Introduction

I have a friend that lives in Berlin, so when I got the chance to visit him I immediately jumped at the opportunity. And I’m so glad I did!

Berlin is a city that's best visited in the spring. I found myself enjoying the green spaces, the sunlight, and the long days. The food also impressed me, which was quite surprising.

To get around, the city is somewhat walkable but public transportation is somewhat robust. I recommend downloading the BGV app and buying a pass. There's multiple options like buying a one way ticket, a 4 time “punch card” limited to 3 stops on the subway or 6 stops on the bus, and a 24 hr pass. The app is pretty self explanatory. Even though Berlin’s transit runs on the honor system, you want to make sure you have a validated ticket. 

Overall I wish I had more time to absorb the surrounding parts of Berlin, but I would definitely come again!

*** bolded = highly recommended

 

Nature

  • Berlin Treptower Park
  • Mauerpark - This park was cute but there is supposedly a bigger flea market on Sundays. 
  • Tiergarten - This park is huge where it kind of feels like a Central Park with all the greenery. I would definitely recommend getting lost here because it's beautiful. 
  • Tempelhofer Feld - This was my favorite green space in the city because it used to be an airfield. There were lots of people chilling, biking on the old runways, kitesurfers, families, etc. I would have loved to go for a run here and sightsee but the wind was really heavy the day I went. Overall I wished I had more time here to take it all in!

 

food

  • Pala Berlin - This was a pretty good Greek cafe! I got the eggplant which was very interesting. 
  • Hackescher Markt
  • Der kleine August - This bar in the city center was very good but was more French than anything else, if that's what you’re looking for. 
  • Zeit für Brot - This is a chain bakery that is all over Berlin but the pastries itself are quite good. 
  • Friedel Richter Restaurant - If you're looking for more traditional German fare, this restaurant has really good vibes!
  • Wochenmarkt Winterfeldtplatz - This is one of the local Saturday markets which honestly has the best vibe with some great food stalls. I got truffle pasta, an iced mango matcha, and a big piece of tiramisu for €20. There were a lot of things to see too. 
  • Thule - This was a very tasty German bistro, more cafe style if anything else.
  • Kurume - This ice cream shop also served Korean fusion dishes which I thought was quite interesting. Flavors are good but they won't let you do half and half of flavors. 
  • Boii Boii - This Thai spot was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. It had lots of stellar dishes and interesting drinks. It got a little crowded later on so I would recommend making a reservation as needed. ​

 

Attractions

  • Soviet War Memorial Treptow - The monument was quite imposing in a peaceful park but a slightly far trek. 
  • Kulturbrauerei - This free culture center probably had more going on at night, but it had a very small free museum showcasing the Soviet Union. 
  • Tränenpalast - This is a free post WWII free museum where it's kind of small but definitely worth the trip. 
  • Berlin Cathedral
  • St. Mary’s Church
  • Berlin Wall Memorial - even though the wall is just represented by long sticks, the history is pretty surreal and I would definitely recommend visiting. You learn a lot about the Berlin Wall. 
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • East Side Gallery - It’s really just a long wall with graffiti and really cool art, but j would say it's worth the trek. 
  • Reichstag Building / Bundstag - You can get free tickets to the Reichstag building to view the dome or get a tour of the parliament. You need to book this advance so I recommend starting to look a few weeks out. I got lucky and was able to score a last minute slot. You'll need to bring your ID to go through security and then they take you up to the dome. It's a pretty cool experience, you learn about the history of the Reichstag and there are good views. 
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
  • Topography of Terror - If you only had time to visit 1 museum, this is the one I would recommend. You learn about the entire history of WWII while standing on what used to be the Gespato HQ which is harrowing to think about. Definitely give yourself a few hours to experience all the history and take it all in. ​

Just passing by
  • Oranienburger Str.
  • Humboldt Forum
  • Museum Island
  • Memorial to May 10, 1933 Nazi Book Burning
  • RAW-Gelände
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Berlin TV Tower

 

Contents

Introduction
Nature
Food
Attractions
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