What to do in Berlin

If you want to enjoy Berlin like a Berliner, this guide will help you experience the city like a local. Here is a list of  what to check out besides touristic attractions in Berlin:

All Seasons:

Alternative Free Walking Tour: http://alternativeberlin.com/tours/free-tour/
You can walk around and see Berlin but if you want to learn about the spirit of Berlin, this is super recommended. If anyone is in Berlin for only a day, this would be my #1 recommendation.
You will not only see the nicest murals in the city but you will also get the stories behind them, as well as a dive into the street art culture. You will get the stories and meaning behind the small graffitis or little tags that seem insignificant to you but defines a part of Berlin underground culture. You will learn a lot about what makes Berlin so special.

RAW (pronounced “Air Aah Vay”): https://goo.gl/maps/LYS864qcEqS2
It used to be a train repair company, now the industrial area is turned into a graffiti haven filled with clubs, art galleries, skate park, and in the summer, they even have open air movies, a beer garden, and wall climbing.

East Side Gallery: https://goo.gl/maps/SchUYPPw78R2
This is probably on every one’s touristic list but it’s still very recommended. A lot of great murals on a part of the Berlin wall.

Walk the Warschauer Brücke at night: https://goo.gl/maps/SFR777kSTv12

Walk on the Oberbaumbrücke at sunrise: https://goo.gl/maps/QH9QEdU6zsJ2

Walk around Kreuzberg, Neukölln, then go do touristic stuff in Mitte, you will see the contrast pretty quickly.

Visit Abandoned Buildings: http://www.abandonedberlin.com/
There is also a theme park but that is technically illegal.

Take the U1 U-Bhan from Warschauer to Banhof Wittenbergplatz, spot all the different street art along the way and see the difference when you get off. It really is like being in 2 different cities.

Visit Teufelsberg: https://goo.gl/maps/zHYeDkfTufw
This is a man made mountain/hill. After the 2nd World War, Eastern Germany could dump the rubbles from the war into Eastern Germany, right outside Berlin but they wouldn’t let Western Germany do the same. They had to dump the rubbles somewhere in West Berlin so they decided to do so here, which created this man made mountain/hill. Nowadays, the place is filled with super nice graffitis.

Watch the Sunset at Monkey bar: https://goo.gl/maps/TMbFwvMpF7p

Especially in the Summer:

Mauerpark: https://goo.gl/maps/azTWzmUf6Yu
Especially on Sundays, they have a flea market, food trucks, people having BBQs, there is a basketball half court where people play and others just chill and hang out, watching them while drinking their beers. There are a dozen of bands and street artists as well and the most popular attraction is the outdoor karaoke where hundreds of people come sit on concrete steps à la coliseum shaped in a semi circle to watch people come on the stage. Good or bad, it is always great to just come chill and enjoy the amazing vibe. At the top of the hill, there is a remaining piece of the Berlin wall where people can spray paint graffitis freely and there are also some swings for you to enjoy the view of the city.

Tempelhof Feld: https://goo.gl/maps/isc8HVKPizp
It used to be an old airport, now converted into a park. It is massive, people come to rollerblade, bike, or jog on the tarmac, there is a restaurant, a basketball court, people come to BBQ or fly their kites, there is an urban garden. It is just a cool place to experience, I don’t know of any other airport in the world that people can just go chill in as a park.

Go chill at a lake.
Weissensee is probably the closest to the city: https://goo.gl/maps/TCjY2Ahf6aL2
But the nicer ones are probably: Müggelsee: https://goo.gl/maps/AV75KAPKeQE2
Or Wannsee: https://goo.gl/maps/GTEJkVQc6cn

Prinzessinnengarten: https://goo.gl/maps/nFkt5Cv43D32
Sort of like an urban forest slash beer garden that you can go drink and have a bite in.

Grab a drink on the Kreuzberg side of the Spree. Get some Wegbier, then find a spot along the river, dab your feet in the water and enjoy the view and the night lights: https://goo.gl/maps/sFGEa2L19fN2
Grab a drink on the Admiralstr. Bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/KizM2XeqhVN2

Open Air Clubbing in the afternoon:
Either at Sisyphos: https://goo.gl/maps/36arVi4ysST2
or if you couldn’t get in to Sisy, go to Klub der Visionäre: https://goo.gl/maps/btUg6j9wm5C2

Treat your hangover by chilling at Badeschiff: https://goo.gl/maps/4WqkUNtyiPr
It is a pool on the river and they have a lot of sand to massage your toes. ‘Nough said.

