Berlin’s most desirable neighborhoods to live in

Ah, to live in Berlin. The capital of Germany is a bustling metropolis welcoming any and all who dare to call her home. Known for an open mentality, a top-notch nightlife scene, and home to a thriving start-up atmosphere, Berlin is an enticing choice to settle down in.

One of the key steps in doing so? Finding a place to live. The housing shortage in Berlin combined with the intricacies of German bureaucracy can make house hunting a headache. In an attempt to alleviate some of the stress, GLOBALS Homes features some of the best apartments in the city.

Choosing just where to live in Berlin is an important choice! The charm of Berlin is the different worlds that can be found depending on the neighborhood you happen to be in. Read on as we highlight three of Berlin’s most desirable neighborhoods – and the apartments that will let you call them home!

Lichtenberg

Just East of Mitte lies the quiet district of Lichtenberg. At first glance it can seem far removed from the vibrant and historic center of Berlin but don’t let that fool you!

In just 15 minutes you can arrive at Alexanderplatz. Strolling through this quiet suburb, its free from the broken glass and hipsters that crowd Kreuzberg and Neukölln’s busy streets.

Within 20 minutes from the Lichtenburg S+U station you can travel back in time and visit the historic former Stasi Headquarters, or travel to Vietnam and step inside the Dong Xuan Center, an Asian market with over 150 stalls. You can also visit one of East Berlin’s most famous attractions, Tierpark, a large zoo where animals have free roam and gives residents an amazing green space in the center of the district. Lichtenberg is a trending gem in Berlin, get here fast!

Mitte

Mitte means “center” or “middle” in German and you can bet that if you live in Mitte you can reach anywhere in Berlin’s city limits very easily. Not only are you well connected with transit, but the multiple bars, restaurants and cafes are not just there for the tourists.

Grab a craft beer around Torstrasse, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial or catch a show at Babylon Berlin or the Volksbühne and discover that thriving Mitte is the heartbeat of the city and one of the best districts to live in.

Schöneberg

Discover all the colours of Berlin within one district. Famous since the 1920s for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, Schöneberg really has something for everyone.

You can browse the latest trends at the famous KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westens), one of the largest department stores in Europe. For nature lovers there is the protected biological park Schöneberger Südgelände, a nature reclaimed WWII rail yard and just in the district limits is Templehofer Field, the airport-turned-public-park, where you can catch the best sunsets in the city.

Make Berlin your Home

Living in Berlin

If you ask Google, how expensive it is to live in Berlin, it will answer that the prices are rising, especially for housing. But if we compare Berlin to other cities in Germany, some things are much cheaper. 

Germany is considered one of the cheapest countries in the world for grocery shopping. The monthly fee could be anywhere between 100 to 200 euros. But if you’re not much of a cook yourself and prefer eating out, be prepared to spend up to 300 euros.

Transportation and mobile phone fees are also quite cheap if you’re a student, rent prices range from 400 to 800 euros. The cost of rent depends on how big you want your apartment to be, as well as location. Sharing an apartment will cost you at least 400 euros and for bigger flats, the payment would be about 1500 euros. 

Where to rent?

Wondering where to rent in Berlin? We got you covered! Berlin is so diverse that it can make anyone feel at home. Whether you’re a free spirit, hipster, party animal or prefer a quiet life to the party, Berlin can satisfy all your needs. 

If you like to be close to clubs, street food markets, and outdoor cinemas, Friedrichshain is a good choice. It’s also great if you lead a vegan lifestyle and like dining outdoors. Kreuzberg also has good places for eating out, it’s full of affordable street food, coffee shops, and squats. Neukölln too has quite a lot to offer, from cozy, dim-lit bars to independent shops, tattoo studios, and arthouse cinemas. 

If you’d like to find out more about other districts and which one is most suited for you, our housing Advisor Vincent from Berlin and Ignacio from Barcelona would be more than happy to help you. Find out more about them!

You can also visit Wunderflats and choose which furnished apartment to rent based on location, price range, and a number of rooms. More options to find apartments furnished or unfurnished are wg-gesucht.de, immonet.de, immobilienscout24.de, GLOBALS Homes, and eBay Kleinanzeigen. Do not forget to consider some Housing Companies like immobilo.de and Deutsche Wohnen.

Once you choose the location and are ready to move in, it’s time to cozy up the place. For interior design solutions, Houzz is an excellent platform to provide you with the best professionals for interior designs. However, product providers and different kinds of professionals related to finding and making your perfect home. 

When it comes to furniture, you’ll find the most affordable and stylish pieces at Ikea. For sure, you would like to give your house your personal touch in colors, walls, or even make it more friendly and accessible. All that you need you can find it in Aroundhome and hagebau.de.

Electronic supplies are best bought from Mediamarkt, Saturn, Amazon, or Ebay.

Where to buy?

When planning on buying a flat in Berlin, be sure to check out ImmoScout24. They offer different types of real estate properties, from flats and houses to office spaces and garages. 

We would also suggest checking out our GLOBALS Homes. Here you can find a variety of available properties. Also, request or list a property that you’re trying to rent or sell. One of our previous blogs could give you useful information about buying decision: What to consider when buying an apartment in Berlin  

Image by Karl Herl from Pixbay

Housing insurances

Housing insurance is also an important aspect to keep in mind. Generally in Berlin and Germany , every object you have in your apartment is considered a household good. Therefore is covered by house insurance. And, it covers damages from fire, water, storm, burglary, and vandalism. We would like to recommend you Arag.de and Tarifcheck.de  where you can find a variety of insurances not exclusive for the property.

Berlin event

Be sure not to miss out on our Globals event: The Future of Housing and Living on the 20th of August. The panel discussions will cover an introduction to what you need to know about the real estate in Berlin. You’ll learn about the current trends in real estate and innovation in post-corona times. 

 

See you there!