Essentials
- City
- Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany
- Population
- 215,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Telekom or Vodafone)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Sparkasse Mittelthüringen, Commerzbank
- Tap Water
- Safe and high quality (Trinkwasser)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom (best coverage), Vodafone, O2. Prepaid ~€15/10GB
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, and Bunq are highly recommended; Sparkasse for physical branches
- Accommodation
- Monthly rentals via Wunderflats or Airbnb; local sites like Immowelt
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; cards accepted in chains, but local cafes often prefer 'EC-Karte' or cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Limehome Erfurt (digital suites starting at €90/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Opera Hostel (starting at €30/night for dorms, €65 for private)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town) near Krämerbrücke and Domplatz
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Andreasviertel (historic but quiet) or Brühlervorstadt (greener, spacious apartments)
Other Services and Amenities
- Tech Repair Services
- MediaMarkt Service or iPhone Repair Erfurt (Anger)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Stadtpark
- Language Classes
- Volkshochschule (VHS) Erfurt (Schottenstraße 7)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Erfurt University Library and Stadt- und Regionalbibliothek
- Community Centers
- Kulturzentrum Lagergarten
- Gaming Lounges
- Pixel (Gaming and eSports community)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Erfurt (at the Pullman Hotel)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Paketshop, Hermes, DPD
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €168,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €124,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €234,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €174,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €296,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €216,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (Combined 15% Federal + Trade Tax/Gewerbesteuer)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% plus solidarity surcharge (total 26.375%)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (for income over €277,826)
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, German AStG (Außensteuergesetz) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer (annual, based on assessed value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% (Thuringia real estate transfer tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; tax is standard German residency based
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- KrämerLoft Coworking (around €20/day or €250/month, Bahnhofstraße 16)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Epitome Coffee Roasters (excellent Wi-Fi and specialty coffee) or Speicher Erfurt
- Networking Events
- Startup Thüringen meetups and events hosted at the Kontor Erfurt
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Erfurt Community and 'Erfurt Expats' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Erfurt App (+49 361 666666); Uber is not locally active, use FreeNow
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Nextbike (VAG Rad) and Tier/Voi electric scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Nordstrand Erfurt (lake beach with cable park, ~15 mins from center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Lufthansa (via Frankfurt/Munich connections)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Eurowings (Main airport hub: Berlin BER or Frankfurt FRA via ICE train)
- Highway Access
- A4 (East-West) and A71 (North-South) intersection
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Erfurt Hauptbahnhof (Major ICE high-speed rail junction)
- Public Transport Passes
- Deutschlandticket (€49/month for all local transit) or EVAG monthly pass
- Regional Travel
- ICE Train to Berlin (2h), Leipzig (45m), or Weimar (15m)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Helios Klinikum Erfurt (Nordhäuser Str. 74)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Loft Erfurt (Regierungsstraße) and Yoga Vidya
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFit Erfurt (€24.90/month) or FitX (Schmidtstedter Ufer)
- Laundry Services
- Eco-Express Waschsalon (Lutherstraße 4)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando and Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Thüringer Rostbratwurst (at Faustfood or market stalls, €3.50)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Green Republic (vegan burgers/bowls, Johannesstraße 14)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Goldhelm Eiskrämerei (famous ice cream on Krämerbrücke)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Rewe and Penny in the city center; weekly market at Domplatz
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- Flaschenpost (drinks/groceries) and Rewe Lieferservice
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Michaelisstraße (The 'pub mile')
- Local Brewery
- Heimathafen - Erfurter Braumanufaktur (Zum Güterbahnhof 20)
- Wine Bars
- Weinbar Weimarischer Hof or Mundlandung
- Street Food Stalls
- Domplatz Market (daily except Sundays)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ikoo (Japanese/Ramen) and Pad Thai (Authentic Thai)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Krämerbrücke (Merchant's Bridge) and Erfurt Cathedral (Dom)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Angermuseum (Art history) and Kunsthalle Erfurt
- Historical Sites
- Old Synagogue (Alte Synagoge) - oldest in Europe
- Religious Sites
- St. Severi Church and the Augustinian Monastery (where Martin Luther lived)
- Annual Events
- Krämerbrückenfest (June) and the Erfurt Christmas Market
- Cultural Districts
- Zughafen (Creative hub for music and arts at the old freight yard)
- Theater Venues
- Theater Erfurt (Modern opera house in Brühlervorstadt)
- Local Markets
- Street food market at Wenigemarkt
- Music Scene
- Museumskeller/HsD for indie/rock concerts
- Street Art
- KiKA character statues (Sendung mit der Maus, Bernd das Brot) across town
- Cooking Classes
- Erfurter Kochschule (Am Fischmarkt)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie waidspeicher
- Historic Buildings
- Zitadelle Petersberg (Baroque fortress sitting above the city)
- Local Heritage
- Woad (Isatis tinctoria) - historical blue dye trade legacy
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- egapark Erfurt (huge botanical garden/park, €15 entry)
- National Parks Nearby
- Hainich National Park (UNESCO beech forest, 45 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Gera-Radweg (Cycle path following the river through the city)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Petersberg Fortress overlooking the Cathedral towers
- Birdwatching Locations
- Alperstedter See (northeast of the city)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dreibrunnenpark (designated BBQ areas)