January 2018
Berlin Guide
by
Club GLOBALS
edition 2
January 2018
Index Welcome to Berlin Register in Berlin
2 3
What To Bring To Your Appointment Register with AiRelo
4 5 7 8 9
Language Finding an Apartment Public Transport U-bahn Map Museums & Memorials Lunch
10 11
Dinner in Berlin Bars & Nightlife
12 13 14
Entertainment Co-Working Spaces Apps for Networking Social Media Groups Impression Events 2017 Upcoming Events 2018
15 16 17 18 19 24
January 2018
Why did we write a second city guide? Berlin is constantly evolving and undergoing renovations, it can be hard to keep track of it all. That's why we wrote a second edition city guide - to help you, the newcomer, feel welcome and comfortable in this exciting city! We want to connect you with our solutioners, invite you to events to meet new friends and help you learn about this amazing city you call home. So sit back and enjoy this second edition with loads of insider tips and useful resources. The GLOBALS Team wishes you loads of fun discovering Berlin. Have a wonderful 2018!
1
January 2018
Welcome to Berlin!
With more than 3.5 million inhabitants, Berlin is not only Germany's biggest city, but also its most controversial. This cosmopolitan metropolis is home to the biggest Turkish community outside Istanbul, the biggest jewish neighbourhood outside Tel Aviv, and of course Berlin is the biggest city in Europe with the most amazing Techno DJs!
City: Berlin (Germany) Inhabitants: 3,502 million Surface: almost 892 km2 Mayor: Michael Müller Districts: 12 Area code: +49 30
Berlin is a place to be proud of these days! A city with a long history, it was founded in 1307 out of many little villages. It has survived two world wars which left many scars that can still be seen in many parts of the city today.
2
January 2018
Register in Berlin
DIE ANMELDUNG When you are moving to Berlin and plan to stay longer than 6 months in the city, you are required to register your address with something called the "Anmeldung". In some situations, you might have to do it if you stay less than 6 months, for example, if you want to open a bank account or work here. ‘’Die Anmeldung’’ is an administrative burden that requires loads of paperwork. and if it is not planned carefully it can be very time consuming. So how can one quickly complete this boring but necessary process? First of all, you need to know that you can register in every "Bürgeramt" in all the different districts. You can make an appointment by phone (155) or you can make one online. Try to avoid going to the "Bürgeramt" without an appointment, as there is a high risk you can not get an open slot or you might have to wait the whole day!
OTHER TIPS You can cancel your appointment. It is better to have an appointment, even far in time, and change it afterwards that to be waiting the whole time to have a free convenient spot. If you are in a hurry to have the anmeldung, in some offices you can go without an appointment when they first open. Therefore, each bürgeramg works independent, make sure the one you are going is one of them.
3
January 2018
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT 1. A valid passport or identification card. If someone is going on your behalf, then the person needs to present a letter of authorization together with their passport or identity card 2. If you obtained a VISA for entering to the country, don’t forget it 3. A written and signed confirmation letter by your landlord or the owner of the property. This is called “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” 4. The Anmeldung form filled out and signed in German 5. The rental agreement is not always necessary, but bring a copy just in case 6. If you have family, remember to bring the Marriage and birth certificates (both documents translated in German) 7. Additionally, if you do not want your personal information to be shared with other public institutions, then you need to present a “Restricting Information Disclosure”
4
January 2018
Register with AiRelo To help you complete the Anmeldung process, we created AiRelo a Facebook messenger chatbot that fills out the form for you!
AIRELO Now that you know how to get your appointment, let's focus on the paperwork. Unfortunately, the registration form is only available in German. To simplify your life and make your arrival a little more pleasant, we at Club GLOBALS had an amazing idea. This year, we developed AiRelo - a messenger bot on Facebook that helps you complete the "Anmeldung" form. It requires no apps, no downloads, and no signups. All you have to do is chat with AiRelo on Facebook messenger. Simply select your language, your city, take a picture of your passport and/or answer some simple questions to get the city registration form filled out and validated in the local language - and voilà! Your form is filled out and ready to take to the Bürgeramt.
