THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO BERLIN?

Here are some helpful resources to help familiarise yourself with the local area.

welcome       

While less than an hour’s drive from central Berlin, BBIS feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of a big city. The school is located in the family-friendly town of Kleinmachnow in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district of Brandenburg, with easy access to both Berlin and Potsdam by school bus and public transport. 

If you’ve never explored these areas before, here’s a short overview of Berlin, Potsdam and Kleinmachnow – plus helpful links to official websites for more information.

Want to learn more? Join us for a virtual chat!

an introduction to berlin

As the capital of Germany, Berlin is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city that boasts a unique mix of historic buildings and artefacts, modern museums and cultural precincts, and hip neighbourhoods and shopping areas. Home to 3.7 million residents from 190 countries around the world, it is the country’s greenest city, with plenty of parkland and waterways to explore.

Quick facts about Berlin

  • 44% of its area is covered by waterways, forests, rivers and parks, and it is surrounded by stunning lakes
  • Berlin has more canals than Venice or Amsterdam and 1700 bridges, 180 km of navigable waterways
  • There are 9 castles, 3 world-class Opera Houses, and 150 theatres
  • With 180 museums, there are more than enough to entertain every rainy day (on average, 106 days of rain)
  • Berlin is home to three UNESCO world heritage sites
Learn more

an introduction to potsdam

Potsdam is a beautiful city just 24km from Berlin. The capital of the state of Brandenburg is home to 183,000 residents and boasts the highest number of palaces per inhabitant in Germany. Many of its 16 palaces and historic parklands are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Quick facts about Potsdam

  • The world's first silent film was made here in 1912, and many blockbusters followed
  • Potsdam is surrounded by lakes and the river Havel which turns the city into an island
  • The city has 30 research institutes and universities
  • Everywhere is within easy cycling distance
Learn more

an Introduction to kleinmachnow

With 20,000 inhabitants, Kleinmachnow is a small town in the family-friendly municipality of Potsdam-Mittelmark in Brandenburg. It’s here that BBIS calls home. South-west of Berlin Steglitz-Zehlendorf and east of Potsdam, Kleinmachnow is located along the Teltow Canal and surrounded by beautiful forests.

Learn more

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

Want to learn more? Join us for a virtual chat.

We hold regular Q&A video chats with our Principals, Head of Boarding School, IB Coordinators and Admissions Team. This is your opportunity to ask us about anything – from the IB curriculum, to the admissions process or student life at BBIS.

Sessions

Early Education and Admissions
with Beth Dressler, Primary School Principal, and our Admissions Team
21 January 2025, 9 am (CET)

Primary School and Admissions
with Beth Dressler, Primary School Principal, and our Admissions Team
21 January 2025, 10 am (CET)

Secondary School and Admissions
with Trixie Siemens, Secondary School Principal, and our Admissions Team
21 January 2025, 1 pm (CET)

Boarding School and Admissions
with Steven Crossley, Head of Boarding, and our Admissions Team
21 January 2025, 2 pm (CET)