What to do in Berlin
Hannah
Learn more about spending your everyday life in the capital of Germany and get some inspiration for your time in Berlin!
Berlin is an exciting city that’s for sure! With 3.6 billion citizens, it’s the biggest and probably also the most unique city in Germany. It is divided into 12 districts and all of them have their own vibe. Sometimes it can give the impression as if you had travelled to a completely new city, when in reality you just took the metro to a new district. And in all these different areas, you can find a new home surrounded by young people and new ideas, especially in the most multicultural district of the city, Berlin Kreuzberg, where our THE FIZZ is located.
When spending your daily life in the capital of Germany, the “Brandenburger Tor”, the “Fernsehturm” and the “Potsdamer Platz” are quickly becoming familiar sights. But in your free time, you still want to do something exciting, something that’s definitely not a mainstream tourist attraction, am I right? Luckily this city has more to offer than the “Checkpoint Charlie” and the “Reichstag” – there are so many hidden gems, you just need to know where to find them! I can only tell you about a fraction of what there is to explore – but I will try my best for some inspiration on how to spend your free time in Berlin.
Let’s start with some cultural activities
Berlin truly is a city with a history! Besides the famous Museumsinsel there seems to be a museum on every topic in Berlin. Spys? Video Games? Chocolate? No problem! Highly recommended is the “Story of Berlin” museum at the Kurfürstendamm, which tells about 800 years of the city’s history with an exhibition that also draws a strong connection to current topics like tolerance and religion. In comparison to the all-famous Pergamon Museum”, you prefer to take a dive into more modern art? Then the “Sammlung Boros” might be just the thing for you. It is a private art collection of contemporary art right in Berlin Mitte.
In Schloss Charlottenburg on the other hand, you can admire the arts and architecture of classicism. Or you can stroll through the beautiful parks around the palaces. What? The long-dead royalties and their living rooms are not of interest to you? Well, maybe pay a visit to the former “Staatssicherheitsgefängnis” (The state security prison of the former regime of the GDR) in Berlin Hohenschönhausen. History truly lives on there, with tours guided by former inmates of the prison. Wanna enjoy a stunning view over the city? Then Teufelsberg, a former US listening station on a hill made of rubble, offers a spectacular view.
Enjoy and relax!
You already know that Berlin is the biggest city in Germany and the fifth biggest city in Europe. But did you know that in between all these apartment complexes and company buildings, Berlin has to offer quite a bit of nature? There is not only the Tiergarten which tends to be way too crowded in the summer months, but also several other spots to take a break from the urban jungle. Sunbath on Insel der Jugend, an island in Treptower Park right at the Spree River or take a walk in Grunewald – a large, forested area with magnificent villas. If you don’t care about a ride on the tram, you can find your “green oasis” at one of the many lakes surrounding the capital, just like the famous Wannsee or the Havel region. Or you go on a tour through the Spree Forest south-east of Berlin. It is a large marsh and nature reserve since 1991. The unique mixture of forests, villages, small rivers and many canals create a perfect hiking and (of course) paddling landscape!
Explore the club scene!
Berlin in general is full of good vibes and uniqueness. And how to enjoy that atmosphere better than at a good party? And while the Berghain and the Watergate are prominent addresses, the city has a lot more to offer! For example, the Hoppetosse – a club on a former military and passenger ship where you can party all year to minimal house and techno. Maybe you have heard of the Farbfernseher which unfortunately had to close its doors in 2019? Nowadays, the location is revived by the “Bulbul” and it’s exciting and very international parties – even if you wouldn’t expect that from the outside. And when you are looking for that little bit of craziness that Berlin has to it, why don’t you try out the “Sameheads” in Berlin Neukölln? It is a cosy locale where you can find quiz nights and comedy, surrounded by whimsical decorations. But I’ll make a promise: Just one floor down, the whole weekend can be spent with music, dancing and partying! Explore Berlins club and bar scene here.
And there is still so much more to see!
I’m sure you have already heard of the former airport in Berlin Tempelhof. Since it is no longer in use for planes to start and land, the airport is on its best way to become a new centre of community and culture – definitely worth a visit! Another place of long-gone bustle is the Spreepark. An amusement park, that had been abandoned in the year 2002. Now the City of Berlin wants to bring new life to the area. The new Spreepark project started in 2023! Today, it combines nature and culture. Dotted with the sight of corroded carousels the change from an abandoned park to a new centre of art and events is in full swing!
But sometimes it is simply too hot to stroll through any kind of park. This is, where the Badeschiff Berlin (which can be translated as “bathing boat Berlin”) has its time to shine! Yes, that’s right, it’s a swimming pool on a boat, located right on the Spree River. And everything you might need, comes right with it: Lockers, deckchairs and of course a bar. That is a summer day well spent!
Well, now I really want to go out and do some of these things by myself… and I hope you found some inspiration too – have a good time in Berlin!
All photo rights by International Campus GmbH.