The Best and the Wurst

T H E BEST A N D T H E WURST

EDITORIAL EDITOR Jason Bosworthick SECTION EDITORS HISTORY AND LANDMARKS Chris Meigh ACCOMMODATION Victoria Brown THE ARTS Anna Paul & Lucy Richardson FOOD AND DRINK Ben Kendall MUSEUM ISLAND Kate Martin BARS AND NIGHTLIFE Ben Kendall LEISURE AND OUTDOORS Jason Bosworthick SHOPPING Victoria Brown LANGUAGE Rosalind Lakka SURVIVAL GUIDE Natalie Perry & Laura Phelan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jess Astbury, Hannah Dowds, Sarah Slater, Louise Gill, Hera Sparnon ART DIRECTOR Hannah Dowds LAYOUT Hannah Dowds, Sarah Slater & Hera Sparnon PHOTO EDITOR Louise Gill

INTRODUCTION

When asked about the great cultural cities of the world it would come as no surprise to hear London, New York, Paris or Rome amongst the immediate answers. Somehow though, none of these places deliver quite the same vibe of creativity, of history and of sheer adrenaline fuelled, outrageous and insurmountable night-life that Berlin does.

Home to more museums, more art galleries, open-air exhibitions and ingenious street-art pieces, Berlin offers an eclectic mix to sate any artistic or historical thirst you might have.

The cultural plethora that makes up Berlin amounts to an incredible range of cuisine. Anything from Turkish kebabs to Korean speed-fried chicken, from fine dining in pitch darkness to a simple Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) on a summer’s day is sure to satisfy any hunger pang.

As the founding city for techno music it comes as no surprise that Berliners party harder than anywhere else. Refurbished factories house some of the world’s greatest clubs; pumping knee-shaking bass nightly and hosting infamous all-weekend raves. As well as this there is no end to bars and clubs blasting out almost every music genre that’s out there; some even inventing new ones.

This guide aims to highlight some of the many must see places in Berlin.

Whether you are visiting to remain in an alcohol induced haze, to blow your mind with some incredible street-art, to sample foods from around the world, to enjoy the history of a great city and of ancient worlds or just to enjoy a leisurely break from the usual hustle and bustle; Berlin is the one city that will fulfil every desire.

Jason Bosworthick

THE BEST AND THE WURST

CONTENTS 5

Map of Berlin

14

Shopping

7

History of Berlin

15

Internet Access

10

Survival Guide

17

Language

11

Transport

19

Berlin on a Shoestring

THE BEST AND THE WURST

22

HISTORY AND LAND MARKS

95

Berghain

46

ACCOMMODATION

111

Clarchens Ballhaus

54

THE ARTS

114

MUSEUM ISLAND

69

A Recycled City

120

72

FOOD AND DRINK

121

Sanssouci Park

73

Flavours of Berlin

138

SHOPPING

151

Writers Profiles

94

BARS AND NIGHT LIFE

LEISURE AND OUTDOORS

THE BEST AND THE WURST

MAP OF BERLIN CHARLOTTENBERG

Berlin’s most prestigious museums for ancient antiquities and art. Bursting with shops and eateries, Mitte is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike.

Home to both the Tiergarten and the Hauptstadt Zoo, any tourist has more than enough reasons to venture into the district of Charlottenburg. This affluent locality is mostly famous for it’s shops due to the Savignyplatz and it’s stones-throw distance from the Ku’damm; both fine shopping sites and a true shopaholics mecca. It should be noted that the prices here will generally prove higher than elsewhere in Berlin, so it is probably not the most ideal of places to go if you’re spending on a budget. But hey, a little window shopping never hurt anybody.

PRENZLAUR BERG A beacon of by-gone bohemianism, Prenzlauer Berg is now an elegantly decked-out haven popular with artists, gays, young families and creative types.

Whether you want to calmly caffeinate amid the sparrows, blond babies and ‘macchiato mothers’, indulge in a spot of relaxed shopping or party in the myriad cool bars and Berlin’s online central sound-proofed club, it’s the perfect district.

MITTE FRIEDRICHSHAIN Aptly named Mitte (which translates into English as middle or centre) is the very heart of the city. As Berlin’s historical core, it encompasses dynamic landmarks from former East and West Berlin areas such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag. It also includes key areas such as Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz and Unter den Linden. Mitte is the home of the famous Museuminsel or Museum Island, the site of five of

Freidrichshain could be perceived as the ‘chameleon district’ as it assumes a number of different guises. It proudly assimilates itself with squatters and has an exciting vibe with it’s funky bars and clubs offering space for the young, poor and sexy to rub shoulders in reckless abandon. It’s boundaries also house the famous East Side Gallery which serves as a busy tourist trap, especially in the height of the summer

5

INTRODUCTION

PRENZLAUERBERG TIERGARTEN CHARLOTTENBERG

FRIEDRICHf SHAIN

MITTE KREUZBERG

SCHONEBERG

n

neu NEUKOLLN

months. However, venture into the quieter back streets such as Kopernikusstrasse and you will stumble across edgy urban designer boutiques and a host of subdued coffee shops where you can do as the daydreamers do and wistfully relax, whiling away the hours in a state of cool calm.

TREPTOW

the city itself, with abundant elegant streets and edifices.

SCHONEBERG

TREPTOW

Famously once home to none other than Christopher Isherwood, Marlene Dietrich, Iggy Pop and David Bowie, Schรถneberg has maintained its renown for unbridled hedonism since the 1920s. Accommodating the largest gay district of Berlin, it is never short of a good party. Not to be outdone in other respects though, the district is a bustling multi-cultural microcosm of

Formerly a district belonging to East Berlin this leafy area is dominated by the beautiful Treptower Park which occupies several kilometres and merges into the Planterwald forest.

The park offers a leafy haven from the livelier party street, Schlesische Strasse, which links Treptow to the district of Kreuzberg.

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THE BEST AND THE WURST

HISTORY OF BERLIN THE BEGINNING OF BERLIN

gle state, Berlin was made the capital.

Although Berlin has existed since around the 12th century, it wasn’t until it became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia, in 1701, that Berlin was seen as a major city. When Fredrick the Great became king in 1740, Berlin became the centre of the Enlightenment after Fredrick encouraged philosophers and scientists to take up residence in the growing city.

The industrial revolution catapulted Berlin even further ahead during the 19th century. The population exploded and Berlin became the main rail hub for Germany as well as the economic centre of the German states. In 1871, when Germany was unified into a sin-

THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC Berlin survived World War I but was severely affected by food shortages following British Navy blockades. After the war was over, Berlin was made the capital of the newly founded Weimar Republic. During the 1920’s Berlin was known for its cultural transformation as well as being an internationally recognised hotspot for the budding artist. The Roaring Twenties were a golden time for Berlin’s cultural scene.

Though hyperinflation had crippled the city financially, the emergence of cabaret, music hall and more liberal views on sexuality were something that Berlin prided itself on. Berlin was

7

HISTORY

however hit hard by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and this led to a huge increase in the amount of poor and homeless people in the city. The failing economy and the political turmoil led to a hatred for the Weimar Republic; this set the tone for what was to come.

controlled Germany). In 1949 the two sides of Berlin were officially divorced after West and East Germany were officially made separate states.

THE BERLIN WALL In the dead of night on 13th August 1961, a barbed wire fence was erected around all of West Berlin, isolating it from its East German surroundings.

This was a response to the huge numbers of people leaving the east due to poor living conditions and communist rule. In the coming months the barbed wire fence was transformed into a concrete wall that surrounded West Berlin. A second wall was then erected to ensure no one could escape and this created the so called ‘death strip’ where numerous people died trying to escape the Soviet’s rule. The wall separated the city for 28 years until it finally fell on November 9th 1989 after pressure from the East Berlin population and the death of the Soviet Union. The wall was seen as an icon of separation, something that literally turned neighbour against neighbour. In 1990, the two halves of Germany were officially reunified and Berlin once again became one city. Now that the wall is gone the city is now once again a breeding ground for talent and culture.

Chris Meigh

B E R L I N AT WA R Berlin was where most of the atrocities of World War 2 were planned and organised. Huge portions of the Jewish community in the city were destroyed and many citizens were deported to other European countries.

Berlin suffered enormously during the war: air raids between 1943 and 1945 destroyed huge areas of the city. Landmarks such as the Berliner Dom, the Neues Museum and The Brandenburg Gate were heavily damaged by The Allies during these bombing campaigns.

The battle for Berlin was also costly with over 100,000 civilian fatalities and many government buildings, including the Reichstag, were near enough destroyed.

After the war, the city was split into four zones by the allies: the Americans, the French, the British and the Soviet Union. In 1948 the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin after the other three Allies attempted to rebuild the city (as Berlin was entirely surrounded by Soviet 8

title

SURVIVAL GUIDE title

THE BEST AND THE WURST

TRANSPORT S-BAHN & U-BAHN SYSTEMS

efficiency” status with inner city lines running between 3-5 minutes, suburban areas stretching to every 10 minutes and the outskirts of the city running at every 20 minutes.

Arguably the most popular modes of transport within Berlin are the S-Bahn (urban rail) and the U-Bahn (metro); they form the foundation of the public transport system. Getting to grips with these can initially feel as though you are trying to master the Dewey Decimal System...impossible. But don’t panic, it is actually pretty straight forward. You just need to remember the following points:

S-Bahn: There are 3 main routes Stadtbahn - East/ West route or S5 route from Spandau to Strausberg Nord.

RingBahn - The circle line routes S4142 continuously running around the city centre Nord-Süd-Bahn - North/South routes or S2 from Bernau to Blakenfelde.

S-Bahn: Taken from the German word “Schnellbahn”, which translated means “fast railway”.

U-Bahn: Taken from the German word “Untergrund-Bahn”, when translated means “Underground train” operates equivalent to a subway/metro system. The U-Bahn system runs on 9 routes which are all numbered and colour coded.

The S-Bahn system mainly runs above ground (which helps when distinguishing the difference between this and the U-Bahn), and it is an electric run system with each of its lines colour coded.

The network maintains its “German

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

BUSES & TRAMS

TICKETS & FARES

Metro buses/Metro Trams These routes can be used to support the Bahn systems when rail lines are unable to continue along a route. They run frequently over 24 hours a day.

Tickets are accepted on almost all forms of transport in Berlin, excluding any long distance travelling. There are a variety of different tickets to suit your destination and needs; AB, BC or ABC. Tickets are valid from 3:00am to the following day.

Trams Trams are generally concentrated within the East of Berlin that used to be the former GDR sector, as the West rid of the trams system in the 1960’s.

The trams, along with buses, run every 10 minutes within the city centre.

The stand fare price for one journey is valid for up to 2 hours, and goes as follows: Normal tariff (adult - person aged 14+) AB=2,20€ Reduced tariff (children - aged 6-14) AB=1,50€

ZONES

When making more than one journey on the same day the fare goes as follows: Normal tariff (adult - person aged 14+) AB= 6,50€ B C = 6 , 8 0 € ABC= 7,00€ Reduced tariff (children - aged 6-14) AB=4,60€ BC=5,00€

There are 3 Main travel zones within the transport system: A - Is defined as the area located within the S-Bahn circle.

B - Is defined as the area spanning up to the city’s perimeter.

C - Is defined as the area stretching outside of the city limits.

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THE BEST AND THE WURST

ABC=5,20€ Group ticket (up to 5 people) AB=15,50€ BC=15,80€ ABC= 16,00€

ward from the former German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Berlin) days. The Ampelmänn symbol displays a walking little green man with a hat on, and a red Ampelmänn with a hat, standing with arms stretched out.

As Berlin reached reunification in the 90’s, the Ampelmänn is the only thing that survived the former GDR and he has become a cultural icon.

VALIDATING TICKETS Tickets can be purchased at the stations from the ticket machines; otherwise they can be bought from ticket offices or kiosks. It is essential that you stamp your ticket in the little yellow box at the side of the ticket machine -called an “Entwerter”- as soon as you have purchased it. The penalty for being caught without a stamped ticket is a fine of €40.

Green Cross Code We are indoctrinated with the fundamental rules of crossing the road at childhood, and for any Brit we abide by the fact that green means ‘Go’, and red means ‘Stop’. Unfortunately, these rites of passage have not been carried over to the German’s. The beloved green Ampelmänn means you can cross but cars can too (as long as there are no pedestrians crossing in front of them).

Thankfully, drivers are pretty respectful, and will give way, be this at the traffic lights or at a simulated ‘zebra crossing’. Just be cautious and remember to

TRAFFIC Ampelmännchen When Ampelmännchen is translated into English it means ‘little traffic light man’, and is the German symbol for the traffic lights, which was carried for-

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

‘look both ways’ when crossing.

supermarkets are for the most part easy and accessible-the only thing you might want to bring with you is a packet of good old Tetley tea bags and a couple of tins of Heinz baked beans, which you may find scarce here!

Cyclists As a city that really thrives when being in the great outdoors, it could be arguably said that Berlin gives more priority to its cyclists than it does its drivers. The city is saturated with bike enthusiasts, and unlike the drivers, cyclists are not so patient when giving way. Be careful to avoid walking on the bike paths, or quickly move out of the way when you hear the ‘bring bring’ of a cyclist’s bell, else face being the potential victim of a cyclist collision.

Apotheke If you need to purchase medication, whether it be aspirin or a doctor’s prescription you have to take a trip to the Apotheke where a trained pharmacist will listen as you list your symptoms and then prescribe you with a medicine. These stores are marked out by their distinctive large red A sign.

Prescriptions of any kind cannot be found in regular supermarkets or other health stores, with Germans being described as “non self medicating people” so don’t expect to roll out of bed on a Sunday morning with a hangover and pop down to the normal shop for some painkillers because you won’t find a cure there!

ESSENTIAL SHOPPING Supermarkets Here in Berlin you will find a broad range of bargain supermarkets; Kaisers, Lidl and Aldi all have the essentials from fresh fruit and vegetables to milk and cheese, cereals and meats.

At reasonable prices and located in a multitude of areas around Berlin the

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THE BEST AND THE WURST

Turkish fruit and vegetable stalls Berlin boasts many great Turkish farmers markets-home to organic fruit and vegetables with great extras such as olives, nuts and assortments of breads. Every district sets these markets up a few times a week and they are particularly popular in Kreuzberg and Neukölln. These markets are also a fun way to experience Berlin’s multicultural Turkish communities, with street musicians and overall a great atmosphere being common place.

Want to see more of Berlin for less of the cost? Why not try out the velo taxi tour?

VELOTAXI Been on your feet all day? Need a break but still got some distance to cover?

Just fancy an alternative way to get around? Then fear not, the Velotaxi can cater to all your needs.

Operating city-wide the friendly and energetic members of the Velotaxi team are ready to take you where you need to go; and all for a reasonable price. Standard fares are €6 for the first kilometre and €4 for each kilometre thereafter. Many drivers also operate an alternative payment plan where you pay between €20 – 25 for a 30 minute tour or €35 – 40 for 60 minutes.

The journey itself is a joy. There is a certain thrill in being steered along the busy bike-lanes, running directly next to the roads, before taking a quick turn and going cross-country through one

INTERNET ACCESS There are many internet cafes offering very reasonable rates in most busy areas of Berlin, along with long or sometimes 24 hour opening hours. As well as this, many coffee shops and bars offer free wi-fi. Just ask a server if they have w-lan (pronounced vee- lahn).

Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks in particular normally have free wi-fi as well as many other German chains.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

of Berlin’s many wonderful parks.

So for a fresh view on Berlin at an affordable price, all without the need to move a single muscle keep your eyes peeled for an available Velotaxi and hop aboard. Alternatively call the Velo-Call number on +49 (0)178 – 80 000 41 to arrange for one to pick you up. There is a standard €3 call-out charge for anywhere near the city but be sure to also enquire about the rates when planning your journey.

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LANGUAGE Hi there! Do you want to not be left desperately floundering for something to say as a German gives you a blank stare? Why not try out some of these on your travels round Berlin?

Let’s start with the basics: Hello!

How are you?

Good/ So-So/ Awful!

Thanks very much Please Bless you See you later!

Goodbye Excuse me I’m called (insert name) What are you called?

No problem!

Hallo!

Wie gehts dir?

Gut/ So na ja/ Schrecklich!

Vielen Dank Bitte Gesundheit Bis Spater!

Aufwiedersehen/ Tschüss Entschuldigung Ich heisse (insert name) Wie heisst du?

Kein Problem!

Now let’s move onto those little phrases you will realistically be using a lot when you’re out and around the city!

Can you help me?

What does this cost?

I’m searching for (insert place) Do you speak English?

Sorry!

I didn’t understand you

Konnen Sie mir helfen?

Was kostet das?

Ich suche...

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Es tut mir leid!

Ich habe Sie nicht verstanden

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

The bill, please.

Where is the bathroom?

I would like (insert item) I’m lost I have no idea Left/right/straight ahead I don’t speak German

Die Rechnung, bitte.

Wo ist das Badezimmer?

Ich machte...

Ich habe mich verlaufen Ich habe keine Ahnung Links/rechts/geradeaus Ich spreche kein Deutsch

Now here are some colours and numbers and the words for big and small just in case. (This will make pointing and asking for things in shops or restaurants a bit easier, hopefully!)

One, two, three Four, five, six Seven, eight, nine, ten Red, yellow, green Blue, black, white Brown, pink, orange Big Small

Ein, zwei, drei Vier, funf, sechs Sieben, acht, neun, zehn Rot, gelb, grün Blau, schwarz, weiss Braun, rosa, orange Gross Klein

And finally, some miscellaneous phrases you might find fun to use on nights out.

Where is the kebab shop?

You can call me anytime What’s wrong?

I feel sick!

Are you nuts??

You are crazy!

You look good!

I’m single ;) Can I have your phone number?

Only kidding!

Not interested!

I have no money!

I am drunk

Wo ist der Doner laden?

Du kannst mich jederzeit anrufen Was ist los?

Ich fühle mich nicht wohl!

Spinnst du?

Du bist verruckt!

Du siehst gut aus!

Ich bin Single ;) Kann ich deine Telfon nummer haben?

Ich mache nur Spass!

Interessiert mich nicht!

Ich habe kein Geld!

Ich bin betrunken

Hope you found this section useful and have a good time conversing with Berliners!

Rosalind Lakka 18

THE BEST AND THE WURST

BERLIN ON A SHOESTRING Are you concerned that Berlin, such a big, metropolitan city will be too expensive for you to afford? Here we’ve included a feature on how Berlin can be best enjoyed for those with a rather tight budget.

Austerity, unemployment, Eurozone crisis…With the media’s incessant focus on economic doom and gloom, travelling to a major international city in central Europe must be a massive blow to a back-packer’s budget, right?

such an efficient and extensive public transport system, all of Berlin’s mustsees are within easy reach, rendering staying in a pricey, tourist hot-spot like Mitte unnecessary.

When it comes to tourist attractions, it’s easy to get your fix of history with little penalty to your purse strings. Famous sites such as the Brandenberg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Holocaust Memorial, and the East Side Gallery can all be visited free of charge, along with museums at the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Typography of Terror. Berlin’s museum scene is very student friendly – visitors wielding a student card can typically

Wrong. Considering Germany’s position in the EU, Berlin is surprisingly, wonderfully cheap. Dirt cheap, even.

Of course, as with any city, Berlin does have its pricey parts, namely around touristy areas like Potsdamer Platz.

However Kreuzberg, which is popular with students, is home to some astounding bargains, especially when it comes to eating and drinking. With

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BERLIN ON A SHOESTRING

gain entry to the city’s best – the Jewish Museum, the DDR Museum and the Natural History Museum to name a few- for under €5.You can even buy a day pass for the whole of Museum Island (excluding the Neues Museum) for just €6.

again free of charge.

Cheap bites to eat can be picked up from the city’s high quality fast food joints.

Try currywurst at Curry 36 for €1.50 or what is said to be the best doner kebab in town at Mustafah’s for €2.40.

For a sit-down restaurant experience, you can grab hearty portions of traditional German fare at very reasonable prices at Mutter Hoppe (Rathausstraße 21). For a decadent, budget watering hole, try the Weinerei Forum, where you buy a glass for €2, and continue to drink as much wine as you like. What you then give as a tip depends on how easily you can wrestle with a guilty conscience.

Kate Martin

For lighter entertainment Tiergarten, Berlin’s largest park, is popular for biking, hiking, picnicking and sunbathing and is free to access. The same applies to Berlin’s various lakes, including Wannsee, Mugglesee and Schlachtensee. On a Sunday afternoon, head to Mauer Park, peruse the large, eclectic fleamarket and watch the thoroughly entertaining Bear Pit Karaoke sessions,

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HISTORY AND LANDMARKS

THE BEST AND THE WURST

HISTORY & LANDMARKS Berlin is a city riddled with history and you would be hard pressed to see everything that Berlin has to offer. The city is possibly one of the most important cities of the 20th century as it has been the centre of both National Socialist and Communist ideologies. World War Two and the Cold War are two of the most important events in the last 100 years and Berlin was a major player in both. Whether you’re interested in museums, monuments or landmarks, Berlin can deliver. No matter what street you walk down in this great city, you’re bound to find something that feeds your educational hunger.

STORY OF BERLIN MUSEUM

you on a tour spanning more than 800 years and divided up into in 23 detailed chapters. Visually stimulating as well as incredibly informative it uses photographs, videos, music and art to provide you with fascinating knowledge about Berlin. On the ground there are red footprints that will guide you around the museum so you don’t need an audio guide. The walls are filled with documents, video screens and photographs depicting key events in the city’s fascinating but troubled history.

The Story of Berlin opened in 1999 and has since become one of the most visited museums in Berlin with 250,000 visitors annually. The entrance can be

CHARLOTTENBERG

Kurfürstendamm 207-208 in/Kudamm Karree 10719 www.story-of-berlin.de 10am – 8pm daily Last bunker admission 6pm €9 /€8 concession U1 – Ulandstrasse

The Story of Berlin Museum takes

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HISTORY AND LANDMARKS FOOD AND DRINK

S7 - Grunewald S5 - Pichelsberg

seen from Kurfürstendamm and takes the shape of a plane tail. Simply follow the red footsteps through the shopping centre to the entrance.

The museum begins bright and colourful, reflecting German successes such as victories over Austria, but as you move on the history takes a dark turn and at times seems quite frightening.

The Story of Berlin celebrates growth and recovery in the city whilst still remaining honest about its past. The highlight of the museum is the tour of a 1950s Cold War bunker which takes place on each hour; firstly in German, then in English. If you have an interest in history then The Story of Berlin Museum is a must see as it encompasses every aspect of Berlin’s colourful yet turbulent past.

Chris Meigh

Teufelsberg directly translates as ‘Devil’s Mountain’, an appropriate name, which gains credence with every step of the 80 meter tall man-made hill composed of war-time rubble. At the top of the hill there is an abandoned US radar station, which was supposedly used by the Western Allies to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union. When you reach the top you are confronted with an intimidating wire gate which surrounds the station’s towers. You are also confronted with the dilemma of how to get in; find a gap and sneak in, as many do, or you can pay €5 at a gate to some questionable figure of authority to get in. Neither option seems entirely legitimate but both induce a sense of adrenaline that you are doing something a little bit wrong.

The towers of the station are paradox-

TEUFELSBERG CHARLOTTENBERG

Teufelsbergchaussee, 14055

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BERLIN THE BEST AND THE WURST THE BEST AND THE WURST

ically beautiful and an abomination on the eyes. The corrugated grey structures stretch into grand globe-like shapes, which punctuate the sky line.

A site of beautiful decay, there is graffiti sprawled over the walls, and metal boxes with endless wires are strewn over the ground. An unusual and worthy daytrip; Teufelsberg is around 20 minutes away from Grunewald S-Bahn so a map would be recommended.

Anna Paul

berger Platz, you are instantly greeted by two large apartment buildings, Haus Berlin and Haus des Kindes, alongside an impressive fountain named Schwebender (Floating Ring). These buildings set the standard and scale for bold examples of Architect, Hermann Henselmann’s work in Berlin.

With 32 information points along the route, pointing out places of interest and detailing the street’s history, it is easy to understand its colourful past.

Those who are curious to learn even more should pop into Café Sybille.

With its own rich history as a favourite meeting point, it’s the perfect place to grab a coffee and view their museum. Café Sybille also supplies an audio guide to accompany your walk.

Other places to look out for include the cinema, Kino International and Café Moskau, both bold examples of GDR architectural styles.

Described as “one of Europe’s most important cultural monuments”, KarlMarx-Allee is definitely a must visit for anyone interested in the history of East Berlin.

Hannah Dowds

KARL MARX ALLEE FREIDRICHSHAIN Strausberger Platz, Weberwiese U5 - Frankfurter Tor

Karl-Marx-Allee is a street steeped in history, which gives you an idea of what apartment buildings in the GDR looked like. Originally named Stalin Allee, as a gift to the Soviet leader for his 70th birthday, the avenue was renamed Karl-Marx-Allee on 13th November 1961following Stalin’s death.

Approaching the street from Straus-

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STASSI MUSEUM

of the party was commanded’, or learn about strongly punished opposing individuals such as Robert Havemann and Uta Franke; both of whom dedicated themselves to publicly calling for more freedom of expression within the German Democratic Republic. The museum is a sobering experience when one realises just how recent this dark chapter in history actually is.

