Many people consider Berlin to be one of the most fascinating cities there are. Many young Germans think it is an exciting place you should have at least lived once in your life, with all its culture and many neighbourhoods. Many foreigners come to Berlin because it’s artsy, it’s cheap and you don’t need to speak any German in order to get along. I however, have struggled with this city and I think it will never be one of my favourite places to live. The city and I have a difficult relationship.
Maybe I lived trough a reverse culture shock, as I moved to Berlin right after my traineeship in San Francisco. I did however, meet other people who also struggled with this city. My main issue I think came form the fact that I couldn’t relate why people made such a big deal out of Berlin. Yeah, it’s cool and most definitely like no other city, but I just wasn’t impressed with always trying the be the coolest, the artsiest, the edgiest or the most cultured in the room. However, I definitely came to like aspects about Berlin and I think I might just have needed a while to warm up to the city and learn how to like it. So here you go.
Location is king
There are parts of the city you just don't want to live in. Some of them are not your style (too ugly, too fancy, too touristy) and some of them are really far out (Is this really still Berlin?). Where you live will shape your Berlin experience and where you want to live depends on what you want. There's areas with lots of nice neighborhood cars and cafes, farmers markets and beautiful houses. But there are also areas with a lot of bars, clubs and tourists looking for the ultimate Berlin experience (Berlin anyone?). Naturally, areas become over-hyped and then other areas are up and coming - Berlin is a city of hypes. Maybe you want to stay on top of the recent developments.
When living in Berlin, I have lived in Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg. While Friedrichshain has a lot of tourists and bars, Prenzlauer Berg is full of organic hipster parents, which is probably why people sometimes refer to it as pregnancy hill. I can recommend both. Ak yourself what you want to experience while you are in Berlin and pick the location accordingly. Looking for a chill pary-heavy student life? Kreuzberg or Neukölln might be a good choice. You want t be ahead of the trend and don't mind some sketchy corners? Have a look at Moabit. You like organic coffee and brunch is your religion? Prenzlauer Berg is where you want to be.
Take your time to explore.
The city is huge and widely spread out and every area has a different personality and different things to offer. Thus, it might be very overwhelming moving here and finding the spots you like. That is why you should take the time to explore the different areas and of the city. Maybe start with your neighborhood and scout out some paces that you like and where you can go to if you don't feel like riding the subway for 45 minutes. Then just make your way through the districts and take your time exploring the various museums, cafes, shops and markets Berlin has to offer. Berlin’s neighbourhoods have their own little ecosystems, there isn’t just this one part where people go to party and then a different part where people do their shopping. Every neighbourhood has many things to offer (which is why sometimes it gets hard leaving your own “Kiez”) so they are all worth a visit.
Participate in festivals and events.
Yeah, Mauerpark might be too touristy, May 1st might be too left and alternative and Fete de la Musique is super crowded. However, a lot of the charm from the city comes from it's different festivals - many of them with an interesting history! And you should definitely find out for yourself what you like regardless of what other people might say. When I first moved to Berlin I didn’t go to many of these events because they were too far, too crowded or the weather was just too bad (this can happen a lot so you better get over it quickly). However, I actually came to love Mauerpark a lot, despite many people saying it was too touristy (I get it, Berlin is for cool people). Yes it's touristy and I might not be in the mood for it every Sunday. I love their karaoke shows however and the spontaneous jam sessions and artists. No matter if there are a lot of other people around - they just enjoy the same things. I like.
Walk around.
Of course, Berlin is big and you will have to take the subway or S-Bahn eventually. However, Berlin is also very walkable. It is usually pretty safe, it doesn’t have any hills and if you are tired of walking the next bus or train stop won’t be far away. Since Berlin’s neighbourhoods can be so very different, it’s definitely worth it walking around and exploring hidden gems.
Mind the seasons.
Berlin during the summer is great. There are many lakes, public pools and parks to hang out - as well as many beer gardens or open air events, if that is more your style. Enjoy yourself on rooftop bars, city beaches and more. The only downside during the summer might be the constant 35 degrees in your top floor apartment. The winters I found more difficult. Yes, there are Christmas markets and if you are lucky you will get the occasional snow. However, the city gets very grey and very gloomy very fast when it is cold and cloud outside for several months straight. Book yourself a nice winter getaway or find entertaining indoor things to do (there are many) so you don’t get pulled down by the dark winter days.
Be extraordinary.
You can say a lot of things about Berlin. Not all of them are positive. One thing you can for sure say though is that Berlin is unique. It's a unique city with such a unique and mind-blowing history. Thus you can do lots of interesting stuff you won't be able to do in other cities. So go and do them. And if you need some inspiration to start, check out my post about things you can only do in Berlin.
I am sure there are a lot of people out there who love Berlin and don’t need any tips on how to like it. What about you? Do you like Berlin?
Kate recommends: Emil and the detectives (‘Emil und die Detective’) is a German novel for children by Erich Kästner, set in Berlin. It has been translated into 59 languages and has never been out of print and it is one of my favorite books ever (I love Erich Kästner). The story begins in Neustadt (my hometown is called Bad Neustadt), where 12-year old Emil is sent to Berlin by his mother to stay with his aunt. On the train to Berlin, the money Emil got from his mother is stolen. Determined to get his money back, he tries to follow the robber and gets help from some local children he meets on the way. Emils has to navigate through the big city meeting some fairly rough characters, which is just how I felt when I arrived.