Are you eager to explore new routes, searching for reckless unforgettable vacation and numerous museum visits? And can you combine these two activities in one place?

The answer is Yes, and only if you are in BERLIN!

I am not this city’s expert, but I spent a couple of wonderful days here this winter and want to share my emotions and experience in this small guide.

What is the greatest thing about Berlin? Berlin is the most progressive, moving, growing and developing city I’ve ever been to! It will surprise you with an eco-friendly way of life, food-sharing movement and support of contemporary art.

Moreover, Berlin is a perfect choice for those who seek for budget ways to spend a weekend.

Berlin sights

Hamburger Bahnhof is not the cheapest, but clearly a must-go place for contemporary art lovers. Art objects cover the period from the second half of the 20th century and differ from famous Andy Warhol’s and Roy Lichtenstein’s works to obscure German sculptures and painters.

Address: Invalidenstraße 50-51
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10 am - 6 pm;
Wed 10 am - 8 pm;
Sat-Sun 11 am - 6 pm
Tickets: prices start from 8 euro (concessions from 4 euro)

Auguststrasse is one more hint if you adore modern art. It is a street full of galleries that usually have free entrance. Nice shops and places to eat are also located nearby.

German Reichstag is also worth your attention – not only because it is a historical building of great importance and a place for holding the Parliament sessions – but also because its roof terrace is open for visitors and is free of charge. The large glass dome at the very top of the Reichstag will offer you a 360-degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape – it is the best place to be during sunset. To implement this idea you need a prior registration, so just do it here.

If you seek for culture and history, it will not be enough to take a glance at the painted part of the former Berlin Wall on the east side gallery – visit Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer.

It is a memorial complex of the Berlin wall (it extends along 1.4 kilometers of the former border strip) and here you can see it in the authentic form. There is also the Museum where you can learn the history of the division of Germany and get on the highest floor to see the wall from above – entrance is free.

For a personal city guiding tour just contact Berlin locals on MeetnGreetMe and travel carefree with your personal local assistants.

Bars

I am not the bar crawler, but I can suggest you two proven options:

1. Kunstfabrik Schlot – the focus here is on the jazz music. However, Berlin is said to be a home for techno – read about this in a previous article on MeetnGreetMe blog.

This place is not so easy to find, but when I went there, I surely was the only foreigner around. Music is played every evening and entrance is usually free donation. Check the program on their official website.

Address: Invalidenstraße 117

2. Weinerei is a cozy two-floored wine bar with a peculiar payment: at the entrance, you pay two euros to get glasses – and you can try different types of wine as many times as you wish and when leaving pay as much as high you rate the bar. One disadvantage: this place can be booked up – make sure to book a table in advance.

Address: Veteranenstr. 14

Food

One thing Berlin can be proud of is coffee, especially the 3rd wave one – you can easily find such delights as Chemex and Hario V60.

You will surely not leave Berlin without trying legendary German dish – currywurst – fried pork sausage typically cut into slices and seasoned with curry ketchup. You can make a feast of it in a traditional, family-run Konnopke’s Imbiss fast food that has a history of more than 80 years and offers a currywurst for approximately 1.5 euro per serving.

One more reliable place can be found in the backyard of the Berliner Ensemble Theater. There is a canteen, where you can lunch in the company of actors.

I surely do not recommend you to be greedy about paying for metro and public transport – the tickets are checked frequently and you will lose several times more for fare dodging.

To say the truth – visiting Berlin wasn’t my best travel experience, as during this season the city looks foggy, cold and unfriendly (but only at first glance). I would rather recommend coming here in summer, especially because of numerous events and activities suggested.

No doubt, now you are grabbing one of the cheap low-cost tickets and planning your Berlin getaway – in case you need some help from locals – just contact MeetnGreeters in Berlin and easily pass face control in Berghain or visit abandoned former US listening station on the top of the hill.

You have no idea how many secrets Berlin hides from you!