The African Quarter in Berlin Wedding is known for its unique mix of colorful city life and lots of greenery. You can find international restaurants and stores close to the properties. At the same time, you are not far from Volkspark Rehberge, the green oasis in the area. Below we explain in more detail what the African Quarter in Berlin Wedding is and why it is a good idea to rent or buy apartments or houses here.
Interesting facts about the African Quarter
The African Quarter is located in the north-west of the historic district of Wedding, which is now part of Mitte and has developed very dynamically in recent years. This is particularly noticeable in the liveliness of the area. There is a lot going on in the streets of Berlin’s African Quarter, but at the same time there are also a number of retreats nearby. In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion in the media about the street names in the African Quarter. Terms such as Togostraße, Kameruner Straße, Otawistraße and Sansibarstraße go right back to the colonial ambitions of the Wilhelmine Empire. In addition to African countries and places, some of the streets were named after German colonialists. These streets in Berlin’s African Quarter are therefore gradually being renamed. This fits in with the opening up and development of the neighborhood. As in other parts of the former district, the motto for this area is: “Wedding is coming!”
What is the current housing and real estate situation in the African Quarter?
The African Quarter in Berlin is a great place to live. Those who have moved in here particularly appreciate the proximity to Volkspark Rehberge, Goethepark and Schillerpark – there is no shortage of greenery in this area. When it comes to real estate, the classic apartment buildings that were built here in the 1920s and 1930s predominate. Pioneers of modern architecture such as Bruno Taut and Mies van der Rohe implemented the principles of “Neues Bauen” with their cubic forms. To this day, these solutions offer plenty of comfort and open up a neighborhood on the doorstep in the African Quarter with many open spaces that invite communication and exchange.
Milieu protection in the African Quarter: the social conservation areas "Müllerstraße Nord" and "Seestraße"
With “Müllerstraße Nord” and “Seestraße”, there are two social conservation areas or so-called “milieu protection areas” in the area of the African Quarter in Wedding. Here, landlords and sellers are required to respect the social composition of the streets. There are therefore special requirements that property owners must comply with. It is therefore important for property owners to be well informed about the rules and conditions in Berlin’s social conservation areas.
The "Müllerstraße Nord" social conservation area
Only established in 2022, the “Müllerstraße Nord” conservation area in Berlin Wedding is still relatively young. It covers a total area of 85.7 hectares and also extends across Müllerstraße into the north-eastern section of the district. This means that a relatively large area in the African Quarter is protected, including Manga-Bell-Platz and extending as far as Volkspark Rehberge. This means that almost half of the African Quarter is located in this conservation area, which prevents any major changes to the population structure. For people who want to live here, this means more security.
The "Seestraße" social conservation area
The “Seestraße” social conservation area was established in 2018 and covers a total area of 48.6 hectares. Seestraße flanks the African Quarter to the south, which means that only the northern part of the neighborhood conservation area extends into the area. This primarily includes the streets up to Kongostraße and Kameruner Straße. Up to the beginning of the conservation area “Müllerstraße Nord”, approximately one block up to Transvaalstraße remains free. Overall, the African Quarter is therefore predominantly subject to milieu protection. The only exceptions are the neighborhoods southwest of Afrikanische Strasse, where there is comparatively little development.
Purchase price development for real estate in the African Quarter
As there are currently no concrete figures for the entire district, we can only talk about the prices at Afrikanische Straße 100 in 13351 Berlin in this section. If we now look specifically at the price per square meter for properties in Berlin Wedding and the African Quarter, we can see a decline between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024 for both condominiums and houses. Specifically, prices for condominiums fell by 0.5 percent, while the decline for houses was as much as 3.7 percent. However, this is pretty much in line with the trend in Berlin as a whole. In comparison, house prices are slightly above the Berlin average, while the cost of apartments is just below it.
How much does a condominium in the African Quarter cost?
Condominiums in the African Quarter will be offered for an average of around €4,092/m² in the fourth quarter of 2024. This means that apartments in Berlin’s African Quarter are relatively inexpensive and offer attractive growth potential. As no specific figures are available on price trends for this neighborhood, we present here the values for a property at Afrikanische Strasse 100 in 13351 Berlin as an example. This is a relatively good representation of pricing in this part of Berlin Wedding.
