Museums housing world-famous works and cultural artifacts are one of the must-see destinations when visiting Europe. Berlin also has many museums worth visiting, not just famous ones, but here we will introduce some of our recommendations.
After touring the museums you wanted to visit first thing in the morning, fill up on local cuisine and go shopping. Be sure to stop by a select shop where you can check out local brands.
■Saturday
9:30am: Museum Tour
Starting with Museum Island, a World Heritage Site, the Hamburger Bahnhof, housed in a former train station, and the Jewish Museum Berlin, famous for its architecture that sublimates history into its design, there are countless museums worth visiting. Here, we will introduce some of our personal recommendations for Berlin, not just famous ones.
The Museum fur Fotografie (Museum fur Fotografie) is a museum that hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions, as well as a permanent collection showcasing the work of German fashion photographer Helmut Newton. Built in the 19th century as a casino for Prussian officers, its neoclassical architecture is also worth a visit.
While visiting the Museum fur Fotografie, be sure to also stop by the nearby C/O Berlin, an exhibition center featuring photography and visual media. The museum regularly hosts solo exhibitions by contemporary photographers and group exhibitions by young artists from Japan and abroad.
The Schwule Museum hosts exhibitions showcasing artworks related to LGBTIQ culture in a variety of media. Many of the works on display have a pop style, so even those unfamiliar with LGBTIQ can enjoy the museum and deepen their understanding.
Auguststrasse in the Mitte district, the center of Berlin, is home to a concentration of galleries, so fans of contemporary art should definitely head there.
The KW Institute for Contemporary Art is an art center that hosts contemporary art exhibitions and events.
Next to it is me Collectors Room Berlin. Berlin is a large gallery showcasing contemporary art. It also has a spacious cafe inside.
1pm: Lunch at a Hummus Restaurant
Currywurst and burger shops are great, but why not try hummus, a Middle Eastern fast food-like dish still rare in Japan? Hummus, made from boiled chickpeas mixed with sesame paste, garlic, and lemon juice, is healthy, filling, and widely enjoyed in Berlin.
The Neukölln district, an immigrant neighborhood in former West Berlin, is home to a number of restaurants where you can easily enjoy authentic hummus. Many are extremely cheap and delicious, but menus and ordering are generally in German. Kanaan, a modern hummus restaurant with a cafe-like atmosphere, opened last year in the Prenzlauer Berg district, a residential area dotted with trendy restaurants and shops, and has become a hit with locals. It also offers an English menu, making it accessible to everyone.
A rich, Canaan-style Iraqi hummus with a sweet and sour fruit sauce and tahini (sesame paste). You can also enjoy a variety of other hummus, including Israeli and Lebanese styles.
There is a large terrace seating area, so on nice days you can relax like you're at a cafe.
This is hummus from AZZAM, a Middle Eastern restaurant in the Neukölln district. Bread, accompanying vegetables, and any sauces you order are all complimentary! You can eat your fill for around 500 yen.
3pm: Shop around
Berlin's select shops are known for offering more than just clothing; many of them also carry a wide range of lifestyle items. A prime example is "The Store," which boasts one of the largest store areas in the city and stocks items from high-end brands and young designer brands. It is a concept shop that handles everything from lifestyle items and children's clothing to books, magazines, and records. The cafe attached to the store has a casual atmosphere, and you can often see groups holding meetings or people working on their laptops.
A single floor houses shops selling fashion, lifestyle, and culture, as well as a cafe space
A wide range of styles are offered, from luxury to sporty.
The store mainly focuses on fashion, but also carries magazines from around the world.
A record section with turntables located next to the entrance.
Food is also served at the cafe inside the store. Of course, you can also just visit the cafe.
Hallesches Haus, run by British owners, is a general store that sells living and kitchen items. Housed in a former nightclub, the store stocks a wide selection of stylish goods from around the world. This store also has a cafe attached.
