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5 Step Relocation Plan: Moving to Germany

If you’re moving to Germany, we are aware of how extensive the whole relocation process can be. Don’t worry! Our partners from DONATH Moving & Relocation count on specialists that will assist you by providing their best moving and relocation services. Overall, they will support you and ensure that the entire move goes smoothly while you can focus fully on your job and your new workplace.

Step 1: Finding a good moving company

As an expat, it might be difficult to decide which moving company is the most appropriate for you. Therefore, it is important that you don’t only compare prices, but you also make sure that it offers all the high-quality services that you will need during the move. DONATH Moving & Relocation created a super useful checklist for expats to help you find the best moving company. Download it here to find out the 5 steps that you should follow in your search!

Step 2: Being well prepared

The DONATH relocation experts can assist with a wide range of time-consuming tasks when moving to a new residence:

  • home search
  • rental agreement
  • school and kindergarten search (if applicable)
  • preparation of visa application
  • formalities and administrative paperwork
  • integration of the family
  • all questions relating to pets, etc.

This allows you to focus on your new professional challenge while the experts take care of everything else.

Step 3: Packing your household goods 

We recommend to only use a professional moving company for your move to Germany. They have the knowhow how to pack and load an overseas container and give you advice on how to ensure your household goods.

Pack up your personal belongings and set them aside. Valuables, keys, documents and passports should be packed in a separate bag that you keep with you at all times. This way, you won’t have to spend hours looking for the things that you desperately need for the first night in your new home.

Step 4: Moving day

Don’t forget taking a day off work on your moving day. To ensure a smooth transition to Germany for the whole family, why not arrange for some trusted relatives or friends to look after your children during moving day?

Don’t forget to pack all of your most precious possessions and make sure you include plenty of snacks and refreshments – keeping everyone’s spirits up! The moving crew would also be happy to have a cup of coffee or a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.

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Step 5: Arriving in Germany 

Congratulations, you’ve made it to your new residence!

Moving to a new home can be an exciting and empowering experience. However, it’s important not to forget one key step: reaching out to various organizations such as banks, registration offices and insurance companies so they are aware of your updated address!

Any questions left? Do not hesitate to get in touch with our partners at DONATH Moving & Relocation. You will not regret it!

Living in Stuttgart or Schdugard

Expat Guide to Living in Stunning Stuttgart

Living in Stuttgart or Schdugard

Check out our Expat Guide to Living in Stunning Stuttgart: Facts about Stuttgart

 

Our Expat Guide to Living in Stunning Stuttgart will guide you through its 7 hills that give the city a special topography. The hills give you a wonderful panorama and an enchanting view of the city centre. Schdugard, as the locals say, is the capital of Baden-Württemberg.

If you decide on living in Stuttgart, you will have to get used to the unusual dialect and expect that it will take a while to feel like you have arrived. But you will be rewarded with a city that has been richly endowed by nature. With about 630,000 inhabitants, it is clearly ahead of Mannheim and Karlsruhe, the next largest cities in the state.

Stuttgart’s name comes from the fact that the Wasserburg, the former old castle. It used to be a moated castle built by the Duke of Swabia to protect his stud farm. The stud farm used to be called Stutengarten, and that is where the name of Stuttgart comes from.

Stuttgart also offers an incredible selection of events. Among the outstanding annual events are certainly the Stuttgart Spring Festival and Cannstatt Folk Festival, each of which attracts around 4 million visitors from Germany and abroad.

The Stuttgart Wine Village, the Stuttgart Christmas Market or the Summer Festival of Cultures are also popular and well-attended events. Stuttgart is additionally the city with the largest wine-growing area in Germany, outstripping Mainz. If you’re looking for work in the automotive sector, this is the place to be. Both Mercedes Benz and Porsche have their headquarters here.

Highlights of the City

The city of Stuttgart is famous for its television tower (the first in the world!), its strong economy and of course, the Swabian cuisine. The palace in the city centre at the Schlossplatz is supposed to symbolize a second Versailles. Quite a few people living in Stuttgart think that the client, Duke Carl Eugen von Württemberg, achieved that.

 

If you want to enjoy an extraordinary view over the square, you have to go to the adjacent art museum. On the top floor you will be treated to a unique panoramic view. Of course, the museum also offers exceptional exhibitions that are definitely worth a visit. Other places to visit in Stuttgart are definitely the Markthalle, which really has something for everyone.

