Beautiful Berlin
After spending some time in Berlin of recent, I have found it really easy to love the city.
One of the loveliest things about Berlin is the consistent and very distinctive seasons. The winter can feel bitterly cold; fresh but cold. Expect a little snow and a sudden desire to wear a balaclava if you visit Berlin during winter months. However, Berlin summers are beautiful; warm, and enough bursts of sunshine to make you feel content and relaxed. All of a sudden, people seem to take to the streets. Of course, there are the usual indoor options such as galleries and museums, but it seems a waste to be cooped up inside when there is so much to enjoy in the open air. And on that note, it is worth pointing out that the air isn’t typical smoggy city-like air. There is plenty of green to be seen in the city, and a less polluted atmosphere. Of course, you still wander across the usual city smells; exhausts from passing vehicles, a pedestrian’s cigarette, restaurants etc. You are aware you’re in a city, but the streets are wide and there is enough nature for you to feel a little less claustrophobic than London for example.
I would recommend seizing the day if there is good weather and wandering about outside, seeing everything that Berlin’s amazing history has to show for itself. The Brandenburg gate is a spectacle to see, and one of the main architectural attractions. It is a definite must-see. A lovely place to walk through afterwards would be the gallery district which is a collection of amazing contemporary art galleries. It’s a great way to get a sense of current artists and aesthetics and see something a bit more modern. You can pass by Checkpoint Charlie on the way to the galleries which is an extremely famous point in Berlin. It was an official passing place for allied forces during the Cold War when the Berlin Wall was standing and dividing East and West Germany. Don’t be underwhelmed by Checkpoint Charlie if you get there and think ‘is that it?’; there’s not a lot to see other than a small white building in the middle of the road and perhaps someone dressed in military uniform standing outside. Nevertheless, you can feel the major importance of this place and the huge impact that the Wall had on this city when it was erected.
After a stroll along the galleries (which is another great thing to do in the winter, if you want to spend more time indoors) it is a lovely opportunity to cross over the Spree (the river running through the city) and see some more attractions. There is a statue of Karl Marx situated in a nice little park, which could be a good place to stop and sit on a bench for a while too. It can be quite touristy round here, but for good reason. An abundance of grand buildings surround you, all as beautiful and intricate as the next. And here is the ideal place to see the Fernsehturm; the TV tower which is another iconic part of Berlin’s city scape. It is possible to book in and go up the TV Tower, a fabulous way to see a good view of the city which is remarkably flat and a little hard to see more than a couple of landmarks at a time when on street level. Although just standing amongst buildings such as the St. Mary’s church, a Gothic building with lots of religious art, and seeing the TV Tower making an appearance overhead is an experience in itself. There is something really special about being in a city which is so historically rich, but also so forward thinking and bursting with contemporary art. Of course, one last thing to check off your list would be a stroll down the East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain, an amazing outdoor gallery of commissioned street art made from the Berlin Wall which spans a whole kilometer and is an amazing reflection on Berlin’s history in a very appropriate mode. Of course there is amazing street art all over the city, but the East Side Gallery is of its own calibre and all in one convenient line with some really famous images which shouldn’t be missed.
One of the biggest joys you may find in Berlin is sitting with Stein of German beer and just watching the city. Of course, you might want to have some German cuisine, but it isn’t massively exciting, and not great for non-pork eaters. However there is a hugely diverse range of other nationalities food to try. Amazing options to delve into would be Vietnamese, Turkish or Indian. Within the neighborhood of Kreuzberg is a great place to eat and drink, especially in the warmer months when all the seats are brought outside and the atmosphere is so simultaneously exciting and relaxed. There is also the Landwehr canal running parallel to the River Spree. Sitting on a grassy bank by this canal is another gorgeous thing to do during warmer days.
In terms of getting round the city, there are plenty of buses, trains and an underground system. Not to mention enough taxis; and around the clock, probably thanks to the fantastic nightlife. If you want a quicker, more intimate way of travelling Berlin, renting a bike is the best option. It is pretty flat and because cycling is such a popular mode of transport, there are cycle lanes virtually everywhere. It’s not too daunting, so even if you aren’t usually an overconfident cyclist, don’t completely rule it out.
This is merely the tip of the iceberg in term of what there is on offer if you are to visit this city. Any season, any day of the week and any time of the day.
