Aachen for newcomers: registration housing, everyday life
Guide for newcomers
Aachen: imperial city, university city, border city
The first few weeks
Aachen combines more than 1,200 years of history with a young, international atmosphere strongly shaped by RWTH Aachen University. As Germany's westernmost city, Aachen borders directly on Belgium and the Netherlands, which makes it particularly attractive for cross-border commuters. The historic cathedral, the town hall on the Katschhof and the Elisenbrunnen define the cityscape, while the student quarters are full of life. Anyone moving to Aachen today will find a city that brings tradition and innovation together in a very small space.
Three things count in the first few weeks: registering within two weeks, a suitable flat and the route to work or university. If you are coming from another German city, you can register electronically with a BundID account and the online ID function; from abroad, it is only possible in person at the citizens' office (Bürger*innenbüro). We can take care of the transport: Beste Umzug Unternehmen is based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and plans your private move to Aachen, including assembly and packing – with a fixed price after a survey.
Request a quote for your move to Aachen
Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Whether it is a flat-share room near RWTH, a family flat in Brand or a new build in Richterich – we calculate your move to Aachen based on volume, floor and route. Request your free quote by phone on 01625978461. We coordinate the date with your move-in date so that the registration deadline stays relaxed.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Your move from Berlin to Aachen
Planning from Berlin, assembly in Aachen
We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and travel to Aachen and the surrounding area, such as Würselen, Eschweiler or Stolberg. Many older flats in Aachen-Mitte have narrow stairwells; whether a furniture lift is needed is something we clarify in advance during the survey. We give you the fixed price afterwards; we are liable for your belongings under the HGB, and additional insurance is available – whether it is a short-distance or a long-distance move. Destinations with their own pages can be found under Locations.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
Six steps after moving in
From registration to number plates: these points belong on your list after a move to Aachen. The information comes from the City of Aachen, the Studierendenwerk (student services) and ASEAG; opening hours and fees may change, so check them before your appointment.
Register within two weeks
Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
Check the rent index
Apply early for halls
Buses instead of trams
Re-register your car
Part loads – the clever solution
Aachen
for newcomers
Anyone new to Aachen has lots of questions: which district suits me, how long does the search for a hall of residence take, where do I re-register the car? Registration is done online or at the citizens' office, and the car is re-registered by the StädteRegion in Würselen. When flat hunting you are competing with RWTH students and international professionals, especially at the start of term. We take care of the transport, with storage or furniture assembly after the move on request.
Choosing a borough
Organising moving day
Businesses and special cases
Frequently asked questions about living in Aachen
Aachen's districts: where should I move to?
Aachen is divided into seven districts: Aachen-Mitte, Brand, Eilendorf, Haaren, Kornelimünster/Walheim, Laurensberg and Richterich. Aachen-Mitte and the old town around the cathedral offer historic charm, short distances and lively student life, but are correspondingly in demand. Burtscheid scores with its thermal spa tradition and quiet residential streets, while Brand and Eilendorf in the east are more family-friendly and greener.
If you prefer things a little quieter, you will find more detached houses and new-build areas in Richterich or Laurensberg in the north-west, ideal for families with children. The Vaalserquartier near the Dutch border is particularly popular with cross-border commuters. When flat hunting, it is always worth checking the connections to the university, the city centre and the motorway.
Working and living in Aachen
Aachen is known above all as a centre of science and higher education: RWTH Aachen is one of Europe's leading technical universities and attracts thousands of international students and researchers every year. The picture is completed by FH Aachen and the RWTH Aachen University Hospital. Then there are confectionery manufacturers such as Lambertz and Zentis, who made Aachener Printen gingerbread famous, as well as university spin-offs.
For rents, the city's rent index is the best guide (details below); for new lettings near the university and in the old town, asking rents are often higher. The city offers quality of life through short distances, the three-country border on the doorstep and a lively cultural scene with the Charlemagne Prize ceremony and the Christmas market. Anyone looking for science, history and an international atmosphere will find an all-round attractive home in Aachen.
Moving rates at a glance
- 1-room flat → from €375
- 2-room flat → from €615
- 3-room flat → from €879
- 4-room flat → from €1,279
- House/villa → individual quote
- Long-distance move → from €3.80/km
Our team is happy to advise you in person – arrange a free survey.
What influences the moving price?
The price of your move depends on several factors: the volume of your move, the distance (from €3.80/km), the floor and whether there is a lift. A parking restriction zone for the removal van can also affect the price. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a shared load also affect the total cost.
How we support you in your move
Our team stands by your side at every step of your move.
- Clearance: dispose of old burdens and create space. clearance
- Part load: flexible, inexpensive transport. part load
- Move with assembly: everything from a single source, furniture set-up included. move with assembly
- Company move: moves for offices, practices and businesses. company move
- Home move: your personal moving service for the home. home move
- Furniture transport: single transports fast and safe. furniture transport
From Berlin to Aachen – and back again
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and travel throughout Germany. Aachen is around 635 km away via the A2, A1 and A4, about nine hours by lorry including breaks – details on the page Moving Berlin – Aachen. Further destinations are shown in the locations overview.
Registering in Aachen: citizens' office, appointments and the online route
According to the City of Aachen, anyone moving to Aachen must register within two weeks of moving into the flat, even if their previous residence is kept. Registration is not possible before you actually move in. It is free of charge. For each person moving in you must bring an ID card or passport and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), signed by the owner or main tenant; a tenancy agreement does not replace it. Owners can fill in the confirmation themselves but need proof of ownership.
The city distinguishes between two routes. With electronic residence registration (eWA) you register online if you are moving within Aachen or coming from another German city; for this you need a BundID account and the online ID function. You must appear in person for a second residence, when moving from abroad, with an electronic residence permit or if there is a disclosure block. Written registrations are not possible because the original ID document must be presented.
An appointment is required for in-person visits, which you can book at aachen.de/terminvereinbarung or by phone on +49 241 432-1234. The city lists the citizens' office Bahnhofplatz (Hackländerstraße 1) and the citizens' office Katschhof (Johannes-Paul-II.-Straße 1); the district offices also process registrations. According to the city, additional same-day appointments are released at around 7.45 am. How to plan the move itself is explained in the Aachen moving guide; moves into the city are described on the page Moves to Aachen.
Renting and living in Aachen: rent index, halls of residence and public transport
When flat hunting, it is worth looking at the city's rent index. The 2026 update (as of 26.11.2025) gives a median of 8.56 euros per square metre net cold rent for the 2025 survey and an arithmetic mean of 8.82 euros; in 2023 the figures were 8.06 and 8.30 euros. Net cold rent means excluding service charges. Prices for new lettings may differ. The city regularly publishes a housing market report on aachen.de.
Students apply to the Studierendenwerk Aachen online via the applicant portal, even before enrolment. The certificate of enrolment is only required for the tenancy agreement. According to the Studierendenwerk, the waiting time for a room is around six months, and for certain room types such as apartments it can be a year or longer. Students moving to the city should therefore apply early. The Studierendenwerk also recommends being flexible about the move-in date and room type, as this improves the chances of getting a place. For the winter semester, the Studierendenwerk's advice is to start looking for a room as early as August or September. We plan suitable student moves from Berlin.
On public transport, according to ASEAG, the regular Deutschlandticket has cost 63 euros per month since 1 January 2026; it can be cancelled monthly. The Deutschlandsemesterticket for students at RWTH and FH Aachen is valid digitally in the naveo app and covers public transport throughout South Limburg (NL). What we offer for moves into the city is set out on the page Moves to Aachen.
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