Small town or big city in Germany - where is the best place to live?

Germany is considered one of the most densely populated countries in Europe and has four major metropolises. The so-called megacities are the cities with more than a million inhabitants: Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Hamburg. There are also many cities in Germany with less than a million inhabitants, which are also quite large and attractive.

These cities offer many opportunities for self-fulfilment and earning for a living, as they are where there are more job opportunities for job seekers. Megacities are ideal for an active cultural life and entertainment, as it is here that you can find restaurants to suit all tastes, plenty of shops, museums, exhibitions, concerts and festivals. The bigger cities have more attractions and monuments to draw tourists in.

However, living in a big city does have its drawbacks. The main disadvantages are prices, from accommodation, food and transport to various services, such as hairdressing salons. Renting accommodation in a big city can be two or even three times more expensive than in a smaller city. The bigger the city, the more competition for accommodation will also be stressful.

An obvious problem with megacities is also the poor ecology. The more population in a city, the more traffic and therefore the lower the air quality.

By the way, the tourists: as there are quite a few of them in big cities all year round, there are often long queues in public places, subways, supermarket ticket counters, which should be kept in mind when planning your time.

When foreigners move to Germany, it turns out that in addition to Berlin and Munich, there is a very different Germany, which usually has few tourists, but many advantages of its own.

Localities with more than 10 thousand people are already considered a city, but in the village may live 5 thousand people or even less. By the way, all big cities are surrounded by such villages. These areas are usually inhabited by wealthy families who have already made a career and prefer not to be chased by the frenetic pace of the big city. There are also many young couples who already have children. They prefer to live in the countryside because they believe it is better for their children and family life in general.

In terms of infrastructure, many small towns and villages are not far behind metropolitan areas. They offer all kinds of supermarkets, petrol stations, cafes and restaurants, as well as schools and kindergartens. The transport system is also well developed - you can get around by bus or by train, which has regular timetables. It takes 15 to 20 minutes by car to get to the city and about 30 to 40 minutes to the larger town, so if there is a shortage of entertainment, it can be reached relatively quickly.

One of the biggest advantages is nature outside the city - there is a lot more greenery as well as fields and forests where you can walk at your leisure and enjoy the peace and quiet. Roads are paved or cobbled almost everywhere, which is the main difference between German villages and villages in other parts of te world.

The disadvantages of living in the countryside are that you need a car, as transport is not as frequent in small towns as in the city, especially in the evenings and at weekends.

It is up to each individual to decide where best to live based on his or her abilities and preferences. The most important thing in this matter is to study the locality and objectively assess the pros and cons, rather than being guided by stereotypes that can be confusing. It is then that the risk of making a mistake about where to live is minimised and the choice is made correctly.