The Return of a Berlin Icon: Neue Nationalgalerie to Reopen

The Return of a Berlin Icon: Neue Nationalgalerie to Reopen

BBR / photo: Thomas Bruns. 

Those of you who have been in Berlin for more than a minute might remember that we actually had an equivalent to New York’s famous MoMA not too long ago but it somehow vanished behind a construction fence in what feels like ages ago. I’m talking about the Neue Nationalgalerie on Potsdamer Straße down the street from the Philharmonic and the Kulturforum.

The famous museum had been Berlin’s main exhibition space for Modern Art for almost 50 years until it had to close back in 2014 because of the growing pains of the building. The building from the late 60s is one of Berlin’s architectural icons, designed by former Bauhaus director Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It’s actually the last building he designed in Europe.

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Berlin Autumn Dreams: A Walk in the English Garden at Tiergarten

Berlin Autumn Dreams: A Walk in the English Garden at Tiergarten

Would you believe that even after 20 years in a city you would still be able to discover something you’ve never seen before? I am very confident in my knowledge about Berlin, but this weekend I was again surprised to stumble onto something that has always been there, but I never came by nor heard of it. I’m talking about the English Garden in Tiergarten. I know this park is very big and there are probably many things in it, that many of you might not have discovered yet, but I’ve been there so many times, how on earth did I miss this incredibly charming garden?

I’m glad that I discovered it now, with the beautiful colors of Autumn making it look even more magical. I think I haven’t been to an enchanting place like that in quite some time! It felt almost like in a completely different part of the world. And there are a few things to find there: A cafe and restaurant called Teehaus that looks quite nice, a classical flower garden, a part that looks a bit like a botanical garden with lots of different bushes and plants, a big pond with a mystical weeping willow tree.

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A Guide to Berlin’s Best Urban Parks

A Guide to Berlin’s Best Urban Parks

photos: Liz Ketcham. 

One of the things that people who come to Berlin quickly notice is the amount of green all over the city. So many streets are lined with trees and every district has at least one if not several parks, some of which are gigantic and take up entire neighborhoods. The city has multiple green lungs which greatly contribute to the quality of life we have here in Berlin.

But a park is never just a park in Berlin. We have big green forests like Tiergarten, but don’t be surprised if you discover some gentlemen in the nude fooling around in the bushes. We have Görlitzer park which might very well be the least attractive park, but it certainly has the greenest “grass” in all of the city. There is the Park in Marzahn that feels like a trip around the world. And we have the hot mess that is Mauerpark that basically transforms into an open-air festival on every Sunday during the summer.

To give you an overview of the most interesting parks to visit we selected some of our favorites.

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Berlin’s Coolest Boutique Hotels & Holiday Homes

Berlin’s Coolest Boutique Hotels & Holiday Homes

25hours, photo: Stephan Lemke

Over the years, we have given you plenty of tips on how to do Berlin on a budget – we’ve even provided you with this handy guide to our city’s most awesome hostels. But Berlin has more to offer than that – and we’ve got you covered when you feel like splashing some cash on your accommodation. Whether it’s your NYC friend asking you for advice on some fancy lodgings, or you’re searching for an apartment that’d be an escape from the city’s hustle and bustle without the need of hopping on a plane, check out this guide for Berlin’s coolest design and boutique hotels and holiday homes!

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Berliners – We Have to Save our Trees From the Heat!

Berliners – We Have to Save our Trees From the Heat!

photo: Matthias Arlund

The recent heat wave continues to be a living hell for all of Berlin. We can attempt to escape it by chilling by the lake or even getting out of town, but the merciless sun is not going anywhere. Although we humans might feel constantly drowning in sweat, the real ecological problem concerns the drought that is deeply affecting our trees. How can we save them?

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10 Amazing Galleries & Museums for Contemporary Art in Berlin

10 Amazing Galleries & Museums for Contemporary Art in Berlin

artwork: Haegue Yang, photo Marco Funke

We’re always keeping you up to date on the coolest contemporary art exhibitions in town – highlighting every art week and pointing you right to the hottest galleries whenever we suggest a route for a particular hood. The Berlin crowd is famous for channeling their creativity in the most unusual ways so no wonder you always enjoy these tips! That’s why we thought we might just go ahead and present you a guide of the 10 most important contemporary art places in the city.

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A Gay Guide to Berlin

A Gay Guide to Berlin

Berlin is many things, but undeniably, Berlin is pretty damn gay. The capital is so famous as a vibrating LGBTQ hotspot with countless bars, clubs, parties, different places, different styles, scenes and people that it can all become pretty confusing. You have something for everyone here, and that can be a bit overwhelming at times. So, we put together a little list of places a Berlin gay should know.

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5 Charming Cafes & Restaurants in Berlin by the Water

5 Charming Cafes & Restaurants in Berlin by the Water

Wondering how to spend the weekend if the weather does you a favor and is nice ever again in the future? Look no further as we’ve gathered for you some of our favorite cafes and restaurants by the water; because, what’s a better summer setting than this? Whether a lake or a riverside, these places are absolutely perfect for summer strolls, and God knows how we miss those. So next chance the weather gives you, grab your friend, your boo, your mom, and be where life is nice! You will find us there sipping on our beer, letting our toes catch some vitamin D.

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A Dreamy Boat Ride in Berlin

A Dreamy Boat Ride in Berlin

One of the ways  in which Berlin is truly incomparable, is that it’s a big city you can escape without really leaving it; no long hour driving to get to an oasis of green, for they are all around the city! And the best way to enjoy nature, relax, and let all stress go? A boat ride.

For those who don’t have a way out of the city due to work, Berlin’s parks offer the perfect little escape on a daily basis: it’s the place we can cool off,  forget about the city’s busyness and let nature have us as its kids again. And when these parks have a lake we can take a boat ride in, all the better! One of our options is right in the center of Berlin, with Tiergarten offering boat rides in Cafe am Neuen See! A cute little lake you can paddle your way around, wave hello to your co-paddlers, and lose yourself in the serenity of the scenery.

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The Most Romantic Places of Berlin

The Most Romantic Places of Berlin

photo: berlijnblog

Berlin is certainly not Paris. It’s not known for being a city of love, maybe more for short-lived adventures? But regardless of Berlin’s rough nature, it does have an utterly romantic core. Something that you will only discover when you take the time to get to know it, and look underneath all it’s layers.

Beside the obvious places such as techno clubs, hipster cafes, co-working spaces, and cheap tourist attractions Berlin has a couple of truly unique places that a particular charm that I would describe as traditionally romantic. Imagine greek columns entwined by ivy, boot rides in fairytale-like forests, hidden rose gardens and bridges leading to palaces. It’s the stuff of Disney movies and Berlin has these kind of places too! Maybe you know some of them, but didn’t pay attention to recognize their true beauty. Or maybe you have never heard of them. Either way we would advise you to seek them out, maybe on your next date, maybe on your next family visit, or maybe by yourself with a good book. Enjoy our selection of the most romantic places of Berlin masterfully captured by some of our favorite Instagrammers (and myself).

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