One of the loveliest things about Berlin is the consistent and very distinctive seasons. The winter can feel bitterly cold; fresh but cold. Expect a little snow and a sudden desire to wear a balaclava if you visit Berlin during winter months. However, Berlin summers are beautiful; warm, and enough bursts of sunshine to make you feel content and relaxed. All of a sudden, people seem to take to the streets. Of course, there are the usual indoor options such as galleries and museums, but it seems a waste to be cooped up inside when there is so much to enjoy in the open air. And on that note, it is worth pointing out that the air isn’t typical smoggy city-like air. There is plenty of green to be seen in the city, and a less polluted atmosphere. Of course, you still wander across the usual city smells; exhausts from passing vehicles, a pedestrian’s cigarette, restaurants etc. You are aware you’re in a city, but the streets are wide and there is enough nature for you to feel a little less claustrophobic than London for example.
I would recommend seizing the day if there is good weather and wandering about outside, seeing everything that Berlin’s amazing history has to show for itself. The Brandenburg gate is a spectacle to see, and one of the main architectural attractions. It is a definite must-see. A lovely place to walk through afterwards would be the gallery district which is a collection of amazing contemporary art galleries. It’s a great way to get a sense of current artists and aesthetics and see something a bit more modern. You can pass by Checkpoint Charlie on the way to the galleries which is an extremely famous point in Berlin. It was an official passing place for allied forces during the Cold War when the Berlin Wall was standing and dividing East and West Germany. Don’t be underwhelmed by Checkpoint Charlie if you get there and think ‘is that it?’; there’s not a lot to see other than a small white building in the middle of the road and perhaps someone dressed in military uniform standing outside. Nevertheless, you can feel the major importance of this place and the huge impact that the Wall had on this city when it was erected.
After a stroll along the galleries (which is another great thing to do in the winter, if you want to spend more time indoors) it is a lovely opportunity to cross over the Spree (the river running through the city) and see some more attractions. There is a statue of Karl Marx situated in a nice little park, which could be a good place to stop and sit on a bench for a while too. It can be quite touristy round here, but for good reason. An abundance of grand buildings surround you, all as beautiful and intricate as the next. And here is the ideal place to see the Fernsehturm; the TV tower which is another iconic part of Berlin’s city scape. It is possible to book in and go up the TV Tower, a fabulous way to see a good view of the city which is remarkably flat and a little hard to see more than a couple of landmarks at a time when on street level. Although just standing amongst buildings such as the St. Mary’s church, a Gothic building with lots of religious art, and seeing the TV Tower making an appearance overhead is an experience in itself. There is something really special about being in a city which is so historically rich, but also so forward thinking and bursting with contemporary art. Of course, one last thing to check off your list would be a stroll down the East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain, an amazing outdoor gallery of commissioned street art made from the Berlin Wall which spans a whole kilometer and is an amazing reflection on Berlin’s history in a very appropriate mode. Of course there is amazing street art all over the city, but the East Side Gallery is of its own calibre and all in one convenient line with some really famous images which shouldn’t be missed.
One of the biggest joys you may find in Berlin is sitting with Stein of German beer and just watching the city. Of course, you might want to have some German cuisine, but it isn’t massively exciting, and not great for non-pork eaters. However there is a hugely diverse range of other nationalities food to try. Amazing options to delve into would be Vietnamese, Turkish or Indian. Within the neighborhood of Kreuzberg is a great place to eat and drink, especially in the warmer months when all the seats are brought outside and the atmosphere is so simultaneously exciting and relaxed. There is also the Landwehr canal running parallel to the River Spree. Sitting on a grassy bank by this canal is another gorgeous thing to do during warmer days.
In terms of getting round the city, there are plenty of buses, trains and an underground system. Not to mention enough taxis; and around the clock, probably thanks to the fantastic nightlife. If you want a quicker, more intimate way of travelling Berlin, renting a bike is the best option. It is pretty flat and because cycling is such a popular mode of transport, there are cycle lanes virtually everywhere. It’s not too daunting, so even if you aren’t usually an overconfident cyclist, don’t completely rule it out.
This is merely the tip of the iceberg in term of what there is on offer if you are to visit this city. Any season, any day of the week and any time of the day.