I've been residing in Berlin for 5 years now. To some extent, I remember a lot about how I felt when I first moved here. On the other hand, I recall very little. It happened so fast. I remember coming in the winter and being surprised at how dark it got by 4:30pm, and how dark it still was at 7:00am. I remember being shocked by how "not-so-friendly many" locals seemed (especially bus drivers). I loved how affordable the cost of living was (unfortunately that's changed since the global challenges of 2022-2023). What were my expectations when I first came? Let's see what I can pull up from my distant memories...I expected loads of history, graffiti, pretzels, a multi-cultural atmosphere and to a great extent, I just didn't know what awaited. So if you're interested in visiting Berlin and want to learn more, here are some things that caught me off guard (most of them positive)! Sidenote: I love the city loads by the way!
Affordability- this is one of the things I love most about the German capital! The more I travel around Europe, the more I appreciate Berlin, because things are priced reasonably here. You can have a great time without spending much. In terms of food, there are several budget friendly offers. For example, enjoy a beloved Turkish Döner (a local favourite) for about €5, a whole pizza for €7.50, pick up baked goods (like pretzels) at the popular chain Backwerk, or grab a serving of the Berlin's signature sausage, Currywurst, for €4.00. A useful tip is opting for "Business Lunch" deals - these are quite filling and affordable and are available at many restaurants. They are offered to all customers, despite the white collar sounding name. Germany is home to many discount supermarkets such as Netto, Lidl and Aldi. These are your go-to for bargain groceries and ready meals (protip: return your plastic bottles at supermarkets, to get a voucher which will subsidize your bill). You can also source clothes for the whole family from discount chains such as Kik, Primark, Zeeman and Woolworth. For drug items and baby food/supplies, DM offers good deals. Transportation is fairly priced (€3.20 per ride and children under 6 travel for free). Better yet, if you really want to explore the city, opt for a Berlin Welcome Card, this is so helpful! I certainly wish other cities...*hint hint* Amsterdam, provided a deal worth value for money like this! Stay tuned for my experience in Amsterdam that tried to leave me bankrupt! But, for now back to Berlin. The Berlin Welcome Card provides unlimited transportation and offers discounts to over 180 tourist sites (some discounts are up to 50%, so it's definitely worth it). For many attractions, children enter free or at a reduced cost. Most places offer family tickets which is another way to save. Accommodation is reasonable; it's possible to book a room at a decent hotel for €65 per night. Check out my blog on Geneva, to see why that's a big deal! Renting a car, especially through the car sharing app "Miles" is very budget-friendly. And we aren't talking any regular cars here…you can own a Tesla for a day! So essentially, you can comfortably experience Berlin on a budget!
2. PDA- So I thought Paris was the city of love, but Berlin is giving the Eiffel Tower city a run for its money. I've never seen so much kissing in my life, especially at train stations. I don't know what it is that make these noisy, smelly crowded sites so romantic, but apparently Berlin's train stations are an aphrodisiac! So don't be surprised by all the shows of affection you might come across while travelling around the city. Beware especially if you have kids.
3. So Much to Do- thankfully, I'm not talking about your to do list. Berlin is bustling with things to do and see! First and foremost is the history. If there's one place in Europe where you won't grow bored of history, it's Berlin. Renaissance cathedrals, breathtaking palaces, ruins of war, memorial sites, Berlin has it all. But when you're tired of the past and want to enjoy the present, Berlin has 170 museums, 2,500 parks (yes, you read that right) and 1,850 playgrounds. How about swimming in a pool, set in a river? Check out Badeschiff for that! Much like Berlin, the city's pools are not without diversity. From Roman-style architecture (Stadtbad Neukölln) to a tropical ambiance, equipped with a wave pool (Spreewellen Bad), there are so many cool places to make a splash in Berlin. It's also great that there are indoor and outdoor options to fit the seasons. Many have wading pools for kids and saunas for adults (okay, I think by now you're sold)! Let's go back to the first point on this blog for a second, these are all affordable; big fun for a small price. I feel like that should be Berlin's motto! Still want more to do? Go boat riding. In the summer, join the locals and take a dip into a lake, such as Orankansee, Wannsee or Krumme Lanke (many are free to visit). There are theatre shows, the opera, outdoor cinemas, flea markets, musical shows and the list goes on. For the adventure-loving, check out a host of indoor activities which are particularly useful in cold weather. Indoor skydiving, indoor playgrounds, indoor surfing, bowling, jumping, golf). Don't forget weekly markets, seasonal fairs and circuses. If high-end shopping is your thing: visit Mall of Berlin, Kadewe, Galeries Lafayette, and the Zoologischer Garden/Kürfurstendamm area.
