Are you planning a trip to Berlin? Are you confused on what to do once you arrive? This blog is aimed to help you to have a nice trip in the Germany capital with my own journey experience.
So lets start with my perception about the city of Berlin before going. I used to defined it as a boring city, and used to think that there was nothing exiting to see. I believed my perception were due of the past that Germany had. However, Berlin is a really nice city, different to other one. It’s a city with cool vibes and attracts a lot of visitors each year. It’s a city that will show you history, but history that you cannot only see but also touch and feel it every time you turn around. I think is a young city with so much to tell, from Prussian nationalism to the days of Nazi regime, to the Wold War and Cold War. So I must say that I did enjoy my stay in Berlin.
FOOD
I was really surprised that the city does not have a lot of local German restaurant around, however in each corner there was a restaurant of any country. Berlins food was amazing. The city has a lot of good restaurant to try. From Donner Kebabs as the Turkish immigrant invented in the early ’70s, a portable meal with meat and salad stuffed inside in a fluffy bread to loads of Italian Restaurant and amazing Asiatics dishes. My favorite ones were the Kebabs. I spent every day buying at lest one kebab a day. On the East side of Berlin there was a candy shop selling all types of candies for 0.99 cent.
CULTURE
The city has a lot to show. It has a lot of famous historic sights to see. Unfortunately I was not able to see everything but I will recommend travelers to have a visit at the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Holocaust Memorial, the Berlin Palace which is under construction , the Museum Island, the Tiergarten and the Hackesher Markt. I also advice people to go more further and explore how people live in the suburbs of Berlin. Try and visit the aspect of the Berlin Wall, see the East side Gallery .
ART
Once you are in Berlin you cannot unseen the fact that street art is something “normal ” in the city. Most of the graffiti stored a story behind, whether is on a house wall or it was done because of a political protest. You can visit the East Side Gallery, and keep and eye on the huge murals with loads of graffiti. You can also visit the Spy Tower, a man-made hill created in the Second World War, which it also has a lot of art walls to see.
TRANSPORT
If you are someone who likes to explore and see many things as possible like me, I must recommend to purchase a travel card in Berlin. this travel card are fantastic. The city offers a travel card that allows you to use any transport in the city for a period of time usually from 24 to 72 hours. If you know that you are travelling in the winter,I advice you to bring pack clothes that match the weather, as it can get really cold.
ALTERNATIVES
If you are someone who likes to do different stuff and have a bit of quality time, I recommend to have some fun at the Madame Thousand in Berlin, is a great time to have some fun with friends and enjoy attractions in the city. I also advice to do some shopping there, as the city offers a lot of nice clothing shops like Bershka that the UK does not provide. In fact, a nice and quiet place to shop is the East Side Mall located in the East side of Berlin. Also spend some time at the Ampelmann shop, a symbol shown on pedestrian signals in Germany. Or if you are a creative person and likes to draw, you can book a graffiti workshop and create a possible graffiti and have a sample on how artist design their art into the walls.
WHAT A LIKED THE MOST ABOUT AND WHAT I DID NOT LIKE?
As a city, I liked the fact that the city looks similar to a city in Italy, the infrastructure, the street and the way people move around. As an native Italian I felt like I was back home. I also really enjoyed the food. Again do not go Berlin without trying their Kebabs.
What I did not appreciate at all is that some Berliners were rude and abrupt. Some customer service worker do not know how to interact with people, which made it a bit irritating.
Let's Catch Flights, Not Feelings 