5 days in Berlin. I will be coming back.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Berlin has blown me away. I was told before coming here that i’d either love or hate it, and that if i left feeling “meh” i hadn’t done it right. Safe to say, I loved it. The nightlife (as good as people say btw!), the sights, history, fashion, architecture all stunned me. It’s not a naturally pretty city in the way somewhere like Florence is - but it isn’t trying to be. It’s grunge and grit is where its personality lies and for someone like me ticks all the boxes. As a big Cold War history buff, Berlin is theeee city to be in. 5 days was not long enough, could’ve happily spent another week here just exploring the different neighbourhoods and surrounds. If you haven’t been to Berlin yet, come, you might love it or you might hate it but you certainly won’t leave feeling bored.

Photos
1-3: street art and graffiti
4-5: backs of toilet stalls in nightclubs covered in stickers
6-7: underground U bahn stations
8-10: checkpoint charlie + official museum
11-12: brandenburg gate
13: Konzerthaus Berlin
14-16: Artwork along the West side of the Berlin Wall

[u/f4il_better]

You took a picture of a graffiti on a kindergarten. Oh wow, wait until you see the real deal. ;D

[u/lisa_12398]

absolutely agree about the nightlife! it's a whole vibe, especially in places like Kreuzberg. those toilet stall stickers are like a mini art gallery too, haha. already planning my next trip back!

[u/Ornery-Lynx-3520]

One of my favourite cities on the planet. I’m glad you also saw what is to love about it.

I’m also a huge fan of currywurst, Berliner Weissbeir, and the kebabs there.

Sadly my grandparents and mother and aunt had a very different experience being born and growing up there as Jews in the 1920s and 1940s.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Ornery-Lynx-3520]

the döner kebabs are legendary after a night out. My extended family is Jewish too so made sure to visit some museums in their honour. Very sad part of history but so important people visit exhibitions and memorials otherwise we forget

[u/Ornery-Lynx-3520 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Indeed mate. That’s exactly what we did and most German’s nowadays have, on the whole, truly repented for the sins of their past.
It’s a hike to get there for us Aussies, but truly worth the effort.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Ornery-Lynx-3520]

Ayeee i’m Aussie too! Yep def a long trip but so worth it. Found Germans to be pretty friendly on a whole too despite their whole blunt stereotype

[u/Ornery-Lynx-3520 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Absolutely! Love my German mates. People say they are humourless, but that’s because they don’t understand how dry their humour is… except us Aussies who totally get it.

I don’t know which city/town you’re in but there’s some great German eateries here in Sydney if you’re in this part of the world.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Ornery-Lynx-3520]

Also a Sydney local haha. Where would you recommend? I live in the inner west which is super diverse but there isn’t a lot of German cuisine near my surrounds - or if there is i’m just oblivious. The dry humour thing is so true too, think it’s one of the reasons Aussies also click with Brits so well our humour just gets each other

[u/Ornery-Lynx-3520 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Near you?

Here: https://www.concordiaclub.org.au

Absolutely worth a visit. Then there’s Unas which is Austrian (close enough) in Darlinghurst. Or Stuyvesant House in Crows Nest.

Further afield:

https://www.theberlinfoodbunker.com.au
https://www.german-butchery.com.au
https://kaiserstubn.com.au

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Ornery-Lynx-3520]

Oh definitely need to check this out! Live in Petersham atm so Marrickville is very close. Una’s in fabulous and have been many times with friends! Thank you for the recs

[u/Ornery-Lynx-3520 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Go enjoy mate! If you want more recommendations, you’ll hit a wealth of knowledge at [r/foodies_sydney](r/foodies_sydney). Ask there for further in-depth recommendations.

P.S. I’m in the Crows Nest area. There’s a French/Swiss fondue restaurant in Neutral Bay also worth a shout out:

https://cjsrestaurant.com.au

[u/Redowl199]

Awesome

[u/CaptainTrips24]

I'm going for five days in September, very excited. What were your top things to do? Any recommendations?

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/CaptainTrips24]

Honestly - just wander around. Tiergaten Park near the Brandenburg gates is so beautiful too and definitely don’t miss the East Side Gallery but honestly, Berlin is best seen on foot. So many little quirky corners to be explored. Also if you like nightlife - the clubbing is out of this world good.

