The city has been trying to erase the East-West divide since 1989, but you can still feel the difference. West Berlin is richer and more “German”, with wide avenues, clean sidewalks, bike lanes and a kind of “organized” feel. The East, in contrast, is more “messy”. There is more graffiti, more abandoned areas, more young people walking around, trams, and a cool vibe like nowhere else. However, Berlin is changing quickly with lots of Eastern areas being gentrified and maybe, in a few years, the divide will be less obvious.
Areas in the West: Schöneberg, Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Tempelhof, Steglitz, Wedding, Spandau.
Areas in the East: Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, Lichtenberg, Treptow, Weissensee.
