City Rating: Berlin
Population of Berlin: 3’500’000
Date of visit: August 2018
Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: 5/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 4/5
Low budget factor: 4/5
Total: 👍👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Berlin is one of the most historic cities in Europe and definitely a unique one. The city is huge, cheap, fun and together with Amsterdam the most liberal city on the continent. Moreover, it’s one of the best cities in the world for foodies and night owls, as the restaurant and nightlife scene is world-class.
Where to stay:
That’s not an easy question and depends on what you want to do. The German capital is huge and everything is spread out. I have been to Berlin three times and stayed in different areas every time.
If sightseeing and shopping is the top priority, I would stay near Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse or Potsdamer Platz. Not only because many of Berlin’s sights (Brandenburg Gate, Reichtstag, Memorial to the murdered Jews and Checkpoint Charlie) are nearby, it is also the most beautiful part of the city. Plus if you want to shop, you can easily walk to Berlin Mall from there or go to the shops around Postdamer Platz.
Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg should be your choice if nightlife is your top priority. Most of the nightclubs in Berlin are in these two neighbourhoods, and you will save time and taxi money if you stay there.
If you want sightseeing and nightlife, Prenzlauer Berg/Berlin Mitte might be a good compromise. Take your hotel near Alexanderplatz (ibis Mitte for example). In my opinion, it’s not the ideal area, as it will take time to go the sights as well as to the bars and nightclubs. However, if you’re in Berlin for two days only, this might be the best solution.
The Good:
Berlin had a troubled past in the last century like no other city and is because of that one of the most important European cities from the historic perspective. That’s why it’s a must to visit the German capital and see the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust Memorial. It’s also a unique city and very different from other German cities.
Berlin is a city for hipster and artists nowadays. It’s a city where everyone is tolerated and can do his or her thing without getting judged by others. As a tourist, you will notice that when you see all the hipster cafés, bars and clubs. This makes Berlin not only unique in Germany but also in Europe.
The city is also great for foodies. There are thousands of restaurants with excellent food from all over the world. And the best thing are the prices. Eating out in Berlin is often cheaper than cooking for yourself. In the cheapest restaurants, you will find (mostly delicious) main courses for 4-5€. Of course, snacks like Curry Wurst or Döner Kebab are even cheaper.
Nightlife is probably the best in Europe. You can go out every night of the week, as there is no shortage of bars and nightclubs. Although Berlin is the techno capital of Europe, there are still enough options for people who don’t like the music. Door policy is harsh in most of the (techno) clubs and sometimes not very tourist-friendly. Besides, everything starts pretty late and most of the nightclubs will be empty before 1 or 2 AM.
Public transport is pretty cheap and efficient, a day pass costs 7€ and is necessary if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on taxis.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Even though Berlin is an interesting city, it’s not a beautiful one in my humble opinion. This city has been rebuild after World War II and the industrial appearance is not charming. This is a bit a shame, as Berlin must have been a very beautiful city before the war.
Another minus is the weather. Germany’s capital is cold most time of the year. It’s also very windy, which can make it almost unbearable. Therefore, visiting this city between November and late April is a bad idea.
Berlin is huge and offers a lot, but its size is also a disadvantage. Distances between places are big and if time is limited you’ll use taxis anyway, especially at night. This can be costly.
The last negative thing is that petty crime is common. Watch your wallet and your other belongings (like in any other big city in Europe).
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