Where is a good place to live in Germany?

Question

We (my husband and I) are looking to move to Germany as a working holiday. I have been looking around at where we should settle, and I wanted to see what you fine folks have to say!

We are a young couple (20+24), but we want to avoid Berlin and Munich, we want to get off the beaten track a bit!

We were looking closer to the West (we have friends in Holland).

Every website I have checked out recommends Dusseldorf.

Also, the hubby loves working in Theatre production, so a small city would work.

We plan on traveling the whole country, but we need a place to call home.

We also REALLY like skiing and hiking, so with that in mind, can you help us out?

Answer 1

I don't know about skiing, but Mainz will make you definintly happy!!!

  Trust me I have lived there my entire life!!!!

  Some people do swim in the Rhine, but you need to be careful because of the strong currents, but it would be safer to swim in the beachs where it's allowed.during the weekends there are many boats on the Rhine.

Answer 2

Freiburg in the south is indeed a good option, Düsseldorf is a very pleasant city but it has a huge expat community (also a lot of japanese, so very good sushi bars!), but a real hidden secret with hardly no expat community is Aachen.  It's ideally located in the Euregion, so you are only half an hour away from Liège and Maastricht, only 1 hour from Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne and Düsseldorf, .. you won't know which city to visit first.   Not far away from Aachen is the Flemish region "Voerstreek", they have just opened a new hiking network, with more than 100km of hiking roads, it's really a hidden gem. You will love it!

There is a university in Aachen with a lot of cultural activities going on and several theater groups.

It would be nice to hear which city you have chosen, they are all fun to live I'm sure

Answer 3

Why don't you try the south? Friburg is a small and quiet city, with a lot of cultural activities and stuff. You can skii in winter, as well as hiking in the Alps, whenever you want to do. You can also find the wineyards in the small towns of the south, full of traditions and beautiful landscape. I have been there as a backpacker...

You can visit France and Switzerland in just one day, and have the experience of enjoying the natural environment in such countryside.