A traveler's guide to Berlin
Berlin is larger and later than it looks on a short map. Pick a district and let the evening start when it starts.
Berlin is a city that keeps its history in the open and its best nights in rooms you hear about the day before. The museums are serious. The neighborhoods change every few U-Bahn stops. Give it time. A weekend only sees the memorials.
When to go
May, June, and September are the outdoor months. July and August are busy and can be hot. Winter is gray and excellent for the museums and the rooms that do not depend on a patio. Christmas markets are pretty and crowded.
Neighborhoods
Mitte for the first monuments and museums. Kreuzberg and Neukölln for food and night. Prenzlauer Berg for a calmer morning. Charlottenburg if you want the older west. The clubs are a subculture with its own rules. Go only if you mean it.
Eating
Döner and currywurst are the snacks. The meals are Turkish, Vietnamese, a serious German room, and whatever the market is plating. Sunday many kitchens are quiet. Plan lunch.
If you only remember this
- The transit association covers the airport and the city.
- Sundays are slow. Grocery and some kitchens close.
- Cash is still more useful than in the rest of northern Europe.
- Validate the museum plan. Island tickets have time slots.