Another Neukoelln Berlin Locals post, it's interesting to read the contrast between people's experiences in the same neighbourhoods.
Which Kiez or neighbourhood of Berlin do you & your family live in?
Neukölln
How long have you been living there?
1,5 years
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
I live next to Köllnische Heide and I love the amount of nature around. The mauerweg is beautiful. There is a forest at the end of dammweg where we go to have walks and during the summer there is a plansche that is free and so much fun. Treptower park is also really nice to hang out and just for relaxed walks we go to check the kleingartens that people have in both sides of dammweg between sonnenallee and kiefholzstrasse. I also love that even though we live with extreme peacefullness here, there is life just around the corner in Sonnenallee and Karl Marx Str. U-Bahn is just next to us and I really love the public transportation of Berlin.
Are there any aspects you don’t like about your neighbourhood?
I suppose it´s everywhere in Berlin, but I feel that people really struggle around here, they are angry and it shows in everything. But for me the amount of trash everywhere is kind of a trademark of Berlin in whole I suppose, and that would be nice to get a bit under control.
Where do you most like to go in your neighbourhood during the Spring / Summer months with the kids?
We have everything that just wakes up for summer, the Mauerweg, Plansche im Plänterwald, Tempelhofer feld, Treptower park, the whole area next to Spree is great, next to us is this beautiful park called Von-der-Schulenburg where there is also a kids playground with a theme from the brothers Grimm. Körnerpark and that area is also so nice. It´s more of a case of too much choices than a case of what to do.
Where do you most like to go in your neighbourhood during the Autumn / Winter months with the kids?
In the winter the days are soooo short, but we go throw rocks at the frozen river, or have a walk in the park. Weekends we usually go one day or another into the stadtbad schöneberg which we love! there aren´t any kindercafés near us, but the turkish are so child friendly that sometimes we go to one of their places for a dinner in Sonnenallee or Karl-Marx-Str. we also go to turner in weserstrasse every monday during winter, in the Rütli.
Are you aware of many other international families living in your neighbourhood?
It is really diverse in neukölln. We know a polish, spanish, indian, other scandinavian families in close distance.
Do you think your neighbourhood is suitable for families who can’t yet speak German?
For me, here it´s not easy without german language. I came to berlin with really limited German and have gotten better and better because it´s so crucial. Even with the diversity, german is mostly the most common language I use, also because me and everyone around me need to learn it. In this area, no school, kindergarten, doctor etc. can be relied to speak english so one just has to get over being shy and start with as bad german as possible and move from there. To the credit of Germans, they really support and try and understand… sometimes.
Is it easy to get around your neighbourhood with public transport or is having a car more vital where you live?
I have a car, but use public transport, because it´s so good! and biking!
What is the quality of playgrounds in your neighbourhood and do you have a favourite?
We love the one next to us Von-der-Schulenburg Park! It is a bit trashy and written all over by the youth, but still it´s great! If we want a change we go to Weichselplatz, which is our old neighbourhood and at summertime soooo great, theres a cafe nearby and the feeling is like being in a festival! Körnerpark is also great and then thomashöhe has a park that is great. The whole richardplatz area is unbeliavably great and atmospheric.
Did you find it easy to attain a suitable childcare spot in your neighbourhood?
I haven´t looked around because my son had a place in bergmannkiez before we moved here and he loved the place so much i couldn't dream of changing it, but the area between sonnenallee and hermannstrasse and the other direction saalestrasse to thomasstrasse seems to be filled with kitas that I feel seem nice and earthy.
Are there any bilingual schools / kitas in your vicinity?
No. This is not the area for that. There is one there and another elsewhere,these are exeptions, but usually it´s more about everybody trying to fit in, than to try and be bilingual or let alone embrace it.
Do you have a favourite child-friendly restaurant or cafe nearby?
We live next to one called La Terrazza, but other than that, no.
Can you describe your neighbourhood in five words / adjectives?
Colourfull, poor, natur-friendly, quiet, beautiful.
Do you have any tips for a family considering a move to your neighbourhood?
Be strong, be open, enjoy. Don´t get afraid of people who seem to be unfriendly and harsh, it´s a different culture.