How much does a house in the African Quarter cost?
The price trend for houses at Afrikanische Straße 100 in 13351 Berlin is also the basis for our presentation. Anyone looking to buy a house in Berlin’s African Quarter paid an average of €4,660/m² in the fourth quarter of 2024. In contrast to apartments, this puts prices around €270 above the average for Berlin as a whole. This certainly has to do with the positive assessment of the development of Wedding for the coming years. It should be noted that the properties under consideration are predominantly apartment buildings. Single-family homes and semi-detached houses are only available in small numbers in the vicinity of Goethepark.
Rental price development for apartments in the African Quarter
As in the rest of Berlin, there are rent increases in the African Quarter, which brought the value to €13.11/m² in the fourth quarter of 2024. This puts rents slightly above the Berlin average of €12.53/m² in the same period. However, the trend here is rising and over the past few years the price per square meter in the African Quarter in Berlin Wedding has usually been significantly higher. Between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024, there was a 9.8% increase in rents in the African Quarter. As with the information on purchase prices for condominiums and houses in the Afrikanisches Viertel, this is again exemplified by the property at Afrikanische Straße 100 in 13351 Berlin.
The infrastructure in the African Quarter
A good infrastructure is one of the main reasons why tenants or buyers choose a particular area. The African Quarter offers excellent conditions in terms of transport links, parking spaces and educational facilities. The neighborhood benefits from the well-developed infrastructure in the Wedding district.
Transport connections (public transport)
Müllerstraße is located on the north-western edge of the African Quarter and is one of the most important traffic arteries in Wedding. The U6 subway line also runs beneath it, stopping here three times – at Afrikanische Straße, Rehberge and Seestraße stations. Above ground, various bus lines continue to run from north to south and vice versa. To the south, Seestraße crosses Müllerstraße and offers good connections to Pankow and Friedrichshain via the streetcars. The M13 even takes you directly to Warschauer Straße, passing through parts of Pankow, Weißensee and Prenzlauer Berg on the way. For transfers to other districts, drivers can simply follow Seestraße to the west, which merges into the A100 ring road after just a few minutes.
Parking situation and parking space management
It is no news that the parking situation in Berlin is very tight. It is sometimes difficult to find a suitable parking space for your own vehicle. Since December 2022, parking zone 78 has therefore existed, which is part of a more extensive parking management system in Wedding in the African Quarter. Cars can be parked here during the week and on Saturdays for just €1 per hour. Between 20:00 and 09:00 during the week and from Saturday 18:00 to Monday 09:00 there is no charge for parking. For free parking, residents only need a resident parking permit, which is valid for two years and costs €20.40 once.
Demographic situation
Just under 21,000 people currently live in the neighborhood in question, and the trend in Berlin as a whole is generally on the rise. The neighborhood in the African Quarter is a colorful mix, which is particularly appealing to people with an affinity for urban life. Around 19 percent of the residents between Seestraße, Afrikanische Straße and Müllerstraße have a migration background. Another 34 percent are foreign citizens. In this respect, the culture is primarily Arabic and Turkish, which is also reflected in the local food offerings. In terms of age, the largest proportion of the population is between 27 and 45 years old. This group is followed by people of retirement age and 18 to 27-year-olds. As a result, there is plenty on offer for a wide range of demographics: young and old can easily find something to do in the African Quarter.
Party shares
The political tendencies in the African Quarter often fluctuate from left to right. However, there is a general trend towards conservation and slightly conservative thinking with ecological nuances. In the repeat election of the 2021 Bundestag election on February 11, 2024, Green representative Hanna Steinmüller clearly won the direct mandate in the constituency “075 Berlin-Mitte” with over 30% of the first votes. The Greens are also well ahead in the second votes with just over 30%, followed by the SPD and the Left Party.