For more information, check out our blog post: "Things to know about the Anmeldung in Berlin"
5
January 2018
MONEY If you want to facilitate your money transfers for things like paying the rent, health insurance, phone service, etc. then you should open a bank account in Berlin. Also your employer will require a German bank account to pay your salary, because international transfers can be very expensive. If you are looking for the right bank, you should check for the ''Deutsche Bank'' and "N26", an online bank that allows you to open an account in only 8 minutes. Another online bank without commissions is "Consorbank".
HEALTH INSURANCE In Germany, you can either get public or private health insurance. Whatever you choose, you must know that it is required to be insured in Germany, much like many other countries. When you are working in Germany and you are subject to social insurance contributions, you need to select a health insurance provider, the so-called "Krankenkasse". Your employer pays half of your health insurance, the total amount of your health insurance fee depends on your income. Once you have your insurance you can go to any doctor you want or need. Take a look at ''Kassenartzliche vereinigung Berlin." In the doctors’ directory, you will find almost all doctors active in Berlin, along with information about their professional qualifications. You can also use the advanced search with more search keywords like foreign languages they speak.
TAXES Germany is infamous for the giant tax law collection that can cause obstacles not only for locals, but foreigners too. So let us give you some basics: the taxes you have to pay will be automatically deducted from your paycheck every month. You will receive your tax id number at the address you registered approximately two weeks after the Anmeldung. At the end of the year, you will be able to declare your personal income and might be able to recover some of the earlier paid taxes. Check out our solutioner page for tax declaration services. These businesses are very qualified to help you with your tax declaration, aka: the "Steuererklärung."
6
January 2018
Language
A smart thing you can do before you go to the Bürgeramt is learn some German sentences. The people in Berlin are very kind, and there will always be somebody to help you with translation, but we recommend bringing someone to the Bürgeramt who speaks German. Berlin also offers a wide variety of ways to learn German on a budget. You can check out the Volkshochschule, which is the cheapest and most recommended school for getting daily language skills. You can also try Tandem - where you meet and hang out with locals to improve your skills. There are also plenty of private language schools, with more flexible schedules and prices. Berlasco Language School, is one of them, very centrally located in Berlin.
English Hello Good morning How are you? I’m doing well What is your name? My name is…. Do you speak English? Thank you I am sorry (excuse me) I do not speak German How much is it? May I have the bill please? Where are the toilets? Where is the Hospital? I’m allergic to…. I have been robbed I do not understand? Cheers Bless you I love you
German Hallo Guten Morgen Wie geht es Ihnen / Wie geht’s Mir geht’s gut / es geht gut Wie ist Ihr Name? Mein Name ist…... Sprechen Sie Englisch? Danke Entschuldigung Ich spreche kein Deutsch Wie viel kostet es? Darf ich die Rechnung haben? Wo sind die Toiletten Wo ist das Krankenhaus Ich bin allergisch….. Ich wurde ausgeraubt Ich verstehe nicht Prost Gesundheit Ich liebe dich
7
January 2018
Finding an Apartment Finding a place to live can be a hassle. It can sometimes take months to find a good fit. Luckily, we found some great websites to help you out!
Abbreviations 3 Zi.-Whg Untermieten WG zzgl. NK Abstand DG NB EG EBK K KM WM NR
Three room apartment Sublet Shared flat Plus extra charges Partially furnished Loft apartment Relatively new building Ground floor Built-in kitchen Deposit Cold Rent Warm Rent (Cold rent + costs) Non-smokers
Useful Websites W-G Gesucht www.wg-gesucht.de Woloho (Weekly Newsletter) www.woloho.com City Wohnen www.city-wohnen.de Housy www.housy.de/en
8
January 2018
Public Transport Berlin's Public Transport is one of best and most efficient in Europe. You can take the U-Bahn, SBahn, the bus or tram to get where you need to go!
In Berlin, you can take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to get to any place you want. There are also many buses and trams. Berlin is divided into three zones: A, B and C. Zone A is the middle and the center of Berlin, Zone B is around the center and C is a little out of town, (for example, Potsdam is in Zone C). Here, you can find the complete route network of Berlin Traveling with the public transportation in Berlin is a good way to get around. You can buy tickets for the whole month, a week, one day, 4 trips, or a single trip. Find prices for all tickets here Get help moving around by downloading one of the travel apps in Berlin like BVG FahrInfo or Google Maps will also do it. And most importantly, don't forget to validate your ticket!