There is no audio guide and not all explanations are in English but the wealth of props, such as uniforms and early bugging equipment, makes this matter little. The museum is extremely reasonable, at only €3 for students, and champagne is available in the cafeteria for only €2.50!

FREIDRICHSHAIN

Ruchestrasse, 10365, Lichtenberg www.stasimuseum.de Mon – Fri 11 – 18, Weekends 12 - 6 €5 /€3 concessions U5 - Magdelenastrasse

‘Justice, ultimately, was simply legal theatre.’ Rarely has a phrase been as true as the austere building of the Stasi Museum. Based in the ex-headquarters of the Ministry for State Security (MIS), the museum conveys how mistrust, control and political repression were the policies of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). The MIS, which emerged from a secret police force in 1950, was the strongest tool for the SED; with their principles remaining stable for forty years. Anyone who fell under their eye line had all areas of their life invaded. A tactile sense of this mission, plus an understanding of the necessary consciousness behind it, is prevalent throughout the Museum. One may visit Erich Mielke’s office, from where ‘the shield and sword

Louise Gill

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE KREUZBERG

Friedrichstrasse 43-45 U2 - Kochstrasse U6 - Stadtmitte

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BERLIN titleTHE WURST THE BEST AND THE BEST AND THE WURST

latest Facebook profile picture, there is also a replica of the guard house manned by male strippers who pose as allied military personnel specifically for the purpose.

Jess Astbury

As it was the most famous Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West during the Cold War, this checkpoint isn’t particularly shy about hyping itself up. If you want to find the actual checkpoint you can visit it at the Allied museum in Dahlem. However, in its original location is now only a less impressive tourist mock-up.

THE SCHWULES MUSEUM KREUZBERG

Where the Berlin Wall once stood is now another replacement wall, which has depicted upon it the history of the checkpoint. The site was a major symbol for the separation between the East and West during the Cold War and was, therefore, a source of great tension. For example, shown upon the replacement wall is the dramatic confrontation that unfolded at the checkpoint in 1961 when the American and Soviet tanks came to loggerheads.

Mehringdamm 61 www.schwulesmuseum.de Wednesday – Monday 2pm – 6pm Sat – 7pm €5/€3 concession U7 – Mehringdamm

Tucked away in a quiet courtyard on Mehringdamm is the small but fascinating Schwules Museum (Gay Museum). The museum catalogues over 200 years of gay history in Berlin, ranging from early homosexual struggles to equality marches in East Berlin.

On the ground floor is an exhibition space that changes regularly but on the first floor is the permanent exhibi-

Whilst the site has been inundated with tourists so much, that it has been renamed ‘Shreckpoint Charlie’ (horror point) by locals, Checkpoint Charlie is an essential visit for anyone interested in Cold War history. If you’re more interested in looking cultured in your

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tion that includes fascinating art work and beautiful photography from past episodes of gay history. Ranging from classical paintings to 1980’s drag outfits the Schwules Museum caters to all tastes. There is also a media centre containing around 10,000 books about homosexuality and transgender issues.

You don’t have to be homosexual, bisexual or transgender to enjoy this museum as the visuals draw interest on many levels. If you’re simply interested in gay culture or just in artwork then this museum is enthralling.

Unfortunately, there is little English translation of the information so many of the works remain simply visual. However it is well worth a visit as sexuality is something close to Berlin’s heart. Please note that photography is not allowed anywhere in the exhibition space.

Chris Meigh

Monday 10am-10pm Tuesday – Sunday 8pm €5/ €2.50 concession U1 - Prinzenstrasse

Opened in 2001 the Jewish Museum is relatively new to Berlin’s plethora of museums and offers an emotional insight into the stories behind the statistics of the Holocaust. The striking building, designed by Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind, is configured around sloping ‘axis’ named after the various periods in Jewish life under the Nazis: exclusion, Holocaust and exile. Each axis is lined with keep-sakes, toys, letters and photographs of both victims and survivors of the Holocaust and each exhibit tells a different harrowing story.

Walking up the axis of Holocaust you eventually reach Holocaust Tower, a large, dark, cell-like room for contemplation of what you have just observed, where only a chink of natural light struggles through and you can hear soft sounds from the gardens outside.

JEWISH MUSEUM KREUZBERG

Lindenstrasse 9-14 www.jmberlin.de

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The museum, however, prides itself on not merely focusing on this small slice of history. The upper floor of the museum begins in Roman times and guides you through the story of the Jewish people, with lots of references to Jewish culture and to Jewish individuals who became hugely successful in spite of the persecution and hardships they have endured.

Rainier Hildebrandt when the city of Berlin was divided after the war. In the east oppression became the norm once more. Determined to uphold the cause of human rights he founded the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie along with the ‘Task Force Against Inhumanity’.

What began as a small display about the resistance to the partition of Germany’s capital city has become a 2,000 square metre exhibition space covering the entire history of the Cold War. It especially focuses on how it affected Berlin including inspirational stories of the ‘escape helpers’ who helped to smuggle people out of the GDR. The highlight of the museum is the coverage of the ingenious ways people used to escape from East Berlin. From home-made submarines and hot air balloons to hiding in giant model cows, the incredible stories of the GDR runaways displayed in the museum give you a real admiration for human determination and perseverance.

Kate Martin

Kate Martin

HAUS AM CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MAUER MUSEUM KREUZBERG

Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 www.mauermuseum.de Daily 9am-10pm Adult €12.50, Student €9.50 U6 - Kochstrasse

After two of his closest friends were murdered under the Nazi regime, and he himself was imprisoned for 17 months, alarm bells were raised for

NEUE WACHE THE NEW GUARDHOUSE

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MITTE

The memorial’s message is further conveyed by the ashes of a German soldier and unknown concentration camp victim buried beneath the sculpture. An open skylight in the roof above the figure exposes the sculpture to the elements of wind, rain, sleet and snow thus movingly mirroring the suffering of German people during the years of ‘war and tyranny’.

The pathos that proves intrinsic to this building and the sculpture housed there means a trip to the Neue Wache should be on any history enthusiast’s list of things to do. A trip to this poignant vestige can be combined with a walking tour of the city.

Victoria Brown

Unter den Linden 4, 10117 Daily 10am – 6pm Free Admission U6 - Französische Strasse

Constructed at the behest of King Freidrich Wilhelm III in 1818 the Neue Wache has served the people of Berlin in numerous ways. Originally built as the guardhouse for troops serving the Palace of the Crown Prince the construct has now also served as a memorial four times.

The architect at the helm of the design and erection of the building was Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Inherent in the architecture of the Guardhouse was the Neo-classicist designs typical of Schinkel’s constructions.

In 1818 the guardhouse was allocated its first position of memorium, when it was marked in the memory of the victims of the anti-Napoleonic wars. It served this purpose until 1931 when it was redesigned as a ‘Memorial for the Fallen of the War’. In 1960 it became a ‘Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism’, and finally, in 1993, it received its final function as the ‘Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Victims of War and Tyranny’.

A point of note that marks the building out with a certain poignancy is the Käthe Kollwitz sculpture housed there entitled ‘Mother with Dead Son’.

BRANDENBURGER TOR BRANDENBURG GATE MITTE

Pariser Platz, 10117 U55, S1 - Brandenburger Tor

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SIEGESSÄULE VICTORY COLUMN

The Brandenburger Tor is one of the most iconic structures in Berlin and is definitely a must see. The 20 metre high Neo-Classical gate was commissioned

by Fredrick William II of Prussia and was designed by the court superintendent of buildings, Carl Gothard Langhans, between 1788 and 1791. The edifice was modelled on the Propylaeum of Athens’ Acropolis and it is watched over by the Quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory.

The gate has had a troubled past and has become something of a symbol amongst Berliners. Having originally been built as a symbol of peace the gate was later used as a Nazi party symbol as well as being seen as a major icon of separation during the time that Berlin was divided. The gate was severely damaged during World War Two but has now been privately restored back to its former glory and is something that should not be missed.

The gate is inaccessible for traffic but can be visited 24/7 on foot or bicycle.

Chris Meigh

MITTE

Grosser Stern Mondays: 3pm – 6pm Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 6pm €2,50 U9 - Hansaplatz S7,S5,S9,S75 - Bellvue/ Tiergarten

Standing proudly against the city skyline is the beautiful Siegessäule. Built in 1873 and designed by Johann Heinrich Stack, the tower celebrates Germany’s victory over Austria and the unification of German states under one ruler; Kaiser Wilhelm I. The 67 metre tower is located in Grosser Stern (great star) which is at the end of Strasse des. 17.

Juni. Having originally been located outside the Reichstag the column was moved in 1938 as part of the National Socialists’ plan to remodel Berlin as the Reich capital Germania. The ornamental structure faced destruction after the war but, thankfully, was saved and re-

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stored.

The tower is built in the Gründerjahre period of architecture and was erected to compete with Nelson’s Column and the Colonne Vendome in Paris. Atop the towering structure is the goddess of Victory (nicknamed Goldelse, meaning Golden Lizzy) who is made of gold and weighs 35 tons. There are also four wall reliefs depicting battles from German history adorning the square, stone base of the tower. For just €2.50 you can climb the 285 steps and take in stunning views of Tiergarten as well as Berlin attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.

Chris Meigh

closing stages of World War Two. The huge stone and gold structure incorporates archways and tombstones on a raised concrete platform and stands alone near the wooded area of the beautiful Tiergarten Park.

Built in 1945, the memorial was erected to be used as a gravesite for 2000 of the men lost in the Battle for Berlin.

Despite being in West Berlin, it was guarded by Soviet soldiers and was eventually handed over to Germany in 1990. The memorial is still visited today, with fresh flowers being laid regularly and coins placed on tombs by those paying respects. As the gold decorations glimmer and the aromatic flowers send their scent into the air, you are left to ponder the effects of war whilst standing beneath a large statue of a faded Russian soldier and a tank either side of you.

The memorial has information in German, English and Russian and is in between the Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column and is well worth a visit if you’re interested in seeing landmarks.

Be advised that skating, cycling and sitting on the tombs is prohibited.

Chris Meigh

SOVIET MEMORIAL MITTE

Strasse des 17. Juni, Mitte S1, S2 - Brandenburger Tor

In Grosser Tiergarten stands the memorial to the Soviets who died in the

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BEBELPLATZ

tragically lost.

Though not a tourist hotspot Bebelplatz is well worth a visit for the stunning buildings that surround it, as well as a place to ponder what happened and to commemorate the literature that was destroyed.

Chris Meigh

MITTE

Off Unter den Linden, 10117 S1, S2 – Brandenburger Tor

At first glance Bebelplatz may not look that important or impressive and passers-by may well miss it as they head down the beautiful Unter den Linden.

However, this site is historically and culturally important due to what occurred there on the 10th May 1933.

The square was the sight of a mass book burning by the SS and Hitler Youth in which some 20,000 books, by Jewish, Russian and Socialist authors, were destroyed.

The beautiful square is sandwiched between the Opera House and one of the libraries of Humbolt University.

Named after August Bebel, one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the square now contains a memorial to the book burning; a glass plate set into cobbles that allows you to peer down at the empty bookshelves representing what was

BERLINER DOM MITTE

Am Lustgarten, 10178 www.berlinerdom.de Monday – Saturday: 9am – 8pm Sunday: 12pm – 8am €7 /€4 concessions €3 Audio Guide U2, U5, U8 ,S5, S7, S75 Alexanderplatz

Standing beside Museum Island is the striking Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral). With its wonderful Neo-Renaissance architecture and its gleaming, gold roof ornaments the cathedral dominates the area.

The current building was inaugurated in 1905 but the site of the cathedral

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has had numerous buildings dating back to 1451. Having been severely damaged during World War Two the building was rebuilt by the Evangelical Church of Union and now looks as glorious as ever. The cathedral stands at 381ft (116m) tall and is taller than all of its previous incarnations.

Inside the church is just as stunning as the outside and includes fantastic, gold ornaments and striking wall reliefs that have been restored to their former glory. Marble columns flank the gold altar whilst beautifully crafted candles burn. An audio guide is available for €3 and will give you an in-depth history of the building as well as information about services. Please note that the Berliner Dom is closed to tourists during services.

Chris Meigh

Alexanderplatz

Berlin’s stunning Rotes Rathaus (Red Town hall) is a sight that shouldn’t be missed. The town hall is conveniently located between Alexanderplatz and Museum Island.

Built between 1861 and 1869 the red building (the colour that gives it its name) was built to replace a number of smaller buildings and is built in the style of Italian High Renaissance. It was designed by architect Hermann Friedrich Waesemann and the tower was constructed to resemble the NotreDame de Laon in Paris.

Having been bombed in the war it was rebuilt to original plans and eventually used as the city hall for East Berlin.

Following reunification in 1991 the building was once again used to house the reunified Berlin administration. If you have an interest in the stunning architecture throughout Berlin, as well as its history, then the Rotes Rathaus is an essential visit.

Security and unexpected closures may occur so it is recommended to inquire by calling (030) 9026-2032.

ROTES RATHAUS MITTE

Rathausstraße,10178 (030) 9026-2032.

Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm Free Entrance S5, S7, S75 U2, U8, U5 –

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Chris Meigh

tition in 2003 with their design for the memorial.

The imposing, asymmetric structure is situated adjacent to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and stands amongst the trees of Tiergarten. As you look through the window in the front of the solid concrete block you will see a short video of a samesex couple kissing; a moment so intimate yet the couple share it with you.

The clip evokes a sense of isolation and solitude, something that is in stark contrast to the noisy streets and busy park in Tiergarten.

When the memorial opened some thought that it had come too late as the strife of homosexuals during and after WW2 had been widely ignored. Others thought that it was not enough in contrast to the enormous Jewish Memorial across the road. Nevertheless, the imposing architecture and heart-warming content makes it well worth a visit.

Chris Meigh

THE MEMORIAL TO HOMOSEXUALS PERSECUTED UNDER NAZISM MITTE

S1, S2 – Brandenburger Tor

The Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted under Nazism commemorates a group of people sometimes forgotten when considering the state terror that occurred under the Nazi regime. Homosexuals, particularly gay men, were persecuted mercilessly under the Nazis and homosexuality was officially illegal until 1973. This meant that many of the gay victims of the regime did not receive reparations or a pardon after the war, something that most others were granted. Designed by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, the concrete monument was erected in 2008 after they won a state run compe-

MUSEUM FĂœR NATURKUNDE (NATURAL HISTORY

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MUSEUM)

seum can be, at times, a bit of a maze.

However, an English audio guide is available so you won’t get lost or struggle with the specimens, particularly since much of the information is in German. Expect to see skeletons, stuffed animals and mutated pigs in jars as you make your way through the vast number of exhibits. Other highlights include Bobby the gorilla, who was at Berlin Zoo in the 1920s, and a huge collection of rocks and crystals.

MITTE

Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 www.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de Monday: Closed Tues-Fri: 9.30am – 6pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 4pm €7 for adult, €3.50 reduced U6 - Naturkundemuseum

If dinosaurs just do not do it for you then head to the eerie room located at the back of the museum, which resembles a mad scientist’s laboratory. Here hundreds of marine creatures are kept in formaldehyde filled jars. With both examples of the beautiful and the bizarre the museum has something for everyone and is well worth an afternoon visit.

Chris Meigh

Anyone with a taste for nature should pay a visit to the Museum für Naturkunde. Located in Mitte and boasting its own underground station the museum is a major attraction for anyone on the hunt for an education about geology, palaeontology, anthropology and astronomy. The grand building was established as a museum in 1810 and is the largest natural history museum in Germany. The size of the building is not the only thing that is big; the museum holds a Guinness World Record for its mounted Brachiosaurus which is the biggest in the world.

PANORAMAPUNKT MITTE

Kollhoff Tower, Potsdamer Platz 1 www.panoramapunkt.de

As you enter you will find that the mu-

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Platform: 10am – 8pm.

Café: 11am – 7pm €5.50/€4.00 concessions S1, S2, S25, U2 Potsdamer Platz

a heavily overpriced café located at the top which is almost irresistible due to the breath-taking views from every table. Limit yourself to one drink only because a simple coffee will cost around €4 and a bottle of the finest bubbly is a steep €280!

To witness stunning 360° views over Berlin be sure to visit Panoramapunkt.

This little known tourist attraction is a hidden gem concealed at the top of an ugly, red brick building in Potsdamer Platz.

Café aside, Panoramapunkt is fantastic value for money and serves as a wonderful alternative to the particularly expensive Television Tower.

Lucy Richardson

DDR MUSEUM

The rapid ascent up to the top takes no more than a few seconds as you ride what has been dubbed ‘the fastest elevator in Europe’. The two-tier viewing platform offers magnificent panoramic views of the city looking out east toward the TV tower and west over Tiergarten. Unfortunately vision is slightly obscured by the excessively tall iron bars that imprison the platform.

MITTE

Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 1, 10178 www.ddr-museum.de Saturday 10am-10pm, All other days: 10am-8pm €6/ €4 Concession U2,U5, S3, S5, S7Alexanderplatz

A small open-air exhibition illustrates the developments of Potsdamer Platz over the centuries, as it transformed from fields of rubble to the commercial centre that it is today. There is also

Most museums are plastered with signs warning “do not touch” but this is not the case at the DDR museum situated

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right on the River Spree. The museum offers a hands-on approach to discovering what life was like in East Germany, under totalitarian Communist rule, with the chance to sit behind the wheel of a Trabi, pick up old telephones and rake through GDR-issue coffee beans.

You’ll also pick up some interesting nuggets of knowledge on your way around; the fact that the children of the GDR were collectively potty trained, skinny dipping and nudist holidays were incredibly popular and carrying a George Orwell book could get you thrown out of university. All quirks aside the museum’s photographs and video footage, depicting poverty and terror, leave you with a strong impression of just how tough life was on the east side of the divide.

The museum is absolutely packed with tourists during the afternoons so try to go early morning or late evening to avoid the squeeze.

Kate Martin

MITTE Unter den Linden 2, 10117 www.dhm.de Monday to Sunday:10am-6pm €8/€4 Concession Under 18s free U6, S5, S7 Friedrichstrasse

It’s easy to fall into the way of thinking that Nazism and the turmoil of the Cold War era are all there is to German history. A visit to the German Historical Museum however, which tells the two millennia long story of the Germanic people, serves as a reminder that this is simply not the case.

Housed in marble rooms with imposing statues and huge columns hundreds of historical artefacts, including traditional Prussian costumes, ceiling high portraits and cabinets of weapons, help you to imagine dramatic clashes with the Romans, daily life in

BERLINER MEDIZINHISTORISCHES MUSEUM BERLIN

medieval cities and the glory of the

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Prussian wars. The upstairs exhibition ends with an explanation of the causes of the First World War before a new chapter in Germany’s history begins downstairs. Here you can find an original SA uniform and examples of Nazi propaganda. Finally, wander around the exhibits depicting life in the GDR which culminates in footage of the fall of the Berlin Wall and some of the placards used in the demonstrations of that momentous day.

Built by the GDR in the 1960s the TV Tower, at a staggering 368m tall with its unusual spherical observation deck, provided somewhat of a challenge for those constructing it. Originally used to broadcast East German television the tower has joined the likes of the Brandenburg Gate as one of Berlin’s most iconic landmarks. Today it receives 1.2 million visitors every year and boasts a spectacular panoramic view of the German capital, a bar and a revolving restaurant with a gourmet menu.

It’s easy to be hit by information overload in this museum so save on the reading and hear the essential facts by purchasing the €3 audio guide.

Kate Martin

You’ll feel your ears pop as you’re whisked up the super-fast elevator to the observation deck, 203m up the tower. From here you can see all of Berlin’s major landmarks including the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten. The view however, is less impressive if you go at dusk or night time; Berlin is no New York. Sip a cocktail at the Panorama Bar while you enjoy the view; a Berlini, which is crushed peach with liqueur and Prosecco is gorgeous. If you go during happy hour, 2pm-4pm daily, you’ll

TV TOWER MITTE

Panoramastrasse 1A, 10178 www.tv-turm.de March-October: Daily 9am-12pm November: Daily 10am-midnight Adult €12 VIP ticket €19.50 U2,U5, S3, S5, S7Alexanderplatz

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even knock a few euros off your cocktail bill.

roof-terrace; an event that takes little more than 10 minutes. Admission is free, which does also include an audioguide, with opening times daily between 08:00 – 23:00.

Quirky pictures filled with holographic images adorn the visitor’s entrance leaving an immediate impression of the atmosphere you can expect from your visit.

On reaching the dome and roof-terrace via the elevator you can pick up your free audio-guide, available in an array of languages, and begin the twisting ascent towards the dome’s zenith.

The guide will immediately start playing when you start to make your way up and provides information on both the climb and descent when you pass certain points. This helps to provide a more intimate experience as well as orientating you to the many landmarks visible. It is greatly informative and gives details on not only the Reichstag Building itself, including the dome and its functions, but also on the German government and the sights seen from this unique aerial platform.

The Reichstag is one of Berlin’s treasures. With the incredible views available a visit here should be near the top

For the full ‘high life’ experience, try TV Tower’s pricey yet exquisite restaurant. Advance booking, however, is a must; unless you buy a VIP ticket which includes a guaranteed table.

Kate Martin

REICHSTAG BUILDING MITTE

Platz der Republik 1, 11011 www.bundestag.de Free Admission Pre-registration online necessary U55 - Bundestag

A visit to a country’s Parliamentary building is always an interesting affair since it offers such an intimate experience of that government’s seat of power; the Reichstag Building is no exception.

All visitors are required to register online in order to book a day and time to visit the building’s dome and

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of your list; you will not get an opportunity to see sites such as the Brandenburg Gate from this vantage point anywhere else in the city.

Jason Bosworthick

great numbers of bodies were buried it caused the ground to rise and sink.

From the outside visitors are lured in with a sense of intrigue but it does not take long for this memorial’s impression to be made. The tight corridors command a single-file walk throughout and it is easy to lose anyone you may be with in just a few turns. This combines to give a strong feeling of loneliness; a feeling exaggerated even further by the overwhelming height of the Stelae as you begin to reach the middle.

Beneath the Field of Stelae is the Information Centre which documents with a deadpan openness the history of the Jewish genocide. It also contains rooms filled with accounts from members of the Jewish community during this period as well as a room of databases designed to remember each person afflicted throughout this momentous tragedy.

Jason Bosworthick

MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE MITTE

Cora-Berliner-Strasse 1, 10117 www.stiftung-denkmal.de U2, S1, S2, S25Potsdamer Platz U55 - Brandenburger Tor

Centred neatly between Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz, just a five minute walk from each, you will find an incredible site. 2,711 stone columns rise at irregular heights; making up Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Designed by Peter Eisenman, an American architect, the ‘Field of Stelae’ takes direct inspiration from the Jewish grave sites in Prague, where such

HAUS DER KULTUREN DER WELT / HOUSE OF CULTURES OF THE WORLD

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TIERGARTEN

audience. Visitors to the venue are able to enjoy arts and entertainment from mediums including visual arts, music, literature, performing arts and film.

The Haus itself is a buzzing hive of activity; musicians can frequently be heard tuning their instruments and rehearsing performances.

Children run though the deck chairs provided for impromptu audience members to sit back and relax and the numerous boats that chug up and down the neighbouring River Spree provide a scenic interlude during any lulls in activity.

The venue is close to both the Reichstag and the Tiergarten so a trip to Haus der Kulturen can easily be combined with either or both of these Berlin landmarks. To see what’s on, or for any other information, please visit the official website.

Victoria Brown

John-Forster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 www.hkw.de Monday – Sunday:10am – 7pm Exhibitions Wed – Mon:11am – 7pm U55 - Bundestag

As you emerge from Bundestag UBahn onto John-Forster-Dulles-Alee the distinctive roof of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt quickly emerges into view.

The building, a contribution from the US to the Interbau housing development in 1957, provides a talking point for this national landmark and marks it out as an easily identifiable addition to the Berlin skyline.

Described on its official website as a place that ‘enables the voices of the world to be heard in their great diversity’ ‘the pregnant oyster’, as it is often referred to by its native Berliners, more than manages to deliver on this ideology. By showcasing creativity from a number of different mediums the Haus is able to appeal to a wider

ZUCKER MUSEUM

(SUGAR)

MITTE/WEDDING Amrumer Strasse 32, 13353 www.sdtb.de

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Monday – Thursday: 9am – 4:30pm Sunday: 11am – 6pm Friday/Saturday: Closed Free Admission U9 -Amrumer Strasse

a grand collection of blades, used for a variety of sugar related ventures like harvesting or cutting cubes, large wooden machines straight from an Amish village and an interesting display of alcohols refined from sugar.

Unfortunately all of this loses its appeal because of the lack of English descriptions, so unless you can read fluent German you are not going to be able to appreciate the full extent of what is on show.

Overall the Zucker Museum does offer a different way to spend an hour or two but the language barrier does reduce this visit to the completely visual and lacks the factual panache that museums usually propose.

Jason Bosworthick

Should you find yourself on or around Amrumer Strasse, in Wedding, and fancy visiting somewhere with an alternative feel to the usual museum scene then the Zucker Museum may be just what you are looking for. Situated on the 3rd floor of what otherwise serves as a university this museum proffers almost anything that is sugar or sugarrelated.

The cost of visiting is free though it is strongly advised to bring a euro with you for the lockers as bags are required to be stored away; this is only a deposit.

