Your guide to Berlin

Fleur Adderly discusses her favourite things to do in Berlin, giving you reccommendations for when you visit Germany's capital city.

Berlin is a city of vibrancy and chaos. Whilst it is exciting plummeting into the Berlin way of life for a week or two, it is also extremely overwhelming when considering the best places to explore, drink and dance. This places I discuss in this article will give you a good starting ground; they allow you to fully immerse yourself in the city as well as opening up ideas for other potential explorations.

The days in Berlin completely contrast the nights. Though there are inevitably still PVC wide eyed Berliners wandering around at 2pm, the day holds an inspired calm. You are able to sink into drawing, writing, observing, coffee and beer drinking or exploring the history each and every day.

The days in Berlin completely contrast the nights.

So in the daytime, as well as sightseeing the renowned monuments of the city, which is a must, find corner-side cafes dotted around areas like Kreuzberg that hold armchairs and sofas on the pavements, buy a coffee and watch the city go by. Mano Cafe is a popular and atmospheric corner-side cafe, with its charm sitting both inside and outside its doors.

If you are feeling peckish you must try out the infamous Burgermeister, regarded as the best burgers in Berlin, the restaurants hide in underpasses and sit modestly on the streets.

As evening begins to sneak up on you, visit Klunkenkranich to watch the sun set over the city that never sleeps. It is a rooftop bar that sits on top of a shopping centre carpark and acts as a fairyland escape from Berlin’s bustling pavements. Whilst golden hour hits, you submerge yourself in Klunkenkranich’s music, modern art, arrays of plants, lights and its buzzing atmosphere.

Another filmic bar is Barbie Deinhoffs. Back on the ground now you fall into a neon red den of rhythmic German conversations, provocative art plastered on the walls, neon wiry writings and sickly sweet cocktails.

As evening begins to sneak up on you, visit Klunkenkranich to watch the sun set over the city that never sleeps.

It is a must that you try out as least one of the clubs in Berlin. The music is such a huge part of the culture and in venturing into the chaotic techno clubs you are able to see an alternative side to the city. The door policy is strict so prepare yourself, they say you must either look / speak German or know the music you are going in for. There is a mass of clubs, but a couple of the best for music and atmosphere are ://about blank and Tresor.

://about blank which is located along the train track underpasses and appears to be nothing more than an abandoned shack on the side of the street, that is until you hear the roaring bass making the door frames and windows jitter. The club consists of two misty rooms both full of techno, electronic and house and the DJs here are impeccable. What also adds to this club’s charm is the outdoor area which is like a festival escape from the intense music, it is a vast forest full of sofas, huge beds, baths and abandoned caravans, like another set to a film.

The music is such a huge part of the culture and in venturing into the chaotic techno clubs you are able to see an alternative side to the city.

Tresor - which is one of Berlin’s most popular underground techno clubs - is situated in what used to be the vaults of an old department store and now holds the image of a dungeon of techno. Once inside you are taken away from the concept of time, normality and light and fall into endless hours of dancing. The music is often heavy Berlin techno that makes your hair literally bounce and the club is full of a mist that means you can see nothing around you but smoke and colour. Stay until you can no longer move and leave the underground club to meet with the 5am sunrise.
And of course you must at least try Berghain, known as one of the hardest clubs to get into but one that holds the most madness and best techno, those who get in never quite have the words to describe what it is like.

These are just a small proportion of the unforgettable places to visit which enable you to see the wonder and magic of Berlin, a city like no other.