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Neukölln is a borough of Berlin. It consists of four sub-districts (Britz, Buckow, Rudow and Neukölln). Neukölln has a history as a poor working-class district with a large number of migrants. Neukölln offers big contrasts between the densely populated northern part and the more village looking southern parts. Southern neighborhoods Britz, Buckow and Rudow became part of Berlin in the 1930s and kept its structure. In the past few years, the northern part of Neukölln, nick-named Kreuzkölln, has seen a transformation as a large influx of students and artists are moving into the neighborhood.

[edit] Get in

The U-Bahn line U7 and U8 are the backbone of transportation in Neukölln. All stations from U8-Schönleinstrasse to U8-Hermannstrasse and U7-Hermannplatz to U7-Grenzallee are northern Neukölln. Starting from Parchimer Allee until the terminal station Rudow you will see the smaller houses, apartment blocks and gardens of Britz, Buckow and Rudow. Several bus lines connect the residential areas especially in the southern parts.

The ferderal motorway 100 (the new city highway) is constructed on the former border line to Treptow-Köpenick. It offers a fast way to the new BBI airport which will be from October 2011 onwards the only airport for Berlin. During rush hour the entry and exit ways might be congested but the main traffic is to come after the airport opening.

[edit][add listing] See

Neukölln has been known for its high immigrant population, but is now considered to be a highly up-and-coming neighbourhood of Berlin where more and more artists, students, and new homeowners are moving to. Particularly northern Neukölln – also known as Kreuzkölln – has seen a huge influx of money and has become particularly trendy, and this trend is moving steadily further south. Particular areas of note is the part of Neukölln close to the Maybachufer channel that also hosts the famous Türkish market (off of U-Bahn Schönleinstrasse), the Schillerkiez (off of U-Bahn Boddinstrasse), and the Richardplatz (off of U-Bahn Karl-Marx-Strasse)

[edit][add listing] Do

• Türkish Market, [1]. Every Tuesday and Friday, 11am-6.30pm, the biggest and best market in Berlin is in Neukölln. An absolut must visit.
• Neuköllner Oper, [2]. Visit a play and be amazed by the creativity, which the opera house has won some awards for
• Britzer Garten, [3]. A 90 hectare garden and former national garden show place (1984); it's pedestrian only with big playgrounds for kids, very famous with children and seniors to watch the beautiful flora on weekends.
• Stadtbad Neukölln Built from 1912-14 in Art Noveau style and carefully renovated in 1984 this swimming bath (actually two in one building) with Mosaics and domes everywhere is one of Berlin's most beautiful swimming pools. For architecture fans, it is a must.
• Sonnenallee got famous through the film [4] named after this street. During the cold war, the street was split in an Eastern and Western part.
• Ballhaus Rixdorf (Tango Dancing), 10967, ☎ 030/ 691 63 70 (info@ballhaus-rixdorf.de, fax: 030/ 692 38 21), [5]. Sa 9:30PM to close. Tango dancing starts at 9:30PM on Saturdays. This place features an amazing atmosphere, impressive dancers, and full-out Tanguero and Tanguera dress.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Karstadt Hermannplatz [6] (U-Bahn Hermannplatz), built in 1929, is a large clothing, books, beauty products, post office, etc. shopping center with its own high-end Supermarket, probably the best on this side of town next to the one at KaDeWe. It has fresh-everything, with its own butcher section, seafood section, cheese-section, etc.

• Kindl-Boulevard Passage shopping center on Hermanstrasse [7] (U-Bahn Boddinstrasse) is another place with plenty of stores, cinema, and a newly renovated Kaiser's supermarket.

• Gropiusstadt Passagen (U7 station Johannistaler Chaussee) is the biggest mall in Berlin and offers all kind of shops.

There are additional malls in the whole district, such as the "Neukölln Arkaden" at the U7-Station "Rathaus Neukölln". They offer different shops, and a cinema known as "Karli", where also lots of turkish movies are played.

Note that there are very many different kinds of especially food shops (such as asian, indish, african etc.), which you should glance through because they sell a wide variety of food for good prices.

