Reviews of cities, countries, employers and services abroad

Transport

Deutschlandticket

Incredible value, as long as you avoid long-distance trains

I have had the Deutschlandticket since it launched. For one monthly price I use the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin, plus regional trains everywhere in Germany. I have taken it to the Baltic coast, Leipzig and Dresden on weekends. My employer contributes through the job ticket version, so I pay less than 40 euros. The price has increased twice, and it does not cover ICE or IC trains. Regional trains are often crowded on summer weekends and delays are common. Cancel by the 10th if you want to stop the subscription.

Covers all local transport nationwide

Cheap with employer job ticket

Not valid on ICE or IC trains

Crowded regional trains

Amara Okafor14 days ago4

Destination

Berlin· Berlin

Creative, affordable by Western European standards, but the admin will test you

I have lived in Berlin for five years and it still surprises me. The tech scene is huge and English works at most startups, so getting a first job is realistic without fluent German. Public transport is excellent and the Deutschlandticket makes it cheap. Parks and lakes are everywhere in summer. The downsides are real, though. Finding a flat is brutal, appointments at the Bürgeramt and Ausländerbehörde can take weeks, and winter is long and grey from November to March. Service can feel blunt until you learn that it is rarely personal. There is a big African community, and I found church, football and good jollof within six months. Overall a great city for curious people who are patient with paperwork.

Large English-friendly tech job market

Bank

N26

The fastest way to get a German IBAN

I opened my N26 account on my second day in Berlin using my passport and visa, with video identification in the app. It took about 20 minutes, and my employer could pay my salary into it immediately. The app is in English and very clear, and spending notifications are instant. Transfers within the SEPA area are free and fast. The downsides: there are no branches, cash deposits are limited and cost a fee at partner shops, and customer support is chat-based and can be slow for complex issues. Some landlords and older companies still prefer a traditional bank. For the first months, it is excellent.

Opens in minutes

Clear English app

Employer

Mid-size logistics software company, Berlin Friedrichshain· Berlin

Supportive relocation and genuine work life balance

I joined as a backend engineer on a Blue Card. The relocation support was strong: six weeks of furnished housing, help with the Anmeldung and a visa lawyer for the first application. Working language is English, and teams are very international. Salaries are fair for Berlin, though lower than Munich or London. We have 30 days of holiday and flexible hours, and nobody expects replies after 6pm. Engineering standards are good, with code reviews and time for refactoring. My main criticism is slow promotions and some decisions that feel top-down. Overall a good first employer in Germany.

Excellent relocation support