Berlin Travel Tips
Every time I visit Berlin, I fall in love with my hometown all over again - the city where I was born, where I learned to be independent, where I learned about diversity, and that a community flourishes by being a melting-pot of cultures.
With this post I would like to share a few tips for visiting this amazingly colorful, rough around the edges, immensely diverse, and ever changing city!
1. Best Time to Visit Berlin
Summer - I absolutely love coming to Berlin in the warm months...any time between June and September it is (mostly) guaranteed to be any where between 60 and sometimes up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Although Berlin is not by a beach, it has several canals, lakes, rivers, and according to Visit Berlin, the capital of Germany has over 2,500 public parks and gardens - needless to say there are countless places to relax in the sun and by the water.
One of my favorite places to go in the summer is the Badeschiff an der Arena - which is a giant event space that houses a floating pool on top of Berlin's river Spree! The Badeschiff (in English: bathing ship) is open from May till September and sits by a makeshift beach, overlooking the Spree. A small bar offers drinks and on rotating days you can get massages or do yoga outside.
Advice: go during the week so it's not too packed!
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| Badeschiff - picture taken from the beach bar |
Winter - The climate in the winter months is pretty similar to New Jersey weather, but the days tend to be a bit gloomier than here. So I would suggest to go in December - although the days are short and not always sunny, Christmas time in Berlin is magical...maybe because it reminds me so much of being younger, but regardless...it is a beautiful and festive time in this gorgeous city.
Number one item on one's To-Do list should be to visit a "Weihnachtsmarkt" (in English: Christmas market). There are tons to choose from this list, but my favorite one is the Weihnachtsmarkt at the Gendarmenmarkt - located in walking distance from the historic Brandenburger Tor (in English: Brandenburger Gate) and numerous other important landmarks.
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| Dome at the Gendarmenmarkt |
2. Where to Stay
So many options! You can explore Berlin on any budget...even hostels (no - do not freak out because you are thinking of a specific horror movie!) offer a great way to visit this city without spending a lot on accommodations. Some hostels are artistically designed and some also have rooms for two people instead of for multiple guests. Although I have never tested any of these, click here for a list of the top 10 hostels compiled by The Guardian.
I would recommend staying closer to city center if you are not in Berlin for a very long time. This way you are close to public transportation and most of the historical landmarks.
3. Must See Sites
I could probably write a book on all the places I would recommend visiting, but I know I need to keep this fairly short and sweet...so if you end up in Berlin Mitte (the city center mentioned in "Where to Stay") then you are pretty close to several great locations.
Definitely visit the Brandeburger Tor, which is also close to the Reichstag - Berlin's parliament building. From there, take a short train ride to the East Side Gallery - a 1,316 meter piece of the Berlin Wall that has been saved from demolition to commemorate the hundreds of East Berliners who wanted to escape to freedom, but were brutally murdered before the wall practically came down over night in November 1989.
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| Brandenburger Tor |
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| East Side Gallery |
A really great way to explore Berlin is by water...you can take a boat ride along the river Spree and you get to see some really great architecture and historical landmarks. Here is a link to one of the tours I have been on: River Cruise
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| River Cruise |
Last, but certainly not least, Berlin is home to a WIDE variety of cuisines - due to its many immigrants, the food culture in Berlin offers something for everyone. While heavily influenced by Turkish culture, Berlin is a haven for Asian, African, and South American cuisine, as well.
A really great way to experience different types of foods, is to visit a market. The following weekly market is located right on the border between two of Berlin's super diverse districts "Kreuzberg" and "Neukoelln" and is worth an experience. Here you can wander along the canal, people watch, and taste foods from different parts of the world. For more info, click HERE.
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| Market along the Maibachufer |
One of my favorite places to go (especially in the colder months) is Markthalle Neun, which is an indoor market hall that offers a wide variety of culinary delicacies. On Thursday evenings they host the Street Food Thursday event, which draws tons of visitors due to the tasty and diverse food and drink options represented on those nights. Definitely a must on one's To-Do list!
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| Markthalle Neun |
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| Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of Mojito |
I could go on and on and on...but I think this might be a good start to help you plan a trip to this magnificent city! If this sparked your interest and you have any questions, I would be happy to help!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Love,
Lena
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