Furthermore to notice is, that Berlin itself is famous for its' so called "Spätis", describing kiosks who are open until about 2 or 3PM (or the whole night) and offer everything from cigarettes over drinks and sweets, but also standard food, as milk, sugar, noodles or salt. So if you happen to notice you ran out of whatever a "Späti" is your address to get it ( they are more expensive than a regular shop, but still way cheaper than a gas station).

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Cafe Rix, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, 12043 Berlin, T: 030-686 90 20. Next to the Neukölln Opera house with international cuisine.
• Musashi, Kottbusser Damm 102, 10967 Berlin, T: 030-693 20 42. Good, small japanese imbiss-restaurant, one of the better Sushi in Berlin.
• Café Selig, Herrfurthplatz 14, 12049 Berlin, T: 030-620 05 530 [8]. Cute café/restaurant in the Schillerkiez by the church. Good place to people watch, drink a cafe, and to eat brunch.
• Britzer Mühle, Buckower Damm 130, 12349 Berlin, T: 030-604 10 05, [9]. Classical German cuisine in an old wind mill.
• Casa Montella , Krokusstraße 80, 12357 Berlin, T:030-662 03 95 Good Italian restaurant in Rudow.
• Louis, Richardplatz 5, 12055 Berlin - Austrian food, giant schnitzels and quality beer on tap
• Götterspeise, Karl-Marx-Straße 131, 12043 Berlin
• Tabibito, Karl-Marx-Str. 56 , 12043 Berlin. Japanese restaurant, family-run, very friendly (sometimes you get a snack for free), since it's little, can be very crowded in the evenings.
• Café Jacques, Maybachufer 8, 12047 Berlin. Great French cuisine (especially the fish and the self-made noodles), nice service, very crowded though.
• Kantina von Hugo, Friedelstr 31 Tel 030 22432825. Small cozy Mediterranean mama-style home cooking situated near the Landwehrkanal. The menu is small but changes everyday. Friendly and not too expensive, very nice vines. Fresh pasta is a must.
• Tang, Karl-Marx-Str. 215 (3 mins from S-Neukölln), ☎ +49-30-684 33 36. 11-23. Authentic Hunan Chinese Food at rock bottom prices (under 7 € for a very filling main course). Ignore the menu, ask for the specials. The sticky, spicy & heartwarming pork & aubergine dish is a must, sometimes rarities such as chicken feet are on offer. budget.  edit
• Focacceria la Tarantella (12047), Pannierstrasse 57 (near U7 / U8 Hermannplatz). Pizzeria serving fresh homemade Pizza and Pasta, starting a 4 €, also offer changing 3-course menu.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Especially in the northern part of Neukölln (east of Kottbusser Damm, next to the Kreuzberg-border), a bar scene gets more and more established. However, in the rest of Neukölln are a few student-friendly bars. One is the punky "syndikat" on 56 Weisestrasse. Nearby Kreuzberg offers more variety.

• Froschkönig, Weisestr. 17 [10] Awesome pianobar with literature nights and occasional jazz concerts. Very relaxed atmosphere, located in the Schillerkiez.

• Syndikat, Weisestr. 56 [11] One of the most famous bars in this part of town. It's been around for some 25 years and considered to be one of the best 'kneipen' in Neukölln.

• Freies Neukoelln, Pannierstr. 54 [12] The best beer in town and a very good kitchen. Open daily from 7 p.m.

• Kulturverein Kinski, Friedelstr. 28. Famous for late nights and cultural activities. Frequented by Neukölln film enthusiasts, and occasionally rare films are screened. A nice feature: if you want to organize an artistic event or plan to DJ, just go there and sign up in the list at the bar.
• Hamy's (12043), Hasenheide 10 (U7 and U8: Hermannplatz.). Delicious Vietnamese cuisine, a main course for 4,50 Euros. They have a daily changing menu and great lassis.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Because Neukölln is not really in the city center, most hotels are for coach tours or bigger groups. They are busiest on weekends. If you come with a group (at least 10 people) negotiate a discount.

• Estrel, [13]. Self proclaimed biggest hotel and entertainment complex in Europe. 1,125 rooms, a convention center and Michael Jackson's father stayed here.

• Mercure Hotel Tempelhof airport, [14].