How to: survive winter in Berlin

It sounds like a silly thing to say, but lots of people coming to Berlin and studying with us simply are not used to the Northern European chill. Even though I'm from the UK, so I'm more in need of advice on surviving hot weather than the cold, the problem became clear to me when talking with my Honduran friend, who was looking forward to his first winter but who - well - had never really been cold and was a bit apprehensive! So, in honour of our students from sunnier lands, here‘s a crash course of 8 ways to wrap up for the winter, things to remember and what to get used to to make your winter in Berlin one to remember. 

1. It gets dark

One of the things that will surprise our guests from warmer climates will be the

Photo by Artem Sapegim on Unsplash

winter darkness- it gets dark here, and then it stays dark for the majority of the day. It is not uncommon for people working an 8-4 shift to miss daytime altogether! A lot of Northern Europeans are used to it- it does not really bother us much, but it can make some people from brighter countries feel awful. If the dark is getting you down, try investing in a SAD light for your room or kitchen, and maximize your time with sunlight. Some people also take Vitamin D supplements.

  

2. You'll come to appreciate German food a little more

German food, full of heavy meat and potatoes, seems a bit stodgy and heavy for a lot of our foreign friends, but on a harsh winters day, you come to appreciate the heavy, stick-to-your-ribs quality of Rouladen, the comforting nature of a good Eintopf and the warming goodness of winter Glühwein. Big plates of food like this fill you up and keep you warm- a full belly makes for a happy Berliner. A Fleischerei is a good place to get a cheap, filling meal, as are many Imbisses and even some Christmas Markets. Do it in the name of cultural exploration.

3. It is not all snowmen and Glühwein

Berlin, being fairly close to the Baltic, has slightly warmer and wetter winters than somewhere like Munich. The extra degree of heat in the air can really make a lot of difference- it is the boundary between snow, rain and sleet. Couple this with grey skies, strong winds and rain, even when it‘s -2 degrees outside, and you‘re in for something that‘s not the Winter Wonderland you may have hoped for. Having said that, there is snow in Winter in Berlin! You just may not see it for months on end.

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4. Germans take Christmas very, very, seriously.

Christmas is celebrated all over the globe, but the German‘s have a particular love affair with the winter holiday. Prepare to see the the streets lined with lights and decorated stalls selling presents, confections, drinks, sausages, cute christmas decorations, enormous gingerbread biscuits and just general Christmas magic. Christmas in this part of the world really is unlike anywhere else- you'll love it, we're sure. There will be hoards of tourists, though, and watch out for pick pockets!

5. Wrapping up warm

Despite being British, I foolishly tried to avoid this inevitable piece of advice because of my student budget, telling myself I could somehow avoid the cold, and I may or may not have found myself absolutely freezing taking refuge in the closest H&M I could find after attempting to walk from a freezing Warschauerstraße to Kottbusser Tor on a December evening during the snowfall wearing no hat or gloves but rather only a hoodie, jeans and trainers (with holes in). I don't think I've ever been more grateful and relieved to spend 50€ than on that coat in H&M.

So trust me: get yourself a good, warm winter jacket. See it as an investment: you pay for the coat and in turn don't end up with hypothermia. Sounds like a good deal to me. What should it be like? Well, it should ideally be wind-and-waterproof on the outside, and lined with something warm, like a fleece layer or some synthetic padding. A hood is useful (Many can be stowed away or detached if don‘t need it in slightly nice weather), as are big pockets for warming your hands. In addition to this, you should also look at getting some gloves (I like having a thinner pair and a thicker pair), a hat that covers your ears, like a beanie, and a scarf. Thick socks are also a must. Hiking shops like Globetrotter and Jack Wolfskin have a good selection of jackets, but if you‘re after something a little more city friendly, some good items can be picked up in shops like TKMaxx, and even Lidl and Aldi is you visit in 'Warm Winter Things Week'.

6. Invest in a flask

Warm drinks raise both spirits and body temperatures, but it is unreasonable to be expected to go to a cafe every few minutes to get a warm fix. Instead, get a flask, make some tea, coffee or hot chocolate at home and carry it around in your bag. That way, you can warm up whenever you want. A good flask will only cost about 15-20€, and it will have covered the cost of itself once you‘ve walked past Starbuck‘s half a dozen times. You can get super cheap flasks at shops like Tiger (in Alexanderplatz) too, although they obviously aren't quite as good quality. 

7. Bake

Baking is always fun, but having the oven running is also a wonderful way of

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warming up the room you're in, and the house in general. Breads, cakes and biscuits are also good (if not exactly healthy) way of filling you up and giving you energy to keep you warm during a long day out exploring a cold Berlin. You'll also become extremely popular with whoever you're living with. Plus, add a cheeky little layer of extra fat on you will keep you warmer for winter, right? So really, there's nothing bad about baking at all - just make sure to share your baked goods with us at Sprachenatelier.

8. Stay Dry

You can lose heat as much as 25x faster when you‘re wet, so stay dry! As said above, the winters here are often very damp, so try to stay dry when you can. This means often bringing something waterproof with you, and ducking into cafes and shops when the heavens open. It really is worth it. Nothing makes you more miserable than being cold and wet.

So, there are a few of our top tips for surviving the cold German winter. Have we missed anything? Leave your tips and tricks below!