48 Hours in Berlin
29th May, 2019
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
Be up with the lark for granola pancakes and a chai latte at the
rustic and relaxed Le Bon near the Kreuzberg and Neukölln
neighbourhoods. Self-proclaimed as being the one stop shop for
'Brunch, Lunch & Booze', this cosy café has transformed comfort
food into a work of art. Open Tuesday - Sunday, the granola
pancakes plate is €8,20.
After breakfast, jump on the M41 bus and take in some of the city's
landmarks during the 30-minute ride to the Memorial
to the Murdered Jews. The imposing site, close to the
triumphant, neoclassical Brandenburg Gate, comprises 2711 concrete
blocks that are laid out in a grid formation. A place of
contemplation, remembrance and warning. Open Tuesday - Sunday,
free admission.
A short walk will take you to the neo-renaissance Reichstag
building. The edifice housed the German Empire until 1933 and bears
silent witness to the city's turbulent past. It is perhaps the
city's most iconic landmark and welcomes visitors into its dazzling
dome viewpoint. Open daily, free admission.
Pick up a pretzel for lunch while walking the circumference of
parkland to the entrance of the iconic 175-year old Zoo Berlin. It attracts over
3,000,000 visitors every year and, with around 20,000 animals from
over 1,300 species, is considered one of the most comprehensive
menageries in the world. Open daily, an adult's ticket is
€15,50.
In keeping with the animal-theme, hop over to Monkey Bar, a trendy spot
just a 1-minute walk from the zoo. Based on the 10th floor of the
super-stylish 25hours Hotel, you can sip a sundowner on the terrace
overlooking the monkeys' enclosure before dining on
Israeli-Oriental cuisine at the rooftop restaurant, NENI. Open daily, the 'Best
of NENI' set menu is €39 per person.
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
Wake up and smell the coffee! Smashed avocado on sourdough and a
cappuccino at Distrikt
Coffee is a quaffable, scoff-able way to start the day! This
hipster haven offers simple food served with soul. Open daily,
sourdough stacked high with avocado and feta is €7,50.
A 25-minute walk north-east across the city will take you to
Mauerpark, an area which, at the time Berlin was divided, was the
border strip of the Berlin Wall. Every Sunday, the public park
transforms into a popular flea market, with largely private dealers
selling second-hand clothing, accessories, furniture and vintage
wares, and food and drink trucks. There are even afternoon Karaoke
performances… They say that 'if the legendary Berlin attitude can
ever be found at home, then it's in the Mauerpark on Sundays'.
Open every Sunday from 9am, free admission.
When you've shopped 'til you've dropped, jump on the U-Bahn and
head to Markthalle Neun,
the beating heart of the city's food scene. The indoor market hall,
which first opened in 1891 and survived World War II, is jam-packed
with street food vendors serving up local artisans (and
international delicacies if you're still in town on 'Street Food
Thursday') and Heidenpeters craft beer from the on-site brewery.
Open daily, free admission.
After lunch, stroll along the river to the Badeschiff,
a floating swimming pool onboard a harboured barge, surrounded by
urban beach. With a panoramic view of the river Spree and the
Oberbaumbrücke, the open-air lido and its surrounding recreational
area is the perfect spot to while away the afternoon. Check out a
video here. Open daily, an adult's ticket is €6,50.
If you're not quite ready to hit the hay, head over to Holzmarkt 25, a creative
playground on the banks of the Spree. Enjoy the home-brewed beer,
pizza and live entertainment, and dance the night away at
neighbouring nightclub Kater Blau. Open daily, admission fees
apply.
Bowie once said "Berlin, the greatest cultural extravaganza
that one could imagine" and we couldn't agree more. Its
exciting blend of culture is rooted in its unique past, one which
has shaped the city into a European powerhouse.
Every day there are changes made to the city and every visit will
bring a new experience. Anything goes here.
