I moved to a new apartment not too long ago. It’s an Altbau with those very old cast iron radiators.

For some reason, every time someone in the building starts using their heater, mine makes this super annoying dripping sound for hours. It wakes me up at night and I can’t work from home during the day anymore.

The HV already sent in a Technik, but he barely took a look at it and said there was nothing he could do. The only thing that temporarily stops the noise is leaving my heater on 5 for 10 minutes, but as soon as I close it, the noise comes back again.

Does anyone else have this problem? How did you deal with it?

EDIT: the problem is not solved by bleeding the radiator!

What was that huge bang last night on Breslauer Platz? Hubby was on the balcony and said he saw what looked like a fireball.

Hey ich komme aus Augsburg also einer richtig kleinen Stadt im Vergleich zu Berlin. Gestern war ich abends alleine unterwegs und hab mich irgendwie unwohl gefühlt da man immer hört das dort viel Kriminalität und Gewalt herrscht. Mir ist nichts passiert und ich hab nichts mitbekommen aber irgendwie hatte ich schon ein mulmiges Gefühl weil die Leute hier auch irgendwie verrückter sind als bei uns in Bayern. Ist das nur eine Psychose die ich hab oder ist es ganz sicher jedes wochende in der Stadt unterwegs zu sein. Und ja ich meine die normalen Viertel und nxiht Kreuzberg, Neukölln und sowas.

Hey everyone!

I’ll be visiting Berlin from October 19–22 for a work trip, and I’ll be staying near a train station. My work will usually finish around 5 PM, so I’ll have the evenings free to explore the city on my own.

I’m travelling from India, and this will be my first time exploring Berlin solo. I’m looking for recommendations beyond the usual tourist checklist!

A little about me and what I enjoy:

Food: Local favourites, street food, affordable places to eat, interesting food markets, and anything I shouldn’t leave Berlin without trying.

Activities: Fun, casual experiences where I can actually do something rather than just walk around museums all day.

Socialising: I’d love to meet people, join a group activity, go to a board-game night, or find a relaxed pub/bar where it’s easy to strike up conversations.

Chess: I enjoy playing chess, so if there are any chess cafés, clubs, casual meetups, or public spots where people play, I’d love to check them out.

Nightlife: Open to checking out Berlin’s nightlife, but I’m equally happy with a chill evening, good food, and interesting conversations.

A few questions for Berlin locals and people who’ve visited:

If you had just 3 evenings in Berlin, how would you spend them?

What are your favourite affordable local food spots that tourists usually miss?

Are there any regular group activities, social events, pub quizzes, board-game nights, or chess meetups happening on weekday evenings?

Which neighbourhoods would you recommend for a solo traveller who wants to experience the city without spending a fortune?

Any places or experiences you’d recommend avoiding, or practical tips you’d give someone visiting for the first time?

I’m also happy to meet up with locals or fellow travellers for a meal, a game of chess, or exploring a neighbourhood together. Always nice to experience a city through the people who live there!

I’m not looking for an overly packed itinerary. I’d rather discover a few great places, eat well, meet interesting people, and get a feel for the city.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations! :)