The Berlin district of Pankow is located in the north-east of the capital and borders on the federal state of Brandenburg. Today, the district is made up of 13 districts which, until the administrative reform in 2001, were divided between the former districts of Pankow, Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee. In this article, we will not focus on the new large district, but primarily on the current district of Pankow. We also take a look at the districts of Blankenfelde, Buch, Französisch Buchholz, Niederschönhausen, Rosenthal and Wilhelmsruh, which were part of the former district of Pankow. In other articles, we have compiled interesting information for you on the real estate markets and developments in the current districts (and former districts) of Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee.
During the period of division, members of the GDR government lived in Pankow and the district had the status of being privileged. After the fall of the Wall, and especially in the last decade, attractive apartments were built in former lofts and factory buildings. Today, Pankow is very popular with young families, but also with environmentally conscious people. This is reflected in the development of real estate prices. Rents, as well as the cost of buying property, have risen noticeably in recent years.
Purchase price trends for real estate in the Pankow district
As in Berlin as a whole, property purchase prices have also risen significantly in the Pankow district. Over the 4-year period, i.e. between the 4th quarter of 2018 and the 4th quarter of 2022, the price increase amounted to 44% for apartments and 49% for houses. Currently, the average price for buying a house in the Pankow district is around €5,840/m², while it is around €4,671/m² for condominiums.
Buying property in Pankow
When you buy a property in Pankow, you are choosing an investment that can increase in value over the coming years. It doesn’t matter whether you want to live in the property yourself or rent it out. Pankow is one of the districts of Berlin that has gained in importance in recent years. This is due to new construction, but also to the extensive renovation of existing buildings. Although Pankow is located somewhat outside the center of Berlin, it has excellent connections to the city. The real estate market has been in a state of flux for several years, so you can expect to see various offers if you are interested. Please note, however, that an interesting property in Pankow usually finds a buyer quickly.
How much does a condominium in Pankow cost?
Currently, i.e. in the 4th quarter of 2022, the average price for a condominium in the Pankow district is around €4,671/m². This is 9 percent higher than a year earlier and slightly above the Berlin average of around €4,320/m². Please note that this is only a current average value and that the purchase price formation is also dependent on value formation factors, which can vary greatly from case to case. Strong price fluctuations can result, for example, from the fixtures and fittings, which are usually more modern in a new build than in an old building. To be able to realistically assess specific offers, we also recommend keeping a close eye on the real estate market over a longer period of time. It is also helpful to focus on a price range rather than fixed values. In Pankow, this can be set at €4,000 to €5,000/m² based on the average purchase price indicated.
How much does a house in Pankow cost?
In Pankow, away from the main roads, you will find a number of smaller estates with detached and semi-detached houses. Many were built in GDR times or before. The number of new buildings that have been built since reunification is much smaller. Here, too, it should be noted that age and the state of renovation play a major role. There is also the aspect that a detached single-family home is usually significantly more expensive than a terraced or semi-detached house.
On average, an apartment building will cost around € 5,840/m² in the 4th quarter of 2022. This is 6.2% more than in the 4th quarter of 2021, although prices fell by 0.5% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2022. It remains to be seen whether this is just a momentary fluctuation or the start of a longer-lasting trend reversal. The current average price remains above the overall Berlin average of around €5,061/m².
Rental prices in Pankow
The average net cold rent for rented condominiums in Pankow in the 4th quarter of 2022 was € 11.14/m². This figure is only slightly above the average net cold rent for the entire Berlin city area of €10.48/m². Nevertheless, it represents an increase of 4.9 percent compared to the 4th quarter of 2021. Again, please note that this figure is for guidance purposes only and that there may be individual price ranges on the open housing market that deviate from the above-mentioned average values. This applies primarily to new lettings, where it is common for landlords and tenants to agree on an individual price. Apartments with very luxurious furnishings or a particularly attractive location can also be significantly more expensive than the average price per square meter.
Pankow districts and residential areas
Today’s large district of Pankow – or the 3rd administrative district of Berlin – is made up of a total of 13 districts. These include those that belonged to the (former districts of) Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee until the administrative reform in 2001. As we have separate articles in our magazine for Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee due to their respective characteristics and specific features, we will only cover the districts and residential areas that belonged to the former district of Pankow here.
Pankow district
The district that gave its name to today’s greater Pankow district is a very popular residential area, especially for middle-aged to older people. The Amalienpark is an attractive recreational area within walking distance. The Florakiez and Kissingenviertel are particularly popular residential areas. Some of the houses were built between 1925 and 1931. The Pankower Tor is one of the sights that is known beyond the district. Pankow has a large number of old town houses, typical of Berlin, in which the popular old apartments are located.
