Berlin has been on my travel bucket list for some time and this summer, I finally got the chance to visit. Between the history, edgy street art, interesting bars and restaurants, I enjoyed exploring Berlin. Here’s what I would recommend for attractions, restaurants, bars and a great place to stay.
What To See
The Berlin Wall While this photo was taken near Potsdamer Platz, there are several locations to see the Berlin Wall. TimeOut does a nice job of documenting the areas.
Brandenburg Gate Previously a representation of the separation between East and West Berlin, Brandenburg Gate is a very important – and impressive – landmark to see. Now, Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of German unity.
The Holocaust Memorial Located near Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial is a must-see.
Checkpoint Charlie Hands-down this was my favorite museum in Berlin. For 30 years, Checkpoint Charlie was the main demarcation point between Allied-occupied West Berlin and the Soviet-held East. Plan to spend a few hours here reading stories and immersing yourself in the history, including the many incredible ways people snuck across the border.
Graffiti & Street Art Tour What better way to see all of Berlin’s interesting graffiti and street art than with a tour? We did this tour from Alternative Berlin and it was great. It includes a workshop at the end where you get to try your hand at graffiti art, which is much harder than it looks! For an awesome street art guide to Berlin with maps, check out this amazing post from BLOCAL.
Bars and Restaurants
Café-Restaurant Wintergarten After turning the corner onto a non-descript street in Ku’damm, imagine our delight when we stepped into a green oasis with a little garden, patio tables and a large breakfast menu. A recommendation from our hotel, the scenery, warm weather and the basic but yummy breakfast offerings were just what we needed.
Super hip and fun, don’t be surprised if a big line awaits you upon entry to Monkey Bar. Located in Ku’damm on the tip floor of the trendy 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, Monkey Bar gets its name because it overlooks – you guessed it – the Monkey area at the Berlin Zoo. Fortunately – or unfortunately – the lines come from the fact that the bar only lets people in by seating area availability. Meaning, you’ll be guaranteed some sort of table upon arrival. For those looking to sneak in despite the lines, fair warning – the bar has a separate entrance from the hotel. However, if you book a dinner reservation at the adjacent restaurant, neni berlin, or stay at the hotel (which I will definitely do one visit!), getting in is no problem.
Freisehwimmer We enjoyed one of our favorite low key dinners at Freisehwimmer in Kreuzberg. Located along the Spree River, we tucked into German classics like Currywurst and Schnitzel – with beers of course! Simple, not too expensive and waterside dining on a warm night? Pretty awesome.
Pignut BBQ Authentic Alabama BBQ in Berlin? Clearly, this was something we needed to experience! Owned by a friend of my travel companion, Pignut BBQ is located in a food hall in Tiergarten. The food hall has a little bit of something for everyone and Pignut is a delight. We tucked into BBQ ribs, pulled pork, beers and were very happy campers.
Dean & David As someone who errs on the side of health conscious, our visit to Berlin was not all meat, currywurst and beers. A few salads and fresh juices crept their way in – thanks largely to Dean & David. A chain with many locations in Berlin, the simple, fresh salads, menus in English and fresh pressed juices more than hit the spot.
Swissotel Our hotel was the Swissotel Ku’damm and we loved it. Simple, yet extremely comfortable and not too expensive, it was the perfect place to rest after a long day wandering all over Berlin. The hotel is one block adjacent to the Ku’damm metro and the fabulous shopping street that is Kurfürstendamm. We opted for two beds and were delighted to see way more space than one would usually get in a European hotel room. Add in great service, in-room Nespresso makers, free wi-fi and a decent bar to snack on a burger in the lobby and I would definitely stay at this hotel again.
Thank you Berlin for a faaaabulous few days!