Berlin Basics

Six selective paragraphs on why Berlin is one of the world’s most unique cities.

Diversity

Berlin has built an identity based on change. Around 170 nations reside in the city, valuing this diverse and inclusive way of life. There are options galore to explore within the 434 famous KiezeEach one carries the essence of a distinct miniature city, varying in character. They create a unique sense of identity and belonging amidst the vastness of this metropolis.

A short video showcasing the urban diversity can be found here.

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Academia

Berlin, sometimes called the German Oxford, has been praised with the best student experience worldwide and is home to the third-highest concentration of top-200 universities globally. One such university, the Humboldt University of Berlin, is noted as being the mother of modern universities. It alone is affiliated with around 57 Nobel Prize laureates, among them Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, and most recently Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2020. Today, the Berlin university hospital (Charité) is also among the world’s very best. Generally, in many contemporary research areas, Berlin is considered a leading force in Europe and even worldwide.

Heike Zappe, CC BY-SA 3.0

Startups

For years, Berlin has been recognised as a major centre for startups and is widely considered to be the startup hub in Germany by a considerable margin. The city now has the highest popularity score in Europe and is frequently found in the top 10 globally as well. Overall, it is home to around 150,000 companies and has just recently been called the fastest-growing tech hub in Europe.

Fabio Testa on Unsplash

Green Spaces

One-third of the city consists of green spaces, including forests, parks, rivers, and lakes. Most noticeable among them is the river Spree, which flows through the entire city. Berlin’s largest urban park (Großer Tiergarten) alone spans an area of 210 hectares, the size of Monaco. It is often considered to be one of the world’s greenest and most sustainable major cities.

Fionn Große on Unsplash

Culture

With inexhaustible offerings, Berlin is the capital of culture. The city has many world-class museums, including five at the largest museum campus in the world (Museum Island), which is also a UNESCO World Heritage. The Berliner Philharmoniker is among the very best in the world, so is one of the leading opera houses, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Berlin is also home to the world’s largest theatre stage (Friedrichstadt-Palast) and one of the most influential public film festivals globally (Berlinale).

Norbert Braun on Unsplash

Quality of Life

Combining the above, Berlin is often listed among the most liveable cities worldwide. It is also one of the most popular cities in all of Europe. However, in comparison to other major cities, Berlin is still considered affordable. Looking forward, the city has been praised for having the best prospects for the future among Germany’s largest cities. 

Use it as a big toolbox to become what you want to be.

Julia Solonina on Unsplash