Is there Uber in Germany in 2025?
Germany is one of the most popular countries to visit in Europe and for good reason. It’s got a bit of everything… history and culture, landscapes, natural beauty, food, everything.
And Uber is used around the world by millions of people every single day.
But is there Uber in Germany?
This is a common question before visiting Germany, as Uber is considered by many to be the most convenient way of getting around.
Luckily for you, I’m a full-time traveller and I actually used to live in Germany for over a year, so I’m here to provide a complete guide to whether Uber is in Germany or not.
So let’s jump right into it.
Is there Uber in Germany?
The relationship between Uber and Germany isn’t as straightforward as you might hope.
To answer vaguely, yes, there is Uber in Germany. But please continue reading to get a better understanding.
Uber started operating in Germany around the time it became popular all around the world, but it didn’t exactly blow up in Germany the way Uber would have hoped.
German people tend to be very traditional and not a fan of big changes, so standard taxis remained more popular than Ubers throughout the country.
To add insult to injury for Uber, the German court banned Uber in 2019 as drivers did not have the necessary licenses or legal permits to carry out ride-hailing services with passengers in return for payment.
But Uber made changes to how it operated in Germany and continues to do so to this day. So there is Uber in Germany in 2024.
That being said, Uber is not available in every city in Germany.
As I said, Uber was never as popular of a company in Germany as it was elsewhere in the world, and this is still the case today.
It appears that Germans prefer to stick with traditional taxis, and as a result, Uber isn’t available in every city. So you might find that Uber does not operate everywhere you visit.
Also, you might have a bit of a longer wait for your driver. It’s not like the US where your driver arrives within 5 minutes, you might be waiting a bit longer. On the other hand, there are always free taxis sitting at taxi ranks waiting to pick you up straight away.
Not to mention that Uber is also pretty expensive in Germany. Taxis are much cheaper. So if you are backpacking Berlin or visiting Hamburg on a budget, you might want to consider avoiding Ubers altogether.
So while the answer to “Is there Uber in Germany?” is yes, it’s probably easier to simply get a taxi.
What cities does Uber operate in Germany?
Uber does operate in quite a lot of German cities but also misses a lot of cities too. Thankfully, there is a list of what cities in Germany Uber operates in.
The most popular cities to visit which Uber does operate in include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. So if you are only visiting the most popular destinations in Germany, you probably will have the option of Uber. Whether you choose to use it or not is up to you.
You can also use Uber for longer journeys into countries which border Germany. Just make sure you have your wallet ready as it’s likely going to be expensive.
It appears to become an issue when you start to visit the less popular destinations. For example, there is no Uber in Dresden, Bremen or Hanover. These tend to also be the cheapest cities to visit in Germany, so it makes sense that expensive Uber does not operate here.
The biggest and most popular city in which Uber does not officially operate is Munich. This is all based on the Uber website.
In reality, if you go on the Uber app, you can book an Uber in Munich. So I’m not sure why the website doesn’t list Munich as a city where Uber operates. To clarify, you can use Uber in Munich with no problems.
Unfortunately, the way Uber has to operate in Germany means things are constantly changing, so I imagine it’s impossible for you to keep track of with online sources.
So my advice would be to download the Uber app and check for yourself whether Uber operates in the city you are in. As there is no way to know for certain without giving it a go.
To summarise, Uber operates pretty much everywhere in Germany.
Alternatives to Uber in Germany
If you decide that Uber isn’t the option for you – like most German residents have – then you might be interested in learning about some alternatives for getting around Germany.
The most obvious alternative is traditional taxis, which are super easy to get. You can call one down in the street, find one at a taxi rank, phone a taxi firm and they’ll send one, or ironically, order one on a taxi app.
Ride-hailing isn’t a popular thing in Germany, so the “equivalents” of Uber, like Bolt, for example, aren’t popular either. So if you don’t choose Uber, there’s not much point looking into ride-hailing alternatives.
Aside from taxis, the most popular ways to get around Germany are:
- Buses
- By train
- S-Bahn (subway)
- U-Bahn (train within a city)
- Car rental
Public transport in Germany is pretty good, except for the trains. Deutsche Bahn has a reputation for being late and unreliable. That being said, it’s still the best way to get about between major cities in Germany.
Uber in Germany: FAQ
Below are some questions related to Uber in Germany along with my answers.
The German version of Uber is Uber. While Uber isn’t as popular in Germany as it is in other countries, it does still operate in Germany throughout the major cities.
Germany uses Uber. It’s not as popular as it is elsewhere in the world, but Uber is an option in Germany despite the shaky relationship between Uber and the German government.
Yes, Uber Eats works in Germany. Uber Eats was introduced throughout Germany in 2021 and continues to operate across the country today.
Yes, there is Bolt in Germany. It can be used for airport transfers, ride-hailing, hiring scooters and more.
Uber in Germany: Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to Uber in Germany.
It’s been a rocky road for Uber’s operations in Germany, but thankfully, things seem to be steadying out.
So to answer the question one more time, yes, there is Uber in Germany.
And it operates in pretty much every major city in the country.
Enjoy your trip to Germany, it’s an amazing place to visit. 🙂
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