December 4, 2025, 3:14 pm | Read time: 16 minutes

To determine Germany’s most sports-friendly city, we first established some key criteria. A major advantage of cities is their dense infrastructure, offering more sports opportunities and better, faster access compared to rural areas. At least, that’s the theory. But what about reality? How good are the infrastructure and sports offerings? To find out, we researched and compared crucial criteria such as bike-friendliness, the number of publicly accessible sports facilities, swimming pools, sports clubs, and gyms. Using a rating system, we were able to identify Germany’s most and least sports-friendly city.

These Cities and Criteria We Compared

In our research, we focused on the three most populous cities from the western and eastern German states. These are¹:

1. Berlin: approx. 3.69 million residents
2. Hamburg: approx. 1.86 million residents
3. Munich: approx. 1.51 million residents
4. Cologne: approx. 1.02 million residents
5. Leipzig: approx. 612,000 residents
6. Dresden: approx. 565,000 residents

We established five key criteria, each contributing 20 percent to the evaluation. However, we double-weighted bike-friendliness and freely accessible sports fields and parks in the final tally. This is because they offer free access to all residents and say a lot about a city’s infrastructure and environmental quality. All other evaluation criteria involve additional costs, which increase the barrier to engaging in sports.

1. Bike-friendliness
2. Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields
3. Sports clubs
4. Public swimming pools
5. Gyms

We based this rating system on school grades. The best city receives a grade of 1 in each criterion, while the others are graded in descending order down to 6. The grades are then weighted as mentioned above to form the overall result. The city with the lowest grade is the most sports-friendly, while the one with the highest grade is the least sports-friendly.

Germany’s Most Sports-Friendly City Is …

Leipzig! Residents of this city can enjoy many sports amenities. Whether it’s distance, accessibility, or prices, Leipzig makes it easier for its residents to engage in sports compared to the other four major cities evaluated by FITBOOK. Learn more about our evaluation process and where Dresden, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Düsseldorf rank.

1. Criterion: Bike-Friendliness

Cycling in the city is not only good for the environment but also for personal health. It’s one of the best ways to incorporate regular exercise into daily life. Whether commuting to work, school, or meeting friends, every bike ride boosts our cardiovascular system, strengthens the legs, promotes metabolism, burns extra calories, and can even lift the mood. Cycling is thus not only an affordable means of transportation but also a relatively inexpensive way to stay active.

However, to reap these benefits, the right infrastructure must be in place. In recent years, more cities have invested in safe and wide bike paths to make cycling a more attractive, eco-friendly mode of transport. Yet, cyclists often have to share the road with cars and other traffic. The larger and more chaotic the traffic in a city, the less safe and comfortable people feel.

That’s why the Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club e. V. (ADFC), with support from the Federal Ministry of Transport, conducts the so-called ADFC Bicycle Climate Test every two years.² According to the association, this is one of the largest surveys worldwide on public satisfaction with cycling. In 2024, 213,000 people in 1,047 German locations were surveyed, representing 65 percent of the population. The following evaluation categories were surveyed:

• Safety and comfort while cycling
• Infrastructure
• Promotion of cycling
• Traffic climate and subjective satisfaction while cycling

According to the association, the test includes 27 questions with opposing statements, rated on a six-point scale. Here, too, a 1 stands for “very good” and a 6 for “inadequate.” To enable fair comparisons, cities are divided into six size classes. Although the results are not statistically representative, they provide significant insights into the quality of bike path infrastructure due to broad citizen participation.

Partial Results at a Glance

The ADFC Bicycle Climate Test 2024 results in the following ranking of the most bike-friendly cities in our comparison:

1. Leipzig: Test score 3.7
2. Munich: Test score 3.9
3. Dresden: Test score 3.93
4. Hamburg: Test score 3.96
5. Cologne: Test score 4.19
6. Berlin: Test score 4.28

Among German cities, Frankfurt am Main (3.49) performed best, followed by Hanover (3.52) and Bremen (3.54). Leipzig ranked fourth in the ADFC Bicycle Climate Test 2024 and thus first in our city comparison. Munich, Dresden, and Hamburg follow with similarly strong results. Cologne and Berlin are at the bottom of the list.

2. Criterion: Parks and Freely Accessible Sports Facilities and Fields

To be active in sports, one often has to overcome several hurdles. This includes not only overcoming one’s “inner pig” but also finding a suitable place. Those who want to jog should ideally have a large park or sports field nearby. Those who don’t want to spend money on a gym can train in a calisthenics park using their own body weight (keyword: bodyweight training). For children, a soccer or basketball court around the corner is ideal for playing soccer or basketball with friends. Free sports opportunities are accessible to all city residents and thus an ideal incentive. Children should also be able to play soccer or basketball for free.

