Working in Berlin Germany
The capital and largest city in Germany, Berlin is located in the northeastern region of the country along the River Spree. The city has a population of about 3.2 million in its metropolitan area, which ranks in the top 10 in Europe.
Historical on a number of levels, since World War II the city is best known for the Berlin Wall which separated East Germany and West Germany. Since the Wall came down Berlin has re-established itself as the cultural and political centre of Germany and a vibrant city for its entire population. The city experiences an oceanic climate, with temperatures averaging about 24 °C at the peak of summer and dropping to about 3 °C during the middle of winter.
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Berlin has two primary airports – Tegel and Schönefeld. However, Berlin Brandenburg airport is currently under construction and is expected to replace both Schönefeld and Tegel in 2014 as Berlin’s single commercial airport
Currently, Tegel is Berlin’s main international airport and can be reached by an airbus service or train. It is located about 8km northwest of the city. Berlin’s smaller major airport – Schönefeld – sits about 18km south-east of central Berlin and is home to four terminals that cater for domestic and international travellers. Schönefeld can also be reached by an airbus service that leaves from several points around central Berlin.
Railway Station
Berlin Central Station
A modern structure opened in 2006, Berlin Central Station services almost all of Berlin’s extensive transport system. A smaller station, known as Lehrter Bahnhof, was formerly on the site of Berlin Central Station. The station handles about 300,000 passengers each day and is a fascinating facility where visitors will also find a supermarket and several shops and restaurants.
Transportation
Berlin has an extensive and efficient public transport system featuring outstanding bus, tram, train and underground services throughout the city. Most facilities also have directions marked in English to assist the large number of tourists and business travellers in the city.
The train system, known as the S-Bahn, is highly efficient and a quick way to navigate the city. Berlin’s underground system is called U-Bahn and also provides an efficient service for commuters. Certain areas of the city, mainly in East Berlin, are serviced by the tram system, while the city’s buses provide an extensive service to all parts of the city, including the outer suburban regions.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Berlin is average by western standards for expats. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $8.50 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $49.60 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $4.25 |
| Coke (330mL) | $2.80 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $0.85 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.60 |
| Eggs | $2.80 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $3.40 |
| Monthly pass | $109.10 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.30 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $710 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $1560 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $25 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $165 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $2510 |
Accommodation
As you would expect from a European capital, Berlin offers an extensive range of accommodation choices. Popular districts for accommodation in Berlin include: Mitte, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. In these areas there is a range of accommodation, from hostels for backpackers to luxurious hotels targeting tourists and visitors on business.
A few options to consider include:
Budget
Generator Berlin
PLUS Berlin
A&O Berlin Mitte
Mid-range
Bleibtreu Hotel
Atlanta Am Kurfürstendamm
Tom’s Hotel
High-end
The Ritz Carlton
Rocco Forte Berlin
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Shopping
Berlin provides excellent shopping facilities for buyers of all types. The main shopping areas in the city include Ku’Damm and Tauentzienstraße, while for up-market goods and services head to Friedrichstraße. There are several flea markets around Berlin for the shoppers after a bargain. These include: Straße des 17. Juni, Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg and Arkonaplatz. Shoppers will also find supermarkets at most of Berlin’s major railway stations.
Shopping runs over long hours in Berlin which was aided by Germany introducing federal liberalisation in the country. However, most stores and shopping centres will only operate between 9am and 9pm.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police 110
Ambulance & Fire 112
Australian Embassy, Berlin
Wallstrasse 76-79
10179 Berlin
Federal Republic of Germany
Telephone (49 30) 880 0880
Facsimile (49 30) 8800 88238
Website www.germany.embassy.gov.au