Essentials
- City
- Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Population
- Approximately 330,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps; fiber available via Telekom and NetCologne
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD; Euro (EUR) is the official currency
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Wahnbachtalsperre)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom, Vodafone, O2 (Telekom Shop at Poststraße 4)
- Banking for Expats
- Sparkasse KölnBonn, Deutsche Bank, N26 (digital-first)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, WG-Gesucht (for flatshares), HousingAnywhere
- Cashless Friendly
- Largely yes, but carry cash for small bakeries and kiosks
- Short Term Rentals
- Wunderflats, Limehome Bonn (Rabinstraße 1)
- Budget Accommodation
- Max Hostel (Maxstraße 7) - approx. €35/night for dorms
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Zentrum (City Center) for landmarks/shopping; Altstadt for cherry blossoms
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Südstadt for Wilhelminian architecture and cafes; Poppelsdorf for university vibes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Digitalhub.de (Am Hauptbahnhof 6) - €25 Day Pass; Coworking Bonn (Bornheimer Str. 127)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Black Coffee Pharmacy (Bonngasse 14); Cassius Garten (Caspar-Theyss-Straße 1)
- Networking Events
- Founders' Night Bonn; Digital Hub Bonn Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Bonn Chapter; Expats in Bonn (Facebook Group)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Taxi), Uber (limited), Taxi-Bonn (+49 228 555555)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Nextbike (SWB easy.GO app), Tier, Lime (approx. €1 to unlock + €0.25/min)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Blackfoot Beach (Cologne), 35 mins away via A555
- Top Regional Airline
- Eurowings (operating from Cologne Bonn Airport CGN)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa (Main hub at Frankfurt FRA, 30 mins by ICE train)
- Highway Access
- A59 (Airport), A565 (City ring), A555 (Cologne)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Bonn Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Deutschlandticket (€49/month for all regional transit); SWB 24-hour ticket (€9.20)
- Regional Travel
- RB26/RE5 trains to Cologne (30 mins) and Koblenz (50 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Universitätsklinikum Bonn (Venusberg-Campus 1)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Loft Bonn (Platanenweg 35); Veda Yoga (Südstadt)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFit (Oxfordstraße 12); FitX (Bornheimer Str. 162) - €24/month
- Laundry Services
- Eco-Express Waschsalon (Heerstraße 45)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Rheinischer Sauerbraten (braised beef) at Em Höttche (Markt 4)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Cassius Garten (Caspar-Theyss-Strasse 1); Black Veg (Herwarthstraße 8)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Haribo Store (Am Neutor 3) - original birthplace; Café Fassbender (Markt 11)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi Süd, Lidl, and weekly market at Marktplatz
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- Rewe Lieferservice, Flink, Picnic
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Altstadt (Heerstraße/Maxstraße) for pubs and student bars
- Local Brewery
- Brauhaus Bönnsch (Sterntorbrücke 4)
- Wine Bars
- Bundeshäuschen (Oberkassel, riverfront); Weinkost (Südstadt)
- Street Food Stalls
- Marktplatz trucks (Thuringian bratwurst); Frittenwerk (Poststraße 15)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tuscolo (Peperoni) for Pizza (Kaiserstraße 22); Sudhaus (Friedensplatz)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Beethoven House (Bonngasse 20); Bonner Münster Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- Haus der Geschichte (German history - Free); Bundeskunsthalle
- Historical Sites
- Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall); Palais Schaumburg
- Religious Sites
- Bonner Münster; Kreuzberg Church (Baroque stairs)
- Annual Events
- Pützchens Markt (September); Rhine in Flames (May); Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
- Cultural Districts
- Museumsmeile (Museum Mile) on B9 road
- Theater Venues
- Theater Bonn (Opernhaus at Boeselagerhof 1)
- Local Markets
- Abendmarkt (Evening Market at Marktplatz, occasional Thursdays)
- Music Scene
- Harmonie Bonn (Endenicher Str. 216) for blues/rock/jazz
- Street Art
- The Murals in the Altstadt (Cherry Blossom district)
- Cooking Classes
- Genusswerkstatt (In der Rausche 11)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Schmela; Bonner Kunstverein
- Historic Buildings
- Poppelsdorf Palace; Villa Hammerschmidt (The 'White House' of Bonn)
- Local Heritage
- Beethoven’s legacy; the 'Bonn Republic' federal history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Rheinaue Leisure Park (160 hectares); Siebengebirge hills
- National Parks Nearby
- Eifel National Park (approx. 50 mins drive/train west)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Rhine River Promenade (Leinpfad); Kottenforst forest trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Drachenfels (Königswinter) - reachable by tram 66 and rack railway
- Birdwatching Locations
- Graurheindorf Rhine banks; Meßdorfer Feld
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ spots in Rheinaue (check local seasonal restrictions)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Packstationen available 24/7), Hermes, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- Gravis (Apple Partner at Vivatsgasse 8); PC Spezialist Bonn
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables in Hofgarten and Rheinaue park
- Language Classes
- Goethe-Institut (Lennéstraße 6); VHS Bonn (Mülheimer Pl. 1)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek (ULB) Bonn (Adenauerallee 39)
- Community Centers
- Haus der Nachbarschaft (Bad Godesberg)
- Gaming Lounges
- Giga-Center (nearby in Cologne, 25 mins by train)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Bad Neuenahr (nearby drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €208,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €152,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €288,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €210,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €360,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €256,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (includes 15% Corporate Tax + 5.5% Solidary Surcharge + Trade Tax)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus solidarity surcharge)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (for income above ~€277,826)
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced (food/books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, under the AStG (Foreign Tax Act)
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer based on local assessment rate (Hebesatz)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% (Real Estate Transfer Tax in NRW)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; Freelance 'Freiberufler' visa is the closest path