In other German cities, there is actually always one particular trendy neighbourhood where there are hip stores, bars and restaurants. Not in Stuttgart! Not even locals could say which neighbourhood is the hippest. In this city, the scene is spread all over the city. So for immigrants, it’s a real challenge to stay in the city for a long time, if not for years, and to get to know all the special places, pubs and bars.

More Places to See

One meeting place, however, is definitely Marienplatz, which is visited by Stuttgart residents especially in the summer. Another is the so-called Zacke, one of four rack railroads in Germany, but the only one that is not only used for tourist purposes.

In addition, the people living in Stuttgart are always drawn to Mailänder Platz. Here, just like at Marienplatz, there are numerous cafes and restaurants that invite you to linger. There is also one of the architectural highlights of the city, the BIP. This library is home to over half a million books on nine floors and its facade is a real eye-catcher.

The Züblin parking garage in Lazarettstraße is another special feature in Stuttgart. Not only can you park there, but there are also art exhibitions in the parking garage as well as cultural events and concerts. They are integrated into this building and make it something extraordinary. Everyone who lives in Stuttgart should park there once and be caught by the fascination.

 

St. John’s Church at Feuersee (some call it the “Notre Dame of Stuttgart”) is another architectural highlight in the West of the city. Built in the neo-Gothic style, it is the first church in Stuttgart to be built after the Reformation. Its tower, destroyed during World War II, is now considered a memorial against the war.

Public Transportation

Public transport in Stuttgart is very well developed. There are 17 regional train lines, seven S-Bahn lines, as well as 19 subways, the Zacke and 359 bus lines. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Stuttgart’s transportation network is outdated in many places, which is why traffic jams often form. Also, the main station called Stuttgart 21 is lagging behind its completion. The completion planned for 2019 was postponed to 2025 for various reasons. But the city is developing concepts to remedy these problems.

The Manfred Rommel Airport of the city of Stuttgart has a small shortcoming compared to the other major cities in Germany. While there are flight connections to all aviation hubs in Germany and Europe, there are no transatlantic flights departing from Stuttgart. However, if you know about this, this minor problem can also be solved and you have to plan a stopover. This fact should not stop anyone from moving to Stuttgart.

Living in Stuttgart – the Most Popular Districts

The so-called women’s head quarter is ideal for people who are looking for peace and quiet, but still want to be in the city centre in a few minutes.

Bad Cannstatt is the district of Stuttgart with the highest population density. The historic core of Bad Cannstatt is now almost completely developed into a pedestrian zone. The half-timbered houses, small alleys and culturally significant buildings make up the special charm of the district.

Feuerbach, on the other hand, is a very family-friendly district that offers many schools, shopping opportunities, and jobs with some global corporations.

Those who prefer metropolitan life must, of course, move to Stuttgart Mitte. Art, culture, bars and restaurants characterize this district, which is why it is especially popular with young people.

Unfortunately, living in Stuttgart has its price. The price per square meter of net rent is around €10.38, which is well above the national average of around €7.11. Too few designated building sites are to blame, but those responsible in the city are already tackling this problem.

Food you must eat when in Stuttgart

Food or dishes that you definitely have to try when you come to Stuttgart are pretzels, which are said to have been invented here. Another specialty are Herrgottsbescheiserle, which are Maultaschen filled with meat. According to legend, they were invented by a monk during Lent, when you are not allowed to eat meat. Besides that, cheese spaetzle is a typical Swabian dish that you should try.

Of course you also have to eat a Swabian Zwiebelrostbraten, which is a rump steak with either fried or browned onions, spaetzle with a dark sauce, very tasty! At the Ackerbürger or the restaurant zur Kiste, for example, you will find these typical dishes. Otherwise, you can of course find restaurants in Stuttgart that offer international dishes.

But as always, the best way to find your own favourite restaurant is to try it out yourself. Good luck with it!

In summary, Stuttgart may not be the first city you think of when you immigrate to Germany. However, you should definitely take a good look at the city and its possibilities, because it offers many opportunities and also has a strong expat community doing lots of activities together. You’ll feel right at home! And if you are new to Stuttgart, Project Expat is here to help find all services you might need in English!