Following international or German influencers, bloggers and vloggers living in Germany is an excellent way to understand more about the quirks of everyday life in the federal republic. Here's some accounts to keep a lookout for!
Over the past 10 years, Germany has become an increasingly popular destination for international people looking to set up a new life. This, in combination with the country’s confusing bureaucracy, abundant rules and meteoric rise of some digital content creators, has birthed a corner of the internet dedicated to documenting the trials, tribulations and joys of living in Germany.
Here are some German bloggers, vloggers and influencers we can recommend to demystify the German quotidian:
Brittany Alaine Koehler is an American living in a northern German village with her German husband. Active across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, Koehler documents the couple's extensive house renovation and gives tips about staving off homesickness or surviving the long German winter.
Head to Brittany Alaine’s website or follow @brittany.alaine on Instagram for more information.
Nadani is an Indian woman who has been living in Germany since 2021, offering tips for learning German which will bring you away from textbook phrases and towards more fluent, colloquial German. Since giving birth to her daughter in 2023, the influencer also regularly briefs migrant families in Germany on what to expect from birth, parenting and childcare in the federal republic.
Follow Nandani on Instagram @just_germanthings.
Video credit: Uyen Ninh / YouTube.com
You might well recognise Uyen Ninh from her reels observing the quirks of living in Germany, providing comic relief when you’re fed up with trying to get a Termin to renew your visa or about to give up finding a permanent address.
Over on her YouTube channel, the Vietnamese influencer delves into more serious topics, such as “Mixed-couple stereotypes: What’s actually true?”, “Being a woman in Vietnam vs. in Germany” or “Bringing my German boyfriend to meet my family”.
Follow Uyen on Instagram @uyenninh or YouTube @uyenninh.
Simran Agarwal Girdhar has been studying and working in the federal republic for eight years and calls herself "your Indian friend in Germany".
Girdhar gives followers practical tips on job hunting, travel, student life, the German tax and social security system, how to secure all the ingredients you need to cook great Indian food in your German kitchen, and how to demystify German radiators in prep for winter.
Follow Simran Agarwal Girdhar on Instagram @germanywithsimran
Big fun… American in Germany is the only inspo channel for food you’ll need to follow during your time abroad.
Forget the cheese pull, baked feta pasta or Jennifer Aniston’s viral salad, big fun… is going to tell you which are the best Kartoffelpuffer available in German supermarkets, finally answer the burning question, “What actually is Remoulade?” and show you how to eat a Brezel properly. Your eternal internet hunger will finally be satiated.
Follow big fun... American in Germany on YouTube.
Liam Carptener moved from Chatham, England, to Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, in 2015 to play in the Basketball Bundesliga, and he hasn’t left since. Departing basketball in 2021, Charpenter is now a full-time content creator known for his dry observations of daily life in Germany.
Follow Liam Carptenter on Instagram @liamcarps.
Watching German films and reality TV programmes is another popular way for language learners to develop their informal language skills. Watch Annikazion, and you can go a step further.
For over five years, the YouTuber has been taking a deep dive into last night’s episode of a chosen German reality TV programme, from Too Hot to Handle, Bachelorette, Princess Charming and Love Island. She won’t fail to make you giggle.
Follow Annikazion on YouTube @Annikazion.
Video credit: Annikazion / YouTube.com
Identical twins Lisa and Lena Mantler are arguably the most famous influencers in Germany. The pair grew to fame as children, making lip sync videos on TikTok, and now work independently, Lena as a model and influencer and Lisa as an influencer. Both twins are practising Christians, which often influences their posts.
Follow Lisa on Instagram @lisa and Lena @lena.
Gronkh, also known as Eric Range, is a German-Russian gaming YouTuber and one of the most successful internet personalities in Germany. While Gronkh’s 5,1 million YouTube subscribers are not viewing his channel to learn about how to file an annual tax form or register for Kindergeld, the narratives of his videos or livestreams may be enjoyable for gaming enthusiasts looking to improve their German understanding.
Follow Gronkh on YouTube @gronkh.
Bloggers are increasingly uncommon in Germany, but for anyone who would rather read written, detailed accounts of life in the federal republic, here are some go-to authors:
Erin at Large is the blog of a Canadian freelance writer living in southern Germany. Head to Erin’s blog for Christmas market recommendations, musings on bike pannier bags and top tips for Baden-Württemberg, among other articles.
On Wayfaring with Wagner, the Washington D.C.-born Jordan Wagner details her life in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. The former Hamburger is also active on Instagram @jordanbwagner, offering travel tips and advice about how to start a business in Germany.
Indian-German Yamnini describes her Mademoiselle in DE blog as a “helpful resource for non-EU digital nomads who want to live and work in the EU. Alongside her blog, head to her YouTube channel My Startup Germany for tips on freelancing, visas and filing tax returns in Germany.
My Life in Germany is run by Hong-Konger Sindy, who moved to the federal republic in 2010. Sindy, her German husband and children moved to the United States in 2022 but vow they will return to Germany within the next few years. In the meantime, My Life in Germany still provides all kinds of helpful information for your life in Germany.
Lorelei, the self-appointed “California Globetrotter”, may have left Bavaria at the end of 2024, but her blog is still jam-packed with reflections on 11 years of living in Regensburg.
The Digital Cosmonaut blog is a guide for Berlin newcomers looking to discover the city via urban exploring (urbex). The site lists legal spots for urbexing and more risky spots, including in the nearby federal states; Brandenburg and Saxony.
Got some tips for readers who are looking to learn more online about life in Germany? Who are your favourite international and German influencers, bloggers and YouTubers? Let us know in the comments.
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