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It’s Friday again, not really, but every day feels like Friday.
John F. Kennedy once said – “All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!” This quote captures the essence of my experience in Berlin, the capital of Germany, where I got a chance to meet the new version of this amazing city while experiencing its history and multicultural flavours. The city has gone through a lot, right from being divided into east and west parts by the iconic Berlin wall. The traveller in me was overwhelmed with joy as I explored this magnificent city in Germany.
Berlin will very lucidly makes you selfish and addictive for fun, but you have to visit the place once to know what I mean. The vibrancy of the city engulfs you in its cloak of pleasure be its laid-back lifestyle ironically co-existing with jet speed party life or its high on history quotient balanced with openness to queer culture.
Not to forget the world-renowned museums, festivals, picturesque architecture both modern and historical that draw huge number of tourists every year. Not many people know that Berlin apart from being popular for its historical sites, forests and rivers is also an international village of creatives, expats and immigrants. Locals seem to take the phrase “Live and Let Live” quite literally with a huge emphasis on creativity and freedom. Materialistic status is secondary in this chic and gritty city.
The city has a lot to offer on a wide spectrum. Your itinerary, however, would not be complete without a due appreciation of these major attractions.
Berlin History Documentary:
Berlin has a rich history that will amaze you at each nook and corner; giving you glimpse of a bygone era of Nazi revolution, bombing and invasions. For starters, sights like The Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden make you revisit the Prussian glory. I took one of the tour buses and got off to see the Brandenburg Gate.
One of the most iconic buildings, the Reichstag is a masterpiece of architecture with its glittering glass dome (reservations necessary and accessible by lift) which offers 360-degree view of the city. Auto activated audio guide is available to learn more about the building and the working of parliament.
The old buildings at Mitte beautifully complement the modern structures like Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz. The symbol of cold war, the Berlin wall, should top the chart of any tourist in the city. It lets you experience the scar in the city’s history, and the East Side Gallery offers scenic murals, politically motivated and otherwise.
You can also opt for half-day walking tour lasting about 4 hours which lets you explore marvels like Holocaust Memorial, which commemorates six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Other stops include Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of Terror and Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial. These are sure to send shivers down your spine with their aura of brutal executions and crematorium.
Art and Music inspiration: People around the world draw inspiration from Berlin’s music, art and lifestyle scene. With more than 170 museums, including the ones on popular “Museum Island” it is a delight for artists and cultural connoisseurs across the globe. The Pergamon museum has pieces from Greece and Middle East, while the Neues Museum houses Egyptian antiquities. Berlin’s Jewish history can be visualised at the Jewish Museum and for those who love regal era, a visit to the Schloss Charlottenburg royal palace is a must. Romantic landscapes, precious artefacts, Prussian touch of the palace are breath-taking. The film museum offers a good break from history museums.
Orchestras are the way of life in Berlin, such as internationally acclaimed Berlin Philharmonic and other artistic treats such as ballet, opera, stage shows hosting Cabaret, plays and musicals. Karaoke fans can sing their heart out at Mauerpark on Sundays.
Berlin will make you say “I live to drink and party”: No matter what music genre you prefer, you get in all in Berlin’s sky bars, clubs and restaurants without the usual worry of closing time. Party to your hearts’ content and you will agree that Berlin never sleeps like its contemporary New York. Chalet, Renate and KaterHolzig are fun clubs to let you loose.
Berlin has superb food markets. While Turkish Market is the most colourful, you can indulge in international street food at Markthalle Neun. Grab coffee at Bonanza Coffee Heroes or beer at Prater, Berlin’s oldest beer garden. Other famous bars that you can drop by are Paloma Beer, Sub War Gestern, Mein Haus am See and Luzia.
Other Miscellaneous things to try: Berliners love to flock in their favourite parks to tan and picnic. During warm months, the life in Berlin moves outdoors to the beach bars, pavement cafes, open air cinemas and theatres, a great way to enjoy the summer breeze. Tiergarten and Tempelhorf Park are great hangouts for some BBQ fun if you are visiting from May to October.
If you are a shopaholics, you can spend your euros at Kurfurstendamm, grand old Friedrichstrasse and small independent boutiques in and around the charismatic Hackesche Hofe. Bikini Berlin, the first concept mall of the city with edgy 1950’s design, makes for an amusing visit. A good break from the staid sightseeing is the famous Berlin Zoo, which has around 14,000 animals including some of the endangered species like rhinoceroses, polar and panda bears.
Stay and Travel:
While you can always opt for the standard hotel and hostel services, I wanted to make my travel experience unique by living like a local. Airbnb is a great alternative to try. I had a very comfortable and affordable stay at one of the Airbnb listed properties. Worth a try! Berlin’s two airports (Tegel and Schonefeld) are well connected with international carriers. You can find a direct flight to Berlin from New York or take other connecting flights with a change of planes at Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London or any other major European city. For internal city travel, public transport is best. Go for a combination of subway, trains, trams and buses.
Quick Tips:
– If you are cooking your own meal at a hostel or service apartment, shop at discount supermarkets like Netto, Aldi, Penny or Lidl for great offers on groceries.
– For an awesome hassle-free time at Museums, buy Museumpass Berlin, which allows admission to about 50 museums for up to 72 hours.
– Popular Hostels like Circus Hostel and East Seven Berlin will make you save a lot of cash.
– Carry your rainwear as Berlin is prone to unpredictable rains. Also don’t forget a pair of comfortable shoes as the city is best explored on foot. For operas and high-end restaurant dining, carry your dressy clothing.