No Berghain, KaterBlau or Club der Visionaere. This time we experience Berlin from dusk till dawn. The capital of Germany has that special open and creative vibe that is unlike anywhere else in the world and makes this city nothing short of addictive. With cheap rents, free spirits and artist living around every corner to inspire you, the city has become Europe’s number one start up city. It is a city so unpredictable, unique, unpretentious, adventurous and irresistible. We keep on coming back and can even see ourselves living here for a while.
10 must do’s in Berlin for another point of view:
1. Teufelsberg
After multiple days of concrete jungle, the Grunewald Forest in the west of Berlin is a welcome change of scenery. You can wander endless through the hill country full of pine trees and flower fields without realizing you’re still in Berlin. In the middle of the forest is the Teufelsberg, which literally means ”Devil’s Mountain”. The hill is made from 12 million cubic meters of war rubble (about 400,000 bombed houses) pushed together. A macabre idea in these peaceful surroundings. On top of the hill stands an abandoned spy tower used during the Cold War. The surrounding buildings are covered in unbelievable realistic street art. On the roofs of the buildings are three huge domes, a surrealistic photogenic sight with sweeping views over the capital.
2. Sunday market Mauerpark
Everything you would like to do on a Sunday, you can do at the Mauerpark. Have a picknick, fresh bio drinks, several good food trucks, find a retro piece of furniture or a vintage jacket, all the while listening to live music. At the flea market in Mauerpark there’s a good vibe and bands are playing everywhere.
Address: Bernauer Strasse 63-64, 13355 Berlin-Mitte
3. Cycle like a Berliner
Renting a bike would be a good tip for any city trip. You experience the city in a different way. You find yourself in places, public transport wouldn’t lead you to. It gives you a feeling of freedom. You feel like being part of the city, as if you live there yourself. In Berlin, specifically, where you can rent used bikes from RentABike44. A bike rental place in the Neukölln district. At RentABike44 they restore old, discarded bikes and rent them out. For 4 euros a day you rent a unique bike. I, for instance, got an old bike from Amsterdam. As if I was riding my own bike through Berlin. You can call them in advance or ring their bell. They are very friendly. You can then (all in good faith) return the bike at any time, and leave the keys in their letterbox.
Open: 11:00-15:00
4. Breakfast @ Roamers
In the Neukölln district, there is a multitude of nice breakfast places. We found what we were looking for at Roamers. A small, stylish brunch cafe on the corner of Pannierstraße. The staff is very friendly and there’s a good vibe in the cafe. When looking at the decor of the place and the presentation of the food, it’s easy to see that the owner has an eye for detail. They have excellent coffee, delicious smoothies, great sandwiches, salads, soups, and gorgeous pies. And (not unimportant) everything is honest and fresh. Roamers opens at 09:30.
5. Cycling over the runway at Tempelhof.
Tempelhof is an abandoned airport that’s around 300 acres big. This historical airport hasn’t been operational since October 30 2008 and now serves as a city park. With around 6 kilometers of runways it would be recommended to bring your bike or skates. Biking on these runways gives it another dimension when you consider that, just a few years ago, plains were still taking off here. There’s a lot of recycling going on at Tempelhof. Plastic barrels are used to store rainwater for public use, and the locals have created little gardens out of old wooden pallets and other discarded materials. On a sunny day Tempelhof is an ideal spot for a picknick or a barbecue. For a nice sunset view, you could try to gain entrance to one of the surrounding apartment buildings and climb to the roofs!
Open: daily 6:00-22:30
Address: Tempelhof, 12099 Berlin
6. Sunday afternoon dancing in Sysiphos.
Ok we are in Berlin so we have to add one club. Make sure to go to Sisyphos especially on a sunny Sunday. Enjoy an afternoon (and evening and night) of barefoot dancing in sand on the finest tunes and a laid-back hippie vibe. Camera’s are not allowed in Berlin clubs, but believe me on my word, this is a must! Check out the set from Cornelis who was playing during our visit.
7. Abandoned Child Hospital
Berlin houses a multitude of abandoned buildings that now house artists. In Weisensee you’ll find a very impressive abandoned child hospital (Zombi hospital). You have to jump the fence in order to reach the hospital. The very cheerful murals of clouds, harts, and bananas have quite the opposite effect. It all seems a bit morbid, but the climb over the fence is worth it for those who love art, culture, and adventure. Take a look at the fotoshoot here and read more about our visit to the Zombi hospital.
Address: Hansastraße 178-180, Berlin, Weißensee
8. Spend the night in a hippie caravan
Looking for a creative place to sleep? Hüttenpalast is a former vacuum-cleaner factory that turned into a creative hotel. Spend the night in a retro caravan or a wooden hut. It’s almost like real camping where you meet fellow campers while you relax in the swing in front of your hut or brush your teeth in the bathroom. If you need more privacy, there are also rooms with en-suite bathrooms an impressive high ceiling and large windowed factory architecture!
9. Warschauer Strasse
Get out of the U-bahn at Warschauer Strasse to explore our favourite neighbourhoods Friedrichshain on one side or Kreuzberg on the other side. Be back on the bridge where you get out of the U-bahn for sunset for a great skyline shot.
10. Yoga at das Badeschiff
In the summer from June – September you can do yoga every Tuesday and Thursday morning at Berlin’s Badeschiff. They teach Hatha and Vinyasa Flow starting at 09:00. One hour of yoga and all day entry for das Badeschiff is €15. If you haven’t got a clue, das Badeschiff is a very cool open air swimming pool in the Spree river.
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