Let’s start by saying that Berlin is not a capital like all the others. Berlin does not have Paris’ romanticism, Rome’s monuments or London’s elegance. It’s a capital that does not reveal itself immediately, it is rough, direct, frank though. But precisely this frankness, this desire to discover it slowly in its alleys that surprise you with a mural, a kiosk, or a square, in its historic and chaotic subways, where the trains goes quickly, in its authentic life made for Berliners and not for tourists made us fall in love.
In this article we will not talk about a classic itinerary but about its hidden and deep soul, the “real” Berlin, which goes beyond the Brandenburg Gate or Alexanderplatz.
Haus Schwarzenberg
If you have already seen the murals of the Eastside Gallery, we will point you to a little hidden gem: Haus Schwarzenberg. It is an alley not far from Hackescher Markt that hides murals and graffiti of the highest level as well as bars, small museums and independent cinemas. The graffiti are constantly evolving throughout the year as this courtyard is frequented and enriched with masterpieces by artists continuously!
The Spree, Berlin’s river
If you want to admire the city from a different point of view, you can opt for a cruise! You will slowly glide along the river, while the most important buildings and palaces alternate before your eyes. And for an extra touch of romance, you can choose an evening cruise with dinner!
Did you know that you can also swim in the Spree?! The Badeschiff offers the possibility of swimming in the Spree! It is a floating pool with city view, located inside the river but isolated from it. From May to September, the area surrounding it is set up with a sandy beach, sun loungers, umbrellas, a DJ set bar and a rich calendar of events. To access the pool, you must book in advance by purchasing an online ticket with a fixed time slot.
Berlin Underground: The Wonderful U-Bahn Stations, the Beriner Metro
The magic of Berlin lives in the details and only true observers can capture it. The metro stations are one of the most fascinating aspects of the city. Each one is unique and stands out from the others for the presence of colored tiles, metal columns, ceramic ornaments. For this reason, 101 of the 175 stations are protected as cultural heritage. The first subway in Germany started in Berlin on February 18, 1902. It ran eleven kilometers from Stralauer Tor to Potsdamer Platz.
Neighborhoods worth the visit
Neukölln is a neighborhood that is definitely worth exploring for its multiculturalism. The Turkish market that takes place every Tuesday and Friday along the Landwehrkanal, on the border with the Kreuzberg neighborhood is an unmissable destination for lovers of local crafts, flea markets and typical food.
Prenzlauer Berg is one of those neighborhoods that hide a treasure! Walking along the parallel of Kastanienallee, you reach Schwedter Strasse. Here you will find a Minol gas station, very popular in the GDR era. It was built in 1926 and continued its work until 1986. Today it houses a cultural center indicated by an iconic neon sign in the shape of a cassette recorder!
Potsdam is the “German Versailles”. You will feel like you have taken a step back in time in this town just 30 minutes by train from Berlin! A riot of gardens on which castles such as Sanssouci, the summer residence of Frederick the Great, rest. The historic center is a little gem made of baroque facades that can be reached by crossing the “little Brandenburg Gate”. An alternation of stalls and cafes offering Dutch chocolate. And the eighteenth-century district with its red brick houses is also Dutch.
If you’ve gotten hungry in the meantime, we recommend you pop into the Kreuzberg neighborhood with its multi-ethnic atmosphere. This is the heart of Turkish Berlin, full of little shops, bars, restaurants and places to eat like the MarktHalle Neun, a covered market from the late nineteenth century. In 1891 it was one of the 14 Berlin neighborhood markets. In addition to eating, you can take part in cooking classes or in the Street Food evening that held every Thursday, during which you can taste delicacies from all over the world.
The story of the currywurst in Berlin
The real must-have in terms of food in Berlin is the currywurst, “invented” in the post-war period in a kiosk near Charlottenburg. It is a sliced sausage accompanied by ketchup with curry powder, bread or French fries. Nothing strange so far, but we want to tell you the story that sees the two historic Imbiss (small restaurants where you eat standing up) of Berlin face off: Curry 36 and Konnopke!
Currywurst was invented in Berlin by the owner of an Imbiss in the Charlottenburg district in 1949 (West Berlin). At that time, ketchup had not arrived in the city and so the sausage was accompanied by a sauce made with double tomato concentrate.
In East Berlin, Currywurst did not exist: they ate Bratwurst, the traditional white sausage, accompanied by mustard and a bread roll. Konnopke, in Prenzlauer Berg, in what was then East Berlin, opened its doors in 1930 and has never changed management! Shortly before the construction of the Wall, the owner of Konnopke tasted Currywurst in the Wedding district (West Berlin) and decided to replicate it in the East.
The sauce recipe is a secret! Here, Berliners not only have Cirrywurst for lunch and dinner, but also for breakfast! In Kreuzberg there is Konnopke’s opponent: Curry 36.
Buletten Berliner and… kebab!
But what literally amazed us and that we didn’t know is the Buletten Berliner! The Berlin meatballs, different from the Italian ones, fried in lard, you can try them in restaurants served with sauerkraut and potatoes or as street food in a sandwich.
Finally, it may seem strange, but in Berlin we ate the best kebab of our entire life! Introduced by the Turks to this city in the 60s, it quickly spread throughout the country, becoming one of the most loved street food. Roasted spiced meat, fresh salad and a riot of sauces find space in pita bread. If you are vegetarian, don’t worry: all the kebab stands also offer falafel!
In conclusion, the best way to visit Berlin is to walk, walk and walk some more, moving away from the main streets to explore hidden alleys and squares, which always hide some nice surprises. And have you discovered a hidden corner in the heart of Berlin?!