Germany’s capital, Berlin, is one of Europe’s most popular cities. Although it was once a troubled city, things are quiet now, and it has transformed into a breezy, free-spirited place with plenty of sights and activities for its visitors. Historical monuments dot the city, museums and art galleries are bursting with exhibits, and clubs are buzzing with crazy beats, but above all, the general atmosphere of Berlin makes you quickly make friends with a lively and colourful city. All this makes Berlin so popular and sought after. Berlin is one of Europe’s hippest cities, and not a few people choose Germany’s capital as a city-break destination.
Everyone who arrives in Berlin visits its main sights first – from the Brandenburg Gate to the Reichstag (with its gorgeous dome), from Gendarmenmarkt to the Cathedral, from Museum Island to what’s left of the Berlin Wall, from Alexanderplatz to Charlottenburg Palace. But we like to get off the beaten tourist track a bit and discover places that are less frequented or, in any case, less mentioned in most tourist guides.
Let’s look at some of these places and activities in Berlin – the lesser-known Berlin – with the promise that you won’t be disappointed once you get there, quite the opposite.
A niche dinner
A trend in foodie culture is to dine in so-called underground restaurants, where top chefs serve special dishes in their homes. As Berlin is known for its underground urban life, it’s no surprise that such a culinary scene has taken off here, imbued with unique gastronomy that includes dried clams over artichoke puree with crispy bacon or lamb fillets with mint and goat cheese.
These dinners are usually held at a single table, where all the customers are grouped together, which is a good opportunity to make new friends. Of course, participating in such a thing requires a reservation and finding the optimal time to grab a seat. Some of the best-known clubs of this kind in Berlin include Daniel’s Eatery, b.alive!, and Muse.
Beach in the “tropics”
As many of the world’s exotic islands are exposed to all sorts of dangers, from tsunamis to terrorist attacks, Malaysian entrepreneur Colin Au set out to bring exoticism to the heart of Europe. Specifically in a huge former hangar, somewhere between Berlin and Dresden, where the Nazis used to train pilots. The park Au has created is an artificial paradise called Tropical Islands.
It’s a mix between a botanical garden and a beach, only on a very high level. To give you an idea of the proportions, the Statue of Liberty can easily fit under the hangar’s roof, and the Eiffel Tower can lie flat. Within the tropical rainforest inside is one of the world’s largest expanses of indoor artificial water: a tropical “sea”, a beach, a lagoon, a gourmet restaurant, music and dance performances, a spa, etc. You have several accommodation options, including the possibility of sleeping overnight in a tent. Tropical Islands have something for every visitor.
Address: Tropical-Islands-Allee 1, 15910 Krausnick
A dip in the… river pool
One of Berlin’s most unusual swimming pools is the Badeschiff (The Bathing Ship), which is part work of art, a part example of clean living amidst urban pollution. Originally the work of a local artist named Susanne Lorenz, the pool was made from an old cargo container and placed on the waters of Berlin’s polluted Spree river. In summer, the pool is completely uncovered, turning into a mini oasis of clean water where Berliners come to bathe as they would at any spa.
However, the bizarre part comes in winter when, thanks to architect Gil Wilk, the pool is transformed into an indoor health complex covered in translucent foil. Here locals find shelter from the winter frost, two saunas, a lounge area and a heated pool. And the more adventurous can even escape from under the roof to demonstrate their cold-water swimming skills. A word to the wise: the German sauna has one strictly enforced rule – complete nudity.
Address: Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin
In the suburbs, among the subcultures
The birthplace of the countercultural movements for which Berlin is so famous lies in the suburbs, where you can arrive on a tour that introduces you to the artistic and ethnic diversity of the city. Discover the neighbourhoods of Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Mitte and get in touch with the different subcultures so important in defining the Berlin spirit.
Urban farms, gardens created in abandoned spaces, alternative art galleries, organic markets, gastronomic culture, including Turkish cuisine, the terraces of the oldest breweries, streets emblematic of street art, the birthplaces of famous protest movements and the underground music scene, whether punk or electronic, all coexist in the unique space of the suburbs.
A culinary adventure by bike
The culinary tour on two wheels starts in the evening at the famous TV tower on Alexanderplatz, where you meet your expert guide who takes you to the lively Prenzlauer Berg district. Why not combine the pleasure of cycling in a city renowned for its gastronomic diversity with the pleasure of eating?
You wander through attractive streets and parks, make stops at the main points of interest along the route and enter three different restaurants to enjoy the full taste of the culinary delights, which you savour intensely. Of course, there’s no shortage of Turkish or Middle Eastern cuisine samples. In the end, you have the opportunity to admire a sunset like no other from the Oberbaum Bridge.
A dip with the fishes at AquaDom
Discover more than 5,000 fascinating aquatic species on an amazing underwater journey. Follow the water from the Spree to the depths of the Atlantic and the tropical waters. Experience a special kind of diving in the AquaDom – the world’s largest cylindrical aquarium. Float through glass walls in 1 million litres of seawater and tropical heat.
AquaDom & SEA LIFE Berlin offers a unique and exciting insight into the beautiful marine world. Discover a fascinating diversity of species, from seahorses to rays and sharks, on an exciting journey from the headwaters of the Spree to the depths of the Atlantic and the tropics. The journey takes you through numerous local and tropical habitats with true-to-nature pools and a deep-water glass tunnel. AquaDom & SEA LIFE Berlin offers informative entertainment, guided presentations and much more.
