Flanked by the green Panke river, the former dead-end district next to the Berlin Wall has become a real insider tip. If you move to the Soldiner Kiez in the Gesundbrunnen district, you can look forward to a very international environment with good options for walking, exercising and catching your breath. The many historic old apartments from the imperial era have recently been renovated and have become real gems not far from important S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines. Below you can find out more about the opportunities that the real estate market offers you in this district and what the future holds for you as a tenant or buyer in Soldiner Kiez.
Interesting facts about the Soldiner Kiez
Historically and culturally, the Soldiner Kiez is often considered part of Wedding. In fact, however, the neighborhood was absorbed into the Gesundbrunnen district in 2001 and thus belongs to the Mitte district. To a certain extent, this classification fits the location of Soldiner Kiez. The map shows a district that is located just a few minutes north of the S-Bahn ring and is perfectly connected to all other parts of the city. Subway trains, S-Bahn trains, the streetcar at the corner of Osloer Str./Prinzenallee and long-distance transport at Gesundbrunnen station are all within walking distance.
Historically, the buildings between Schönholz, Wollankstraße, Bornholmer Straße and Osloer Straße date back to the imperial era. Many Wilhelminian-style buildings have been preserved to this day, with their charming facades and high-ceilinged apartments. There are also some houses from the 1920s and 70s. Like so many districts in Berlin, Soldiner Kiez is named after a town outside Berlin. The name refers to the street of the same name that runs right through the neighborhood, which in turn refers to the Pomeranian community of Soldin. Today the place is in Poland and is called Myślibórz.
For a long time, the Soldiner Kiez was a real dead end. Both Osloer Strasse and Prinzenallee ended at the Berlin Wall for almost 30 years. During this time, many social housing estates developed, while the middle-class milieu gradually withdrew. This led to an increasing impoverishment of the neighborhood near the border. After reunification, the Soldiner Kiez experienced a forward development. The influx of students and young urban professionals led to an increased mix. One of the reasons for its attractiveness is the comparatively low rents to this day and the good future prospects for the neighborhood.
What is the current housing and real estate situation in the Soldiner Kiez?
Today, life in the Soldiner Kiez is colorful, diverse and international. After a long phase of social difficulties, the neighborhood is now a very peaceful place to live. The tall apartment buildings in particular form the backdrop. There are more than 11,000 apartments in total. Those who move to this neighborhood have the opportunity to live in historic old buildings from the turn of the century. From the high windows and small balconies, you have a direct view of the lively stores, restaurants with cuisine from all over the world and possibly even the Panke. The river crosses the district from north to south and, with its green banks, offers the best conditions for jogging, picnics and walks. Play streets and public green spaces such as the Prinzengarten make life in Soldiner Kiez just as pleasant as the regular street festivals. To a large extent, however, it is still a transit station: many new arrivals start their lives in Berlin here. They often fall in love with the cosmopolitan neighborhood and stay close by.
Milieu protection in the Soldiner Kiez: the social conservation areas "Soldiner Straße" and "Kattegatstraße"
Soldiner Strasse and Kattegatstrasse are two protected neighborhoods within the Soldiner Kiez. In these areas, the aim is to maintain the composition of residents as much as possible and prevent certain groups from being displaced by excessive rent increases. Read more on this topic in our article on the milieu protection areas in Berlin.
The "Soldiner Straße" social conservation area
Since 2018, Soldiner Strasse has been a social conservation area, popularly known as a milieu protection area, and covers an area of around 54.8 hectares. However, the Soldiner Kiez itself only includes the western section, which stretches from Prinzenallee to Drontheimer Straße. Important local institutions include the middle-class allotment garden site Eintracht an der Panke, the Turkish Aksa Mosque and the African Jesus Miracle Harvest Church – a thoroughly diverse milieu. The diversity is also reflected in the gastronomic offerings. There is a popular youth club near Drontheimer Strasse as well as a small park for playing games and sports.
The "Kattegatstrasse" social conservation area
Together with Soldiner Strasse, Kattegatstrasse, which covers an area of around 14 hectares between Wollankstrasse and Wilhelm-Kuhr-Strasse, was designated a protected neighborhood in 2018. This area is characterized by its proximity to the Wollankstraße S-Bahn station, which in turn offers excellent connections to Mitte and the northern suburbs. Compared to Soldiner Strasse, this district is somewhat quieter. Most of the residents here are families. There are several shopping facilities on the neighboring Wollankstraße as well as many other stores, fast-food restaurants and hairdressers.
