There is a degree of crossover between sports and leisure facilities, especially in new, high-end centres. These have gyms, spas and saunas and in some cases offer yoga classes and advice on well-being. These mega-gym complexes have only sprung up in recent years, however. The older sites are municipal pools and community sports centres, of which there are many. Some of these have gym equipment, but many expats complain that it is woefully old or inadequate. It is worth checking with your local Sporthalle before paying a lot for a gym membership. These are listed by neighbourhood under www.lsb-berlin.net/sportstaetten.

Given Berlin’s size, it is wise to join or visit a centre near your work or home, or the travel time might make you think twice about attending. Most neighbourhoods have sports centres and many gyms have a number of branches. In addition to the municipal and private locations listed in this chapter, a number of hotels have excellent (if perhaps a little expensive) sport facilities.