German Local Prepositions: A Simple Guide

Do you get confused between nach Deutschland and in die Schweiz? Or wonder why Germans say am Meer instead of im Meer? In this guide you’ll finally learn how to choose the right local preposition in German. With simple rules, and clear examples you’ll stop guessing and start speaking with confidence.

Recommended study materials on the topic:

• Langenscheidt Go Smart - German Verbs

• A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)

• German self-study book for A1-B1  (incl. answers)

• German Verb Charts: Learning Regular and Irregular Verbs at a glance

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1. Countries, Cities, Continents, and Directions

The Preposition “nach”

We use nach if we are moving torwards a certain destination like countries that do not have an article, with cities, and with continents.

• Ich fahre nach Deutschland. (to Germany)

• Wir fliegen nach Berlin. (to Berlin)

• Sie reisen nach Europa. (to Europe)

We also use nach with the four main directions.

• Er fährt nach Norden. (to the north)

As an exception we would also say:

• Ich gehe nach Hause. (I go home)

The Preposition “in”

When you arrived at your destination, we will use the preposition “in” for countries that do not have an article, with cities, and with continents.

• Ich bin in Deutschland. (to Germany)

• Wir wohne in Berlin. (to Berlin)

• Sie sind in Europa. (to Europe)

We also use in with the four main directions. As for the directions you will use “in” with the Dative case (though it is a Wechselpräposition) and since all directions are male (der Norden, der Süden, der Westen, der Osten), they will all get “im” (in + dem).

• Er wohnt im Norden. (to the north)

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2. Countries with Articles

The Preposition “in”

Some countries in German have an article (for example: die Schweiz, die Türkei, die USA). With them we normally use in.

When you move in direction of these countries the preposition “in” comes with the Accusative Case.

• Wir fahren in die Türkei. (to Turkey)

• Wir fliegen in die Schweiz. (to Switzerland)

When you are in these countries already you will use “in” with the Dative Case

• Wir machen Urlaub in der Türkei. (in Turkey).

• Wir wohnen in der Schweiz. (in Switzerland)

“In” the sense of into or inside of

The preposition in is also used in the sense of hinein (to go into a space). Here we ask Wohin? so we need the accusative.

• Ich gehe in die Schule. (into the school building)

• Wir gehen in den Zoo. (into the zoo)

If the question is Wo?, we use the dative.

• Ich bin in der Schule. (inside the school)

• Wir sind im Zoo. (inside the zoo)

3. Water

The preposition “an”

The preposition an is used when we talk about water (sea, lake, river) or when something is close to a surface or edge.

Moving in the direction of the water (wohin):

• Ich fahre an das Meer. = I am going to the sea.

• Ich gehe an den See. = I'm going to the lake.

If you are already there and give an answer to the question of where (wo)

• Ich bin am Meer. = I'm at the sea.

• Wir sitzen am See. = We're sitting by the lake.

Why an and not in with water?

In German, the preposition an is used when we mean “to the edge of” or “next to” something. With water (sea, lake, river), the idea is not that you go into the water but that you go to the shore or to the place by the water.

• Ich fahre an das Meer = I am going to the seaside (to the coast, not swimming into the sea).

• Ich gehe an den See = I go to the lake (to be at the shore, not diving inside).

If you want to say that you actually go into the water, you would use in:

• Ich springe in das Meer = I jump into the sea.

• Ich gehe in den See = I go into the lake (into the water).

So:

• an = to the edge / by the side

• in = inside

This is why German always says an das Meer fahren when talking about holidays, because people usually go to the beach, not literally into the sea.

“An” in the sense of close to / next to

You would also use the preposition “an” when you would like to express that something is moving or already close to something.

For example:

Ich gehe an das Fenster. = I go to the window.

Ich stehe am Fenster. I= 'm standing at the window.

4. Islands

The preposition “auf”

For islands we usually use the preposition auf. This is different from countries and cities, where we normally say nach. But there is an exception: if the island name is also used like a city name and you do not use the word “Insel”, such as Mallorca, you can use both.

Moving to the direction of the island:

Ich fahre auf die Insel Mallorca. = I'm going to the island of Mallorca.

