Berlin is a fascinating city, one unlike any I’ve ever been to. For some reason I always imagined Berlin to be gray and dreary….but on the contrary, the streets are dynamic and the peeling facades are made beautiful with colorful murals and creativity. For me, Berlin gave off a bohemian, ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’ vibe, and we had an absolute blast exploring and learning more about the history of the city. Here’s my weekend itinerary for Berlin.
Day 1: Mitte + Potsdamer Platz
We are major brunch enthusiasts, and heard that the Berlin brunch scene was insane. Naturally, we started our trip by having a fantastic European/Japanese fusion brunch at the House of Small Wonders. It did not disappoint. We would’ve never known the place was a restaurant if we hadn’t done research before – it was tucked away down an alley (one might describe it as a bit sketchy) filled with run-down, industrial-style buildings. The minute we walked through the door, we were blown away by the light and airy interior filled with lush greenery, eclectic décor, and a long winding staircase that led up to the dining area. The food was as impressive as the decor (I’m still dreaming about the Okinawa Taco Rice)!
TIP: The House of Small Wonders is cash only. This is similar to many restaurants in Berlin so I would recommend you bring some extra Euros while traveling!
Before visiting, we had no idea that Berlin sits on a vast system of waterways and has more canals and bridges than Venice! After our relaxing brunch, we took a short canal-side stroll towards Hackescher Market in Mitte which provided some nice views of the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island from a distance. While at Hackescher, we enjoyed perusing the stalls of the Saturday Farmer’s Market, admiring the various food items and craft goods that were being sold.
There is a hidden street art alley near Hackescher Market called Hackescher Hofe (just near the entrance of the Cinema Cafe). Most people walk past the alleyway without ever realizing that they are passing a treasure trove of amazing graffiti! The narrow alleyway opens up to a courtyard that is covered in a variety of colorful murals, both large and small in size. Walk a little further, and you’ll find a maze of more street art, an odd basement called MonsterKabineet (basement filled with mechanical monsters), and an eclectic collection of cafes and shops.
We explored the streets of Mitte for an hour or so, making sure to stop by the Mulack Street which is known to be the ‘fashion street’ of Berlin. Then, we made the short walk to Alexanderplatz, the bustling central square in the heart of Berlin that is one of the city’s busiest traffic points (over half a million people travel through Alexanderplatz every day!). One of the more popular attractions there is the Fernsehturm, a super tall tower with a visitor platform that allows you to get a birds-eye view of the city.
Must-see tourist sites in the area include the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island. The Museum Island is a collection of five world-class museums, and they are literally located on an island in the River Spree! It’s an UNESCO World Heritage Site due to it’s historically significant art collections and cultural artifacts. A pleasant 15-minute walk took us to other major tourist sites including the Brandenburg Gate (an iconic landmark that once represented a dived Berlin, but now serves as a symbol of peace and unity) and the Reichstag (German Parliament building).
TIP: You can visit the dome and roof terrace of the Reichstag for free, however advanced registration is required. If you didn’t make advance reservations but still want to visit, check with the service center to see if there are any remaining openings.
After all of our walking, we decided to re-energize by having a not-so-healthy snack of currywurst at the famous Curry 36. We ordered it the ‘ohne darm’ way, e.g. boiled and naked without the skin, which is apparently the ‘Berlin way’ of eating currywurst. Oh, and we got a side of fries (of course). Everything was scarfed down quickly as there were some pretty mean pigeons eyeing our food.
Then, we took the underground to Potsdamer Platz and visited the famous Checkpoint Charlie. When communist East Germany erected the Berlin Wall to prevent citizens from fleeing to the democratic West Germany, Checkpoint Charlie was set-up as the only gateway for foreigners to enter the Soviet sector (e.g. diplomats, tourists, and military officials). Western allies stationed their troops and military officials in their area to ensure they had easy access to the border.
Because it was one of the few gaps in the Berlin Wall, it was also the site of many attempted and successful escapes by East Germans, desperate to flee to the West side. When I think about the history, and what Checkpoint Charlie represented for those people at the time, I will admit, it’s a bit disappointing that the station is now completely surrounded by neon-lit signs advertising major American commercial chains, e.g. KFC, Dunkin Donuts, etc.
