Berlin is safe for remote workers and indeed a major tech, culture and politics hub in Europe. In this century, Berlin has solidified its place as a major global city in Europe, with excellent connections to the rest of the world. Berlin is also an extremely popular tourist destination both for domestic and international travel. With such a fantastic economic environment and communications infrastructure, Berlin has also become an extremely popular city particularly among remote workers. In the last 5 years, however, with a rise in poverty and terrorism in Europe, lots of people are asking “Is Berlin safe for remote workers?”. The answer is an overwhelming “yes!” since, although the city does have its vulnerabilities, it has a strong security infrastructure that serves to reassure citizens and visitors.
By far, the most common form of crime in Berlin that visitors are likely to experience is pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. This is most likely to occur around the more crowded and touristic parts of the city, where pick-pocketing rings regularly operate. An important thing you can do to avoid becoming a victim is not flashing valuable on the street, carrying only the necessary amounts of cash, and being extra careful when interacting with strangers in crowded areas.
Scams can also be common in Berlin, and visitors are likely to be the most popular target. A common form of theft in both Spanish and German cities is being approached by men pretending to be police officers who ask you for identification and attempt to distract you while somebody else takes your belongings. Equally, visitors and remote workers will want to steer clear of the shell games popular on sidewalks near the most important attractions in the city - you can be sure that if you participate you will lose your money to the fraudster in charge of the game.
The most common reason you are likely to ask “Is Berlin safe for remote workers?” will be the recent uptick in terrorist incidents that have befallen the city. Since the 2016 Christmas Market attack right in the heart of Berlin, the city has remained on high alert and continued to experience cases of terrorism. While it is often impossible to prevent these incidents, visitors should rest assured that local authorities take serious measures to keep all individuals safe and work to regularly thwart attacks. Of course, all visitors are encouraged to report suspicious behavior and take extra care when visiting packed spaces.
Berlin is safe for remote workers attracted to the city’s nightlife scene, also. Without a doubt, some of the city’s most famous spaces are its internationally-renowned techno and EDM clubs. Visitors should feel confident in visiting these spaces as they are well-guarded by vigilant bouncers and IDs are checked throughout. Of course, you should expect drugs to be commonplace in many venues but all visitors are advised to be responsible about usage - drug use remains illegal in Germany, and the nightclub circuit in Europe has in recent year suffered deaths arising from lethal highs.
Finally, those asking whether Berlin is safe for remote workers will be encouraged by the fact water and food are considered safe here and usually treated with the very highest standards. Equally, Germany’s health system is very well-regarded and equipped, although all remote workers are still advised to carry health insurance.
For more information about living in Berlin as a remote worker, check out our complete Berlin guide.