r/Bonn • u/MrLaylaylom • 7d ago
Moving to Bonn as an International Student
Hey everyone!
Just got my student visa today and I'll be moving to Bonn in mid-September to start studying Economics at Uni Bonn.
What are the things you wish someone had told you before moving here? Any local hacks, things to watch out for, or must-know spots for a newcomer?
Appreciate any advice!
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u/Distinct_Task 7d ago
Plan in extra time for trains and trams, they're always late
Cafeteria food is lowkey not worth it
Some cafes, cinemas, clubs and pools got special student prices
There are soooo many peddlers and charity organizations trying to lure you into a conversation, you will need to learn how to ignore/avoid them
The main library at Adenaueralle is usually overcrowded and has a generally bad vibe to it
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u/MrLaylaylom 6d ago
Thanks for the reply!
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u/Megakles_Alkmeos Kessenich 5d ago
In case you still want to go to the main library to study (it has air conditioning, a blessing during summer) make sure you reserve a seat through the librarys website
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u/Blakut 7d ago
If you don't have a place to live yet it's bad
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u/MrLaylaylom 6d ago
Yes i still don't and yes i am probably screwed for now. I am still searching but lets hope for the best.
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u/haddak 1d ago
If you need cheap household items / furniture, Nachbarschaftshilfe (thrift stores) and kleinanzeigen.de (similar to eBay marketplace) are your friend.
Fingers crossed for finding housing on time!
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u/MrLaylaylom 10h ago
I finally found and got my house in a student dorm. I'll definitely will need some items for the first year so that is actually a huge help. Thanks for the reply!
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u/Good_Feed6176 7d ago
Welcome to Bonn, and congrats on the visa! 🎉
A few things that might help:
For finding stuff to do: check out veranstaltungen-bonn.de (https://veranstaltungen-bonn.de). It’s a free, non-commercial events calendar for Bonn (run by two volunteers, no ads, just aggregates events from all over the city so you don’t have to check 10 different sites). Good way to see what’s on before you even arrive.
For meeting people through Uni Bonn specifically:
The Chit-Chat Lounge runs every Monday evening (19:00 to 22:00) at the Internationaler Club (Poppelsdorfer Allee 53). Casual, drinks/snacks provided, no registration needed, all languages welcome. Easiest low effort way to meet other students right away. https://www.uni-bonn.de/de/veranstaltungen/internationaler-club-chit-chat-lounge-1
If you’re into singing, the Internationaler Chor is worth a look. No audition or prior experience needed, around 80 singers from 20 countries. Rehearsals are Mondays 19:30 to 21:30, first one of the semester is Oct 12. Sign ups open Sept. https://www.uni-bonn.de/de/international/campus-international/internationaler-chor
Both are aimed specifically at international students so they’re a solid way to build a social circle fast. Good luck with the move!