You’re not alone – it’s our most popular destination and one of Europe’s most visited capitals. But with so much going on, where do you start when hitting up the capital of cool for the first time? Luckily we’ve got a few visits under our belts to help you out: Anna gives you the run down of her top 5 must-sees in the German capital.
On a Thursday or Friday go to the Turkish Market at the Maybachufer in Neukölln – plenty of fresh groceries, savoury delicacies and sweet snacks in a relaxed atmosphere right by the canal. Expect occasional busking! Also check out the bustling flea market at ever-popular Mauerpark every Sunday. There’s also a ton of street food here too, in case you need to break up your shopping with a little snack.
Need a fuel stop? At Burgeramt in Friedrichshain you’ll find an impressive selection of mouth-watering burgers, chips and friends in an eclectic living room style location where graffiti meets tiled walls. They offer plenty of vegetarian options, too. You’ll also find Berlin classics Currywurst and Döner Kebab on almost every street corner if you fancy grabbing something on the go.
Situated on the rooftop of a shopping hall in Neukölln, the ”Klunkerkranich” (imagine beer garden meets beach bar), offers a great panoramic view of the capital, alongside a plethora of gigs, DJ sets and more. The Edelweiss Lustgarten with its party garden and jazz sessions also won’t disappoint. Head to “Sisyphos” for a club night with a festival feel – this venue is often open for several days non-stop. The “Salon Zur Wilden Renate” also certainly lives up to its wild name, and the “About Blank” is only a short walk away – looking somewhat underwhelming from the outside, the secret garden-esque ambiance will surprise you.
A screening at one of the open-air cinemas, such as the “Freiluftkino Kreuzberg”. Open from May-September, it’s located in the garden of a historic hospital turned culture & arts hub. The “Kino Zukunft”, housed in a former factory building, is also a prime place to check out new German and International independent films with subtitles.
Want to see everything but can’t fit it all in? The daily “Berlin on Bike” guided bicycle tours starting at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg take you to all the best-loved sights and most dynamic neighbourhoods of this diverse city. The best thing about Berlin is that it’s a really flat city which is super easy to explore by bike; with separate lanes and traffic lights just for bikes, it’s a safe and speedy way to get around.
Desperate to see more of Berlin? Loads of our Interrail Packages go through this cultural and historic hub – from 1 week through to 3 months! Among many others, you can interrail to Berlin with The Whole Hog, Iron Curtain or Eastern Trooper routes.
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