First of all, I’m not a very outgoing person. Second of all, I prefer to stay most of the time at home, especially during weekends. But since, I’m a full time housewife, which this is one of my personal reasons why I started writing blogs and other stuff, I do not go out unless it’s a very good weather in Berlin to walk to nearby park or to town proper. Anyway, let’s head to the topic..
Here are the following questions I had prepared myself, and will answer:
- Is Berlin a nice place to stay or travel?
- How’s the weather in Berlin?
- Is it expensive living there?
- Do the people speak English?
- Rate Berlin from 1-10
Question # 1: Is Berlin a nice place to stay/travel?
Our friend, Sandra, a German native, who lived/came from Bavaria, loves Berlin more. When it comes to people she knows and friends, she’d choose Berlin as it’s a more friendly and internationally-oriented place than where she grew up. In Berlin, there’s cultural diversity, and this is one of the reasons why they labeled it as the “coolest city in Europe” in 2009.
Berlin is not only the capital of Germany but the hub of techno music, avant-garde art and gourmet street food. It is a place for the creative soul, fashioning both a relaxed and energetic vibe. It’s a diverse metropolis, with an ingrained taste for change. With its youthful and tolerant mentality, Berlin leads the way in innovative design.
An excerpt from A creative’s guide to Berlin written by Alex Withers
Below is the table of the Demographics of residents living in Berlin (June 2018).
| Country | Population |
|---|---|
| Germany | 2,998,456 |
| Turkey | 98,046 |
| Poland | 57,109 |
| Syria | 34,445 |
| Italy | 29,912 |
| Bulgaria | 29,414 |
| Russia | 24,178 |
| Romania | 22,395 |
| United States | 20,222 |
| France | 19,664 |
| Serbia | 19,601 |
| Vietnam | 17,281 |
| United Kingdom | 15,898 |
| Spain | 14,683 |
| Greece | 14,401 |
| Croatia | 13,605 |
| Ukraine | 12,206 |
| Afghanistan | 12,080 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11,742 |
| Austria | 11,730 |
| China | 11,466 |
| Other Middle East and Asia | 76,868 |
| Other Europe | 75,688 |
| Africa | 31,771 |
| Other Americans | 23,114 |
| Oceania and Antarctica | 5,133 |
| Stateless or Unclear | 22,806 |
Aside from being a multi-cultural city in Germany, Berlin has also its history and European to post-modern architecture. There are lots of places to discover as a resident or a tourist. Tourists can visit the official website of Berlin: Tourism & Travel – Berlin, to check the set of information about their offers/services.
There are museums to visit such as the Jewish Museum, Bode Museum, Topography of Terror. Art galleries for art-enthusiast tourists such as Berlinische Galerie, Urban Nation, and other recommended galleries in the city. For a live game like escape room type of games, Berlin also has something like this to offer. They have The Room: Live Escape Game Berlin, Make a Break – Escape Room Berlin and other more!
Alexanderplatz is one of the famous Platz (place, plaza, lugar) in Berlin. A lot of shopping centers and commercial establishments like Alexa Centre, Primark, Saturn surrounding the platz. Performers are busking here and there with their instruments and gadgets being set up just to perform in the crowd. Nearby this platz is where we can also find the TV tower.
Historical landmarks like Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie are few of the perfect spots for tourists! Aside from it’s in the city center, you can walk, or do a bike tour with a group you’ll be with.
In the parts of Berlin where Spree and Havel rivers are connecting each town to the other, you can do river cruises and boat trips. Isn’t it nice and exciting?
Question # 2: How’s the weather in Berlin?
Berlin has both good and bad days. Sometimes I wake up with grey and cloudy sky during the day. I’d ask my husband, “Why does everything look so sad?” Then there are days, that my husband would poke me and say, “Look, there’s sunshine outside.” I’d see sun rays hitting the common bricked wall that connects to the neighbor’s balcony.
In the summer, the weather could be sunny and cloudy or grey. It rains, but only sometimes. I came here last summer, and I remember how good the temperature of the breeze when it hit me. The only problem was the humidity I felt during the day and night. We still had to turn on the fan while sleeping and then turn it off in the dawn. But summer is quite much more productive to go places here in Berlin or even going through borders when planning to do road trips. Months from March until September will be a good pick for tourists who’d like to travel here in Berlin. The sunset during the summer is 9-10 pm. You’ll enjoy your time spending your days here in Berlin during this season.
In the autumn, the weather temperature’s getting cold, but it still has the same weather, sunny, cloudy or rain. I can still remember when I told my husband how cold it was to me already. He didn’t feel it like I did. It was the first time I felt how cold Berlin is, even though it’s not yet winter. I already started wearing coats (not the warm and thick ones) and still feel very cold if I stay outside for too long. My husband and I used to go to the nearby park or even to the town proper just to walk as our daily exercise. It was cold, yes, but the idea of walking, talking, and having a conversation is what made us do it.
