Berlin

A divided city

The careless tourist looking for the real center of Berlin is usually disappointed. Of course there is Alexanderplatz with the Fernsehturm, which dominates the skyline of Berlin. But it is mainly the different neighborhoods, each with its own style and atmosphere, that form the real face of the German capital. Although it is a different kind of division that this beautiful city is really known for. Those who want to learn more about the Berlin Wall that divided the city into an Eastern and Western part until 1989 should definitely visit the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer. Here a part of the wall has been preserved as authentically as possible and a visit to the accompanying museum is sure to leave a deep impression.

Those who prefer a more light-hearted view of the wall can take a stroll along the East Side Gallery. This 1.3 km long remnant on the banks of the Spree was painted by 118 artists in 1990. In this way, this symbol of the oppression of the East Germans was transformed into an ode to freedom. If this cultural stroll has left you feeling hungry, be sure to visit Scheers Schnitzel. This quirky little restaurant is hidden under a viaduct at the eastern end of the Gallery, in a dismantled public toilet. If you're not paying attention, you'll walk right past it. But certainly don't let the setting put you off. The homemade schnitzels - served at very democratic prices - are the perfect lunch for any hungry tourist.

Berlin is very vast - as much as 9 times larger than Paris. The best way to discover the city is therefore to combine the use of a shared bicycle with public transport. Such a bike is also ideal for taking a ride on the old runways of Tempelhof. This airport that was so crucial in supplying the city during the blockade of West Berlin was closed in 2008 and now forms the largest city park in Europe.

Indispensable in Berlin culture is, of course, brunch. On the weekends Berliners love to languish half the day with a hot cup of coffee and plates full of local specialties and exotic fruits. Therefore, never take breakfast at a hotel, but head out into the city and be surprised. Besides the specialized breakfast bars, just about every pub or bar offers breakfast. There is no need to rush, usually the formulas are available until 15h or even 16h, but if you want a place in one of the more popular breakfast bars, it is best to come before 10h30. Especially on the weekends it can get pretty crowded and at the hippest locations a queue forms quickly.

Berlin is a beautiful city with lots of greenery and open spaces, brimming with history. On a tour of the city, it is therefore almost impossible not to stumble across the many references to the often turbulent past - sometimes even literally. For example, you will find the small Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) all over Berlin. The project by Berlin artist Gunter Demnig, commemorates the victims of Nazism by placing a small memorial stone in the sidewalk in front of their last residence. At the moment, there are more than 9,000 of these little monuments to be found in the German capital. But the stones have also found their way to other European cities. Some 75,000 have already been placed, and those wishing to find the 10,000 in Belgium and the Netherlands can even count on the help of a dedicated app.