Berlin hadn’t been on my “go to” list this year, though we really enjoyed it when we went before. After attending a presentation by Visit Berlin tourism delegation in Miami and hearing all the new things to do in Berlin, it was so compelling, it went to the top of my list and off we went this summer.  What grabbed us? The energy from the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 11 in Europe ; the Humboldt Forum, formerly the Baroque Berlin palace, center of the Prussian monarchy and now home of the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art plus temporary exhibits, all alongside Museum island; a fashion tour with a look into the edgy styles that Berlin is known for; and the terrific value between Berlin pass, the Berlin Welcome Card and hotel rates off season. And then there’s the incredible ethnic food scene and coming up this fall, the Festival of Lights in October,  Berlin Freedom Week in November  and the Hip Hop Ball also in November.  This is part 1 in a series of three posts. Others on Berlin fashion and where to stay are coming up. 

Though only five years had passed since my earlier visit, I was surprised at the ethnic diversity of the population. Actually, it’s no surprise given the number of Turkish, Syrian, Ukranian and Asian immigrants, which have had a welcome impact on the culinary scene. For example, near our hotel was Kantstrasse where you could walk for twenty minutes and find one Asian restaurant after another — Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian.Many of the restaurants are chef owner/operated so what you experience is the real deal, and at a good price.  Fine dining? 21 restaurants with 28 Michelin stars have opened in the last few years.

Another surprise was the sheer number of museums — from 170 to 190 is the estimate. As you can imagine, there are quirky ones like the healing museum and museum of disgusting foods and samurai museum, but the majority are world class collections from antiquity and German expressionism to design and architecture. Next year the Museum of the 20th century will open.  On this visit we decided to focus on museums and special exhibits devoted to German history given the anniversary, especially interesting not only for learning more about the world wars but also, the cold war which seems especially relevant in these times.

We started with a clever and engaging interactive exhibit, Berlin Global, at Humboldt Forum, that explores not only political history but culture, fashion, Germany’s interconnection with the world and much more. Would you believe it even had an exhibit where you could try the different curry powders used in making the popular curry wursts.

Another highlight was a trip to the three story world War 11 Bunker, one of many actual bunkers that Hitler tasked architect Albert Speer to build for the populace later on, once he realized Berlin was not immune from being bombed. Here, over three stories, it tells the story of the rise of National Socialism. The  research, scholarship and thoroughness of the commentaries along with the actual images and videos of events was truly impressive and fascinating.

Getting around was easy and inexpensive thanks to a comprehensive metro, tram and bus system.That being said, it’s also a great city for walking, with its large number of parks and impressive architecture ranging from the to be expected Bauhaus to Post Modern alongside the historic Baroque buildings.  The variety as well of the performing arts is impressive. You name the musical genre — cabaret, classical music, techno, and how could one forget the club scene they’re known for. There are also a large number of art cinemas  where just being there is an experience in its own right. For instance, we had hoped to go to

Eva Lichtspiele , a journey back in time . Opened in 1912, the cinema has a 1950s atmosphere. Even the neon sign at the entrance glows in a 1950s design, which continues in the foyer and the tube-like cinema hall. On Sundays, German classics are shown, which fit perfectly into this setting. Even a current film becomes a nostalgic journey through time.

Intrigued by what I’ve seen of German fashion — the unorthodox kind,  we went on a fashion tour which you’ll read about in a separate blogpost. That being said, just walking around certain parts of town like the district called Mitte, you’ll see some eye popping gothic sensibilities shall we say.

Getting back to value, it’s serious. There’s the Museum Pass Berlin, a specific city tourist card that provides free entry to more than 60 attractions and museums in Berlin.

.It is just one of several options for tourists, including the more widely known Berlin WelcomeCard, which offers discounts at attractions instead of free entry. The Museum Pass can also include unlimited public transport for its duration, similar to the Berlin WelcomeCard.

Bottom line, we were almost overwhelmed by the variety of things to do and see and wish we would have stayed longer. Time to plot a return visit.

For more information, click here: visitBerlin.de | about.visitBerlin.de