🇩🇪 Travel & Living in Germany
A practical arrival and living guide for students heading to Germany — transport, housing, money, safety and your first week.
So you're moving to Germany to study. Here's the practical, non-academic side: how to arrive, settle in and live well on a student budget.
Getting there & around
Major entry points are Frankfurt Airport (FRA, the busiest hub), Munich Airport (MUC), Berlin Brandenburg (BER) and Hamburg Airport. From all of them, direct rail links connect to the city centre within 15–45 minutes. Germany's intercity rail network — operated by Deutsche Bahn — is extensive: ICE high-speed trains connect major cities, and Intercity services reach smaller towns. The Deutschlandticket (€58/month, widely accepted at universities at a reduced student rate) covers all local and regional public transport nationwide — trams, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses — and is the single best travel investment you'll make. Within cities, the integrated transit systems are excellent and reliable.
Where to live
University-run Studentenwohnheime (halls of residence) are the cheapest option — usually €250–400/month including utilities — but waitlists can be long, so apply immediately after accepting your place via the Studierendenwerk (student services body) of your university. Private shared flats (WG — Wohngemeinschaft) are the norm from the start; search on WG-Gesucht and ImmoScout24. You'll almost always pay a Kaution (deposit) of two to three months' rent, which is legally protected in a separate account and returned at the end of the tenancy if the flat is left in good condition.
Cost of living & budgeting
Germany remains one of the more affordable western European countries for students, especially outside Munich. Many public universities charge only a Semesterbeitrag (semester fee, €150–350) rather than full tuition — this often includes a transit pass for the local network.
| Item | Rough monthly (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Wohnheim room | 250–420 |
| Private WG room | 400–700 |
| Groceries (Aldi/Lidl/Rewe) | 150–250 |
| Deutschlandticket (student) | 29–58 |
| Phone plan | 10–20 |
Tip: cook at home and shop at Aldi, Lidl or Penny — German discount supermarkets are genuinely good and cut your grocery bill in half compared to shopping at Rewe or Edeka.
Money, SIM & admin
Open a German Girokonto (current account) as soon as possible — DKB and N26 both offer free online accounts with an English interface, while Commerzbank and Sparkasse have student accounts with branches everywhere. You'll need to complete Anmeldung (city registration) at the local Bürgeramt within two weeks of arrival — this is legally mandatory and you'll need the address slip for almost everything else (bank account, SIM, phone contract). For mobile, Congstar, Simplytel and Aldi Talk offer cheap monthly plans on the Telekom or Vodafone network from €10/month.
Safety & health
Germany is very safe. Call 110 for police and 112 for fire and ambulance. Students enrolled at a public university are automatically covered by statutory Krankenversicherung (health insurance) with a student rate — typically via TK, AOK, Barmer or another public insurer (around €120/month for those over 25; younger students may stay on parental cover). Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as a stopgap if you're EU/EEA; others should enroll with a German public insurer on arrival. Carry your insurance card at all times.
Culture & student life
German academic culture is formal by international standards: address professors as Herr/Frau Doktor/Professor until invited to use first names. Punctuality is a social contract, not a preference. Student life is centred on the AStA (student union) and faculty-run Fachschaften, which organise parties, pub crawls and study groups. Sustainability is taken seriously — separate your waste correctly (paper, plastic, glass, Restmüll) or your landlord will notice. Tipping in restaurants is appreciated but modest: rounding up or adding 5–10% is the norm.
Your first week
- Do your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt — book an appointment online as soon as you arrive; slots fill fast.
- Complete university enrolment, get your student card (Studentenausweis) and set up your university email.
- Enrol with a statutory health insurer (TK, AOK, Barmer) and get your membership certificate.
- Open a bank account (DKB or N26 online, or Commerzbank in person) using your Anmeldung confirmation.
- Sign up for the Deutschlandticket through your university or directly via the insurer's app.
- Visit the Mensa (university canteen) — student meals are subsidised and cost €2–4; it's also where you'll find notice boards for WG rooms and second-hand textbooks.