A grittily glamorous urban landscape draped with fabulous fashion, a thriving underground culture, a glittering nightlife and a chequered history, not necessarily in that order, the German capital has much in store for every kind of traveller.
The immense diversity of Berlin makes it a hard choice for travellers to pick a start off point, and it is always a good idea to begin at the grand Reichstag – a timeless architectural masterpiece that is the mirror of German history. It has survived wars, fire, bombing and the East-West division and still stands as the emblem of the nation – a neo-Baroque edifice in the heart of the city that houses the Bundestag (Parliament). Make an advance booking to visit the spectacular glass dome at the top to enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of Berlin with a cup of coffee or a glass of Riesling from the restaurant at the terrace.
The historic Brandenburg Gate that has been a silent witness to the tumultuous past of Germany now stands as a symbol of unity and peace. Commissioned by the Prussian emperor Frederick William II, the imposing 18th-century Neoclassical monument features the famous quadriga - a sculpture of a chariot drawn by four horses - driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. Just like Brandenburg Gate, the famous east-facing sculpture is historic – Napoleon had taken it over to Paris following his triumphant procession through the Brandenburg Gate after his German campaign.
The largest open-air gallery in the world, East Side Gallery, once part of the Berlin Wall, is located on the banks of the Spree in Friedrichshain. Just after after the wall came down in 1989, 118 artists from 21 countries began painting on the stretch of the wall that survived and the result is now 1.3 kilometres of amazing artworks such as Fraternal Kiss between Honecker and Brezhnev and Trabant breaking through the wall.
Held every February since 1978 (though it dates back to 1951), the Berlinale is one of the highlights of the global cultural calendar, when Potsdamer Platz, 1-kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate, metamorphoses into a glittering extravaganza playing host to the crème-de-la-crème of world cinema.
Take a breather and get yourself lost in the urban oasis of Tiergarten – Berlin’s most popular inner-city park, whose history dates back to 1527. Originally an imperial hunting ground, the 210-hectare park is scattered with monuments and gardens and a perfect spot for picnics in summer. And the green space turns mesmerising in autumn with luscious fall foliage.
Go treasure hunting at one of Berlin’s most beloved flea markets at the historical town square of Marheinekeplatz. Browse through the enticing jumble sale of books, records, DVDs, homemade knick-knacks, jewellery and toys that lends an antique flair to this lively Kreuzberg plaza. And after all the digging and dawdling, you can plant yourself at one of the lovely neighbourhood cafes for a mug of German ale.
The Kurfürstendamm, which is lovingly called Ku'damm by Berliners, is a famous West Berlin thoroughfare. Stroll down the beating heart of the western city centre, hunting for that elusive designer piece that you can show off back home. Elegant window displays of charming boutiques, exclusive flagship stores of retail giants and chic-décor cafes flank the legendary 3.5-kilometre boulevard, where European fashion flaunts itself – from the ubercool chic to the affordable staples.
A city crisscrossed by two rivers, a number of lakes and canals, Berlin is ideal for embarking on one of the several cruises and boat trips that operate in the German capital. The 2.5 hour out-and-back city tour from Friedrichstrasse to Hackescher Markt through numerous arches and meanders of the Spree River features many notable sights and buildings in the city’s historic and modern centre, and this remains one of the most popular riverine sails in Berlin.
Shopping
Located on the intensely lively stretch of Friedrichstrasse, Departmentstore Quartier 206 is a dainty, easy-to-navigate shopping mall that nestles the top-of-the-line retail powerhouses within its beautiful interiors. Founded in 1997 by Anne Maria Jagdfeld, the elegant space oozes refinement and luxury, where high-end fashion and designer brands have found their Berlin home to woo a jet-setting band of global clientele, for whom this is a sophisticated point of shopping in the German capital.
With six storeys of designer fashion, accessories and beauty, KaDeWe (abbreviated version of Kaufhaus des Westens) has remained the shopaholics’ paradise for over a century. Located on the iconic shopping boulevard of Kurfürstendamm, KaDeWe offers exclusive shopping experience through the wide array of global superbrands spread across 60,000 square meters of elite retail space.
