<p>Need Your Opinions! </p>
<p>I have to decide between Paris and Berlin for this year's winter quarter study abroad program.</p>
<p>Which location should I choose? What are the pros/cons of each compared to the other? Where would I have more fun? How do their environments/culture differ?</p>
<p>Language does not matter in my decision. Keep in mind i'm a college student also.</p>
<p>I spent five years in Germany (Munich), but haven't been to Berlin since 1977. At that time it was a strange feeling to be in an island in the middle of communist Europe. There were times when I'd feel like the Germans were too orderly and rule following, other times when I really appreciated the cleanliness, the hiking, and the food (nothing like American stereotypes - best salads I've ever had, wonderful fish). I also spent a year in France (Tours) even longer ago (1974), though I've visited France several times since. If you make any effort at all, I've found the French to be friendly and helpful. Both cities have great museums, good restaurants and plenty of nightlife. It's possibly a little easier to get to other parts of Europe from Berlin than Paris. Really the biggest difference is you are more likely to drink wine in Paris and beer in Berlin.</p>
<p>Paris. We have been there for every season, including New Years eve 1999, and we have never been disappointed. I used to think it was cliche to say it's the most romantic city, but it is. We find Paris to be a very friendly city. It is a walking city. There is always a cafe where we could rest with some wine or coffee. In the winter, we would set outside with heating lamps. Our girls have been going to Paris since they were little, but they would spend a semester in Paris in a heart beat. </p>
<p>You could go to Barcelona very easily from Paris - plane or train. Barcelona is a place you must go also - night clubs, museums, architecture. London is also a train ride away.</p>
<p>Oh, well this depends on what culture you like better. Paris is prettier, more centrally located. Berlin has a hipper alternative scene. I'd start there.</p>
<p>Regarding what culture you'd like better: do you have any idea about that already? If you don't, you should start reading and asking people about it.</p>
<p>I lived in Berlin and I've been to Paris for work. Were I in college now going...I think it would depend on the particulars of the program and where I'd live in each city. I think I'd tend toward Paris, though.</p>
<p>What is your thinking on this question so far?</p>
<p>son loves Berlin...endless fun for the young, not expensive, very cool for those addicted to art, clubbing for the young and in my son's case, classical music, opera venues to die for all over the place</p>
<p>weather...GLOOMY!</p>
<p>Neither, if your main goal is to have fun. If you have other goals, please share them with us - it will help us give you some guidance.</p>
<p>My daughter, who speaks fluent French and has been to Paris numerous times, would say Berlin. It's a younger hipper city these days.</p>
<p>Berlin. It's an amazing place. And some cultural, historical, political, and economic understanding might even slip in between all the fun you'll have there.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, I never said my main goal was to have fun, you should try to read more critically. </p>
<p>Since the Paris and Berlin programs have similar academic programs, I know that I will have the same quality of education at either location. So the only other factors I'm considering are what each city would offer me in other areas. </p>
<p>I'm leaning towards Berlin, my school offers a internship the following summer in Berlin granted you do a quarter abroad. I will see if I can get a financial analyst job at a financial services firm then.</p>
<p>Eh, don't listen to BB - fun should be one of the main goals when studying abroad. I don't mean partying 24/7 of course - I mean enjoy yourself in a new culture and place while still getting academic work done. </p>
<p>I've never been to Berlin or Paris, so i won't comment on that. But I will say that wherever you go, you should visit the other, as well as other cities. There are very cheap flights on Europes bargain airlines, or you could take the train. But make sure you visit Rome or another Italian city, London, etc.</p>
<p>Having visited both in the last year, Paris hands down. A big part of a semester abroad should be the diversity of things that you can see - and Paris is MUCH easier to get in and out of cheaply...</p>
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BunsenBurner, I never said my main goal was to have fun, you should try to read more critically.
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<p>Was that really necessary, DiamondT? Try not to be snit to people who are trying to help you out, please.</p>
<p>Here's what BunsenBurner asked:</p>
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If you have other goals, please share them with us - it will help us give you some guidance.
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</p>
<p>BB wanted to know what you are looking for. And I do too.</p>
<p>We can't be of much help if you don't tell us what's important for you. What you are saying now is that you are leaning toward Berlin because you can get an internship there.</p>
<p>So, it sounds like that's what's important to you. So if that's all, or most of what's important to you....</p>
<p>1) Let's let this thread die. OR</p>
<p>2) Let's hear from you about what you consider important. Help us help you. Don't accuse people of making assumptions about what you want that they haven't made when all they are trying to do is help.</p>
<p>BedHead, she is a kid, give her a break. No need to lecture. Sometimes words do not truly express how one feels. I personally find this very interesting because my daughter is looking to study abroad next year too. Fun is definitely big on her list.</p>
<p>I would go to Berlin</p>
<p>I've been to Paris twice (and I'm done going there, at least for awhile) and Berlin once.</p>
<p>as has been mentioned, Berlin has the younger / alternative scene. Paris comes across as more high brow, at least to me. You can hop on the train from either city and go a lot of places</p>
<p>where else might you want to go while you are abroad? Berlin will lend itself to a weekend in Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Prague, Munich, or Zurich (and 3-4 more hours to the alps), and possibly Krakow, Warsaw, Bratislava and Vienna. Paris will lend itself to Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lausanne, Bern (and 2 more hours to the swiss alps), London, Milan, Munich, and Turin. The train rides to Spain are fairly long from Paris.</p>
<p>Paris gives you more opportunity to travel on weekends, IMO. You can see full train schedules and such at Eurail</a> Passes | Official EuRail Website - Travel by Train Across Europe</p>
<p>soooo... Berlin the city over Paris the city... but Paris over Berlin when taking into account the other places you could go. Paris is actually closer to some places in western Germany than Berlin is. Berlin is way to the east.</p>
<p>Having lived in as a student Paris and visiting Paris often now -- I'd say pick Berlin.</p>
<p>It's the less obvious choice, which means you'll likely encounter slightly more interesting international students who tend to take the road less traveled. </p>
<p>I believe Berlin may be more open to international students, and by open I simply mean "friendly" "helpful" "interested in"</p>
<p>You'll always have Paris... but you won't always have Berlin the way it is now. The city has changed dramatically over the past 20 years -- and will change even more in the next 20.</p>
<p>Berlin seems like the more interesting option to me.</p>
<p>I lived in Berlin for 6 years - ok, while the wall was up, so my experience is a little dated. Nonetheless, I'd say live in Berlin, and vacation in Paris.</p>
<p>Guten Tag!I lived in Berlin for five years and only visited Paris. So, I can't compare but will tell you this: Berlin is one big college town with one-third green space (lakes for swimming, forests for hiking..) and a cutting edge art scene, world class music, bike lanes to everywhere, fantastic clubbing, even for teens, and lovely people. Also, the euro buys alot in terms of apartment rentals (check Craigslist) and the bread and yogurt is the world's best. I miss Berlin terribly.
Good luck--you probably can't go wrong with either.</p>
<p>I have never lived in either, but have visited both numerous times. For me, it would be Paris-- the food! The walks! The incredible museum scene!</p>
<p>BUT-- Berlin has it charms, too. In the end, I think this isn't a decision where advice will help, unless the advisee knows your tastes and dispostion very well.</p>