Is Berlin still sexy or just poor?

"the German capital remains mired in an economic crisis, registering a new record debt of nearly 76 billion this year. But the big question is: is it still attractive, or is it simply poor? If we look at tourist figures, Berlin has not yet recovered from the decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, it has attracted fewer visitors so far this year than in previous years. According to the Berlin Statistical Office, almost 9.2 million tourists visited the city in the first nine months of 2025."

"I would say that tourism has stagnated at the moment, explains Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Visit Berlin, the official tourism portal. He points out, however, that Berlin remains among the three or four most visited cities in Europe, along with London, Paris, and Rome, with 12.7 million visitors last year. In his opinion, this is not an isolated case, as London and New York are also struggling to return to pre-COVID figures."

The German capital faces an economic crisis with record debt of nearly 76 billion and persistent financial strain. Tourism has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with almost 9.2 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025, a 3.5% year-on-year decline and far below 2019's 14 million. Domestic tourists account for more than half of visitors and are known for cautious spending. Accommodation and food prices have risen, constraining visitor expenditure. Berlin remains among Europe's most visited cities, but iconic attractions and nightlife provide limited offset amid broader economic uncertainty. Comparable global cities also struggle to regain pre-COVID figures.

Read at english.elpais.com