Have you ever noticed how extraordinary it feels to be surrounded by interesting people in a city with just the right amount of enigma and the unknown? Like watching a beautiful, intelligent film—one where you may not catch every subtle reference, yet it leaves you so curious, intrigued, and inspired.
Back when I lived in Prague at 20, I felt this rush of exploration constantly. There were communities, groups, and easily climbable hierarchies of status that made every weekend feel like an intellectual bliss I looked forward to. The city had dedicated third spaces, gatherings, and events where you felt you were at the very core of the youth’s cultural and intellectual pulse. Almost every conversation felt like a spark—a connection that had depth, excitement, and a shared sense of curiosity about the world but honestly also a good amount of drama. Prague’s young scene was full of thinkers, artists, and exciting people who challenged me and pulled me into ideas I hadn’t considered.
In Berlin, it’s different. Despite all the cultural activity—concerts, parties, readings, poetry slams, debates—I rarely feel that same thrill of genuine intellectual connection. I’ve met people from interesting spheres, but it feels more scattered and anonymous here. It’s as if everyone is floating in their own orbit, and the city lacks a central cultural hotspot to bring us together. Berlin has so many spaces to go, yet few leave a lasting impact or foster that feeling of being at the heart of something intellectually alive.
When I do meet individuals I can connect with intellectually, they often feel like bypassers in a social sense—people without reach, isolated in their own small worlds, despite their interesting ideas. And where there is social reach, there is energy. In Berlin the social reach tends to be in the fashion scene, which feels super hollow. That world is fueled by superficiality, with parties that revolve around the same tired jokes, fashion slang, and a cloud of drugs that mask any real conversation. It’s a scene that’s caught up in image rather than substance, where people strive for recognition but rarely offer anything genuine.
In Prague, I felt that ideas mattered and conversations had weight. Here in Berlin, connections feel transient, based on convenience or appearances rather than a shared curiosity or intellectual bond. Social connections are often formed through university, what company you work for, or some hobbies, or maybe through the party scene, but none of it feels sustainable. It’s strange to be in a city so full of culture yet find it so hard to be genuinely inspired or challenged. Berlin has all the ingredients, but somehow, the recipe just isn’t there for me yet. The city is probably just too big to compare to Prague’s scene? Is there a hotspot i don’t know about? Am i just missing the right group of people? Am I too greedy, wanting to climb the intellectual and social ladder constantly? I don’t want to move back, I want to explore the potential of this city - I need answers.
