Moving from Cologne to Berlin

Moving from Cologne to Berlin brings two tasks that have little to do with the drive: getting out of a Cologne neighbourhood with narrow streets, and getting into a Berlin building whose flat may lie in the back house. The route in between is long, but easy to plan.

The route: A1, A2 and the Berlin ring road

A usual route leaves Cologne on the A1 north into the Ruhr area, then follows the A2 past Bielefeld, Hanover and Magdeburg, and enters the city via the Berlin ring road and the A115. The A2 is one of the main lorry routes between west and east, and roadworks and jams are not unusual. A car needs just under six hours without a break; a removal lorry is slower, and many removal vehicles fall under the EU driving and rest rules, with a break of at least 45 minutes after four and a half hours of driving at the latest.

Leaving Cologne's neighbourhoods

In districts such as the Südstadt, Ehrenfeld, Nippes or the Belgian Quarter, narrow streets and limited parking can make loading more difficult; without a no-parking zone a large lorry then often cannot get close enough to the door. What it is like at your address depends on the street. Describe the situation in your request so that companies can plan the right vehicle.

Arriving in Berlin: back buildings and district offices

Many of Berlin's old flats are in a side wing or a back building: the way leads through the gateway and across the courtyard, often to a fourth floor without a lift. That lengthens the carrying distance and belongs in the request. In Berlin you apply for a no-parking zone not to the city but to the traffic authority of the district office where the new address is. Inside Berlin's S-Bahn ring is the low-emission zone. Vehicles there generally need a green emissions sticker unless an exemption applies. Check with the moving company that the vehicle it uses meets the requirements.

Dates and public holidays

North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin do not share all public holidays: Corpus Christi and All Saints' Day are holidays in Cologne but not in Berlin, while International Women's Day on 8 March is one only in Berlin. Holidays can affect office hours, the schedule and driving restrictions for certain goods vehicles. If your loading or unloading day falls on a Sunday or a holiday in either place, discuss it with the moving company.

What decides the price

The distance is the same in every quote. Differences come from the amount of furniture, floors and carrying distances at both addresses, whether the work takes one day or two, and services such as packing, assembly or storage. More in Long-distance moves: planning the cost.

After moving in, you usually have two weeks to register at a citizens' office (Bürgeramt) in Berlin. As appointments can be limited depending on the office, it is a good idea to look for one early.