I landed in Berlin’s Tegel Airport on the 19th of February 2020 at 7:40 am. Exhausted after the 13-hour flight, I was eager to find my hostel. Thankfully, Berlin is well connected by an excellent public transportation system that is easy to navigate.

How to get around:

• U-Bahn
• S-Bahn
• Trams
• Buses

The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are my favourites as it is easy to hop on and off to get where you need to go. The U-Bahn is the city’s subway which runs underground while the S-Bahn runs above ground. These connect to most places in the city centre. Trams are really fun too but they are a little slow in my opinion. I would much rather walk.

You can use the Maps app on the iPhone, Google Maps, or Citymapper available on the Apple Store. I recommend Citymapper as it gives you plenty of options in terms of routes and even displays when the carriage is scheduled to arrive. People were kind enough to help me out with directions and I managed to get from the airport to my hostel within 30 minutes.

Where to Stay:

I stayed at the Heart of Gold Hostel Berlin. I recommend staying here as I had a wonderful experience during my stay. It is centrally located at Johannisstraße 11, 10117 Berlin, Germany. The hostel is well connected by public transport and there are also many landmarks and food options within walking distance. You can help yourself to a cup of tea at the reception whenever you like.

The hostel has a very homey vibe and I felt very welcome and comfortable. There are plenty of lockers for you to lock your belongings. I stayed in the mega dorm and found it very easy to meet and interact with new people. There would be guests sitting and chatting at the bar every night. The atmosphere was perfect for meeting fellow travellers.

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I was in Berlin till the 23rd of February 2020 and I had a wonderful time exploring the city. I mostly got around by walking but the public transport helped me get to places which were a little further. I believe the best way to get to know a new city is to explore on foot. Everything was really close by and I was able to visit all the famous landmarks during my stay.

Things to see:

Berliner Fernsehturm

This is the TV Tower as seen from a distance. You can have a meal atop the tower with a panoramic view of the city. The tower is located at Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin, Germany. The tower is right next to Alexanderplatz where there are a few shopping complexes. Alexanderplatz is a cool place to hang out with friends.

Berlin Cathedral

I highly recommend paying a visit to the Berliner Dom. Admittance costs 7 Euro and you get to climb to the top of the cathedral. It is located at Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany. The cathedral is absolutely gorgeous, both inside and out. You also get a pleasant view of the city once you are atop the dome.

Checkpoint Charlie

The checkpoint marked the boundary separating East & West Berlin during the Cold War. I would definitely head down to grab the iconic photo at the checkpoint. Checkpoint Charlie is located at Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin, Germany. There are also many dining options available in the area.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The site is a memorial to the Jewish victims of The Holocaust. You are free to walk around the Holocaust Memorial among the concrete slabs. It is located at Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburger Tor is just so impressive, you absolutely have to see it in person. The place is usually packed with tourists so I suggest getting there early before the crowds arrive. I actually went back during golden hour to grab these shots. It is located at Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building is within walking distance from Brandenburger Tor. It is a short 5-minute walk over. It is located on Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany. I have heard that the interior is quite impressive and worth the visit although I did not have time to go inside and check it out.

Tiergarten

After a long day of exploring the city, I took a stroll in Tiergarten to cool off and reflect. It is just a walkover from the Reichstag Building. The park is massive, you will not miss it. I had a lovely stroll in the park although it was a little nippy in the winter. I am sure it would be a wonderful place to have a picnic in the summer.

Victory Column

I stumbled on the Victory Column in the middle of Tiergarten. It is located at Großer Stern, 10557 Berlin, Germany. The monument towers above all the traffic below.

Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery

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The East Side Gallery is located at Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin, Germany. The wall is covered with beautiful graffiti carrying powerful messages. I walked along the wall all the way to the end of the gallery, taking in all the graffiti art. The wall is an important part of Berlin’s heritage, it definitely warrants a visit.

I managed to cover the above-mentioned places within a couple of days. These are some of the places I visited which caught my attention. There is still so much more to see in Berlin. I would definitely recommend spending at least 5 days in Berlin so that you have time to get used to the city and experience what it has to offer. Museum Island for example boasts a collection of spectacular museums that are really worth a visit. I did not include them in my list as I was quite busy during my trip but you should definitely check them out. Also do check out Gendarmenmarkt at Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

I really enjoyed exploring the city on foot as it allowed me to take in the amazing architecture. I captured a few buildings that caught my eye. The following are some honourable mentions.

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Do not miss:

Eat a Döner Kebab

Have you ever heard the saying “Berlin didn’t invent the kebab, they just made it better”? It is a hundred per cent true. If you find yourself in Berlin you need to get yourself a kebab. It costs around 5 Euro a piece but the taste is priceless. During my stay in Berlin, I subsisted solely on kebabs.

The mixture of charred meat and fresh vegetables tucked perfectly in a piece of toasted bread will bring a smile to your face and fuel you with energy for the day. I recommend Mustafa Demir’s Gemüse Kebap at Neue Promenade 7 links, 10178 Berlin, Germany. It is right next to the Hackescher Markt S-Bahn.

Experience the nightlife

Berlin’s nightlife is world-renowned and for good reason. Berlin has some amazing techno clubs. Electronic music is not really my scene but I had a wonderful time at House of Weekend at Alexanderstraße 7, 10178 Berlin, Germany. They have a rooftop bar with an amazing view of the city. I had a great time while I was there on Hip Hop night. If you are interested in techno clubs I would recommend Tresor and Berghain. If you are looking for somewhat of an adventure, check out KitKatKlub.

While there are many other things Berlin is unique for, these two experiences really made Berlin stand out to me. There are thousands of kebab shops all over the city beckoning you to stop for a bite. The city never sleeps and there will always be a club open for a party. Another thing you could do is try some Currywurst. It is a cut-up pork sausage covered in ketchup and curry powder. It actually tastes pretty good.

While Berlin is a beautiful city, my visit was made great because of the people I met. I could go on and on for hours about the time we spent together and the conversations we shared but that is a story for another day. I met some truly amazing people during my time in Berlin and I look forward to sharing the tale soon.

For now, here is my take on the city. I hope you enjoyed the read and got some ideas for your next trip. See you in Berlin!