– What to do in Berlin –

Sandeman free walking tour

When you visit Berlin the first thing you should do is taking a walking or bicycle tour, even though Berlin is vast making it more ideal for cycling than walking, the Sandeman free walking tour is simply too good to skip. The free walking tour (tip-based) takes you around all the historically important sights in the centre of Berlin such as the Jewish Monument, Brandenburger Tor, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and of course the Berlin wall. What makes this tour invaluable however is the explanations and the stories they tell you along the way.

I had the pleasure of being guided by Mark Curtis, a former history teacher from the UK. His knowledge and passion for German history was impressive. His ability to distill life lessons from historic events and drawing parallels of the society of years ago with the society of today even more so. If you decide on going on this tour, which you should, it pays off to ask when Mark is leading the tour, and go on that one if it fits your schedule.

The tour also gives you an opportunity to ask where to go in Berlin and what eateries and bars are worth visiting. The whole tour takes about 2.5 hours,  although mine got closer to 3. It is organised daily, roughly every hour.

Museumsinsel

Close to the historic centre lies Museumsinsel, or Museum island. Don’t visit Berlin without seeing it as it is probably one of the prettiest parts. Even if you don’t intent on visiting one of the 5 musea present on the island just walking around the heavily decorated buildings, filling up you SD card is a good idea. Don’t miss the Berliner Dom, which has a wide grassy stretch where locals gather to have a pick-nick or a few BYO beers in the warmer months.

Berlin TV Tower

Entrance: EUR 15.50 / 23.50 (20% off for students)

With its 368 meter in height, the TV Tower is the highest building in Germany and second highest (after the Riga TV Tower) in the European Union. You can get up to the observation deck for EUR 15.50 which sits at 200 meter high and slowly rotates around its axis in 60 minutes. There is also a restaurant at the same height, window seats cost EUR 23.50. The panoramic rotating views are quite impressive but at the current price-point way over-priced. If you are traveling on a tight budget skipping this one is an easy money saver.

Tiergarten Park

If you had it with all the Berlin sightseeing and just want to relax for a couple of hours, the Tiergarten Park is a great place to go. The huge park is a local favourite for running, strolling and lazying in the sun. The iconic Victory Column  sits in the middle of the park and can be climbed for EUR 3.00. The ‘observation deck’ isn’t that high up so don’t get overly excited, you cannot climb the actual column itself.  In the South West of the park the Berlin Zoo is situated (they have Pandas!) and there are a few places to get a drink or a bite dotted around the park. 

Story of Berlin Bunker

Entrance: EUR 10 (20% off for students)

Berlin is littered with good museums but as I am not really a museum guy I like to visit the best and skip the rest. The Story of Berlin Bunker is one of the better musea in Berlin and it is hosted in, as the name already gives away, an old Atom bunker. It takes you through 800 years of history through interesting, well built displays. You can download an app which gives you additional background information but if you are more visually orientated you can also just wander and look around. 😉

Trabi Safari

Costs: EUR 49.00

An unique way to see the greater Berlin is to go on a Trabi Safari. If you got the money: do it, its great fun. Trabi Safari’s concept is really simple. You sit in an old timer taxi and drive around town. Yes you drive yourself. A guide will lead the convoy of old taxis along all the things there are to see in Berlin and tells you about it over a radio-connection. The tour only takes about an hour and a half, depending on traffic which is probably a good thing considering the ride might be fun, but not overly comfortable.

Sachsenhausen (concentration camp 30km out)

Entrance: free

You cannot visit Berlin without delving into the horrors of the second world war and Germany’s role in it all. About 30 kilometers out, the concentration camp Sachsenhausen is located. Instead of hiding away from its gruesome past Germany faces it full on to make sure something similar never happens again. This part of the reason why most concentration camps in Germany, Sachsenhausen included, charge no entrance fee. Obviously this is not going to be a pleasant or joyful experience but it is good to visit nonetheless.

Guided visits make it easier to make sense of it all but also just walking around is a lasting impression.

Shopping: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin Mall, Alexanderplatz

Hip Berlin wouldn’t be Berlin without ample shopping facilities. There are three major shopping malls where you can find all the bigger chains and some local boutique shops as well. Potsdammer Platz is the most impressive of the three with tall skyscrapers and impressive architecture. Berlin Mall is probably the most pleasant shopping experience and focuses more on young urban people  and Alexanderplatz is.. Alexanderplatz. I didn’t really like Alexanderplatz. But it got a good range of shops nonetheless.

– Eating, drinking and sleeping recommendations –

Of course you do not visit Berlin just for its sights or things to do. You also go to experience Berlin’s urban underground scene. The hip face of Berlin with countless of trendy organic eateries, haute-cuisine restaurants, industrial techno clubs, and bars that never close. A quick introduction.

Eating

The trendy hipster part of Berlin stretches out over the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts with Kreuzberg being the heart of the action and Neukölln slightly more quiet but quickly following in Kreuzberg’s footsteps. Head over to OrangienstraBe  and you are spoilt for choice. To help you pick a few recommendations.

Best lunch spot has got to be the streetfood stalls at Markthalle neun. For great asian flavours head over to Wu Kong with its Chinese/Vietnamese fusion cuisine. Maroush is great for a quick Lebanese bite. Hasir has the best Turkish food in the area, which fits the Turkish ethnic enclave in the area. Trendy delicate dishes are served at Lode & Stijn and for great Mexican bites and tequila shots afterwards you head over to Santa Maria.

Drinking

If you are looking for a nice bar with good drinks and cocktails, head over to Big Sur, where they have a Nintendo 64 in the corner as well. Cafe Luzia is typically Berlin with high industrial concrete walls and awesome street art decorating them. Luzia doesn’t close until 5 AM but if you are keen on some underground Berlin dancing, head over to Berghain. Take into account that for Berghain you need to be dressed like the hip local urban Berlin people do to even have a chance of being admitted.

Sleeping

We found out that Booking.com will consistently give you the best rates on hotels. To make finding the perfect spot a little easier we made a selection for Berlin. Click the link below to find the best places to stay in Berlin. While booking make sure you pick a place close to the Potsdammer Platz or Mitte if you want to be close to all the major sights, and in Kreuzberg or Neukölln if you want to be in the hip bar and restaurant area.

The Circus Hostel

Booking rate: 9.0 / Hostelworld: 9.3
Dorm: EUR 20 / privates from EUR 70

The Circus Hostel is a great pick both for couples as well as solo travelers. The dorms are comfy but the real treat are their lavish privates. The hostel is operated in an Eco-friendly manner, offers a full breakfast buffet for EUR 5 until 1 o ‘clock and even has their own microbrewery! The social bar makes it easy to meet new people and with the hostel being located right next to the metro-stop Rosenthaler Platz it is a great base from which to explore the city of Berlin.