Blogging Berlin

Guten Tag from Germany!

This past week in Berlin, Germany has been jam-packed with activities and sights! Having stayed in a hostel and a friend’s apartment, I could see many different sides of the city. First staying three nights at Industriepalast Hostel Berlin at around $43/night (including tax) I was at a downtown location by the Berlin Wall and surrounded by many shops, restaurants/street food, and artwork. The train and bus stations were also within a 5-minute walk as well. It has an outdoor courtyard and kitchen, and the rooms were large but did not have curtains around the beds or AC. The check-in desk also had a bar and 24-hour check-in. My wonderful friend Lotta (who I met last year in Barcelona) graciously invited me to stay at her apartment in East Germany, about an hour from my hostel, so I stayed with her for an additional five nights. 

The transportation systems were all very clean and came often, and provided many options through the U-bahn or S-bahn, trams, underground, and buses. Each ride was either 3.50 euros or 24-hour passes for 9.90 euros were available (other than one longer/faster train, my tickets were never checked though, so do with that what you will). There are also bike lanes on every street and sidewalk and are used often. 

The city center is crowded with food, culture, and people from many other European countries. Lotta told me that only about 10% in Berlin are German. Almost everyone who spoke German also spoke English, so I did not have much difficulty communicating anywhere. Berlin activities and food were a bit more expensive, but street food and smaller cafes were cheaper so overall coffee/food ranged from $4-15 depending on location and choice. Some Germna-originated foods that are a must to try are Kebabs, pretzels, and Curryworst. Berlin is also known as an incredible place for vegans, with many vegan bakeries and restaurants across the city. My personal favorite was Cinnamood, large cinnamon rolls in many flavors that taste very similar! As for activities, since there is such a wide variety I will include a list with prices below. 

Sightseeing: 
There are many lakes, parks, castles, and older architecture around the city, walkable and visible through public transport, or by taking bus 100 you can view many popular spots as well. 
-Berlin Cathedral (tours+entry available for a fee)
-Charlottenburg Palace (beautiful structure and huge garden and lake)
-Berlin Wall (old part of the wall that separated east/west Germany now covered in artwork)
-Gedenkhalle (free memorial church)
-Neue Wache (restored new guardhouse, free, to commemorate victims of war and tyranny and honor the memory of people who suffered through war)
-Staatsbibliothek (huge library with courtyard, free photo exhibit)
-Tier Park (the biggest park in Berlin, with Cafe Am Neuen See (outdoors in the center) and rowboat rentals at 14 euros/hour)
-Urban Nation (free art museum) 
-Holzmarkt (outdoor food market by the river)
-Bode Museum (6 euro entry with a student or senior discount, normally 12 euros)
-vintage shops: Humana Second Hand & PicknWeight (common around the city, good prices for vintage)
-Hackesher Markt (outdoor farmers market)
-Groß Glienicker See (local lake with a rope swing on the island across the water)
-public viewing at Brandenburger Tor (huge screens for the European football games)
-Mauer Park (flea market with street performers (bands/singers))
-mon bijou park (huge park by the cathedral and museums, by a popular shopping area)
-Hackesche höfe (cute architectural village and shops)
-Brandenburg Gate (popular site, the ‘Eiffel Tower’ of Berlin)
-Reichstag (meeting place for government officials)
-SO36 (roller disco, 9 euro entry, and 3 euro skate rental)
-photobooths (spread across the city and at markets, about 3-4 euros per strip of vintage pictures)

I thoroughly enjoyed Berlin, and look forward to visiting more of Germany in the future! Overall I felt pretty safe (just be careful at night in public spaces as usual). Much love to Lotta and all my new friends, and see you all next in Prague! 

xoxo,

Ang around the World 🙂