4. Free Activities: I find Berlin to be one of the best places to visit in Western Europe if you are on a budget. There's so much freeness to fill your itinerary with! I'll list a few ideas here, then create a separate blog which will provide the 411 on how to enjoy Berlin without spending a Euro! Here's a quick list of 5 things you can do for free in Berlin: 1) See popular buildings: The TV Tower (you will have to pay to go inside though), Brandenburg Gate, Belvedere Palace to name a few 2) Visit the artistic side of the well-known Berlin Wall at East Side Gallery, where colourful iconic murals abound; or stop by Bernauer Straße for a more historical perspective with interactive stations 3) Visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (prepare for a very sobering experience) 4) Climb the Reichstag parliament building for a panoramic view of the city 5) Have a picnic at the stunning Charlottenburg Palace. I haven't even scraped the surface, but hopefully this whets your appetite.
5. Work/Life Balance of Locals- so I was shook when I walked past a park at midday on a Tuesday afternoon in the summer, and it was loaded with locals. People were teeming like ants! It was such a strange sight. "Don't they have work????!!!!" I thought? I've come to understand, yes, they have work, but they also have much more vacation days than the west. If it's one thing Berliners know how to do well, it's to relax. Whether it's the ritualistic "Kaffee und Kuchen" with a friend (a coffee and cake date), walking their dog, people-watching on a random bench, or sunbathing on the balcony, Berliners like to slow-down and relax. Similarly, I visited the mall (not in a tourist area) on a weekday at around 10:00am. In Jamaica, it would have been empty, but I had to be moving out of people's way. Berliners work hard, but they rest well. For example, don't visit a store within that 10 minute window before closing time. Don't do it! Aside from the fact that the store is technically closed already, Berliners may see this as being rude and inconsiderate. Why? The culture takes "Feierabend" (their going home time) very seriously. The word literally means "evening celebration". Yes, that time after work is a whole party and it's sacred. Locals often literally say, "Schon Feierabend" (Happy Evening Celebration) near the end of a work day. Sundays are reserved for family time and rest. For this reason, stores are closed. This includes malls, pharmacies, supermarkets and medical offices. This can be inconvenient for visitors, but try to plan around it. Entities that are open, are ones that facilitate relaxation, leisure and family-time, such as restaurants, museums, pools and parks. Pro Tip: It may be helpful to know that if you happen to need anything on a Sunday or public holiday, stores will be open at popular train stations like Freidrichstraße, Sudkreuz, Ostbanhof or Zoologischer Garden.
6. How Kid Friendly it is - seriously and surprisingly, Berlin is the most child-accommodating city I have been to. Children are catered to. I remember when I first came, I left a restaurant on my birthday because my two year old was crying, but I've come to realize I could have stayed. In Berlin, it's ok to dine with kids, even if they are noisy (of course this will vary from restaurant to restaurant) but it's generally ok. Now that I am better seasoned, I was recently in a restaurant fitting my stroller between two tables and the customer beside me complained, "Really? Are you serious?". Aside from the fact he was speaking English I knew he wasn't from Berlin. "It's the norm" I thought, "in Berlin, children dine too!" To prove that point, there are several kinder-cafes (child cafes) around Berlin that actually have play areas where kids can play while parents eat. Even public transportation caters well to kids, as the vehicles and platforms are often wide enough (unlike in Amsterdam) and have designated spots for strollers. Please know, you have the right to ask anyone in those areas without a stroller/wheelchair to relocate even in a crowded tram/train/bus. Most train stations are equipped with elevators to accommodate strollers. I really appreciated this aspect of Berlin, when I visited Milan. It's not unusual to find small play areas in some stores. DM, for example, even has an in-store baby changing station (complete with free diapers). That's super helpful, as bathrooms, especially free ones, are hard to find around Berlin. There are also many kid-friendly activities around the city. But that's a whole other post!
And that's it! Which of these was unexpected for you? If you've already visited, what surprised you most about Berlin! I can't wait to hear from you!