We collected data from individual cities to find out which city has the most free and publicly accessible sports facilities per resident. It’s important to note that not all data is up-to-date and not always exactly comparable between cities. These are approximate values that provide a general city image and are still meaningful.

We evaluated the following:

• Number of large parks for running and other outdoor activities
• Opportunities for calisthenics and outdoor fitness with simple equipment for bodyweight training
• Soccer and ball courts for playing soccer (partially also suitable for basketball)
• Publicly accessible sports facilities for soccer, athletics, and running training

Detailed Data Overview

Berlin’s Offer for 3,685,265 Residents

• Residents have access to 23 parks larger than 50 hectares and 80 parks between 10 and 50 hectares—plus countless smaller parks.³ Thus, 103 parks are larger than 10 hectares. For comparison: A standard soccer field is about 0.7 hectares.
• Berlin offers 120 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 30,710 residents per park.⁴
• Over 500 soccer fields (partially also suitable for basketball)—one field per 7,370.53 residents.⁵
• The capital has about 50 skate parks.
• Berlin provides around 4,450 public sports facilities in total (not all are free and publicly accessible).⁶

Hamburg’s Offer for 1,862,565 Residents

• Hamburgers have 209 parks in the city center alone for relaxation and sports.⁷
• Hamburg is considered Germany’s greenest major city, with 14 percent green and recreational areas in the city.⁸
• The city offers about 59 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 31,569 residents per park
• Over 130 official ball and soccer fields are available, especially for children and teenagers in Hamburg.⁹
• There are about 150 public sports field facilities.¹⁰
• Hamburg has over 1,600 different sports facilities, including 221 sports fields.¹¹

Munich’s Offer for 1,505,005 Residents

• The city has about 1,225 small and large parks, of which around 336 are larger than 1 hectare and 32 are larger than 10 hectares.¹²
• Munich offers about 50 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 30,100 residents per park.¹³
• There are 24 district sports facilities.¹⁴
• Munich has 13 municipal outdoor sports facilities.

Cologne’s Offer for 1,024,621 Residents

• The city offers at least 40 sports-suitable parks¹⁵¹⁶.
• In Cologne, there are about 34 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 30,136 per park.¹⁷
• 108 sports facilities for private use and clubs¹⁸
• The sports facilities have 43 large grass fields and 43 tracks
• Cologne offers around 109 soccer fields, especially for children and teenagers / about one field per 9,400 residents¹⁹²⁰

Leipzig’s Sports Offer for 611,850 Residents

• Around 26 sports-suitable parks and green spaces are available to residents.²¹
• Leipzig offers about 15 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 40,790 residents per park.²²
• There are 60 sports field facilities for athletics, soccer, running, etc. / 10,197 per facility.²³
• About 49 soccer and ball courts are available to Leipzig residents at any time / about one field per 12,487 residents.²⁴

Dresden’s Sports Offer for 564,904 Residents

• With around 62 percent forest and green space, Dresden is one of the greenest cities in Europe.²⁵ However, most of it is outside the city center.
• 662 parks and green spaces with a total area of 332 hectares, of which 26 are particularly suitable for sports activities like jogging or cycling.²⁶
• In Dresden, there are about 15 calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities / 37,660 residents per park.²⁷
• Residents can choose from 100 municipal sports facilities.²⁸
• About 19 soccer and ball courts are available to children / about one field per 29,732 residents.²⁹

Partial Results at a Glance

Despite its large population, Berlin has the largest and most diverse free-accessible offer of sports facilities, calisthenics parks, soccer fields, skate parks, and other sports-suitable places. In total, Berlin has 4,450 public sports facilities. That’s about three times as many as in Hamburg, even though Germany’s second-largest city has only half as many residents. In Berlin, there is about one soccer field per 7,370 residents, while in Hamburg, about 14,327 people share one. Unfortunately, we don’t have comparison figures for Munich, but in Cologne, about 9,400 residents share one soccer field, in Leipzig, it’s 12,487, and in Dresden, about 29,732.

However, Hamburg alone in the city center boasts 209 parks inviting jogging and other sports activities. The approximately 150 public sports field facilities invite soccer, athletics, and running. Munich and Cologne, on the other hand, lead when it comes to calisthenics parks and outdoor fitness opportunities. In both cities, about 30,100 people share one of these opportunities, in Berlin it’s 30,700, in Hamburg 31,569, in Dresden 37,660, and finally in Leipzig 40,790 people.

Like Hamburg, Munich is also ideal for outdoor activities, as it has 336 parks larger than 1 hectare and 32 larger than 10 hectares. For comparison: A large soccer field is about 0.7 hectares. Cologne and Leipzig, on the other hand, offer particularly many sports facilities for private use and clubs in relation to the population. Dresden, in turn, offers its residents 662 parks and green spaces with a total area of 332 hectares. Of these, 26 are particularly suitable for sports activities like jogging or cycling.

