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🇩🇪 Germany · City guide

Moving to Berlin: Language & First Steps

Germany's startup and creative capital, and its biggest English-speaking expat scene — though the Bürgeramt still runs in German.

Living in Berlin

Most new arrivals head for Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Friedrichshain or Prenzlauer Berg, where the international scene is densest. English gets you far in tech and startups, but flat viewings, utility contracts and the Bürgeramt still run in German — and the Anmeldung appointment is notoriously hard to book, so start the moment you land.

To settle into Berlin you'll need German — and the practical kind: the Anmeldung — mandatory address registration at your local Bürgeramt, usually within 14 days of moving in, opening a bank account, and seeing a doctor. Here's what to do first and the phrases to learn.

Sources: Language Lab's German curriculum & culture notes; city/official processes vary — confirm with Berlin's local authority. · Join the beta →

What to do in your first week in Berlin?

1. Register your address / residency — the Anmeldung — mandatory address registration at your local Bürgeramt, usually within 14 days of moving in.
2. Open a local bank account so you can get paid and pay rent.
3. Register with a local doctor (GP) and sort health insurance.
4. Get a local SIM / mobile plan and set up any required digital ID.
5. Learn your transport options — tickets, passes and routes.

German phrasebooks for Berlin

For the full country picture, see our guide to moving to Germany.