With Berlin being known as the “vegetarian capital of the world” you know it was high on my bucket list. That title, combined with the city’s reputation as being one of the most interesting, artistic, and progressive cities in Europe, means I had to add it to my agenda for my 2018 summer trip to Europe. I am so glad I got to spend a weekend in Berlin. About my experience…
Where to Stay
Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are two of the best neighborhoods to stay for a weekend in Berlin. Both have ample dining and drinking options and are in close proximity to the sites you will want to see. Berlin has loads of airbnbs and small hotels, so finding a place to rest your head will be easy. I would spend as little as possible; Berlin has so much to see and do you will be spending very little time at your hotel/airbnb!
What to Do
Where do I even begin? A weekend in Berlin is not enough to see it all, but you can get quite a bit accomplished!
- Berlin Wall Memorial: Visiting the site where the wall once was, as well as the open air exhibits that document the construction of the wall, life from 1961 – 1989 when the wall was in place, and the aftermath of the fall of the wall, is essential to any visit to Berlin.
- Berlin Stasi Museum: To learn about the period after WWII when German communists, under the guidance of the Soviets, developed the Ministry of State Security, i.e. the secret police or Stasi, this is the place to go. Learning about the dark and manipulative tactics of the Stasi was shocking and informative; we stayed for hours perusing the different rooms, which was the actual location of the Stasi operations.
- lRAW-Gelände: This cool spot is a must-see. It’s an area in Friedrichshain full of graffiti tagged walls, as well as biergartens, clubs, a swimming pool club called haubentaucher, and a weekend flea market. Wander around, admire the art, and definitely stop somewhere for a beer.
- Turkish Market: This open air market is about half a mile long, and is full of stalls selling food, tea, drinks, fabric, jewelry and more.
- Berlin River Cruise: Berlin has two rivers running through the city, Spree and Havel. You can buy inexpensive tickets for a one hour historical river cruise on one of these rivers any day of the week. See the government quarter, the Berlin cathedral, Museum Island, and other local sites.
Where to Eat
- Berlin Secret Food Tour: Because Berlin is known as such a foodie city, we kicked things off with a food tour pretty much as soon as we arrived. The tour included a stroll through different neighborhoods as well as an informative history lesson, and of course, loads of delicious fare. We sampled falafel at a Iraqi restaurant (Berlin has a significant Middle Eastern population), flammkuchen, which is a German pizza, at a local pub, a vegetarian schnitzel, local beers, and more.
- Thai Park: This was the best place I ate during my weekend in Berlin. The Prussian Park in the Wilmersdorf district of Berlin is taken over by Thai families every day, selling a bevy of homemade Thai dishes. This means everything from noodles to curry to dumplings to springs rolls to fruit juices. There are spicy dishes and sweet dishes and everything in between. Items are cheap and portions are plentiful. Fill up a plate and grab a seat in the park and stuff your face!
- The Lucky Leek: This elegant vegan restaurant is one of the best I have ever visited. Located in the upscale Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood, the restaurant offers a multi-course tasting menu with dishes like cucumber soup, dumplings, risotto, seitan medallions served with potatoes, a cheese course and dessert. It is ridiculously good. Be sure to pair your meal with local wines.
Weekend in Berlin: The Verdict
Berlin is a very dynamic city. From history to food to art to culture, you could spend weeks here and never get bored. A weekend in Berlin may be too short, but it will motivate you to return. It is a great place to go with friends and you could even explore. Just don’t get too hung up on running from site to site – take some time to stop, sit back, and enjoy a cold German beer.