TIP: Make sure to take the time to read through the timeline on the walls detailing the historical significance of the area. They provide a lot of interesting facts that help you appreciate the site a bit more!
Dinner and some wine was enjoyed at Nest 2, a hidden gem of a restaurant featuring German-Mediterranean fusion. The place gave off serious hipster vibes (we felt like we almost weren’t cool enough to eat there!) with its stripped-down interiors, communal tables, and mismatched furniture. It felt very “Berlin” (I don’t actually know what this means, but I feel like it applies here). The food was also outstanding. Seriously, I had some of the best roasted potatoes I’ve ever eaten there and Kevin is still raving about their loaves of bread with carrot butter.
Day 2: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Our 2nd day started out with another delicious brunch – this time at Instagram-darling Roamer’s Café in the artsy district of Kreuzberg. The place is hugely popular so be prepared to wait for a table. Even though we arrived right when the café opened at 10am, there were already several groups in front of us forming a long queue out the door.
The food at Roamer’s seriously looked like pieces of art. The trays were piled high with leafy herbs, bright berries, and earthy vegetables and grains, and we scooped up the deliciousness with some freshly-baked chewy sourdough bread. The plates looked so whimsical, like they had been produced by some woodlawn fairie!
We walked around the Kreuzberg neighborhood, where we admired the artfully-decaying buildings and graffiti-covered shops, cafes, and benches.
TIP: If you happen to be visiting on the 3rd Sunday of the month, stop by the Breakfast Market at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg. Markthalle Neun is a market featuring all sorts baked goods, fresh produce, and culinary delights.
If there’s one thing you can’t miss seeing while you are in Berlin, it’s the East Side Gallery. It’s one of the largest open-air galleries in the world located on a long section of the Berlin Wall near the Friedrichschain-Kreuzberg neighborhoods. In 1990, artists from all over the world gathered together to paint the east side of the wall, with most of the paintings documenting change and dreams of freedom, liberty, and a better future.
Each one of the wall murals was unique. It was hard to pick a favorite.
Maybe this one?
Or this one….
They were all so amazing!
After all of our walking, we were craving a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. We began our search for the best Berlin donut (apparently, Berlin is famous for these fried balls of delight) but quickly realized that many of the famous bakeries were closed on Sundays. So, we settled instead for some cinnamon rolls at Zeit fur Brot, a place we knew would be good because it was chock-full with locals enjoying their late-afternoon coffee. The white chocolate cinnamon roll was divine – fluffy, yeasty, doughy with just the right amount of sweetness.
We had planned to make our way to Treptower Park to hop on one of the boat tours down the river Spree, but, the weather decided not to cooperate and we found ourselves caught in a torrential downpour of rain. This ended up being a good thing though because it gave us an excuse to go back to the hotel for a short nap (don’t you just love taking naps when it’s raining outside?!).
Kreuzberg is often known as ‘Little Istanbul’ because it was one of the 3 suburbs where Turks seeking refuge from political unrest in their home country, were able to settle. In fact, Berlin apparently has more than 300,000 people of Turkish origin, and Germany as a whole has more than 3 million – you can see the Turkish influence reflected in much of the cuisine of restaurants in Berlin today. So, after our relaxing nap, we decided to try some Turkish BBQ at a restaurant called Fes. The restaurant was fabulous and the service outstanding – we cooked some pre-marinated lamb on grill plates at our table, and paired it with a colorful assortment of mezze and buttery rice. Everything was extremely flavorful! Reservations highly recommended.
Want more details or need help planning a visit to Berlin? Sign-up for my e-mail list or shoot me a comment/question below!
Agreed, Berlin is a super cool city. You do it a great deal of justice, all of which it deserves. Fantastic place to visit, and live, the co-living, https://www.vondereurope.com/, options are also great for anyone new to the city and looking for somewhere to live.
Absolutely, and thank you!