The rugged entrance
The interior has a high ceiling and an open atmosphere
A space filled with practical and stylish goods that will whet your appetite for material things
Light bulbs, cords, and other parts are also sold
Gardening supplies are also available
Anyone can use the cafe inside the store. There are people working there too, with their laptops spread out. This is a testament to the large freelance population in Berlin.
Voo Store, located in the same Kreuzberg district as Hallesches Haus, is also worth a visit. In addition to stocking the latest designer items from Japan and abroad, it also carries magazines and unique accessories. The extensive sneaker section is also a must-see.
The entrance to Voo Store is located in the courtyard of the building.
Many fashion shops, including The Store, are lined up on Torstrasse in the Mitte district in the city center. Berlin men's fashion brand A.D.Deertz also has a store on this street, so if you're looking for local designer items, be sure to stop by. We recommend this shop as it offers high-quality items at reasonable prices.
An exclusive shop stocking the full lineup of "ARDE DARTS," a brand created by a German female designer.
The colorful exterior of the shop.
Torstrasse in the Mitte district, lined with shops.
7pm: Dinner at a popular downtown restaurant.
Indulging in German cuisine with sausages and beer is great, but dining at a popular restaurant frequented by locals is something you can only experience when you're traveling. INDUSTRY STANDARD, located in Neukölln, a downtown area of former West Berlin and currently one of Berlin's most dynamic trend areas, is a restaurant that is always bustling with locals. In a modern, casual setting with an open kitchen, the restaurant serves French and Mediterranean cuisine, fusion with German and other European dishes.
Beef tartare, a local French dish, is a popular menu item at the restaurant.
Beef spinal cord is also a dish commonly eaten in France. It's eaten by the spoonful, topped with large mustard seeds that give it just the right amount of tartness.
This popular restaurant is located on Sonnenallee, a major street in the Neukölln district. It's best to make a reservation if you plan to visit.
Tomorrow (November 20th), we'll be bringing you ideas for a Sunday in Berlin!
Berlin never sleeps! Spend a Sunday in Berlin [A weekend in Berlin]
A city overflowing with hip and modernity! Spend a Friday in Berlin [A weekend in Berlin]
After touring the museums you wanted to visit first thing in the morning, fill up on local cuisine and go shopping. Be sure to stop by a select shop where you can check out local brands.
■Saturday
9:30am: Museum Tour
Starting with Museum Island, a World Heritage Site, the Hamburger Bahnhof, housed in a former train station, and the Jewish Museum Berlin, famous for its architecture that sublimates history into its design, there are countless museums worth visiting. Here, we will introduce some of our personal recommendations for Berlin, not just famous ones.
The Museum fur Fotografie (Museum fur Fotografie) is a museum that hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions, as well as a permanent collection showcasing the work of German fashion photographer Helmut Newton. Built in the 19th century as a casino for Prussian officers, its neoclassical architecture is also worth a visit.
While visiting the Museum fur Fotografie, be sure to also stop by the nearby C/O Berlin, an exhibition center featuring photography and visual media. The museum regularly hosts solo exhibitions by contemporary photographers and group exhibitions by young artists from Japan and abroad.
The Schwule Museum hosts exhibitions showcasing artworks related to LGBTIQ culture in a variety of media. Many of the works on display have a pop style, so even those unfamiliar with LGBTIQ can enjoy the museum and deepen their understanding.
Auguststrasse in the Mitte district, the center of Berlin, is home to a concentration of galleries, so fans of contemporary art should definitely head there.
The KW Institute for Contemporary Art is an art center that hosts contemporary art exhibitions and events.
Next to it is me Collectors Room Berlin. Berlin is a large gallery showcasing contemporary art. It also has a spacious cafe inside.
1pm: Lunch at a Hummus Restaurant
Currywurst and burger shops are great, but why not try hummus, a Middle Eastern fast food-like dish still rare in Japan? Hummus, made from boiled chickpeas mixed with sesame paste, garlic, and lemon juice, is healthy, filling, and widely enjoyed in Berlin.
