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11. Moving to Berlin

Berlin at a Glance

Moving to Berlin

Gathering information beforehand will help you map out your move to Berlin.

Expatriates moving to Berlin will be moving to a liberal, international, artistic, fun, and cosmopolitan city with a tumultuous history. Fortunately, a move to Berlin also means moving to a city where a high quality of living does not always equate having a large checkbook.

The city offers so much to those moving to Berlin. From art galleries, to the UNESCO World Heritage’s Museum Island, to the remnants of the Berlin Wall, to tiny stalls with delicious food – moving to Berlin will show you everything.

Moving to Berlin: A Cosmopolitan Capital

When thinking of moving to Berlin, you might want to know that among the 3.46 million Berliner, 473,000 come from 195 different countries. This is part of the charm of moving to Berlin: You will be surrounded by so many different cultures and backgrounds. A move to Berlin may seem daunting at first, but there is a wide range of activities to participate in, which will keep your mind off your homesickness.

It is probably best to consider moving to Berlin in the summer, when the streets are full of buzzing life, lovely cafés and green parks call to both young and old, and the evenings are cool and refreshing. Bars and restaurants dot the banks of the Landwehrkanal and the Spree River.

In fact, the local nightlife is another enticing factor in favor of moving to Berlin, making it easy to fall in love with the city. In the winter, museums and galleries offer those moving to Berlin refuge from the cold outdoors.

Move to Berlin: Accommodation

As Berlin is a very large city, you may wonder where exactly you should go when moving to Berlin. It is a city of contrasts, which may offer anything from an artsy loft to a swanky villa. Berlin is still affordable concerning housing costs, as rents are comparably lower than those in London or Paris or even Munich – an added bonus when moving to Berlin.

You will have to be quick on choosing a place to live, as the housing market is very competitive. The best way to go about finding housing for your move to Berlin is looking in the local newspapers. Websites such as immoscout24.de or immonet.de will also let you set preferences for your new domicile in Berlin.

If you have the financial means, it may be easiest to let a real estate agent do all the work for you. Be aware, though, that they are relatively expensive and will take at least two months’ rent from you as commission.

Moving to Berlin: Visa Requirements

Before you think about your move to Berlin, however, please consider your visa requirements. Make sure that your passport was issued within ten years of the application for the visa. As the list is very long, check which countries require a tourist visa for a stay in Berlin of less than 90 days.