Stroll leisurely through the Art Nouveau courtyards of Hackescher Markt and browse through the cool boutiques and charming shops to find niche, independent designers. The vibe is quintessentially hipster, bordering on the funky and you will love a shopping experience in a downtown district that has retained oodles of archaic Berlin charm. The vintage courtyard ensemble is also famous for its intimate arthouse cafes and a buzzing nightlife.
Restaurants & Bars
An unassuming, rather drab entrance belies the culinary wonders that has been bowling connoisseurs off their feet at Tim Raue on Kreuzberg near Checkpoint Charlie. A pretty mélange of colours greets you in the simple, yet elegant interiors where celebrity German chef Tim Raue uses top-notch ingredients with meticulous precision and infuses exotic oriental flavours in crafting signature delicacies. The eponymous two-Michelin-starred enclave features tasting menu options and an elaborate a la carte menu inspired by Koi and Vegan fare.
Helmed by Chef Marco Muller, Rutz has been recognized with the coveted Michelin Green Star that celebrates sustainable culinary practices. The premier Mitte establishment features a wine bar downstairs (with perhaps the best collection of fine German and Austrian wines) and a discreet, sophisticated restaurant and an outdoor terrace upstairs. The skillfully prepared dishes showcase an exemplary array of meaty European and German cuisine rustled up with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from small producers combined with modern flavours to lend a contemporary edge.
Menus only come in five, seven, or nine course options at Horvath, an unconventional Michelin-starred outpost of Sebastian Frank, who loves to interpret the Austrian cuisine in a new way and serves handcrafted and creative dishes, where vegetarian options steal the limelight! High quality ingredients with bold flavours define the culinary vocabulary of Horvath that culminates on a delicious note of decadent, imaginative desserts. And rich, full-bodied German wines round off the spectacle at this Kreuzberg establishment.
Award-winning cuisine, capped off by stupendous views awaits you at Hugos, Berlin's highest gourmet restaurant on the 14th floor of Hotel Intercontinental – a continuous Michelin-star holder since 1999. The décor is minimalist, in complete sync with classic favourites such as Scallop and Iberico pork and Imperial Caviar starring in the 6-course menu curated by celebrity Chef de cuisine Eberhard Lange. Enjoy a fabulous evening under the stars with splendid views of the Victory Column, the Alexanderplatz and the Memorial Church as you embark on your gastronomic journey.
Berlin boasts of one of the best club scenes of the world and night owls are simply spoilt for choices.
Your German friends will tell you that Berghain is the world’s best nightclub, and they might just well be right! Nestled inside a huge steel-and-concrete building near the border of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, this is Berlin’s hedonistic headquarters spanned across three dance floors - Berghain, the main room forever seeped in semi-darkness where the music is heavily techno, the upstairs Panorama Bar with art-infused walls and a smallish dance floor reverberating with old-school house music, and the meticulously designed Säule on ground floor with an arched balcony that rings around it. Let your hair loose in an environment steeped with ultra-liberal attitudes that has earned this Berlin establishment its cult status, but please remember they have a zero-tolerance policy for cameras.
The door-policy of the Watergate is not as strict as the Berghain, but once inside you can understand why it is one of the most stylish clubs in Berlin. With brilliant LED disco lights illuminating the tunnel-like main dance floor and bar, amazing views of the Spree River from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the dance floor as well as the breezy outdoor terrace, scintillating electro-house music churned out by the most renowned DJs of Europe, this is a perfect place for your boogie night in the German capital.
Museums & the Arts
Pergamonmuseum is perhaps Europe’s most controversial museum for its acquisitions, but there is no denying that it is an amazing portkey to the past – an archaeological time-capsule to the ancient civilizations of Rome, Babylon, Mesopotemia and Greece. The gargantuan three-wing complex located on the Museum Island in central Berlin not only showcases Hellenic and Islamic art and antiquities excavated from archaeological sites, but also monumental exhibits that were exported and reconstructed such as the iconic Ishtar Gate that was the gateway to the legendary city of Babylon almost three millennium ago, the Epic of Gilgamesh - regarded as the earliest surviving notable literature and the meticulously rebuilt Market Gate of Miletus dating back to the 2nd century AD.