Niederschönhausen
Niederschönhausen is a popular, rather quiet district that is typical of East Berlin. Schönhausen Palace with its adjacent park is a popular recreational area for joggers, walkers and cyclists. Frederick the Great’s wife once lived in this palace. Schönholz, Majakowskiring and Nordend are popular residential areas in the Niederschönhausen district. The latter is perfectly connected to Berlin city center by S-Bahn. At Beuthstraße 28, we are currently offering several condominiums for sale in a popular location. If you are interested, you will find all the details in our real estate listings. Simply select “Pankow district” in the search function.
French Buchholz
Französisch Buchholz is a green district located between Karow and Blankenfelde. Here you live away from the bustling city, but are quickly in the city center thanks to the good public transport connections. Parks, quiet side streets and the proximity to Brandenburg with its unspoiled nature combine life in the big city with life in the countryside.
Book
Berlin-Buch is located in the north-east of Berlin and the district has made a name for itself primarily through its renowned hospital. The River Panke flows nearby and the adjacent cycling and hiking trails provide a nice contrast to the apartments, some of which were built during the GDR era but were modernized after reunification. The S-Bahn and various bus lines provide excellent connections to the city center.
Rosenthal
The district of Rosenthal lies on the border with the district of Reinickendorf. It also borders the districts of Niederschönhausen and Wilhelmsruh. This makes it one of the more central districts of Pankow. The water tower is closely associated with the district, as is the annual harvest festival, which is celebrated with a traditional parade.
Blankenfelde
Blankenfelde is located to the west of the suburb of Buch and also in the far north, on the border with the state of Brandenburg. If you live outside the city but still want a quick connection to the city center, this district is an excellent choice. In contrast to the other districts, the former village is rather sparsely populated and is still surrounded by fields. If you are connected to nature but still want to live in Berlin, Blankenfelde is a really good choice.
Wilhelmsruh
Wilhelmsruh is the smallest of the Pankow districts. It borders on the district of Reinickendorf and has only been an independent district since 2001. Before that, Wilhelmsruh belonged to Rosenthal.
The protected neighborhoods of Pankow at a glance
As of 2023, there are 2 social conservation areas (so-called “milieu protection areas”) in the district of Pankow: “Pankow Zentrum” and “Pankow-Süd”. The aim of the Berlin Senate is to largely protect the social structure in these areas from changes to the character of the area and thus preserve the population structure. As construction measures and changes in these areas are only possible to a very limited extent, the status of a social conservation area tends to have a dampening effect on price development there.
You can find out more about Berlin’s protected neighborhoods in our article “Overview: Milieu protection areas in Berlin and the impact on property owners and buyers”.
The infrastructure in Pankow
Pankow has an excellent infrastructure that promises not only perfect connections to the city, but also pleasant living with short distances within the district. You can get anywhere with the S-Bahn and the dense network of bus routes, some of which also run at night. The district is also connected to the Berlin S-Bahn network with the 3 S-Bahn stations “Pankow”, “Pankow-Heinersdorf” and “Wollankstraße”. The S1, S2, S25, S26, S8 and S85 lines run there. The subway line U2 also has 2 stations in the Pankow district.
Pankow is connected to the Berliner Ring (A10) by the A114 highway. The main traffic axes include Mühlenstraße, which later becomes Dietzgenstraße, Blankenfelder Chaussee and Prenzlauer Promenade in a north-easterly direction. Another important axis for private traffic is Wollankstraße, which later merges into Breite Straße, which in turn merges into Pasewalker Straße.
Finally, Pankow is also part of Berlin’s network of long-distance cycle routes, such as the Berlin-Usedom long-distance cycle route and the Berlin Wall Trail.
Demographic situation
According to Berlin’s population register statistics (as at 30.06.2022), the district of Pankow has around 66,500 inhabitants. Together with the districts of Buch, Französisch-Buchholz, Niederschönhausen, Wilhelmsruh, Rosenthal and Blankenfelde, it has a population of just over 157,800. Of these, almost 32,500 have a migrant background.
The largest age group is the 18 to under 45-year-olds with around 35%, followed by the 45 to under 65-year-olds with 28%. At just under 19% each, the age groups of children and young people under 18 and senior citizens and pensioners aged 65 and over are almost equally large.
