Eternal Berlin: experience this amazing capital

Whether you are a culture lover, a foodie or simply looking for moments of complicity, Berlin has a thousand and one surprises in store for you. Prepare to be seduced and inspired by our itinerary full of discoveries.

So, are you ready to follow us on this Berlin adventure?

BERLIN, I prefer to tell you that I didn't like it right away. Berlin is gray, it's marked by history, it's junky graffiti... but it's also super cool huh :) I promise I loved you very quickly.

The city is lined with buildings with modern and strict architecture worthy of a business district, but around the corner you always come across a super colorful and cheerful place to have a drink, or a big pint .

3 days in Berlin. What to do?

Saturday: Discovery and vintage

1. Visit to the DDR Museum
2. Strolling through Hackescher Markt: vintage shops, galleries, and street art
3. Shopping at Humana Secondhand Kaufhaus (vintage clothing)
4. Detour via Space Hall (vinyl store)
5. Dinner at Markthalle Neun (food court with local and international specialties)
6. Evening in an underground bar like Klunkerkranich (alternative rooftop bar)

Sunday: History and alternative atmosphere

1. Visit to the Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse)
2. Discovery of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial)
3. Passing through the Brandenburg Gate
4. Checkpoint Charlie for a historical immersion
5. Stop at an alternative food court like Bite Club or Street Food Thursday
6. Night out at an alternative club or hidden bar like Sisyphos or Berghain for an underground Berlin experience

Monday: Art and urban exploration

1. Discovery of the East Side Gallery (section of the Berlin Wall with artists' frescoes)
2. Visit the Kreuzberg district: galleries, street art, alternative shops
3. Stop at Hard Wax (vinyl store)
4. Lunch at Markthalle Pfefferberg or at a local food court
5. Late afternoon in Tempelhof: walk around the former airport transformed into an urban park
6. Night out at a speakeasy bar or underground concert venue like Wild at Heart or Loophole

Enjoy your stay in Berlin!

We set off as a couple to conquer this capital that I didn't know yet, leaving our Romie for so long for the first time (4 days... that's a lot for my fresh mother's heart, finally time to turn around in the nursery car park and it was already a party in my head ahaha).

So tickets booked for Berlin from Bordeaux, thank you Easyjet for your very low prices... (75 euros return). We left at the beginning of spring and we had radiant sunshine!

The easiest way to get around this huge city of 891 km² , which is 8 times the size of Paris or the equivalent of New York (thanks Google) is by metro, take a day ticket (7 euros).

Where to sleep in Berlin

I won't tell you about our hotel which was very correct but quite badly located. I think that if I went back I would like to sleep in the Mitte district . A hotel that seemed nice to me is the AMANO hotel which is super well located in the heart of MITTE. Otherwise for the most stylish and well-known, there is the 25hours bikini hotel or the Michel berger hotel . And beyond 3 nights I recommend Air bnb.

Clärchens Ballhaus. ? Joerg Nicht

Berlin's historic district

For our first contact with the city, we went to see the Jewish memorial , the Brandenburg Gate , Checkpoint Charlie (hyper touristy without much interest), the topography of terror (super interesting free exhibition). Nothing better as a program, for understand the horrors and feel the terrors that this city has experienced. You can do this entire route on foot and all these places are free.

There are pieces of the wall all over the city and it's quite amazing to imagine what life was like for Berliners at that time.

And in the south-east of the city, the East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km long piece of the Berlin Wall that serves as a support for an exhibition of street art works . The graffiti there is amazing, an open-air exhibition on a slightly unusual support.

COCKTAILS

One evening we went to the Monkey bar , the place is crazy, it overlooks the Berlin zoo. A nice terrace, an impressive view and cocktails to die for... Remember to go there early to avoid queuing too much and to be sure to find a place. The ideal place to have a drink and enjoy the sunset.

Klunkerkranich a crazy place found by my lover... For our last evening, the place was perfect. This bar is located on the parking lot on the top floor of a shopping center. We were there on a Sunday evening for the sunset it was magical. Run there... Early enough anyway to avoid queuing. Entrance fee.

