Essentials
- SIM Card
- Telekom, Vodafone, O2 (Telekom has best 5G coverage)
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, Commerzbank
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, WG-Gesucht (for shared flats), and HousingAnywhere
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes, though small bakeries and 'Kiosks' may prefer cash or EC-Card
- Short Term Rentals
- Wunderflats (approx. €1,100 - €1,600/month for furnished studios)
- Budget Accommodation
- Altstadt-Hostel CVJM Lübeck (approx. €35-€50/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town Island) - near Holstentor and Marienkirche
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- St. Jürgen or St. Gertrud (calmer residential areas with better greenery and local prices)
- City
- Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- Population
- 216,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available in many areas)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include Sparkasse zu Lübeck and Deutsche Bank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (Hard water)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWorkLübeck / WeShare (Königstraße 54) - Day passes approx. €20
- Best Cafe for Work
- Café Niederegger (Upper floor) or Neue Rösterei (Wahmstraße 43-45)
- Networking Events
- Digital Hub Lübeck meetups and 'Gründerszene' events at the TZL (Technikzentrum Lübeck)
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Lübeck Group and 'Neu in Lübeck' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Lübeck (0451 81111) - Uber is not widely available; FREENOW is preferred
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- TIER/Dott E-scooters and Nextbike (Stadtrad Lübeck)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Travemünde Strand (20 mins by train/car)
- Top Regional Airline
- Lufthansa (via Hamburg Airport HAM)
- Top International Airline
- Eurowings, Swiss, Air France (via Hamburg)
- Highway Access
- A1 (South to Hamburg, North to Fehmarn) and A20 (East to Rostock)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Lübeck Hauptbahnhof (Lübeck Hbf)
- Public Transport Passes
- Deutschlandticket (€49/month for all regional transport)
- Regional Travel
- DB Regional trains to Hamburg (45 mins) and Kiel (1 hour 10 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- UKSH - Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (Ratzeburger Allee 160)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Loft Lübeck (Einsiedelstraße 6)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFIT (Hanseatenstraße) or Holmes Place (Linden-Arcaden)
- Laundry Services
- SB Waschsalon (Ziegelstraße 23)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lübecker Marzipan and Labskaus (at Schiffergesellschaft)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Leo's Juice & Burger (Fleischhauerstraße 34)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Café Niederegger (The world-famous Marzipan torte)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Wochenmarkt am Brink (Local market on Saturdays)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- REWE Lieferservice, Gorillas (via Flink)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Clemensstraße (Small, vibrant pub street in the Old Town)
- Local Brewery
- Brauberger zu Lübeck (Alfstraße 36)
- Wine Bars
- Miera (Hüxstraße 41)
- Street Food Stalls
- Imbiss am Holstentor (Quick snacks and currywurst)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ristorante Da Pippo (Italian) and Ghandi (Indian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Holstentor Gate, St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche), Buddenbrookhaus
- Museums & Art Venues
- European Hansemuseum (An der Untertrave 1)
- Historical Sites
- Heiligen-Geist-Hospital (One of the world's oldest social institutions)
- Religious Sites
- Lübeck Cathedral (Dom zu Lübeck)
- Annual Events
- Lübeck Christmas Market (November/December), Nordische Filmtage (November)
- Cultural Districts
- Hüxstraße and Fleischhauerstraße (Boutique shops and galleries)
- Theater Venues
- Theater Lübeck (Beckergrube 16)
- Local Markets
- Hansemarkt (Historical market in autumn)
- Music Scene
- Musik- und Kongresshalle (MuK) for concerts
- Street Art
- Wallstraße and Kanalstraße murals
- Cooking Classes
- Das Kochwerk Lübeck
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Anja Es (Travemünde location)
- Historic Buildings
- Lübeck Town Hall (Rathaus) - one of Germany's most beautiful Gothic buildings
- Local Heritage
- UNESCO World Heritage designation for the Hansa Old Town
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Brodtener Steilufer (Cliff walk between Travemünde and Niendorf)
- National Parks Nearby
- Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (Approx. 1.5 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Wakenitz River Path (The 'Amazon of the North')
- Scenic Viewpoints
- St. Petri Church Tower (Panoramic views of the city island)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Dummersdorfer Ufer nature reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated zones at Travemünde beach (seasonal/regulated)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL, Hermes, UPS (many 'Paketshops' in kiosks)
- Tech Repair Services
- MediaMarkt Service Point (Padelügger Karkweg)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Drägerpark (Public outdoor tables)
- Language Classes
- Volkshochschule (VHS) Lübeck (Hüxstraße)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Stadtbibliothek Lübeck (Hundestraße 5-17)
- Community Centers
- Kulturwerft Gollan (Events and industrial culture)
- Gaming Lounges
- Virtual Reality Cafe Lübeck
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Lübeck (Lindenstraße 1)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €192,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €156,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €270,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €216,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €336,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €272,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (combined 15.8% Federal, plus local trade tax/Gewerbesteuer)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus solidarity surcharge)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (above €277,826 income)
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, German AStG rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer (currently being reformed)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6.5% (Schleswig-Holstein rate)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard German freelance visa (Paragraph 21 Abs. 5 AufenthG) applies