A ride in the glass lift through the AquaDom makes the visit an unforgettable experience. In the tunnel and glass lift, you are right in the middle of the action of the underwater worlds in the world’s largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium.
You may have visited aquariums – plenty of them worldwide – but the question is: have you ever seen an aquarium from its interior? If not, you have the chance to do so at AquaDom Berlin, located near the Sea Life water park. But if you don’t want to visit Sea Life Berlin, you can see the AquaDom from the outside, if you are inspired to accommodate at the Radisson Blu Hotel or if you dine in the restaurant of this hotel. Because the AquaDom is right in the middle of the restaurant.
Address: Spandauer Str. 3, 10178 Berlin
Farming in the middle of the city
The Lichtenberg StadtFarm takes urban gardening to the next level: in greenhouses in the middle of the Herzberge Landscape Park, salads, herbs and vegetables and even exotic produce such as bananas and passion fruit are grown locally and sustainably. The farm also grows its own fish.
Thanks to the resource-saving AquaTerraPonik system, all this is possible in a closed cycle in which the fish’s excreta are converted into fertiliser by bacteria and the water from the greenhouses is returned to the fish – sustainable and climate-friendly.
During the week, seasonal vegetables and salads can be bought in the farm shop, and on Fridays and Saturdays, there are also fresh fish in different variations as well as snacks and drinks to go. Regional partners also offer their products. Since the StadtFarm attaches great importance to transparency, the grounds can also be visited on public tours.
Address: Allee der Kosmonauten 16, 10315 Berlin
A dangerous photo tour in a theme park
So-called lost places, i.e. places that are abandoned and doomed to decay, make the heart of every amateur photographer beat faster. Urban adventurers will find particularly colourful motifs with a ghost town atmosphere in the former GDR amusement park Plänterwald, today called Spreepark. This park was opened in 1969 in the district of Treptow-Köpenick and finally closed to the public after it went bankrupt in 2002. Today, parts of the former amusement park can be visited on guided tours.
In about one and a half hours, visitors walk through the park between the Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other disused rides and learn exciting facts about its history and the current plans for its future use. After the tour, you can relax on the “Island of Youth” right next door. Here you can rent canoes, enjoy the sun far away from the city and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city on the banks of the Spree river.
Address: Kiehnwerderallee 1-3, 12437 Berlin
Apocalyptic scenes at Teufelsberg
Berlin has a wealth of historical relics. Unfortunately, most of them are overrun by tourists. A bike ride under the Brandenburger Tor soon turns into a giant bumper car ride. Due to its remote location, the Teufelsberg has remained untouched by the hordes of tourists until now. After a long journey with the S-Bahn, you have to walk for half an hour to reach the former American listening station. But your efforts will be rewarded! Graffiti art, apocalyptic scenes and an unbelievable view are just some of the highlights of the Teufelberg. The present and the past converge here in a bizarre way, and that’s a rather exceptional thing.
Address: Teufelsseechaussee 10, 14193 Berlin
3 parks to relax in
Treptower Park
Sit on a bench in the rose garden, the 84 hectares of greenery will allow you to stroll under the plane trees and admire the barges, which are worth a visit. Don’t miss the Russian War Memorial, go for a bike ride and pass by the abandoned amusement park called the Spreepark (see above). Take a pedal boat ride to the island of youth.
Tiergarten Park
The Tiergarten is the largest park in the city, with many paths, ponds and romantic spots. The victory column on the roundabout called Großer Stern (the “big star”) has 285 steps of a spiral staircase which will take you to the top where a beautiful panorama of the city awaits you (it costs 3€). The Zoological Garden, located southwest of the park, welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually.
Victoria Park
Berlin’s highest” peak”, 66 metres high, is located in the 13-hectare Victoria Park. From this vantage point, a breathtaking view awaits you at the top of the waterfall that invites romance. If the temperatures are too high, take off your shoes and cool off with your feet in the water!
A futuristic spa: Liquidrom
When you hear the word spa, you may be one of those people who visualise cotton bathrobes and disposable paper pants. Well, the Liquidrom offers a much less traumatic experience. This building, which looks like a futuristic church, has a saltwater pool with huge arches over which lights are projected. Everything is punctuated by music that is audible even underwater. Take a look at the detailed musical programme on their website before you go there.
Address: Möckernstraße 10, 10963 Berlin
Turmkunst, an urban tree
Created in 1976 by two German architects, this urban tree, which overlooks the city from the top of its 47 metres, was originally home to a restaurant and a nightclub… both of which have since closed. In its place, street artists have reinvested, trying to give a second life to this Nostromo in the middle of Berlin. In addition to the frescoes visible from the outside, temporary exhibitions animate the place, and it would even be possible to have a coffee with a nice view.
Conclusion
These are just 12 of Berlin’s special places, the lesser-known Berlin you might want to see if you want to get off the beaten path. Of course, Germany’s capital has many more. If you do end up in Berlin, please let us know in the comments what interesting places you’ve discovered and the main reason why they’re worth including on a curious traveller’s itinerary.
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