Displays vary from the historical to the natural, the industrial to the commercial and just the plain bizarre. Walking around will treat you to a diverse collection with giant sugar cane specimens pickling in giant laboratory jars, an image that would look just as comfortable in Area 51. Other displays include

THE ANTI-KRIEGS MUSEUM / THE ANTIWAR MUSEUM WEDDING/ MITTE

Brüssler Strasse 21, 13353 www.anti-kriegs-museum.de Daily: 4pm – 8pm Free Admission U9 - Amrumerstrasse

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DIE AUSTELLUNG AM POTSDAMER/DALI MUSEUM

Focusing on furthering the word of pacifist Ernst Friedrich and spreading the word of peace the Anti-Krieg Museum exhibits a fine collection of war time memorabilia.

All at once informative, moving and devastating the exhibits highlight periods of time throughout World War One, World War Two and the Cold War. At the start of your visit you are invited` to watch a short introduction to the museum. This video is available in English and German and sets about detailing the vision of Ernst Friedrich; how he spread the word of peace after WW1, how he was held captive by the Nazi’s for his beliefs during WW2 and how the museum has been set up and destroyed three times since it’s opening in 1925.

Your visit also includes a chance to see the peace exhibitions on show in conjunction with the museum as well as a thought-provoking visit to an authentic bomb shelter. In this tiny, brick-walled room you are given the chance to listen to radio output, typical of the time, as well as hearing what bombs and shells would have sounded like landing above the shelter. The shelter is adorned with war antiquities including an infant’s gas cot and metal bunk beds. This all adds to the authenticity and memorability of your experience.

Victoria Brown

Leipziger Platz 7, 10117 Berlin www.daliberlin.de Mon-Sat 12-20hrs, Sun 10-20hrs €11/€9 concession S1, S2, S25, U2 Potsdamer Platz

Ascending from Potsdamer Platz station, you could easily overlook the Dalí museum amid the concrete metropolis, were it not for the iconic crimson coloured Mae West lip seats, and the artist’s invitation to ‘come into my brain’, plastered across the glass windows.

Upon entering the foyer, you are immediately transcended into the surrealist world with an impressive model of ‘The Necrophilic Fountain Flowing from a Grand Piano’, which is reflected in the huge mirrors and above the black marble floor. When paying for a ticket, it is recommended that you also purchase a programme (€2.80), as

Name of place- black or white

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very little of the information about the works is in English.

Once inside, you have access to over 450 displayed items from private collections which span across the 2 floors, including; drawings, woodcuttings, original graphics etchings, 3 dimensional works, objects and sculptures as well as images and films. All of which, confirming Dali’s impressive career as a painter, sculptor, writer and director.

Whether you are a fan or not, it is impossible not to be amazed by Dalí’s mastery of manipulating perspective through his ‘paranoic-critical method’ seen in works like ‘Don Quixotte De La Mancha’ and ‘Carmen’. Quite simply, Dalí was to drawing, what Pixar is to animation.

Natalie Parry

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BERLIN THE BEST AND THE WURST THE BEST AND THE WURST

A C C O M M O D AT I O N With its plethora of hotels, hostels, themed hideaways and camping sites Berlin is sure to have somewhere perfect for you to rest your weary head.

Take your picked of the themed hostels and hotels dotted around the city, from the Heart of Gold Hostel (centered around Douglas Adams’ novel, ‘A Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe’) to the floating paradise that is the Eastern Comfort Hostel, situated on a barge.

Is camping or ‘glamping’, more your style? If so, Huettenpalast, located in Neukolln is a must-see. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to accommodations in Berlin, the sky

www.eastern-comfort.com www.floatingloungeberlin.com 24 hour access, with door code From €16 per night U 1 , S 5 , S 7 - Wa r s c h a u e r Strasse

There are many places to stay in Berlin on a shoe-string budget, but if you’re looking for something a little bit different then Eastern Comfort Floating Lounge and Hostel, located on the river Spree is perfect.

A converted cabin boat which sits static next to attractions such as Yaam Beach Bar and The East Side Gallery, the hostel offers guests the chance to gaze over the stunning river views.

All rooms have central heating, a bathroom and free wifi. Prices start from €16 night, which leaves you with some spare change to spend in the cabin’s bar and lounge area which is tended to by friendly staff. It is also a good hub for solo travellers to meet, as the cli-

is the limit.

EASTERN COMFORT FLOATING HOSTEL FREIDRICHSHAIN

Mühlenstrasse 73, 10243

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entele is composed of young travellers many of whom seem to be alone. However, if beer or lazing around the bar is not for you, the hostel also organises language classes every Wednesday—a great way to meet new people, and pick up the lingo. If no rooms are available during your stay, you can check out the hostel’s older sister, The Western Comfort Floating Hostel, which is located just metres away.

Anna Paul

night out of the ordinary. Hostel meets hotel; this is a place where every last detail has been thought out and designed to compliment their quirky style and interior.

Describing their rooms as ‘comfortable, homey [and] full of light’, the compact space has been carefully thought out and used well. The basic room offers a king size bed, television and wi-fi access available as standard.

Rooms range in size and price offering something for groups of all sizes, from single rooms to hostel style dorms.

MICHELBERGER HOTEL FRIEDRICHSHAIN

As well as the usual television channels all rooms have access to a film channel playing well-chosen classic, such as ‘The Big Lebowski’ on a loop throughout your stay. Details such as the hand illustrated ‘welcome booklet’ and playful wallpaper adorning the walls compliment the imaginative creativity of the rooms.

Warschauer Strasse 39/40, 10243 www.michelbergerhotel.com Rooms from €70 U 1 , S 5 , S 7 Wa r s c h a u e r Strasse

A night’s stay at Michelberger is a

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This is accommodation with a lot to offer. Aside from the rooms there is also a café by day and bar by night, courtyard garden and library area. On a Friday night there is also a restaurant but book ahead as tables fill up fast.

A stay here comes highly recommended. Experienced alone or with a group of friends this quirky hotel is guaranteed to be a memorable stay.

Hannah Dowds

its easy, carefree atmosphere and large communal areas, including a lively bar, decent kitchen and comfortable seating areas.

Each dormitory bedroom is themed by country, creating an eclectic vibe; you may even get the opportunity to sleep in a retro Volkswagen car kitted out with a bed! The location of Baxpax hostel in Kreuzberg is great. Surrounded by bars, shops, cafes and restaurants in one of Berlin’s liveliest, most cosmopolitan areas, and situated directly opposite Görlitzer Bahnhof, it could not be found in a more ideal location.

Staff are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and multi-lingual. The level of information provided is beyond what one would expect from a hostel with everything from labelled maps, information on free guided tours and a list of nightlife highlights that are updated on a daily basis. With reasonable prices, a 24 hour bar, no curfew and free bed sheets, Baxpax is a highly recommended choice for your stay in Berlin.

Bike hire (€12 per 24 hours) is available, as is use of their in-house launderette.

NB: Rooms available as single or double, or in dorms from 4- 12 beds.

Louise Gill

BAXPAX HOSTEL KREUZBERG

Skalitzer Strasse 104 www.baxpax.de Check in available 24h, Check out by 11am From €12/night U1-Görlitzer Bahnhof

Also known as ‘the party hostel in Berlin’ Baxpax provide a fantastic service, primarily catering to international travellers and young people. It is an excellent place to make friends due to

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your luggage, found in the dorms, and a swipe card system which provides the upmost security.

The leading British booking company chose this hostel as one of the best group hostels in Berlin so if you want good standards at reasonable prices make sure you make Metropel Hostel your first destination. laura Phelan

METROPEL HOSTEL KREUZBERG

info@metropolhostel-berlin.com Open 24 hours U6 - Mehringdamm Strasse

HEART OF GOLD HOSTEL

Located in the unique, vibrant district of Kreuzberg, Metropel Hostel is your perfect destination for a few days visit in Berlin. Situated nearby a variety of eateries, bars and clubs, such as Tresor, it makes for a quick and easy way to experience Berlin at its best whilst staying in a clean and comfortable environment.

This hostel is perfect for young travellers on the go with its large communal area, including a bar, kitchen and WiFi access in the lobby. You are sure to enjoy your vacation and meet some new faces in this sociable environment.

The single rooms consist of a double bed, en suite bathroom and towels.

The larger dorms fit about 4-8 people in a single sex grouping. All clean bedding is included as well as a locker for

MITTE

Johannisstrasse 11 www.heartofgold-hostel.de Check in from 2 pm.

Check out 12 pm Reception staffed 24 hours.

From €11 S1,S2 - Oranienburger Straße

Travelling on your own you will quickly find a hostel becomes a great way to meet new people. The Heart of Gold, with its perfect ‘feng shui’ approach to fostering a culture of friendly socialising amongst travellers, couldn’t be more appropriately titled.

Named in reference to the Douglas Adams “Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe” series, you’ll find spaceship murals subtlety continue the theme throughout the breakfast/bar/hangout area. More so you’ll notice this colour50

BERLIN THE BEST AND THE WURST THE BEST AND THE WURST

ful and comfortable setting comes complete with pool table, table football area and free tea or coffee all day.

The well-priced drinks at the bar will probably distract you from the lack of kitchen but, when you just can’t ignore your hunger pangs, a free breakfast buffet runs until 11am plus there’s a range of great eateries just a stones throw away.

If you want to get the best bed price ask for the ‘mega-dorm’; a massive 40bed area that is actually more like 5 connected rooms with 4 bathrooms. A good-sized locker is provided to keep your valuables safe.

Quiet times are generally respected from 10pm, which is handy after a long day of exploring surrounding Mitte and its countless shops and landmarks. Don’t forget to book early as this place tends to be a hot pick for many of Berlin’s hippest back-packing crowd.

Hera Sparnon

eclectic array of accommodation available at Huettenpalast.

HUETTENPALAST

The philosophy behind this unusual bolthole is the brainchild of Silke Lorenzen and Sarah Vollmer who claim on their website that they wanted to create ‘a space where people all over the world can meet and feel good…a space for creative exchange’. This dream is more than realised in all of the little accouterments dotted here and there throughout the caravans and huts.

From the unusually reupholstered chair to the converted oil canisters, that now serve as night lamps in the communal areas, the Huettenpalast is a real labour

Situated in a converted vacuum cleaner factory, an overnight stay at the palace affords you an opportunity to spend a restful night ensconced in a restored ‘old-timer caravan’, complete with a double/single bed, electrical points and lighting. The whole affair is very quaint and will bring to the forefront of your mind all those times you played as a child in the faraway lands of your imagination. This is highlighted even further upon sight of the caravan in the courtyard, bedecked as it is in multi-colour patchwork and oversized flowers.

In total there are three caravans and three converted huts all situated on one level. Each accommodation has some novel seating ideas from antique sofas to hammocks, depending on which lodging you stay in.

NEUKOLLN

Hobrechtstrasse 66, 12047 www.huettenpalast.de Caravans and Huts (Single) €45 (Double) €65 per night U8- Hermannplatz

For an overnight stay with a difference, you needn’t look further than the 51

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of love. ‘We want to be hosts and designers’, say the pair, and this again is achieved in spades. In the interests of playing the most ideal of hosts, guests are able to leave their sleeping quarters of a morning and find coffee and croissants suspended in bags on a makeshift tree in the main area. The whole process is thoroughly enjoyable and included in the price of the room.

A visit to the Huettenpalast is a must for anyone wanting to recapture a little of their youth and imagination. A feast for the eyes and an endorsement for creativity, an evening at the palace is not to be missed.

Victoria Brown

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THE ARTS title

THE BEST AND THE WURST

THE ARTS A city that regards itself as just 22 years old, culturally cool Berlin is all about the quirky, the contemporary and the alternative. Known for its high art scene, hundreds of galleries display everything from ancient to contemporary art, and intricate street murals adorn almost every wall. As the home of techno music, as well as the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic orchestra, the music scene is just as extensive. Whether you want to hit the art galleries, visit an open-air cinema or take a street art workshop, there is an abundance of artistic must-sees and dos in this vibrant, up-and-coming city.

faces or profound messages amongst the urban collage. This is the subtle difference between graffiti and street art; an art form which is still immerging but rapidly rising into the upper echelons of respected art movements.

Large expanses of abandoned buildings, lack of government ‘clean up’ funds or simply the high percentage of unemployed artists, have made this city a haven for some of the world’s best street art. On the urban street art tour and workshop you will see world renowned artists such as Blu, Roa and Vhils who have made their mark in the city. You are shown their impressive six storey murals which adorn blank inner-city walls with perfect proportion. You will also learn the backstories and technique behind smaller more intimate pieces by a myriad of young talented artists such as Alias and El Bacho.

After feeding your mind with the artistic genius on the streets you will be buzzing with inspiration. The workshop which follows allows you to put your own skills to practice and create your own piece. Your artist-guide will teach you a range of aerosol techniques which help you create your own A4 stencil to put to use on a canvas. You can utilise a massive range of ‘ready to cut out’ pop-culture images or draw your own free hand designs. You may

STREET ART TOUR THROUGHOUT THE CITY

www.alternativeberlin.com Every Mon, Weds, Fri & Sat - 12pm (Meet at Alexanderplatz Starbucks) €15 (+ BYO travel card) U5 - Alexanderplatz

The scribbled graffiti tags and aged stickers which litter the streets of Berlin can initially assault your eyes. But if you keep looking you will begin to notice highly skilled and stylised pieces with reoccurring characters, stencilled 55

THE ARTS

find that operating an aerosol can is no small feat or perhaps that this is an art form you will have to experiment with more. This workshop doesn’t encourage its participants to illegally participate in the vandalism graffiti which is seen everywhere in Berlin. Instead, it preaches the importance of following a respectful code of conduct.

These tours will help you uncover another layer of beauty that could easily be overlooked by many who visit Berlin.

Hera Sparnon

Gallery Hopper Tour which takes you to several exhibition openings by local and international artists. You will be accompanied by a guide; a fellow artist who will explain backgrounds, motives and styles to you. You will get to see fine examples from mixed mediums and styles including installations, projections, paintings and illustrations.

Travelling between exhibitions by UBahn, accompanied by a plastic cup of wine from the previous show, serves as a good opportunity to chat about the pieces you’ve seen. Further insight into these pieces is also gained with the diverse variety of people who attend these tours.

The tour runs for approximately 4 hours. At some point you’ll be able to see your guide’s own work in their studio; thus getting an insiders look at the processes and struggles of an artist working in a creatively driven city. At €15 this may be one of the more costly tours on offer in Berlin but the Urban Culture organisation put all profits into Berlin’s art community. E-mail Urban Culture directly for upcoming dates as the exhibitions change on every tour.

Hera Sparnon

URBAN CULTURE GALLERY HOPPER TOUR THROUGHTOUT WEDDING

THE

CITY

Brunnenstrasse 65, 13355 www.urbanculturetours.com Times are confirmed through email but run from approximately 7pm 15 Euros Nearest U-Bahn (confirmed on booking)

Occasionally small commercial art galleries can appear a little intimidating or too cool for the average art enthusiast.

This is not the case with The Urban

BAUHAUS ARCHIVES CHARLOTTENBERG

Klingelhöferstraße 14, 10785 56

THE BEST AND THE WURST

www.bauhaus.de Weds- Mon: 10am-5pm Tuesday: Closed Cost €5/ €4 Concessions U1, U2, U3,U4 Nollendorfplatz

and the beautiful. You will find yourself becoming incredibly absorbed by a lamp, or a copper kettle. Photography, metalwork, furniture, sculptures and textiles designed by students of the Bauhaus movement are all exhibited and ‘demonstrate the practical beliefs of the new democratic system.’ Harmonious and balanced, educational and inspirational, a visit to the Bauhaus Archives is a truly calming experience, as it offers a sense of freedom from all dead conventions and is an excellent reflection of the utopian concept of the building of the future. At only €5, the building is definitely worth a visit, even if design is not your forté.

Louise Gill

A true high point for any architecture fanatic, this museum and archive is a fitting tribute to Bauhaus, a movement often considered to be an embodiment of modernity, passion and education.

Bauhaus was a Weimar – era modernist art movement which laid emphasis on the unification of art and industry.

When visiting the Bauhaus Archives you will undertake a journey which mixes art and technology. But not only that, you will be sent on a voyage of self- discovery, as the comprehensive audio guide simply asks you to breathe and take the collection in at your own pace. This visually arresting, non- profit museum is unique in how it redefines aspects of the spatial.

Perch on benches amongst the screens and enjoy the minimalist vibe, which includes pieces of the Bauhaus collection representing both the functional

HELMUT NEWTON FOUNDATION/MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLOTTENBERG

Jebensstrasse 2, 10623 www.helmut-newton.com Monday-Sunday: 10am-6pm Thursday: 10am - 10pm

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€8 / €4 Concessions U2, U9, S3, S5, S7, S75 Zoologischer Garten

the 3rd floor. These exhibitions have included Colonial photography in India and exhibitions of Newton’s partner, Alice Springs’, work. The pieces are all well-presented and the museum is spacious enough to leisurely spend an hour, or maybe two, looking around.

Tickets are €8, €4 for students and €3 after 6pm on a Thursday. This is a fair price but it would perhaps be worth checking out the website to see if you like the exhibitions on display prior to visiting the museum.

Anna Paul

The Helmut Newton Foundation is an enjoyable and thought provoking museum which is worth visiting if you are interested in fashion or photography. As inferred by the name most of the exhibition space is devoted to the figure of Helmut Newton.

Helmut Newton was a prolific fashion photographer who shot for high fashion publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. His work is characterised by his seamless technical ability…and of course, his infatuation with the female body. His shots are intended to be empowering to women but one can’t help but feel that a female photographer might accomplish this better, or that Newton’s photographs are sometimes a façade for his own sexual fantasies. Expect fetishist scenes and a lot of nudity.

EAST SIDE GALLERY FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Mühlenstraße, Kreuzberg www.eastsidegallery-berlin.de U1, S5, S7 S5 Wa r s c h a u e r S t r a s s e S7 - Ostbahnhof

The East Side Gallery displays over 100 murals on a section of the original Berlin Wall. It is an artistic representation of the joy and elation felt in

If Newton’s work does not impress then there are changing exhibitions on

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East Berlin after the fall of the wall in 1989. The stretch runs for 1.3km along Mühlenstraße, in former East Berlin, making it one of the largest open-air galleries in the world.

THE WYE KREUZBERG

Skalitzer Strasse 86, 10997 www.thewye.de U1 - Görlitzer Bahnhof

In 2009 the murals were restored to their original state after suffering heavy damage from bad weather and graffiti. The impressive paintings portray notions of love, peace and unity, visually reflecting the optimistic hopes for Berlin’s future when the East/ West divide became defunct in 1989.

A total of 105 murals coat the wall including Dmitri Vrubel’s renowned ‘My God, help me to survive this deadly love’. This mural is a depiction of the famous kiss shared between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker in 1979 during the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the German Democratic Republic.

The Wye is an exciting place to be.

Describing itself as an ‘international art house,’ it forms the perfect venue for the ever increasing art scene in the east of the city. The grand converted Skalitzer Post Office building is made up of an art gallery, bar, studio spaces and pop up shops. With events regularly held here and exhibitions continually changing, you are never short of something new to see.

Wandering through the impressive white halls, which are spread over different floors, it is easy to feel part of this creative hub. Discover a new favourite designer in the Konzept-86 store, be part of a public art workshop or enjoy one of the many gallery areas.

A definite must-see for any art or history buff, the East Side Gallery is a fantastic display of an important moment in Berlin’s history, presented in the city’s typical quirky and contemporary style.

Lucy Richardson

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Check the website for up-to-date events listings as The Wye is paving the way for a new creative generation.

Hannah Dowds

film goers dream come true.

The film screenings change daily during the summer and air at different times throughout the evenings so it is well worth visiting the website to see what silver screen delights awaits you.

FREILUFTKINO KREZBERG/OPEN AIR CINEMA

Those wanting to attend the screenings are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the showing time, which allows ample time to find a seat on one of the many deckchairs or patio chairs on offer. Get a drink and some popcorn from the moderately priced bar and settle down to watch the film.

KREUZBERG

Mariannenplatz 2,10997 www.freiluftkino-kreuzberg.de All films air in the evening.

For exact start times for films, please visit the official website. â‚Ź6.50 U8 - Heinrich Heine Strasse U1, U8 - Kottbusser Tor

When seated and waiting for the motion picture to start, it is clear that the team behind the Frieluftkino have thought of every way to make the most of your viewing experience. There is even a large selection of blankets for anyone who may be a little cold in the evening summer breeze.

What better way to spend a balmy summer evening than watching a film under the clear Berlin sky? If this setup sounds soothing to your soul then look no further than the Freiluftkino.

With an eclectic collection of films to show, from arthouse to action and documentaries to the downright funny, the Freiluftkino ensures there is something for everyone and it’s an experience not

Airing a multitude of films from a variety of genres, the Freiluftkino is a

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to be missed.

Highlights of the vast collection include a large body of work by Hannah Hoch; one of the originators of ‘photomontage’ and a forerunner of the ‘Dada’ art movement. Hoch’s pieces are remarkably modern collage-based pieces which often feature a jumble of words and disembodied body parts layered over old photographs. Another noteworthy artist is Otto Dix. Dix painted war scenes and their aftermath in an expressionist and dramatic style.

His form is perfectly embodied in his portrait of the poet Iwar Von Lücken.

This is incidentally the painting used for promotional flyers for the gallery.

Entrance is €8 or €5 for students. If this seems a little steep, then go on the first Monday of the month where you only have to pay €4. Any money saved can be spent in the impressive gallery shop which sells inexpensive prints of many of the pieces on display, allowing you to take your favourite pieces of art home with you. To really appreciate the diverse spectrum of art on display it is advisable you commit two hours of your day to the gallery.

Anna Paul

Victoria Brown

BERLINISCHE GALERIE KREUZBERG

Alte Jakobstraße 124, 10969 www.berlinischegalerie.de Wednesday- Monday: 10am-6pm, Thursdays: 10am-8pm Tuesday: Closed U1 - Hallesches Tor

The Berlinische Galerie is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in modern art. The first floor houses changing exhibitions, which are often photography related, with video or environmental art installations. The exhibitions on the second floor are arranged in chronological order, from 1880-1980, with detailed information available in both English and German for all eras. This makes the gallery accessible even to those with no knowledge of art.

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THE MUSEUM DER DINGE/THE MUSEUM OF THINGS

with everyday curiosities. Highlights include shelves of rare merchandise from the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, as well as, for fans of a more kitsch style, a quirky collection of Virgin Mary light-up statues.

KREUZBERG

Orianstraße Monday-Sunday: 12am-7pm Thursday: By Appointment Only 5€ /3€ Concessions U1, U8 - Kottbusser Tor

With English and German informative text accompanying the displays it is easy to understand the relevance of the objects, their historical context and see how they reflected changes outside of the home. There is also the fascinating document collection archive as well as a library, focusing on the design work of the DWB.

Nestled off the tourist track in the heart of Kreuzberg is the Museum of Things, an Aladdin’s cave of objects from the 20th and 21st century.

The 30,000 piece collection consists of the work of the Deutscher Werkbund (DWB), a group of artists, industrialists and political figures that was formed in 1907. This period reflects the time in design when craftsmanship was giving way to industrial design.

The DWB’s focus was on designing modern functional pieces and this is documented through a vast and varied collection of everyday objects. Kitchen utensils, lamps, biscuit tins and bizarre souvenirs fill cabinet after cabinet

Despite being a little out the way this collector’s haven is worth the excursion. For any one interested in the history of the modern home this well compiled collection has something of interest for all.

Hannah Dowds

MONSTERKABINETT MITTE

2.HH- Basement – Keller Rosenthalerstrasse 39, 10178 www.monsterkabinett.de Thursdays: 6am-10pm Friday and Saturday: 4am – 10pm.

Only 8 people at a time. €8 / €5 Concessions S5, S7 - Hackescher Markt

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Free. Art prints from €5 U8 - Rosenthaler Platz

If you like exploring obscure art forms then your first stop should be the MonsterKabinett exhibition. The bravest art enthusiasts’ among you can delve into a twisted world filled with mutant monster robots with demanding tempers and phallic gesticulations.

Located in the murky depths of a basement in Mitte, underneath a colourful courtyard, this exhibition showcases an eclectic array of technology, junk and mechanical engineering.

Guided tours run on Thursdays from 6-10pm or Friday and Saturday from 4 – 10pm. Only 8 people at a time can squeeze into the tight corridors and the tours are not recommended for children under 6 years of age. There is a good reason for this; this exhibition is loud and each robotic character you encounter will serenade you with drums, trumpets and heavy dub-stepesque bass lines. If you can brave the risk of uneven flooring in a poorly lit environment, or being trampled on by a giant electro-mechanic spider, then this exhibition will leave you giggling and rejoicing for the brilliance of the Berlin underground art scene.

Hera Sparnon

You may have noticed the multitude of creative and colourful stickers adorning every public surface in Berlin. This is the work of the city’s art crowd who exhibit their work in a visual sub-cultural language. Some can be crude, others witty and poignant but to see the best and brightest examples displayed in their best light head to the Hatch Sticker Museum.

This odd little gallery houses work from all over the world and has enough stickers to keep your eyes feasting for hours. The retro stickers from kid’s magazines and bubble gum packets will fill you with nostalgia while reminding you that this art form has come from a generation of skate boarding brats; who have now matured into fullyfledged creative geniuses. In the gallery shop there is a selection of free stickers you can take home to help ‘spread the word’. There is also a variety of wellpriced posters and canvases should you wish to invest in this local art scene.