The purchase price trend for real estate in Soldiner Kiez
In general, the purchase price trend in Soldiner Kiez is running parallel to the overall Berlin trend at a slightly lower price level. Costs are not yet rising as steeply as in trendy districts such as Prenzlauer Berg or Friedrichshain. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable upward trend.
The following information refers to properties in Soldiner Strasse 1 in 12305 Berlin as an example. The information therefore serves as a guide, but cannot be taken as binding price information for properties in Soldiner Kiez. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the price of condominiums fell by 0.9% over the twelve-month period, while the average price fall in Berlin over the same period was 0.6%. Purchase prices for houses fell even more sharply between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024, with Soldiner Strasse 1 falling by -4.1% and Berlin as a whole by -3.6%.
How much does a condominium in Soldiner Kiez cost?
For an apartment in Soldiner Strasse 1, which we use as a benchmark for the Soldiner Kiez, you will pay around €3,880/m² (as of Q4 2024). The price is therefore slightly below the average for Berlin as a whole, which is €4,148/m² for the same period.
How much does a house in Soldiner Kiez cost?
The price for a house at Soldiner Strasse 1 is listed at around € 4,319/m² in the fourth quarter of 2024. The price is therefore almost in line with the average for Berlin as a whole, which is €4,391/m² in the same period.
The rental price trend for apartments in Soldiner Kiez
You currently pay a rent of €12.22/m² for an apartment at Soldiner Straße 1 (as of Q4 2024). Between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024, the rent rose by a full 5.4 percent and, given the general situation on the real estate market, you can also expect higher rents for apartments in Soldiner Kiez in the future. Compared to the rest of Berlin, Soldiner Kiez is therefore fairly average, as the average net cold rent for Berlin as a whole was €12.53/m² in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 6.1% over the twelve-month period.
The infrastructure in the Soldiner Kiez
With major S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines as well as the streetcar at Osloer Straße, Soldiner Kiez is perfectly connected to the rest of the city. There are also several schools and facilities for children nearby, making the neighborhood ideal for families moving in for the long term. Restaurants and stores are international in character and the various supermarkets are a good place to do your daily or weekly shopping.
Transport connections (public transport)
Osloer Straße borders Soldiner Kiez to the south and offers convenient connections to Mitte and the outer districts via the subway station of the same name in the southwest. The U8 and U9 lines depart from here. The U8 takes you directly to Alexanderplatz in just a few minutes and then heads to various destinations in Kreuzberg and Neukölln. The U9 virtually starts at Osloer Straße and runs right through Moabit to Zoologischer Garten in City West, to Schöneberg and as far as Steglitz.
The streetcar line that runs south of the district on Soldiner Straße is also extremely practical. Lines 50 and M13 run along this route. The latter continues its route from Virchow-Klinikum to Warschauer Straße in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Streetcar 50 takes you from Osloer Straße up to Pankow.
Wollankstraße S-Bahn station is located on the northern edge of Soldiner Kiez and is served by the S1, S25 and S85 lines. These lines run to the suburbs in the north, e.g. Heiligensee and Oranienburg, and also provide a connection to City-West and the south-western districts of Berlin such as Grunewald, Wannsee, Zehlendorf and Teltow. If you want to get to the Ringbahn, simply go to the S-Bahn at Bornholmer Straße, travel one stop to Gesundbrunnen and there you have extensive connections to local and long-distance public transport.
In addition to this range of transportation options, the Soldiner Kiez also has stops for several bus lines.
Parking lot situation
Even though the parking situation in Gesundbrunnen is tense, as in many parts of Berlin, the comprehensive parking space management in Soldiner Kiez provides some relief. Parking zone 81 was set up here in December 2022, where you can park your car for as little as €1 per hour. Residents receive a resident vignette for a processing fee of €20.40, which is valid for two years and allows free parking in specially signposted parking spaces. To apply, all you need is a copy of your identity card with address and the vehicle registration certificate.
Demographic situation
For a long time, the area was considered one of the problem districts in the north of Berlin. In the meantime, however, it has cleaned itself up, not least thanks to good neighborhood management in Soldiner Kiez. Active people have come together to form neighborhood initiatives and are improving the quality of life. The colorful mix of nations that existed 30 years ago continues to exist, partly due to the milieu protection on Soldiner Strasse and Kattegatstrasse. Today, around 8,000 people live in the catchment area of Drontheimer Strasse, around 72.8 percent of whom have a migration background. On Soldiner Straße and Koloniestraße, the figure is between 61 and 64 percent. Accordingly, a very diverse range of stores, bars and restaurants with products from all over the world has developed in the Soldiner Kiez. Another positive aspect is the age structure. The overwhelming majority of people in the district are between 18 and 55 years old, exactly the age group that supports many local initiatives. Older generations are involved through various neighborhood groups.
