnah’ that has a map of the world at the back of their store,
you are encouraged to place a pin in the map to show where you are from, by the end of the four days the map will be covered, people
will be at WGT that have come from South Africa, the USA, Australia, Japan, Chile, Israel, Mexico and just about every other nation. I
personally have found all these Goths from other nations to be extremely friendly, always willing to help you out if you can’t find
something or to point you in the right direction if you are lost.
GERMANY
Will my Mobile Phone work in Leipzig/Germany?
So long as you have enabled it via your service operator you should have no trouble making and receiving calls in Germany. There is
excellent reception just about everywhere except the Moritzbastei (as its underground)
What is the Time Zone in Leipzig/Germany?
German time is GMT + 1
This is the important bit it, remember to change your watch. It sounds like quite a simple task, however many people are caught out
each year, several people I know (including myself) have failed to change their watch and turned up late to meet people on the first day
(and I even managed to miss most of a band that I wanted to see on the Friday because I had failed to change my watch). Simple, but
with so much going on it becomes one of them things you forget to do.
Do I need to learn German before I go to Germany?
Whilst not 100% necessary it would be good if you know a few words of thanks. You may get a little stuck in bars and restaurants if you
don't know any German. Learn to order a beer, good morning etc. One positive outcome of the World Cup being held in Germany in
2006 (and of Leipzig being a host City) was that many people have been taught English, many Taxi drivers can now converse with you
as can many restaurant staff, and some trams have announcements in German and English.
The BBC website has some lessons to learn the very basics, if you have the time its worth checking it out. Other than that I would not
worry about it.
SOME OTHER INFO FOR NEWBIES
So here is some more random info for those going to Leipzig for the first time
Of Brightly Painted Lions
You will see these all over the city, they seem to be everywhere. They are all part of Leipzig’s Olympic Games Bid, probably the 2018 bid
now that London have won the host city for 2012. In Berlin they have something similar only in Berlin they have Bears.
What to Wear
With baggage allowances restricting what you can take with you its hard to look exceptional. With such long days I advise that you dress
as well as you can but stay comfortable, however don’t expect to look the best, some people really go for it and wear some amazing
clothes and have fabulous make up. Just one other thing to note, if you’re into the military look, be aware that it is illegal to display any
reference to the Swastika or to wear the Totenkopf. Many Germans wear militaristic clothing but not with all the emblems (a German
citizen was given a suspended two year jail sentence for wearing the ‘Hitler on Tour’ t-shirt that was also popular during the 80s in the
UK).
Also note there are few places to sit at most of the venues where you will see bands play. If you have a long day of watching bands you
may want to wear clothes that are appropriate for sitting on the ground. Many people will dress to excess just to go shopping in the
Agra, however you very rarely see these people late at night.
Shoe and Boot advice
Now am I being stupid in giving advice about shoes/boots? Well if you read just about any review of WGT then you will read about how
sore peoples feet were after four days of standing on concrete. If you work on your feet you will probably be OK, for the rest of us
mortals wear shoes/boots that are comfortable (or take a second pair to change into), make sure you break in your New Rocks before
you go to Leipzig. You have been warned 'Treffen Foot' is a common complaint after a few days.
Drug Free Festival
I have never been offered drugs in Leipzig, and to my limited knowledge I have never seen drugs being used at any event or venue. If
you are going to WGT to rave your nights away then you may find yourself disappointed. Its not my place to judge, its just not my thing
but I am quite happy that the festival seems to be drug free.
German Goths
A few people have asked about German Goths over the last couple of years, they have asked will they be safe dressing up in amongst
German Goths or is there a difference. If I had to give an answer and if I was to use a stereotype for each country then I would say that
the average German Goth tended to dress more Trad Goth style, more lace and frills than we certainly see/wear in the UK. There are
also less New Rocks, the preference seems to be for a high paratrooper boot. However that said there is no way of spotting the
difference as Leipzig will be full of Goths from all around the World. Check out the Photo gallery on the official WGT website, here you
will find hundreds of photos of people that attend the festival.
If you have any more questions feel free to join my Yahoo group or email me
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