In Berlin the neighbourhood decides what kind of holiday you get. Between Wannsee and Friedrichshain lie 40 minutes on the train and two completely different cities. An honest guide so you book the right one.
Mitte
Central, well connected, everything within walking distance. In return it is expensive, surprisingly empty in the evening and in places interchangeable. Good for a short city break with a full programme, less good if you want to see how people actually live here.
Kreuzberg
Dense, loud, alive. The Bergmannkiez is the more genteel part with its market hall and cafés, the area around Kottbusser Tor is distinctly rougher. Both have their appeal, but anyone who wants an early night should book towards Viktoriapark rather than on Oranienstraße.
Friedrichshain
Young, with plenty of nightlife around Simon-Dach-Straße and the RAW grounds. Boxhagener Platz has a weekly market on Saturdays and a flea market on Sundays. If you are looking for quiet, this is the wrong district – if you have plans for the evening, it is the right one.
Prenzlauer Berg
Restored turn-of-the-century buildings, playgrounds, cafés, lots of families. Quieter than its reputation and a good choice if you are travelling with children. Mauerpark on a Sunday, with its flea market and karaoke, is an experience – but not a quiet one.
Charlottenburg
The old West. Wide streets, period buildings, theatres, good restaurants away from the Kurfürstendamm. A little more settled, very well connected, and in the evening you can actually sleep here.
Zehlendorf, Wannsee, Köpenick
Green, quiet, plenty of water, considerably more space for your money. The price is travel time: reckon on 30 to 45 minutes into the city centre. Often the better choice for families and longer stays, less so for a weekend with a packed schedule.
In short
| You want… | Book in… |
|---|---|
| Sightseeing on foot | Mitte |
| Going out in the evening | Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg |
| Getting around with children | Prenzlauer Berg, Charlottenburg |
| Quiet, a garden, water | Zehlendorf, Wannsee, Köpenick |