We make it a tradition to explore a new city each year, and this time Berlin was on our list, thanks to EasyJet’s new connection from Ljubljana. We spent a delightful week in the city.
After arriving at Schönefeld Airport, we hopped on a train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and checked into the Hotel Amano Grand Central. Before long, we were out exploring the vibrant streets of Berlin.
Mitte
It was a lovely evening, and since we were staying in Mitte, we decided to explore the modern area first. Scattered along the River Spree are several government buildings, characterized by their clean lines of concrete and glass. The area felt quite empty, but it was late in the afternoon. We passed by the Reichstag, which, unfortunately, was closed for the entire week. We had hoped to see the glass dome and enjoy the view from up top.
We visited the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s iconic landmark. It’s a stunning monument rich in history. From there, we made our way to the nearby Holocaust Memorial. This poignant site features a vast labyrinth of over 2,700 gray concrete blocks spread across an area the size of three football fields, along with a museum, which we decided to skip this time.
As we started feeling hungry, we noticed there were hardly any restaurants nearby. We decided to head over to Potsdamer Platz, where we wanted to avoid chain Italian places for pasta or pizza. Instead, we opted to try the famous currywurst at a nearby stand. Currywurst is essentially a sausage topped with ketchup and a sprinkle of curry, and I must admit I didn’t quite understand the hype. However, the Holy Pope hot dog and a cold beer were fantastic!
We made sure to visit the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum. The giant glass structure takes you on a journey through various environments and climates. As nature lovers, we were excited to explore this beautiful oasis, and it definitely lived up to our expectations!
The Botanical Gardens are located to the southwest, so we decided to check out the nearest sight: Tempelhof Field. Once an airport, it has transformed into a vast recreational area filled with joggers and cyclists. While it’s often described as a must-visit, it’s essentially just a sprawling open space. We strolled across the field and made our way to Neukölln.
Neukölln
Neukölln is definitely a different vibe compared to Mitte. It has a more raw, hip atmosphere that we really enjoyed. One of the highlights was the food scene. We started at Viet Bowl, where we shared some incredible spring rolls and even better duck. Afterward, we visited Roamers for a delightful cup of coffee and cake—both were fantastic.
Since it was Tuesday, the Turkish Market was open, providing us with an interesting stroll and a fresh perspective on this multicultural city.
Friedrichshain
We briefly crossed the Spree and entered Friedrichshain to visit the East Side Gallery. Once a part of the Berlin Wall, it now stands as the longest open-air gallery in the world, showcasing vibrant murals and powerful messages.
Kreuzberg
After that, we made our way back to Kreuzberg, passing through the shaded Görlitzer Park, where we met a friend at Five Elephant café. They claim to have the best cheesecake in Berlin—and it just might be true!
Later in the evening, we met up with another friend who took us to a fantastic Syrian restaurant, where we tried shawarma. It was absolutely delicious—hands down the best thing I’ve eaten on this trip!
Prenzlauer Berg
Another day, another neighborhood—and this one quickly became our favorite. It’s beautiful and clean, with an abundance of eateries and cafés. We started our day with breakfast at The Barn, where I still dream of that ham and cheese-filled croissant. The coffee was fantastic too; they’ve earned awards for it, after all!
Berlin Wall Memorial
On the border strip that had been located in East Berlin, an open-air exhibition uses the situation on Bernauer Strasse to explain the history of division. The memorial consists of the Monument in Memory of the Divided City and the Victims of Communist Tyranny as well as the Window of Remembrance. The grounds also include the Chapel of Reconciliation and the excavated foundations of a former apartment building whose façade functioned as the border wall until the early eighties.
Our next stops were Alexanderplatz and the Rotes Rathaus, where we took some time to relax in the sun in front of the Berliner Dom. Our trip soon turned into a delicious quest to find the best places to eat and try as many dishes as possible. We shared a bánh mì at Cô Cô bánh mì deli before heading to Mogg—this is the spot in Berlin for satisfying your deepest pastrami cravings! Jaw drop.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is situated in the bustling Breitscheidplatz, a major public square. Heavily bombed in a 1943 raid, its retained spire makes for a striking and historical landmark.
For dinner, we turned to Japanese cuisine. Our first stop was Shiso Burger, where we shared a delicious wagyu beef burger. We then continued on to Makoto for some incredible miso ramen, rounding off our culinary adventure perfectly.
On our last day, we were determined to make the most of the beautiful weather, prioritizing outdoor experiences over museums and galleries. However, the Gemäldegalerie was one exhibition we didn’t want to miss, especially the Old Masters collection. The paintings were truly breathtaking.
Afterward, we headed to Gendarmenmarkt and ventured a bit further south to Kreuzberg for lunch. We received an intriguing recommendation for Goldies, where the two chefs, formerly from a Michelin-starred restaurant, have perfected the art of frying potato sticks. They serve French fries in a unique way, offering Pommeskombos that are incredibly well-prepared with toppings like roast beef, duck, cheddar, jalapeño, almonds, mozzarella, miso, furikake, and truffle. Each dish draws inspiration from a different country, making it a delightful culinary adventure!
We spent our evening at Markthalle Neun, where it was Street Food Thursday in this historic market in Kreuzberg. The various stalls showcased a delightful array of culinary delicacies, with kitchens representing flavors from all over the world. We indulged in some Nepalese dishes, Uruguayan fare, mochi ice cream, an interesting gin and tonic, and a honey BBQ rice burger, among other treats.
Overall, this trip was fantastic, filled with some of the best food we’ve ever eaten. While you can check off the famous sights in a day, truly experiencing the city’s vibe comes from exploring its diverse neighborhoods and sampling the incredible cuisine this multicultural hub has to offer.