The Visionaries Club is a cozy place on the banks of the Spree, where it is good to take your time on the terrace. In short, a Berlin atmosphere that I recommend when the weather is nice.

And not far from there, Brigti&Bier, a place unlike any other. There are large counters, mismatched armchairs and even a merry-go-round. In short, a joyful mess where it's good to hang out at the end of the afternoon.

My favorite addresses in Berlin

Do you read me? is much more than just a bookstore, it is a literary haven nestled on Augustrasse, in the heart of the Mitte district. This charming address is a real treasure for lovers of unusual readings and literary discoveries. Whether you are looking for literary gems, rare magazines, or simply looking for inspiration, Do you read me? invites you to dive into a universe where each book is an invitation to intellectual escape. Explore the carefully selected shelves, let yourself be seduced by the diversity of genres, and live the exceptional literary experience that this unique place in Berlin offers.

Bun Bao Burger a delicious street food address, a first for us and we loved our bun bao these little Asian burgers served in a steam cooking basket.

House of small wonder perfect for lunch one afternoon, we queue in this pretty room with a spiral staircase and lots of plants that climb to the ceiling. The dishes are simple and good. An ultra instagrammable address that you will certainly have spotted on the networks.

Strandbar is a great tavern at any time of the day. Perfect for sipping a beer in a deckchair facing the river, and in the evening watching graceful couples dancing the tango on a mild evening on the banks of the Spree, it's absolutely magical!

Strandbad-Mitte This is the second address to the one above. A small restaurant to try. Inside a nice art deco atmosphere and outside a terrace in a dead end, this is what seduced us. A very small menu but simple cuisine with fresh products .

MARKTHALLE NEW - Berlin

Markthalle Neun Eat on the go in the local/friendly atmosphere, lots of choice. Stroll, choose then sit at a table of your choice, we loved this place. Very lively on Thursday evening apparently.

Mauerpark is a park located in the Prenzlauerberg district of Berlin . Its name means "the wall park" in German and has its roots in the famous Berlin Wall, a segment of which ran through the center of the park. It is the meeting place for everyone on Sundays, a large flea market is organized. I did not love this place but it is still worth spending 1 or 2 hours there.

Tempelhof is a former German airport that has been closed since October 30, 2008 and since the May 8, 2010 , it is converted into a huge park . You can rent bikes and take nice walks directly on the tarmac of this impressive ghost airport. The place is really crazy and huge.

Haus Schwarzenberg this small inner courtyard is the perfect reflection of Berlin. A place in the heart of the new city, entirely covered by graffiti. Go get lost there and don't hesitate to go up the floors. There is a nice bookstore as well as an art gallery.

Other addresses to try in Berlin:

And since we didn't have time to test all the addresses I had noted... I'm sharing them with you here:

Haferkater Specialist in porridge bowls, delicious and full of good things.

Bullys Bakery a pastry to die for you won't know what to choose.

Hako Ramen to taste one of the best Ramen in town.

Factory girl A great brunch in a cozy and trendy place! On the menu power muesli with fresh fruits and supposedly a banana bread to die for.

Commonground is awesome at all hours, delicious brunch and crazy cocktails.

Sixtyseven Vietnamese Cuisine The setting is nice and sets the tone. Linen hanging from the ceiling, neon lights everywhere that remind us of the atmosphere of Chinatown!

Hallesches Haus nice concept store with restaurant in the background, carefully chosen decor and nice music, I would have loved to push open the doors of this pretty address :)

Sweethearts Berlin is a lovely place for a quiet brunch.

The Badeschiff: a swimming pool in the Spree. A 1960s cargo ship transformed into a wellness multiplex.

Here is a quick overview of our chosen moments in Berlin. I really liked this city. Even if I didn't imagine it to be so big and I didn't have time to enjoy all the addresses I had noted.

I will come back.

It's a beautiful city full of history, I found the punk atmosphere quite funny and the underground places super nice. We took the time to get lost and it was really cool. The Mitte district is really the one that caught my attention the most. I loved the STANDBAR, really super nice day and night and the food courts like the MARKTHALLE NEUN and I'm sure there are some everywhere in the city.

In the evening to go home I advise you to use Uber , it's super simple and economical, especially less tiring than the metro when you've walked all day.