According to our data, the ranking for the best free sports infrastructure is as follows:

1. Berlin
2. Hamburg
3. Cologne and Munich
4. Leipzig and Dresden

3. Criterion: Sports Clubs and Members

Individual sports aren’t for everyone. Sports clubs are ideal for exercising with like-minded people—whether group sports like volleyball and soccer or individual sports like cycling, running, table tennis, or badminton. Besides the social aspect, the financial aspect also plays a significant role in clubs. For a relatively low annual or monthly fee, you get access to sports facilities like halls, sports fields, and swimming pools. With a coach, you can continuously improve and refine your technique. Competitions also offer the opportunity to prove yourself and set concrete training goals. Therefore, sports clubs are one of the cornerstones in evaluating sports-friendliness. According to our data, the offerings and membership numbers in the cities are as follows:

Berlin (3,685,265 residents): around 2,300 clubs with approx. 809,436 members³⁰

• 1,602 residents per club (4th place) / about 22 percent of the population are club members

Hamburg (1,862,565 residents): around 855 clubs with approx. 583,000 members³¹

• 2,178 residents per club (6th place) / about 31 percent of the population are club members

Munich (1,505,005 residents): around 694 clubs with approx. 390,968 members³²

• 2,169 residents per club (5th place) / about 26 percent of the population are club members

Cologne (1,024,621 residents): around 660 sports clubs with approx. 347,000 members³³

• 1,552 residents per club (3rd place) / about 34 percent of the population are club members

Leipzig (611,850 residents): around 400 sports clubs with approx. 96,000 members³⁴

• 1,530 residents per club (2nd place) / about 16 percent of the population are club members

Dresden (564,904 residents): around 398 sports clubs with approx. 127,221 members³⁵

• 1,419 residents per club (1st place) / about 23 percent of the population are club members

Partial Results at a Glance

Dresden has the most sports clubs per resident. Their members make up about 23 percent of the city’s population. However, this percentage does not indicate how many are actually active. Therefore, this percentage is not included in the evaluation for any of the cities. Leipzig and Cologne tie for second place, as they are nearly equal in the ratio of residents per club. Berlin ranks third but has a vast array of sports clubs that, relative to the population, lag behind Dresden, Leipzig, and Cologne. Munich and Hamburg share fourth place, offering their residents a very comparable range.

1. Dresden
2. Leipzig and Cologne
3. Berlin
4. Munich and Hamburg

4. Criterion: Public Swimming Pools

Swimming is one of the healthiest sports. It trains almost all muscle groups, is easy on the joints, and strengthens the cardiovascular system. Therefore, swimming is suitable for people of all ages and weight classes. Public swimming pools play a central role in urban areas. In most cities, you can get a ticket for three to six euros. Those looking to save money can join a swimming club and train regularly for a few euros a month or purchase an annual pool pass. Additionally, indoor pools can be used year-round. Since swimming is one of the healthiest and most affordable sports, it is our fourth most important criterion in evaluating the sports-friendliness of cities. Here’s our ranking:

Berlin’s Offer for 3,685,265 Residents³⁶

• 28 indoor pools (6 currently under renovation) – 131,617 residents per indoor pool (5th place)
• 7 school and club pools
• 14 summer pools – 263,233 residents per summer pool (6th place)
• 11 beach pools

Hamburg’s Offer for 1,862,565 Residents³⁷

• 18 indoor pools / 103,475 residents per indoor pool (4th place)
• 3 thermal baths
• 10 summer pools – 186,256 residents per summer pool (3rd place)
• 7 year-round outdoor pools

Munich’s Offer for 1,505,005 Residents³⁸

• Indoor pools / 188,126 residents per indoor pool (6th place)
• 8 summer pools / 188,126 residents per summer pool (4th place)
• Winter warm outdoor pool

Cologne’s Offer for 1,024,621 Residents³⁹

• 11 indoor pools / 93,147 residents per indoor pool (2nd place)
• 1 children’s pool
• 5 summer pools / 204,924 residents per summer pool (5th place)
• 1 natural outdoor pool

Leipzig’s Offer for 611,850 Residents⁴⁰

• 8 indoor pools / 76,481 residents per indoor pool (1st place)
• 4 summer pools / 152,963 residents per summer pool (2nd place)
• 1 natural outdoor pool

Dresden’s Offer for 564,904 Residents⁴¹

• 6 indoor pools / 94,151 residents per indoor pool (3rd place)
• 6 summer pools / 94,151 residents per summer pool (1st place)
• 5 natural outdoor pools

