At first glance, the Winsviertel is a rather inconspicuous area of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district in the Pankow borough. There are mainly housing estates here and comparatively few sights that attract tourists, as is the case in other parts of Berlin. However, the Winsviertel is a popular place to live, mainly due to its location and well-developed infrastructure. This is also reflected in the steadily rising real estate prices in the district, which are well above the overall average for Berlin. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the Winsviertel and the reasons why it has become increasingly attractive for the Berlin housing market in recent years.
The location of the Winsviertel in the Prenzlauer Berg district
Interesting facts about the Winsviertel
The Winsviertel is located between Prenzlauer Allee and Greifswalder Straße in Berlin and is considered a quiet residential area. It is divided into two areas: North of Heinrich-Roller-Straße, there are mainly older buildings from the Wilhelminian era. In some cases, gaps in the building stock can be seen, which are due to the Allied attacks during the Second World War. In the south of the district, there are mainly prefabricated buildings. These were once built as part of a GDR housing program and are still standing today. Winsstraße is central to life in the district of the same name. It has been a protected neighborhood since 2014 (link blogpost -> Overview: Milieu protection areas in Berlin and the impact on property owners and buyers) for Prenzlauer Berg.
What is the real estate situation in the Winsviertel?
The Winsviertel is one of several neighborhoods that belong to the Berlin district of“Prenzlauer Berg“. Due to its attractive location, Prenzlauer Berg is a core catchment area for the surrounding districts. As a result, there is currently significantly more demand for housing in the Winsviertel than supply. This housing deficit speaks for the attractiveness of the location and makes buying property in the Berlin quarter particularly worthwhile. Incidentally, Winsstrasse, which gives the district its name, is one of 10 milieu protection areas in the Prenzlauer Berg district with an area of approx. 63.8 hectares.
The purchase price trend for real estate in the Winsviertel
In Q2 2022, condominiums in Winsstrasse cost an average of EUR 6,449.51/m². The overall price for condominiums in Berlin is significantly lower at EUR 4,199/m². Compared to the prices from Q3 2021, prices for condominiums in the Winsviertel have risen by a total of 2.4%. Since 2018, there has even been a price increase of almost 45 %.
The purchase price for houses has also risen rapidly since Q3 2018. At that time, it was still EUR 4,445/m²; the price is now EUR 6,946/m². This corresponds to an increase of 56% compared to Q3 2018. Here, too, the average for Berlin as a whole is significantly lower at EUR 5,111/m². In the past quarter alone, the purchase price for houses in the Winsviertel rose by 3.2 %.
How much does a condominium in the Winsviertel cost?
The exact average price of a condominium in Winsviertel is difficult to determine, as there is only ever data for individual streets or the entire Prenzlauer Berg area that can be used for calculation. The current price for apartments in Winsstrasse and its immediate surroundings is 6,450 EUR/m². A continuous upward trend in prices can be observed over the last 4 years.
How much does a house in the Winsviertel cost?
As there are only a few single-family homes in the Winsviertel, the data for the purchase price development of houses mainly relates to houses with several tenants. The average price for a house in Winsstrasse or the immediate vicinity was EUR 6,946/m² in Q2 2022. Here, too, a constant increase in the value of properties can be observed in recent years.
The rental price trend for real estate in the Winsviertel district
Prices for rental apartments in the Winsviertel district have risen steadily in recent years. Since Q3 2018, they have risen by a total of 19%. A similar price trend can be seen throughout Berlin: Here, rental prices for apartments rose from EUR 8.91/m² in Q3 2018 to EUR 10.34/m² in Q2 2022.
No specific data is available for the average prices of apartment buildings in the Winsviertel, but based on the development in Berlin as a whole, a clear upward trend can be assumed here too. There has been a total increase of 28% in the prices of apartment buildings here in recent years.
How high is the net rent for an apartment in the Winsviertel?
For Q2 2022, an average net cold rent of EUR 6,450/m² was calculated for Winsstrasse. Although these figures cannot be applied to the entire Winsviertel, they certainly represent a good approximation.
Which streets belong to the Winsviertel?
The most important street in the Winsviertel is clearly Winsstraße. It runs from Danziger Straße to Heinrich-Roller-Straße. The district is also bordered by Greifswalder Strasse to the east and Prenzlauer Allee to the west. These two streets are connected by the following cross streets in the Winsviertel: Chodowieckistraße, Jablonskistraße, Christburger Straße, Marienburger Straße, Immanuelkirchstraße and Heinrich-Roller-Straße. Raabestraße, on the other hand, only runs from Winsstraße to Prenzlauer Allee.
The infrastructure in the Winsviertel
The infrastructure of the Winsviertel district is described in more detail below. This includes the area’s transport connections and demographic location, as well as its proportion of parties and the current parking situation. Reference is also made to the gastronomic features and the number of green spaces in the Winsviertel.
Transport links
The Winsviertel in Berlin has good public transport connections. It can be easily reached by bus, streetcar, subway and train. All means of transport run at regular intervals and can be reached from anywhere in the district within a few minutes’ walk.
Demographic situation
A total of 165,055 people lived in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district at the end of 2020. Of these, 82,870 were female, which corresponds to a rate of 50.22%. The largest proportion of the population is made up of the 27-45 age group with 63,757 people.
