TOP EIGHT THINGS TO DO IN BERLIN FOR THE WEEKEND

Sometimes, you have to stop and take a stroll back in time to really see how far you have truly come. This time last year, I was planning my first trip to Berlin with two amazing friends for our birthdays. I had always wanted to visit Berlin and it seemed like the perfect idea to go before the college stress started to set in. Looking back over the pictures, I'm glad I went and got to experience it for myself. Back then I did not post as often as I do now and since I'll be travelling to Nigeria next week, I figured why not post about Berlin before I travel.

1. DDR MUSEUM

I haven't been to many mueums yet (something I'd like to change in the near future) but my top two favourite museums so far have got to the be the DDR Museum and The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The goal of this museum is to give you a feel for what life was like in Berlin during communist times including in all facets of life, from fashion to secret police to a love of nude beaches. One thing I liked about the DDR Museum was that it was very interactive - you cold pull the drawers to see what was inside, touch the items at the museum and even get in any of the cars for a picture or two (as I did in the picture below). It was such a great experience! 

2. BERLIN WALL

Seeing remnants of the Berlin Wall was another highlight of my trip to Berlin. The Wall's real significance today is the oppression that it represents. I found it hard to believe that this beautiful city was once divided. It’s so important to see the wall if you do visit and know what it represented, what it did and to know what walls can (and still) do today.. 

3. BRANDENBURG GATE (A SYMBOL OF UNITY)

It was great to see one of the most iconic historical sites, the Brandenburg Gate, and reflect on the historical events that happened near it. Personally, I like to think of the hundreds of thousands of people that have passed through the gate and the history it represents. If you're visiting Berlin for the first time, the gate is a must!

4. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

Just south of the Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, with its almost three thousand gray concrete slabs, or stelae. Designed by Peter Eisenman, the Holocaust Memorial is meant to represent an “ordered system that has lost touch with human reason". As we walked from the perimeter towards the centre of the memorial, the boxes grew, towering around us on every side, to the point that the sun struggled to break through to where we stood. It can be approached and walked through from all sides, serving as a central place for remembering and reminding people of the Holocaust.

5. KAISER WILHELM MEMORIAL CHURCH 

The Memorial Church is another famous landmark in Berlin. It is located on the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz. The original church on the site was built in the 1890s but was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943.  I got to see the damaged church tower, a symbol of Berlin's resolve to rebuild the city after the war and a constant reminder of the destruction of war.

6. THE MUSEUM FUR FILM UND FERNSEHEN (MUSEUM OF FILM AND TELEVISION)

This is one of the six film museums in Germany and it covers exhibitions on film-making in Germany from the silent movie era, through WWII to modern times. It is also ideally located only a few minutes walk from Marlene Dietrich Platz where Berlin’s International Film Festival "Berlinale" takes place. If you're a film fanatic, I woud definitely recommend a visit.

  7. TV TOWER

Built in the late sixties, the Fernsehturm also known as the Berlin TV Tower is the tallest structure in Berlin and the third tallest in Europe. We stayed in an apartment in Alexanderplatz and woke up to the beautiful view of the tv tower daily. We just had to visit! We went on our last night in Berlin and we loved it! The lift takes about 20 seconds to climb 100 metres in the air to give you an instant, wonderful view of Berlin. We ordered cocktails at the bar and took in the incredible view of the entire city. Many Berlin landmarks are visible from up here: the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column, Potsdamer Platz. If the weather’s clear, a good view of the entire Berlin panorama is guaranteed.

8. HAVE A KEBAB

Definitely not the first thing you think of when you hear about Berlin but you've got to try Mustafa's kebab. There was a long queue when we got there so we waited in line for a few minutes. When I finally ordered, I was not disappointed. It was just too good. So if you're not a vegetarian, I'd also recommend getting a kebab while in Berlin.

P.S. If you are about to travel to Berlin, it's good to find an accommodation in or close to Alexanderplatz. This made our commute to all the main attractions (and nightclubs) within the city centre very easy.

Danke,
Sola