The Neukölln district, an immigrant neighborhood in former West Berlin, is home to a number of restaurants where you can easily enjoy authentic hummus. Many are extremely cheap and delicious, but menus and ordering are generally in German. Kanaan, a modern hummus restaurant with a cafe-like atmosphere, opened last year in the Prenzlauer Berg district, a residential area dotted with trendy restaurants and shops, and has become a hit with locals. It also offers an English menu, making it accessible to everyone.
A rich, Canaan-style Iraqi hummus with a sweet and sour fruit sauce and tahini (sesame paste). You can also enjoy a variety of other hummus, including Israeli and Lebanese styles.
There is a large terrace seating area, so on nice days you can relax like you're at a cafe.
This is hummus from AZZAM, a Middle Eastern restaurant in the Neukölln district. Bread, accompanying vegetables, and any sauces you order are all complimentary! You can eat your fill for around 500 yen.
3pm: Shop around
Berlin's select shops are known for offering more than just clothing; many of them also carry a wide range of lifestyle items. A prime example is "The Store," which boasts one of the largest store areas in the city and stocks items from high-end brands and young designer brands. It is a concept shop that handles everything from lifestyle items and children's clothing to books, magazines, and records. The cafe attached to the store has a casual atmosphere, and you can often see groups holding meetings or people working on their laptops.
A single floor houses shops selling fashion, lifestyle, and culture, as well as a cafe space
A wide range of styles are offered, from luxury to sporty.
The store mainly focuses on fashion, but also carries magazines from around the world.
A record section with turntables located next to the entrance.
Food is also served at the cafe inside the store. Of course, you can also just visit the cafe.
Hallesches Haus, run by British owners, is a general store that sells living and kitchen items. Housed in a former nightclub, the store stocks a wide selection of stylish goods from around the world. This store also has a cafe attached.
The rugged entrance
The interior has a high ceiling and an open atmosphere
A space filled with practical and stylish goods that will whet your appetite for material things
Light bulbs, cords, and other parts are also sold
Gardening supplies are also available
Anyone can use the cafe inside the store. There are people working there too, with their laptops spread out. This is a testament to the large freelance population in Berlin.
Voo Store, located in the same Kreuzberg district as Hallesches Haus, is also worth a visit. In addition to stocking the latest designer items from Japan and abroad, it also carries magazines and unique accessories. The extensive sneaker section is also a must-see.
The entrance to Voo Store is located in the courtyard of the building.
Many fashion shops, including The Store, are lined up on Torstrasse in the Mitte district in the city center. Berlin men's fashion brand A.D.Deertz also has a store on this street, so if you're looking for local designer items, be sure to stop by. We recommend this shop as it offers high-quality items at reasonable prices.
An exclusive shop stocking the full lineup of "ARDE DARTS," a brand created by a German female designer.
The colorful exterior of the shop.
Torstrasse in the Mitte district, lined with shops.
7pm: Dinner at a popular downtown restaurant.
Indulging in German cuisine with sausages and beer is great, but dining at a popular restaurant frequented by locals is something you can only experience when you're traveling. INDUSTRY STANDARD, located in Neukölln, a downtown area of former West Berlin and currently one of Berlin's most dynamic trend areas, is a restaurant that is always bustling with locals. In a modern, casual setting with an open kitchen, the restaurant serves French and Mediterranean cuisine, fusion with German and other European dishes.
Beef tartare, a local French dish, is a popular menu item at the restaurant.
Beef spinal cord is also a dish commonly eaten in France. It's eaten by the spoonful, topped with large mustard seeds that give it just the right amount of tartness.
This popular restaurant is located on Sonnenallee, a major street in the Neukölln district. It's best to make a reservation if you plan to visit.
Tomorrow (November 20th), we'll be bringing you ideas for a Sunday in Berlin!
Berlin never sleeps! Spend a Sunday in Berlin [A weekend in Berlin]
A city overflowing with hip and modernity! Spend a Friday in Berlin [A weekend in Berlin]
