🚚 Moving To Berlin? Things To Settle Here

Do you move to Berlin and want to settle here? Then welcome! Since 2014 I’ve wrote a couple of articles in this blog – and this is an overview of all the ones that make your start here easier.

Housing

• 4 Tips for Finding a Cheap Flat in Berlin
  How I found a studio for 270 EUR/month, plus general tips on typical paperwork you need for renting in Germany – and “niches” in Berlin: less known areas that are still good but cheap.
  • Get a cheap flat with a WBS
    A WBS (Wohnberechtigungsschein) gives you access to social / subsidised housing, and thus to a lot of cheap apartments.
  • Free Schufa report online & paperless
    To rent a flat you will like need a report on your German credit score, a so called Schufa-Auskunft. Here’s how to get one for free, just with a few clicks.
• Compared German Internet & Phone Providers
  Once you moved in, this of course the first thing you need.
• German Electricity Suppliers Calculator
  … well, actually, this before.
• Best Gas Suppliers Calculator
  Some apartments have special gas heaters – check here if you need to make a contract with such a supplier.
• Get Free Furniture (+ Other Free Stuff)
  Rented apartments in Germany are usually empty – get here a list of sources how to furnish it for free.
• How to Heat Correctly and Stop Mould (Germany Edition)
  A guide to typical apartment heaters in German flats.

Banking

• Six Free German Bank Accounts Compared
  Find a German bank that speaks English and doesn’t cost you any fees.
  • German Bank Accounts for Students
    If you are a student, there are even more offers. And offers for a blocked account (Sperrkonto).
  • Free German Business Bank Accounts for Freelancers
    The same, but for business accounts
  • German Bank Accounts with Bonuses
    If you not only want to save fees but also earn money with your bank account
• Cheap Money Exchange: The Transferwise Borderless Account
  (not just the service, but their new account!) If you need to send or receive money from abroad.
• Money Market & Fixed Deposit Accounts Compared
  If you’ve got some savings, see here which banks give you the best interest rates.

Transport

• Ride Berlin’s Public Transport for 1.48 € a Day
  Check which monthly pass for BVG and S-Bahn suits you best.
• Comparison of Bike Sharing (+Free Rides)
  An overview of Berlin’s instant bike rental systems, incl. coupons for free rides.
• 11 Ways to Travel in Germany – by Train, Bus, Car & Plane
  Leaving Berlin for some holidays? Check the best means of transport in Germany, including a train hack!

Shopping

• Supermarkets Open on Sundays
  In Germany, shops and supermarkets are usually closed on Sunday. But some are not…
• Order on Ebay – or Visit Dong Xuan Market
  Stuff from abroad that could usually only order online – at Dong Xuan Market you can buy it directly

Administration

• Cheap Certified Translations (+Discount Coupon)
  For translations of official documents (e.g. birth or school certificates), check these offers.