There are few cities as cutting-edge-cool as Berlin. In the two decades since the wall came down, Berlin has developed a reputation as Europe’s most lively, vibrant and cultural city. It’s a diverse and alternative capital, welcoming all tastes and ideas.
If you’re considering learning a language, it’s worth studying at ESL Schools (esl-schools.org), who run a well respected German school in Berlin. And while you’re there, experience the extreme side of the city. Here are some suggestions.
Party all night in a power station
Berliners love to party until the cows come home, and there are few better places than what some claim is the best club in Europe. The Berghain/Panorama Bar is an enormous former power station, on the unassuming border of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, a club which remains at the centre of European techno. It still plays a healthy mix of techno and house, with parties often stretching well into the following afternoon and beyond.
Get your photo taken in the Photoautomat
Having four grainy black-and-white photos of yourself and your cohorts is as fashionably Berlin an activity as they come. These old-school photo booths are a familiar sight throughout the city and epitomise its vintage cool. Pop a couple of euros into the slot and strike a pose.
Go swimming in a floating pool on the river
The Badeschiff (‘bathing ship’) is unique: a river barge turned swimming pool floating in the East Harbour section of the River Spree. Due to pollution, the river itself is not ideal for swimmers, so this novel idea gives punters the chance of swimming at roughly the same level. Started as an art project in 2004, the pool is now a popular Berlin fixture and houses a bar with regular DJs. Saunas are added in the winter.
Eat as part of an art installation
The Zagreus Projekt is a typically Berlin concept. Every two months, chef/artist Ulriss Krauss invites artists to design a site-specific installation in his basement studio and then creates a multi-course dinner inspired by the work. Diners share a communal table and eat a variety of interesting food, surrounded by the artwork. Not your average evening out at a restaurant.
Go shopping in an alternative department store
True to form, Berliners do shopping a little differently. The Berlinomat in Friedrichshain is a great example: a sprawling showcase for around 150 local designers, flogging their wares in everything from fashion to furniture, plus a cafe. With hip music pumping through the speakers, you can pick up the kind of achingly cool clothes and accessories you would never find on the high street.
