Berlin

Regional snapshot

• Why people narrow here: Germany's capital with a large creative and tech employer base, strong international community, and relatively lower big-city rents than Munich or Frankfurt for many budgets—while still fitting the national picture of excellent healthcare, safety, and schools described in the country profile.
• Main airport: Berlin Brandenburg (BER) is the consolidated international gateway; rail links connect to the rest of Germany and neighboring capitals.
• Getting around: Dense S-Bahn and U-Bahn network, trams, buses, and widespread cycling; many newcomers live without a car. Traffic rules and licensing remain national.
• Languages: German is the language of administration and most public schools; English is very common in workplaces and services (consistent with Germany's high EF EPI ranking in the profile), but Anmeldung, tax letters, and Ausländerbehörde appointments still go smoother with German or qualified help.
• Watch-out: Federal and city bureaucracy is paperwork-heavy; mandatory health insurance and timely registration are non-negotiable—themes called out at country level apply fully in Berlin.
• Another watch-out: Housing in popular central districts can move quickly and feel competitive; the national profile flags high costs in several major cities—Berlin is often somewhat less extreme than Munich, but planning viewings, deposits, and registration still takes patience.