Relocating to Munich: What you Need to Know
At Freeletics, we believe that having an international team full of different cultures, ideas and viewpoints enriches our team and makes it all the more special.
Starting a new job can be daunting, but relocating to a different city or even country for a new job can be downright terrifying. As a Munich-based company with 35 different nationalities in our office, we know a thing or two about taking the plunge and moving to Munich. Which is why we have put together the lowdown on why you should seriously consider relocating to the home of beer, brezn and beautiful mountains.
Quality of Life
Last year, Monocle named Munich the world’s most livable city. It is the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, with a population of around 1,5 million. It may not be the largest city in the country, but it does have the highest quality of living in Germany. Public services, healthcare and education shine in the capital of Bavaria and the city’s public transport is reliable, clean and comfortable. Even the airport has a lot to offer, being voted Europe’s best airport once again in 2018, offering flights to over 200 international destinations. And thanks to its practical location, quick trips to many other European countries are just a train ride away from Munich.
For those who don’t want to spend their time traveling, the architecture in Munich is stunning, the streets are always clean and well-maintained and the crime rates are statistically the lowest in Germany. The population is also very international — more so even than Berlin — as the huge corporations and 18 universities based in Munich attract people from all over the world. Almost 440,000 to be precise. And with the city being just a short car or train ride away from the breathtaking alpine mountains and lakes, who can blame them?
All good things do come at a price though and in this case, that price is the time, effort and money it takes to find your ideal place to live. Hunting for an apartment is notoriously difficult in Munich, but not impossible. The Freeletics HR team is incredibly supportive and more than happy to help find a new home by giving tips and sharing helpful insider information. Many members of the Freeletics team have found their new homes thanks to their help, making the transition that little bit less painful.
Culture & Activities
Many people define Bavaria by its beer, pretzels, Dirndl and Lederhosen. They are of course an important part of the culture, but these are just the basics. The Bavarian people have been proudly keeping their culture alive for more than 1,000 years through their traditions and customs. But that isn’t to say that Munich is not diverse and fun. With countless restaurants, bars and clubs spread throughout the city covering all kinds of tastes and interests, there is something for everyone here. From gin-tasting to cooking classes, salsa lessons to art nights, if you already have a hobby or are looking for a new one, this is the place to be and making friends along the way is guaranteed.
Being a very multicultural city makes Munich a diverse, open-minded and tolerant place to live. Not speaking a lot of German is not a big issue here, (many of the employees at Freeletics non-German speaking), however, locals do appreciate when you make the effort to try and talk to them in their language. In most places like shops, restaurants and bars, you can easily communicate in English, but if you are interested in learning German, there are plenty of great language schools in Munich.
Munich is also a very active city. If you’re into your running, there are countless running groups all over the city for every kind of runner. And apart from the Freeletics groups who meet up in different spots in Munich, there are also plenty of other activities like bouldering, hiking, kickboxing, rollerblading, road biking and trail running to get your endorphins pumping. And with 374 hectares of the English Garden and 13.7km of the river Isar, Munich provides the perfect backdrop for any sports you choose to do.
If you’re looking for something a little calmer, Munich is also home to scores of museums, galleries, theaters, palaces and gardens to visit, with more than 80 museums and 60 theaters alone. Munich’s Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest museum with about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology. And don’t worry — many of the theaters and cinemas in the city show plays and films in English or with English subtitles.
Uniquely Munich
Although it’s a very unique city, Munich ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. Many of our Freeletics employees enjoy spending time at the rivers and lakes the city has to offer or trekking (or skiing) through the local mountains. Some enjoy long cycling trips which are common in Munich, while others enjoy a BBQ in various parks and on riverbanks or a rubber dingy trip down the river in summer. For surfer fans, the Eisbach wave in the English Garden provides a surfing spot all day, every day. And for those who like to explore a little further, Austria, Italy, France, Croatia, Poland, Spain and other beautiful countries are near enough to be ideal for a weekend trip with the train or car. The proximity to the Alps means that you can feel a world away after just an hour’s train ride from the city center.
It might not be obvious at first, but Bavaria is one of the most religious states in Germany. While this doesn’t directly affect residents, it does mean peaceful evenings thanks to noise restrictions, businesses closing at 8pm and no shops opening on a Sunday. Most importantly though, it also means extra public holidays every year — the most in Germany along with two other states. In 2019, residents of Bavaria enjoyed 12 extra days off from work and school thanks to all the public and religious holidays.
Munich is obviously always and forever associated with beer. Fittingly, it is also the city with the highest density of beer gardens in the world. But they are all very civil places to spend your time and are suitable for any occasion, whether you are with family, colleagues, friends or alone, you can go to any beer garden, sit, eat, drink and enjoy. And if you are a true ‘beer enthusiast,’ you definitely need to experience the madness of the world’s largest beer festival in Munich. The Oktoberfest hosts more than six million people from around the world every year and has been held annually since 1810. In addition to drinking beer and eating traditional Bavarian food, visitors can enjoy a variety of fairground rides, numerous attractions, games and traditional dances. This is an experience you won’t forget.
“I am ‘Team Munich,’ totally crazy about the city and the Bavarian culture. There is always something new to explore and something interesting happening in the city. And the colleagues at Freeletics really made me feel at home,” says a member of our team who moved to Munich to start her dream job at Freeletics.
Now you have a better idea of what living in Munich could look like and what kinds of adventures await you, perhaps you are feeling a bit less daunted at the idea of relocating to Bavaria’s capital. So don’t wait, check out our open vacancies here and start imagining what your life could be in beautiful Munich.
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