Why go to Germany?

Discover Germany’s dynamic urban landscapes – Berlin, the capital, and regional metropolises such as Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Leipzig — each has its own unique character. Granted, Berlin's nightlife is in a class on its own... Not to forget Germany's smaller towns... many of them steeped in history, founded in the Middle Ages or even back in Roman times... some of them notorious for their student community and lifestyle... and a large number brimming with opportunities to practice sports and outdoor activities, such as biking, hiking, wind surfing and mountain climbing, just to name a few... In short, Germany is for everyone!

Feeling apprehensive about the language? No need to be! Germany's students and young people are enthusiastic about travelling abroad, which means most have at least a basic knowledge of English. On the downside, Germans are notorious for switching to English once they realize their counterpart isn't a native speaker. Still, there's a strong incentive to learn the language: with more than 100 million German speakers in Europe, it's the continent's most spoken mother tongue!

Germany has one of Europe's most dynamic economies. German brands are recognized all over the world – and not just those for beer and cars! The country is known for its top-notch science and research and is on the leading edge of renewable energies and green technology. Germany is home to many international companies, which can make your job search easier.

And last but not least: Germany features 90 nature parks, 14 biosphere reserves and 15 national parks, two coastlines barely 50 km from each other yet completely different, and spectacular landscapes from the Wadden Sea to the Black Forest and the Alps. And all this in a country measuring about 850 km from north to south and 600 km from east to west...

Ready to explore? Germany is waiting for you!

Check out the following blogs:

• Scene in Berlin: Deutsche Welle's Berlin columnists - all native English-speakers who have lived in the German capital for many years - bring you an insider's perspective on cultural life in one of the world's most vibrant cities.

• Living in Germany sets out to explore what is it really like to live in Germany, by looking at the lives of Germans and non-Germans alike. Join Sue Cox and the rest of the team every week for an exciting and entertaining podcast.

• Every week Michael Wigge investigates The Truth about Germany, roaming around the country to find out how true clichés about Germans are and to discover what the country is really like.

• Brian Melican moved to Germany in 2008. He has reported for a number of German daily newspapers and translates and writes for educational publishers. He records his experiences on his outspoken blog Lost in Deutschland.

Additional websites:

• young-germany.de – informs youth about opportunities in Germany
• make-it-in-germany.com – info about living and working in Germany
• tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de – offers a wealth of facts about Germany
• deutschland.de – portal with many useful links
• cometogermany.com – general travel information
• discover-germany.diplo.de – background information and current news
• magazine-deutschland.de - website of the magazine “.de Magazin Deutschland”
• voyage.gc.ca – Government of Canada Travel Advisory Reports