Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Ulm (0731 66066) or FreeNow. Uber is limited.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- DonauBike (city rentals) and Tier/Voi e-scooters throughout the center
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ludwigsfelder See (Neu-Ulm) - swimming lake with sand beach areas
- Top Regional Airline
- Lufthansa (via Munich or Stuttgart hubs)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Emirates, Delta
- Highway Access
- A7 (North-South) and A8 (East-West) intersection at Elchingen
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ulm Hauptbahnhof (ICE connection to Munich in 45 mins, Stuttgart in 30 mins)
- Public Transport Passes
- DING (Donau-Iller-Nahverkehrsverbund) - Day ticket ~€4.50-€8.50
- Regional Travel
- DB Regio trains and FlixBus (from Eberhard-Finckh-Straße)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Universitätsklinikum Ulm (Albert-Einstein-Allee)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Loft Ulm (Magirus-Deutz-Straße 12)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFit (Blaubeurer Straße) or Kieser Training (Hafenbad)
- Laundry Services
- SB Waschsalon (Frauenstraße 118) - approx €5 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando and Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Maultaschen (German ravioli) or Linsen mit Spätzle (Lentils with pasta)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Konzertsaal (Silcherstraße 2) or Gerberhaus (Fischerviertel)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Confiserie Café Tröglen (Münsterplatz) for traditional pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Wochenmarkt (Saturday mornings at Münsterplatz)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando, Otto
- Grocery Delivery
- Rewe Lieferservice and Knuspr
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Frauenstraße and the Fischerviertel district
- Local Brewery
- Gold Ochsen (tours available at Veitsbrunnenweg)
- Wine Bars
- Zur Forelle (Fischergasse 25) for regional German wines
- Street Food Stalls
- DonauWelle (near the river) during summer months
- Popular International Cuisine
- Manne Pahl (French/International) or Tanivera (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ulm Minster (World's tallest church steeple)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Kunsthalle Weishaupt and Museum Ulm (home of the Lion Man)
- Historical Sites
- The Leaning House (Schiefes Haus) in the Fischerviertel
- Religious Sites
- Ulmer Münster and Wengenkirche
- Annual Events
- Schwörmontag (Oath Monday) in July with the 'Nabada' river parade
- Cultural Districts
- Auf dem Kreuz (the oldest part of town)
- Theater Venues
- Theater Ulm (Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz 1)
- Local Markets
- Münsterplatz weekly market every Wednesday and Saturday
- Music Scene
- Roxy Ulm (Kulturhallen) for live concerts and indy music
- Street Art
- Murals in the Ehinger Anlage and pedestrian underpasses
- Cooking Classes
- Cooking Stars (Söflinger Straße)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie im Griesbad
- Historic Buildings
- Rathaus (City Hall) with its 16th-century astronomical clock
- Local Heritage
- The Ulmer Spatz (Ulm Sparrow) - the city's symbolic bird/legend
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Donauufer (Danube banks) and Friedrichsau Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve (30 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Donauradweg (Danube Cycle Path) running through the city
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Wilhelmsburg for a panoramic view of the city and Alps
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lichternsee wetlands south of the city
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits in Friedrichsau Park
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Paketshop (Postgasse) and Hermes
- Tech Repair Services
- PC-Spezialist Ulm (Blaubeurer Str. 18)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Friedrichsau Park
- Language Classes
- vh Ulm (Volkshochschule) at Kornhausplatz
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Zentralbibliothek Ulm (Glass pyramid building at Vestgasse)
- Community Centers
- Bürgerhaus Mitte
- Gaming Lounges
- Xperion (nearby in larger cities) or local eSports clubs
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Lindau (closest major casino, 1hr drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €208,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €164,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €294,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €228,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €376,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €288,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx 30% (Combined 15% Federal + Trade Tax + Solidarity Surcharge)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus solidarity surcharge)
- 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 rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer based on property value assessment
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5.0% in Baden-Württemberg (Grunderwerbsteuer)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad tax break; standard German tax residency applies after 183 days
Essentials
- City
- Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Population
- 127,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available in many areas via SWU TeleNet)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; Euro (€). Local banks include Sparkasse Ulm and Volksbank Ulm-Biberach
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality mineral-rich water from the Alps and Donauried
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom, Vodafone, O2. Prepaid SIMs available at Saturn (Sedelhöfe) for ~€10-15
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, or Deutsche Bank (Olgastraße) for traditional accounts
- Accommodation
- Rental platforms include Immobilienscout24, WG-Gesucht (for shared rooms), and Wunderflats
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, but small bakeries and older bars like 'Zunfthaus der Schiffleute' may still prefer cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Limehome (Bahnhofplatz) offer modern serviced apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Brickstone Hostel (Schützenstraße 42) - approx. €35 per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Fischerviertel (Fishermen's Quarter) for historic charm and canals
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Stadtmitte (City Center) or Weststadt for better transit links and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Spark7 (Basteistraße 7) - Day pass ~€20; also Einstein1 in nearby Hof
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kaffeehaus Ulm (Am Rathaus) or Cafe Alba (Frauenstraße 52)
- Networking Events
- Digitales Ehrenamt and Startup Region Ulm meetups at Weinhof
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Ulm group and 'Neu in Ulm' Facebook community