Where to Base Yourself in Germany as a Digital Nomad

The capital is where most of Germany’s remote workers end up: a big, green, tolerant city with startups, artists, clubs, lakes and the country’s largest English-speaking community. Kreuzberg and Neukölln are lively and international, Prenzlauer Berg is calmer and leafy, Friedrichshain is young and busy, and Mitte is central. Berlin has the most coworking spaces and meetups in Germany. The downsides are a brutal housing market, slow internet in old buildings and long, grey winters. See the Berlin digital nomad guide.

Germany’s second city is a wealthy port on the Elbe, built around the Alster lakes, canals and parks. St. Pauli and Sternschanze are lively, Ottensen and Eimsbüttel are popular residential areas with cafes and markets, and the old warehouse district and HafenCity show off the harbour. It has a big media, advertising and tech scene and a strong startup community. Rents are high, the weather is often wet and windy, and the city feels more reserved than Berlin. Trains reach Berlin in under two hours.

Bavaria’s capital is prosperous, clean and safe, with beer gardens, the English Garden, big tech and engineering employers, and the Bavarian Alps an hour away for skiing and hiking. Maxvorstadt, Schwabing, Glockenbachviertel and Haidhausen are popular central areas. It’s Germany’s most expensive city, flats are very hard to find, and the social scene can feel more conservative. Munich Airport has flights across Europe and beyond.

Leipzig is the eastern city people move to when Berlin gets too expensive. It has a young population, a strong music and art scene, converted factories, lakes to the south and rents well below Berlin’s. Plagwitz and Connewitz are creative and alternative, Südvorstadt is lively and student-heavy, and the Waldstraßenviertel is grand and leafy. The international community and coworking scene are smaller, you’ll need more German, and some eastern towns nearby are less welcoming to foreigners. Trains reach Berlin in about 75 minutes.

Cologne is a big, sociable city on the Rhine, known for its cathedral, Kölsch beer, carnival and one of Germany’s most open LGBTQ+ scenes. Ehrenfeld is creative and multicultural, the Belgisches Viertel has cafes and boutiques, and Südstadt is relaxed and residential. Media and TV companies are big employers, and fast trains reach Brussels in under two hours and Amsterdam and Paris in about three. Rents are lower than in Munich or Hamburg, and the regional neighbours Düsseldorf and Bonn are close by.

Germany’s sunniest city is a green university town at the foot of the Black Forest, close to France and Switzerland, with Basel airport about an hour away. It’s walkable, bike-friendly and full of students, hiking trails and wine villages. It suits people who want nature and a calm, outdoor life over nightlife. The international community is small, the housing market is tight because of the university, and there’s less to do in winter.

• Start with a furnished flat on a monthly contract while you look for something longer. Check that it allows Anmeldung if you plan to apply for a permit.
• Pick the city before the paperwork. You apply for your residence permit at the foreigners’ office where you’re registered, and practice differs between cities.
• Never pay before viewing. Rental scams are common in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, especially for flats advertised online.
• Ask about the internet. Many older buildings have slow DSL, and a new fibre line can take weeks to connect.