The gender distribution in the district of Pankow alone is just under 48 percent male and just over 52 percent female.
Schools, kindergartens and playgrounds
If you want to live as a family in Pankow, you will find a very good social infrastructure. There are many elementary school, and you have a wide choice of grammar schools, comprehensive schools and secondary schools. There are international kindergartens as well as classical and church institutions. Special schools and vocational schools are also available in Pankow. In Pankow there are numerous well-equipped playgrounds in the parks and green spaces as well as in the residential areas.
Swimming pools
There are several swimming pools in Pankow that are open to all citizens, as well as for school sports and club training. The indoor swimming pools in Berlin-Buch and the Pankow summer pool, which is very popular in the warmer months, are very popular.
The parking situation in Pankow
The parking situation in the Pankow district is very tight. There is no official parking space management and therefore hardly any parking spaces for residents. Many residents are pressing for this situation to change in the future, for example through efficient parking space management or traffic calming that only allows residents to use public parking facilities free of charge.
Party shares
In the Bundestag election on September 26, 2021, the districts of Pankow, Buch, Französisch-Buchholz, Niederschönhausen, Wilhelmsruh, Rosenthal and Blankenfelde belonged to constituency 76 “Berlin-Pankow”. In this constituency, the Greens received the largest share of second votes with 26.4 percent. It was followed by the SPD (22.0 percent), DIE LINKE (13.8 percent) and the CDU (11.7 percent). The AfD (8.8%), the FDP (8.0%) and the other or small parties (9.3%) landed in the single-digit range of the second votes. Almost the same order with similar percentages results with regard to the distribution of first votes. Stefan Gelbhaar from the Greens won the direct mandate for the Bundestag.
Doctors, clinics and hospitals
Medical care in Pankow is excellent. There are many established doctors with practices for general medicine and pediatrics. You can also consult various specialists directly. The Helios Clinic in Buch is a renowned hospital. There are also other clinics and hospitals in the districts of Pankow that provide basic healthcare for the population.
Art, culture and gastronomy in Pankow
There are numerous restaurants, bars and pubs that offer a varied nightlife. Museums invite you to discover history and more.
Museums
With the museum of the same name in Prenzlauer Allee, Pankow has its own cultural site dedicated to the district and its history. The Mach-Mit-Museum for children is also located in Berlin-Pankow.
Restaurants
If you would like to eat out in the Pankow district, you have a large selection of German restaurants and international cuisine. Many restaurants are open until late in the evening and allow you to sit outside in the warmer months. Among the most popular restaurants are the young Pankoff and the Trattoria Rossini, which offers Italian specialties.
Tips for things to do and activities in Pankow
If you live in Pankow, you have a wide range of opportunities for local recreation and leisure activities. This is especially true if you are connected to nature.
Walk through the Florakiez and along the Panke river
A lovely walk on well-maintained paths, away from the noisy streets, takes you along the River Panke through the Florakiez. You can also go jogging and cycling in this area.
Historical walk in Schönholz
Schönholz borders on the district of Wedding, which was part of West Berlin at the time. Where the Berlin Wall once ran through Schönholz, the Wall Trail is now an excellent cycle path. You can find out more about those who died at the Wall on the orange-colored steles. If you want to go further back in history, visit the sites that commemorate the victims of war and violence, including the Soviet memorial.
Discover movie classics at the Blauer Stern cinema
Do you like going to the movies and prefer watching nostalgic classics and old films? Then a visit to the Blauer Stern cinema is the right choice for you. The building is built in Art Nouveau style and offers entertainment in 2 movie theaters.
Exploring Pankow by bike
Pankow has many beautiful cycle paths, such as the Pankeradweg, which is part of the Berlin-Usedom long-distance cycle route. The Mauerweg is also a well-developed cycle path that is popular far beyond the city limits. If you like cycling, you will find ideal conditions in the Pankow districts.
Running in Pankow
You can go for a jog after work or at the weekend right on your doorstep in Pankow. In the rather quiet district, which is characterized by lots of greenery, you will find parks and quiet paths where you can run your laps in peace.
Conclusion
The rather quiet location, the many green areas, historical sites and various bodies of water make Pankow and the other districts of Buch, Französisch-Buchholz, Niederschönhausen, Wilhelmsruh, Rosenthal and Blankenfelde popular residential areas for all those who want to find peace and quiet and at the same time attach importance to good connections and accessibility to the city center. The Pankow districts are particularly popular with middle-aged and older people. The prices for buying and renting properties have risen significantly in recent years, as in the city as a whole.
