BERLIN

By far one of the coolest cities in Europe, Berlin is a city you just can’t miss. Of course it’s known for the famous Berlin wall, but there’s so much other culture and history here you won’t run out of things to do. I have yet to see any other city in Germany but from what I hear Berlin is unlike the rest of country. Quirky, liberal, and modern, this place offers everything for today’s traveler from world history, art, cuisine, shopping, beer, and nightlife; this place will have you buzzing.

We stayed here a total of 3 days and 4 nights. It’s the city that kicked off our month in Europe and there was no time for jet lag. We hit the ground running and spent our time exploring the districts and neighborhoods, seeing the historical sights, dancing in the local clubs and bars, and of course trying lots of beer.

How to get here

This was our first city stop of the trip so we flew of course, however you can easily get here via train as well if you are coming from another city in Europe. Do note that there are two airports in Berlin (Tegel and Schonefeld) so make a note of that when you are traveling to and from here (we almost went to the wrong airport on our way out!).

Once you arrive, you can either take a taxi or a bus to the center of the city. The cheapest way to get into the city is obviously via bus. Just head to the nearest information center at the airport and you can buy tickets directly there and buses come very frequently. The local metro in the center of the city is also extremely easy to use and they are exceptionally clean.

Location

We stayed in the heart of Berlin city, near the metro stop Alexanderplatz. Here you will be within walking distance of majority of the city so you won’t have to take public transport very often. However if you do need to, Alexanderplatz station is central to pretty much everything. If you want to be in the center of it all then I’d recommend staying near here!

Accommodation: Citystay Mitte Hostel

Josh and I are budget travelers so we stayed in a local hostel in the center of the city. Located right in the heart of Berlin, within walking distance of one of the most central metro stops, Alexanderplatz. Pretty large hostel that has a nice outdoor area for enjoying drinks and being social with other travelers. Not much of an organized hostel though in terms of doing group outings together and the staff didn’t seem to know much about anything that we asked about. There is a buffet breakfast each morning for 5 Euro but it honestly looked pretty average. There’s also a bar in the lobby where you can purchase pretty cheap drinks. Highlights of the hostel for sure is simply the location and clean rooms.

  • Cost per night for private room/shared bath: $35 USD

Activities

Free Walking Tour

Especially in Europe I always recommend doing a walking tour. Sandemans is one I always check out and highly recommend because you pay with just a tip at the end for what you feel is appropriate based on the tour given. The tour in Berlin lasted about 3 hours with a 20 minute break in between for a bite to eat or to stroll around the area. We visited literally every single tourist and historical spot you can imagine and it’s a great way to see the city.

Underground Bunkers – Berliner Unterwelten, Dark Worlds Tour

I honestly could have done without checking these out but it’s another historical activity to do in the city. It was not as thrilling and exciting as I thought but it was interesting to hear about the history of what the underground bunkers were used for during the WWII. The tour was only about an hour and half and all underground. There were other tours available as well so you aren’t limited in choices. The location of the tours are pretty easy to get to via metro as well.

Food & Dining

Hofbrau

Your mandatory first stop when arriving is going to the Hofbrau beer hall and getting a beer! This place screams Germany with a grand hall, live music, leiderhosens, and huge steins. I highly recommend getting the pork knuckle, it was by far I think the highlight meal of the entire trip. The portion sizes are huge so don’t be afraid to share.

Curry at the Wall Mitte

Another signature dish you must give a try are the curry wursts. It’s pretty much a sausage smothered in a curry sauce. We stopped here for a lunch/snack when we had a break during our walking tour. Not my favorite dish but definitely have to try it!

Monsieur Vuong

If you are looking to break away from the traditional German cuisine check out Monsieur’s for some Vietnamese food with a twist. It’s a very artsy and cool vibe with interesting decor and it’s located in an awesome neighborhood, great for a stroll around before or after your meal. Overall it’s a great spot for a date night for great food and buzzing scene.

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Tuans Hutte

We saw this place while strolling around our neighborhood and the cute outdoor patio reeled us in. This spot is located right on the corner and offers a quaint ambiance to enjoy a meal. If you are looking for Asian cuisine in a central location and great for people watching I’d definitely recommend this place.

Nightlife

Watergate

You always hear about the club scene in Berlin so it was definitely something we wanted to check out and experience. Watergate is a deep house club located right on the water with a nice view of the bridge. Drink prices are pretty average around 12-15 Euro. It has a great outdoor patio that sits right on the water if you want to get some fresh air as it gets pretty hot inside. Also a great spot to watch the sunrise if you can make it. Easy walking distance from Warschauer metro stop.

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Pub Crawl

If you don’t want to spend time researching where to go and want to meet people I highly recommend a pub crawl. It’s a pretty fun night if you are down to check out the nightlife all around Berlin. We stopped at 3 bars and 1 club, but unfortunately the night we went to Matrix Club they weren’t allowing anyone else in when we arrived due to some altercation inside. Not sure if it’s worth the money but it’s a good way to meet other people and get taken around to the see some highlight bars and nightlife.

Comedy Night @ Belushi’s in the St. Christopher’s Inn

If you are looking for something fun and cheap to do check out a local comedy night. It featured about 6-8 comedians from all over the world and lasted about 2 hours. The show takes place underneath a hostel which has Belushi’s bar to enjoy some pre-drinks and games before or after the show.