Bamberg Germany Travel Guide: Old Town, Rauchbier, Trains
Bamberg Germany travel guide for expats: UNESCO old town, Little Venice, the cathedral, Rauchbier, train times from Nuremberg, Munich and Berlin.
The Expat Blog
Life in Germany through the eyes of expats, culture, food, language, and the moments that make it worth it.
What you will find on the blog
The guides on this site cover the rules. The blog covers everything around them: how Germany actually feels once you live here. It is written from Berlin, mostly by Marco, and the posts are practical rather than polished.
Settling in comes first. Read about the cultural differences expats notice first, how to furnish a flat second-hand, and which German phrases you need in week one. For free time, there are posts on the Berlin museums, the best views in Berlin, day trips from Berlin by train and weekend trips across Germany by train.
Looking for the step-by-step rules instead? Head to the guides, or to the everyday life section.
Expat Life
Expat Life
Bauhaus Germany Weimar Dessau: Museums, Tickets, Route
Visit Bauhaus Germany Weimar Dessau: what the Bauhaus was, museums and UNESCO sites, tickets, train times and a two-day route for expats.
Expat Life
Bayreuth Germany Things to Do: Opera, Wagner, Day Trip
Bayreuth Germany things to do: the UNESCO Margravial Opera House, Bayreuth Festival tickets, Wagner sites and how to plan a day trip.
Expat Life
Erfurt Germany Things to Do: A Weekend Trip Guide
Erfurt Germany things to do: the Krämerbrücke, cathedral hill, UNESCO Old Synagogue, Petersberg and how to reach it by train from Berlin.
Expat Life
Nuremberg Germany Things to Do: A Weekend Travel Guide
Nuremberg Germany things to do: the Altstadt and Kaiserburg, Dürer's house, bratwurst, Lebkuchen, the Rally Grounds, plus trains and a one-day plan.
Expat Life
Regensburg Germany Things to Do: A Day Trip Guide
Regensburg Germany things to do: UNESCO old town, Stone Bridge, cathedral and sausages by the Danube, plus train tips and a one-day route.
Expat Life
Saale-Unstrut Wine Region: Freyburg Day Trip Guide
Visit the Saale-Unstrut wine region from Berlin or Leipzig: Freyburg, Rotkäppchen sparkling wine tours, Naumburg Cathedral, trains, costs.
Expat Life
Schwerin Wismar Weekend Trip: Palace and Hanseatic Old Town
Plan a Schwerin Wismar weekend trip from Berlin or Hamburg: the UNESCO palace, Wismar's Hanseatic old town, train times, costs and a two-day route.
Expat Life
White Asparagus Season in Germany: Spargelzeit Guide
When is white asparagus season in Germany? Dates, why it ends on 24 June, how to buy, peel and cook Spargel, and where to visit farms and festivals.
Expat Life
Franconian Wine Region Germany: Würzburg Guide
Franconian wine region guide: Würzburg Residence, the Old Main Bridge, Silvaner and Bocksbeutel, wine festivals, and a car-free day trip.
Expat Life
Berlin by Boat: Rent Without a Licence, Neu-Venedig
Berlin by boat: how to rent a boat without a licence, explore Neu-Venedig and the Müggelsee, ride the F10 ferry, and what to know about rules and prices.
Expat Life
Berlin Museums Guide: Museum Island, Passes, Free Entry
Your guide to Berlin museums: what's on Museum Island, the Pergamon closure, the Museum Pass, free museums and the Long Night of Museums.
Expat Life
Best Views in Berlin: TV Tower, Reichstag, Free Spots
The best views in Berlin: TV Tower tickets, the Reichstag dome, Klunkerkranich, Teufelsberg, Viktoriapark and more, with official booking links.
Expat Life
Christmas Markets in Germany 2026: Dates and Tips
Christmas markets in Germany 2026: confirmed dates for Nuremberg, Dresden, Munich, Cologne and Berlin, plus mug deposits, prices, crowds and train tips.
Expat Life
Day Trips from Berlin by Train: 10 Easy Escapes
Day trips from Berlin by train: Potsdam, Spreewald, Sachsenhausen, Schwerin and more, with travel times, Deutschlandticket tips and costs.
Expat Life
Public Holidays in Germany 2026 and 2027: By State
German public holidays 2026 and 2027 with exact dates for all 16 states, what closes, how bridge days work and when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Expat Life
Second-Hand Shopping in Germany: Where to Buy
Second-hand shopping in Germany: Kleinanzeigen safety tips, Vinted, flea markets, charity shops and Sperrmüll for furnishing a flat cheaply.
Language
Week-One German: Phrases for Anmeldung and Flats
Week-one German: the lines you need at the Bürgeramt, a flat viewing, the Apotheke and the stairwell, plus how to buy time when someone talks fast.
Expat Life
Weekend Trips in Germany by Train: 12 Ideas
Twelve weekend trips in Germany by train, from Regensburg to Rügen, plus how the Deutschlandticket, Sparpreis tickets and BahnCard work and when to book.
Culture
Culture Shock: What Expats Notice First About German Culture
From Ruhezeit to direct communication, understanding the unwritten rules of German society that nobody tells you before you move.
Expat Life
What Nobody Tells You About Expat Life in Germany
The bureaucracy, the friendships, the Sunday silence, and the moment Germany finally starts to feel like home.
Food
German Food Culture: What to Eat and Where to Shop
German food culture explained: what to eat beyond Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, how supermarkets and markets work, and the meals expats end up loving.
Language
Learning German as an Expat: What Actually Works
Honest advice on language learning from people who did it, apps, classes, immersion tricks, and how long it really takes.