Aber: Ich fahre nach Mallorca. = I'm going to Mallorca.

Already being at the island:

Ich bin auf der Insel Mallorca. = I'm on the island of Mallorca.

Aber: Ich bin auf Mallorca. = I'm on Mallorca.

The preposition auf is also used when we mean onto a surface or structure. In this case, it expresses movement upwards or onto something.

Moving upwards (Akkusativ)

• Ich klettere auf den Turm. = I climb onto the tower.

• Ich gehe auf die Brücke. = I go onto the bridge.

Already being there (Dative)

• Ich bin auf dem Turm. = I am on the tower.

• Ich bin auf der Brücke. = I am on the bridge.

5. People & all other places

The preposition “zu”

The preposition zu is used when we go to people, authorities, services, or events. It always answers the question Wohin? (where to?) and always takes the dative case.

• Ich gehe zu Oma. = to grandma

• Er geht zum Friseur. = to the hairdresser

• Wir gehen zur Polizei. = to the police station

• Ich gehe zum Unterricht. = to class

• Sie gehen zum Konzert. = to the concert

• Wir fahren zum Bahnhof. = to the train station

With zu we often think about reaching a person or a destination point, not about going inside a building. That is why German prefers zu for people or services (Friseur, Arzt, Lehrer, Polizei, Behörde, etc.).

👉 Important exception: “zu Hause”
When we talk about home, German always uses zu Hause (dative). This is an idiomatic expression and does not change.

• Ich bin zu Hause. = I am at home.

• Ich bleibe heute Abend zu Hause. = I am staying at home tonight.

The preposition “bei”

The preposition bei shows where you are (it answers Wo?). Like zu, it is used with people, authorities, and events, but it describes your location instead of your destination.

• Ich bin bei Oma. = at grandma’s place

• Er ist beim Friseur. = at the hairdresser

• Wir sind bei der Polizei. = at the police station

• Sie ist beim Unterricht. = at class, while the class is happening

• Ich bin beim Konzert. = at the concert

• Wir sind beim Bahnhof. = at the train station area

So the difference is simple:

• zu → Wohin? (going to somebody or some place)

• bei → Wo? (being at somebody’s place or in the middle of an activity/event)

This pair is very common in everyday German, so it’s worth practicing.

Summary

WOHIN	Wo	Category
nach nach Deutschland nach Berlin nach Europa nach Norden	in + Dativ in Deutschland in Berlin in Europa im Norden	Länder ohne Artikel Städte Kontinente Himmelsrichtungen
in + Akk in die Schweiz in die USA im Sinne von hinein (into) in die Schule in den Zoo	in + Dat in der Schweiz in den USA in der Schule im Zoo	Länder mit Artikel
an + Akk an das Meer an den See im Sinne von heran (to the edge) Ich gehe an das Fenster.	an + Dat am Meer am See am Fenster	Wasser
auf + Akk auf die Insel Ich fahre auf die Insel Mallorca. ABER: Ich fahre nach Mallorca. Bewegung nach oben / auf eine Fläche Ich klettere auf den Turm. Ich gehe auf die Brücke.	auf + Dat auf der Insel Ich bin auf der Insel Mallorca. Ich bin auf Mallorca. Ich bin auf dem Turm. Ich bin auf der Brücke.	Insel
zu + Dativ zu Oma zum Friseur, zur Polizei zum Unterricht / Konzert Ich gehe zum Bahnhof.	bei + Dativ bei Oma beim Friseur, bei der Polizei beim Unterricht / Konzert Ich bin beim Bahnhof.	Personen Behörden Veranstaltungen alle anderen Orte

Conclusion

Learning German local prepositions becomes much easier once you understand the system of movement and location. With this simple rule in mind, you can talk about countries, cities, directions, water, islands, people, and events without getting lost in long grammar tables. The best way to improve is to practice with real sentences and notice how native speakers use these prepositions in everyday life. Over time, the patterns will feel natural.

If you enjoyed this article and want to go deeper, you should also read this: The difference between “im,” “am” and “um” in German. This is another common area of confusion for learners and connects perfectly to what you just studied.

Bis bald!

Steffie

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