Guide to Berlin – What to Do In Berlin
GUIDE TO BERLIN
If you are going to Berlin and are looking for the ultimate guide to Berlin than you found it! I went to Berlin for three days and two nights. I was extremely caught off guard by how beautiful I Berlin actually was. Now I’m sure we all know a good amount about Germany’s history, but the effect it had on this city is definitely seen through its buildings and its culture.
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One thing that caught me by surprise is that a lot of people in Germany speak extremely good English. Something I like to do about every city I go to, is try to use the local language. German is extremely difficult (at least to me), so trying to speak german kind of just made me look like an idiot. Anyway, I visited Berlin in late Germany and it was the first trip I did as a student abroad. The weather was extremely cold and the weather was extremely grey, so I’d recommend visiting in late spring or early fall!
Here’s my Guide to Berlin and all the things I did and thought were impressive. I hope you find this guide to Berlin useful and leave your comments below!
WHAT TO DO IN BERLIN
Berlin Wall
We all learned about it in our history class, which makes seeing it that much more real. It’s a wall that once divided East Berlin and West Berlin. The wall itself symbolized the divide between the communist bloc and the capitalist bloc, which lasted from 1961 to 1989. There’s still quite a few walls that still stand today. Although the walls themselves don’t seem that tall, no man’s land once existed between the walls where anyone who tried to climb over usually got killed by officers. On some roads you’ll see dotted lines that represent where the wall once stood.
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße 3-100
Many people mistake this as being part of the Berlin Wall since its constructed of the same kind of concrete, but its not. It’s a gallery full of amazing street art making it the longest outdoor gallery. Some ot the murals are being constantly replaced but there’s quite a few that are honored in its history. Most of the work is thought-provoking and colorful pieces that definitely grabbed my attention. I definitely recommend taking the full stroll from the beginning (which starts at Warschauer Strasse Station) to end to capture some of the most amazing street art in Berlin!
Reichstag Building
Platz der Republik 1
Admission to this impressive building is totally free but requires advance registration. It is open daily from 8AM to Midnight and has admission every quarter of an hour. You can register here.
The dome of the Reichstag Building has an incredible view of Berlin. I personally prefer the view at night because you’ll see all of Berlin lit up. Audio guides are available for free and is an easy to use, personal guide that will give you information about the Reichstag and its surroundings. You will learn about the German Bundestag and the work of Parliament, and you will see some impressive views as you walk to the top of the dome.
Museum Island
Basically a museum of islands about Berlin’s history. If you really like museums, then you can spend a day going through all the different museums. However, I wouldn’t spend too much time here except a quick walk through for a couple of photographs.
Brandenburg Gate
Pariser Platz
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most important monuments in Berlin. It’s a former symbol that once divided the city and was a way visitors were able to see a little bit of the world behind the iron curtain. Once the wall fell, the gate turned into a symbol of reunification, in which it opened traffic between both sides of the city.
It’s also a place where you’ll see lots of protests because it’s in the middle of a couple different embassies. I prefer the view of the gate at night because it’s lit up with lights and looks extremely beautiful.
Checkpoint Charlie
Friedrichstraße 43-45
Checkpoint Charlie was one of the crossing points (and the most famous) between West and East Berlin. You can catch a glimpse of what Checkpoint Charlie looked back then and even take a picture with the guards that stand there! Keep in mind, these aren’t real guards so you’ll most likely have to pay to take a photo with them!
Holocaust Memorial
Cora-Berliner-Straße 1
The Holocaust memorial is a memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. Walking through the memorial gives you a sense of uneasiness and gloominess, which it’s meant to do. Entrance here is completely free, but please respect the memorial! Do not climb or jump on top of the memorial as the stone blocks represent all the murdered Jews during the war!! It’s extremely disrespectful! You can read more about it in this article
Topography of Terror
Niederkirchnerstraße 8
An exhibition that is located where the Gestapo headquarters, the high command and security service of the SS, and the Reich Security Main Office were once located. This area was once the root of Nazi persecution and terror. Entrance is completely free. Throughout the exhibition you will see photographs, documents, and documentaries from Nazi history. This includes excerpts from Hitler himself, and other prominent SS officials translated from German to English.
Explore Berlin’s Street Art
One of my favorite things about Berlin was its amazing street art everywhere. There were hidden alleyways with amazing walls covered in art. Berlin is an extremely artistically impressive city, so explore the walls while you’re at it!
Go to one of Berlin’s Flea Markets
If you’re trip to Berlin doesn’t include a trip to the flea market then you’re definitely missing out. I found some amazing coffee, little trinkets, and amazing deals at several different flea markets. Most of them run on the weekends only, but ask the reception at your hotel/hostel for more information on the closest flea markets to your location!
WHERE TO STAY IN BERLIN ON A BUDGET
Circus Hostel/Hotel
When I went to Berlin I stayed at the Circus Hostel. It’s a budget accommodation that is in an extremely great location. The accommodation is nice for the price and the staff is extremely helpful! They have daily walking tours (which I highly recommend doing) and a cheap breakfast buffet too! I book all my hostels using Hostelworld.
WHAT TO EAT IN BERLIN
Doner Kebab – Mustafa Kemal
Made by a Turkish immigrant that became one of Berlin’s most popular foods. Turkish meat and salad stuffed in fluffy bread which makes an extremely delicious meal. I’d recommend eating at one of the Mustafa Kemal’s locations. There’s usually a wait, but it’s totally worth it!
Currywurst
One of the most iconic food items of Berlin. Basically Worcester sauce and curry powder on bratwurst. You can find many places around the city that sell currywurst, so definitely worth the try!
Funk You – Natural Food
Rosenthaler Str. 23
The cutest, vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurant. The place itself is adorable and the food is extremely delicious. It’s the perfect brunch spot to start off your day sight seeing in Berlin!
HOW TO GET AROUND BERLIN
Berlin’s Public Transportation
Berlin’s public transportation system is one of the best in the world and from experience I understand why. The U-Bahn (consists of the subway and the underground), the S-Bahn (light rail), busses and trams are all part of Berlin’s Transportation system. You can buy tickets from the vending machines at each of the stations, on trams, from bus drivers, and from BVG sales offices. Tickets must be validated and stamped.
Walk
I personally prefer walking everywhere because it allows you to see more of the city than you would underground. Some of my favorite sites were random building I walked into that I thought seemed interesting. Most sites in Berlin are walkable to one another, so if you can I’d reccommend walking!
Uber
Uber exists in Germany and if you’re in a rush somewhere then I’d recommend using the app. If you’re new to Uber than you can use my link here to get $5 off your first ride by signing up here.
And there you have it, a guide to Berlin with a list of things to do in Berlin. I loved my visit to Berlin and I hope you fall in love with the city as much as I did. I hope this post was useful in planning your trip to Berlin and thanks for reading!!
See ya in the next post!
Xoxo, Angelique – Ang Around The Globe
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