This post contains referral and affiliate links. We greatly appreciate it when you use our links to support continued content on the site.
Moving is always stressful, let alone to a new country! But in this day and age, the situation is further complicated by the loss of our favorite local apps. Whether it’s the convenience of delivery, getting from point A to B, or just having some fun, apps are the go to for getting things done. Now that you’ve arrived in Germany (or even planning ahead!), here are some app recommendations for hitting the ground running.
Transit
Getting around is one of the most basic things you’ll need to figure out upon arrival. Starting from the moment you land at the airport to your daily commute, navigating a new city can get a bit easier with these transit apps.
BVG, MVV, etc.
Cities in Germany generally have extensive public transit systems. Luckily, most of them come with an app. In cities like Berlin and Munich, the app includes maps, timetables, and best of all: tickets. This means you won’t have to wait for machines to spit out paper tickets before you ride.
When you’re ready to ride, download the app, navigate to the tickets section, and you can buy single tickets or even a pack. I highly recommend storing a credit card so you won’t need to enter your information each time you need a refill.
For Berlin, before hopping on the train, “activate” one of your tickets and it’s valid for the next 2-hours. You won’t need to stamp anything or even show your ticket, unless one of the ticket checkers hops on your train. While these checks are relatively uncommon, you won’t want to get stuck cheating the system since fines are steep.
Uber
If public transit isn’t your thing, Uber is widely available around Germany. Whether it’s your first arrival at the airport, lugging new furniture back from IKEA, or just getting around town, door to door service might be just what you need.
Uber works pretty much the same in Germany as it does anywhere else, so if you already have an account, you shouldn’t need a new one. However, watch out for foreign transaction fees if you’re using a non-Euro credit card! The biggest difference with German Uber is the type of cars available. Currently only UberX is available from Uber directly (no UberPool yet!), however, you can also order a metered Taxi (up to 4 people) or Taxi Van (from 5-8 people) directly from the Uber app (and you’ll still pay through the app, so don’t worry about cash). The prices for me have been roughly the same so I wouldn’t stress too much about picking the best option.
Don’t have Uber yet? Sign up here.
Car2Go
More independent? Car2Go allows you to rent a car for just a few hours or even a few days. Cars are conveniently located throughout cities and available to “check out” through their app.
Housing
One of the hardest parts of arriving in a new location is finding a place to call home. Many of Germany’s housing markets are affordable but also short in supply. This means it might take a month or two to find a permanent place. In addition, cities like Berlin require you to register within two weeks of arrival
Airbnb
While Airbnb is highly regulated in Germany, it is still available in many cities for just a weekend or even a few months. It’s a great option for landing stress free and giving yourself time to find something longer term.
From the app, you can search for, request, and book temporary, fully furnished accommodations. You shouldn’t need anything more than your suitcase upon arrival. For longer stays, many hosts are willing to write the letters you’ll need to register, but I recommend messaging them the request before confirming your booking if that’s something you’ll need.
ImmobilienScout24
Time to find something more permanent? ImmobilienScout24 is one of the real estate listing websites in Germany, and how I found our apartment! It’s a pretty standard search tool but there are a few things about Germany apartments you might want to keep an eye out for.
First, it’s all in German. If your skills aren’t quite there yet, I recommend using the web version on a Chrome browser, which should offer to translate for you automatically. Next, Germany measures apartments by total rooms, not bedrooms. If you’re searching for a one bedroom apartment, you’ll need to start your search for “two rooms,” and even then you might still end up with studios since the apartment could have a separate kitchen. It’s a bit annoying but not a huge deal.
The big thing to watch out for is in the kitchen. Many apartments come with a “kitchen room,” complete with water, etc. hookups, but not the actual cabinets and appliances. Don’t want to buy a whole kitchen for your rental? Search for apartments with “einbauküche” (fitted kitchen) and everything should be included. This is a standard filter on ImmobilienScout24, so it should be pretty easy to sort through.
Once you have some places in mind, message the landlords, set up an appointment to view, and make sure you’re 100% ON TIME. Since you can save listings with an ImmobilienScout24 account, this is where the iPhone or Android apps will really come in handy.
Wunderflats
Overwhelmed? Wunderflats is a good compromise. It provides the ease of Airbnb and the long-term feeling of a permanent apartment. All Wunderflat units are fully furnished and many are available for a year or more.
Similar to Airbnb, most landlords will be willing to provide registration paperwork, but it’s always best to double check.
Restaurants
Foodora
ResQ
OpenTable
Bonus: Unlocator
Missing home? Unlocator makes it so your computer appears to be in your “home” country. This means you can access most online content, including “local” Netflix and online content provided by TV stations.
While there’s a little bit of technical setup, the instructions provided make it pretty easy so now all I have to do is click a button each time I move wireless networks and voila, Real Housewives here I come! (Don’t worry, I’m judging myself for my TV selections more than you ever could)
6 months only cost $27.50 so this one was a no-brainer for me. If you have control over your wireless network, you can setup Unlocator for your entire house or just individual devices. It’s a great way to stay connected to home and not get fined for illegal streaming. Tsk tsk!
