Berliners don’t like to be tourists in their own city. But, conveniently, there are Babelsberg and Potsdam. These towns are Disneyland for all Berliners who want to see a nice castle up close. There are as many castles as there are lakes. And neither seems wrong for a Sunday outing in the first place. A few weeks ago, we decided to check out a few of the highlights for you and write up a little tour for you.
photo: Funkhaus Berlin.
In all of the years that I have been living in Berlin the city never ceases to surprise me with new incredible places, no matter if they are incredible buildings, stunning interiors, unusual locations or innovative concepts. When people who are planning to come to Berlin or are already here but want to experience something new, they often ask me about places like that and where they can find them. My first reaction is always that I am missing the right answers because all the places are so familiar to me, after 18 years, what can truly still surprise me. But then I think back to the moments when I first discovered those incredible places, sometimes even before I had seen pictures of them, and how they made me feel. With this memory in mind I curated the following list of amazing places that will take you by surprise when you first visit them. Our readers who are more familiar with the city might know a lot of them already, but maybe we manage to have at least a couple that you don’t know yet.
photos: Amanda Artiaga
There are so many reasons why we heart Berlin. In a fast-paced city like ours, it’s hard to keep track. People move in and out, places come and go. What one person loves about this city, might be completely unknown to others, and possibly gone before they even find out about it. Every city guide, every restaurant recommendation, list of cafés, clubs or bars can only give little indications and reflect someone else’s love for this city, but in the end why you love Berlin, is your own story.
Those who have been born and raised in Berlin, and, after all these years, still decide to call Berlin their home, have a genuine love story to tell. We asked some of these ‘Ur-Berliners’, with lifelong experience how they would spend a day in Berlin. The results are a collection of hidden gems and nostalgic places that never lose their charm. #whyiheartberlin
Leute! Get your exploring caps on! Considering your next sunny-day excursion, and you’re in a princessy mood? I got just the thing for you! The Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island. YES, Peacock Island!) is a right-out-of-a-fairytale destination, super close to Berlin and ready for you to explore.
A nature conservation area since 1924, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and accessed only by ferry, this cute little island is upon the Havel river, and it’s got a long and rich history, dating back to the 17th century. To help you do your homework, let me share some of the highlights of the island’s history.
With the sudden summer outbreak we had no other choice than to rethink our editorial schedule for the weekend to bring you something that will please you more than any party, exhibition or other indoor activity would do today. We’ve given you parks, we’ve given you outdoor pools and open air bars, we’ve given you bike routes – and now we’re going one step further and send you into the outskirts of Berlin to enjoy a bit of fun in the nature. Enjoy our list of the 5 most iconic destinations in the outskirts of Berlin.