Create meetup in Berlinchevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
wants to eat something at fmd_goodPizza Vita
want to meet at fmd_good Central Mall
wants to browse a market at fmd_goodCentral Mall
wants to browse a market at fmd_goodCentral Mall
wants to browse a market at fmd_goodCentral Mall
want to meet at fmd_good Route 9 Diner
wants to eat something at fmd_goodRoute 9 Diner
wants to eat something at fmd_goodRoute 9 Diner
explore Berlin Guides
bar_chart Trends in Berlin
People who moved from the UK/on a British passport?
I lived in Berlin for a bit as an au pair (you might have seen my previous post!). Things were tricky visa wise, and I can't really stay in Berlin and… Apologies if this is better suited elsewhere...
I lived in Berlin for a bit as an au pair (you might have seen my previous post!). Things were tricky visa wise, and I can't really stay in Berlin and get a job so easily on a UK passport. I met/overheard a fair few English people in the city though! I'm curious to know if there are any on here who intentionally wanted to move to Berlin, and how I can go about it (re. Sponsorship etc).
I have to finish my undergrad here in London, but after that I'd love to move back.
(I have received a lot of hatred in my DMs when I posted something like this before - I realise I'm a part of the problem when wanting to move to Berlin, but it's the same in London where I am from, and London is god awful expensive ;( )
honestly the brits i know here mostly got here through one of three routes: a company transfer, a blue card through a skilled job (tech is the obvious one), or they married a german. the sponsorship route is real but it's a pain because most employers don't want to deal with the ausländerbehörde paperwork unless you're in a field where they can't find someone locally. if you're finishing undergrad in london, look into the "chancenkarte" thing that's supposed to launch soon, it's basically a points-based jobseeker visa for people who aren't eu citizens. also worth checking if your degree qualifies you for a 6-month jobseeker visa after graduation, that's how a friend of mine got her foot in the door at a startup near alexanderplatz
ngl the blue card salary threshold is the real gatekeeper here. for 2025 it's like 43k euros for most fields and 39k for shortage occupations like engineering or IT. if you're not in those fields it's tough but not impossible
one thing nobody mentions is the freelancer visa. if you've got any kind of remote client work or can line up a few german clients before you move, it's surprisingly doable. you need proof of income and a good reason for being in berlin specifically. i know a graphic designer and a writer who both got it. the ausländerbehörde at friedrich-krause-ufer is a nightmare but the freelancer route is way less competitive than finding a company to sponsor you
also check if your uni has any exchange programs or partnerships with berlin universities. even a semester abroad can get you a foot in the door with the job market here. the studentenwerk runs some cheap housing near the ringbahn that's way easier to get than the general market
yeah the tech route is def the most common one i've seen, but also a bunch of people i know got in through doing a masters here first - tuition is basically free compared to the UK and it buys you time to network and find a job that'll sponsor you. if you're finishing undergrad in london, maybe look into a masters at like FU or TU Berlin, gives you a student visa and a foot in the door with the job market after
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously