Are you looking for a suitable property in Berlin Schöneberg? This article will provide you with information about the district. Among other things, we look at the infrastructure in Schöneberg. We clarify the questions of whether there are enough kindergartens and educational facilities, which parties the residents vote for and where you can best park.
But that’s not all. We want you to get a feel for what it’s like to live in Schöneberg. That’s why we give you insider tips on where to find the best clubs, which parks are particularly quiet and where you can shop most effectively. We’ll tell you where Berlin’s rich and famous stroll along at the weekend. We also reveal the best places and activities for your free time – with or without children.
You can find out all you need to know about the current situation on the housing market in Schöneberg in the first part of the round-up report. You are therefore welcome to read our article “ Buying a condominium in Berlin Schöneberg: Prices for new & old buildings, trends, residential locations & more” and find out about apartment purchase and rental prices, the best locations for older properties and the latest construction projects in the popular Berlin district of Schöneberg.
Things to know about Schöneberg
What is the demographic make-up of Schöneberg’s population? Where are the children looked after and which schools can they go to after kindergarten age? Which roads lead to the city center and which public transport can be used? How did the individual parties fare in the last general election and where do people interested in art go in Schöneberg?
These are some of the interesting questions that we will answer in this article. Because if you are looking for an investment property in Schöneberg, then it is not just information about the housing market that is worth knowing. You also want to get a feel for what it’s like to live in Schöneberg and what kind of atmosphere you’ll find in the district.
Into which districts is Schöneberg divided?
The Schöneberg district is divided into a total of 6 neighborhoods. Admittedly, the names and number of individual neighborhoods are much more pronounced in other districts of Berlin. But don’t be fooled by this rather traditional division, because Schöneberg has a lot to offer and is much more diverse than you might think.
The north of Schöneberg is characterized by Tauentzienstraße and Kurfürstendamm. The district has a very metropolitan flair here. If you want, you can stroll through the huge KaDeWe department store at the weekend and see the latest models from expensive fashion brands. Companies such as Dior, Boss, Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Lamborghini display their expensive goods in their shop windows and are happy to welcome well-heeled customers.
The center of Schöneberg is divided into the Bayerisches Viertel and the Akazienkiez. While the Bavarian Quarter is dominated by beautiful old buildings from the Wilhelminian era, in which you will find renovated old apartments, the Akazienkiez is a lively area. This is where Berlin’s gay bars are located, which are particularly popular in the evenings and at weekends. All kinds of couples meet here, drink cocktails and stop off at the hip restaurants that line the streets.
In the east of Schöneberg, you will find simple residential areas. However, it must be emphasized that the Rote Insel has now awoken from its slumber. It is an area in the east of Schöneberg that is enclosed by railroad lines. Its name comes from times long past. In the past, it was mainly left-wing workers who lived here.
In the south of Schöneberg and the neighboring district of Friedenau, on the other hand, life is quiet. Residential complexes and old buildings go hand in hand here. Property prices are high, but the residential area is correspondingly idyllic. In the south of Schöneberg, you have the feeling of living in the countryside. At the same time, you are still in Berlin and can reach the city center within a short time by private or public transport. Friedenau is a true oasis in the middle of the German capital. The villas date back to the Wilhelminian era and have beautifully manicured front gardens. A special flair that remains despite the newer, unadorned residential buildings.
The infrastructure in Schöneberg
If you are traveling in Schöneberg in a private vehicle, you can use the city ring road, the A100. The slip road is located in the middle of Schöneberg via the Schöneberg junction. This is also crossed by the B1, which runs through Schöneberg from north to south. Depending on the section, it is called Potsdamer Straße, Hauptstraße or Rheinstraße. The A103 also begins in Schöneberg and leads directly to Potsdam via Steglitz, Zehlendorf and Wannsee.
If you want to drive through Schöneberg from east to west or west to east, you can use the main traffic axis Berliner Straße, which becomes Grunewaldstraße. Or Hohenzollerdamm, which becomes Pallasstraße.
Schöneberg is criss-crossed by several bus lines, so the transport infrastructure is really good. If you prefer to travel by subway, you can take the U2, U4 and U7 subway lines in the Schöneberg district. The Rathaus Schöneberg subway station is a real gem. It is located in the middle of Rudolph-Wilde-Park and looks from the outside like a magnificently decorated bridge from Schöneberg’s glory days. There is also a suitable solution in Schöneberg for people who want to use long-distance transport. Since 2006, the district has had the Regional and long-distance train station Berlin Südkreuz. From here you can take the ICE to Leipzig, Munich or Hamburg.
The demographic situation in Schöneberg
The Tempelhof-Schöneberg district is made up of several districts. It is named after the two districts of Tempelhof and Schöneberg, which were independent districts until the Berlin district reform in 2001. The former Schöneberg district also included today’s Friedenau district, while the former Tempelhof district also included the districts of Mariendorf, Marienfelde and Lichtenrade.
A total of around 352,000 people live in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district as a whole, around 153,000 of whom live in the current districts of Schöneberg and Friedenau. The Schöneberg district alone accounts for almost 124,000 inhabitants, making it the most populous of the 6 districts in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
(Data according to Berlin population register statistics from 30.06.2022)
In the former Schöneberg district, i.e. in the current districts of Schöneberg and Friedenau, the largest age group is the 18 to under 45-year-olds, which accounts for almost 40 percent. The group of people aged between 45 and 64 makes up just under 28 percent. The groups of young people up to the age of 18 and pensioners, i.e. people aged 65 and over, are almost equally represented with around 15 and just under 18 percent respectively.
Around 66,400 people of the approximately 153,000 inhabitants of Schöneberg (including Friedenau), i.e. slightly less than half, have a migration background. The number of foreign residents amounts to r and 38,000. This shows once again how diverse Berlin is. However, the percentages are far below those of other Berlin districts, such as Moabit.
(Data according to Berlin population register statistics from 30.06.2022)
Are there enough kindergartens and schools in Schöneberg?
Many of the young couples living in Schöneberg are childless. Nevertheless, the district is home to almost 23,000 children and young people under the age of 18, for whom care and education services must be guaranteed. Educational opportunities are scarce throughout Berlin. Kindergartens are overcrowded and elementary school are also in danger of overflowing. For parents who want to secure care and education for their children, this situation is anything but easy. But let’s look specifically at the Schöneberg district:
Let’s start with the youngest children, those under the age of six, who are therefore placed in a kindergarten, after-school care center or other daycare facility. There are 117 such facilities listed for the Schöneberg district (as of January 2023). On the homepage of the daycare network you can call up the directory and search for kindergartens and daycare centers near your property using the zip code.
A total of 14 elementary school are listed in Schöneberg where children of primary school age are taught. Possible secondary schools are the Gustav-Langenscheidt-Schule, the Sophie-Scholl-Schule, the Georg-von-Giesche-Schule, the Friedrich-Bergius-Schule and the Gemeinschaftsschule Schöneberg. For those who go to grammar school, there are the Robert-Blum-Gymnasium, the Rückert-Gymnasium, the Paul-Natorp-Gymnasium and the Rheingau-Gymnasium.
There are three higher education institutions in Schöneberg, namely the Berlin School of Economics and Law, the SRH Berlin School of Popular Arts and the ISM International School of Management.
The parking situation in Berlin Schöneberg
As in many other districts of the German capital, Schöneberg operates a parking space management system. This means that parking spaces on public streets are generally subject to a charge. To be allowed to park here, a parking ticket must be purchased. This should lead to fewer visitors and tourists driving around Berlin in private vehicles and using public transport instead. At the same time, this will encourage more parking spaces to be left for residents of the district. After all, there is nothing more annoying than having to search for a parking space near your home for an hour every day after work.
If you can’t find a parking space on the side of the road, you will have to use a parking garage. In the north of Schöneberg you will find the Kalckreuthstraße parking garage. In the center of Schöneberg, for example, you can park in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Passage multi-storey parking lot. Other alternatives are the Prager Passage parking garage and the KaufMarkt parking garage.
Which parties were elected in Schöneberg in the last general election?
The evaluation of the results of the Bundestag election on September 26, 2021 was based on the constituencies. The Tempelhof-Schöneberg district formed constituency 81, which is why the information provided here relates to the entire district, which has a total of 231,500 eligible voters.
The SPD and the Greens were clearly ahead in terms of both first and second votes. While the Greens achieved the most second votes with 25.2 percent – closely followed by the SPD with 24.8 percent – the SPD candidate received the most first votes with 27.1 percent. The CDU followed in third place with both second votes (18.2%) and first votes (21.9%). The FDP, DIE LINKE and the AfD follow with a clear gap in the single-digit percentage range – but each above the 5 percent mark.
(All data according to the Federal Returning Officer)
How many doctors and clinics are there in Schöneberg?
The Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria-Klinikum is located on Rubensstraße in the south of Schöneberg. Nearby is the Schöneberger Südgelände nature park, which we mentioned in our article “ Buying a condominium in Berlin Schöneberg: Prices for new & old buildings, trends, residential locations & more” in detail.
The Geburtshaus Schöneberg is located on the corner of Dominicusstraße and Hauptstraße in the center of Schöneberg and is very easy to reach by public or private transport.
The Klinik am Wittenbergplatz is located on Wittenbergplatz in the north of Schöneberg.
Schöneberg therefore has a total of three clinics where residents and other patients are treated.
Overall, medical care in Schöneberg is above average. More than 350 general practitioners are listed in the medical directory, so that residents of the district can get an appointment with the doctor of their choice quickly.
Art, culture, sights and gastronomy in Schöneberg
Schöneberg is much more than just a shopping district and place to live. In this section of our article, we will show you which sights and cultural and culinary attractions you should not miss in this part of Berlin.
Climb the gasometer in Schöneberg
If you are not afraid of heights and want to catch a unique view of the Berlin skyline, you should definitely visit the Gasometer in Schöneberg. This remnant from days long gone became famous thanks to the political talk show with Günther Jauch, which was broadcast on the German TV channel Ersten between 2011 and 2015. The striking vantage point in the heart of Schöneberg is now home to the EUREF-Campus. Various companies from the energy, mobility and sustainability sectors are based here. If you would like to see Berlin from above, you can book a guided tour including a climb to the top of the Gasometer.
Galleries in Berlin Schöneberg
Artistic freedom and diversity are an integral part of Schöneberg. A prime example of this is the Sterntal Café, which is located on Rheinstraße in Friedenau and offers its guests exactly what they are looking for. In the café’s stylishly furnished rooms, numerous guests gather in the afternoons and evenings to enjoy a coffee with a delicious piece of cake. At the same time, you can also take part in one of the workshops on offer in the gallery or view an exhibition. Sufficient space for the soul and body is also created here.
The Art Dego gallery in the north of Schöneberg is well worth a visit. You can reach it by subway line U7 and various bus lines. The gallery is located on Kyffhäuserstraße, near Pallasstraße. The gallery for young artists and designers is also interesting. It is located in Grunewaldstraße in the heart of Schöneberg.
The best restaurants in Schöneberg
The gastronomic offerings in Schöneberg are as diverse as the capital itself. There are particularly many restaurants in the north of the district. Close to the shopping mile and the bars of the queer scene, you will find everything your heart desires. Whether you want to eat oriental, Asian, American or European food, here you will find one restaurant after another. In the heart of Schöneberg, the restaurant “Das kleine Havanna” comes highly recommended. Guests appreciate the Caribbean specialties as well as the friendly service and cosy atmosphere. Cao Cao” is a Vietnamese restaurant with that certain wow factor. The ambience is very inviting and the food is delicious. Indian specialties can be found at “Haveli”, close to Viktoria-Luise-Platz.
Schöneberg Town Hall
Anyone visiting Schöneberg must also visit the town hall. Schöneberg was granted city rights at the end of the 19th century and therefore needed a suitable town hall. Since Schöneberg and Friedenau were incorporated into Berlin in 1920, the building has served as the town hall for these two districts. During the division of Berlin after the Second World War, the mayor of West Berlin sat in this town hall. The location also became famous for the speech by American President John F. Kennedy on the town hall square in 1963. He uttered the legendary sentence “Ich bin ein Berliner”, creating a moment that went down in the history books.
Conclusion
Berlin is the greatest diversity in the smallest space. No other city in Germany brings together so many people from different cultures. In Schöneberg, diversity is a top priority. Germany’s first gay bars were founded here in the 20th century, while just a few streets away the huge KaDeWe department store opens its doors to well-heeled residents and tourists. Schöneberg is a district that is very pleasant to live in. Whether you are looking for a property in one of the bustling streets of the north of Schöneberg or prefer a condominium in the quiet, green south of Schöneberg, you will find what you are looking for.