You can even pick up free postage stickers, the preferred canvas of the sticker artist elite, and try your hand at creating your own masterpiece.

Hera Sparnon

HATCH STICKER MUSEUM MITTE

DESIGN PANOPTIKUM

Brunnenstrasse 196 / 3, 10119 www.hatchkingdom.com Wednesday-Saturday:12pm-6pm

MITTE

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ble surrealist structures. There aren’t any signs in the gallery giving context to the items but half the fun is in the guessing. Don’t be embarrassed if you mistake a door handle for a medieval torture instrument or a washing machine for a spaceship for dogs—Vlad revels in explaining their proper uses to people.

Torstraße 201 Daily:11am – 6pm. €5 S1, S2, S7 Oranienburger Strasse

Design Panoptikum is a lovingly curated collection which pays homage to the unknown heroes of industrial design. This is a rather unique museum; which is clear from the very beginning when you have to push a life-size Power Ranger statue out of the way to reach the entrance.

Despite the serious aim of the exhibit to showcase undervalued designs Vlad also makes it a lot of fun so it’s enjoyable even for those who aren’t complete design fan boys.

Jess Astbury

The first room, named ‘Medical Running’, contains a seemingly random collection which includes prosthetic legs, negative pressure ventilators and gas masks. Vlad Korneev, who owns the collection and guides visitors around the exhibits, oozes genuine passion for objects which once saved people’s lives but are now mostly forgotten.

RAMONES MUSEUM MITTE

Krausnickstrasse 23, 10115 www.ramonesmuseum.com Daily:12:00-22:00 €3.50 S1, S2 - Oranienburger Strasse U 8 - We i n m e i s t e r S t r a s s e

The collection continues with unusually designed domestic items such as sewing machines, cameras and typewriters which are arranged to resem-

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HAMBURGER BAHNHOF/THE MUSEUM FÜR GEGANWART

In 1974 three young adults; John Cummings (Johnny Ramone), Jeff Hyman (Joey Ramone) and Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone), formed together to create a punk band. Basing the name on an alias of Sir Paul McCartney the Ramones were born; creating a legendary career that continued with incredible success until their retirement in 1996.

Found down Krausnickstrasse is a museum dedicated entirely to the Ramones. Holding claim to ‘more than 500 memorabilia pieces from the world’s greatest punk band’ it certainly has an alluring quality for anyone with an interest in punk and rock ‘n’ roll.

On display you will find a grand collection of framed photos, most with a small caption to aid the telling of their story, detailing the expansive history of the original three; plus the five other band members who dipped in and out of the Ramones family. Other sites include the small but cosy documentary room, signed jeans that would look tight on a drainpipe, handwritten setlists, complete with doodles, and an interesting assortment of Ramones stamped merchandise such as miniature baseball bats and cookies.

At just €3.50, or €5 with a beer or even €24 with a Ramones t-shirt, this is a great stop off for music lovers everywhere. Purchase of an entry will also get you a pin-badge that grants a free return to the museum at any time.

Jason Bosworthick

MITTE

Invalidenstrasse 50-51 www.hamburgerbahnhof.de Monday: Closed Tuesday-Friday: 10am – 6pm Saturday: 11am – 8pm Sunday: 11am – 6pm.

U6 - Naturkundemuseum.

S3, S5, S7, S75 - Hauptbahnhof

The Museum Für Geganwart (Museum for the Present) is contemporary art in its finest form. Once a terminal station of the Berlin rail network the grand neoclassical style building now houses an impressive collection of art, photography, film and elaborate installations.

The permanent collection boasts works by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol; whose infamous Chairman Mao masterpiece governs the

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main wall of the exhibition room. The extensive temporary collections, some of which are curiously located in old converted warehouses, feature a selection of extraordinary artworks ranging from unusual to downright bizarre.

Previous exhibitions have showcased installations made from trash, tools or an old garden shed, as well as mesmerizing light animations projected into a hazy pitch-black room.

Monday: Closed Tuesday-Sunday: 10am – 6pm Thursday: 10am – 8pm €6/€4.50 Concessions U2, S1, S2 - Potsdamer Platz

The Museum für Film und Fernsehen explores the fascinating history of German film. Visitors are taken on a step-by-step journey of the motion picture industry; following its development since the invention of cinematography in the late 19th century.

A visit will take at least two hours, but the adjacent Sarah Wiener café serves as a delightful, albeit pricey, lunch stop.

Tickets (including temporary exhibitions) are €12 and €6 for concessions, but queues are common so buying advance tickets online is advisable.

Lucy Richardson

The museum is designed in a futuristic style which will become evident as soon as you walk through the passageway of mirrors at the entrance. An impressive number of historical props, scripts and cameras are on display as well as a variety of film clips. Be sure to pick up an audio guide at the start of the museum in order to learn about these because many of the plaques are not translated into English. Highlights are special areas that are dedicated to pioneering films and personalities of the German movie industry. These rooms commemorate the German film actress Marlene Dietrich, as well as several masterpieces of German expressionism such as ‘Metropolis’ and ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’.

MUSEUM FÜR FILM UND FERNSEHEN (MUSEUM FOR FILM AND TELEVISION) MITTE Potsdamer Strasse 2 www.deutsche-kinemathek.de

While there is an extensive exhibition of film the television section is virtually non-existent. Regardless the mu66

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seum offers a highly informative and interesting account of German filmmaking that any film buff will thoroughly enjoy.

Lucy Richardson

Kids.

The exhibitions change, but there are normally three running at once so you are sure to find something suited to your taste. The interior is somewhat at odds with the grandeur of the rest of the building with white emulsion paint flaking from the ceilings and the untreated floors still adorned with markings of its past. But somehow it works and the gallery manages to resonate with an effortlessly cool vibe.

C/O GALLERY MITTE

Oranienburgerstrasse 35/36 www.co-berlin.info Daily: 11am- 8pm S1, S2, S7 - Oranienburge r Tor / O ra ni e n burg e rstrasse

Although it is often busy the large crowds do not impair your experience as the size of the building allows every photograph to be examined close up and from afar with ease. Upon leaving the gallery there is a black and white photo booth and a shop crammed with unusual postcards and photography books, which is a perfect way to waste another half hour. Tickets are â‚Ź8, or â‚Ź4 with a student card, which is very reasonable given the calibre of the photographers on display.

Anna Paul

If you are interested in photography the C/O Gallery is definitely worth checking out. Housed in an old converted Post Office building near Oranienburger Tor, the gallery showcases both locally and internationally renowned photographers. Past exhibits have included the works of Annie Leibowitz, famous for her celebrity portraits such as her seminal portrait of a pregnant Demi Moore, and Larry Clark, the controversial director of

FILMPARK BABELS-

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BERG

nics involved in this create a very impressive, and somewhat squirmy, watch for the spectator.

Allow a full day for the visit, and for those with little knowledge of the German language, be sure to pick up an English audio guide upon entry.

Although the park caters particularly well to children it will satisfy anyone with an interest in the behind-thescenes process of filmmaking. Overall a fun day out but don’t expect anything like the tours of the studio giants in the USA. Lucy Richardson

POTSDAM August-Bebel-Straße 26 – 53 Potsdam-Babelsberg www.filmpark-babelsberg.de Daily:10am – 6pm €21/€17 Concessions S7 - Babelsberg

Babelsberg is home to one of the oldest large-scale film studios in the world.

Having produced films since 1912 the studio’s impressive repertoire ranges from classics, such as Metropolis and The Blue Angel, to recent blockbusters including Valkyrie and Inglorious Basterds.

At the Filmpark 4D cinemas, ghost worlds and behind-the-scenes tours are just some of the highlights. On the media city tour you can pass original movie sets and watch the live recording of Germany’s favourite soap: Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten. The absolute standout feature of the park, however, is the explosive stunt show that takes place in a giant artificial volcano. The intricate choreography and pyrotech-

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A CITY RECYCLED With Germany being one of the only European countries to ever vote in the Green Party it comes as no surprise that Berliners are pretty keen on their recycling.

Berlin was once considered Europe’s largest industrial city, however, during the Cold War industry and construction declined. With this changing economy many buildings lay vacant but instead of tearing down the industrial constructions the city chose instead to give its buildings a trendy, new makeover.

power station. Also, come out on Warschauer Strasse and turn right to see an old train depot turned into an urban playground for young, hip partygoers.

Casseopeia (see p._), which once lived as a train repair shop, has now been transformed into a trendy, techno club complete with a climbing wall formed on the outside of an old bunker.

Many of Berlin’s famous clubs have been made out of converted factories with their open spaces and industrial appeal being ideal for all night (and day) raves. For example, Berghain (see p._) was converted out of an old

If you’re feeling hungry on a day out a toilet might not be your first port of call for a quick bite to eat. However, Burgermeister, (see p._) a former public toilet located under Schlesishes Tor station has gained renown for its 69

A CITY RECYCLED

quality fast food. Also, more appetisingly, the corner of Tortrasse Strasse and Friedrichstrasse is home to a big, yellow American school bus which has been converted into an ice-cream café.

Here you can purchase a milkshake or frozen yoghurt for a reasonable €2.90, sit on the comfy garden chairs on the sand and pretend you’re on the beach in the middle of a junction.

meals with a Shabbat dinner on Friday evenings, preserve the memory of the teachers and pupils.

Heckmann-Hofe, a small courtyard, located between Oranienburger Strasse 32 and Augustrasse 9, also celebrates its former usage through the use of food. In honour of its former life as a sweet factory it contains Bonbonmacherei; an old fashioned sweet kitchen as well as a restaurant, clothe shops and benches to relax around a stylish fountain. Walking into this courtyard feels as if you have travelled to a quaint town far away from the city rather than just stepped a few paces off of bustling Oranienburger Strasse.

Abandoned buildings, such as Ehemalige Jüdische mädchenschule, are also sought after by contemporary artists to provide large spaces and interesting contexts to their work. During the Nationalist Socialist plan to exterminate the Jews this school, located on August Strasse 11, was closed following years of pupils and staff mysteriously disappearing. The school was reopened as a space for art and dining in early 2012. However the original spirit of the school remains as its history is written on the walls of the halls while restaurants, such as ‘The Kosher Classroom’, which serves traditional Jewish

Converting rather than bulldozing means that history is infused into the present buildings of the city. Not only do converted buildings and vehicles create colourful business opportunities but they memorialise a past that should rightly not be forgotten.

Anna Paul

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F L AV O U R S O F B E R L I N Berlin’s culinary scene is one of the most variegated in Europe. Not only do German, Korean, Lebanese, Thai, French and Indian eateries sit alongside one another as Technicolor beacons of multiculturalism, but they are all exceptionally good too. You couldn’t be more spoilt for choice. In fact, sometimes choice becomes simply impossible. Here’s a low-down, therefore, of some of the more particular elements of the average Berliner eatable experiences.

Fast-food is fundamental to a Berliner’s culinary life, but not in the way any Anglophone visitor might understand it. The most common options divide roughly into German and Middle-

Eastern classics. Sausage-based snacks such as Bratwurst (grilled sausage, often wedged in a bread-roll) or Currywurst (its sliced curry-speckled cousin) (p.76), are mainstays of the more Germanic on-the-hoof diet. From Turkey has come the doner kebab, re-thought to fit German tastes and referred to simply as a Döner. Distinguished from its eastern forebear by a swapping of meat from lamb to veal and chicken and a higher concentration of salad, this take is a lighter, crisper, more wholesome affair compared to its Britannic imitation. The best are by Mustafa’s in Mehringdamm and All In One in Hackescher Markt. Just follow the queues.

Sticking to the fast-food theme, Ber-

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lin enjoys a thriving Imbiß culture.

Meaning simply ‘snack’, Imbiß refers to a smallish food outlet of any gastronomic denomination that dishes out deliciously simple dishes at pocketfriendly prices. Imbiße can vary from Schnitzel-serving German haunts or pokey Lebanese falafel cafes, to express street-side sushi bars or speedy Korean fried-chicken joints. It is possible therefore to sample from almost any culinary corner of the world at any time of day (most remain open well beyond midnight) spending very little indeed.

Any run-down of Germanic culinary customs would be regrettably incomplete without mention of Kaffee und Kuchen. Keep a careful eye on any coffee bar and you will observe that at around 4 in the afternoon, regular as clockwork, it fills with locals eager for a healthy slice of coffee-accompanied cake. With delectable cheesecakes,

Sacher tortes, and crumbly streuseltopped cherry slices ubiquitously on offer, you’ll find that this favourite restorative past-time features regularly in your Berliner diet. (p. 89) Coffee may be popular in Berlin, but certainly not more so than beer. And where better to sample the variations on offer – and they do get wacky with gooseberry-spiked green versions – than in a traditional biergarten (weather permitting!)? Warming centres of that most particular of German characteristics, Gemütlichkeit, or cosy conviviality, a good beer garden is the perfect setting for an afternoon or evening wiled away in the company of good friends and even better beer. Try out Prater in Prenzlauer Berg or Schleusenkrug in Tiergarten (p. 82).

Ben Kendall

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FOOD AND DRINK Berlin, though perhaps better-known for its party scene, is fast becoming one of Europe’s culinary hot-spots.

Thanks to years of immigration and long-standing cheap rents, the German capital has experienced multiculturalism to a colourfully extensive degree.

Consequently, you are never short of choice when it comes to eating in Berlin – at any hour of the day. From a 4am Döner kebab to mid-afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen, quickly-snatched on-the-hoof sushi to long, lazy Italianate lunches, Berlin has something to offer any palate, pace and preference.

It would be very hard to return disappointed from this culinary panoply.

Monday – Sunday: 10am – 12am U8 - Henirich Heine Strasse U1, U8 - Kottbusser Tor

If a coffee in the afternoon with a picturesque view is an appealing idea, a visit to the Engelbrecken Café in the Kreuzberg district is in order.

Situated opposite the Michaelkirchplatz (St. Michael’s Church Square), the café boasts views of the old Luisenstädtischer Kanal, water feature displays and scenic manicured gardens.

ENGELBRECKEN AM CAFE UND KANAL

Patrons of the café can relax and take in the views whilst enjoying a hot or cold drink (prices vary between €1.60 and €16.50) and a bite to eat (€2.70 €11.20)

CHARLOTTENBERG

Michaelkirchplatz/Engelbrecken, Kreuzberg 10179 www.cafe-am-engelbrucken.de

The bill for a pizza and two drinks

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came in at €14.20 and whilst this is a little pricey in comparison to other café’s in the area, it was appropriate for the calibre of the food.

city’s best suppliers of the delicacy.

It would however be inaccurate to describe Curry 36’s signature dish as a delicacy. There is nothing delicate about drowning a single sausage in ketchup and sprinkling curry powder over it. Yes, despite the ever-present hype surrounding this inexpensive German snack, it really is just those three ingredients, flung together in a combination that is perfectly edible but nonetheless a giant anti-climax. In fact, the dish is vaguely reminiscent of an alcohol fuelled, post-night out raid of a sparsely stocked kitchen cupboard.

The canal area itself is well worth a visit even without a trip to the café.

With its ample seating areas and grassy banks (perfect for sunbathing), the Luisenstädtischer Kanal could be deemed a leisure spot in its own right.

While you are there be sure to take the short walk up the in-filled canal. Water features and flowers in bloom provide an idyllic setting with which to while away a leisurely afternoon.

Victoria Brown

If however, you still feel the need to try out some local ‘cuisine’ or grab a cheap bite to eat, Curry 36 is probably a safe place to do so. The meat is of good quality, and there is the option to order pommes frites or bread with your currywurst to help soak up the excessive amount of ketchup. A dining experience at Curry 36 will typically set you back €1.50-€4.

Kate Martin

CURRY 36

CHARLOTTENBERG 36 Mehringdam, Kreuzberg Mon-Sat: 9am-4pm, Sunday: 11am-3am U6 - Mehringdamm

There are countless purveyors of the local fast food favourite, currywurst (curried sausage) in Berlin, but there are very few that sport long queues throughout the day. Curry 36 is one such establishment, an inconspicuous little street kiosk, hailed as one of the

CAFE SCHWARZES CHARLOTTENBERG

Kantstrasse 148, 10623 www.schwarzescafe-berlin.de U1 - Uhlandstrasse 76

THE BEST AND THE WURST

S 5 , S 7 - S av i g ny p l a t

your heart could desire. The breakfast Bauernomellette is particularly hearty and arrives bursting with chunks of ham and colourful fresh vegetables.

For €8.40 it will set you up nicely for the day, even if you’ve been in Café Schwarzes all night long.

Sarah Slater

Upstairs in Café Schwarzes startlingly blood red walls lie in opposition to walls that are as black as tar; a brooding atmosphere lingers in the air, lifted only slightly by the high, grey, peeling ceilings and double French doors which flood this Rococo room with light. The décor is slightly surreal but what else would you expect from a place that is open 24/7 and never sleeps?

Downstairs, rustic murals display little figures singing, smooching and sashaying their way around the room.

Tables are laid with white tablecloths and pink roses; attempting to establish a sense of decorum. This however, is totally outshined by the décor of the toilets, lined as they are with mirrors and reams of baby pink and blue satin, which are a spectacular sight to behold, making even the most narcissistic of individuals blush.

Aesthetics aside the food is scrumptious and well varied, catering for all three main meals as well as every snack and freshly baked treat that

BARAKA

FRIEDRICHSHAIN Lausitzer Platz 6, Kreuzberg, 10997 www.baraka-berlin.de Monday- Thursday: 12am- 12pm Friday- Sunday: 12pm – 1am.

U1 - Görlitzer Bahnhof

If chilling out on squashy cushions whilst crunching on authentic, hotoff- the- skewer Turkish fare, before washing it all down with a sparkling Bionade, is your thing then Baraka is a good pick amongst Kreuzberg’s many ‘Little Istanbul’ eateries.

With the most basic of this quirky falafel Imbiss’ menu beginning at

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€2.50, one may comfortably accommodate oneself amongst the residents of Kreuzberg underneath faux stalactites and surrounded by glinting, pebbledash walls and large bronze pots.

Monday-Friday: 10am-8pm Saturday-Sunday: 12pm-8pm Free Admission

Once seated a waiter will appear so fast you may think you have rubbed a magic genie-summoning lamp. With the vegetables crunchy and fresh, the mint sauce cooling and the olives zingy the quality of food is absolutely top-notch. The menu is extensive covering everything available from the famed Berliner Döner to a delicious Käse-Spinat Falafel Salat (cheese, spinach and falafel salad).

Café Sybille is a must see café-cum-history exhibition for anyone interested in day-to-day life under GDR rule. Taking its relevance from its popularity in East Berlin before the wall came down, the café was closed in 1997, before being taken over and reopened by a non profit organization in 2001.

On entering the café you are greeted by a light space full of charm. With furnishings from the 1960’s and an eye-catching cut glass chandelier, it is easy to imagine it as the glamorous hangout that it once was. With friendly staff and a reasonably priced menu, it is a great place to take a break and enjoy a coffee.

Just across the road from Görlitzer Bahnhof this pleasant eatery is a gem for a bite to eat, with the Falafel Döner being a tasty choice amidst a very reasonable price range.

Louise Gill

The café also has a small but interesting exhibition featuring furniture, posters, toys and everyday objects, as well as biographies of architects of KMA and photographs detailing the history of Karl Marx Allee from the

CAFE SYBILLE FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Karl Marx Allee, 72

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1960’s until today. Unfortunately the exhibition is in German and there are no English translations. However, for a brief and visual history of what home life in East Berlin was like, this is still a must-see attraction.

Hannah Dowds

toilette two steps from Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn station. Freshly-griddled and be-bapped burgers are dished from the window almost finger-burningly hot at a sizzling speed, while the Ubahn tracks thunder overhead. It’s all really rather quick. For this reason, don’t blame the staff for an otherwise uncharacteristic shortness of temper.

Grab your burgers before the counter piles up with fresh orders (it’s that popular) and either perch on a high stool or up-turned Fritz Kola crate.

At €3.90 a pop (€4.10 with a slice of cheese), it’s hard to scope out a more satisfying lunch deal or even mid-party snack. With all the traditional elements in place – sweetly fried onions, tangy spike of a gherkin and a good lettuce crunch – the deal-breaker is the meat quality: tenderly grilled and mildly seasoned, the burger itself is succulent but substantial. Garnish at will with the free sauces on offer and enjoy; with a sparkling soft drink or beer to compliment, you can’t go wrong.

Ben Kendall

BURGERMEISTER KREUZBERG

Oberbaumstraße 8, Kreuzberg (030 2243 6493) www.burger-meister.de Monday – Thursday: 11am-2pm Friday – Saturday: 11am-4pm Sunday: 3pm-2am U1 - Schlesisches Tor

Serving American-style burgers from an eighteenth-century public loo Burgermeister, in Kreuzberg, is perhaps open to accusations of gimmickry. Thankfully, the execution far surpasses expectation.

This ironic variation on Berlin’s Imbiß (snackhouse) theme occupies a longdisused but elegantly outfitted public

ANGRY CHICKEN KREUZBERG

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fast-food restaurant that serves food in baskets, the pieces of chicken are sticky and more-ishly good plus the unique sauces lift them out of typical fried chicken terrain.

Skalitzer Strasse, 36 www.angry-chicken.com Daily: 12pm-10pm €7 for a meal.

U1, U8 - Kottbusser Tor

If you’re looking for an elegant dinner out go around the corner to Kimchi Princess. However, if you’ve a sudden craving for unpretentious food that gets straight down to the point and will have you making good use of the free wet-wipes provided then Angry Chicken is the place to go.

Jess Astbury

Korean fast-food joint Angry Chicken, sister restaurant to the higher-end Kimchi Princess next door, screams for attention with its eye-burning fluorescent signs and specializes in notso-classy fried chicken with a Korean twist.

EAST LONDON

Once past the fluorescent sign over the door you are faced with an equally incandescent menu and have the challenging decision of which flavour chicken to opt for. In keeping with the immature theme the names of the chicken variations are; Sexy (soy garlic), Friendly (classic crunch) Angry (cinnamon sweet chilli), So So Angry (extra spicy), and Furious (super spicy).

A meal will set you back around €7.

KREUZBERG

Mehringdamm 33, 10961 www.eastlondon.de Monday - Sunday: 10am - 11pm €5- 13 U6, U7 - Mehringdamm

Longing for a small piece of England?

The intimate eatery East London, featured in The Guardian last year, serves

Though not particularly cheap considering it’s still a slightly grubby

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traditional British meals such as steak and ale pie and fish and chips along with a generous helping of comfortable outdoor seating, clean minimalist interior and countless cups of tea.

With main meals costing €7-12, it is not the cheapest place to eat in Berlin.

There is, though, the daily changing special of a main meal from the menu for just €5 Euros which provides a delicious deal. Top this off with a friendly Irish waiter, tempting desserts such as sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble, and an all-day English breakfasts, and East London becomes truly worth a visit for any traveller, British or otherwise.

The menu is written in both English and German and although small is reasonably varied. The food is delicious and pristinely arranged upon the plate, providing a true culinary treat.

Rosalind Lakka

Café Bar 19.

This dinky café is the perfect place to enjoy a revitalising coffee over a book or to quench your thirst with a cooling beer whilst planning your next trip.

This café has a friendly environment of chatty, attentive staff and offers a worthy selection of drinks and bar snacks, from creamy chocolate milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies to a classic English tea, starting from as cheap as €1.50.

The eclectic décor comprises vintage floral sofas and wooden tables decked with candles, alongside oversized Bacardi bottles and iPod stereo playing a mix of radio hits and jamming tunes.

At night-time the cafe gets a little busier, transforming into a bar, where you can enjoy a beverage and maybe make a new friend or two.

This is the perfect spot for young budgeting tourists during their stay in Berlin. You can do research for your trip or make some connections abroad.

With free Wi-Fi and free salty snacks you couldn’t ask for a better deal.

Laura Phelan

CAFE BAR 19 KREUZBERG

Adalbertstrasse 19, 10997 www.facebook.com/CafeBar19 Monday- Thursday: 8 am-12 am Friday-Sunday: 8am-open end U1, U8 - Kottbusser Tor

NOODELI

Looking for somewhere to unwind, have a cheap drink and get free internet access? Take a trip to Kreuzberg where you will find the cosy, charming 81

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MITTE

ments dotted around the deli, such as piquant chilli oils and headily aromatic basil.

Pasta procured, plonk yourself upon a high bar-hogger stool and either gaze inward admiring the elegantly sleek décor which wouldn’t look out of place in Milan, or instead outwards through the floor-to-ceiling window, perhaps smugly observing the long queue of people eager to obtain a place such as yours. Add a slice of torta di cioccolato and a tiny coffee and you have yourself an Italian luncheon in all its simplicity, pronto.

Ben Kendall

Brunnenstraße 5, 10119 www.noodeli.de Monday – Saturday: 11am – 11pm £4-5 pasta, £2 cake, £1-2 coffee U2 - Rosenthaler Platz

Shoe-horned surreptitiously between an internet café and a sozialstation (welfare centre) at the more central end of on one of Mitte’s most zealously shoppable streets, Noodeli truly redefines ‘fast-food’. With its take on Italian pasta dishes prepared in moments, it is difficult to imagine a better re-fuel station following a hefty bout of retail therapy or a day on Museum Island.

