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Berlin is a city with many nuances. Its history is some of the most tragic in the world, but its prowess in the present day seems to make up for its sorrow-filled past without forgetting where it came from. This is the kind of city I like. The kind of city I fall in love with in moments.
Berlin is a city with a rich history that can be delved into and out of just as quickly as the local Berliner’s can flit between German and English. Berlin is a city that feels like home even if you’ve never visited before. Berlin is a city bursting with endless possibilities – whether it’s art, inspiration, or fun.
Trust me, Berlin is a city for everyone, moulding its perfectly organised exterior to play party to every whim.
Cultural Guide to Berlin: The Historic Attractions
A visit to Germany’s capital wouldn’t be complete without scraping away a few of its emotional layers. The Jewish Memorial isn’t the most attractive monument to look at, but I felt a surge of sadness and emotion whilst walking through those giant blocks, compelled to put my hand out and touch the cool breezeblocks.
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We won’t mention the smiling selfie-takers who posed between the blocks (on a side note: how do you feel about this? When I was at Auschwitz I was appalled at the amount of people taking smiling pictures of themselves at the gates).
Then there’s the remains of the Berlin Wall, a sad and sorry looking affair that once caused huge amounts of distress for local Berliners and Germany as a whole. Today, it’s crumbling, holey surface seems laughable, but gaze up at its curved top and it instantly feels claustrophobic, even in the spacious arms of the city.
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Checkpoint Charlie is worth a look-in, too. It was the checkpoint for the US army when they were patrolling the wall. Today, it kind of looks like a hotdog stall parked inappropriately in the middle of a main road.
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The Architecture of Berlin
Berlin also has some amazing architecture. Sure, it’s not the prettiest city in Europe by a long shot and it definitely favours functionality over appearance, but there are still plenty of impressive buildings to discover.
The Berliner Dom was my absolute favourite. I was staying nearby at the art’otel Berlin mitte, (FYI – I wasn’t a guest, I paid for it myself but I’d totally recommend it) which meant I had to pass by this grand old building every day on my way to the major attractions. It reminded me of the opulence of Paris, with its blue-domed roof and its endless supply of intricate detail. I was actually shocked to learn that it was only built back in the early 20th century, as I would have placed it much earlier than that.
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Then there’s the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most iconic feature. Rising up in a flurry of bold pillars and topped with a horse-drawn monument, it’s certainly an eye-catcher. It’s huge in person, too, penetrating the surrounding areas like it has done since it was first built in the 18th century.
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Elsewhere, new-build communities take on the appearance of quaint European cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, whilst communist style breezeblock towers continue to hint at the city’s oppressive past.
The thing I love most about Berlin’s architecture is its diversity. On one street you could easily have a shiny new glass-fronted affair rubbing shoulders with a run-down, straight-edged office block. Keep your eyes peeled and remember to look up as you’re walking around!
Creative Guide to Berlin: The Vibrant Art Scene
Berlin is one of the most creative cities in Europe – if not the most creative. Everywhere you look there’s an homage to creative inspiration, whether it’s a quirky sculpture, a flourish on a building, or a tiny art gallery tucked away down a side street.
It’s safe to say this was the part of Berlin I was most excited to explore. If you didn’t know already, art is one of my favourite things and I’ll be posting up a self-planned street art tour over on Wanderarti in the coming week.
Before hitting the city, I decided I wanted to check out Museum Island. I mean, an island dedicated to art and artefacts? What’s not to love?
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Well, in actual fact, I didn’t see any of Museum Island. I saw it from afar, sure, but after reading endless blurbs about ancient Egyptian art and Byzantine paintings, I decided to give it a miss and instead search for the more contemporary side of Berlin.
The creative side of Berlin is constantly changing, whether it’s replacement street art, a new gallery, or a new artist of the moment. This is great because it means you can really explore “in the moment”, getting know Berlin as it is RIGHT NOW, as opposed to how it was fifty, one hundred, or even five hundred years ago.
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The East Side Gallery
A firm favourite of mine last time I went to Berlin, I went back on this occasion to see if any new paintings had been created. Sure enough, there were plenty of vibrantly coloured murals flowing along the length of the wall, covering over the battle-scars and war-wounds that the wall had come to mean for many.
This is what I love the most about the East Side Gallery – the way it connects new Berlin with old Berlin, drawing comparisons between the past and now, but clearly stating that things have changed at the same time.
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Rosenthaler Strasse
If you’re a lover of street art just like me, then make an immediate beeline for Rosenthaler Strasse. This popular street is known for its grand shopping ventures, but duck down one or two of the side streets that veer off to the left and you find yourself in another world entirely. A world where art isn’t just something to look at, but a part of the surroundings.
Here, colourful murals relate real societal issues (unrecognisable profile pictures is a real societal issue, right?!) whilst quirky cafés offer a bohemian respite from the bustling, boutique shops of the main street. Though it’s pretty much in the centre of the city, these little havens off Rosenthaler Strasse feel a million miles away, in a time where life was easy.
I fully expected a cultural and creative time in Berlin but I was surprised by just HOW much there was to discover. You know what that means? Another trip is in order to unearth even more!
Have you been to Berlin? Has this creative guide to Berlin inspired you to go?!
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