Berlin’s preeminent hub of cutting edge contemporary art, Hamburger Bahnhof hosts one of the largest and most significant public collections of global modern art and remains a prime destination for art fiends. Originally a railway station built in the mid-19th century, it was refurbished by renowned architect Josef Paul Kleihues in the 1990s. Today, the space features a comprehensive collection of contemporary art, including the works of Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, Anselm Kiefer and Cy Twombly.
Housed in a stunning building designed by Daniel Libeskind, the Jewish Museum unfurls the complex and often entangled German-Jewish history from the Middle Ages to the present including the dark and harrowing persecution episode. From its opening in 2001, the three building ensemble is one of the most visited museums in Germany and considered to be one of the best places in the world where you can trace the chapters of Jewish history and culture in Germany through its permanent exhibitions.
Side Trip
About an hour’s drive away from Berlin, the charming region of Spreewald is famous for their dill pickles and linseed oil. A UNESCO-protected nature lovers’ paradise, this is one of the most picturesque farming countrysides of Germany with a vast network of canals connected to the River Spree. Traverse the canals by canoe or kayak, take a walking tour through the famous folk village of Freilandmuseum Lehde and wrap up the day at a luxurious wellness retreat with some delectable culinary fare of the region.
Exclusive Experience
Check in at Airport Berlin Schönefeld to be chauffeur-escorted to the helicopter in an elegant Lincoln stretch limousine. Your private helicopter lifts you vertically and after soaking in the bird’s eye view of the urban panorama, you land at the idyllic lake “Straussee” in Strausberg, from where you are shuttled in a limo to The Lakeside Burghotel for a flute of champagne followed by a candle light gourmet dinner. An ultimate A-lister experience curated by Air Service Berlin.
Hidden Gem
Transport yourself back in time at Natur-Park Südgelände, a former railway yard-turned-public park in the Schoneberg district. The industrial zone was abandoned after World War II and gradually reclaimed by nature, when it was designed as an 18-hectare urban forest strewn with numerous art installations and sculptures, while remnants of the former railway infrastructure and a 50-metre tall water tower dating from 1927 are reminders of a time long by.
Sports
Berlin is the undisputed German capital of sports. The most popular spectator sport, football has a long history. The two main football clubs are FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC with a dedicated, diehard fan base. It is an electrifying experience to catch the clubs in action at a prestigious derby or the fiercely competitive Bundesliga at the historic Berlin Olympic Stadium or the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, which also hosts the annual Christmas Carols event.
With a passionate following, basketball in Berlin is one of the prime spectator sports and Alba Berlin is a top grade professional club that has won numerous titles in Germany and in international tournaments. With a capacity of 17,000 people, the spectacular Mercedes-Benz Arena is home to Alba Berlin (and also to the leading ice hockey team Eisbären Berlin), where you can head out to if you are a basketball fan.
Handball is Germany’s ‘second sport’ after football and Füchse Berlin is a leading sports team of Berlin that competes in the top German professional handball league – Toyota Handball-Bundesliga. Enjoy a blitzkrieg session of dribbling, passing and hitting the ball with any part of the body above the knee by a supremely skillful squad deftly using their hands to manouvre the handball.
Must Buy Souvenir
Beer snob, are you? Then you are in the perfect place. Head over to a flea market in Berlin and get your copy of a real German beer stein. Made from precious German stoneware, hand-painted with a pewter lid, a Berlin beer stein with the city’s historic landmarks embossed on them can bring back your fond memories once you are back home. The steins also come in porcelain, crystal or glass and you can customise the painting.
Hotels
From glamorous outposts of uberluxe hospitality chains to historic villas-turned-trendy boutique stays, Berlin’s upscale hotel scene is no longer restricted to the city centre, and even spreads out to the once-gritty neighbourhoods of erstwhile East Berlin.
The First-Class.com guide to the best luxury hotels in Berlin
Getting Around
Airport Express and regional trains ply four times every hour from station T1-2 of Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Berlin Central Station. The S-bahns S9 and S45 also ply from T1-2 to the city centre. the 27 kilometre-transfer to Berlin downtown from the airport can also be undertaken by a taxi ride.
The best way to get around Berlin is via the U-Bahn underground trains or S-Bahn regional, elevated trains, both of which form part of Berlin’s extensive and supremely efficient public transportation system that also features trams and buses. E-scooters are allowed on cycle lanes and can be a wonderful way to explore neighbourhoods at your own pace.
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