You choose from whichever three pasta shapes may be on offer, select your preferred sauce amongst all the classics ranging from salsa arrabbiata to pesto verde, and then dapple with your topping of choice: parmesan, dried tomatoes, walnuts. Flexibility, simplicity, taste. The perfect culinary triumvirate.

For extra variation, add a final flourish profiting from the range of free condi-

SCHLEUSEN KRUG MITTE

Müller-Breslau-Straße, 10623 030 313 9909 www.schleusenkrug.de Daily: 10am – 12am

Gemütlichkeit, that lovable cosiness of communal festivity, is nowhere better enjoyed than in the leafy confines of

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U8 - Rosenthaler Platz

a traditional biergarten, or beer garden. Nestled amongst the greenery of Tiergarten, Schleusenkrug is one such.

Arguably more genuine and laid-back than its popular cousins Café am Neuen See (Lichtensteinalle 2, Tiergarten) and Prater (Kastanienalle 7, Prenzlauerberg) – each respectively more high-end and touristy, but nonetheless worth a visit – this beer garden is an amiably relaxed affair. Open for most of the day, its multi-level layout affords many convivial seating areas – including a particularly verdant veranda with canal views – in which to enjoy lunch, cake, supper or simply drinks at any time of the day.

The bar is expansive, dishing out coffee, beer and soft sparkling drinks by the bucket-load, as well as an inviting range of cakes and more substantial German fair, such as schnitzel or pork fillet. If something simpler is what you seek, around the corner but still part of the same place, is the wurst standard, serving up blistering bratwurst and other traditional porkbased delicacies.

Ben Kendall

Here’s how it works: pay the initial €2 for a glass, then enjoy as much high quality wine from around the world and top- notch food as one’s heart desires, then pay nothing but what you think it deserves at the end. This is the concept behind Mitte’s Weinerei Forum. The industrious bar staff never stop popping open the bottles for the sophisticated patrons of young professional Berliner’s and travelling tourists, all eager for a slice of the mature and pleasant vibe that the establishment offers. Additionally, the menu is different every day. Soothing jazz is complimented by the gentle notes of several acoustic guitars being frequently passed around. The decor is kitsch, with large hanging wooden wine bottles and plenty of candlelight to throw a warm glow over you and your fellow revellers. Be prepared to queue for every glass (having been featured in the New York Times, Weinerei Forum is quickly becoming one of Berlin’s worst kept secrets), as the bar can get pretty crowded. Seating quickly

WEINEREI FORUM MITTE

Fehrbelliner Strasse, 57 www.weinerei.com/forum Monday- Saturday: 10am – late Sunday: 11am- late. €2 then a donation at the end 83

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runs low and visitors simply take to the pavement outside. The later it gets, the more relaxed the atmosphere becomes.

Weinerei Forum could easily turn into one of the best parties in Berlin.

Louise Gill

handmade chocolates and downright tempting ice-creams. While prices are definitely not the cheapest, with chocolates coming to €1.30 a piece, a scoop of ice cream €1.80 and a sundae setting you back €6.50, the sundaes are large enough to share and the service is quick and friendly. On top of this the desserts are all of the highest quality in terms of taste and ingredients.

Stopping at one scoop becomes a challenge!

BANDY BROOKS MITTE

Friedrichstraße, 96 www.bandybrooks.de Monday: 11:am- 8pm Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 8pm Sunday: 12pm - 8pm S1, U6 - Friedrichstraße

For those with more adventurous palettes looking to stray from the vanilla norm Bandy Brooks boasts everchanging daily flavours. Past offers include “peanut butter crunch” and “lemon buttermilk” as well as the perhaps questionable “chilli pistachio”.

A short stroll from Friedrichstraße station, on one of Berlin’s busiest shopping strips, Bandy Brooks is an ice cream shop that offers a sweet and ever-popular haven for shoppers, tourists and everyone in-between.

This upmarket confectioner is definitely worth a look from visitors of Friedrichstraße with their range catering to even the pickiest of dessert connoisseurs. However, try out Bandy Brooks for yourself as the proof is in the pudding.

Rosalind Lakka

Upon entering customers are greeted with a pristine array of choices, from delicate macaroons to delectable

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KARTOFFEL HAUS

high gourmet expectations and just a hungover desire for carbohydrates you won’t be too disappointed; probably making it in and out within 20 minutes.

All in all, good for a quick stop off but not one for the overly fussy foodies.

Rosalind Lakka

MITTE

Poststrasse, 4 www.kartoffel-haus-no1-berlin.de Daily: 12pm – late 3-15 Euros U2, U5, U8 - Alexander Platz

NOCTI VAGUS / NIGHT WANDERER MITTE

If you are visiting Kartoffel Haus, meaning “potato house”, with the expectation of well-prepared potato dishes, a traditional German atmosphere and great service, you may be somewhat disappointed. Something of a tourist trap, with rushed waitresses and basic décor, a simple dish of two wieners and potato salad will set you back €7 while a bowl of roast potatoes comes to €3.50 and arrives swimming in oil. On the flip side their potato pancakes with apple sauce are delicious. The size of the beer glasses ranges from huge to gargantuan and the more daring can try such alcoholic delights as potato schnapps and potato wine.

If visiting Kartoffel Haus with no

Saarbrucker Strasse 36 – 38, 10405 www.noctivagus.com Arrival between 6pm – 8pm (Show begins 9pm, Night shows 11pm) Dinner €39. Plus show €59.

Plus show & coffee €69 U2 - Senefelder Platz

While some restaurants boast haute cuisine or fine service Nocti Vagus, or the ‘Night Wanderer’, can brag about something rather different. What’s in store at this eccentric eatery is a threecourse meal served in pitch black rooms by blind waiters.

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Yes. You did read that right.

Victoria Brown

Having leisurely chosen from three menu options – vegetarian, meat or the more adventurous ‘surprise’ alternative – you’ll be escorted down to the pitchblack dining area. After introductions with your waiter for the evening you’ll be hand-guided – in extreme darkness remember – to your table.

ANDY’S DINER AND BAR MITTE

Potsdamer Strasse 1, 10785 www.andysdiner.de U2, S1, S2 - Potsdamer Platz

Dinner here is a unique undertaking.

If you’ve braved the surprise menu you can amusedly guess what exactly you are eating. Chicken or lamb? Is that aniseed? You’ll lose count of how many times you bring fork to mouth only to realise there is nothing on it.

You will invariably resort to using fingers as utensils just to ensure you’ve eaten every delicious morsel.

Andy’s Diner & Bar is a Berliner chain that offers classic dishes straight from the USA. Burgers, steaks, ribs, club sandwiches, platters of fries, all served in eye-popping portions as if each meal were intended as a challenge.

The American diner theme is conveyed well by neon lighting, Harley Davisons stuck to the wall and the old “Stars ‘n’ Stripes” making up a commemorative ceiling.

Prices are slightly higher than on the less-beaten track, but the helpings will help to alleviate any misgivings. Starters, such as potato skins or hot ‘n’ spicy Buffalo wings, come in between €6.90 and €9.90.

Occasionally a show is offered at extra charge. Ranging from the erotic to the comedic a performance at Nocti Vagus is unmissable. While somewhat pricy compared to other Berliner establishments few can offer the unique experience of Nocti Vagus. For that, it is worth every cent. Booking is essential.

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Main dishes vary in price. The ‘Daniel’s Country-sandwich’ (chicken, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onions topped with crispy bacon) costs €9.90, burgers from €7.90, and sticky glazed ribs €12.90. Top of the prices is the 300g filet steak which commands an expenditure of €24.90.

For a tasty challenge try the ‘Monster Burger’ (€12.90). This beast contains two half-pound beef burgers, bacon, cheese, jalapeños, onions, lettuce and tomato. So big, it will make you wonder why man hasn’t evolved a snake-like dislocating jaw. Served on a trough-sized plate with generous sides of fries and salad it is certainly for bigger appetites.

Jason Bosworthick

Sweet by name, sweet by nature, Café Anne Blume will satisfy the most craven sweet tooth and prove a delightful visit for those wanting to experience the more deluxe side of Berlin.

Quaint, plush and charming this café-cum-florist offers a wide range of hot delicacies such as sweet and sour crêpes, hot chocolates with cream and a wide range of coffees. As well as long drinks and cocktails for a little early evening tipple, Indian mango sorbets, a light salad or one of the beautifully crafted cakes on display by the bar.

The red chandeliers on the ceiling compliment the eclectic design of light pink hues on the walls and surfaces.

Pre-made bouquets and leather-cushioned seating areas make your visit pleasantly cosy. If the weather is on the warm side, take a seat outside under the shady umbrellas and appreciate the freshly-made bouquets and flowers.

One of Berlin’s most delicious delicacies, Café Anne Blume provides a welcoming spot to enjoy a book with coffee or have a catch-up with friends over a glass of wine. So pay a visit if you’re willing to spend a little more and enjoy a bit of Berlin’s finest.

CAFE ANNE BLUME MITTE

Kollwitzstraße 83, Prenzlauer Berg, 10435 030 44048641 Daily: 8am-2am U8-Alexanderplatz

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Laura Phelan

will reveal how Com Viet is frequented by both locals and tourists alike; a perusal of the prices will make it easy to understand why. Everything in the multi-lingual menu is under €10, with a wide variety of fragrant, steaming chicken, beef or vegetable rice noodle soups available for a mere €3. The ‘fake duck’ – a potentially perturbing name – is golden, crispy, and delicious good value at €5.50.

With its cosy ambiance, excellent service and top-notch food Com Viet offers a serene respite from the hustle and bustle of nearby tourist trap, Alexanderplatz.

Sarah Slater

COM VIET MITTE

4 Münzstrasse, 10178 030 2408 5251 Monday-Friday: 12am - 11pm Saturday: 1pm - 12pm Sunday: 1pm-4pm U 8 We i n m e i s t e r s t r a s s e

Don’t judge this traditional Vietnamese restaurant by its unassuming veneer. Regrettably, it is easily overlooked by its bigger and brighter neighbours, a host of more commercial-looking eateries.

Once inside, you will be enchanted by Com Viet’s comely bamboo-clad interior and struck by the colourful fusion of purple orchids, gaudy red garlands of fire crackers and the earthy tones of lacquered paintings which depict scenes of provincial Vietnamese life.

A quick read of the glowing customer endorsements, scribbled on napkins and pushed under the glass table-tops,

AGORA COLLECTIVE NEUKOLLN

Mittelweg 50, 12053 www.agoracollective.org Monday – Saturday: 10am-6pm U8 - Leinestraße

The Agora Collective – part café, part artistic cooperative – is a scintillat-

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ing gem in Neukölln’s otherwise dull crown.

This white-washed space dotted with sleek dark-wood tables and vintage lamps, makes for a charming lunch setting. And at around €9 for a substantial three-course meal including juice and coffee, it’s absurdly cheap for the quality.

As befits the café’s anthropology-chic vibe, the choice varies daily.

Expect innovative takes on homey classics, such as Goan-spiced chicken curry or scarlet-hued fusilli with amaranth pesto. Each is preceded by an inventive salad: curry-dressed garden greenery with crunchy beansprouts, or casbah-commendable walnut and pomegranate salad. For pudding, the ubiquitous Berliner cheesecake comes in a hefty but feather-light tranche.

Accompany with coffee and wile away the afternoon in the sun-drenched garden amid its fruit trees and courgette beds.

Although the café ordinarily closes before supper, the collective itself boasts a healthy roster of social events. Look out for their weekily pop-up cocktail nights (Fridays from 9; basil-vodka-flavoured potables are a must) or bi-monthly milonga sessions – tango evenings with tapas and drinks; arrive early for a free lesson.

Throw in relaxed Sunday lunches, Brazilian-style parties and cosy afternoon teas, and Agora may well occupy much of your trip.

Ben Kendall

LA TAZZA

PRENZLAUERBERG Hufelandstraße 18, Prenzlauerberg 10407

For two principal reasons no other day is better suited to Kaffee und Kuchen than Sunday: the lulling rhythm of the weekend’s final stint perfectly befits lazy afternoon carb-administration; and nothing constitutes a more efficacious hangover-cure than caffeine and sugar. If last-night’s high-speed hedonism renders you powerlessly defeated, shift into first gear and stroll northwards to the leafy gentrified comforting territory of push-chairs and yummy-mummies, Prenzlauerberg.

Here has its seat the coffee bar La Tazza settled snugly in Hufelandstrasse. A sturdy counter flaunts a glut of cakes swelling with gratification, staff greet you with cherry scrubclean smiles and serve with charm but not obsequity, and quaint garden furniture invites you to calmly catch some

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U2, S8, S9, S41, S42 Schonhauser Allee

sun on the sidewalk. Order a creamy fluffy-topped Milchkaffee, plonk yourself resolutely down and watch the world pass at its peace-permeated Sunday pace. If, however, the caffeine doesn’t sufficiently invigorate, take a slab of Sacher torte so devilishly dark it’ll give you the necessary kick up the backside, bio-chemically speaking. A thick wedge of dense chocolate sponge sandwiched with apricot jam and unguent coffee-black chocolate frosting.

Approach with care.

For around €5 altogether, there seems no pleasanter means by which a Sunday afternoon is whiled away in blissful satisfaction.

Ben Kendall

White Trash’s deceptive Asian-styled exterior initially belies the edgy, fastpaced diner-cum-tattoo parlour-cumgig venue within. Stepping through the doors the decor is dingy and cluttered, but artfully so with beautiful stained glass windows at the rear end of the restaurant being of particular note.

The American-styled meals consist of a variety of burgers; the exception bizarrely being a whole fried octopus in a bun. Although they are certainly not the cheapest, with mains setting you back between €9.50 and €15, the quality of food and service is high. The chilli cheese burger in particular is epic in terms of portion size and taste.

While eating you can watch anxious and pained looking customers entering and exiting the tattoo parlour in the next room, which has a reputation both for its high levels of cleanliness and tattoo design. In the evening the basement opens to become a gig venue and while a cover of €3 has to be paid to enter the new up-and-coming bands

WHITE TRASH FAST FOOD PRENZLAUERBERG

Schonhauser Allee 6-7 Rosa-LuxemburgPlatz 030 50 34 86 68 www.whitetrashfastfood.com Monday - Friday : from 4pm Saturday – Sunday: from 6pm €9-20

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and acts most nights, and an electric atmosphere, make it a price well worth paying. Anyone looking for a tasty and laid back meal, live music or a tattoo should check out White Trash for a unique experience worth bragging about.

Rosalind Lakka

serving counter) has a price tag and is available for you to purchase, so be sure to peruse the two adjoining rooms in order to source out your very own piece of the café. Potential souvenirs from your visit can range from tiny tie pins, sassy Parisian silk scarves, battered Punch and Judy hand puppets to even larger retro relics such as perambulators and settees (although these may present irksome challenges to your baggage allowance).

On offer are enough delectable delights to stave off even the sweetest sweet tooth; delicious fresh cream cakes with light-as-air sponge, tangy strawberry sorbets and epic sized banana splits will leave you salivating as you’re being served. However, if these can’t tempt you, then their broad selection of coffees, teas, cream sodas and ginger beers (€2-3 each) will be sure to impress.

Sarah Slater

SORGENFREI SCHONEBERG

18 Goltzstrasse, 10781 www.sorgenfrei-in-berlin.de Monday: Closed Tuesday - Friday: 12am-7pm Saturday: 10am-6pm Sunday: 1pm-6pm U1, U2, U3, U4 -Nollendorfplatz

Stroll halfway down Goltzstrasse and roll back the decades by paying a visit to Sorgenfrei. This 1950s/60s inspired café-cum-flea market is the epitome of kitsch chic and a must-see for any discerning lover of all things yester year. Established in 1997 this café is crammed with by-gone trinkets; each piece lovingly hand selected and beautifully displayed by the café’s owners Christoph Reck and Günter Schmitt.

The deluge of burned oranges and other such passé hues will be sure to leave you enchanted and warm the cockles of your nostalgic soul. Everything (apart from the kitchen sink and

EINSTEINS STAMMHAUS TIERGARTEN

Kurfürstenstraße 58, Tiergarten, 10785

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An abundance of freshly baked cakes and pastries is offered, of which a slice of sweet crumbly apfelstrudel will be sure to please the palate. Though, be warned: this fine-dining take on coffee and cake may leave a hole in your wallet.

Natalie Parry

+49-30-263 91 918 contact@cafeeinstein.com U1,U2 & U3- Nollendorf Platz

In contrast to the coffee-to-go culture, Einstein’s Stammhaus asserts itself as the quality Kaffee und Kuchen experience. Tucked away in the Tiergarten district this institution – often only heard-of through the grapevine – is often frequented by Berlin’s cultural elite.

Since 1979, this 1920’s-style villa had modelled itself on the Viennese coffee house culture, where you can expect to be waited on by the classic black-andwhite-attired staff, amid the obligatory Thonet chairs, marble table tops, and glass of sparkling water to accompany your cup of coffee.

With its quaint charm and intricate detail, the Stammhaus garden offers a temporary oasis from the rapid tempo of inner-city life, evocative of an era of innocence, high society and antiquity.

Afternoon tea is an experience of pure indulgence as the Stammhaus.

BALZAC’S COFFEE

THROUGHOUT THE CITY Potsdamer Platz 10, Berlin 040 3551080 www.balzaccoffee.com Mon-Fri 6.00 - 23.00, Sat 7.00 - 24.00, Sun 7.30 - 22.00

It is sufficient to say that Balzac’s is basically the German equivalent of Starbucks, only swapping Starbuck’s trademark of Isis for Balzac’s ‘cupid on a scooter’ logo.

Its name, being derivative of the French writer Honoré de Balzac, plays on the coffee consumption connotations, as he was known as an espresso enthusiast.

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Balzac was born in 1998 as a result of founder Vanessa Kullmann’s business trip to the USA; Having honed in on the ‘coffee shop culture’, which became popular in the television series ‘Friends’, she brought the concept of ‘quick coffee on the go’ back to Germany. Hamburg was the first city to receive a taste of ‘Balzac’. The chain now boasts over 57 branches in Germany, most of which reside in Berlin.

The Starbucks comparison is unavoidable; particularly with chairs planted around the big open glass windows, in the same premeditated way and the warm orange, brown and yellow murals provide a contrived haven from the concrete jungle outside.

Sandwiches such as Tuscan flat bread are available for €2.95 and delicious deserts of erdbeer tartlettes for €2.80.

There is the classic coffee menu (cappuccino, espresso etc), and their take on the frappucino...the ‘Laccino’.

Balzac’s slogan ‘drink better coffee’... seems dubious.

Natalie Parry

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BERGHAIN lars, leather pants and little else.

Wriezener Karree, 10243, Friedrichshain www.berghain.de Saturday 12am – as long as you can last on Monday! €12 S-Bahn Ostbahnhof

Having hosted almost every big name in the genre, Berghain is a true techno Mecca. In Berlin’s nightlife hall of fame, Carl Craig’s legendary 3pm closing-time set sits alongside the frequent spins of resident DJs Nick Höppner and Norman Nodge. The techno is dark and twisted, reflecting the industrial atmosphere in its purest form.

Regardless of performance, once you pass through the formidable doors of this towering former power-station, get ready for the night – or usually day-and-a-half – of your life.

Über raw, dirty, hardcore techno pumps menacingly from the speakers, bouncing off black walls over a pulsating pit of party animals. Daylight has no place here. Instead, techno-worshippers swing on huge beds suspended by ominously creaking chains; rows of black-clad clubbers knock back shots served by bartenders sporting dog col-

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Hedonism knows no bounds in Berghain. Partiers openly indulge in sexual acts and invite the participation of total strangers. The infamous dark rooms are crawling with adventurous first-timers and promiscuous regulars alike. Inhibitions have no place here. If, however, you’re more on the reserved side and don’t fancy tripping over a cavorting couple in pitch darkness, fear not: there is no pressure to do anything you are not comfortable with and no shame if you simply want to dance for hours on end.

The door policy is famously tough; best advice is to look like you couldn’t care less about getting in. Don’t be intimidated by the tattooed, bearded, grizzly bears of bouncers policing the doors: they can smell fear. Go in by yourself.

Don’t be wasted before you get inside.

Don’t overdo it on the outfit front. And go early; queuing for at least an hour is

all part of the experience.

The drinks prices are surprisingly reasonable (Jaeger shots are a mere €2.50, Berliner Pilsner only €3), so the biggest shock might perhaps come when, finally returned home, you glimpse yourself in a mirror. Cameras are forbidden and the club is completely mirrorless, which reflects how much Berghain is not about the right look but all about the right attitude.

Certainly not for the faint hearted it is little wonder that this club is so exclusive. It requires serious stamina and total commitment to partake in Berghain’s weekends of partying. For more chilled house and the occasional glimpse of sunlight, venture upstairs to the sister venue Panorama Bar. Be warned, however, it is only slightly more chilled.

Louise Gill

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BARS AND NIGHTLIFE In a certain sense Berlin’s nightlife needs little introduction. In another it practically constitutes the city’s lifeblood. Tourists flock from the world over to indulge in Berlin’s myriad offerings of nocturnal hedonism.

Though electro is by now the classic choice (indeed, you find it no better anywhere else) the world’s party capital leaves few – if any – parts of the musical spectrum untouched. Expect anything from reggae-oozing beach bars such as Yaam (p.__) and shady goth hang-outs, to riverside electro spots like Club der Visionäre (p.__) and Berlin’s techno palace, Berghain (p.__). At weekends, clubs have no obligatory closing time so be prepared to party all weekend-long.

Daily 11:00-24:00/5:00am (club nights) S3, S5, S7, S75 Ostbahnhof

Situated alongside the East Side Gallery and nestled snugly on the Spree lies the shabby-chic watering hole that is ‘Yaam’ beach bar.

Established in 1998 this hip-hop hangout oozes chilled out charm and is bound to make waves for any new patron. It is a dynamic and multi-faceted venue; by day the sandy space plays host to a flea market, Zumba classes, beach bar, basketball court and halfpipe. By night its reggae and dancehall themed club nights offer an opportunity for tourists and locals alike to get down and dirty on the intimate beach hut dance floors.

An average club night will set you back between €8 and €10 so it isn’t the cheapest party in town but once inside bargain beverages (€2-3 for a bottle of beer) and friendly faces will quickly resolve any damage inflicted on the old purse strings.

Delicious by name and funky by nature, ‘Yaam’ will certainly leave you picking up some seriously good vibrations!

Sarah Slater

YAAM BEACH BAR FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Stralauer Platz 35, 10234 www.yaam.de

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CASSIOPEIA

ways check for further details on the website. Situated a short walk from Warschauer Strasse, next to other quirky clubs such as Suicide Circus, this two-floor party den is sure to get your blood pumping with a night of mingling, dancing and drinking.

Dance the night away in one of the expansive rooms, each with a bar and dance floor. Or chill out and get flirty in the fairy-tale lit beer garden. From beers averaging €3, vodka drinks €5 and entry fees of €4-6 euro, make sure you don’t miss out on this entertaining experience, and simply party till the sun comes up.

Laura Phelan

FRIEDRICHSHAIN Revaler Straße 99, 10245 www.cassiopeia-berlin.de Hours-varies 11pm-6am €4-6 U1, S5, S7 Wa r s c h a u e r S t r a s s e

Cassiopeia is a wonderland for alternative clubbers. If mainstream isn’t your scene then this former old train shop will be your paradise. This dayto-night entertainment complex of fers more than your ordinary nightly venue.

During the day Cassiopeia hosts rockclimbing and outdoor movie screenings. The night-time scene evolves into a large ‘’dancing den’’ with live DJs playing different music from hip hop and reggae to techno and punk.

The music changes every night, so al-

LOVELITE KREUZBERG

Simplonstrasse 38-40, 10245 www.lovelite.de Open from 11pm Fri & Sat From 5€ U6, U9, S8, S3 Ostkreuz

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BI NUU

KREUZBERG

From electro-hardcore-punk to Russian-ska remixed with Johnny Cash, plus all the grunge, rock, techno and folk that comes in between, this venue specialises in playing a range of different music from all over the world to feed the ears of Berlin’s multi-cultural alternative crowd.

A regular ‘Baltic beats night” features music that sounds so innovative even the diverse crowd of club goers are still familiarising themselves with the style. It sounds like German ‘Oktoberfest’ folk mixed with Bollywood and the Sex Pistols. The beats per minute are not as stupidly fast as techno but not quite as slow as head banging rock or dub-step. The rhythms a perfect speed for jumping up and down yelling “ha, ha, ha, ha” with a stranger; usually wearing an expression that radiates “I don’t know this music, but this is fun!”

The three bars located throughout the venue means waiting times are never too long. From 12pm a high-energy crowd begins to fill the main stage and it soon gets sauna-hot.

The music is not always live but, if you’re as lucky as this reviewer, you may get the chance to see random saxophonists competing with the DJ from the dance floor. Keep your eye on the website to see what exciting music genres and events are coming up next.

Hera Sampson

Schlesischen Tor, Kreuzberg (030 6956 6840) www.bi-nuu.de €0-10/ drinks €2-6

Few things make for greater testament to Berlin’s start-up ultra-liberal mentality than the rapidity with which her new clubs are let loose to wreak rambunctious nocturnal havoc. Bi Nuu (get it?), having emerged on the scene as early as spring 2012, is just one such.

