Let’s say you just moved to Germany and were invited to a house party. It’s time to get to know the locals and find out where you fit in, and Germany’s most approachable cities have stopped by to introduce themselves.

Perhaps you’ll talk shop all evening with Stuttgart, reminisce alongside Nuremberg or dance the night away with Berlin. Grab a drink and mingle! You may just find a city that speaks to you.

Your edgy, cool older cousin that you hope will invite you to come along anywhere anytime, ever.

Berlin has a storied past and isn’t ashamed to recognize it, but that isn’t what defines this city. This place is all about being intensely authentic and moving forward. It’s the metropolis that embraces some of Germany’s most distinctive restaurants and shopping, art and nightclubs, with special venues for any subculture imaginable. It is also full of evocative historical WWII sites that can leave you feeling ruefully reflective. There are over 200 museums in Berlin, each telling a unique story as varied as the city itself.

• Berlin Tourism

• Transit with BVG

That creative, sophisticated musician acquaintance who only travels the world by boat.

Hamburg has made dockside warehouses into heritage sites and old brick offices into architectural marvels. This port city has water everywhere, from canals and lakes to a riverfront harbor town, you can’t visit without taking a boat of some kind. The port still connects Germany to the world with container ships plying up and down the Elbe River. Hamburg is also the hub for musicals, with a vibrant theater scene offering everything from big glitzy productions to tiny experimental stages.

• Hamburg Tourism

• Transit with HVV

A quiet, nice professor who you’ve heard is secretly notorious for uninhibited partying once a year.

Cologne, Köln in German, still has the half-circle shape of its original Roman walls. Nestled against the Rhine River, there is history galore and a true commitment to maintaining the medieval tradition of partying hard. Visitors are in for a good time during those dark months between Christmas and Ash Wednesday during Cologne’s fifth season: Karneval. Sure, the cathedral looms large (it is a must-see), but just around the corner you’ll find an old town full of cozy pubs where you can drink a Kölsch with your newest friend.

• Cologne Tourism

• Transit with KVB

Your banker buddy who gets tickets to the best concerts and seats at the best restaurants.

Frankfurt, well, officially it’s Frankfurt Am Main, is often the first German city newcomers encounter, but this place is more than just an airport. Surrounded by steel and glass skyscrapers full of busy people, this place has a modern vibe and all the urban perks you want like a constant flow of musical acts, incredible restaurant options, big festivals and museums of all kinds.

• Frankfurt Tourism

• Transit with RMV

This factory manager friend will talk cars all night, but don’t worry, he’ll make sure your wine gets topped off.

Stuttgart is off the rails with manufacturing, making it a super cool place to nerd out on everything from car engines to luxury vehicles. Both Mercedes and Porsche are vying for your attention, and a factory tour here is really a walk through the ultra-modern world of robots and technology. It’s not all hard work, though. Stuttgart’s financial success translates into a vibrant downtown and a city that throws some of Germany’s biggest parties, with folk festivals that bring the region’s outstanding beer and wine to the masses.

• Stuttgart Tourism

• Transit with VVS

The older librarian neighbor who loves yapping about history and antiques to anyone who listens.

Nuremberg, Nürnberg in German, is one of Germany’s travel hotspots. However, outside of prime summer tourist season or peak Christmas market time, a slower pace makes wandering the medieval city walls, stone castle and cute old town a pleasant, nostalgic experience. It’s not all gingerbread, though. The city saw huge Nazi rallies and propaganda campaigns, and the many WWII historical sites have been preserved to acknowledge and inform.

• Nuremberg Tourism

• Transit with VGN

Your loud IT tech friend who is constantly at conferences, football matches and beer fests.

Munich goes BIG. Their football club, FC Bayern, is a top-tier record holder. The world’s largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, brings millions of visitors yearly. And, Munich’s huge museums of science and technology, art and history, attract thinkers of all kinds. But under all that massive reputation is a clean, comfortable, city that makes way for pedestrians and bikes and offers small-town vibes in pocket neighborhoods full of cafes and parks.

• Munich Tourism

• Transit with MVV

It may be tempting to drive to your new favorite city, but taking the train is often the best way to experience urban life. Many German cities have air quality restrictions requiring you to have a green low-emission vehicle compliance sticker in the Umweltzone. In addition, city parking is expensive and can be stressful with busy streets and underground parking lots designed for small cars.

The Deutsch Bahn often offers ticket rates comparable to fuel and parking fees and eliminates concerns about traffic congestion. Kids up to the age of 14 are typically free when their tickets are booked with an adult, and youth travel at discounted rates. The earlier you book, the cheaper your train fare will be.

For large groups, driving and parking outside the city may be the most cost-effective way to arrive. Using the local transit network can then be quite easy as most cities offer day passes and ticket kiosks in many languages.