Ich bin ein Berliner - An Insider's guide to Berlin
"Ich bin ein Berliner", that’s what Kennedy said. And I can say that I too am a Berliner, as I was born in Berlin one year before the wall came down. Indeed I am not as popular as he was, but I can give you really great insider tips for your trip to Berlin if you want to see something unusual or away from other tourists.
First of all, I can recommend Berlin’s birthplace, the Nikolaiviertel. Berlin was founded here in 1237 and you can still find vestiges from the past. The church for instance, in the middle of the quarter is the oldest building of the capital. Because of its history and the resulting mixture of architecture styles, the historic city centre is not as typical as you may see in other old cities in Europe, but that's what makes this area so charming.
Stop for a bite to eat in the Brauhaus Georgbrau which is located directly on the banks of the Spree and which brews its own beer. After that you can go shopping in the lovely boutiques, my favourite of which is an interior decorating shop where you can buy some different but beautiful souvenirs for yourself and as presents to take home. Also, you can visit the cute small museums in the Nikolaiviertel, I like the Heinrich Zille Museum which is dedicated to an old Berlin artist who was a sharp-witted and sympathetic observer of the city.
If you want to get to know Berlin’s history from an unconventional perspective, you really should join a Berlin Underground Tour. There, you are allowed to walk through tunnels and old bunkers which are normally not accessible to the public. You can choose between seven guided tours which are based on different interesting themes like “Breaching the Berlin Wall” or “Along the tracks of the D-line”. These tours can be booked as part of your city break or holiday - please ask your travel consultant for details.
One of my favourite places in Berlin is not in the city centre itself, but it is in the south west where I am from. Go for a walk at the Schlachtensee, a beautiful lake and you will have some relaxing time in nature. I really enjoy this place as it is so quiet and peaceful that you never would think you are in a city of 3 million people. To get there, you just have to take the U3 to Krumme Lanke and go towards the Fischerhuetten Street. There is also a really good restaurant where you can have your dinner whilst overlooking the lake. Very romantic, especially on a balmy summer evening.
