Life in Berlin
With a cost of living lower than capitals like London or Paris and home to some of the most iconic cultural institutions globally, Berlin is a city that lets creatives work hard and play even harder.
Are you ready to get stuck in?
Berlin’s history makes living in this city incredibly unique. Walk anywhere in this city and you will see old and new standing side-by-side – and sometimes even becoming one.
The most famous example of history and modernity coming together can be found at East Side Gallery, just across the bridge from our House of Music facilities. Once part of the wall that divided Berlin in two during the Cold War, East Side Gallery is now the world’s longest open-air gallery.
Walk along it, spend time admiring the incredible art pieces and become immersed in what makes this city like no other.
Berlin may be most famous for being the place where techno seeped from the underground scene to the mainstream but every music genre imaginable pulses, lives and breathes here today. No matter your taste in music, Berlin caters to every single taste across venues and festivals large and small.
The city also embraces up-and-coming talent with plenty of opportunities to perform at iconic venues across the city. And if you’re looking to test out a new track on a willing audience, there are plenty of open mic nights to get involved with.
From the development of one of the most important cinematic aesthetics of the 20th century – German Expressionism – to the vast numbers of directors, cinematographers and actors that have filmed at iconic locations in the city, Berlin has a long history of being one of the world’s most important cities for film.
For aspiring filmmakers, inspiration and platforms to present your cinematic creations are never in short supply. And with a host of film festivals taking place throughout the year and an abundance of cinemas, film lovers have a wealth of opportunities to find their next favourite film.
We’re definitely biased but Berlin boasts some of the best nightlife in the world. Particularly famous for techno, clubs in Berlin are true institutions in the city. With a rave tradition that stems from the end of the Cold War, the city regularly draws huge names from the electronic scene to venues big and small.
For those who prefer something a little more lowkey, Berlin also offers thousands of bars and pubs where you can spend an evening with friends and settle into the city’s vibrant nightlife community.
Whatever your style, whatever your budget, Berlin has a shopping destination for you. With prime shopping locations spread throughout the city, you will always be able to find what you need.
From sprawling shopping centres to tiny boutique shops, browsing what’s on offer is a perfect daytime activity, come rain or shine.
Whatever your food of choice, Berlin is sure to deliver. With restaurants, cafés and delis in the city offering mouth-watering cuisine from all corners of the globe, Berliners are truly spoilt for choice. If you can think of it, Berlin’s got it!
And if you’re veggie or vegan, you’re in luck. Berlin is renowned for its plant-based offerings, so you will never be short of options.
Berlin is a very easy city to navigate. With a well-connected public transport network, cyclist-friendly streets, plenty of taxis and international airport, you will never be stuck for ways of getting from A to B.
Bike
Cycling is one of the most popular ways to get round Berlin. Not only is it one of the cheapest modes of transport in the city – especially if you have your own bike – it is also the best way to get to know the city in depth. Cycling from West to East Berlin is a real experience, allowing you to soak up some of Berlin’s history, sights and fashion choices!
A fun activity to do is also to cycle the Mauerweg: a circular trail that traces where the Berlin Wall once stood.
Berlin is also well-equipped for its cycling population with kilometres upon kilometres of cycle lanes and many streets where bikes take priority!
Public transport
Probably one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city, public transport is a great option for getting round Berlin. In fact, public transport is so simple here, that you can use your ticket on trains, trams, buses and the metro.
One of the most cost-friendly ways of using public transport is to buy a monthly or annual travel pass, giving you unlimited access to the transport network.
Taxis
There are more than 7,000 taxis in Berlin, all identifiable by their beige colouring. It’s worth knowing that Berlin taxis have a special low fare (six euros) for distances of less than two kilometres. Just tell the driver you want to pay a ‘Kurzstrecke’.
Alternatively, you could also opt for services like Uber or Bolt, where you can order rides through their dedicated apps.
Trains out of Berlin
Hauptbahnhof is the central train station in Berlin and connects you to the other major cities in Germany.
Plane
The Berlin Brandenburg airport is Berlin’s only airport and offers flights both nationally and internationally with a host of airlines.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding Berlin student life or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM University Berlin, please contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0) 30 311 99 186 or email admissions@bimm-institute.de.
