I have to admit that before arriving in Berlin I had a certain amount of apprehension towards it. We were using the city as a quick stopover before we headed on to Prague, Bratislava and Budapest, mostly because the flights were cheap. I am delighted to say it proved to be a better starting point than I ever imagined!
The city has a lot of history, which is evident at every turn, however it is also very modern too. With such a range of things to do it’s hard to be bored and there really is something here to entertain everybody. Both myself and Char both felt fully at ease in the city and would highly recommend anybody to spend a couple of days here exploring!
Getting Around…
The first hurdle was how to find our hostel. This went without a hitch. We caught a train from the airport into the city centre. Both the U-bahn and the S-bahn are very easy to use, cheap and really are a necessary to be able to cover the city due to its size! The machines are pretty self-explanatory, just make sure you catch it in the right direction.
Where to stay?
After consulting Hostelworld we decided upon Sunflower Hostel. It proved to be a fantastic choice as it was cozy, secure and well located close to Warschuer Strasse Station. We had a fairly pleasant stay, minus a snoring dorm mate! I would recommend this hostel to anybody heading to Berlin. The atmosphere is truly fantastic.
What to do?
Onto the good stuff. What is there to do in Berlin? As I mentioned above, there are so many things on offer, you can easily fill a few days with a wide variety of things.
The Berlin Wall
Now the biggest thing to do in Berlin is to see the remains of the Berlin Wall. This 155km concrete barrier divided the city into East and West from 1961 to 1989. I’m ashamed to say that before I visited Berlin I knew very little about it. The best places to see and learn about the wall are East Side Gallery and Topography of Terror. East Side Gallery has turned the wall into a beautiful piece of art, proving that something spectacular can come from something so dark. In contrast the Topography of Terror, site of the former Gestapo headquarters, has left the wall in its original state following dissolution of the barrier in 1989.
Berlin Wall Extras
Other interesting remains can be found at Checkpoint Charlie, a former crossing point which is now a little too touristy for my liking (but you can get your passport stamped here if you wait in an exceedingly long queue!). There is also an original watchtower just off of Potsdamer Platz that you can climb for a small fee.
Brandenburg Gate
One of the other greatest historical landmarks in the city is the Brandenburg Gate. It was built in the 18th century and over the years has been the location of multiple major historical events. Today it is a major hub for tourists and a must-do photo opportunity during your stay.
Reichstag
The Reichstag is the German equivalent of our Houses of Parliament. The large expanse in front of it used to be packed out when Hitler gave his speeches. The building itself famously caught fire in 1933 and then sustained further damage during bombing raids in the war. Today it boasts a beautiful glass dome that gives fantastic views across the city. If you want to go up the Reichstag dome then I would recommend booking online at least two weeks in advance. We left it a little late and missed out, especially as the Berlin Marathon was taking place during our visit.
The Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial is a truly breath-taking monument that grows up out of nowhere. In order to truly appreciate it you really should walk through it, not just around it. Very thought provoking and well worth spending a few minutes to appreciate.
Museumsinsel
Museum Island, where you can find Berliner Dom (you could easily sit and stare at this building for hours) and the five main museums of Berlin. We didn’t end up going into any of these museums as time was against us, but if you can I would recommend buying a combined ticket to get into all of them and avoid waiting in some of the longest queues I have ever seen!
Hidden Courtyards
If you’re after places that are more off the beaten track then there is no shortage of hidden courtyards around the city. Me and Char stumbled across both Heckmann-Hofe and Hackesche-Hofe on the way to other sights. These are both beautiful, quaint and such a great escape from the bustling city outside. Further exploration led us to some lovely cafes and hidden pubs. Even more places to escape the crowds!
Treptower Park
Further afield Treptower Park is another place where you can get away from the busy city centre. It contains both the Treptow Soviet War Memorial and the Archenhold Observatory. The Soviet War Memorial commemorates 7,000 soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Berlin. It is both sobering and magnificent all at once.
Archenhold Observatory
The Archenhold Observatory boasts the longest pointable telescope in the world. Determined to see this telescope as we arrived outside of the visiting times, Char and I ended up climbing a tree outside the gates. This was shortly before realising that we could see the telescope perfectly well about a meter behind where we were originally standing! Check the opening times so you don’t miss out. On a Friday it is open until 9pm so you can actually use the telescope.
TV Tower
Our final stop in Berlin was the Fernsehtum (TV Tower). We bought our tickets online to ensure we could go up whenever we wanted and skip the queues. Sunset seemed the obvious choice. At 203m the observation deck allows you to have glorious views over the city. Watching the monuments that we had seen throughout the day light up one by one was truly magical. If your budget allows for it then check out the bar and the restaurant at the top of the tower. From what we saw they looked pretty nice!
What to eat?
Top Tip – If you happen to be passing through on a Thursday then be sure to check out the Markthalle Food Market, open from 5pm till 10pm. There is something for everybody’s taste and the atmosphere is incredible. Be sure to try Currywurst, my personal favourite!
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Berlin. It has character far beyond what I had imagined, is the perfect blend of history and modernisation, and also has little areas of peacefulness when you need them. Berlin gets a gold star from me!
Have you been to Berlin yet? I’d love to know what you thought of the city! Make sure to leave a comment below.
