Berlin is one of the world’s most famous cities and surely one of the most visited by tourists. However, the same applies to many other urban metropolises around the world. What sets Berlin apart, however, is the wide variety of leisure opportunities it offers. It virtually does not matter who you are and what you’re into. Berlin will offer a bit of something for everybody: history, culture, the most vibrant nightlife scene in Europe and even superb natural landscapes around the city. All you need to do is be informed on all the great ways you can have fun in Berlin. Cheap accommodation as well as high-end, five-star luxury hotels are readily available in the largest city in Germany. Things to do in order to keep yourself entertained follow below.
1. The Grunewald Forest
If you’re into nature, all you need to do to fully enjoy it, when in Berlin, is to hop onto the ever-convenient S-bahn. The fast train will take you to Charlottenburg in a matter of minutes. Just south-west of the suburb you will come across the largest forested area in and around Berlin—Grunewald. The best thing to do here is… simply put, nothing at all. Just relax, enjoy the view and plan a picnic during this leisurely daytrip. Alternatively, if inactivity sounds a tad too much on the tame side for you, you can always explore the woods, either on foot, by bike or on horseback. Go swimming in the Schlachtensee or Wannsee lakes, and explore history by trying to locate the Teufelsberg, a hill made from the remnants and rubble of the buildings destroyed in Berlin during World War II.
2. The Berlin Wall
There are few other historic tourist sights around the world more impressive and emotionally charged than the Berlin Wall. This ‘great divide’ essentially separated prosperous, civilized western Europe from the communist-rid east in the aftermath of World War II. The largest part of it was demolished in the enthusiastic response to the fall of communism that took place between June and November 1990. You can however, still visit Checkpoint Charlie, which served as a customs point throughout the duration of the Cold War. The eastern side of the wall stands as a one-mile long outdoor art gallery, as the graffiti painted during the Communist period has been preserved in what is now known as the East Side Gallery.
3. Shop Till You Drop
Visitors from outside the Euro zone might need to use a currency converter in order to figure out how expensive everything is, especially since shopping in Berlin can basically take you all over the city. There are so many shopping venues and opportunities around Berlin that it’s difficult to even list the main commercial areas. Europe’s strongest economy has continued to see the opening of new malls, even during the recession. What most Berlin locals regard as the city’s main shopping district is North Mitte, with lots of small, chic boutiques and independent retailers. There are also lots of venues for outlet-priced clothing, the most important of which is the Garage at Nollendorf Platz, in western Berlin, with the most famous being Colours Kleidmarkt in Bergmanstrasse.
4. It’s All About the Nightlife
There is no way you can visit Berlin without having fun and partying… sometimes until you literally drop. In Berlin, it literally doesn’t matter if it’s the weekend or a week night, parties will go on round the clock. For those who still enjoy European techno, the best place to be is the Berghain/Panoram Bar, which is actually where Euro-dance music first emerged. Hipsters, scenesters and Indie kids will swoon over the Salon Zur Wilden Renate, which is the hub of the European alternative scene. The snazzier set will probably sneer at its sight, which appears derelict and ramshackle, but regular club-goers swear by this place and the fun to be had on any of its three dance rooms. Have a currency converter readily available to work out the fee and drink prices, lest you get carried away in the heat of the party scene
5. Museum Island
It is located at the eastern end of the famous Unter der Linden Avenue and it is also included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Centrally located, at the middle of the Spree, it hosts no less than five museums, where you can immerse yourself in archeological experiences like you’ve never had before. There is a wide variety of Egyptian and ancient Roman artifacts to be explored, including the massive two-storey Gate of Miletus and the Gate of Babylon, which dates back to the 7th century BC.