9
January 2018
10
MUSEUMS & MEMORIALS OF BERLIN January 2018
Jewish Memorial An incredibly moving memorial to honor the thousands of Jewish lives lost in the war. Located at Cora-Berliner-Straße 1
Free Tours Are you short on cash but eager to see all of Berlin at once? Take a free tour! You can see everything from the modern Alexanderplatz to the rustic and historic Berlin wall, and everything in between! Tours occur every hour and donations are accepted at the end. Book a tour now at Neweuropetours.eu
THE STORY OF BERLIN In this museum you will learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the history of Berlin. You can find the museum in an old bunker that was used in WW2
Museminsel - Museum Island Containing 5 different art museums, you can feel the peace on the island surrounded by the noises of the big city. You can visit the Alte Nationalgalerie, Altes Museum, Bode-Museum, Neues Museum, or the Pergamonmuseum.
11
January 2017
BRŁO Brwhouse Craft beer with a massive gourmet restaurant Schöneberger Str. 16 Wild Kuche Wonderful Australian coffee and delicious vegan food! Graefestrasse 8 Hamy Cheap, fast, and incredibly scrumptious - this small Vietnamese spot is not to be missed. Be sure to arrive early so you can get a seat! Hasenheide 10
Foooooood! We love food, especially in Berlin. On every corner you'll find amazing international cuisine from all over. Kebab, pizza, currywurst, sandwiches, sweets and so much more! You can't go wrong!
Lunch Vertikal A classy new lunch joint serving tasty multi-cultural cuisine. Located in Kreuzberg at Reichenbergerstr. 86
12
January 2018
Dinner in Berlin Mrs. Robinson's
Horvarth
One of Berlin's best casual fine dining spots serving delicious Asian fusion Cuisine. Give them a try at Pappelallee Strasse 29
This restaurant has one Michelin star! A very chic place with a great wine list! You can find them at Paul-Lincke-Ufer 44A.
Lode & Stijn
Omoni
A creative an unpretentious new restaurant with an extensive, vegetable-focused menu. Try it in Kreuzberg at Lausitzer Straße 25 Cocolo
Try this hidden gem in Berlin's Prenzlaurberg neighborhood. The Japanese-Korean fusion menu will blow your mind! Kopenhagenerst. 14
Deemed "the Berlin Ramen Champion," this Mitte hotspot serves several varieties of the best Japanese Ramen in Berlin. Gipsstr. 3
13
January 2018
Bars & Nightlife Tausend
Vagabund
An exclusive, hidden gem for Berlin's upper class. Look for an unmarked iron door in mitte and try their innovative cocktails. Schiffbauerdamm 11
Enjoy the finest craft beer in Berlin! They've got the best American style IPA's in the city. Antwerpener Str. 3
Prater (Biergarten) A large and welcoming biergarten for parties of all sizes. Try their delicious pretzels and signature biers! Located in Prenzlauer berg, Kastanienallee 7-9 Schwarze Traube A cozy cocktail den fit for a pleasurable and casual evening. Wrangelstrasse 24
Fragrances Located in the astounding Ritz Carlton, this enchanting bar serves cocktails inspired by designer perfumes. Located in Potsdamer Platz 3 Solar A charming rooftop bar with 360 degree views of the city! Located in the heart of Kreuzberg, take the glass lift up at Stresemannstraße 76
14
Entertainment
January 2018
Deriva Bar
Prachtwerk
This cool bar in Neukolln has an event called "Chuckleheads" - an english comedy night typically on Thursdays at 8pm. It's hilarious and free! Mainzer Str. 23
This spacious and charming bar in Neukolln has a massive stage with weekly live music events. It's the perfect place to discover the sounds of the city! Ganghoferstr. 2
Berlin Extra Hot & Spicy This recurring comedy night held at theatre Distel takes you through Berlin's past and present, and the do's and don'ts of being a true Berliner in an brutally honest and funny way.
Kallasch & Moabiter Barprojekt This cozy bar has a wide range of events happening every night, like concerts, jam sessions, musical bingo, poetry readings, and movie screenings! Unionstraße 2
Located in the Kabarett Theater Distel at Friedrichstrasse 101 www.berlinextraspicy.eu
15
Co-working spaces in Berlin Working in Berlin is a great experience. As a freelancer, you can find many co-working spaces to concentrate on your work without interruptions.
