In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. With their insider tips and suggestions about why they love their new home, you'll have plenty of ideas for when you visit Germany.
Time to learn about the sprawling metropolis that is Berlin. Although it is the capital and plenty of people visit it, Berlin is overwhelming and actually a difficult place to visit, if you don't have a guide. Lucky for us, Marguerite of the website Berlin & Around came by to tell us her tips for the city that's captured her heart.
Marguerite pointed out that Berlin is a city of very distinct neighborhoods, so to make Berlin more digestible, it's a good idea to pick a couple neighborhoods and focus on them. She brought us into two parts of the city that she's called home, Friedenau and Karlshorst.
First up, we head west to Friedenau. This area is a perfect place for art lovers and anyone eager to see old architecture and experience a taste of former West Berlin, as this area was not destroyed in the war.
Food and Drink
- Lula am Markt is a great spot for brunch
Activities and Sites
- The weekly market next to Lula am Markt
- Ceciliengärten is an 100-year-old courtyard surrounded by art deco buildings, complete with fountains and a rose garten - and definitely visit in April to see the cherry trees in bloom!
Day Trips
- Wannsee, a Berlin-favorite lake, is easily reachable from this neighborhood
Now let's head over to former East Berlin to visit Karlshorst.
You've probably never heard of Karlshorst, but it has a lot of historical significance. It was the location of the KGB location. In fact, it was the very location where the Germans signed the treaty to surrender and end World War II! After that, the area was a no man's land for a while. Now, it's a great spot for history and nature.
Food and Drink
- Pizzeria Trattoria Familatofor some amazing pizza
Activities and Sites
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Take Marguerit's Karlshorst self-guided walking tour
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Visit the German-Russian Museum, which is on the site of the 1945 German surrender
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Do you like exploring abandoned buildings? Sneak into the first airport in Berlin, untouched since the early 1900s
- Visit the horse racing site Trabrennbahn
Day Trips
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Just a couple train stops away is the trendy Friedrichshain neighborhood
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Take a dip or a hike in Mueggelsee
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Discover the charming old town of Koepenick
Festivals
- Check out a concert at Wuhlheide
These tips offer a great mixture of history, culture, and nature - which is exactly the magical trifeca that makes me love Germany in the first place.
For more of Marguerite, visit Berlin & Around blog or Instagram.
To listen to the episode, head over here.