To declare repetitiously how ‘alternative’ Berlin is becomes prosaic and mundane. Bi Nuu is simply where you go if what you seek is undeclared but moderately contained debauchery (for indeed there exist other wilder beasts).

It occupies the abandoned lower-deck of the Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn station, split into two blood-red rooms adorned with swollen black ‘n’ white photographs of hedonists lost in history, one privileged with a sweeping

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sticky bar, floor-to-ceiling windows and occasionally a tattoo corner, the other with stage, dance-space and – for those more carnally inclined – a kingsize bed.

Its speakers pump out some of the hardest deep-house on the scene, galvanizing the abandonment with which you are inevitably infected until 10 the following morning. Spilling out long after dawn, saluted by exultant staff, ones struggles to feel deeper satisfaction.

Ben Kendall

techno nightlife scene and today the large club still retains the underground feeling of an impromptu Berlin club night, despite its now often mainstream crowd. With a door policy far more relaxed than Berghain plenty of back packers come here looking to hit a legendary nightlife highlight.

The club however still easily retains an industrial party vibe in its setting in a former East Berlin power station.

With impressive lighting and several floors, each differing in the type of techno they offer, a night here can feel like a very surreal experience as you make your way through smoky rooms and throbbing throngs of thrillseeking ravers. With tequila shots for €1.50 and a reasonable entry price a night at Tresor is one to whole-heartedly embrace if you’re a fan of techno or open to experimentation.

Louise Gill

TRESOR

KREUZBERG Köpenicker Straße 70, 10179 www.tresorberlin.com Mon 11pm-8am, Wed 12pm-9am, Thu 12pm-8am, Fri & Sat 12pm-11.30am, closed Tue & Sun €8- €10 U8- Heinrich-HeineStrasse

ZYANKALI (CYANIDE) KREUZBERG

64 Grossbeerenstrasse www.zynkali.de 8pm – late

Tresor is the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the Berlin

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Cocktails average at €7 U6, U7- Mehringdamm U1, U7- Mockernbrücke

drink before you are served the small but perfectly formed concoction in a laboratory beaker or conical flask.

Chilli, thyme and liquor of mandrake are only a pick of the wacky bunch of cocktail ingredients on offer.

If this bar existed in the 19th century Dr Frankenstein and his lumbering sidekick would have been regulars.

Mix a chemistry lab with a horror movie set plus a good dose of absinthe and Zyankali would be the peculiar product.

If you’re feeling a little too macho for cocktails there’s also a large range of potent absinthes on offer. More bizarrely, you can also indulge in a session of pure oxygen and a machineoperated back massage for just €12.

Jess Astbury

This horror-themed cocktail and absinthe bar puts a large focus on style as shown by its heavily themed décor, which is one of the main attractions for punters. Crosses and skulls adorn the candlelit walls and an open coffin serves as one of the tables. However, when it gets down to substance, the drinks are also just as creative and exquisitely prepared.

MADAME CLAUDE KREUZBERG

Lübbener Strasse 19 Every day 7pm – late U1- Görlitzer Bahnhof U1- Schleisches Tor

Choose from a range of over a hundred imaginatively named cocktails, such as the ‘Zargle Gargelblaster’ a powerful duo of absinthe and Mr. Energy. A Jack Sparrow-esque bar tender will then expertly mix your

Walking into Madame Claude you may feel as if you’ve had one cocktail too many. However, let your eyes adjust to the dim lighting and you’ll realise that it’s not your eyesight which has

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gone topsy-turvy but the bar itself. A table set for two, flower pots, bathroom sinks and even a pair of well-worn trainers are firmly fixed onto the ceiling giving the impression that the bar has had an interesting interaction with anti-gravity.

Apart from the obvious novelty value of the bar the ripped sofas, rickety stools and warm glow from the lampshades combine to give this former brothel a warm, welcoming feel that encapsulates the ‘shabby chic’ mentality. Seating is slightly limited and crammed together so expect a bit of accidental knee brushing and elbow bumping.

There are rooms with table football and table tennis on selected nights, which you can play on for free with the inevitable new found friends made from such cramped conditions. Live experimental music is staged some nights in a small, underground venue.

On such nights you will need to donate whatever you can spare to get into the bar. However, drinks are very reasonably priced with €3 landing you a very generous glass of wine and €5 one of their sugary cocktails so a small entry fee is entirely worth it.

Jess Astbury

WILD AT HEART KREUZBERG

Wiener Straße 20 www.wildatheartberlin.de Thursday- Saturday (and when shows) 8pm-late U8- Moritzplatz

It is easy to feel intimidated by the leather clad, Mohican bearing crowd hovering outside of Wild at Heart but, if one is valiant and marches into the venue regardless, you can be guaranteed a good night. A live music and club venue Wild at Heart is adorned with kitsch decorations such as framed photographs of Elvis, stringless violins and a television screen playing bizarre films such as ‘Leningrad Cowboys meet Moses.’

The drinks are reasonably priced with beers starting at €3 and long drinks at €4. Crowds are mixed as the venue seems to draw in the alternative com-

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munity of Kreuzberg along with some older revellers.

A venue alone cannot guarantee a good night. That said the size and shape of Magnet does help somewhat in creating its vibrant atmosphere.

Magnet is a live music venue; intimate enough to hear performances and get into the scourge of the crowds without having to make awkward eye contact with the band. There is a circular audience space at the front of the stage and a fairly small, softly lit bar behind. Here you can sit back and enjoy the music without leaving the venue drenched in the fervent crowd’s perspiration and beer.

The venue hosts various (and mostly local) alternative bands. From around midnight, when the venue is in club mode, the music is mixed and the playlist consists of punk, rockabilly, classic rock and feel good pop-rock songs.

Entry is around €8, which is good value - depending on your musical tastes.

If you are looking for indie, techno, house or mainstream music then it is recommended that you go elsewhere.

Otherwise, €8 is a reasonable price to pay for a night where anything goes.

Anna Paul

Aesthetically the club is not much to look at. In the entrance hall there is an oddly placed mirror which gives a false illusion of size and it is difficult to differentiate whether doors lead to club rooms or cupboards. Most bands that grace the venue can be placed under the umbrella term of ‘alternative’ and past acts have included Citizens!, Touche Amore and Architects. Ticket prices range from around €8-€15; depending on the popularity of the band. Magnet is definitely worth checking out if one of your favourite bands is in town.

MAGNET KREUZBERG

Falckensteinstraße 48, 10997 www.magnet-club.de Monday-Sunday: Gigs from 8pm (Tuesday-Saturday: Club nights from 11pm) U1- Schlesisches Tor

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Anna Paul

revelry.

The club has a relaxed ambiance which mirrors its casual DJ booking policy.

Line-ups are often secured only a week in advance. The likes of Richie Hawtins and Tobi Neumann occasionally graced this quaint little joint with their presence.

CLUB DER VISIONAERE KREUZBERG

Am Flutgraben 1, Kreuzberg, 12435 www.clubdervisionaere.com Opening hours vary depending on the season and weather U1- Schlesisches Tor

With hedonism at its heart, this regularly open its doors on Thursday and not baton down the hatches until the small hours of Monday morning, therefore offering ample opportunity for you to climb on board and sample it’s flavours!

Sarah Slater

If a spot of minimal techno is what you are hankering for, then mosey on down to Club de Visionaere. Occupying a serene riverside location on the fringe of Treptower Park, your first sight of this rustic haunt will be that of a weeping willow tickling a jetty, upon which revellers are thickly thronged. It is an invitingly romantic sight to behold.

EXIL BAR KREUZBERG

Dresdenerstrasse 9, 10999 030/61657439 www.exilbar.com U1, U8- Kottbusser Tor

Although undeniably popular with tourists and locals alike, its small dance floor makes for an intimate – and occasionally difficult – dancing experience.

Thus it makes for the the perfect start or end to an evening of more energetic

You could easily misplace the decadent interior of Exil Bar (Exile Bar) for a film set portraying Weimar-era indulgence, be it Marlene Dietrich’s seductive ‘The Blue Angel’, or speakeasy full of pie-throwing teenage gangsters in ‘Bugsy Malone’.

Exil seduces passers-by of Dresdenerstrasse by deceptively illuminating the antiquity of the faux-smoke-stained walls and the sultry copper-coated bar 104

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in the centre of the room.

Customers may find sanctuary in the bonhomie of this bar’s live jazz and blues. The sexy sound of a saxophone will certainly soothe your mood.

Indulge in the delicious finger food dishes the menu has to offer, such as the popular Exilteller: a Turkish/ Mediterranean platter of olives, feta wrapped in aubergine, warm breads and sundried tomatoes for just €4.80.

With an impressive cocktail list featuring such examples as Gogol’s Way, Exil Suprise, Flirtini and Aperol Sour, be sure to take advantage of the €4.90 Happy Hour offer between 4pm-9pm.

Natalie Parry

For some of the finest jazz and blues in the business – regardless of budget – check out Mitte’s B-flat.

Announced by little more than an illuminated ‘flat’ musical symbol glinting from above the door – and on busy nights by the throng of people visible through the floor-to-ceiling window – B-Flat is an entertaining find. Lined on one side by a long thick bar of pearlescent glass welcomingly alit with myriad bottles, B-Flat nightly welcomes a variegated but laid-back crowd. With beer priced at a mere €3.50 for 0.5l and long-drinks coming in at €5 a glass, even before the band plays it’s clear why this musical watering-hole draws such popularity.

B-FLAT MITTE

Although B-Flat’s calendar boasts an array of concerts and visiting musicians, covering all points on the jazz spectrum from modern to blues, bigband to flamenco, these nights can prove pricey. Often costing at least €10, and at worst €30, these gigs are perhaps best for the die-hard. The best night, therefore, is Wednesday. To beat the midweek blues, Canadian regular Robin Draganic offers a free jam ses-

Rosenthalerstraße 13, 10119, 030 02833 123 www.b-flat-berlin.de Sun – Thurs, from 20h , Fri – Sat, from 21h U8- Rosenthaler Platz

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sion, “Robins Nest”, which remains charged up until the small hours.

Though swelteringly popular, it’s the perfect long-day antidote.

Ben Kendall

Pop-up bars and food vendors dot the pavement for a staggering 2.2km, serving beer from more than 86 countries and food varying from the traditional Bratwurst to other fast food favourites such as hot dogs.

INTERNATIONALES BERLINER BIERFESTIVAL/THE ANNUAL BERLIN BEER FESTIVAL

Revellers can also expect to be entertained by tribute bands and DJs. If you are lucky enough to enter one of the tented music halls you may just be treated to the sight of grown men jumping around to retro 90’s pop, such as the Backstreet Boys – and that really is something to see!

MITTE

Karl-Marx-Allee www.bierfestival-berlin.de Fri 12am – 12pm, Sat 10am – 12pm, Sun 10am – 10pm (Annually on the first weekend in August) U5- Strausberger Platz U5- Frankfurter Tor

You can expect to pay around €5.50 for your first beer of the day/night but this includes a €2 deposit redeemable at the end of the night, once you have returned your glass to a vendor; although you could always forego the deposit and keep the glass as a festival souvenir.

Verdict? Fantastic beer and a great atmosphere! What more could you want?

Victoria Brown

If a buzzing mix of great beer, good food and live music is your kind of entertainment then look no further than Berlin’s annual Bierfestival.

BRUNNEN 70 MITTE

Brunnenstrasse 70, Wedding www.brunnen70.de Mon-Thurs and Sunday: Closed Fri-Sat: 10pm – 7am

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U5-Alexander Platz U 8 - We i n m e i s r e r s t r

Hidden beneath what appears to be an ordinary furniture store lies a psychedelic clubbing mecca known as Brunnen 70. Imagine experiencing the most extravagant hallucinatory drug trip inside a giant underground cellar.

This 12-room basement is a world of wacky extremity.

With its luxurious dark woods and deep-red fabrics, Café Cinema is dingy but seriously seductive. Venture inside and discover the undiscovered in this café/bar that occupies a prime position on the corner of the Hackescher Markt area.

Having entered the club you are guided into a lift that takes you down to the hidden world of Brunnen 70. The two dingy rooms with which you are greeted have a grungy atmosphere, which in any ordinary club would make for a decent night out, but it is through the conspicuous door on the left that the fun really begins. A techno room leads into a polar-themed bar, and a UV chill-out area lies alongside a hair salon, a small cinema room and a karaoke lounge. All sorts of passageways and labyrinths will guide you to yet more weird and wonderful areas.

The assortment of photos on the walls emblazoned with famous movie stars – James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, to name but a few – evokes a bygone era of cigar-smoking vamps, romance and glamour. The contemporary centre of cinematic art neighbours the café, screening four daily viewings of German-language and independent films from the United States, extending the illusion of Hollywood glitz and glamour.

The outdoor courtyard is perfect if things get a little packed at night, or if you want to catch some spring or summer sun. With candles adorning the tables it offers a cosy, lavish setting, much suited to the delectable menu

Unfortunately the toilets are the major drawback of the club, which require a serious spring-clean. This aside, Brunnen 70 offers an extraordinary and unique clubbing experience that is guaranteed to be like no other.

Lucy Richardson

CAFE CINEMA MITTE

Rosenthalerstraße 39, 10178 from noon-till late 107

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where you can indulge in a mouthwatering Italian chocolate amaretto, at only €3 a glass.

This café leaves little to be desired and should be visited if you’re looking to experience something quite extraordinary at ordinary prices.

Laura Phelan

on one of the dilapidated leather sofas.

And in case you wonder the name of this eclectic cavern into which you have stumbled, the mock fireplace ‘burning’ in the television screen will enlighten you.

Dug out in the underground bar scene after the reunification of the city, it’s easy to see how this bar – also dubbed ‘The Lounge’ – still maintains its ‘cooler-than-a-Pam-Grier-film’ factor.

It even has a distinct Soul, Funk and Reggae soundtrack to match.

This intimate and cosy watering-hole greets its laidback and unpretentious customers at 8pm each evening, offering deals on cocktails starting from as little as €3 and beers merely €2.50.

Smoking is still permitted here so a word of warning to the wheezy.

Natalie Parry

FIRE BAR MITTE

Krausnickstrasse 5 030-283-85-119 www.fire-club.de S1, S2, S25- Oranienburgerstrasse U 8 - We i n m e i s t e r s t r a s s e

Should you find yourself around the area of Oranienburgerstrasse, and hoping to avoid the tiring tide of tourist taverns, the sultry Fire bar is certainly for you.

As you descend its depths, Fire bar smothers you with a plastered interior of kitsch trinkets, daisy-chain fairy lights and jumble gems as you repose

CHAMALEON THEATER MITTE

Rosenthalerstraße 40/41, 10178 030-4000 590 www.chamaeleonberlin.com U8- Rosenthaler platz

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‘Mr Bunk’s shadow puppet comedy’.

Chamaleon’s restaurant provides a reasonably-priced Italianesque menu, with meals under €13. Though, be warned: bottles of wine can venture up to €37. Excellent table service from pleasant staff, however, sweetens the experience somewhat.

Natalie Parry

Renowned for its live entertainment scene, be it underground club-nights or Cabaret, Hackesche Höfe is the largest enclosed courtyard in Germany. Embedded within, for the fervent theatre-goer Chamaleon on Rosenthalerstraße provides a quaint haven from the racket of the Hackesche Markt area.

A former ballroom restored in 2005, Chamaleon has fortunately preserved the art nouveau interior to accentuate the ‘joie de vivre’ of the Cabaret spirit.

It boasts two floors of decadent decor, with huge rouge drapes linked between walls which emulate giant cream melting candles, and warm lights peeking through; the furnishings enhance the dinner-show atmosphere.

The recent renaissance of the theatre permits flexibility of seating arrangements within the 360 square metre room, adapted to suit each of its cabaret variety shows. Though also accommodating touring shows, its personal repetoire includes; ‘Leo’, gravity-defying physical theatre, and

ALTERNATIVE BAR CRAWL THROUGHOUT THE CITY

(Starts at) Yesterday Bar, Metzer Strasse 2, Prenzlauerberg www.alternativeberlin.com Mon-Sun meeting at 21.00 Duration is 4.5 hours 10€ U2- Senefelderplatz

Promising a bar crawl with a twist the 666 Alternative Bar crawl is an unmissable experience for the traveller wanting to add novelty to their drunken night. Although the concept of a bar crawl implies that the venues are

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not far off the beaten track, the tour touches down at some interestingly themed places.

It starts off at the psychedelic Yesterday Bar, filled with colourful 80s décor, an array of cocktails and some justdrinkable €3 wine, then continues to a variety of joints including a goth bar, an absinthe bar and a pink-hued gay bar before finishing up at Cassiopeia club.

Each participant spends the night stamped with an interesting expletive, such as an extended middle finger or the catchy slogan “fuck off ”. Though not hugely informative about each individual bar the tour guides are engaging and enthusiastic. While the €10 set-price seems steep it does include entry and free shots for each location.

Although definitely not one for lightweights the atmosphere quickly becomes friendly and you are almost guaranteed to make a new “best friend” to whom you will probably never speak again. Pacing yourself is advised, along with comfortable shoes and the possibility of a lie in the next day.

Rosalind Lakka

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CLARCHENS BALLHAUS beyond can come together and dance.

Clärchens Ballhaus consists of two dancehall’s and their interior have remained relatively unchanged over the years. An air of nostalgia descends as soon as you walk through the sprawling beer garden, which is romantically framed by grape vines and long strings of lanterns. The dancehall on the ground floor, with its worn wood panels, gaudy silver streamers and prim white table cloths create a warm and inviting ambience. The obligatory disco ball hangs from the middle of the dance floor, sparkling and winking cheekily to punters of all ages, inviting them to leave their coats and inhibitions on the Thonet chairs and dance the night – or day – away.

Augustrasse 24, Mitte, 10117 www.ballhaus.de Classes: Mon- 22:00 Salsa Tue- 21:00 Argentinean Tango Wed- 21:00 Swing (€3) Thurs- 21:00 ChaCha Fri&Sat – 20:00 (€5) U 8 We i n m e i s t e r S t r a s s e U6 Oranienburger Strasse S5 Hackescher Market Behind Clärchens Ballhaus’ ivy-covered walls a host of entertaining stories and experiences, await to be both discovered and created. First established in 1913 this elegant venue has played a defining role in the nightlife of Augustrasse; serving for almost 100 years as a place where people from all walks of the local community and

Upstairs, the mirrored ballroom offers

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a breathtaking sight. Its black baroque walls and aged crystal chandeliers establish a haunting atmosphere. The passing of the years has stripped some of the mirrors, which adorn this grand room, of their reflective properties, yet still they glare around with pride. This impressive space is now used for private functions, literary soirées and a host of free classical music concerts. A quick consultation of Clarchens Ballhaus’s website will inform you of any public upcoming events.

By day, the bar and restaurant serve Italian-inspired dishes, including a broad range of clay-oven pizzas, pastas and fresh gnocchi. For the more adventurous, a variety of exoticsounding main dishes such as crispyskin fried pikeperch served with bacon, small shrimps, fresh cucumber and red rice (€14.20) are also available.

Fresh spring strawberries piled with epic dollops of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream (€6.90) constitute the perfect way to sate a hungry stomach

before hitting the dance floor.

By night, Clärchens Ballhaus plays host to a range of either free or inexpensive dance classes; Salsa, Tango, Swing and ChaCha. The classes are attended by people of all ages and all levels of ability and there is no obligation to attend more than once. This ‘open doors’ policy ensures that the hour-long classes are lighthearted and a thoroughly enjoyable experience for even the novice dancer. It is not essential to bring your own partner as the classes attract a broad range of friendly souls who are happy to mingle and allow the music to do all the talking so there is no need to fret about any pesky language barriers.

At the weekend a DJ and live band take over the parquet floors, from 8pm onwards, playing a broad range of tunes that span the decades from Frank Sinatra to The Fratellis - offering you the perfect opportunity to show off your newly-acquired dance moves!

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MUSEUM ISLAND The city of Berlin is bursting at the seams with museums. From war, to computer games, to sexuality, to currywurst, everything that can be documented, collected or displayed, is. On the edge of the River Spree, five such museums stand in all their architectural glory - the Pergammon, the Altes Museum, the Altenationalgalerie, the Neues Museum and the Bode Museum. Together they form Museuminsel or Museum Island, considered to be the crown jewel of the city’s museum scene, and a Mecca for lovers of art and ancient antiquities.

tractions right into the small hours of the morning. (See http://www.berlin. de/kultur-und-tickets/events/lange_ nacht_der_museen/index.en.php for more details).

PERGAMON MITTE

Am Kupfergraben 5, 10117 www.smb.museum.de Mon – Sun 10 – 18, except Thurs 10 – 21 €10 (5€ concession) U6- Friedrichstraße

Bearing in mind the scale of what Museuminsel has to offer, you can explore it relatively cheaply if you buy a day pass (€12, €6 concession), which allows you to visit all of the museums on Museuminsel, with the exception of the Neues Museum. In January and August each year, the ‘Long Night of the Museums’ event allows you to wander the halls of Museuminsel’s at-

Nestled snuggly between the Altes Museum and the Alte Nationalgallerie, the Pergamon Museum is an impressive, three-wing, early twentieth-century structure designed by German architect Alfred Messel and finished in 1930.

It houses Germany’s grand collection

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of ancient Middle- and Near-Eastern architecture, artworks and other relics. From the most famous of these, the Pergamon Altar, Messel drew inspiration for the building’s tri-partite design. Housing also the Market Gate of Miletus and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, the museum is most significant as one of few institutions in which entire ancient structures have been reconstructed in situ. It proves challenging to remain unmoved by the enormity of the museum’s token pieces. For light relief, admire the delicate porcelains and manuscripts which wink out at you from under dainty lights in the Museum of Islamic Art, to which the Pergamon also plays host.

While its entrance-way consists of a disappointing steel stain upon Messel’s noble work (for it is no Louvrian crystalline pyramid), the museum’s staff are multi-lingually helpful and its audio guide comprehensive but wellmeasured. Regrettably, the café leaves something to be desired, so for post-

culture-binge sustenance, head northeast to the innumerable coffee-houses and restaurants of charming Mitte.

Ben Kendall

ALTE NATIONALGALERIE MITTE

Bodestrasse 1-3 (Museum Island) Berlin, Berlin D-10178 www.smb.museum Mon - closed, Tues- Sun 10am – 6pm €8/€4 concession U6- Friedrichstraße

Situated in the epicentre of Berlin’s Museuminsel the Alte Nationalgalerie is a breathtaking experience, for both consistent art fans and novices to the world of painting. As you ascend the huge pearly steps leading to the entrance and enter the gallery, with its red carpeted marble stairways and bright,

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Markt

breezy rooms full of Neo-Classicist columns, a sense of historical importance and exquisitely classical taste sets in. Browse portraits depicting Grecian classics, war- scenes and impressive sculptures of gods, nymphs and muses; lose yourself in a world of Realist, Impressionist and Romantic art. The audio guide is included in the price and is a comprehensive expansion on some of the gallery’s key pieces, such as The Thinker and Schinkel masterpieces. Visitors are so drawn in by the beauty of the astonishing ceilings and gilt frames that surround all the pieces, it’s possible to forget just how much there is to see in the gallery itself, and indeed on all of Museuminsel.

If your interests include Egyptian treasures and historical trinkets the Neues Museum, situated on Museum Island, should be on your tourist to-do list.

Located behind the Altes Museum, the Neues is the second oldest of the five exhibits on the island. Relics on show document over 40,000 years of human history.

Admission is priced between €5 - €10 though some individuals may qualify for free admission. Eligibility requirements can be found on the official website.

The Neues Museum / The New Museum

Included in your admission is the use of an audio guide, so be sure to pick one up at the start of your visit. The guides come in six languages and offer any history enthusiast further insight into the artefacts on show.

Mitte Bodestrasse 1, 10178 Berlin www.neues-museum.de Mon – Wed + Sun: 10am – 6pm Thu – Sat: 10am – 8pm €10/€5 concession S3 S5 S7 S75- Hackescher

Two of the jewels in the Neues’ crown are that of the bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti and the infamous Book of the

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Dead. Both can be found on the second floor of the museum, with the former housed in its very own room. Photography of the bust is unfortunately prohibited, however, no photo could equal having seen such a historical man-made treasure with your very own eyes.

steps of the grand Altes Museum, its stunning neoclassical façade will serve to heighten your anticipation of the wonders inside.

Visitors will not be disappointed. After purchasing a ticket in the foyer you are welcomed into a large domed rotunda by a host of carved Grecian figures.

The scale and detail of these models make for a breathtaking entrance. Follow the path through and you will find yourself in a world of Ancient Greek art and collectables. Take your time to explore the ground floor. Highlights include a beautiful collection of gold and bridal jewellery reaching back as far 2,400 BC. The upstairs exhibition plays host to a collection of artifacts from Etruscan and Roman times, as well as providing an insight into day-to-day life in these ancient empires. Bowls, carvings, busts and weapons are accompanied by informative texts written in both English and German. Topics to look out for include the headings, ‘Life and Death in Rome’, ‘Etrucia- Cities, Sanctuaries and Cemeteries’, and ‘The Art of Love in Antiquity’.