Unicorn Berlin 3 locations in Berlin An innovative coworking spaces with minimalistic design. Offers 30 workspaces, meeting rooms and an event space for up to 170 people. They also have a location in Mitte which is a coworking space and café in one. www.unicorn.berlin Coworkies Explore co-working everywhere! It's an online community that connects like-minded workers with local co-working spaces, useful networks, and job opportunities Available in 10 cities with numerous local locations. Find your space today! www.coworkies.com WeWork 2 locations in Berlin (Mitte) An inspiring workspace in an inspiring area Take a loot at: wework.com/l/berlin Ahoy Berlin Wattstraße 11, 13355 Berlin (Mitte) U-bahn; U8 nach Hermannstraße At Ahoy, you can work in a very nice and cozy atmosphere! As you can see on their website ‘’ Berlin is a space for coworking and innovation’’ You can find more information about Ahoy at www.ahoyberlin.com ESDIP Berlin Grünberger Straße 48 B, 10245 Berlin A pet-friendly coworking space with an industrial style. Ideal for artists, designers, programmers or any other creatives. ESDIP wants to keep it small and not too crowded. The last Friday every month they have a free coworking day, it’s a great networking opportunity so try it out! www.esdipberlin.com/
Learn more about Co-working spaces in Berlin from our blog
16
January 2018
Apps for networking Finally you've arrived in Berlin! Do you want to explore on your own, or are you looking for some company? Maybe you want to attend events to meet people? There is an app for everything!
eTing eTing is an event networking and matching app that connects you with conferences, fairs, exhibitions, and people! You can login with your LinkedIn account. Then you'll be able to see all the people who are coming to the next event you're going to. You can view everybody who will be there and what they do. If you are interested in this person you can swipe right. If you match with a person, you can start a chat and see each other at the next event. You can also use the app as an event guide for your customers.
One Coworking This unique app gives you access to a variety of coworking spaces in several cities, with only one membership! You no longer have to switch between memberships for the coworking space of your choice, you and your team can work at any of their locations. You also get access to their vast global network of partners and potential customers, so you can generate new leads and boost revenue while you work!
Shapr You can login by LinkedIn or by using your email. After login you have to click on your 10 favorite interests. Shapr uses this information to give you connections. You can swipe right if you want to meet the person and you can swipe left if you are not sure. The next day they will come back as a suggestion. So you won't have to stress if you made a mistake! Get in touch with inspiring people and shape your life.
But obviously do not forget Facebook, Eventbrite, LinkedIN and Meetup. These are the best and most popular apps out there!
17
19
January 2018
Social Media Groups +Expats in Berlin+ Make Friends in Berlin Expats Club Berlin Berlin Expat Performers Network New in Berlin International Students in Berlin Pages Expats Berlin Expats Berlin (for internationals living in Berlin) Expats club Berlin i heart berlin Newsletters Savoteur Berlin WOLOHO (Workletter) Berlin international (intmig) Startup Digest Berlin Tagesspiegel Checkpoint Tech Berlin Berlin Valley
Instagram accounts @berlinstagram @berlinfoodstories @berlin @berlinpage @berlinstyle @berlingraphie @berlinerpost @berlin_gram @berlin_bigcity @clubglobals
Blogs Settle-in-Berlin Still-in-Berlin English Man in Berlin The Legal Guide to Germany Finding Berlin Cheryl Howard
18
AiRelo Launch in NYC https://clubglobals.com/airelo-official-launch/
14
StartUp Connect 2017 https://clubglobals.com/events/startup-connect-berlin/
14
Startup Night 5th Edition https://clubglobals.com/startupnight-5th-edition-berlin/
13
Startup Jobs FairÂ
https://clubglobals.com/the-startup-jobs-fair-an-event-organized-by-club-globals-germany-startup-jobs/
15
Smart Urban Future - TEP Conference https://clubglobals.com/smart-urban-future-tep107/
16
Upcoming events 2018 WiForum - 6 December Startup Connect Berlin - 7 March ITB - 8-12 March Start Summit - 15 March Noah - 6-7 June Tech Open Air - 12-14 July IFA - 31 August - 5 September Zukunft Personal - 11-13 September Tech Crunch Disrupt - 4-5 December
24
Second Edition Copyright by G1OBALS GmbH
Written by:
Disclaimer: Even careful checking is done, G1OBALS GmbH is not responsible for the content accuracy and external links