*Tip: If you want to start your expat project in Germany, but don't know which city to choose, you can go through the Germany expat guide and find out more about each city. Or, you can raise your city-specific questions to the engaged and lively community of expats in the Germany forum. In general, Munich is known as Germany's most expensive city. Hamburg is famous for its tolerant and easy-going people, despite the rainy weather. Berlin is an alternative, hip, and trendy startup capital, whereas Stuttgart holds most job opportunities. Düsseldorf is in the middle of the Rhurpott (Ruhr valley), the industrial belt and most populated area in Germany. Germany enjoys a temperate continental climate with warm summers and cold winters due to its geographical position. It is, in fact, in the Northern hemisphere's temperate zone and has a four-season climate. Summer usually lasts from May to October, with relatively high temperatures up to 35 degrees in the north and south. In winter, you are likely to experience cold air flows from Siberia, mist in the south, and humidity and continuous rains in the north. Long periods of snow or frost are rare except on the mountain and hill ranges. The German language (Deutsch) is usually being criticized for its many grammar rules and syntax complexity, which make it difficult for expats to learn. It is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (alongside French and Italian). German is spoken by more than 90 million people globally, making it one of the languages with the most native speakers. Hence, it is no surprise that it is studied with such zeal worldwide, and German citizens are so proud of it that they expect expats to speak it.  Every region in Germany speaks its own dialect of German, such as Bavarian or Low German, which may be a little tricky to understand initially. Some regions show strong identity and pride in the use of their dialects. Minority languages such as Danish, Frisian, Romany, or Sorbian are also spoken but often blend in with the local dialect. Although most young people are very keen on speaking English, learning the language for work, administration, and everyday communication is mandatory. Some cities are exceptions, such as Berlin and Hamburg, where English is widely spoken. However, Germans always appreciate expats' efforts to learn the German language, which they consider a sign of respect towards their host country. Expats will quickly realize that the knowledge of German offers freedom, makes life easier, contributes to getting a job in Germany and earning a better salary. The largest ethnic group of non-German origin is the Turks, making the Turkish language the second most spoken language in Germany. Most German cities have a high concentration of expatriates from around the world; mainly Turkish, French, and British, but also American, Polish, and other Eastern European countries. Over the last few years, Germany has also hosted many refugees from areas of conflict, namely Syria. Among the most popular expat destinations are Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, and Düsseldorf. Moving to Germany involves different procedures for different nationals, depending on their passport and purpose for travel. Visiting someone for the short-term is easier organised than moving to Germany for work, which requires a lengthy preparation of documents and a couple of visits to the German embassy or consulate. However, in any case, Germany's immigration policies are transparent, and there's always a person in charge to guide visa or residence applicants through the process.  Germany is considered to be the world's fourth-biggest and most powerful economy after the US, China, and Japan's economies. It is also deemed to be the European Union's largest economy, followed by the UK, France, and Italy. According to the World Bank, the German Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth USD 3.8 trillion in 2020. The country enjoys continuous economic growth due to efforts made by various national mechanisms.