Less touristy than Amsterdam, the vibrant nightlife attracts people who want to stay for a few days but end up staying for months thanks to cheap cost of living and relaxed way of life.
I’ll run you through my “insider’s guide” to Berlin based on living on and off in the city since 2008.
Stay in Neukölln, Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg
But while you’ll be close to many of the sites such as museums, the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, Mitte won’t give you a good sense of what Berlin is like. For lack of a better word, the wide streets of this district have an “empty” feel to them.
Instead, try to find a place in Neuköln, Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg. Personal favourite districts within those areas include Bergmankiez, Wrangelkiez or Helmholzplatz.
In these neighborhoods, you’ll find more local restaurants and coffee shops as well as late night “spatis” or late night off-licenses where you can sit out in the summer evenings drinking cheap beer for less than $1 a bottle.
Spend a Sunday in the Friedrichshain Flea Markets
You’ll find one at the RAW Gelände, an old train depot that is now home to clubs, skateparks and, on Sundays, a flea market.
A few hundred meters you’ll find yet another flea market at Boxhagner Platz, which is surrounded by great cafes, such as Silo Cafe or Neumann’s, which are perfect for a late Sunday brunch.
Didn’t Get into Berghain? Go to Rummel’s Bucht
Berlin is home to Berghain, one of the most famous nightclubs in the world with one of the most (in)famous door keepers, Sven Marquardt.
The door policy is ever changing as it is strict, and there’s no way to buy yourself in. The canonical approach to getting in is to wear all black, read up on the artists performing that night and act slightly disinterested while queueing up for up to several hours in groups of two.
But let’s be real: odds are 50:50 that you’ll be rejected. Have no fear, though, because Berlin is home to plenty of great alternatives.
Personal favourites are Rummel’s Bucht in the summer or Salon zur Wilden Renate, a labyrinth-like club laid out over a run-down house on a corner overlooking the Spree river.
A Runway to Nowhere
The last flight took off in 2008 from the airport after which it was turned into a park.
These days, it’s a perfect destination to relax on a sunny afternoon in the summer. You’ll barely notice you’re in the middle of a city of four million people. You can longboard down the runway or have a BBQ overlooking the old terminals. There is even a few vintage aircraft lying about.
Watch the Sunset at a NSA Listening Station
It’s long since been abandoned as a listening tower, but you can climb up to the top to get stunning views of Berlin as well as check the ever-changing graffiti from local artists.
Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg
Afterwards, you can walk down Skalitzer Str towards the Oberbaum bridge over into Friedrichshain, where you’ll see the famous East Side Gallery, a remaining piece of the Berlin wall.
Check out the Berlin Tech Scene to Stay Longer
As I mentioned in the introduction, people often arrive in Berlin for a few days and end up staying months if not years thanks to the enjoyable city life, reasonable cost of living and ease of getting a work visa.
Berlin is home to thousands of startups and if you have tech skills you’ll easily find a position. Places like the Factory, home of tech companies such as SoundCloud and more, are coworking spots with lots of opportunities to meet locals.
Websites such as Meetup.com and or the Berlin sub-reddit are great places to read up on the local scene.
Have you visited Berlin and think there’s something that should go on the list? Let us know in the comments!
Thomas is a resident of Berlin, originally hailing from Ireland. A side project of his is around merino wool clothes with an emphasis on minimalist backpacking.