8 Best Places To Retire In Germany

Just about every street corner in Germany is rich with history, but some small towns are steeped in lore dating back centuries. For seniors seeking a new environment to spend their retirement, these towns offer the perfect opportunity to jump headfirst into the storybook. Imagine retiring surrounded by castles in Lüdinghausen, or with views of the Alps in Mittenwald. Fairytale environments, like flower gardens spanning thousands of acres, and historical landmarks from the 12th century or earlier, are just some of the wonders found throughout the country. Retirees searching for an enriching and exciting retirement will find it, nicely tucked away in these beautiful small German towns.

Mittenwald

Retirement looks different for every retiree. Some seek the quiet life of a small town, away from the speed and noise of large cities, while others search for scenic views and fresh breezes. Mittenwald offers both, steeped in history between the Karwendel mountain range and the Kranzberg mountain. The Karwendel Alpine Park, one of the largest nature reserves in the Alps and less than an hour's drive away, is a great way to spend a day, and if retirees still haven’t fully stretched their legs, they can visit the Leutaschklamm gorge. Mittenwald also offers four medical and treatment centers, including the Deutscher Orden Haus Röhling Aussenwohngruppe. Retirees are never far from their loved ones thanks to accessible railways and a route connecting Mittenwald to both Munich and Innsbruck.

Gengenbach

Gengenbach is a part of the Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse, a group of towns featuring timbered houses and scenic town centers. That may mean more tourists, but it also means more accessible travel options for retirees excited to host or visit loved ones. The cost of living is higher than in most small towns in Germany, around 2,000 euros, but while there, retirees have no shortage of wonders to visit and an abundance of history to learn in a region that features medical care and retirement and nursing home options thanks to the Ortenau Klinikum network. The Narrenmuseum, the Flößerei und Verkehrsmuseum, the Museum im Kinzigtorturm, and Haus Löwenberg are all museums in the Gengenbach area, housing art exhibitions, local history, and so much more in a town that dates back to Roman times.

Dinkelsbühl

Dinkelsbühl remains one of the oldest, best-preserved medieval towns in Germany from the Middle Ages, complete with castle walls and timbered homes. Dinkelsbühl houses many historical landmarks, such as the St George's Minster, a 15th-century church at the heart of the town, and Rothenburger Tor, a gateway that still stands from the 14th century; heritage is so rich here that you might say that the entire town is history incarnate. When it comes to practical concerns, Dinkelsbühl has you covered with Pflegeheim der Hospitalstiftung, a massive nursing home, and the ANregiomed Klinik Dinkelsbühl hospital. Recreationally, retirees can enjoy the Kinderzeche Fair in the summer, and the Provincial Theater Franconia-Swabia, all in a small town where you can get to know your neighbors.

Bad Wimpfen

From afar, Bad Wimpfen looks like a painting, but for the 7,000 residents who live there, Bad Wimpfen is an interactive canvas that one can feel and touch. Trees surround this small town while the famous Wimpfen Imperial Palace pierces the skyline, a striking, stunning reminder of the town’s long, storied history. Bad Wimpfen has meticulously preserved its greatest landmarks, from the Historical Museum in the Steinhaus to the Reichsstädtisches Museum. Seniors can enjoy touring these relics and exploring the Blauer Turm in the center of town. Meanwhile, with medical centers like the Ärztezentrum nearby, Bad Wimpfen retirees will have a sense of security along with an abundance of affordable pubs, eateries, and entertainment, always a short walk away.

Burg auf Fehmarn

The hustle and bustle of a large city is absent in Burg auf Fehmarn. The small town offers a more serene, quiet atmosphere that would match the comfortable pace most retirees look for. Located on the island of Fehmarn, Burg auf Fehmarn is ideal for seniors who enjoy the water. Filled with traditional thatched-roof houses, it is a beautiful place with something to do every week, including the Midsummer Festival Bulli, celebrating VW buses, and farmers’ markets at Marktplatz. The small population and nearby hospital, AMEOS Klinikum Fehmarn, add to the appeal of Burg auf Fehmarn as a retirement town.

Monschau

Retirement does not have to mean a continuation of your life as usual, in familiar towns with familiar routines. Monschau offers something unique for retirees looking to step back in time. Year-round activities include Christmas markets, Eifelsteig hiking trails, and biking lanes along the Vennbahn, a former railway line. With restored, half-timbered houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries, cobblestone streets, and a castle built in the 12th century by the Dukes of Limburg, every street corner of Monschau is a constant history presentation. And you'll have peace of mind about long-term care, with the Maria-Hilf-Stift Dienstleistungs retirement home in town.

Bacharach

Seniors searching for their fairytale retirement will have little trouble finding it, with a lower-than-average cost of living of 1,200 euros in Bacharach, on the Rhine. This 11th-century small town jumped from the pages of a fantasy novel, with half-timbered houses, stone walls, and the Stahleck Castle. Known for its famous vineyards and wine, Bacharach was named after a Celtic word meaning "altar to Bacchus," the Roman god of wine. Add the Werner Chapel and St Peter’s Church, two historical Gothic landmarks, and retirees will spend their retirement tasting rich, complex wines and learning history on every street corner, transported to a fairytale book as they enter the next chapter of their lives. When it comes to healthcare, AlexA Pflege offers specialized care in the surrounding area.

Lüdinghausen

Spending retirement in Lüdinghausen could very well feel like an extended vacation, thanks to the sights, daily activities, low cost of living at just 1,000 euros, and the acclaimed St. Ludgerus-Haus and Clara Stift Seppenrade retirement homes available to step in for needed care and comfort. The small town also boasts three historical castles: Lüdinghausen Castle, Kakesbeck Castle, and Vischering Castle. Seppenrade is a small connected village full of roses, with hundreds of unique flowers in thousands of square meters of walkable gardens. Retirees will have little trouble filling their days with bike trails like the 100 Castles Route, local shops and markets, canoe tours along the Stever River, and walks around Vischering.

German Destinations for the Best Stage of Life

Retirement is just the next stage in a person’s life. Like any stage, it comes with its own challenges and considerations, like housing prices, care, and community. Who says retirement cannot be the best stage? Small towns in Germany, like Lüdinghausen, with its three famous castles, Middenwald, tucked between mountain ranges and hills, and Bacharach, with its fantastical landmarks, legendary vineyards, and half-timbered houses, can help make retirement the best stage of life.