Berlin
The minimum setup tasks newcomers should complete in week one.
You'll find that getting a prepaid SIM card at the airport, such as an Aldi Talk SIM, is a great first step to stay connected in Berlin. Most newcomers also need to register at the Brgeramt within 14 days, which can be booked in advance on berlin.de/buergeramt. Watch out for the delay in receiving your Steuer-ID, which can take 2-4 weeks after registration. To navigate the city, consider subscribing to the 49-EUR Deutschlandticket via the BVG app, which covers all public transport. One common mistake is not enrolling in German health insurance, such as TK or AOK, which is mandatory for all residents. Today, you can take the first step by opening an N26 account online, which doesn't require a German address, and have your card delivered to a friend's address.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Tegel · Experience date May 3, 2026
Bought an Aldi Talk SIM at the airport before I even got to the train. Saved me days of being unreachable. Recharge online or at any Aldi store.
Kreuzberg · Experience date Feb 18, 2026
Your Steuer-ID (11-digit tax identification number) is sent by Deutsche Post after Anmeldung. Arrives 2–4 weeks after Anmeldung is registered. Problem: you need it for your first paycheck. Tell your employer you're waiting — they'll initially deduct tax at Steuerklasse 1 rate which is corrected automatically once Steuer-ID is registered. If no letter after 6 weeks: apply at bzst.de/steuerid or call Bundeszentralamt für Steuern: 0228 406-1240. They can tell you the number by phone after identity verification. Don't wait — if employer needs it urgently, the phone call works.
Kreuzberg · Experience date Dec 16, 2025
In Germany: you need a 'Hausarzt' (general practitioner / family doctor) as your primary care contact. Specialists (Fachärzte) often require a referral (Überweisung) from your Hausarzt. Find a Hausarzt near your home: TK's Arztsuche (doctor search) at tk.de, or google 'Hausarzt Praxis' + your Berlin district. Call the practice and ask if they're accepting new patients (neue Patienten). Many practices are full — you may need to try several. Getting registered with a Hausarzt: bring your Gesundheitskarte (or insurance confirmation letter) and passport. First appointment within 2–4 weeks typically.
Prenzlauer Berg · Experience date Apr 12, 2026
Berlin supermarket guide for week one: REWE (most complete, largest range, slightly higher prices), EDEKA (similar to REWE, known for fresh produce quality), Lidl and Aldi (cheapest, limited range, no fresh deli), Penny (budget, similar to Lidl), Kaufland (large format, good for bulk buying, limited central Berlin locations). For specific needs: Türkische Supermarkte (Turkish supermarkets) in Neukölln and Wedding have excellent fresh produce, spices, and dairy at very good prices — highly recommended. For Asian ingredients: Asia supermarkets on Frankfurter Allee or at Dong Xuan Center in Lichtenberg.
Neukölln · Experience date Apr 17, 2026
Bürgeramt appointment wait times in central Berlin (Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg): 3–6 weeks. Strategy: go to Bürgeramt in outer districts. Bürgeramt Marzahn-Hellersdorf (U5 to Hellersdorf then walk), Bürgeramt Spandau (S-Bahn Spandau), or Bürgeramt Reinickendorf: often have walk-in availability. Arrive at 7:30am (30 minutes before opening). Bring all documents — Anmeldung form (printed from berlin.de), passport, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from landlord. The outer district Anmeldung is completely valid for all purposes — it's not registered to your specific Bürgeramt.
Friedrichshain · Experience date Apr 1, 2026
After Anmeldung: update your address everywhere systematically. Priority order: 1) Employer (for payroll and Steuer-ID linkage), 2) N26/DKB bank (do it in the app immediately), 3) TK or AOK (health insurance — update via their app or website), 4) Rentenversicherung (pension — update at drv.de if you have an existing German account), 5) Finanzamt (tax office — receives Steuer-ID automatically after Anmeldung but update if you have existing tax affairs). For any mail not yet arriving: forward from old address via Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag (10–28 EUR for 3–12 months forward service) — very useful during the first year.
Mitte · Experience date Nov 21, 2025
Save these numbers: Police (Polizei) 110, Fire and Medical Emergency (Feuerwehr/Rettungsdienst) 112. Non-emergency police (Notruf): 030 4664-4664 in Berlin. Poison control: 030 19240. If you need medical help but not an emergency: Kassenärztliche Bereitschaftspraxis (after-hours medical service) — 116117 for nearest after-hours practice. For mental health crisis: TelefonSeelsorge 0800 111 0 111 (free, 24 hours). All emergency numbers: operators speak some English — state 'Do you speak English?' immediately if language is an issue.
Neukölln · Experience date Mar 3, 2026
Day one: buy a prepaid SIM at MediaMarkt or Saturn (both have central Berlin locations near Alexanderplatz and Kurfürstendamm). Telekom or Congstar (Telekom network, cheaper) recommended. Show passport — activation within 30–60 minutes in-store. Get a German number immediately — needed for apartment hunting, bank accounts, and most services. For the online ID verification (required for some plans): have your German address ready (even if Anmeldung not yet done — you just need the address). Keep your home country SIM active until you've updated all 2FA authentication to your new German number.
Friedrichshain · Experience date Feb 18, 2026
Subscribe to the 49-EUR Deutschlandticket immediately via the BVG app. This covers all BVG transit (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus) in Berlin and all regional public transport across Germany. For a new arrival: the first month of transportation costs 49 EUR flat — you can take any public transit in Berlin without thinking about zones or ticket prices. Download BVG app, sign up with email, add payment method, subscribe. First month subscription is active immediately. This ticket is genuinely transformative — experienced Berlin expats rank it as the best value purchase in Germany.
Friedrichshain · Experience date Feb 21, 2026
Germany's Pfand system charges deposit on plastic and glass bottles: 0.08–0.25 EUR per bottle. Return bottles at any supermarket's Pfand machine (Pfandautomat). You receive a receipt redeemable at the store checkout. Green bottles (wine): no deposit. Brown, white, blue PET plastic bottles: 0.25 EUR deposit each. Cans: 0.25 EUR deposit. Keep all purchased bottles and return them. A week of beverages = 2–5 EUR worth of Pfand. Always check before throwing any bottle away. Leaving bottles on the street (for Pfandsammler to collect) is an accepted Berlin social practice for helping those in need.