Background and objective <p>Urbanisation and demographic change present social challenges that are often insufficiently addressed in urban and care planning. This study introduces a German-language version of the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) as a tool for measuring age-friendliness. The aim is to assess age-friendliness from the perspective of older adults and to identify varying needs within cities. In addition, findings for the city of Oldenburg are presented.</p> Method <p>The validation study was conducted with a representative sample of older people in Oldenburg (<i>n</i> = 905). The participants completed the AFCCQ-DE questionnaire, consisting of 23 items, and rated their experiences in the city using a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree – strongly agree). A factor analysis and a cluster analysis were then carried out.</p> Results <p>The psychometric validity and reliability of the AFCCQ-DE were confirmed. The questionnaire, which was translated into German for the first time, proved to be a robust instrument that can now be used in German-speaking countries. Using cluster-analytical methods, four groups of older people were identified, differing systematically in terms of their personal characteristics and needs.</p> Discussion <p>The results highlight the importance of a standardised instrument such as the AFCCQ for planning and evaluating the age-friendliness of cities and municipalities. The collected data provide a basis for the development of targeted urban planning measures that specifically address the needs of older adults and support ageing well in urban environments.</p>