One of the exciting things about moving to Berlin is the sheer number of neighbourhoods in Berlin. But just like any big capital city, crime rates in Berlin are fairly high.

But should you be really worried about your safety in Berlin? And what should you watch out for? In this article, we'll answer these critical questions. And before you get down to the search for Berlin houses for rent, let’s explore which areas in Berlin to avoid living in. We'll also share some tips and important numbers for your personal protection.

Is Berlin safe to live in?

With a safety index of 57.76, Berlin is _pretty average when it comes to safety. It’s generally safe to live in and travel to, and its crime rate is even less than that of Paris, Brussels and Rome.. Violent crimes are rare, so you don’t have to worry about crimes such as assault, kidnapping, or armed robberies.

However, some areas of Berlin might feel a bit ‘sketchy’ with homeless people, beggars and drug dealers stationed in the streets and parks of the capital.

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There’re around 6,500 homeless people in Berlin. They’re generally harmless and many of them suffer from mental illnesses or drug addictions.

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You can often help them by leaving your glass bottles on the streets or handing the bottles to them directly. Alternatively, you can buy Strassenzeitung (street newspaper) if they're selling it.

As for drug dealers … well, let's say you'll get used to them. They won't do you harm but it’s best to get out of the way if you witness a clash between two.

What are the areas to avoid in Berlin?

East Berlin: Marzahn - Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg

Marzahn - Hellersdorf and Lichtenberg are some of the safest neighbourhoods if you look at the crime rates.

However, these areas have a long history of xenophobia and neo-Nazism. Specifically, Marzahn - Hellersdorf is one of the Berlin neighbourhoods you should avoid when choosing a place for your new home.

Marzahn - Hellersdorf has some of the highest child poverty numbers in Berlin and more than 90% of its residents are ethnic Germans. Unfortunately, not for any good reasons. The residents often express their objection to immigration and have demonstrated against refugee housing in the area, contributing to the far-right image of Marzahn that it has today.

While violent crimes are rare in Marzahn - Hellersdorf and Lichtenberg, there’s a big chance you simply won’t feel welcome there as a foreigner. But, to be fair, there is not much to miss in this area anyway. Besides many green spaces and drastically cheaper housing, these neighbourhoods don’t offer the facilities, cultural diversity and entertainment options of other Berlin neighbourhoods.

Leopoldplatz in Wedding

Wedding is a multicultural working-class district in the northwest of Berlin. The mix of old buildings, low cost of living and a high proportion of immigrants attracts many students and artists who’re in search of homes in Berlin. While the crime rate in Wedding is on the higher side for Berlin standards, it’s still generally safe to live there.

There’s one area you should steer clear of though – Leopoldplatz square. Leopoldplatz is one of the poorest boroughs in Berlin, known for its shady activity, including drugs and armed robberies. While you don’t have to fear for your life, you probably won’t feel very safe walking home at night.

Görlitzer Park

The Golitzer park is a crime hotspot located in Kreuzberg. During the day it's a lovely park frequented by locals and tourists alike. But at night, drug dealers fill up the area, offering their services to everyone passing by. In 2021, the Berlin police registered 5,967 criminal offences in Golitzer park alone.

That said, this shady crowd won’t hurt you. If you find yourself in Golitzer park at night, just keep going where you’re going. Express that you’re not interested if you’re offered something and confidently continue your walk!

Touristic areas in Mitte: Alexanderplatz, Government District, Tiergarten South

With about 27,000 crimes per 100,000 residents, Berlin Mitte is the district with the highest crime rates in Berlin. And it’s not surprising since Berlin’s famous attractions teem with tourists who make an easy target for petty crime.

While Mitte is unarguably one of the best boroughs to live in Berlin, we recommend you search for a home on streets away from tourist hotspots. Stay vigilant whenever you go to such busy places and watch out for your belongings at U-Banh stations and, specifically, Hauptbahnhof.

At night, avoid strolling through Alexanderplatz alone. The area around this square is popular with sketchy characters and scammers. In 2021, Alexanderplatz counted 5,073 reported crimes related to drugs, theft and assault.

Kotbusser Tor in Kreuzberg

Kotbusser Tor is one of the most popular areas for nightlife in Berlin. Due to the high number of people being out and about till sunrise, there’s a very small chance something will happen to you there.

However, young and adventurous crowds attract drug dealers and related violent crimes, resulting in crime rates that are high for Berlin standards. In fact, ‘Kotti’ is considered a ‘high-crime’ area where police can stop and search any people they deem suspicious.

While Kreuzberg remains a very exciting place to live and experience the diversity of Berlin, you should be careful here at night, especially at the Kotbusser Tor U-Bahn station.

Tips on staying safe in Berlin

If you’re looking for a very safe city to live in, consider moving to Munich or Stuttgart. But we assure you, that with some common sense and basic safety precautions, you’ll be safe and sound in bustling Berlin too.

Here’re some tips to keep you safe in Berlin:

• If you're living by yourself, it might be best to live in a neighbourhood that has plenty of street lights and is not too far from the metro station. This way you can get home safely and quickly. You can use Google maps satellite view to scan the neighbourhood before you move.
• Make sure to double lock your doors and close your windows when you leave your house. Consider getting a second lock if you don’t have one yet. But check with your landlord first.
• Don’t forget about your safety as a tenant; get familiar with German tenant laws before signing the contract.
• Avoid dark corners and parks after dark and be careful around U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations.
• Keep your cash close to yourself, for example in the front pocket of your pants or in the inside pocket of your jacket.
• If you give money to beggars, don’t show where you’ve your purse. Some beggars belong to pickpocketing gangs.
• Keep an eye on your belongings and hold them tight when in touristy areas and on public transport.
• Don’t fall asleep on public transport, especially at night. That would make you an easy target for pickpockets.
• Stay away from any fistfights and groups of drunk people.
• If you’re approached by a person who claims to be a policeman, kindly request to see their police ID card or call 110. Sometimes scammers pretend to be police officers searching for drugs just to steal your cash or credit cards.

In case of emergency

Remember these phone numbers to use in case of an emergency:

• Police: 110
• Fire brigade and ambulance: 112
• Non-emergency calls: +49 30 4664 46 64

Now that you know which neighbourhoods in Berlin to avoid and what to do when you feel unsafe, you can start looking for your home in the German capital!

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