Schools, daycare centers and playgrounds
There is currently no detailed data on the education and family policy situation in the African Quarter. However, you can take a look at the 2021 district profile for the Park district to get a rough overview. The information is still comparatively up-to-date as of December 2021. It shows, for example, that there are a total of 16 daycare centers and two public elementary school in the catchment area of the African Quarter. The latter are Möwensee Primary School and Anna Lindh Primary School, with the latter educating almost twice as many pupils. Two secondary schools, a special school and a vocational center with a focus on the healthcare sector are also within easy reach. The nearest upper secondary school, Lessing-Gymnasium, is also just a few steps away on the other side of Müllerstrasse. For active leisure activities after school, there are two options: the children’s and youth club “Aktionsraum” on Kongostrasse and the EOTO on Togostrasse. The latter facility is specifically geared towards empowering the African community in Wedding. The numerous green spaces, including Volkspark Rehberge and Goethepark, are another advantage. Here residents will find most of the over 30 playgrounds in the park district. There are also many opportunities for children to play along Togostraße.
Doctors and medical care
Within the African Quarter alone, the medical care provided by private practices should be more than sufficient to meet all the needs of residents. There are also many doctors in private practice in the neighboring districts. For emergencies and major operations, a visit to the nearby Virchow Clinic, which is part of the renowned Charité hospital, is recommended. It is only a few minutes by streetcar from the Seestraße subway station to the hospital. It is located directly on the opposite side of Goethepark. Apart from this, the DRK-Kliniken Berlin Mitte on Drontheimer Straße guarantee comprehensive medical care close to the African Quarter.
Gastronomy: restaurants, cafés and pubs
The gastronomy in the African Quarter is just as diverse as its inhabitants. Food from the Middle East is particularly popular. In addition to the classic snack bars on Müllerstraße, there are also larger restaurants such as Kush, which serves Sudanese dishes such as falafel, makali and halloumi. In addition to Arabic cuisine, you will also find restaurants serving Caribbean and West African delicacies in Berlin’s African Quarter. On Kameruner Straße, Bantou Village invites you to enjoy ndolè stew and palm wine. One of the most popular meeting places is the Flop Café on Otawistraße. Just a few meters away from here, you can stop for a drink at the pub “Zur gemütlichen Ecke”. This is a classic old Berlin institution that is usually open until midnight. The Kibo ice cream parlor is recommended for families. From Transvaalstraße, it looks directly onto the Cornelius-Fredericks-Straße sports field and the playground at the end of Togostraße.
Local recreation, urban greenery and places of interest
One of the most important features of the neighborhood is its proximity to urban greenery. Volkspark Rehberge is a huge green space right on the doorstep. Here you can go for long walks, jogging, picnicking and even swimming. At the western end of the park is the Plötzensee lake, where there are several bathing spots and even a very well-equipped lido with catering facilities. Playgrounds and an archery camp provide variety around the grounds. Families with children like to visit the pheasantry and the wild animal enclosure, which are located in the Rehberge park. There are also several recreational fields and a stadium, so that sport for children and adults is guaranteed in the African Quarter. Well-known clubs include the soccer club BSC Rehberge 1945, the tennis section of TSV Wedding 1862 and the BTC Rot-Gold e. V. The African Quarter also has some cultural attractions to offer: In the huge Cineplex cinema Alhambra on the corner of Müllerstraße and Seestraße, you can watch the latest blockbusters, while the Anti-War Museum on the southern side of Seestraße provides an in-depth account of the pacifist movement.
Conclusion
What makes life and living in Berlin’s African Quarter so attractive is the exciting mix of a very international population with a correspondingly varied gastronomy as well as the proximity to extensive green spaces such as Goethepark and Volkspark Rehberge. Urban flair, culture and relaxation thus go hand in hand. Located on the edge of the Wedding district, the neighborhood is still an insider tip, which is why the prices for buying and renting apartments or houses are still relatively affordable. People even have the opportunity to live in real architectural landmarks. Masters of Neues Bauen such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Bruno Taut have left their mark in the African Quarter. The development in the area of the former Tegel airport is extremely contemporary. This is being transformed into the “Urban Tech Republic”, which will attract researchers from all over the world. In this respect, the African Quarter in Berlin could be an interesting place for scientists to live and commute to work in the future.
