Lectures, seminars, and studying will definitely take up a large part of your time at FAU. But let’s be honest: studying without breaks is never a good idea. Your mind and body will thank you if you give them time to rest – and there’s plenty to discover beyond the lecture halls.

In this post, we’ve collected a few ideas and inspirations for how you can make the most of your free time in Erlangen, Nürnberg, and the surrounding region.

🍹 Nightlife in Erlangen & Nürnberg

Maybe most importantly for many students: yes, there is nightlife here!

• Bars: Both Erlangen and Nürnberg have a wide selection of bars, offering everything from German beer to Latin American cocktails. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry — our student organization runs a bar crawl at the beginning of each semester. It’s the perfect chance to discover the local bar culture and meet new people.
• Clubs: Erlangen has a few student favorites such as Zirkel, Paisley, and Loco.
  Nürnberg, being a larger city, offers a lot more variety. Some of the most popular clubs include:
  • HINZxKUNZ
  • Club #Schimanski
  • RESI
  • Die Bombe
  • Nachtkind (Latino)
  • Mach1
  • Haus33 (Techno)
  • Die Rakete
  • WON ‐ World of Nightlife
  • Das Unrat
  • Club Fogon (Urban Latin Music)

Whether you’re into cocktails, chart hits, or techno beats, you’ll find a place that suits your taste.

🏃‍♂️ Sports & Fitness

Sports are a big part of student life in Germany — and there are plenty of options for you, too!

• University Sports (Hochschulsport): If you’re enrolled at FAU, check out Hochschulsport. They offer a wide range of activities — from football and volleyball to yoga and even lacrosse. Courses are very affordable compared to private clubs. Take a look at the website of FAU Hochschulsport.
  ⚠️ Registration usually opens on the first day of lectures and some courses fill up within minutes. Be quick if you’ve set your eyes on a popular class!
• Sportvereine (Local Sports Clubs): If you couldn’t get into a university sports course or want to join a team in town, consider becoming a member of a local sports club. Memberships are often for at least a year and cost more than university sports, but you’ll usually get access to better facilities and the chance to compete in regional championships. Just do a search after the sport you are interested in on the internet or Google Maps to find out which clubs offer it.

And sports aren’t just limited to the university — you’ll also find clubs for other interests such as book clubs, chess, or cultural groups.

💡 Tip: At FAU, you can also join a Hochschulgruppe (student club) to connect with people who share your interests. You can find an overview here: FAU Student Groups

🚵‍♀️ Nature & Outdoor Activities

If you’re more into nature, you’re in the right region. Franconia offers great hiking, cycling, and mountain biking opportunities:

• Fränkische Schweiz ‐ north of Erlangen, famous for its hiking trails, climbing spots, and beautiful landscapes.
• Nürnberger Land ‐ east and south of Nürnberg, with scenic trails and outdoor adventures.

You’ll get to more remote areas faster with a car, but don’t worry — regional transport can take you to many amazing spots as well. For inspiration, check out VGN’s list of day trips and routes.

I hope you agree that studying abroad isn’t just about lectures and exams — it’s also about making memories, trying new things, and connecting with people. There’s so much life beyond the lecture waiting for you here in Franconia.

Feeling unwell or unsure what to do in a medical situation while studying abroad? Don’t worry – in Germany, you’re covered by health insurance and free to choose your doctor. This post gives you a quick overview on how to find medical help and what to do in emergency situations.

👨‍⚕️ How to Find a Doctor

In Germany, you usually start with a general practitioner (Hausarzt). This is your go-to contact for most health issues. They can treat you directly or refer you to a specialist if needed.

Here’s how to find a doctor:

• Gelbe Seiten: Use www.gelbeseiten.de to search for doctors in your area. An example: You would like to visit an ENT physician. Then you can either type “HNO-Arzt” into the search field or just “Arzt” and then select the most appropriate from the search proposals; in this case this would also be “HNO-Arzt”.
• Google Maps can also help, especially if you search for “Hausarzt near me” or “Allgemeinmediziner Erlangen”.
• Language tip: Not all doctors speak fluent English. Look for reviews online or call ahead and ask if they offer services in English.

Once you’ve found a doctor, call ahead to make an appointment (Termin). In urgent but non-emergency cases, you might also be able to go without one, but it’s best to check first.

For more detailed guidance, check this official overview: Choosing a doctor and finding an appointment

🆘 What To Do in an Emergency

Emergencies are situations where life or health is in danger – for example, accidents, unconsciousness, chest pain, or severe injuries.

Call 112

This is the emergency number for ambulance, fire brigade, and life-threatening situations. It works all over the EU and is free of charge.
You don’t need to speak perfect German – many dispatchers can speak English or will find someone who can.

⛑️ Other Helpful Numbers

• 116 117 – For non-life-threatening medical issues outside of regular doctor’s hours (evenings, weekends, holidays). This connects you with the medical on-call service (ärztlicher Notdienst).
• 110 – Police emergency number. Note that all police stations do also have a normal number, which you can find through the internet or Google Maps and is recommended calling in non-emergency cases.
• Pharmacy emergency service: If you need medication at night or on the weekend, check which pharmacy is open at www.aponet.de (click on Notdienstsuche). On this page, you can also search for pharmacies or drugs.

💡 Quick Tips

• Always carry your health insurance card (Krankenversicherungskarte) with you when seeing a doctor or going to the hospital.
• Hospitals (Krankenhäuser, in Erlangen it’s the Uniklinikum) also have emergency rooms (Notaufnahme), but only go there if it’s truly urgent.
• If you’re not sure what to do, calling 116 117 is a good first step for advice.