Activities in Berlin - a local perspective

Berlin is by now one of the world’s most popular cities and offers still great price quality ratio. Germany’s capital is ranged by marks and relics of history and you will find alternative, non-commercialized islands everywhere. Time to explore the city with or without spending money - here are some activities you can do and sights you can see in Berlin.

You do not necessarily have to know what you want to do in Berlin, what first counts is, you have an idea what you want to do and an overview of prices, location, duration and, if necessary, experience reports play a role. You should also consider whether you want to do something alone or in company. Is this a date? The family (maybe even with children)? A group? Outdoor or Indoor activities? The possibilities for activities in Berlin are as multi cultural as the city itself.

One of my beloved activities while I am living in the city is, for example, a relaxing evening in Hackesche Höfe. You find everything from shopping to restaurants to theater and not only for tourists attractive but also for locals. Or you feel more like exercising? How about Stand Up Paddling on the Landwehrkanal? Right now one of those fun trends you find in the city. Or rather go to museum, for this I recommend the night of the museums (https://www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de) which is offered annually during the summer. With only one ticket you have access to 80 museums in one night. Another nightly and inspiring event is the Berlin Festival of Lights - the city turns once a year (mostly in October) into a charming world of lighting. Versatile events and actions on the subject of light make Berlin to a complete work of art. (www.festival-of-lights.de)

What can you do in Berlin if you need a break from the big city bustle? What about to arrange a meet up with other people living in Berlin for a relaxing barbecue e.g. in Volkspark Friedrichshain, to stroll through the Görlitz park or relax on the Waterloo-Ufer in Kreuzberg. And if you do not find the right activity in Berlin, do your own thing and create an activity yourself. You can easily get to know new people in Berlin! I have used a lot www.meetup.com as a social network group as well as www.couchsurfing.org and you find easily similar mindsets.

In the German capital is of course much to see, to do and to experience. No matter if you are the first time or already live in the big city and you do not want to go on an ordinary sightseeing tour, and simply want to experience something special, you should inform yourself about all possibilities and compare it with you own wishes, then you will for sure find the right activity for yourself. Beside the mentioned tips above, in the following I give you another small selection of my own personal six favourite activities.

1) Discover Berlin aside from tourism

What about to discover Berlin by yourself, take a very own initiative to discover far away from travel guides. I have discovered quite a few corners and really interesting small places - maybe you can find what you are interested in the next beside street!? Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are great city-districts to try this out: avoid the crowds of Simon-Dach-Strasse and Oranienburger Straße. Berlin is huge (8 times bigger than Paris) and new buildings are constantly being built, other buildings are abandoned and invite to explorations. Examples of this are Berlin Tempelhof or the ice factory (Eisfabrik) near the river Spree.

Tip: Sometimes the local couchsurfing community organizes such tours - just look in the Berlin group at www.couchsurfing.org.

2) Stroll over the diverse flea markets

Every Sunday you will find flea markets (Flohmarkt) in several parts of Berlin. I particularly recommend the Mauerpark Flohmarkt and the markets between Frankfurter Tor and Warschauer Strasse and Boxhagener Platz. If you are looking for cheap books (especially in English), check out the Flohmarkt at Boxhagener Platz. To get a taste of Berlin’s multi-cultural air, you can enjoy some fresh fruits on the Turkish market at the Maybachufer in Kreuzberg. Or take a short trip to Thailand and visit the former Preussen Park in the district of Wilmersdorf - the Thaipark (www.thaipark.de) and expierence an aura of Asia in the middle of Berlin.

A little taste of Asia in Berlin - Thaipark in Wilmersdorf (picture by Jenny Radeiski)

3) Activities in and around the Mauerpark with the Wall memorial and karaoke

Are you interested in history, discover the Berlin Wall Memorial in Prenzlauer Berg district, which can be visited both indoors and outdoors. A good opportunity to get a picture of the history of Berlin and about the wall which was build in 1961. Also take the opportunity to go to the view tower to find out where the wall was earlier. Every visit is for me always again an experience and I can learn so much.

The unique and entertaining tip for the famous karaoke show in the Mauerpark (mentioned also a lot in touristic guides) in the vicinity of the mentioned Wall memorial site - it takes place almost every Sunday in the middle of the park and is really an experience for every age. Just follow the music and you can not miss it. You get a feeling for the diversity of the city and here you can find artists and everyone who wants to sing finds here its platform. Maybe you want not only watching also to sing in front of an audience. It is a chance to try it out!

Tip: Inform yourself: https://www.mauerpark.info/kultur/mauerparkkaraoke/ The Flohmarkt karaoke in Berlin is not open on all Sundays and indoor during the winter time.

4) Take the bike and explore outside or around of Berlin city

You can easily take the bike and explore the surrounding lakes and natural parks in Berlin, such as Lübars in the North (bordering on the district Reinickendorf) or drive towards Grunewald to the South, there also good paths for Inline skating. There are so many lakes in and around Berlin - I personally recommend the Krumme Lanke in the fancy Zehlendorf district, a bit outside but directly near another lake - the Schlachtensee. But also the Wannsee and Nikolassee in the South and the Weissensee in the North have their own charm. Here you will find good water quality and many cozy corners between trees and the river bank just to relax.

5) RBB tower and RadioEins Dachlounge

The radio chanel RadioEins (called radio for adults) is my absolute favourite as a source of activities in and around Berlin and also a very special experience for all those who speak or want to learn German. The radio chanel is also live located at Messedamm in the RBBtower. You find on the top of the tower the called RadioEins Dachlounge (roof lounge) with live programme. It is open daily from 12:00 to 24:00 and you get free access and welcome is everyone who is interested in to experience the people behind the radio chanel and live performance of (inter)national artists. On top you have a great view of the city and cultural and culinary is also offered. Just buy a drink at the bar and enjoy this special location while the radio chanel is live on air. The possible queue before it goes up to the roof lounge can stop you from going up. Since only a maximum of 100 guests fit in the roof lounge, you have eventual to wait, but it is really worth it and is a nice alternative to the rather tourist TV tower at the Alexanderplatz.

Tip: Avoid the weekend and there is nearly no queue and you can find the daily programme from RadioEins Dachlounge here: www.radioeins.de/themen/_/rbb-ganz-oben/index.html

View from the RadioEins Dachlounge (picture by Jenny Radeiski)

6) Explore with a different city tour - the Comedybus

For all those who are in the mood for a good laugh or just have interest in to experience the German humor, take the German-led Comedybustour. You can take the bus from different parts of the city and stop at various local bars and restaurants and get Comedy during the bus tour. In case you are on your own, it is a nice alternative to meet new people and new bars. Fun guaranteed.

Tip: Tickets need to be booked before. You find dates and programme here: www.comedy-im-bus.de

Finally it does not matter whether you like to party in the evening, culture, sport or resting on a lake during the day - the range of activities in Berlin is as various and unique as the city itself. Do you feel still boredom while reading, just get started to explore the city the way you like! These were my very personal tips and, as I said, everything you need to know is what you want to experience and then you will find the right activity for yourself. Surprises guaranteed. Enjoy to experience the multi-cultural city with all the activities Berlin has to offer. Have a good time!

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