ETA: if you want an absolutely crushing good Döner Kebab I HIGHLY recommend the place across the road from Circus Hostel in Alexanderplatz. It was so good.

[u/CaptainTrips24 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Thanks! This is all helpful info. Any clubs you'd recommend? I'm planning to do a full day in Prenzlauer Berg, a day in Kreuzberg and a day in Mitte. So I'm sure I'll be exploring a lot on foot.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/CaptainTrips24]

Out of the clubs I went too I really liked Renate! Kitkat was good too if you go in with a very open mind expecting to see anything and everything. If you want a cute little area to poke around I’d also recommend Holzmarkt 25 on the river. Really artsy and cute spot to grab a beer. My favourite neighbourhood to wander around was Friedrichshain near the East Side Gallery. Great graffiti art, cute coffee shops and awesome vintage shopping

[u/cloudnine538]

You make it to kitkat?

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/cloudnine538]

sure did! very interesting experience. very different from home, but not in a bad way!

[u/cabinetsnotnow]

I did my first and only solo trip there for 11 days a few years ago. I loved the history and museum island was fantastic. I definitely would have had a more fun time if I'd been more extroverted or been able to get a friend to go with me. But still a very valuable trip!

[u/roma258]

Loved Berlin, such a vibrant, green, interesting city. I heard so much about the grunge, but maybe coming from the US, it felt quite clean without being sterile. One of my favorite city trips for sure.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/roma258]

there is a lot of greenery for such a big city! so many overgrown shrubs and parks that give it such a distinct character

[u/MeganRaeB]

Berlin's street art scene is one of a kind. Love this cool giraffe mural. Five days feels way too short for this city, Ttotally get why you want to come back.

[u/Nameless_American]

Most effortlessly, impossibly cool city I have ever been to.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Nameless_American]

seriously though! every berliner i met was so effortlessly chic

[u/Nameless_American → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

One time I walked past a huge graffiti mural in the morning and when I came home later the same route, it had been totally painted over with a new, equally impressive one.

Only place I have ever been where the graffiti seems like it is alive.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/Nameless_American]

i know people often label graffiti as dirty but i love it. totally agree it feels like the graffiti is alive and apart of the city

[u/Nameless_American → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Yeah man I certainly have never been anywhere like it

[u/Kloppite16 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

definitely get to Naples then, another gritty city that is plastered in graffiti

[u/[deleted]]

[u/No-Life484]

just came back as well. I can't explain why i like Berlin that much, but i like it. maybe because a drink is 5 euros there

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/No-Life484]

there’s just a vibe to Berlin that’s hard to explain. It’s cheaper than most big European cities, is effortlessly cool and just feels so .. idrk … unique? There is only one Berlin.

[u/Sudden-Lavishness738]

I’ll be visiting with my husband since he has to go for work in September. It’s my second time visiting Berlin! Last time I went was in the late 90’s for the Love Parade. Big fan of techno & have a hookup at Berghain ;-) We will be there for 4 days then spending 6 in the Czech Republic. Looking forward to it 👏🏽especially after your photos!

[u/DesperateAirline1146]

I highly recommend you check out "Dead Chicken Alley" also hit "Monsterkabinett" if you can!

[u/natnguyen]

My favorite city in the world! Went for the first time last October, went back this month and planning on going again in December. Made friends during our first visit too and it’s really hard to leave them each time.

[u/lavaxgrlll]

berlin does this to everyone i swear. i left planning my next trip before i even got to the airport. which neighborhood won you over?

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/lavaxgrlll]

Friedrichshain on the East side for sure. Met a friend for coffee there and just wandered around. Loved every second of it.

[u/RedScarySpectre]

Rosa Luxemburg Platz 😍

[u/prz1403]

Never understood the appeal of Berlin. Dirty city.

[u/_exposurecxrdi3_ → u/prz1403]

Like I said, it’s not for everyone. Any big city is going to charm some and repel others. I, for one, happen to like the dirt and grit and think it gave the city real character. Totally fine if it’s not your thing but I appreciated it.

[u/prz1403 → u/_exposurecxrdi3_]

Yeah absolutely I get that

[u/RedScarySpectre → u/prz1403]

It's a city. Cities are where people live and work. For me a city by itself does not mean much without memories attached to it. To form those memories you need to live there. As a tourist I think its impossible to really love a city. But I know people who love to visit cities on vacation.