Experience in Gießen, Germany by Judith

What is it like to live in Gießen? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city is very small compared to others but it offers a wide range of different activities, lots of bars and coffee shops or places to stay and have a rest. Its cosy to live in and after some weeks you propably know everybody who lives there.

What is the student lifestyle like in Gießen?

In Gießen there are a lot of different student groups, you can find alternative people, party people or people who just want to study. Its up to you which lifestyle you prefer.

How much does it cost to live in Gießen?

It depends on the area you want to live in. If the flat is in the center it is in general a bit more expensive than it is in the more rural areas. Most rooms (in shared flats) are between 260 and 400 euros. If you are lucky you may find a cheeper one, but thats the estimated average

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Gießen? Is there any advice you can give?

When you start searching in october where the first semester for every course of studies starts you might get in trouble. Start a bit earlier and it wont be a problem. There is a webpage called " http://www.wg-gesucht.de/ " where you can find lots of rooms and flats.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

In Giessen you can find everything you need or want. There is a weekly market for fresh fruits and vegetables and some other stuff like eg. bread

What places would you recommend visiting in Gießen?

There are not a lot of beautiful places in Gießen itself but nice to see are eg.
- Schwanenteich (a lake in the city)
- Lahnufer (the area around the river that goes through the city)
- Botanischer Garten (the botanical garden)
- Hochseilgarten Gießen (a climbing park)
- Marburg (the city next to Gießen which is very beautiful)
- Frankfurt
- the rural area around Wetzlar

Is it good to eat out in Gießen? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

My personal favorite spots are:
Mamma of Africa
Fuku Sushi and
Asia WOK

Is the nightlife good in Gießen? Where is good to go?

There are lots of Parties organized by the AsTA. You probably wont miss any information because there is a lot of advertising for that. So don't worry!

What advice would you give future students heading to Gießen?

Get a map of the city (or use google maps) because the structure of it seems very confusing at the beginning (even if you think you know everything)
Don't have too high expectations about how the city looks like, the first view might get not the best impression. If you get to know everything and there is an everyday life you might be able to see the beauty in it. And of course there are beautiful areas aswell!!