Watch the sunset at Klunkerkranisch (Especially on a Sunday, you won’t have to deal with 2h line ups): https://goo.gl/maps/s1w2XVUVHT22
It is an open air bar on top of a parking lot, on top of a shopping center. Great place to see the city.

Bike to Thai Park: https://goo.gl/maps/LJt8sZEZfdR2 and eat some delicious Thai food (some Chinese and Korean as well) in the park. For about 20 some odd years, Thai ladies who were working as nannies or maids in West Berlin would meet up every Sundays in this park to relax, eat, and spend quality time together (Similar to Indonesian women in Hong Kong). The story goes that over the years, Berliners would love the smell of the food and would approach them asking if they could buy some of their food. Today, you can visit the park every day of the week during lunch time to buy delicious Thai food cooked by Thai people.

Grab a beer, or two, or three… on Admiralbrücke (and if it is too crowded for you, kein Problem, just crash some on the grass in the sun alongside the canal next to the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/p7vzHNA7eV62

Bars:

Berlin has an amazing nightlife from very cool bars to great clubs where you can party until past noon. However, the only downside of Berlin’s nightlife is that everything is very far away from each other. If you are looking for a “strip” where the night life happens, these are the top areas to go out (pretty much in order):

  1. Weser Str. in Neukölln
  2. Simon-Dach Str. in Friedrichshain
  3. Eberswalder Str. in Prenz Lauerberg
  4. Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte.

Bars in Neukölln:

Bars in Kreuzberg:

Bars in FHain (Friedrichshain):

Bars in PBerg (Prenz Lauerberg):

Bars in Mitte:

 

Clubs:

Clubs that will play Hip-Hop:

Berlin is known for its techno scene but if that is not for you, there are still places that you can go dance.

Outdoor Clubs:

 

Restaurants:

German/Austrian cuisine:
Schneeweiß
Simplonstraße 16, 10245 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 29049704
https://goo.gl/maps/KNkpTaM7ZUF2

Max und Moritz
Oranienstraße 162, 10969 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 69515911
https://goo.gl/maps/fekDugWwmjs

Imbiss 204
Prenzlauer Allee 204, 10405 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 24038543
https://goo.gl/maps/sMcyQEheR332

Thai:

Khwan
Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin
+49 1525 9021331
https://goo.gl/maps/nH3NBG8muTA2

Mae Charoen Thai Imbiss
Sonnenallee 134, 12059 Berlin
+49 30 56829381
https://goo.gl/maps/jvuTZDgb3dr

Burger:
If there is one thing that Berlin is good at, in terms of food, it is Burgers. Among the best in the world, no kidding. If you walk into a random Burger joint, chances are, it will be quite good. If you want the best burgers:

Lily Burger
Am Friedrichshain 34, 10407 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 20927127
https://goo.gl/maps/Eu4gSDSEZSF2

The Bird (The one in Prenzlauerberg NOT Kreuzberg):
Am Falkpl. 5, 10437 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 51053283
https://goo.gl/maps/8YBXQuZCy6P2

Viêt/Asian fusion:
Berlin is the only city outside of Vietnam (and Little Saigon, albeit not really a real city) where if I walk in the streets, 99% of the time, I will understand what another Asian person is saying. Usually, I don’t understand anything. Whether it is in Montreal, San Francisco, NYC, Paris, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, London, you name it, I don’t understand anything because it is usually Chinese. However, in Berlin, I am actually surprised now if I see some Asians and I actually don’t understand what they said. With that said, I am quite disappointed with the quality of Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin. I spoke to some Vietnamese restaurant owners and they basically say that they cater to the German palette. With that said, here are a few legit Vietnamese restaurants.