Hannah Dowds

With pottery relics that look untouched and rings, necklaces and bracelets that appear as they would in a jeweller’s counter, the Neues traces quite a path through the human past, so make it one of your first stops during your time on the island.

Victoria Brown

ALTES MUSEUM MITTE

Am Lustgarten 1, 10178 Berlin www.smb.museum.de Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm, Thursday 10am-10pm, closed Mondays €8/€4 concession U6- Friedrichstraße

When you walk up the large stone

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S A N S S O U C I PA R K www.potsdam-park-sanssouci.de The closest S/U-Bahn stop is Potsdam Hauptbanhof.

Walking around the park is free; as is visiting many of the sites within it. The New Chambers cost €4 and include an audioguide.

park alone offers an enticing eyeful of obelisks, archways and stunning manors built in the 18th century style of Rococo.

A good starting point is the park’s eastern entrance on Schopenhauerstrasse.

From here you get a fantastic view down Hauptallee; an arrow-straight 2.5km path that leads unfalteringly to the New Palace. As you walk down this route you can’t help but admire the impressive flowerbeds and precisely cut shrubs which give off a spirit lifting bouquet. This colourful world is complimented by an abundance of white marble statues, bronze busts, immense

Home to the great Sanssouci Palace, seven particularly impressive buildings and a single church, Sanssouci Park, located within Potsdam, is certainly worth visiting. Easily reached by train, just a 40 minute journey from Hauptbanhof on the S-Bahn, Potsdam is a small town well known for its grand architecture. The walk from station to 121

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urns and lion-clad baths.

This route offers much but for a more substantial tour around the park follow the paths that run parallel to the single winding stream. From start to finish you will be able to enjoy a walk that not only places you within a Kenneth Grahame novel but also shows you the wonders that are the Church of Peace, the Chinese House and, finally, the Roman Baths.

You will find that Rococo dominates many of the buildings found throughout Sanssouci Park; a style that was so heavily influenced by King Frederick the Great that the buildings embellished with it have now been labelled as ‘Frederician Rococo’. However, as a direct result of Frederick’s passions in the arts and architecture, there are other momentous buildings in alternative designs.

The Chinese House (Chinesisches Haus), for example, was built in Chinoiserie style following a fascination with the Orient that heavily influenced 18th century aristocracy in Europe and the fashions of their time. The exterior, best seen on a sunny day, is surrounded by golden figures in a variety of Chinese themed poses; drinking tea and playing instruments, for instance.

Entrance into the Chinese House is free of charge and exquisitely continues the Chinese focus with displays of porcelain and a marvellous mural ornamenting the ceiling.

All-in-all a journey to the Sanssouci Parks is well worth the excursion from Berlin. A full day would be advisable as there is so much to see; plus a comfortable pair of shoes to help accommodate what will be well worn feet.

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LEISURE AND OUTDOOR Whether you’re a hardcore seeker of the weird and the wonderful, an energetic walking enthusiast or just enjoy basking in the sun with a drink in your hand, there’s something in Berlin for everyone looking to wind down and have some good clean (or not so clean) fun. If you’re looking for a peaceful day out, the city has many green open spaces, clear lakes and quality zoos. However, scratch a little further beneath the surface and there’s also plenty of creepy bunkers and twisting labyrinths for the more intrepid travellers to explore.

Alexanderplatz

When you reach the TV tower look out for your Kohl-eyed, chain smoking, tattoo-clad guide and prepare yourself for the Twilight tour which promises a peek into the darker, underground scene of Berlin.

From basement art installations, with monstrous robots dancing to techno, to the more secret clubbing and party areas, your guide endeavours to introduce you and a small, fellow group of explorers into Berlin’s little known alternative gems. You’ll get the chance to unleash your inner badass with some urban exploring into spooky, abandoned buildings and end up with a tour around C-Base, one of the first hackerspaces in the world.

TWILIGHT TOUR

THROUGHOUT THE CITY TV Tower, Alexander Platz (meeting point) www.alternativeberlin.com Thursday – Saturday. 6pm-10.30pm €20 U2, U5, U6, U8, U9

Although you could find these places yourself with a little research and a pinch of bravery, as the guide is

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obviously heavily part of the underground scene, you would miss out on much insider knowledge and personal anecdotes. For example, you can learn about secret parties reached through toilet doors in kebab shops and street artists that use friends to hold them upside down from the tops of buildings in order to paint their craft.

Inside the West Berlin Zoo you will find the large zoo aquarium, home to over 9,000 animals and almost 800 species. With three floors filled with endless species of fish, amphibians, sharks and reptiles you will surely find something to fulfil your deepest, darkest, fishy fantasies.

The walk-in enclosure allows you to wander around an underwater abyss where you can feast your eyes upon several jellyfish species, green iquanas, polka dotted sting-rays and the new shark tank. Here you now have the opportunity to come nose to nose with a sand tiger shark and watch the hammerheads soar past you. Other mustsee highlights include watching the crocodile‘s ‘feeding time’ as you walk over a wooden bridge only inches away from the fierce, snapping reptiles.

The Berlin zoo and aquarium both offer free wheelchair rental to ensure

Although the tour advertises itself as 4.5 hours long it can last much longer, depending on how much the beer is flowing at rest stops and whether you have any dawdlers in the pack.

Jess Astbury

ZOO AQUARIUM CHARLOTTENBERG

Budapest Strasse 32, 10787, www.aquarium-berlin.de 09:00-18:00. €13 / Students: €10.

Zoologischer Garten - S3, S5, S7, S75, U2, U9

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all visitors enjoy their visit to the same degree. These can be accessed when you check in at either the zoo or aquarium entrance. Don‘t miss out on this aquatic wonder and make sure you bring a camera to capture the sealife treasures.

Laura Phelan

For starters, a wander around the park easily communicates to you just how much space the various inhabitants have to roam around. At times it appears as though the elephants might easily step over the ankle-high fences enclosing them and saunter off amongst the visitors, or the penguins might dive skyward over their perspex window into the waiting arms of an aquatic enthusiast. Neither of these occurrences ever takes place but the intimate layout of the enclosures give you the impression that they just might – and it is this that sets West Berlin Zoo apart from similar establishments.

HAUPTSTADT ZOO/ WEST BERLIN ZOO CHARLOTTENBERG

Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 www.zoo-berlin.de Opening times vary throughout the year U2, U9, S5, S7, S9, S75 Zoologischer Garten

The monkey house proves to be a big attraction where the mischievous occupants will provide any audience with hours of entertainment as they swing and play in a variety of enclosures.

Few tourism attractions have the ability to evoke the same levels of excitement in their patrons, regardless of their age, than that of a visit to the zoo. A trip to West Berlin Zoo proves no exception. But what is it that sets this menagerie apart from other zoos?

What makes it worth the visit?

The zoo is also home to a large aquarium and reptile house that proves itself to be well worth paying extra for.

All in all, a trip to West Berlin Zoo won’t disappoint. Just be sure to wear a comfortable pair of shoes. The park

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is vast and with so much on offer, you won’t want to miss a thing.

Victoria Brown

preferences. The Traditional Tour (A) begins at Kufürstendamm and visits all the major attractions, whereas the Wall & Lifestyle Tour (B) begins at Rotes Rauthaus and is aimed at those who have already seen the main sights.

CITY SIGHT SEEING BUS TOUR CHARLOTTENBERG

There is a live commentary in both German and English that is sufficiently informative, but at times the commentators themselves are somewhat lacking in their enthusiasm. Comments seem a little rushed and can be inaudible when sitting further back on the bus. Be sure to sit on the open-top in order to get some great views and an occasional shoulder brush with the trees.

Lucy Richardson

www.berlin-city-tour.de Buses run every 1/4 hour from approx 9am - 5:30pm €15/ €12 Concessions Both bus tours (valid for 2 days) €22

To see all the major attractions of Berlin in a mere few hours, jump aboard the city sightseeing bus. This hop-onhop-off service visits all the hotspots in Berlin including; the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Television Tower. Conveniently, it also proves to be a great way to orientate yourself to the city.

COMPUTERSPIELEMUSEUM FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Karl-Marx-Alee 93a, 10243 www.computerspielemuseum.de 10am-8pm (closed Tuesdays) €8 /€5 concession U 5 - We b e r w i e s e

The company offers two separate bus tours, as well as two boat tours along the River Spree, each covering a slightly different route in order to suit all

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WILDEN RENATE

Chances are that if you were born after 1975 computer games have played a role in your growing up; pardon the pun. The Computerspielmuseum is the perfect place to play all your favourite classic games such as Frogger, Space Invaders and Street Fighter.

If you’re after an education on this popular technological phenomenon the museum will recount for you the history of gaming all the way from the ancient Grecian days; giving a somewhat tenuous explanation of the human desire to understand the link between fate and the will of the gods.

It also gives a German perspective, recounting how school children of the GDR underwent intensive lessons in computer programming. The museum also shows how games have helped us in the field of medicine, in the form of interactive simulations and brain building exercises.

But the real reason every nerd in Berlin should see this museum is the wall of memorable games, an interactive display with groundbreaking games from the last 30 years. Pick your favourite to play and learn why the games have earned their place in history and in our hearts. But a word of warning; if you’re a sore loser resist the urge to play “Pain Pong” … Its shocking!

Hera Sparnan

FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Alt Stralau 70 Wednesday-Saturday 6pm-10pm 10€

In the outdoor drinking area of The Salon Zur Wilden Renate, focus is not on the bar but instead on the two closed doors in the opposite building.

Inside these is the mysterious Peristal Singum, a surreal labyrinth and true circus of the senses.

Capture the attention of the floppy haired, velvet wearing labyrinth-keeper in the bar to pay your fee, as he swans around dispensing his coveted gold coins that serve as your ticket. When the time to go in is yours, he will summon you to be blindfolded and led in – alone.

When inside put yourself in Alice’s shoes with her ‘down the rabbit hole’ experience, but instead of hookah smoking caterpillars, you will encounter fireman’s poles in giant vaginas and

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tight alleyways with the sound of crying babies abounding from the dark and crumbling walls.

Whilst mini-golf normally carries connotations of being dragged out on family day trips with the grandparents, the clientele of this particular course couldn’t have a more different idea in mind. Located in grungy Görlitzer Park, hip twenty-somethings flock here to let down their asymmetrically cut hair and have a giggle with some good, surprisingly clean and competitive fun.

The maze’s secrets can’t be fully told here but neither should they be. However, you should be prepared for much climbing, sliding, crawling and crouching and to see things you could never describe in words afterwards.

Whether you come out bruised and battered, exhilarated or just squinty eyed, Peristal Singum is an experience that you’ll be hard pressed to shake from your mind. Just make sure to go soon after 6pm unless you have a particular penchant for two hour waits.

Jess Astbury

Eighteen holes are spread over four differently themed ultraviolet rooms in the basement of Isa Mitz Café. From skate parks to moon landings, the course takes you on a trippy journey through a phosphorescent wonderland with their creatively painted walls.

BLACK LIGHT MINI GOLF

Whilst some holes are straightforward and conventional, others require you to hit the ball up a ramp to ring a bell or skim along a wall, meaning your shot total at the end is likely to be embarrassingly high. The course has also been designed with 3D features which you can make use of with specialised glasses, if you just aren’t finding the

KREUZBERG

Isa Mitz in Görlitzer Park Monday – Friday 12.00 - 22.00. Saturday – Sunday 10.00 - 22.00 €5.50 U1- Görlitz

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course hard enough

displays seem amateur at times, it also has a strange charm suitable for those who aren’t pretentious about their day trips.

Dodgy waxworks posed as tortured prisoners, patients having blood transfusions, with rats and cannibals munching through their catch, make up the spooky ground floor exhibit. Although the eerie lighting and bare concrete create a sinister atmosphere, the mannequins appear to have been made on the same budget as your weekly food shop meaning horror often errs into the comical. The basement museum section is equally disappointing, consisting of untranslated wartime letters and newspaper cuttings.

However, the cherry on top of GruselKabinett’s gruesome cake is the top floor, where history comes to life in a live horror show. Walking through the dark, foggy rooms you may feel like you’re alone but, be warned, you’re actually accompanied with actors determined to make you hoarse tomorrow.

Jess Astbury

The course should take you around 45 minutes and bookings are recommended as rounds on this exotic twist of a nostalgic childhood pastime are highly in demand.

Jess Astbury

GRUSELKABINETT KREUZBERG

23a Schoneberger Str. www.gruselkabinett-berlin.de Monday 10am-3pm. Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sun 10am – 7pm, Sat 12 – 8pm 9.50€ U1, U2- Gleisdreieck S1, S25- Anhalter Bahnhof

From the outside the hulking façade of this World War II bunker is enough to chill the bones of even the hardiest of thrill-seekers. However, inside this horror cabinet houses three floors of a bizarre cocktail of war history and cheap screams. Whilst the

BADESCHIFF KREUZBERG

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a beautiful accompaniment to a hot chocolate with rum and the shimmering waters beneath a bright moon, Alexander Platz Tower and an array of twinkling stars.

You can even enjoy Badeschiff in the winter months. Between November and March the area is covered by a translucent shell and transformed into a nightclub and lounge bar. There are also activities available at this adventurous resort including Yoga and football. So whatever your plans are take a few hours to bask in the wonder of Badeschiff and experience Berlin at its best!

Laura Phelan

Eichenstraße 4 12435 www.arena-berlin.de Daily: 8am-12am. €4 / €3 Concessions U1 - Schlesisches Tor

The Badeschiff is one of Berlin’s more unique attractions; a floating public swimming pool in the middle of the River Spree. It transforms the area into an exotic getaway and, with its sandy grounds, beach bar complete with deck chairs and ping pong tables, Badeschiff is a must-see hotspot for visitors.

With its deep blue waters this open air pool offers a stunning view of the east side of the city. During the day feel the sand between your toes, top up on your tan and enjoy a cooling lime beer. On Saturdays prepare to go wild with the ominously titled ‘wet surprise’. Bucket filled with water balloons and a crowd full of party people; things can get chaotic so make sure your valuables are tucked away!

As the day ebbs into evening relax and unwind as the crowd dies down. ‘Bathing beats’ of chilled housed fill the air;

TIERPARK, DER HAUPTSTADT ZOO TIEGARTEN

Tierpark 125 10319 www.tierpark-berlin.de 12€ U7, S7- Tiergarten

Tierpark, der Hauptstadt Zoo, (the

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capital city zoo), is Europe’s biggest landscape Zoo. Acting more as a Park with animals rather than a classic zoo, what Tierpark lacks in animals, in more than makes up for with it’s picturesque surroundings.

TIERGARTEN

Occupying a vast area, there is plenty to explore once in the park. With footpaths winding through different areas, the park is given a tranquil and relaxed feel, allowing people to explore at their own pace.

This huge, lavish landscape, the largest park in Berlin, provides a relaxing alternative to the hubbub of the rest of the city. With more than 23km of land it is a popular place for those looking for a leisurely stroll, jog or cycle.

With an extravagant lake and the residence of thousands of animals, living in and around the park, it provides the perfect day out for those who enjoy nature and want to do some easy exercise. You can also hire a boat in the lake and it’s a great setting for those who want to enjoy a quiet picnic in the summer months.

Dotted around the large park are charming cafés and beer gardens, such as Café am Neuen See which specialises in beer and wine. This is a tremendous place to enjoy a summer’s evening with a few salted pretzels and a chilled beer.

The large park also leads to many historical sites along the way making your visit fun and worthwhile. Start-

Tiergarten see other entrances to park on www.

BVG.de

Breeds of Monkeys and deer seem to be a favourite, with several different families spotted throughout the park.

Another highlight is the penguin area.

You might loose track of time when watching them waddle around their Antarctic themed enclosure. Another must see is the big cat area, housing a family of lions and tigers.

If the thought of a busy, bustling zoo just isn’t for you, Tierpark could provide a suitable alternative. Part zoo, part landscape park, enjoy the best of both with a visit here.

Hannah Dowds

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ing on the west side you can walk to the Brandenburg Gate, The Victory Column and, of course, the large Zoo and Aquarium found on Tiergarten Strasse.

Laura Phelan

gigantean’, a rare tropical lily. Roam the Japanese woods for an exotic Middle Eastern experience where you will be met by beautiful hostas and astilbes.

Also, explore the ‘Systematic Section’ where you will find an array of plant species representing summer from every corner of the earth. This tranquil and enchanting forest is reminiscent of when fairy tales were our fantasies and may just evoke the child in you.

The garden is comprised of about 126 acres of land and is one of the largest gardens in the world! There are 22,000 different species which provides you with hours to spend wandering around the different mazes of wonderful flowers and plants.

Providing breath-taking scenery and a captivating experience, the Botanical gardens of Berlin will leave you feeling both peaceful and mesmerised.

Laura Phelan

BOTANICAL GARDENS SCHONEBERG

6 Konigin Luise Strasse Daily:10am-6pm € 6/ € 3 Concessions The Botanical Museum entry is included in every day ticket.

S1 - Botanischer Garten

Berlin’s Botanical Garden is a lush, green paradise in the depths of a vibrant city. Find the gardens after reaching Botanischer Garten Strasse and enjoying a seven minute stroll along the quaint Hortensienstrasse until you reach the towering entrance.

Inside you will discover blue lagoons of lily pads and misty waters amongst a labyrinth of exotic flowers and hidden treasures such as the ‘Nymphaea

BEARPIT KAREOKE PRENZLAUERBERG

www.bearpitkaraoke.com From approx 3pm on Sundays Free (donations welcome)

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U2 - Eberswalder Strasse

Bearpit Karaoke is an experience that brings out the best in people, be it as a performer, or just a spectator. The central “Bearpit’ amphitheatre fills quickly from 3pm so get in early for a comfortable view for the duration of the show.

Hera Sparnan

Most will not hide a cringe in response to the suggestion of karaoke. However, when you’re sitting in the sun on a Sunday afternoon with the bustling Mauerpark Flea Market in the background and a cold drink in your hand, what could be better than cheering on a Freddie Mercury or Kylie Minogue wannabe?

Whether the participants demonstrate genuine talent, or just raw enthusiasm, the adoring crowd will cheer them on to support what has become a Berlin institution. The host, Irish expat Joe Hatchiban, opens by warming the crowd up with a bluesy classic, and then hands the spotlight over to anyone who is brave enough to face the crowd of hundreds that gather every weekend.

If you feel you’re vocal chords are up for the challenge you can pick from plenty of classic tunes (English or German) or simply ask the crowd to accompany with a steady clap for a beat. Despite the poor reputation karaoke gets from its pub-based origins,

TREPTOWER PARK/ ISLAND OF YOUTH TREPTOW An der Abteibrücke im Treptower Park 12435 Berlin www.inselberlin.de (Boat rental) 0177/2 9932 62 Mon-Fri from 12-10, Sat-Sun 10-late Treptower Park S8,S9, S41 & S42

If you have heard about Treptower Park or the sacred sounding ‘Island of youth’, you cannot deny its magnetic effect on your childlike inquisition. ‘Island of youth’, like the Holy Grail will surely bring out the ‘Goonie’ in you as you being your quest to find it.

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So when you actually arrive at Treptow station and take a left, beginning your saunter along the Spree you could mistake the area as a scene from ‘Cocoon’, where retirement folk are swerving the sun under brollies, eating kaffee and kochen and listening to dodgy karaoke.

Don’t be dissuaded; the continued walk along the river will feel like a chronologic peer through Benjamin Buttons school photos, until you reach the Iron Bridge, the oldest in Germany in fact!

The island’s summer garden gives you access to ‘rent-a-boat’ where rowboats are available for €8, paddleboats for €15-30 and motorboats accessible for €50-120 while you cruise the waterways. Table tennis, soccer goals and basketball hoops are also provided by the island staff.

Beside the family orientated leisure activities, the island hosts club nights through ‘Insel’ which can be accessed through the website. You can also privately hire the island for events.

Natalie Parry

WANNSEE LAKE ZEHLENDORF

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S 7 - B e r l i n - Wa n n s e e

In a tradition that appears as old as time itself a visit to the beach or a lake is one of the very best ways to compliment a hot day. Wannsee, a popular destination in western Berlin during those sunny periods, offers an opportunity to do both.

Wannsee is in fact two lakes separated by the Wannsee Bridge. The larger of the two, by some distance, is the Grosser Wannsee (Greater Wannsee) which covers a full square mile and reaches depths up to nine metres. Its smaller cousin is the Kleiner Wannsee.

(Little Wannsee) Along the eastern shore of the larger lake resides one of Europe’s largest inland beaches. During the summer this becomes the place to be for recreationists and bathers alike. Be warned though that this is also a popular nudist spot so if seeing too much of the body offends you this may be an area to steer clear from.

For a more historical approach to this stunning setting head over to the west-

THE BEST AND THE WURST

ern expanse and seek out the Wannsee Villa which serves as a memorial and education centre to what is now known as the Wannsee Conference. It was at this location that, on 20th January 1942, the Final Solution to the “Jewish Question” (the extermination of the Jews of Europe) was planned by senior officers of the Nazi regime.

If a day of lethargy, plain and simple doing nothing, is on the books then you need look no further than the shores of Wannsee Lake. Bring a picnic and just spend the day soaking, whether it’s in the lake or the sun is entirely up to you.

Jason Bosworthick

schiff instead.

However, the ability to simulate these perversions of paradise can not detract from the swelteringly sticky inner city heat, of which you really cannot escape in the summer months.

So for those willing to escape, they join the pilgrimage to one of the many rustic retreats in the form of Berlin’s great lakes, Schlachtensee being one of the largest.

Located in the South West of Berlin, it quickly becomes apparent why the lake is a popular resort as its pristine waters make it desirable for swimming. As Schlachtensee is situated on the edge of the Grunwald forest and is frequented by hikers and cyclists. Its green coniferous surroundings provide the lake with an enchanting charm, To secure a hot sunbathing spot, it’s recommended you arrive early as the lake quickly becomes congested with sunbathers. For the more adventurous, rowing boats are available to hire at €8 an hour.

After a tiring day of swimming, you can find nourishment from the delicious rustic menu of the Fishershütte restaurant located on the lake.

Natalie Parry

SCHLACHTENSEE ZEHLENDORF

S1- Schlactansee

Berliner’s really love the great outdoors. They wanted a Jamaican style reggae beach bar; they build ‘Yaam’ next to the Berlin Wall. They wanted to swim in the Spree, they build Bade-

BREWERS BERLIN WALKING EXPRESS TOUR THROUGHOUT THE CITY MEET AT MUSEUM ISLAND

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make Steve Mcqueen’s ‘Great Escape’ appear lame in comparison.

Beginning daily at 1pm, these tours will enlighten you on the buzz that is modern day Berlin, though comfortable footwear is advised for the 3.5 hour walk.

Natalie Parry

00 49 [0]177 3881537 U6- Friedrichstraße

For the hard up history buff, hoping to explore Berlin on a budget, then help is at hand! Brewer’s Berlin Walking Tours offers an English spoken comprehensive and enthralling history lesson around the city’s prominent landmarks.

The ‘Express Tour’ bases itself on a budget friendly, tip what you can afford basis as opposed to the generic set fee, permitting everyone an enjoyable excursion with captivating commentary from the enthusiastic tour guides.

Expect to surpass such sights as the grand ‘Berliner Dom’ (Berlin Cathedral), iconic ‘Brandenberg gate’ and eerily disorientating ‘Holocaust Memorial’. Also expect to be swept along the infamous Friedrichestrasse; most notable as not only the heartbeat of Germany’s Weimar era, (influencing Christopher Isherwood’s novel ‘Goodbye to Berlin’), but also taking you back to the terrifying Cold War era with Check-Point Charlie, where heroic attempts to violate the death strip

BERLINER UNTERWELTERN E.V/BERLIN UNDERGROUND TOUR (Tour M – Breaching the Berlin Wall) THROUGHOUT THE CITY

Brunenstrasse 105 13355 www.berliner-unterwelten.de Mon-Fri 10am Sat-Sun 9.30am €13 /€10 concession U8/S1, S2, S25, S41, S42 G E S U N D B RU N N E N

Investing in the dark subterranean history of the Cold War, Berliner Unterwelten E.V takes you on a guided tour

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through the annals of its lower earth.

Founded in 1997, the tours explore the WWII bunkers, tunnels constructed in the fear of WWIII breaking out, and the infamous escapades to breach the Berlin Wall.

Commencing in the former civil defence shelter on Badestrasse, leading you through a series of chilling concrete labyrinths, where you learn of plots to escape through underwater systems; and heroic countless attempts of civilians at furrowing to freedom under the terrifying steel capped eye of the Stasi.

For merely â‚Ź13, or â‚Ź10 reduced fee, this 120 minute experience will evoke emotions stronger than the feelings you have when watching Tim Robbins crawl through a sewage system to freedom, and leave you craving more!

Note that photographs and filming of this experience are forbidden, and with navigating around the old bunkers, this tour is not suitable for disabled visitors. There is also choice of English, German or Spanish language tours.

Natalie Parry

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SHOPPING No matter what kind of shopping spree you have in mind, whether it’s for trendy designer labels or for one-off vintage pieces, Berlin has the store, stall or market to meet your needs.

For high-end designer goods head to Kurfurstendamm or Friedrichstrasse.

Looking for something less commercial? Or second hand? Then take your pick of one of the various flea markets that call Berlin home.

Mitte houses the trendier boutiques and Berlin-bred fashion labels and it’s here you’re sure to find something that will make you stand out in the crowd. So whatever your fashion taste Berlin’s got you covered.

