Hackescher Markt

Central transport hub with Art Nouveau courtyards and shopping. Practical for first-time visitors but crowded with typical tourist-area pickpocketing risks.

Hackescher Markt is another tourist magnet with those famous courtyards full of shops and restaurants. You'll see crowds of tourists all day, especially between 11am-5pm when pickpockets like to work the shopping areas - just keep your bag zipped and in front of you. The big S-Bahn station means there are always people around, which is good for safety but also creates opportunities for theft. Cops patrol regularly since it's so tourist-heavy. Evenings are generally safe with people going to theater and dinner, plus the courtyards stay well-lit. Solo travelers fit right in with all the other tourists, and everyone speaks English since they're used to international visitors. It's very safe overall, just touristy rather than giving you a real feel for Berlin life.