11 things you will love about living and teaching in Germany
Updated: Jul 27
After Spain, Germany is the most popular tourist destination in Europe as well as a great place to teach English. For example, in Berlin there are more than a hundred language schools offering English lessons. No matter where in Germany you’d like to work, from big cities to remote villages, there is a demand for EFL teachers.
If you plan to live and teach in Germany then you’ve come to the right blog post. If you still need some convincing, here are 11 reasons to come to Germany and see for yourself.
1. Castles
Do I need to say more? There are about 25.000 of castles and palaces in Germany, but Neuschwanstein in Bavaria is probably the best known. Walt Disney enjoyed it so much, he decided to use the silhouette of the castle as the logo for his production company.
Do you see the resemblance?
2. Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlimarkt and Weihnachtsmarkt, are street markets associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. This is a tradition that dates back over 400 years ago and is still vibrant and alive to this day with millions attending each year.
Enjoy drinking some hot “Glühwein” with your friends out in the cold or have yourself some delicious “Lebkuchen” and “Schmalzgebäck” to get in the right mood for the festivities.
3. Beer
It’s such a cliché...but it’s true and it needs to make the list. Beer simply is a German staple!
When you think of beer and Germany, one place may come to mind… Oktoberfest in Munich. For the two-week beer festival, millions from all over the word flock to the “Wiesn” – as the locals call it - to listen to traditional brass-music, wear Bavarian attire and drink beer of course.
Germany’s 1408 breweries produce over 6.000 different beers: Homer Simpson’s version of paradise. This means you could drink a new German beer every day for 16 years without having the same beer twice. Or, for a little challenge have 16 beers a day and be done in one year. You decide…
4. Teaching opportunities
Germany is a great place to teach English. The demand for teaching is high. There are hundreds of language schools with motivated students, that come in all ages and levels. Especially the market for private lessons and Business English are in high demand, so if you are interested in those, this is the place in Europe you’re looking for.
Do you need assistance to apply for a work visa in Germany or to promote yourself as a teacher? Click here to find the expat and marketing services you are looking for to get settled and start working right away.
5. Museums, Arts and Culture
Germany’s cities are plastered with museums, theaters and opera houses. It’s a great place to learn and experience history, geology, the arts… you choose. Archeologists, historians and art lovers can dive deep into German architecture which dates back to Roman Antiquity.
Modern paintings and sculptures from artist as Josef Beuys and expressionist art groups like “Die Brücke” or “Der Blaue Reiter” can be found in Germany’s biggest and most popular museums. And if you are a little more on the eccentric side of life, you will get your money’s worth in the unique museums for things such as: Currywurst, chamber “piss” pots or torture instruments.
6. The scenery
From busy cities, remote medieval towns, sand beaches, glistening lakes, lush green forests to white mountains… Germany offers a bit of everything.
There are places with breathtaking beauty for everyone to enjoy, such as:
· Black Forest, a hiker’s dream
· Germany’s Alps for alpine sports (pun intended)
· Baltic Sea, where you can feel the warm sand between your toes
7. German food
Most expats only know German food as the meat-heavy, sauerkraut with bratwurst, schnitzel and potatoes kind of deal. And whilst there is some truth to that, German cuisine may surprise you: Excellent bakeries at every corner bake over 300 different types of fresh breads. You will find fresh fish in Northern Germany and delicious cakes that make your blood sugar go through the roof.
8. The people
We’re pretty sure you’ve heard the typical stereotype of the lederhosen-wearing, singing and beer drinking German. However, outside of beer tents at Oktoberfest, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to spot them. Every now and then, you’ll come across someone sporting their favorite lederhosen and we guarantee it will make you smile.
Germany is a modern country with a rich diversity of people from a variety of different cultural backgrounds, who have found their new home here. And even though Germans can be a little distant at first, as soon as you get to know them better they tend to be very nice and welcoming.
9. History
You can actively relive history around every corner in Germany. Untouched medieval towns, century old city churches, windmills, the Berlin wall and of course hundreds of castles. You can seriously geek out in Germany if you wish. Pack your tourist guide, a pass for public transport and you’ll be good to go.
10. Nightlife
Germany’s big cities offer limitless opportunities to dance the night away and lose track of time. It doesn’t matter if you like clubs, dive bars or casinos, Germany has it. A must-see is Hamburg’s giant nightlife district called “Reeperbahn”. Be sure to get your fish-sandwich (“Fischbrötchen”) at the famous fish market the morning after partying.
Most clubs are open until early morning, some only shut down for one hour to clean. There are even morning clubs where you can dance starting from 6am if you need that to get in the right mood for the day.
11. Castles
Did I already mention castles? There’s just something about them…
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