The proportion of artists living in the Prenzlauer Berg district was still over 15% in 2011. Since then, however, this has fallen continuously and was only around 12.5% in 2018, which is probably due to the rising property prices in the district.
The proportion of foreigners in Prenzlauer Berg, on the other hand, is rising steadily, with people from the USA and Western Europe such as Italy, France and Spain settling here more and more frequently. Most foreigners living in this part of the city are between 27 and 45 years old. A total of 52,445 people in Prenzlauer Berg have a migration background.
Population structure Prenzlauer Berg (as of 2020)
Party shares
The new Bundestag was elected in Germany in 2021. The election results in Berlin can be broken down by individual districts and areas. The election results for the constituency of Berlin-Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg-Prenzlauer Berg Ost can also be considered representative for the Winsviertel. The clear winner was the Greens with 37.9% of the vote, followed by the Left Party with 17.7% and the SPD with 17.4%. The CDU only won 7.6% of voters, while the FDP and AFD were even lower with 5.4% and 3.9% respectively. The remaining 10.1% were distributed among the other parties that had put themselves forward for the election.
The parking situation in the Winsviertel
In Berlin, the so-called “parking zone management” applies. Parking zones mean that you have to pay for parking unless you have a resident parking permit. This permit can be applied for by residents who live in a management zone and are registered there. It is valid for a period of 2 years and entitles the holder to park in the relevant zone. However, it does not entitle you to a parking space. Parking space management in the Prenzlauer Berg district was introduced a few years ago due to the constant shortage of parking spaces. The management has led to an overall easing of the parking situation, but there is still room for improvement. For this reason, the possibility of permanent traffic calming in Prenzlauer Berg is currently being discussed, which would of course also affect the Winsviertel.
Gastronomy
Compared to other Berlin districts, the Winsviertel is rather quiet. There are fewer tourists and more residential complexes, which of course makes living here particularly attractive. Nevertheless, the district has a lot to offer, especially in terms of gastronomy. There are many cafés and restaurants in Winsstraße in particular, many of which are worth a visit, such as the “Rosa Canina”, where you can try organic ice cream, or the “Muse” with its stylish interior and delicious burgers and sandwiches for every taste.
Parks and green spaces
In recent years, several green spaces and leisure facilities have been created in the Winsviertel, which has significantly improved the infrastructure and quality of life in this part of Berlin.
The Ernst Thälmann Park
Although Ernst-Thälmann-Park is not located directly in the Winsviertel, but opposite it in Danziger Straße, it is a popular destination for walks and excursions into the countryside for the residents of the district. The park was named after the famous Weimar KPD politician Ernst Thälmann, who also chaired the party. Thälmann was murdered in the Buchenwald concentration camp under the National Socialist regime. There is still a bronze monument in his honor in the middle of the park. The high-rise buildings bordering the park are now listed buildings. But cultural institutions such as the “Theater unterm Dach” are also part of the Ernst Thälmann Park area.
The Leise Park
Leise Park is located in a side street of Prenzlauer Allee and was originally a cemetery. Parts of it can still be seen today, as gravestones have also been left in the park. However, these contribute to the quiet and contemplative atmosphere of the park. Today, the park also has play and recreational facilities for young and old. Despite its name, children can also run around in the park, while for adults it is a place to walk and relax. The entire park covers an area of 15,900 m².
Our Winsviertel tips
The Stadtplatz Marie with its adventure playground, a walk in the beautiful Leise Park or a shopping tour on Winsstraße – we reveal our insider tips for leisure activities in Berlin’s Winsviertel.
Tip 1: Marie town square with adventure playground
Stadtplatz Marie is a central meeting place in the Winsviertel district. It is located in Marienburgerstraße and is approx. 6000 m² in size. Surrounding a large green area are several park benches and a 1000 m² adventure playground. The square is illuminated in the evening and serves as a meeting place for clubs and initiatives as well as a recreational area for local residents.
Tip 2: A walk in Leise Park
The former use as a cemetery can still be felt on a walk through Leisepark. Parts of graves and tombs are reminders of the park’s history, but it is now used by children and adults alike as a place to play, have fun and go for walks. The extensive green space was created as a result of joint planning by children and adult residents of the Winsviertel district and is often and gladly used.
Tip 3: Shopping on Winsstraße
During a shopping tour on Winsstraße, you can be inspired by interesting styles and influences in stores such as the second-hand store “Soeur” or the interior design store “Kilda”. Cafés and restaurants along the most important street in the Winsviertel invite you to linger and offer culinary delights for every taste.
Conclusion
As part of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district in the Pankow borough, the Winsviertel seems rather inconspicuous and quiet compared to other areas. Although not many tourists come here, the district with its listed residential buildings still has its charm. It has good transport links and its location makes it very easy to reach from other parts of Pankow. Demand for apartments in Winsviertel currently exceeds supply, which is why property prices for buying and renting apartments and houses have been rising steadily for several years. The parking situation is also currently rather tense due to the high volume of traffic. However, concepts are already being developed to change this. Extensive green spaces and interesting shopping opportunities as well as various cafés and restaurants round off the impression of the Winsviertel as a quiet and pleasant residential area in the heart of Berlin.
