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What qualifies as a "visitor" or "guest" to my apartment?
1) Does this refer to 6-8 weeks in a year? Or rather, 6-8 weeks consecutively?
2) Do I need to tell my landlord about this?
3) My friend wants to reimburse me for this. Is it better that I simply get the landlord's permission and sign a contract if I want to accept reimbursement?
4) If I sign a contract, it can either written up as he is living with me (roommate), or as a sublease. Is there a difference between the two that I should know about? Which should I choose?
Thank you.
The 6-8 weeks is generally consecutive, not per year, but German rental law doesn't have a hard number written down. Most landlords and courts consider anything over 6 weeks as establishing a "Dauerwohnrecht" which gives the guest tenant-like protections.
You should tell your landlord if the friend is staying more than 4 weeks total, even if they keep their other registration. If you don't, it could be considered a breach of your contract if your landlord finds out from the Hausverwaltung or neighbors.
If your friend reimburses you without a contract, that's legally a "Gefälligkeitszahlung" and fine for short stays, but for regular 2-week visits each month it looks like a rental relationship to the landlord. A proper Untermietvertrag makes everything clean and protects both of you.
For the contract type, you want a "Zeitmietvertrag für Untermiete" rather than a generic roommate agreement. That way you get the deposit handled properly and the exact dates are written down. It also makes it clear your friend is a subtenant with limited rights, not a permanent co-tenant who could refuse to leave.
yeah the 6-8 weeks thing is per stay, not per year, so if your friend is here 1-2 weeks every month that's basically half the year and definitely not a visitor situation anymore. most landlords in berlin have a clause in the contract about long-term guests, and regular monthly visits will count as that pretty quickly.
for the money thing, honestly if you want to keep it above board you should talk to your landlord. berlin landlords can be weird about this but many are fine with a sublet if you frame it right. a proper untermietvertrag is the way to go, it protects both of you and makes it clear your friend isn't a permanent tenant. just check your lease first for any verbot of subletting.
the difference between "mitbewohner" and "untermieter" is mostly legal - as a roommate they'd have the same rights as you which could get messy if things go south. subtenant is cleaner, they're renting from you not the landlord. also your friend already has their anmeldung sorted so that simplifies things a lot, you don't have to deal with the bürgeramt headache
The 6-8 week rule is about consecutive stays, not cumulative over a year. So if your friend is here for two weeks at a time with gaps in between, that's fine as long as each individual stay doesn't stretch past that window. Landlords in Berlin usually care about someone establishing residency and getting Anmeldung, which your friend already has elsewhere, so you're in a better spot.
You don't technically have to tell your landlord for short-term guests, but if your friend is here for a full week or two every month, that starts to look less like a visitor and more like a regular occupant. Some landlords in Berlin are strict about this, especially with the newer contracts that have a Zweckentfremdungsverbot clause. If you want to take money from your friend, you should absolutely get written permission first, because accepting rent without a proper sublease agreement can be grounds for a Kündigung.
A sublease (Untermietvertrag) is the cleaner option here. It makes it clear that your friend is a temporary tenant with defined rights and you're the Hauptmieter. Calling them a roommate in a contract can blur things legally and might give them more protections than either of you want. Just keep the sublease specific to the dates they're actually staying, and don't try to cover the whole month if they're only there half of it.
Best Food in Berlin (2026)
Begin your culinary journey at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, a historic market hall buzzing with food stalls. Open Thursday to Saturday, it's the perfect spot to sample everythin… 🍽️ Where to Start
Begin your culinary journey at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, a historic market hall buzzing with food stalls. Open Thursday to Saturday, it's the perfect spot to sample everything from artisanal cheese to fresh pasta. Try the famous bratwurst at Konnopke's Imbiss, a classic currywurst stand under the U-Bahn tracks at Schönhauser Allee.
🥟 Must-Try Street Food
Currywurst is a Berlin icon, and the best is at Curry 36 in Kreuzberg (Mehringdamm 36), open daily until late. For a modern twist, head to Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap (Mehringdamm 32) for their legendary vegetable kebab, a local favorite with lines out the door. Prices range from 3 to 5 euros.
🍜 International Flavors
Berlin's food scene is incredibly diverse. For authentic Vietnamese pho, visit District Mot in Mitte (Torstraße 167), where bowls start at 10 euros. For Middle Eastern cuisine, try the Yemeni restaurant Bait Al Mandi in Neukölln (Karl-Marx-Straße 131), serving fragrant lamb mandi for around 12 euros.
🥨 Traditional German Fare
For hearty German classics, book a table at Zur Haxe in Friedrichshain (Wühlischstraße 1), known for its crispy pork knuckle and potato dumplings, mains around 15 euros. Another gem is Max und Moritz in Kreuzberg (Oranienstraße 162), a rustic pub serving schnitzel and sauerbraten since 1902, with mains from 12 to 18 euros.
🍰 Sweet Treats and Cafes
Indulge in Berlin's famous cheesecake at Café Einstein Stammhaus in Mitte (Kurfürstenstraße 58), a Viennese-style café open from 8 am. For a modern twist, visit Brammibal's Donuts in Neukölln (Weichselstraße 13), offering vegan donuts in flavors like matcha and salted caramel, around 4 euros each.
🌿 Vegetarian and Vegan Options
Berlin is a paradise for plant-based eaters. Try Kopps in Mitte (Linienstraße 94), a fine-dining vegan restaurant with a seasonal menu, mains around 18 euros. For casual eats, go to 1990 Vegan Living in Kreuzberg (Wiener Straße 22), serving Vietnamese-inspired bowls and pho for 10 to 12 euros.
🍺 Best Evening Spots
End your food tour at a traditional beer garden like Prater Garten in Prenzlauer Berg (Kastanienallee 7-9), open from April to September, serving hearty snacks and local beers. For a more modern vibe, head to Klunkerkranich on the rooftop of Neukölln Arcaden (Karl-Marx-Straße 66), offering panoramic views and a rotating selection of food trucks.
💶 Budget Tips
Eat like a local by hitting up the weekly street food markets, such as the one at Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain every Saturday, where you can grab a falafel wrap for 5 euros. Many restaurants offer Mittagstisch (lunch specials) from 11 am to 3 pm, with dishes like currywurst and fries for under 8 euros.
solid guide. i'd add that the döner scene is more than just mustafa's, even if that one is iconic. head to rüyam gemüse kebap in neukölln, their döner with grilled veggies and feta is around 7 euro and honestly beats the queue at mustafa's for me. the bread is baked fresh right there
for a real hidden gem, check out the breakfast at haus hiltl in mitte. it's a swiss-style spot with incredible homemade bircher muesli and fresh pastries, around 12 euro for a big plate. quiet in the mornings before the lunch rush hits, and the courtyard seating is lovely when it's warm
one thing the guide missed is the african food scene. try mokum in kreuzberg for a proper ethiopian platter with injera, the combo for two is about 25 euro and the berbere spice mix is unreal. get there early on weekends or you'll wait