In rural areas or in small towns, leisure activities may be more limited. However, life is usually quieter there. You are surrounded by countryside and have more space. It’s quieter and cleaner. Many homes have their own gardens. Housing is cheaper.

You can find information about leisure activities on the website of your town or place of residence.

Do you enjoy cultural activities? Most cities have museums, exhibitions, cinemas, theatres and concerts. Many cinemas show international films in the original language (OV), often with subtitles. You can find out what’s on in your area by checking your town’s online calendar of forthcoming events.

In public libraries you can read books, listen to music and watch films for free or for a small fee. You have to be a member of the library. To do this, you usually need your certificate of registration. You can also borrow books, films and CDs. You can take them home with you and return them later.

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Your natural surroundings are a great place for relaxation. All cities have parks. You can go for walks there, play games or have picnics. In the summer, parks are usually very busy places. People go there to do sports, like jogging, football, table tennis or fitness workouts. Most parks are free of charge.

There are lots of playgrounds for children. In botanical gardens, you get to see unusual plants, while in zoos you can admire animals from all over the world. You usually have to pay to visit botanical gardens and zoos. Many regions also have natural attractions such as lakes, forests and mountains. You may even live near the sea. If you live in the city, you can take trips to the countryside. In summer, for example, you can visit a lake and go swimming.

It feels good to have friends and it’s fun to spend free time together. In Germany, you will have the opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Be open-minded and show a genuine interest in others. Make the most of your free time by joining in lots of activities. But be patient. Sometimes it takes a while to form new friendships.

In the beginning, it can be helpful to connect with a community of people from your own country. Social media is a good place to find such groups. Some of these groups focus on shared hobbies and interests. There are also organisations dedicated to supporting immigrants. Ask at your local counselling centre. Many cities also organise international meetings or special events. These are good opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds.

If you have children, you’ll get to know other parents at your child’s kindergarten or school. Having children naturally gives you a shared topic to talk about. Don’t hesitate to say hello to your neighbours. Sometimes, neighbourhoods organise events like flea markets, street parties and community gatherings.

You are also likely to meet friendly people at work. You can chat during lunch breaks or meet up after work for a walk or a drink. This helps you get to know each other better. Colleagues often become close friends.

In a language course, you’ll meet other people who are new to Germany. You may make new acquaintances or friends there. Sports activities are also a good way of meeting people, and exercising in a group is often more fun. Many cities have outdoor groups that meet in parks during the summer to do sports together. Or you can join a club.

Germany has numerous sports clubs. This is where you and your children can play football, swim, dance or do gymnastics. You can practice your sport together with other people. But there are other types of clubs and associations, too. Clubs bring together people with shared interests and goals, such as music clubs, youth clubs, cooking clubs or computer clubs. There are clubs for both adults and young people.

Many towns have adult education centres (Volkhochschulen). These centres offer courses mainly for adults, for example language courses, dance courses or computer courses. Adult education centres also offer sports courses.

There are often free courses for parents and children. Some towns offer playgroups for young children.

Like all other nations, German people love good food. There are many German specialities, in other words dishes that only exist in Germany, or certain parts of the country. Almost everyone in Germany is familiar with Weißwurst (white sausage) and Brezen (pretzels). These are typical Bavarian specialities. In the north of Germany, people eat lots of fish. But food in Germany is also very international. There are many different types of restaurants, especially in larger cities. For example, you can eat Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, Turkish or Ethiopian food.

People in Germany enjoy meeting friends in cafés for coffee and cake. In summer, people usually sit outside.