Traveling with girls is quite different than traveling with guys or a boyfriend. From my experience, girls like to explore more, and take a LOT more pictures.
Guys do like to explore, but they prefer sitting, eating and drinking a LOT more.
This trip was with 4 girl friends, and luckily for me, this time, this wasn’t entirely true, so we managed to explore a lot, eat and drink enough 🙂 We didn’t get much sleep, but we survived 🙂
What I didn’t expect of Berlin?
When I think of Berlin now, the first thing that crosses my mind is the night life. The city is totally awake at night, and has a variety of different kinds of bars and clubs. Of course, except for the nightlife, Berlin has a lot to offer, a lot of history and a lot of landmarks, which I did expect.
The other thing, which I find very strange, is that Berlin doesn’t have any pedestrian zones… Like the “old city”, or something… I kept asking people there where the pedestrian zone is, I just couldn’t except that Berlin hasn’t got one 🙂
Brandenburg Gate
When you come to Berlin, first thing you want to see, for sure, is the Brandenburg gate. Berlin’s the most famous monument.
This gate was actually part of the Berlin wall and main entrance to the city. Once a symbol of a divided nation and now a symbol of unity and peace since the end of the Cold War.
Berlin Wall
The wall was more than 45 km long, separating East and West Berlin. Now it’s almost torn down completely, but you can still find remains of the wall everywhere in the city, reminding people what once was.
For example we found these remains at Postdamer platz. Interesting sight to see really: parts of an old wall with chewing gum stuck all over it in the middle of the street, but yet surrounded with tall and modern architecture buildings.
East Side Gallery
It’s the most famous part of the Berlin wall. This 1.3 kilometers long wall is drawn with artwork from artists all over the world and became the longest open-air gallery in the world.
Dmitri Vrubel’s Fraternal Kiss is the most popular one.
The others are beautiful and interesting too, and really worth of your time.
A few minutes walking distance from the gallery, you can find the Oberbaum Bridge.
If you’re using the metro, you will probably first come across this red bridge, then the gallery, like we did.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was a crossing point between East and West Berlin during the war. There were more of them, but only this checkpoint was the place where foreigners could cross from West to East Berlin and back.
Of course this is the replica where once the original checkpoint stood.
For taking a photo with the solders (actors), or to get your passport stamped with the stamps from WWII, you need to pay a fee, or you can just “steel” a photo like this 🙂
Television tower
TV tower with its 368 meters height is the highest point in Berlin, and third in Europe. Its observation deck is a place where you can enjoy the Berlin skyline.
The best time to visit, for sure, is at sunset, so you can have the most beautiful view, and get amazing pictures.
This tower is situated in East Berlin and it was actually built as a symbol of a Soviet power.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is also known as the Holocaust Memorial dedicated to the Jewish victims of WWII. It’s made of 2711 rectangular blocks of concrete laid out in grid formation, representing tombstones.
Tip: Do not climb the stones and do not take pictures with your smile on.
When we came across this memorial, we didn’t know what is it. It looked interesting, so we took a picture with our smiles on. Not very proud of that. Later I googled and realized what it reprezents.
Reichstag building
This building is the seat of the German parliament and it is the one of the most frequently visited sites in Berlin.
So yes, you can enter and have a tour. Also, you can visit the rooftop restaurant. This is the only restaurant in the world in the parliamentary building open to the public.
This time we stayed outside, took some pictures in front of the building, and had gone our way. Berlin awaits 🙂
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is one of the busiest squares in Berlin.
This place was actually a wasteland with the Berlin Wall running through, but it has become a something completely different.
Not only this square, but the whole area is referred to as Potsdamer Platz. There are all kinds of restaurants, museums, cinemas and a shopping mall.
You would think that girls will end up in a shopping mall, but no. Ok, we did go there, but we were more excited finding Dunkin’ donuts.
Hello sugar! 🙂
Food and beer in Berlin
When you are in Berlin, or anywhere in Germany, there is no way not to notice the different kinds of sausages in the menu. And what do you drink with the sausages? A beer, of course 🙂
We didn’t try only one beer. Interesting thing is that you can try many different kinds of mini beers.
Also, you can notice bunch of steakhouses everywhere in the Berlin. I am a meat lover, so I had to try a stake in Berlin.
I was personally confused with the menu since you can choose soooo many kinds of meat. But at the end I chose well.
We even got this really cute thank you note.
And they were right, we did. 🙂
Nightlife in Berlin
I cannot finish this post and not talk about Nightlife in Berlin. There is really something for everyone.
For example we liked visiting Weserstrasse bar street. Can’t remember the name of the bar we stumbled upon, but it was wacky looking. All kinds of dolls and toys hanging from the walls and the ceiling…
Also, I have to mention Bar Tausend in the Mitte district. It’s a stylish bar with a very creepy entrance. I googled, but the other girls didn’t know this fact about creepy entrance. So when a taxi driver left us below the bridge in the middle of the night, with nothing and nobody around, just one metal door, they freaked out a bit 🙂
But from the inside the bar was a completely different story.
Any time of year is a great time for visiting Berlin. For example, we chose February and had not a nice time, but a great time.
If you haven’t visited Berlin, It should be on your to do list.
