Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Berlin, Germany! I went to school here and lived in Berlin for 2 ½ years; I love this city. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you are visiting Berlin on vacation.
Hate #1: Size of Berlin
Berlin is actually a huge city. Because it was divided by the wall for many years, there are multiple city centers. In the east, you have Alexanderplatz and in the west, you have a center on the Ku’damm. And then you have the new center, Potsdamer Platz. Berlin is very spread out, so you can expect to spend a lot of time traveling from one place to the other in Berlin. To get from one side of town to the other, it can take 45 minutes or an hour. The size and diversity is also a benefit to Berlin but just plan your days accordingly to account for travel time between areas of Berlin.
12 Don’ts of Berlin: Things You Shouldn’t Do in Berlin
Hate #2: It’s Not the Germany You Imagine (which is good)
Berlin is a very international, cosmopolitan city and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, it doesn’t feel like a traditional German city. You’re just as likely to hear English, Spanish or Italian in Berlin as you are to hear German. Don’t expect to see the quaint half-timbered houses in Berlin that you see in other parts of Germany. What you will find, though, are great international cuisines, like Turkish and Greek restaurants.
Hate #3: Capitalism in Berlin
You may not notice this if you haven’t been to Berlin before, but since I lived here in the 1990s, Berlin really seems to have sold out to capitalism. When I walk around Berlin, I see a Starbucks, KFC or Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Berlin used to be this alternative capital, but it seems to have sold its soul a bit in favor of capitalism. A lot of the unique shops are gone in favor of international chains.
Hate #4: Beggars & Street Scams
Berlin is the capital city of Germany, so it’s not immune to the beggars and travel scams you see elsewhere in Europe. Some of the beggars can look a bit scary and intimidate the tourists into giving them money. They won’t hurt you and are not aggressive, so you can just ignore them. The police do a good job of patrolling the tourist areas.
Hate #5: Berlin Attitude
This is something other Germans will talk about. The Berliner Schnauze, or the Berlin attitude. Berliners are said to have their nose up in the air because they are the capital city. Not so different from the reputation New Yorkers have in the States. If you’re looking for a friendly German village, Berlin is not it. It’s a big cosmopolitan city and the residents are urban dwellers, so just know that going in and it’s not a problem.
Love #1: Germany History in Berlin
One of the coolest things about Berlin is that it’s like a living history museum. The most recent history of Germany is right here for you to see and experience. You can see the recent past and how it’s being redeveloped at Potsdamer Platz, as well as how the two cities are still coming together since the wall came down. On a Berlin tour, you can still get a sense of East Germany vs West Germany by traveling to different parts of the city. You can visit the Brandenburg Gate and see where the wall was. Just outside of the city is Sachsenhausen, a concentration camp that is now a Holocaust Memorial.
Love #2: Berlin Museums
There are 100’s of museums in Berlin. It’s an amazing cultural destination. Museum Island alone has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s the Pergamon Museum with the Ishtar Gates, the Bode-Museum, the Neues Museum which has the bust of Nefertiti. There’s a Checkpoint Charlie Museum, where you can learn how people tried to escape or travel from East to West Berlin.
Love #3: Intersection of Three Germany’s
Berlin is where the past and the present of Germany collide. You really have three worlds coming together. There’s the East and the West and then there’s the new Germany in the middle. You can see it in the architecture, with old Communist buildings against more modern buildings. There are ruins of ancient churches destroyed in the war and all of this combined makes you feel like you’re getting three cities for the price of one.
Ten Things That Will Shock You in Germany
Love #4: Berlin Outdoors
There are tons of outdoor things to do in Berlin, with so much green space. Whether you’re going to Grunewald, the large urban forest, or Tiergarten, the huge city park with the Berlin Zoo and nude sunbathing on the shores of the Spree River. Even though it’s often a cold climate, Berlin residents love to be outdoors. You’ll even find them surfing on the river right in town! There are so many parks in Berlin, and people love to get outside and enjoy them.
Love #5: International City Vibe
The vibe of Berlin can’t be beaten. Being such an international city gives Berlin magnetic energy, with fantastic nightclubs, plus live music, pubs, and restaurants. Berlin nightlife isn’t just about the discos and nightclubs, there are just a lot of great things to do at night, even if you’re visiting Berlin with kids. There’s always something going on in Berlin and that’s why Berlin is one of my favorite cities in the world.
Berlin is one of the coolest cities in the world, and I love visiting over and over again. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a Berlin vacation. Want more information on travel in Germany? Check out these other blog posts: