Berlin has a relatively low profile compared to its European neighbors London and Paris. As of 2016, there are no direct flights from Japan, so many people associate it with a sense of mystery.
However, in reality, it's like the last paradise, attracting young people from around the world seeking new encounters and excitement. In response to this popularity, the city's appearance has changed dramatically in less than a decade. In recent years, trendy cafes and restaurants have opened one after another, transforming some areas into modern, sophisticated hip neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the streets are still filled with graffiti, from works of art to simple graffiti. Nightly parties take place in clubs and abandoned places, and Berlin's unique underground culture, which dates back to before the fall of the wall, remains alive and well.
While many people seem to be leaving due to the recent rise in rents and prices, there is also a steady stream of people drawn to the city and relocating there to expand their potential and talents. Here, we'll skip the list of tourist attractions and introduce some of the best weekend spots in Berlin to enjoy like a local and make the most of your visit.
■Friday
9am: Wake up with a cup of coffee at a coffee shop
The popularity of third wave coffee is no exception here in Berlin, with new coffee shops popping up every day. The first place you should check out is THE BARN ROASTERY in the Mitte district in the city center.
In addition to serving espressos and lattes made with beans roasted in the shop's own factory, their carefully brewed filter coffee is also popular. Another must-visit spot is the new location opened this summer in the Kreuzberg district by BONANZA COFFEE, the city's leading roaster. Third-wave coffee shops often employ staff from abroad, and the atmosphere, filled with German and English, is a testament to the highly international nature of Berlin today.
The Barn Roastery, which houses a roasting factory, prioritizes human interaction and has a policy of prohibiting PC use at window seats.
12pm: Relax by the lake
Berlin is actually lush with greenery. A short train ride from the city center brings you to the forest, where locals routinely go mushroom hunting in the fall. Also, because of the city's inland location, in summer people flock to the city's many lakes for swimming rather than the sea. Weisensee is easily accessible and a popular spot where music festivals are also held. Krumme Lanke is a little further from the city center, but it offers a more tranquil setting and allows you to spend time in the midst of nature.
Located about an hour from the city center, Krumme Lanke is a lake where Berliners flock to swim in the summer. If you go out of season, you can enjoy the magical scenery shrouded in silence.
3pm: BBQ at the airport. Buy food at the market.
Flughafen Tempelhof is a park built on the site of an airport that was built under Hitler's orders and used until 2008. One of the charms of this country is that it has managed to do something unthinkable in other developed countries: turn a prime location in the heart of the city into a park and open it to the public. A stroll along the runway with the sunset at your back is great, but if the weather is nice, you can also choose to have a BBQ.
We also recommend renting a bicycle and cycling along the runway at dusk.
There is a designated area on the premises where you are allowed to make a fire, and you can purchase simple BBQ sets at low cost at supermarkets, so why not stock up on your favorite ingredients and enjoy a BBQ in a foreign land? Also, the city's most popular food market, the Turkish Market, is held every Tuesday and Friday, so you can stock up on provisions here. There are also stands selling fresh vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, and unusual prepared foods.
Although you can't enter the area, the terminal remains as it was back then.
Anyone can enjoy a BBQ in the designated area.
The Turkish Market is held every Tuesday and Friday along the Maybachufer River. There's also a stand selling local organic vegetables.
6pm: Stay at a designer hotel floating on the lake
You'll want to choose a unique place to stay, right? For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend some relaxing time, we recommend the designer hotel Modern Houseboat in the Rummelsburg district, near the city center.
This boat hotel floats on a lake in an area currently undergoing urban development and lined with factories. The hotel is fully equipped with everything you need for a stay, including a bed, bath, kitchen, and stove. Looking outside, you can see wild birds swimming nearby, making it hard to believe you're in the heart of the city. The owner, Chris, recommends staying in the winter, when the tranquility is even greater. He says the scenery, blanketed in snow, is exceptional.
A boat hotel floating on Lake Rummelsburg. This developing area is seeing a lot of construction of apartment buildings, but there are still many factories standing here, giving you a glimpse of Berlin's scenery in the former East German era.
A system kitchen is provided. The wood-burning stove is a great choice.
The sofa in the living room can be used as a bed.
Accommodates up to two adults and two children.
Wild birds swimming in the lake are right nearby!
It would also be fun to rent a bike and explore the nearby area.
Tomorrow (November 19th), we will be introducing ways to enjoy Berlin that are unique to a Saturday!
Enjoy Berlin's food and art! Spend a Saturday in Berlin [A weekend in Berin]
Berlin never sleeps! Spend a Sunday in Berlin [A weekend in Berin]
However, in reality, it's like the last paradise, attracting young people from around the world seeking new encounters and excitement. In response to this popularity, the city's appearance has changed dramatically in less than a decade. In recent years, trendy cafes and restaurants have opened one after another, transforming some areas into modern, sophisticated hip neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the streets are still filled with graffiti, from works of art to simple graffiti. Nightly parties take place in clubs and abandoned places, and Berlin's unique underground culture, which dates back to before the fall of the wall, remains alive and well.
While many people seem to be leaving due to the recent rise in rents and prices, there is also a steady stream of people drawn to the city and relocating there to expand their potential and talents. Here, we'll skip the list of tourist attractions and introduce some of the best weekend spots in Berlin to enjoy like a local and make the most of your visit.
■Friday
9am: Wake up with a cup of coffee at a coffee shop
The popularity of third wave coffee is no exception here in Berlin, with new coffee shops popping up every day. The first place you should check out is THE BARN ROASTERY in the Mitte district in the city center.
In addition to serving espressos and lattes made with beans roasted in the shop's own factory, their carefully brewed filter coffee is also popular. Another must-visit spot is the new location opened this summer in the Kreuzberg district by BONANZA COFFEE, the city's leading roaster. Third-wave coffee shops often employ staff from abroad, and the atmosphere, filled with German and English, is a testament to the highly international nature of Berlin today.
The Barn Roastery, which houses a roasting factory, prioritizes human interaction and has a policy of prohibiting PC use at window seats.
12pm: Relax by the lake
Berlin is actually lush with greenery. A short train ride from the city center brings you to the forest, where locals routinely go mushroom hunting in the fall. Also, because of the city's inland location, in summer people flock to the city's many lakes for swimming rather than the sea. Weisensee is easily accessible and a popular spot where music festivals are also held. Krumme Lanke is a little further from the city center, but it offers a more tranquil setting and allows you to spend time in the midst of nature.
Located about an hour from the city center, Krumme Lanke is a lake where Berliners flock to swim in the summer. If you go out of season, you can enjoy the magical scenery shrouded in silence.
3pm: BBQ at the airport. Buy food at the market.
Flughafen Tempelhof is a park built on the site of an airport that was built under Hitler's orders and used until 2008. One of the charms of this country is that it has managed to do something unthinkable in other developed countries: turn a prime location in the heart of the city into a park and open it to the public. A stroll along the runway with the sunset at your back is great, but if the weather is nice, you can also choose to have a BBQ.
We also recommend renting a bicycle and cycling along the runway at dusk.
There is a designated area on the premises where you are allowed to make a fire, and you can purchase simple BBQ sets at low cost at supermarkets, so why not stock up on your favorite ingredients and enjoy a BBQ in a foreign land? Also, the city's most popular food market, the Turkish Market, is held every Tuesday and Friday, so you can stock up on provisions here. There are also stands selling fresh vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, and unusual prepared foods.
Although you can't enter the area, the terminal remains as it was back then.
Anyone can enjoy a BBQ in the designated area.
The Turkish Market is held every Tuesday and Friday along the Maybachufer River. There's also a stand selling local organic vegetables.
6pm: Stay at a designer hotel floating on the lake
You'll want to choose a unique place to stay, right? For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend some relaxing time, we recommend the designer hotel Modern Houseboat in the Rummelsburg district, near the city center.
This boat hotel floats on a lake in an area currently undergoing urban development and lined with factories. The hotel is fully equipped with everything you need for a stay, including a bed, bath, kitchen, and stove. Looking outside, you can see wild birds swimming nearby, making it hard to believe you're in the heart of the city. The owner, Chris, recommends staying in the winter, when the tranquility is even greater. He says the scenery, blanketed in snow, is exceptional.
A boat hotel floating on Lake Rummelsburg. This developing area is seeing a lot of construction of apartment buildings, but there are still many factories standing here, giving you a glimpse of Berlin's scenery in the former East German era.
A system kitchen is provided. The wood-burning stove is a great choice.
The sofa in the living room can be used as a bed.
Accommodates up to two adults and two children.
Wild birds swimming in the lake are right nearby!
It would also be fun to rent a bike and explore the nearby area.
Tomorrow (November 19th), we will be introducing ways to enjoy Berlin that are unique to a Saturday!
Enjoy Berlin's food and art! Spend a Saturday in Berlin [A weekend in Berin]
Berlin never sleeps! Spend a Sunday in Berlin [A weekend in Berin]
