Where is Berlin tells the truth about himself? Places outside the center that is worth discovering
There will be no photo from the Reichstag, a selfie at East Side Gallery or shopping at Ku’damm. Instead, there will be a cable car on the former GDR blocks of flats, a toboggan run, an empty street, where you can eat the best Bajgel and a trader passing grandmother with a dachshund. Because Berlin, which is not on posters, has the most to tell.
What if you look at Berlin more broadly – not only through the prism of the Brandenburg Gate, Mauerpark or Alexanderplatz? Go beyond the center and look into places where local residents spend time mainly? My recent visit to the German capital was about that.
If you want to experience other than from the first pages of Berlin guides, I invite you to go to visit the following route. You won’t regret it.
Where to book accommodation?
Although the prices of accommodation in Berlin are quite high, even in the more wealthy districts, favorable offers can be found, especially by booking the room in advance. The Prenzlauer Berg district is a good starting point – near Alexanderplatz (however, if you want to enter a crowd of tourists) and nearly many charming streets filled with cafe, trees, squares.
This is where it is worth going for a morning walk and breakfast. Knaackstraße Street and those crossing her – especially in the summer – will allow you to admire the calm, safe, local Berlin, with many children’s playing children and owners walking with all sorts of dogs.
Be sure to take coffee from one of many nearby premises or – if you have more time – eat breakfast.
Arkkonaplatz is about 25 minutes walk from Knaackstraße, where A cozy flea market takes place on Sunday – Something that Berlin is famous for. Antiques, books, vinyls, furniture, jewelry, clothes – there you can look at these things without rush, and maybe buy something special?
On the way to Arkonaplatz – at the intersection of Knaackstraße and Kollwitzstraße – you pass (on Saturday) a market with cheese, pastries and other food products.
Old swimming pool and charms of former Eastern Berlin
Staying on the prenzlauer bergu – if you feel like swimming, do it in Oderberger Berlin. It is a boutique hotel created in the building of a former urban pool (more than a hundred years ago). By swimming and looking around an extremely atmospheric interior, you will feel as if you were traveling in time.
About 20 minutes on foot from the swimming pool – already in the Mitte district – there is the Luxembourg Rose Square. If you want to see the classic architecture of the former Eastern Berlin, look carefully. The Volksbühne Theater is located centrally there. Right next to it is the famous Babylon cinema. Traveling the route from Prenzlauer Bergu, I pass many almost empty streets. Here and there are local residents with a dog (quadrupeds – in these strictly residential districts – there is a lot in Berlin).
If you are not enough of your impressions and you are interested in the post-war story of Berlin, it is worth using U-Bahn (German subway) and visit the Stasi Museum. In addition to a lot of information saved on various boards, you can also go through the same corridors that Erich Mielke, the head of Stasi, traveled years ago (the museum is located in the former headquarters of the services). You will even look into his office.
At the end of the day, return to Prenzlauer Berg, eat a bajgel in one of the many pubs, drink fresh mint (this is the taste of Berlin for me!), Watch the surroundings and collect strength for the next day, because …
Great album and more. Marzahn surprises
On the second day of non -tourist sightseeing, you can get on the metro or tram and go to Marzahn – one of the most unusual and underestimated districts of Berlin. Some think that these are only the GDR blocks of flats from a large slab. This was the case in the 70s and 1980s. Tens of thousands of people lived there, and the premises were to solve the housing crisis in Eastern Berlin (but this continues, not only in the former part of Eastern Berlin).
Today, the district has undergone quiet revitalization. Many blocks were renovated, a lot of greenery, parks and bicycle routes were planted.
Marzahn is the biggest attraction Gärten der Welt – world gardensi.e. a huge park with thematic gardens (Chinese, Korean, Balinese, Japanese, etc.), fountains and cable car.
I recommend the latter ride-Iga-Seilbahn. It lasts about 5-7 minutes.
After reaching Kienberg Hill, go to Wolkenhain – a modern observation platform. In advance – like from the car wagon – there is a panorama of Berlin, nearby forests and eastern districts.
Be sure to use Natur-Bobbahn-a summer toboggan run. This is a great attraction for both children and adults.
Flavors and fragrances from around the world
On the way back (if you choose a tram) stop at Dong Xuan Center – Asian wholesale market located in the Lichtenberg district. Entrepreneurs mainly there are Vietnamese origin. At the stands you will find clothing, electronics, services, restaurants and shops offering groceries from various parts of the world.
This place is teeming with life. There you will meet clients of many nationalities and denominations, including conservative Muslims and Muslims watching hijabs or Abaje. Some say that this place can be dangerous. I will not agree with this, but caution when holding a purse is always recommended, Dong Xuan Center is no exception.
Dealer next to grandmother with a dog
It is worth booking time for the afternoon Kreuzberg and Görlitzer Park – A place so strange that many reports could be created from it.
There an old lady with a dog and a mother with a child and inflamed runners – sometimes on one path – can fall on a drug dealer. While it is definitely not worth coming there at night, during the day you can go for a stroll with the main alleys and see how these two worlds connect.
It is worth ending the day in the same district, in MARKTHALLE NUN – revitalized historic market hall. Berlin social life is currently going on there. There are also stands with regional, ecological products, craft bakeries, fish, meat, wine and other alcohols.
You definitely have to come there on Thursday evening. Street Food Thursday is taking place from 17:00 – a event with a crew of chefs without their own restaurant, serving dishes from around the world: Tacos, Ceviche, Korean rolls or BBQ.
The described city is not Berlin from the postcard, but the one with the soul – where it smells of bread from the bakery, incense from the market hall and dust from the toboggan run. And this is what his face is worth getting to know before returning to Alexanderplatz.