Partial Results at a Glance

In this category, Leipzig performs best, offering the most indoor pools per resident. Leipzig also ranks second for summer pools, closely followed by Dresden. The latter offers slightly fewer indoor pools per resident but more summer and natural outdoor pools. Cologne also performs well in indoor pools but ranks second to last for summer pools. Hamburg ties with Cologne, offering slightly fewer indoor pools per resident but significantly more summer and natural pools. Munich and Berlin share the last place. The capital offers significantly more indoor pools than Munich, although six are currently under renovation. Munich has more summer pools per resident than Berlin, but Berlin offers eleven beach pools. Here’s the final ranking:

1. Leipzig
2. Dresden
3. Cologne and Hamburg
4. Munich and Berlin

More on the topic

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5. Criterion: Gyms

What was once considered a “muscle shack” for bodybuilders is now an established place to stay fit: the gym. There, you can not only lift weights but also do cardio training and often participate in various classes. The offerings range from very affordable gyms with fees starting at around 20 euros per month to luxuriously equipped wellness oases with saunas and swimming pools, with fees exceeding 100 euros per month. In German cities, you can find the right gym for every budget and preference. Especially for people with little time who want to train regardless of the weather, the gym is ideal. Therefore, the number of gyms in our comparison cities also plays an important role in evaluating sports-friendliness. And here’s what the numbers say⁴²:

• Berlin: approx. 500 total / 7,371 residents per gym (5th place)
• Hamburg: approx. 293 total / 6,357 residents per gym (3rd place)
• Munich: approx. 255 total / 5,902 residents per gym (2nd place)
• Cologne: approx. 186 total / 5,509 residents per gym (1st place)
• Leipzig: approx. 79 total / 7,745 residents per gym (6th place)
• Dresden: approx. 85 total / 6,646 residents per gym (4th place)

Partial Results at a Glance

According to the industry list Listfix, Cologne has the highest density of gyms per resident, followed by Munich and Hamburg. Dresden is in the middle, Berlin is slightly behind, and Leipzig is at the bottom.

1. Cologne
2. Munich
3. Hamburg
4. Dresden
5. Berlin
6. Leipzig

Conclusion: This Is Germany’s Most Sports-Friendly City

In the evaluation, we double-weighted bike-friendliness and freely accessible sports fields and parks. This is because they offer free access to all residents and say a lot about a city’s infrastructure and environmental quality. All other evaluation criteria involve additional costs, which increase the barrier to engaging in sports. The results from the five evaluation criteria are as follows:

1st Place: Leipzig

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 1 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 4 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 2
• Public swimming pools: Grade 1
• Number of gyms: Grade 6
• Overall grade: 2.7

Thanks to a good mix of bike-friendliness, numerous sports clubs, swimming pools, and other sports facilities, Leipzig ranks as Germany’s most sports-friendly city in our ranking. Only in the number of gyms per resident does the city fall short of its otherwise good performance.

2nd Place: Munich

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 2 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 3 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 4
• Public swimming pools: Grade 4
• Number of gyms: Grade 2
• Overall grade: 2.86

Munich is also particularly sports-friendly for a major city. This is partly due to the good cycling infrastructure and partly due to the good mix of sports facilities and gyms. However, the city does not rank among the best in the number of sports clubs and swimming pools.

3rd Place: Dresden

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 3 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 4 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 1
• Public swimming pools: Grade 2
• Number of gyms: Grade 4
• Overall grade: 3.0

Dresden ranks a solid third. The high number of sports clubs, bike-friendliness, and the number of swimming pools are outstanding. However, Dresden ranks lower in gyms and the number of freely accessible sports facilities.

4th Place: Hamburg

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 4 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 2 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 4
• Public swimming pools: Grade 3
• Number of gyms: Grade 3
• Overall grade: 3.1

Just behind Dresden, Hamburg and Cologne share fourth place. Hamburg impresses with many freely accessible parks and sports facilities. However, in terms of bike-friendliness, the Hanseatic city ranks lower, preventing a better overall ranking.

4th Place: Cologne

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 5 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 3 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 2
• Public swimming pools: Grade 3
• Number of gyms: Grade 1
• Overall grade: 3.1

In the grade evaluation, Cologne shares fourth place with Hamburg. The city on the Rhine shines, especially in the number of sports clubs and gyms per resident. However, Cologne does not impress in terms of bike-friendliness, which, like Hamburg, prevents a better overall ranking.

5th Place: Berlin

• Bike-friendliness: Grade 6 x 2
• Publicly accessible parks, sports facilities, and fields: Grade 1 x 2
• Sports clubs: Grade 3
• Public swimming pools: Grade 4
• Number of gyms: Grade 5
• Overall grade: 3.7

Overall, Berlin ranks last, mainly due to its worst performance in bike-friendliness. However, Germany’s largest city offers the most extensive range of parks, sports facilities, and soccer fields. The number and variety of sports clubs are also impressive. However, relative to the high population, the availability of gyms and swimming pools is not particularly good.