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    We're thinking of spending a few months in eastern Germany.  We've had good experiences in the western part of the country but have heard that Germans in the eastern part aren't as friendly to tourists, especially in the smaller towns.  Is that true?
   

    -@agpmailnospam

Places with tourist attractions in eastern Germany are certainly used to tourists and suitably friendly. What they are not, especially in smaller places, is being used to tourists from further afield. Eastern Germany is often forgotten by international travellers because places like Bavaria and the Black Forest are too well-known and easily accessible.

Also, southern and western Germany had/have a permanent presence of British and US soldiers for many decades, which certainly helps with being an English speaking tourist in these areas. Most people over the age of 45 in eastern Germany learned Russian and even the slightly younger ones often had inadequate or patchy English language instruction.

A few months ago, I heard from Americans who spent a few months in Saxony, that they were frustrated with waiting staff and other service industry staff not speaking English, an exhibition they visited being in German and Czech with no English option availabe, etc.

Personally, I´d encourage you to explore eastern Germany, there are very beautiful places from mountains to coastline, beautiful cities and picturesque towns.

When and where-ish were you thinking?

Some of the best bits won´t be searchable in English - I´d be happy to give you tips of what to see.

The percentage of people who prefer less foreign migrants is higher in the East, but few will show hostility in daily encounters. Thus, as a visitor, you will only notice that much less English is spoken there - which is a fact and not due to discrimination. (This does, of course, not apply to Berlin and Dresden.)

I don’t think it is really a significant issue – unless one has dark skin and plans to move to a really rural or small community. It is not like people will be overtly unfriendly or hostile especially to a tourist. What one is likely to find is indifference. And not among the younger people, but ones over 60, will not likely have had much, if any, English in their schooling. But virtually everywhere in the world, people in larger cities tend to be more cosmopolitan and open to others than in small communities. Act respectful and one will not likely have any problems.