What are the nicest areas to live in in Berlin?

Question

If you want to live close to the city centre and public transport in a clean, quiet and safe neighborhood?

Answer 1

I'm afraid I have to disagree with the former responses. Zehlendorf is a villa suburb of the city - not in the centre and the transportation there is not good (relatively to Berlin).

In Berlin,

(1) Everything in the city centre (that is, Mitte, Kreuzberg, Schoeneberg, Charlottenburg, and most of Friedrichshain, Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg and Wilmersdorf) has wonderful transportation, in comparison with most cities in the world. Berlin might have the bext public transportation system in all of the world's metropoles.

(2) Berlin is relatively very safe - there are very few spots where you might feel at unease, but basically, it is a very safe city.

(3) On the other hand, in comparison to other German cities, it is dirty. Graffitti shouldn't bother you - it is all over in Berlin. Perhaps not in a liveless place like Gruenewald, but all over.

(4) IN many Berlin neighbourhoods, you go from one street to another, and it is like you've been transported into another world. So sometimes there is a lousy street in a great neighbourhood or the other way round. Not only that, but even on a busy street, if you take a house, which is on the back yard side of the building, you'd be in a quiet oasis.

Where should you live? It depends on what you're looking for. Charlottenburg is clean enough, has very good transportation and has many quiet streets. Alt-Treptow, which is part of Treptow, is very clean, green and quiet, and is relatively central. Parts of Mitte and Schoeneberg are also - surprisingly - quiet (but again, it changes from one street to another). Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Mitte are IMHO the best places to live if you want some **atmosphere** around you, but clean they are usually not; and good apartments are usually overpriced in comparison with similar apartments outside these neighbourhoods.

It is better to say where *not* to live:

Not close to the city centre: Spandau, Zehlendorf, Steglitz, Tempelhof (though northern Tempelhof is pretty central), Reinickindorf, Tegel, most of Neukoelln and Treptow (again, nothern parts like Alt-Treptow are central), Lichtenberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Koepenick, Pankow (most of it), Weissensee.

Good public transportation: good all over, but if you leave the city centre, you have less.

Quiet: Away from main streets, even in the neighbourhoods that are recommended

Safe: Do not live in the following (that are actually pretty central):

- The area around Hermannplatz and Sonnenallee in northern Neukoelln

- The area around the trainstations Wedding, Leopold Platz, and in fact, most of "Wedding". Just not hip and a bit ghetto like, not dangerous

- The area around Kottbusser Tor and Goerlitzer Park

- The Moabit neighbourhood (between train stations Tor-Strasse and Beusselstrasse)

Answer 2

Zehlendorf, Grunewald. Public Transport is everywhere in the City anyway. No matter where you live. Safe? Don't know about that one.

Answer 3

in my opinion, the best area is to live in Grunewald .

A friend of mine lives there, and it is quiet and save ( but expensive ) and public buses and subway are running all day and night.

Answer 4

If you are going to live there I would stay at a hotel for a week or so until you get a chance to tour the city on your own...It is real safe...(relative to L.A.) and has great transportation system...I am sure you will fall in love with the city...I prefer the Charlottenburg area...( that's where the action is)...I don't know you could be 60 and adore quiet libraries..need more info...OH Yeh the funny thing since the city has such a divided history and is growing so much --a bunch of localities claim to be the city center...where the h**l is it??? Prenslauer Platz, Charlottenburg, the area near the Brandenburg Gate..Every one wants to be the "center"..