Kurfürstendamm, or Ku’damm as it is more commonly referred to, is considered to be the Champs-Élysées of Berlin. This tree-lined avenue runs for 3.5km through Western Berlin in the Charlottenberg-Wilmersdorf borough. Although faced with tough competition from the up-and-coming eastern shopping areas around Friedrichstrasse, the Ku’damm remains to be the shopping hub of the city. Adorned by an array of chic designer outlets including Gucci, Versace, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana the boulevard is a shopaholic’s haven.

KURFUERSTENDAMM

The top end of Ku’damm merges with Tauentzienstrasse where shops are less glam but the atmosphere is much more bustling. High-street giants including H&M, Zara and Bershka begin to dominate here. For those seeking a cheaper and considerably less mainstream shopping experience the side streets along the Ku’damm offer an assortment of small independent boutiques.

CHARLOTTENBERG

www.kurfuerstendamm.de Shops open Monday-Saturday.

Closed: Sunday.

U1, U9 - Kurfürstendamm

Although dominated by shops the Ku’damm is also home to a number of hotels, restaurants and cafes; the Hard Rock Café and Hotel Ku’damm 139

SHOPPING

101 among them. Numerous landmarks and historical sites also lie en route of the Ku’damm, including the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

A small tip in advance; be careful not to confuse Kurfürstendamm with Kurfürstenstrasse that lies a few blocks further east.

Lucy Richardson

that independent book shop is in Germany and stocks solely English booksespecially if one’s personal German lexicon is limited to the meagre utterances of general niceties, therefore ruling out any remote hope of enjoying a good read in the native language.

Upon entering Books in Berlin the musty smell of aged paper serenades the nostrils. It is a universal and familiar delight which transcends language and can make any self-confessed book lover immediately feel at home. Succinctly organised into two adjoining rooms, simply labelled ‘used books’ and ‘new books’, this small but perfectly catalogued store offers a comprehensive range of texts; spanning from Harry Potter to Faust - in English of course! New releases are also available to purchase, alongside text books that cater for more scholarly requirements; ‘Black History’ being one such studious subsection. The books are reasonably priced and those that are bereft of a price sticker offer you the opportunity to barter with the friendly shop owner, David Solomon from Boston, and pick up a bargain!

Sarah Slater

BOOKS IN BERLIN CHARLOTTENBERG

Goethestrasse 69, 10625 www.booksinberlin.de Monday to Friday: 12:00 - 20:00 hrs Saturday: 10:00 - 16:00 hrs U 2 - E rn s t - Re u t e r- P l at z

In the age of the ever increasingly popular E-reader it can be a refreshing experience when you happen to stumble across an independent book shop.

It may even be considered exciting if

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real magic happens. Load your basket up with as much of anything you like in this section, weigh it in the scales in the middle and then pay a staggeringly cheap €17.99 per kilo. Yes, per kilo! For even more discounted delight visit the shop, and its rather gorgeous and most helpful staff, on Tuesdays where from 11am-3pm a further 30% discount is available. A delectably divine treat for both the eyes and the wardrobe (not to mention the wallet!), Colours is a real must-visit for anyone wanting to work a bit of retail therapy into their Berlin travels.

Louise Gill

Bergmannstrasse 102, 10961 Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm U7 - Mehringdamm

As vintage shops go Colours can certainly be described as ticking all the right boxes. It is beautifully stocked (in fact it is practically full to bursting) with a vast range of both stunning one-off pieces and reworked vintage items that span the decades.

You will find anything from 1920’s ‘cocaine and cabaret’ Weimar-era flapper dresses right through to a tasteless nineties visor in acid lemon. The spacious 1,000 square meter shop floor is absolutely crammed from top to bottom with couture delicacies in lace, silk and taffeta, guaranteed to tantalise any fashionista. Yet don’t worry that the volume of stock equals a poorly organised space as Colours is impeccably laid-out and organised, with ample changing rooms dotted around to boot.

It is towards the back end of the shop, over the mini-mountains of retro 1980’s lycra shorts and half-price 1930’s peep-toe kitten heels, where the

ANTIQUE MARKET KREUZBERG

Erich-Steinfurth-Straße 1, 10243 Sunday: 9am – 5pm S3, S5, S7, S75- Ostbahnhof

Emerge from the back of Ostbahnhof on a Sunday and you will quickly find yourself rubbing shoulders with

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a throng of bargain-hunters seeking out bygone treasures from the bountiful trove that is Ostbahnhof Antique Market.

Whether it is vintage jewellery, clunky cameras, old apothecary bottles or fortuitously found bric-a-brac that you are ailing for; look no further! There is a good chance you will find it here.

Delicately painted Rosenthal cups, with matching saucers, are available for as little as €2 a piece. Tiny dismembered pieces of pottery people and vinyl from 80’s artists such as Wee Papa Girl Rappers are amongst the more obscure items you will find here.

Cafés and independent food stalls adorn the perimeter of the market so you have ample choice when it comes to sating your relic-delving-induced hunger pangs. For those with a stronger constitution, and a desire for daytime drinking, check out the Russian ‘Schaschlik’ stall where vodka is €1 per shot.

True to market form haggling is welcomed here, but expect a mixed-bag of starting prices depending on the stall.

Upon arrival undertake a thorough reconnaissance in order to ensure that you establish your bearings and, of course, the best deals!

Sarah Slater

/ Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 5. www.ampelmannshop.com

Making crossing the road in East Berlin fun since 1961 this slightly tubby, hat-wearing man has come to be one of the leading symbols for the city. During the re-unification of Germany in the 90s the Ampelmann was replaced by the more traditional Western figures on traffic lights. However, huge resistance meant that he survives today as a representative of East Berlin culture on many traffic lights.

It’s fitting then that there should be shops dotted around the city dedicated completely to the man himself. Along with more traditional t-shirts and mugs adorned with the Ampelmann symbol there is also an array of products that celebrate him in more interesting ways. If you’re hungry you can snack on Ampelmann shaped pasta or gummy sweets. Bored? Why not pick up some Ampelmann playing cards or for anyone with particularly green fingers perhaps some Ampelmann seeds.

As could be predicted from such a touristy shop the products are slightly over-

AMPLEMANN SHOP MITTE

Rosenthaler Strasse 40-41 / Alte Potsdamer Strasse 7 / Markgrafenstrasse 39 142

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priced, with a simple mug setting you back around €6. However, gifts from this shop are a much more subtle and meaningful alternative to the brazen ‘I LOVE BERLIN’ designs that make up many other souvenir shops.

Jess Astbury

immediately ear-mark sections which interest you. This admittedly leads to some questionable sections, such as the section devoted to 1980’s twin-suits, but it does help you prioritise (and quickly realise the areas to eschew.)

The store spans across five levels and stocks 30,000 items; including a floor packed with curious bric-a-brac, ranging from china dolls to hot water bottle covers. Each rail resembles a colour wheel and they are well maintained by a large team of staff.

HUMANA SECOND HAND STORE MITTE

Frankfurter Tor 3, 1024 www.humana-second-hand.de Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm U5 -Frankfurter Tor

The prices have risen in recent years but you can still pick anything up for considerably less than high street prices, plus there are sale rails with 50 cent and €1 t-shirts and dresses dotted throughout the store. There is, however, one downside; the profits of the store do not go to charity as is normally the case with many second hand stores. That said, recycling clothes is always good for the environment and easy on the wallet and that is never a bad thing.

Anna Paul

If the crowds and abundance of tat at flea markets scare you then Humana could be your best port of call. A huge second hand department store, with a sizeable vintage department, Humana is ideal for less seasoned vintage shoppers. The store is part of a chain which prides itself on its ‘good quality, modern and well sorted’ stores.

The clothing is ordered neatly, by colour and style, which means you can

THE LOMOGRAPHY

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GALLERY SHOP

also the ‘lomo wall, ’an alluring display of 12,000 Lomo photographs which induce a strange hypnotic effect, reminiscent of the psychedelic and mind boggling ‘magic eye’ books.

MITTE

Friedrichstr. 133, 10117 Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm

The shop also runs interactive workshops, which include a daytrip, rental of a camera for the day and a loaded film. Past excursions have included parks and museums. The workshops come at the relatively modest charge of €10 per day and are perfect for anyone who doesn’t own their own camera but are curious to try the craze out.

Camera’s start at just €39 so, if you enjoy the workshops, you could forfeit a night out and invest in one.

Anna Paul

The Lomography shop, located in Friedrichstraße, Mitte, is a must-see, even for those who are unfamiliar with the concept of Lomography. ‘Lomo’ cameras are fun, inexpensive cameras which have varying quirks such as multiple, waterproof, colour coated or fish eye lenses. The philosophy of Lomography is ‘don’t think, just shoot,’ and the cameras produce high contrast, vintage-looking photographs. The little cameras have generated a global cult of spontaneous and quirky photography and after visiting this store, which is the largest Lomo store of its kind, you will understand why.

THE SONY CENTRE MITTE

Potsdamer Straße 10785 Berlin www.sonycenter.de U1, S1, S3 - Potsdamer Platz

The shop displays an enormous array of cameras to try out and purchase.

There is a photo booth with props, such as comical sunglasses and hats, so you can put your photography skills (or lack thereof) to the test. There is

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The Sony Centre is a breathtaking building which forms an interesting opposition to the many neo-classicist and Soviet buildings seen in the rest of the city. The entertainment hub spans across 132,500 square metres and houses several restaurants, apartments and two cinemas, as well as a film and television museum. The two cinemas ensure that everyone’s interests are attended to with Cinestar showing Hollywood films, with English subtitles, and the Filmhaus showing niche, art-house films from across the globe. There is also The Legoland Discovery Centre, whose presence is marked by the impressive and enormous giraffe located outside the centre, constructed entirely from Lego.

The purple and green hued illuminations dance from the fountains to the roof and generate a peaceful ambiance. Somehow, despite its sky-high apartments and artificial lights, there is something inherently natural and tranquil about the centre and this is precisely why it is worth visiting.

Anna Paul

MADE IN BERLIN MITTE

Neue Schönhauser Strasse 19, 10178 www.kleidermarkt.de Monday-Friday:12pm-8pm Saturday:11am-6pm U 8 - We i n m e i s t e r s t r a s s e

If one is not enticed by the entertainment on offer, then the architecture of the building will be sure to please.

Costing €750 million to construct the building was completed in 2001 and sponsored by Sony. The convex, umbrella shaped roof is the Pièce de Résistance, which is clear upon entry.

By day the roof is impressive but like much of Berlin it comes alive at night, aided by some well-placed lights.

In a city where second-hand garments are always ‘en vogue’ Made in Berlin offers a comfortable and hassle free vintage shopping experience. Upon first glance the shops bright white lights and well-considered presentation means that it could easily be mistaken for Topshop’s long-lost German cousin as it oozes an air of effortless

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‘cool’. It stands proud like an older, more serious sibling to the quirkier pop-up vintage stalls that pepper Berlin’s shopping scene.

Once inside Made in Berlin you will notice an absence of 99 cent bargain buckets and humungous piles of disarrayed garments. Each pair of shoes, each handbag and each item of clothing is hand-selected and carefully arranged on the colour co-ordinated racks and shelves. Every piece is of an impressively high quality; moth holes and weathered leather are unimaginable here. Expect to pay €10-15 for a tshirt/shirt and anywhere between €15 and €80 for a skirt/dress. Although pushing the underbelly of pricey it is quite understandable as to why; many of the immaculate retro garments sport big brand names such as Lacoste, Adidas and Nike. The creations of hot, new, American designers, such as Cynthia Vincent and Andrea Lieberman, also feature in abundance. However, if you fancy picking up a cut-price piece then visit Made in Berlin on a Tuesday between the hours of 12:00 and 13:00 when everything in store is reduced by an impressive 20%.

Sarah Slater

a fascinating past and present and is now one of Berlin’s busiest streets.

Intertwining history with modernity this is a street not to be missed. Some parts were nearly reduced to nothing through WW2 bombings and Communist regime yet it has firmly bounced back to the bustling shopping centre that it is today.

A replica guardhouse is at the spot where Checkpoint Charlie was; giving an idea towards how it may once have looked. Be warned though, many of Friedrichstrasse’s shops are expensive designer outlets with such names as Louis Vuitton and Prada. This being said, and reflective of Berlin as a whole, there is still something for everyone as Friedrichstrasse also has a variety of more affordable shops selling everything imaginable as well as cafes, souvenir shops and the large shopping centre Courtier 207.

Rosa Lakka

SAINT GEORGE’S BOOKSHOP PRENZLAUERBERG

Wörtherstraße 27, 10405

FRIEDRICHSTRASSE MITTE

Friedrichstrasse, running 3.5 kilometres from north to south, has both 146

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030 81 798 333 www.saintgeorgesbookshop.com Monday – Friday: 11am – 8pm Saturday: 11am – 7pm U2 - Senefelderplatz

brush up his language skills with a school textbook or dictionary. Boasting a range that encompasses both the classic genres – modern fiction, history or psychology to name but a few – and more obscure fields such as ‘Artbooks for Boys’, St. George’s struggles to disappoint. This reviewer walked away with a well-loved Murdoch, a book of Italian quotations and a copy of the rather elusive Ex-Berliner (Berlin’s English-language culture magazine) for just under €10. Rather comfortable on the wallet too.

Ben Kendall

Surreptitiously half-hidden in deepest Prenzlauerberg is to be found the Anglophone bibliophile’s little slice of heaven, Saint George’s Bookshop. All too easily missed, this literary niche of Berlin’s shopping scene sits nestled anonymously between a shoe-shop and a respectable yummy-mummy clothing store, indicated only by a refrained “St.” statuette sitting in the window.

An afternoon jaunt to this shop constitutes a finely therapeutic experience. The perfume of old hardbacks and well-thumbed tomes, understated wooden shelves, exposed brick ceiling and soft lighting make for an ambience wreathed in cosy intellectualism.

For a relatively small establishment St. George’s enjoys a stock more ample and variegated than one might expect. With a sharp eye the well-heeled traveller can pick up the latest edition of ‘Hip Hotels’, or a lingo-buff might

GORGEOUS

PRENZLAUER BERG Schönhauser Allee 130, 10437 www.gorgeous-berlin.de Monday to Saturday: 11am-8pm.

U2 - Schönhauser

With condoms as a regular appearance in vending machines you can tell that Berlin isn’t particularly shy about its friskier side. ‘Gorgeous’ provides a

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more commercial, cheap and accessible way to get in touch with Germany’s extensive sex culture.

Just past a comical sex shop and a café on Schonhauser Allee, shaded by trees, Gandharva Loka draws attention with its colourful sign and its outdoor display of boxes crammed full of musical instruments. Stepping into the shop even the most sombre of visitors will be hard pressed to not try everything with a feeling of wonderment; from maracas to xylophones to drums and, even for the less musically talented of us, a tempting selection of bells in a vast variety of colours and sizes. Instruments are reasonably priced, with a medium sized xylophone setting you back €30 and an oddly tempting bellcovered clown on a stick for €3 - music lovers rejoice. If you want to buy a music book, a new instrument or buy someone a less stereotypical gift then this shop is certainly worth exploring.

Check out too Gandharva Loka’s website where every instrument they sell is carefully listed with a detailed description and history. Be warned, however, the shop keeper is very protective of some of her instruments; avoid playing anything with a sign on.

Rosalind Lakka

A goofy-faced smiling condom sign invites you into the shop where you are greeted with phallic shaped water guns and frolicsome sheep with holes in interesting areas. Alongside more intimidating looking gimp masks and whips sit comical blow up dolls and boob pillows. Although some products seem to defy the laws of taste a little (baby bottle with a penis teat, anyone?), the shops provides an unpretentious attempt to inject fun into what happens behind closed doors.

Stifled giggles in other sex shops are replaced here with full out guffaws as its aim is to entertain, as shown by ‘Dinky Digger’; a mole-shaped vibrator that sits on the shelf alongside the regular ones. If you’ve promised a friend from home a souvenir here’s the place to get a particularly outrageous one. After all, nothing says Berlin quite like a candy posing pouch.

Jess Astbury

GANDHARVA LOKA PRENZLAUER BERG

Schonhauser Allee, 133 berlin@gandharvaloka.com Monday-Friday: 10am-1pm and 2pm7pm, Saturday: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm S41, S42, U2

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AUS BERLIN MITTE

unique in nature but it’s not for those that are particularly light on cash.

Rosalind Lakka

Karl-Liebknecht Strasse 17, 10178, (030 4199 7896) Mon- Sat 11:00- 19:00 U2, U5, U8, S5, S7, S75 Alexander Platz

MAUERPARK FLEA MARKET PRENZLAUER BERG

Bernauer strass,e 63-64 0176 29 25 00 21 Sunday:10am-6pm

For the more discernable spender who demands only the most authentic of souvenirs Aus Berlin is the source for your spree. This artsy joint offers only products that were made in Berlin and mostly by local artists.

The venue is set off with a pounding background of music from Berlin bred bands. From Fernsehrturm shaped cologne bottles to t-shirts designed by local artists, that would get any hipster drooling, the shop has a wide range of covetable products to offer. However, these souvenirs for the soul carry a hefty price tag.

For example a simple necklace with a plastic gumball machine attached runs to €26. The shop does offer a variety of products that can’t be found in other, more run-of-the-mill, souvenir shops and this perhaps making blowing your euros more worth it. Products on sale include containers for hiding your weed and USB sticks shaped like Berlin landmarks. Aus Berlin even goes so far as to give you a way to polish your night off in style with some local made vodkas in a variety of flavours. All in all, the shop is

For all those bargain hunters and vintage loving individuals take a stroll through one of Berlin’s biggest, bustling flea markets on a late Sunday morning or lazy afternoon.

Beside a wide and unusual collection of second hand books and records you will be spoilt for choice with eye-catching harems, €1 vintage shirts, shoes and bargain bohemian jewellery; and let’s not forget the never-ending stalls of antique cameras, paintings and dream catchers.

Indulge your senses or open yourself up to new ones with ethnic eateries and cold beverages from beer to mouth-watering freshly squeezed orange juice.

Right by the market is the weekly open-air karaoke session which attracts thousands of visitors. The session runs from 1.30-5pm and is a fantastic way to experience Germany’s music culture. Here you can relax with a beer and soak up the sun after a hard day delving through the stalls.

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Come away from Berlin with your very own German treasure to show off to your family and friends and hope that your baggage allowance isn’t too greatly affected!

Laura Phelan

KA-DE-WE SCHONEBERG

Tauentzienstrasse 21 www.kadewe.de Monday-Thursday: 10am – 8pm.

Friday: 10am – 9pm.

Saturday: 9:30am – 8pm.

Sunday: Closed.

U1, U2, U3 - Wittenberg Platz

Walk along Berlin’s Tauentzienstrasse and you wouldn’t give the Kaufhaus des Westerns, or KaDeWe for short, a second glance. The considerably dull façade of this building gives no indication of the glorious shopping paradise that lies inside. The KaDeWe is one of Europe’s largest department stores and Berlin’s very own answer to Har-

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rods.

This grand store boasts seven floors of merchandise and is home to the likes of Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton and many others. While there is an impressive collection of designer clothing the standout feature of this store is without doubt the extensive food hall situated at the top of the building.

Enter this when feeling famished and you’re in trouble. Here lie assortments of beautifully presented chocolates, cheeses and meats, as well as numerous food stations that serve up exotic treats including boiled lobster and Moët & Chandon champagne breakfasts. A slightly cheaper way to enjoy the food is at the store’s Wintergarten buffet on the top floor where there is also a fantastic view over the city.

Accessibility to the KaDeWe is easy as it has two underground car parks and is situated right next to Wittenberg Platz U-Bahn. Although it’s a pricey store it’s a fascinating visit and a highly recommended lunch or afternoon tea stop.

Lucy Richardson

THE BEST AND THE WURST

CHRIS MEIGH Though graduated in Journalism and Criminology, Chris is our resident history, literature and film buff. A longterm Berlin-lover, he is never short of some factual titbit, quirky suggestion or information of an otherwise uselessly fascinating type – particularly when fuelled by his new-found fondness for a good, chilled Riesling.

ian having spent the last year living there. He studies classics and is unable to function without his morning coffee fix. Ben is a self-proclaimed café enthusiast and the only thing more extensive than his vocabulary is his cardigan and blazer collection.

JASON BOSWORTHICK Meet our editor Jason: Creative writer, dodgy joke teller, and one half of CTR’s very own super couple, “Jackie” (Jason and Vickie). With a damn fine taste in music and an extensive knowledge of film, Jason is an all-round cool kid. Having been assigned the role of editor by his fellow team members, he had the mammoth task of sifting through all 150 reviews in this guide, and for this we thank and applaud him.

KATE MARTIN Kate is a Journalism and Creative Writing student who enjoys sampling German cuisine and historical sites.

She has managed to last a month in Berlin unscathed, despite her penchant for impersonating german accents. When she’s not nearly being robbed by fake deaf people or accidentally gate crashing legalize marijuana demonstrations, she likes a ‘gid’ night out, which usually ends by jumping in a rivers, or with a kebab or burger (no salad).

VICTORIA BROWN Adding comedy value to even the dullest of subjects, Vickie belongs on a stage. Her hilarious impressions and animated utterances would regularly leave the group in stitches, and spiced up some grueling hours spent in the

BEN KENDALL Ben has a passion for all things Ital-

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project rooms. When’s she’s not impersonating, Vickie is an avid napper and claims she’s still catching up on lost sleep from her childhood. But despite this, she still manages to keep super organised and always stays on top of every task at hand.

LUCY RICHARDSON Within minutes of meeting Lucy you’ll feel like you’re best friends. Holding claim to a delightfully, bubbly personality this Oxford girl will effortlessly charm you. A lover of music; rock, indie and electro, and adorned with the music aficionado’s obligatory piercing you’ll be sure to find her happily tapping her foot as her laptop pumps tunes or dancing the night away like it’s 1984. Lucy is also a keen shopper and whether it’s venturing through stalls at the local flea market, diving through the high-street stores or just window shopping at the more expensive luxury department stores a good bargain is something that can rarely evade her keen eyes.

LAURA PHELAN Oh Laura, Laura, Laura. There is far too much to say about this bubbly blonde from London/ Brighton to be able to condense into so few words, so I’m not going to try. I could talk about her adoration for concoctions of Vietnamese food, but I won’t. I could discuss how wholeheartedly she has thrown herself into the programme, particularly exploring the outdoor activities available in Berlin, and how much she has developed as a result of her passion, but I shall not. I could expostulate at length about how she is undoubtedly the messiest, most hilarious and nicest roommate a girl could wish for, but to be honest, I really can’t be bothered!

HERA SPARNON If she’s not singing her heart out at some Kareoke bar, or bartering for a second hand guitar at the local flea market, Hera can normally be found frequenting one of the many pubs or clubs that Berlin has to offer. Keen to talk about anything from obscure

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bands to graffiti and street art, Hera’s a girl who has seen it all and still isn’t finished exploring.

It’s probably worth making an appointment with her though – between late nights and her globe trotting tendencies, this punk-haired rocker is constantly on the move. Blink, and you’ll probably miss her.

Berlin, Jess has red hair bondage spiked shoes and a love of all things bizarre.

Spending her free time exploring abandoned and transformed buildings and vehicles, catch her either in a bunker or eating ice cream on an old school bus. She provides a refreshing outlook on what to do in Berlin if you’re just a little bit weird. She has sacrificed both of her legs in her mostly by-foot pursuit of kookiness, and although now a near cripple, she has successfully guided other group members towards many new and exciting experiences.

SARAH SLATER If ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ swallowed a Thesaurus, you would get Sarah Slater! The English teacher’s wonderful way with words, combined with her contagious positive energy certify her status as a creative catalyst within the group. Though incompetent with directions, the modest Miss Slater’s multi-talents have unofficially secured her the positions as layout team, proof reader and editor.

NATALIE PARRY With her incredible encyclopaedic knowledge of film, music and more recently the kebabs of Berlin, there is never a dull (or quiet) moment with Natalie around. Natalie is the queen of look-a-like spotting and a night out won’t feel complete without her 80’s dance moves and glass of Absinth.

With her amazingly creative reviews, you may even pick up a new word or

JESS ASTBURY Singlehandedly tracking down the weird and wonderful curiosities of

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two.

a healthy-eater who is seemingly immune to spicy food, and loves meeting new mates on the underground.

ROSALIND LAKKA As the most proficient German speaker, Rosalind came in particularly useful when asking for directions and fending off creepy guys for the rest of the group. Her writing isn’t too shabby either, particularly when it comes to food. From gummy bears to potatoes, Rosalind did her best to eat up Berlin.

Buffets everywhere, look at this face, and beware. Apart from eating and translating, Rosalind has spent her time coaxing terrified full-grown men out of labyrinths, attracting probing looks from passersby with her short shorts and playing Harvest Moon.

LOUISE GILL A fun, happy go lucky girl to say the least. With her vivacious smile and endless amounts of energy it’s hard not to warm to this eccentric lady, even when she rolls in at 6 am with a cheeky smile on her face, ready to throw herself into the next challenge (bar) she comes across.

ANNA PAUL When she isn’t losing her possessions, or getting lost herself, Glasgow gal Anna can usually be found wandering one of Berlin’s art galleries.

A dab hand at photography, English Literature and Film student Anna is

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