Alert: Terrorism in Germany A terrorist attack has recently occurred in Berlin on a Christmas market. Tourists should take the usual precautions in large cities, but avoid crowded events.

Berlin

Germany’s capital and most vibrant city, Berlin is both the political, historical and cultural center of Germany. On the east side of Berlin, visit the remnants of the cold war with the Berlin wall-turned open air art gallery East Gallery, the famous Berghain club in an abandoned power plant or the graffiti-laden streets of Kreuzberg. The West offers more traditional landmarks and the Tiergarten, a huge park in the heart of the city. Although the city is very safe,  some areas attracts a lot of pickpockets and crooks who take advantage of the crowds on the city’s streets.

SafeAround will allow you to see on a map the city’s safest and most dangerous neighborhoods and areas, details on scams and other risks, as well as some useful travel advice.

SAFETY INDEX

See others cities in Germany

Warnings & Dangers

Mid Priority-96 OVERALL RISK : LOW

Berlin is a very safe city. With a rating of 86% Germany,  is ranked 14th out of 162 on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries.

Mid Priority-96 PICKPOCKETS RISK : MEDIUM

There is some pickpocket-related risk in Berlin. A few simple precautions will minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.

Mid Priority-96 MUGGING RISK : MEDIUM

Berlin is an averagely safe city regarding the chances of being mugged. Be aware of dangerous zones by asking local advice.

Mid Priority-96 SCAMS RISK : MEDIUM

As in any touristic place, there may be people trying to scam you in  Berlin. Be aware of “gold ring” tricks, fake petitions, groups of teenagers acting strangely or trying to distract you; and people offering help with your luggage.

Mid Priority-96 TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW

Transports and taxis are generally very safe in  Berlin.

Mid Priority-96 NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

There are no natural hazards in Berlin.

Mid Priority-96 TERRORISM RISK : HIGH

Berlin has recently been targeted by a terrorist attack during Christmas 2016. Be very careful when attending events with a lot of people, or in crowded streets.

Mid Priority-96 WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Berlin is generally very safe for women travelers.

Carte

WHAT TO DO?

Mitte

The historical centre of Berlin, as well as the headquarters of the former East Berlin, is full of iconic landmarks such as the Brandenburg Tor, the TV tower (Fernsenturm), along with restaurants, museums, art galleries and clubs . Pickpockets are an issue near Brandenburg Tor, the MuseumInsel and Alexanderplatz, which can be also a bit dangerous late at night.

The West

The neighborhoods of Charlottenburg, Schoneberg, Wilmersdorf, Tiergarten and Moabit make up the west side of Berlin, which is the shopping area with the large Ku’Damm street and department stores. It is mostly a residential and calm area. Pickpockets are known to operate on the Kurfürstendamm area and in the KaDeWE department store.

The East

Berlin’s most up-and-coming neighborhoods (Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg) are situated on the east side of the city. These areas are packed with bars, clubs, restaurants and open-street markets. There are traditional riots on the 1st of May (Labor Day) every year. Gorlitzer Park is best avoided at night since its the drug dealing area. Some areas in Neukolln and Kreuzberg have some increased risk of violence and robberies, but still very limited compared to other cities.

Useful Information

Visas are not usually required for stays under 90 days, and EU nationals (Schengen) can stay in the country as long as they want. Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to the country you’re visiting. www.doyouneedvisa.com is a useful website that can help you know if you need a visa or not based on your nationality and the country you’re visiting.
The currency in Germany and most of Europe is the Euro. Germany is cheaper than other European countries, but the costs can add up in the main cities. Allow a budget of at least 60€ per day including accommodation.
The weather in Germany is colder than France and Spain, especially around Berlin. The best time to visit is around summer (June-September), although major cities can be visited year-long (days can be short in the middle of winter in Berlin).
The main international airports are in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Cologne If you’re looking fore cheap flight deals, you can find some on JetRadar
As in any country, we advise travelers to get a travel insurance that covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of personal items. Learn more on our travel insurance page