Kreuzberg

Alternative culture hub with excellent Turkish food and nightlife. Generally safe by day but avoid Görlitzer Park and be cautious around party areas after 11pm.

Kreuzberg has this cool multicultural vibe with lots of Turkish families and young locals mixed together. During the day you'll find great bakeries and cheap food along Kottbusser Damm, and Bergmannstraße has all the vintage shops and cafes where solo travelers fit right in. But timing matters here - Görlitzer Park turns sketchy after 11pm with drug dealers hanging around, so even locals avoid cutting through there at night. The area around Kottbusser Tor can feel a bit rough after dark with more street noise and drunk people, though it's not dangerous exactly. The U-Bahn stations have more police at night which helps. During the day it's great for exploring and the locals are friendly, just stick to the main streets once it gets dark.