Neukölln
How long have you been living there?
1,5 years
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
I live next to Köllnische Heide and I love the amount of nature around. The mauerweg is beautiful. There is a forest at the end of dammweg where we go to have walks and during the summer there is a plansche that is free and so much fun. Treptower park is also really nice to hang out and just for relaxed walks we go to check the kleingartens that people have in both sides of dammweg between sonnenallee and kiefholzstrasse. I also love that even though we live with extreme peacefullness here, there is life just around the corner in Sonnenallee and Karl Marx Str. U-Bahn is just next to us and I really love the public transportation of Berlin.
Are there any aspects you don’t like about your neighbourhood?
I suppose it´s everywhere in Berlin, but I feel that people really struggle around here, they are angry and it shows in everything. But for me the amount of trash everywhere is kind of a trademark of Berlin in whole I suppose, and that would be nice to get a bit under control.
Where do you most like to go in your neighbourhood during the Spring / Summer months with the kids?
We have everything that just wakes up for summer, the Mauerweg, Plansche im Plänterwald, Tempelhofer feld, Treptower park, the whole area next to Spree is great, next to us is this beautiful park called Von-der-Schulenburg where there is also a kids playground with a theme from the brothers Grimm. Körnerpark and that area is also so nice. It´s more of a case of too much choices than a case of what to do.
Where do you most like to go in your neighbourhood during the Autumn / Winter months with the kids?
In the winter the days are soooo short, but we go throw rocks at the frozen river, or have a walk in the park. Weekends we usually go one day or another into the stadtbad schöneberg which we love! there aren´t any kindercafés near us, but the turkish are so child friendly that sometimes we go to one of their places for a dinner in Sonnenallee or Karl-Marx-Str. we also go to turner in weserstrasse every monday during winter, in the Rütli.
Are you aware of many other international families living in your neighbourhood?
It is really diverse in neukölln. We know a polish, spanish, indian, other scandinavian families in close distance.
Do you think your neighbourhood is suitable for families who can’t yet speak German?
For me, here it´s not easy without german language. I came to berlin with really limited German and have gotten better and better because it´s so crucial. Even with the diversity, german is mostly the most common language I use, also because me and everyone around me need to learn it. In this area, no school, kindergarten, doctor etc. can be relied to speak english so one just has to get over being shy and start with as bad german as possible and move from there. To the credit of Germans, they really support and try and understand… sometimes.
Is it easy to get around your neighbourhood with public transport or is having a car more vital where you live?
I have a car, but use public transport, because it´s so good! and biking!
What is the quality of playgrounds in your neighbourhood and do you have a favourite?
We love the one next to us Von-der-Schulenburg Park! It is a bit trashy and written all over by the youth, but still it´s great! If we want a change we go to Weichselplatz, which is our old neighbourhood and at summertime soooo great, theres a cafe nearby and the feeling is like being in a festival! Körnerpark is also great and then thomashöhe has a park that is great. The whole richardplatz area is unbeliavably great and atmospheric.
Did you find it easy to attain a suitable childcare spot in your neighbourhood?
I haven´t looked around because my son had a place in bergmannkiez before we moved here and he loved the place so much i couldn't dream of changing it, but the area between sonnenallee and hermannstrasse and the other direction saalestrasse to thomasstrasse seems to be filled with kitas that I feel seem nice and earthy.
Are there any bilingual schools / kitas in your vicinity?
No. This is not the area for that. There is one there and another elsewhere,these are exeptions, but usually it´s more about everybody trying to fit in, than to try and be bilingual or let alone embrace it.
Do you have a favourite child-friendly restaurant or cafe nearby?
We live next to one called La Terrazza, but other than that, no.
Can you describe your neighbourhood in five words / adjectives?
Colourfull, poor, natur-friendly, quiet, beautiful.
Do you have any tips for a family considering a move to your neighbourhood?
Be strong, be open, enjoy. Don´t get afraid of people who seem to be unfriendly and harsh, it´s a different culture.
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the Berlin Locals Series, get in touch
Regular tips and information is also shared on the Berlin for all the Family Facebook page
Sign up to the BFATF email newsletter to receive the latest posts
direct in your inbox here.
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