Lost in Berlin

Berlin, a beautiful urban underground city. There is nothing wrong in getting lost in this city. Every corner is unique and there is this relaxing vibe in this city that let you feel at home.

That is the feeling I had when I started my day and that feeling didn’t change. Thanks to Visit Berlin I was well prepared and as always on the first day I get lost in the city. Based on my experience over the weekend here are some must visit places in Berlin.

Markthalle Neun

Markthalle Neun is an indoor market with international food vendors and shops in Kreuzberg. It is the epicentre of Berlin’s modern urban food movement. While it is a great place to pass by and they have some great food stands. In the end I found my food at the following place.

Burgemeister Schlesische Tor

A burger bar in an old toilet building under the tracks of the underground. You will not get it more urban than this. Those burgers are delicious. Juicy and some great combinations.

If you are in the area definitely worth visiting. Located near Oberbaumbrücke. A bridge that divided the East and the West during the Cold War. Some people were lucky enough to visit the other times sometimes over this bridge. But also people from the East tried to swim to the West from here, most of them didn’t make it.

East Side Gallery

It will not get more urban than this. Street art at is finest. Located at the East side, near Oberbaumbrücke. Part of the wall is still standing here and local and international artists have covered this with one of the world’s best street art.

The street art is not only related to the Cold War, but also as a memorial to wars and conflicts that are still happening. A wall that let you think at least.

Fernsehturm

Not only you can visit the observation deck in this television tower. It also is a perfect orientation point when you are walking around in the city. You can see it almost from everywhere and it is central located next to Alexander Platz.

Berlin ZOO

The oldest ZOO in Berlin and the largest ZOO in the world. Only €17.50 to visit the ZOO and Aquarium if you have a Welcome Card. The video above shows more of the ZOO I can ever tell you. In my opinion one of the few city ZOO’s in the world that is worth visiting, but maybe I have visited the wrong ones before.

Brandenburger Tor

Brandenburger Tor or Brandenburger Gate for the English people. This 18th century neoclassical monument is one of the main attractions of Berlin. The gate is constructed on the place of a former city gate, that marked the start of the road from Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel, which used to be the capital of Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews

The holocaust memorial is an impressive piece of art. When you enter the memorial and the closer you get to the center of the memorial, the more noise of the city disappears. In the end it will be just you with your own sound that is in the memorial.

The total size of the memorial is 19,000 square metres, Eisenman placed 2711 concrete slabs of different heights. The memorial is on a slight slope and its wave-like form is different wherever you stand. The uneven concrete floor gives many visitor a moment of giddiness or even uncertainty. Its openness and abstractness give you space to confront the topic in your own personal way. The sheer size of the installation and its lack of a central point of remembrance call into question the conventional concept of a memorial. This creates a place of remembrance, but not with the usual means.

Allied Museum

A free and unusual museum to visit. Not a lot of tourists visit this interesting museum, located in the outskirts of Berlin. The museum is located in the former Outpost Theatre where American soldiers once enjoyed films.

The place post a homage to the former soldiers who were posted here from 1945 until 1994. This museum houses everything from original documents to large memorabilia such as the British Hastings aircraft, a French military train restaurant car and a segment of a British-American Spy Tunnel.

Molecule Man

An series of aluminium statues, design by Jonathan Borofsky. These aren’t the only ones, the artist placed them at various locations around the world. The statue is here since 1997.

While the 3 men in this sculpture are different they are also the same. No matter the time we are in this message stays important. Because in the end we are all build from the same molecules.

For more information on Berlin don’t forget to check out Visit Berlin Tourist’s website.