While Germany is located within the second smallest continent on our planet, it is one of Europe’s largest and amongst the most economically prosperous countries in the world. Living in Germany has a host of advantages, from access to all of Europe’s markets to exclusive access to its global counterparts – making Germany a power house and significant contributor to the global economy.
Geographically, situated in North Central Europe with a range of landscapes: from the tall, sheer mountains in the south to the sandy, rolling plains in the north, the forested hills of the urbanized west, and the plains of the agricultural east. Germany has something to offer everyone, no matter where you desire to stay or your interest.
Historically, Germany like all European countries had been occupied by different races, from the Greeks to the Romans and then to the Frankish tribes who established what have today become Germans; making Germany rich in visual arts, literature, folklore, and song and its people gifted with a creative and logical bent of mind. Contrary to popular belief that its people are hard-wired and cold, Germany are welcoming of migrants – especially those who are educated and willing to contribute to their economy and success. So, if you are looking for a fair break, Germany is certainly a foremost country to consider. What with its economy being the fourth largest in the world, its high standards of living, low crime rate and lowest level of unemployment, where the opportunity to fill over 2.5 million job vacancies are a reality, even in a slowing, global economy.
It is extremely progressive, while blessed with good climate and natural resources, Germany considers its people to be its real wealth and lays great emphasis on higher education, so if you are looking to live a meaningful life and are seeking the opportunity and means to do it, then Germany should be the country of choice, with each of its cities offering a multitude of opportunities for one to choose from, depending upon your interest and career choices.
Here are some facts about its cities to help you choose which city you could consider living in whether its Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt.
Berlin – the national capital and main urban center. Situated in the heart of the northern plain, Berlin is by far the largest city in Germany, making it the center of economic and cultural activity. Berlin was also infamously known for its ‘Wall’ that divided the East from the West. While the ‘Wall’ is a thing of the past, the division of the city actually increased the number of cultural and educational institutions and activities; as both, East and West Berlin established their own places of science, culture, and education. As a result, Berlin today is unique in its large number and variety of cultural institutions. Students looking for study in Berlin should know that Berlin is ranked amongst the world best city to study in. Its home to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Freie Universität Berlin; Technische Universität Berlin and has several noteworthy archives and libraries across the city.
Berlin’s climate is influenced by the continental plain. Here, the annual temperature is about 48 °F (9 °C), which can range from 30 °F (−1 °C) in winter to 65 °F (18 °C) in summer. The city is embroidered with broad avenues, attractive squares, and grandiose stone buildings. Even though there is only one major park near the city centre—the Tiergarten, Berlin is amazingly green, with lush trees softening the effect of the stone apartment blocks in many streets. With the Spree River running through the city’s centre, a broad belt of lakes spreading out east and west, and canals running through much of the city makes water a dominant feature – contributing to the overall ambient temperature and making the city very pleasant to stay and travel around in.
Munich– while you may know Munich for its annual ‘Oktoberfest’ celebrations owing to the large breweries based here, however, Munich is also known for its light industry, banking and finance, manufacturing of precision instruments, optical, electrical appliances, aerospace and other technologically advanced products, as well as to the production of food, cosmetics, and clothing. Book publishing and printing and television production are also well-established industries here. Additionally, Munich is one of the largest wholesale markets in Europe for fruit, vegetables, and animal produce. The diversity of industries in Munich offer its residence a vast variety of career and life options to choose from – making Munich extremely attractive city to stay in.
With the variety of industries in Munich, education is of utmost importance. The headquarters of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, Germany’s official scientific research organization is located in Munich, in addition to educational establishments like the Technical University of Munich and academies of art, music, philosophy, military studies, and film and television. Important libraries like the Bavarian State Library and the University Library have an established standing in Munich society. While it has long been a centre for the arts and music, opera too flourishes here. Munich is very well connected by rail to all the main cities of Germany and Austria, and is a major hub for the German and European high-speed passenger rail system.
Frankfurt – located in eastern Germany, Frankfurt lies on the west bank of the Oder river making it an important inland shipping port. It is a key stopping point for river, rail, and road traffic from Switzerland and southern Germany northward along the Rhine River to the Ruhr region and across the Main River to north-central Germany. For those who have completed their Logistic Management and Aeronautics program, Frankfurt is an ideal choice to live and work in. While the waterways give Frankfurt the unique advantage for shipping and logistic companies, Frankfurt also houses the largest airport in Germany and one of the busiest in Europe, opening several opportunities in aeronautics and logistics management.
The city is now a leading commercial, financial, and high-technology centre, hosting several fairs like the annual book, automobile, and computer fairs. Manufactures include automobiles, machinery, chemical and pharmaceutical products, printing materials, and foodstuffs. The city also is the home of the European Union’s central bank. Here, the summers are comfortable, the winters are very cold and windy, and it is partly cloudy around the year and like all of Germany, Frankfurt is picturesque and relaxing to live in.