Better together. Together, the better. 
In the middle of the park, among other people. 
Nearby park during the autumn season. 
The site map of the park.
In the winter, everybody was wearing these winter jackets, bonnet hats, scarves, gloves, and high ankle boots. For me, it’s even colder than the first time I thought it was cold enough for me. I also started getting skin cracks on my hands, and even on my lips. I began washing my hands with lukewarm or warmer water and applying hand cream which made them healed just after days of doing it. Aside from the lower temperature, the daylight time saving has also been applied, as the hours of the daylight in some parts of Europe would be limited. The daylight will rise in 7-8 am and will set in 4-5 pm.
There are still several good days in Berlin, which you can see the sun shines in the city.
Question # 3: Is it expensive living there?
Yes, it is. In most cases, yes.
Apartment rents in Berlin would normally cost from €600 and above, monthly, but it’s really rare. Costs of apartment rents also vary in the location and spaces available. Like for example, some apartment would have kitchen counters, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, and some don’t. Though the average cost of rent per month is €1000, heating & water, electricity, parking space and WiFi included, if lucky enough to find a good one. There are old buildings, not so old, and new ones. Old buildings might convince you to take it as it’s cheaper but the heating might not be working very well. You have to be aware of choosing when hunting for an apartment. And, if you’re looking for a place to rent during your visit, short-stays or even moving in, you can go check available spaces on these websites: Booking.com, Airbnb or Homelike, Immobilien Scout24.
Monthly expenses for groceries for two people could go until €500. This includes the water, juice, fruits, ingredients for cooking meals, frozen stuff, bread, ham, cheese, milk, coffee beans (if you have a coffee machine), herbs and spices, and other more.
Weekly ticket for BVG or the public transportation would cost €34 in a particular zone, AB. Click here to see the fare hike since the beginning of 2020.
Meals outside can also be expensive per person. When you go to an ordinary restaurant, one-course-meal would cost a minimum of €4-€6. Other restaurants’ prices of their food are even more expensive. One cappuccino (decent coffee for us) would cost from a minimum of €3. A kebab or döner would cost a minimum of €3-€5. Burger with fries from Berlin Burger International (must try), would cost more than €10. McDonald’s might be cheap but it’s something my husband and I are avoiding as it’s crappy food for us, just being honest. Six pieces of 1 liter bottled water would cost an average of €6, which is good for almost half a week.
For clothing, you’ll find a nice top worth €10 and above when a shop is on sale. The original price would be twice or more. Warm jackets would cost a minimum of around €30. I bought mine from eBay Kleinanzeigen Berlin – a private selling platform for only €8. It was a short winter jacket but it’s warm so I’m satisfied with it. I also got a long jacket but not too warm for winter, unless I wear something thick pullover on the inside. I bought it from eBay for €20.
Also, in eBay Kleinanzeigen, you can also find interesting items for free or giveaway. You can find them in Zu verschenken category or the giveaway. There are items like furniture, shoes, clothes, appliances that people here living in Berlin, would be giving them away to others. It’s quite busy and/or competitive the person that’s going to take those free items though. The problem would be some of the appliances like washing machine might not be working anymore, and big items will also be a big problem when it comes to picking up.
Question #4: Do the people speak English?
I’ve been living here in Berlin for more than six months, and I still don’t know how to speak Deutsch (German language). Every time I have to ask someone, I have to ask them, “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” It means, “Do you speak English?” And if the person does, I’d be able to talk or ask him/her in English easily. I say “Danke” or “Vielen Dank” when saying “Thank you.” I know the basic greetings and friendly questions like “Wie gehts?” which means, “How are you?” Gut means good. Ciao or Tschuss when we greet “Good bye.”
Some people speak English, and some people don’t. Most elders don’t speak English. But since there are various nationalities of new immigrants living in Berlin, which some of them speak English.
Immigrants are still in need to learn the language because most companies or corporation they’re going to work for is speaking German.
I don’t know the main reason why but they don’t speak English.
One time in the meat section of a supermarket, I asked the butcher if he speaks English in German. He said, “No.” And then he added, his English is not good, but he’ll try. But as we were talking about the meat he’s selling, I completely understand what he’s saying. Though there are Germans I met who speaks English or a bit of it.
Question # 5: Rate Berlin from 1-10
I’d rate Berlin at 7. Why? Maybe because I still need to adapt further with the city. To be honest, I’m still adjusting with the climate, weather and learning the language.
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See you next time!
House of Vnyla 
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