Party shares
The cosmopolitan nature of the Soldiner Kiez and the entire Mitte district is particularly evident in the election results. In both the 2021 Bundestag election and the 2023 by-election for the Berlin House of Representatives, the Green Party prevailed here with vote shares of between 27 and 30 percent in both the first and second votes. In 2021, the SPD and the Left Party followed, which is typical for a classically grown working-class district. In the 2023 by-election, the CDU followed suit in Mitte and was able to push the other two parties into third and fourth place.
Schools, daycare centers and playgrounds
According to the 2021 district profile for Osloer Straße, there are more than 30 daycare centers in the Soldiner Kiez area. Half of these are independently run, while the other half are run by parents’ initiatives. The larger daycare centers in Soldiner Kiez have space for between 100 and 130 children. There are five smaller kindergartens on Soldiner Straße alone, such as the one run by the Evangelical Church District of Berlin Stadtmitte and Die Bärenbande e.V. There are also other facilities on Prinzenallee, Drontheimer Straße and nearby Grüntaler Straße. The family-friendly orientation of the district is also reflected in the number of schools in Soldiner Kiez. A total of five public primary schools are available, including the Gesundbrunnen elementary school on Prinzenallee and the Andersen elementary school on Kattegatstraße. At the Willy-Brandt-Schule on Grüntaler Straße, children can continue their education from the fifth grade onwards. A private provider runs the Quinoa School at secondary level. Another noteworthy feature is its location near the OSZ Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medientechnik, a vocational school center on Osloer Straße that offers high school diplomas. There are various leisure facilities for children. There are various playgrounds for children, of which the Panke adventure playground on Wilhelm-Kuhr-Straße is a particularly popular meeting place.
Doctors and medical care
If you are looking for a doctor in Soldiner Kiez, you will quickly find what you are looking for. Basic care is provided by a whole range of general medical practices. To visit larger clinics and hospitals, on the other hand, you will have to go outside the district. In this case, it is practical that the M13 streetcar line leads directly to the renowned Charité Virchow Clinic in Wedding. The DRK clinics in Berlin Mitte also offer medical services on Drontheimer Strasse. There are four other major facilities in the Pankow district that can be reached by S-Bahn, including the Evangelische Lungenklinik and the Immanuel-Krankenhaus in Buch.
Gastronomy: restaurants, cafés and pubs
The restaurants in Soldiner Kiez are characterized by a very international offer and inspire with many creative ideas. Here you will find everything from traditional Ethiopian food and Spanish tapas to Turkish and Indian specialties. Around Wollankstraße S-Bahn station, there are mainly snack options, e.g. Asian food and pizza. There are also cafés in Soldiner Kiez where you can meet up for coffee and cake during the day or in the evening. Afterwards, many residents of the district head to one of the nearby bars in Soldiner Kiez.
Local recreation and urban greenery
The unique green feature of Soldiner Kiez is certainly the Panke. The small river divides the district into two parts and is overgrown on its banks. The long walkway is a great place to take a deep breath and switch off from the hustle and bustle of the city. In summer, picnickers and joggers are drawn to the Panke. Near the Huguenot Church, the French Basin has also formed as an overflow of the Panke. There are various outdoor seating areas in the basin with a view of the pond, as well as some play equipment for children.
Conclusion: The Soldiner Kiez - probably not an insider tip for much longer
The future looks bright in Soldiner Kiez and, given the current real estate prices, which are still slightly below the Berlin average, now is probably the time to invest. Although rents and purchase prices for apartments and houses have risen in recent years, they remain within reasonable limits compared to other districts. One of the reasons for this is that the Soldiner Kiez is still nowhere near as trendy as Friedrichshain or Prenzlauer Berg. It still has a bit of the old dingy image of the 90s and 2000s. However, thanks to well thought-out neighborhood management in Soldiner Kiez, a lot has changed. The cohesion of the population has grown thanks to initiatives and neighborhood protection. This ultimately creates an almost village-like atmosphere in the middle of the big city. At the same time, you can quickly break out of this tight-knit community by taking the streetcar, subway or S-Bahn. There are few places in the north of Berlin that are as well connected to city transport as here. All in all, Soldiner Kiez is an area where tradition in the form of old imperial buildings can be combined with modern infrastructure.