Basil
Best Pho I have had in Berlin. They claim that the broth is done without MSG – all beef broth and I am inclined to believe them.
Winsstraße 65, 10405 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 55285900
https://goo.gl/maps/mHoE8hcU2TE2

Chen Che
Rosenthaler Str. 13, 10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 28884282
https://goo.gl/maps/9sdN623paC72

Dudu
Torstr. 134, 10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 51736854
https://goo.gl/maps/nD7VFrE5Hjw

MAMMAM
Gabriel-Max-Straße 2, 10245 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 20318482
https://goo.gl/maps/rCeyfnK8sdL2

Kissho Sushi:
Great value for money and amazing service. Good Vietnamese food and also very good sushi, especially for that price.
Graefestraße 83, 10967 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 61623505
https://goo.gl/maps/NFpss9MaJQM2

GAO Fresh.Food.Fast
Best Banh Mi in Berlin (And the only place that I was also able to find some, couldn’t even find them at the Dong Xuan Viet Market)
Landsberger Allee 68D, 10249 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 40690817
https://goo.gl/maps/2QBwZ1tWQu62

Check out the Dong Xuan Vietnamese market for more Restaurants and Viet groceries: https://goo.gl/maps/9m1ZtCYbMrB2

Italian/pizza:
If there is something else that Berlin is good for, in terms of food, it is the pizza. Don’t trust me. Trust the Italians who have shared their favorite pizza restaurants with me.

ZOLA
Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, 10999 Berlin, Germany
+49 1514 3596561
https://goo.gl/maps/3WSmK36JjDS2

Prometeo
Goebenstraße 3, 10783 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 23638837
https://goo.gl/maps/sRL7xCJd5rD2

Aceto Lokanta – Pizza Dach:
Best value for money AND Italian approved (especially for after 3AM cravings).
Simon-Dach-Straße 12, 10245 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 20078786
https://goo.gl/maps/Um2maxBiqkK2

Ramen:
Cocolo Ramen X-berg
Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, 10999 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 98339073
https://goo.gl/maps/tnja5FkygJT2

Japanese:
Go Bento:
There is no menu. The chef is a sushi master and he does groceries every morning. He will ask you if you have any allergies, preferences in terms of spiciness, or if there is something that you just don’t want to eat and he will prepare you a meal on the spot. There are no drinks so BYOB (This means you can bring your own alcohol as well!). This place is a hole in the wall, the chef works alone and prepares every dish with love. You can play boardgames while you wait for your food or just admire all the manga pages plastered on the wall. You must reserve by texting: +49 176 23662693
Stubbenkammerstraße 5, 10437 Berlin, Germany
+49 172 3652269
https://goo.gl/maps/53P6rogHXPF2

Cheap Bites:
Azzam
Best hummus in town. Super cheap and huge portions. I eat a lot and have a hard time finishing my plate. For about 5-6€, I actually get a lunch for the next day!
Sonnenallee 54, 12045 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 60977541
https://goo.gl/maps/976j2wUcwP52

Sahara Imbiss
Best Sudanese in Berlin.
Reuterstraße 56, 12047 Berlin, Germany
https://goo.gl/maps/bJsJ2JPxmy82

Indian:
Yogi Snack
Designated as the Best Indian food in Berlin according to my Indian friend. Nuff said.
Simon-Dach-Straße 11, 10245 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 29004838
https://goo.gl/maps/XYF2wF7ovZB2

Fried Chicken:
Risa:
Best Fried Chicken in Berlin.
Sonnenallee 26, 12047 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 60975295
https://goo.gl/maps/RkDbBuiHBKT2

Mexican:
Santa Maria
Best Mexican in Berlin. Great Margarita for 5€ from 19-21h every day.
Oranienstraße 170, 10999 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 92210027
https://goo.gl/maps/GRmn7afQWCU2

Indonesian:
Maybuhay
Köthener Str. 28, 10963 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 2651867
https://goo.gl/maps/7KYQDYBCKD82

Chinese:
Long March Canteen
Wrangelstraße 20, 10997 Berlin, Germany
+49 178 8849599
https://goo.gl/maps/RJm6c27br7y

Aroma:
Best Dim sum in town
Kantstraße 35, 10625 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 37591628
https://goo.gl/maps/CFKSFfQ8dFU2

Lon Men’s Noodle House
Kantstraße 33, 10625 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 31519678
https://goo.gl/maps/PPGn6JV174m

 

Museums:

    • Pergamon museum:
    • DDR Museum:
    • The Wall Museum:
    • German Historical Museum:
    • Guided Tour: Berliner Unterwelten (Tour 3 – Subways and Bunkers in the Cold War)

Last update: April 18, 2018