Areas and suburbs in Berlin

The best places to live in Berlin

Berlin is a dynamic city in constant flux, and no other metropolis in Germany can match its storied history. Once divided into East and West Berlin, both halves had to reconnect after the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a result, elegant boulevards alternate with trendy and bohemian neighbourhoods. 

The futuristic architecture in the government district and at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin-Mitte contrasts quite dramatically with the Wilhelminian-style architecture seen in Charlottenburg. Accommodation options differ vastly in the city’s twelve districts, which consist of several neighbourhoods each. 

Certain districts are more popular than others. You will need to consider your priorities carefully before choosing an appropriate area of the city in which to settle, but whatever the demands, Berlin leaves no wish unfulfilled. In this multifaceted city, there will be something to suit every taste.

Young and trendy districts in Berlin

Berlin-Mitte

Berlin-Mitte is a truly international district, with an eclectic mix of cultures and nations intersecting and co-existing. Residents live between world-famous sights, government quarters and cultural temples. Nowhere in the capital is reunification more evident than in Mitte. Here beats the heart of Berlin, and desired addresses abound, including Friedrich-Wilhelm-Stadt, Spandauer Vorstadt, Rosenthaler Vorstadt and the historic Nikolaiviertel.

The district also consists of the neighbourhoods of Tiergarten and Wedding, which are multicultural and perhaps less fashionable than the exquisite Mitte. Nevertheless, these districts attract many expats. The Tiergarten in Berlin is what Hyde Park is to London and Central Park is to New York. This park, located in the Tiergarten district, is Berlin's largest and most beautiful and lifts the area's image accordingly. Even the neighbourhood of Wedding, despite its low-brow reputation, reveals its handsome side with imposing architectural facades.

You'll quickly find that parking can be a problem if you choose to live in Mitte. Spaces are rare, and the traffic can be nerve-wracking. That said, Berlin has an excellent public transport system that you can use to reach almost anywhere in the city.

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

If you're a young expat looking to be within the action, as opposed to just nearby, you should look for housing in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. Though this area used to be a predominately working-class district, it has evolved into a fashionable area that captures the attention of young international expats, students, and artists.

Both Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are among Berlin’s trendiest neighbourhoods, and you can find bars, clubs and pubs on every corner. Because of the cheap rent and lively nightlife, Friedrichshain has become the city's student quarter. In particular, you can find a buzzing scene around Simon-Dach Strasse and Boxhagener Strasse.

In Kreuzberg, many cultures coexist, and residents have an easy-going approach to everyday life. Kreuzberg, together with Wedding, is home to the largest contingent of Turkish residents in the city.

The Berlin Wall used to run between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Though many still feel divided, residents add a lighter spin to the location by organising a water fight each year at the Oberbaumbrücke, which connects the two parts of the district. Other attractions in this quarter include the East Side Gallery, which has remnants of the Berlin Wall, and the former prestige boulevard of the East, the Karl-Marx-Allee.

Family-friendly districts in Berlin

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

The district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is a perfect choice if you prefer a quiet life. Residents are typically cosmopolitan, conscious of tradition, and ambitious.

In addition to the upmarket neighbourhoods of Grünewald and Schmargendorf, Charlottenburg stands out for its solid middle-class respectability. Unlike in the student districts of Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg, this neighbourhood is generally home to the affluent and those who value a certain quality of life.

Wilmersdorf is a cosy area to the west of the city. Normally thought of as somewhat bourgeois, wealthy, and conservative, Wilmersdorf is evolving slightly thanks to the return of a younger, more vibrant crowd. It offers an environment with lots of green space and a wide choice of schools, making it popular with families.

Although Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is not a very trendy area overall, Savignyplatz, with its countless restaurants and bars, is one neighbourhood that’s become a magnet for the younger generation.

The main attraction in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is the Kurfurstendamm, Berlin's most popular boulevard and shopping mile. In the immediate vicinity lies the Zoological Garden, a must-see and the best-stocked zoo in the world. 

In the heart of this area lies the magnificent Schloss Charlottenburg, affectionately known as 'Little Versailles'. The famous Olympic Stadium built during the Third Reich is also worth a visit.

Prenzlauer Berg

If you have more refined tastes, you may want to move into the densely populated and trendy Prenzlauer Berg. In addition to actors, designers, and artists, this area also attracts foreign academics and a large contingency of families, hence its nickname, 'Pregnant Hill'.

With its countless bars, clubs, theatres and clothing stores, Prenzlauer Berg is one of the most modern districts of Berlin. It is also home to the famous Kulturbrauerei, a former brewery.