The whole world gathers in Berlin for ITB, the International Tourism Fair, in March. The travel trade fair is reserved for representatives of the tourism industry - in this blog article, we'll tell you how you can still make the most of the international flair as a regular visitor to Berlin. And even if you are a professional participant, don't miss out on this voyage of discovery outside the exhibition halls!
Tip 1: French savoir-vivre
French savoir-vivre, or the ability to enjoy life, is something that Berliners are also quite good at. The upscale French cuisine has one or two mainstays in Berlin that are well worth a visit. The Paris Bar on Kantstraße has been a favourite haunt of the stars and starlets in Charlottenburg for decades. And the 3 Minutes Sur Mer is also an extremely popular place among Francophile Berliners. From oysters to steak frites and crème brûlée, everything is on offer here.
Tip 2: Eiffel Tower vibes at the exhibition centre
But good food is not enough. The Institut Français is the place to go when it comes to French culture, literature and language in Berlin. As a place of Franco-German friendship and cultural exchange, the institute was founded in West Berlin in 1950. Today, all kinds of events take place here. The building is also home to the popular Cinema Paris, a cinema for European and French films that offers many screenings in the original language.
And if you have a longing for the Eiffel Tower: The Berlin Radio Tower is a kind of little brother to the most famous Parisian landmark. The architect Heinrich Straumer actually consulted the plans for its construction from the Eiffel Tower.
Tip 3: On the trail of the Orient
From Weekly Market at Maybachufer to Oriental Market, the colourful market, which takes place every Tuesday and Friday on the Landwehr Canal, has many names. The offer is just as varied. Here you can find freshly harvested fruit and vegetablesfrom faraway countries as well as from organic farmers in Brandenburg. Try Turkish specialities and stock up on beautiful fabrics, ribbons and braids
You will also find that the hummus supply in Berlin is excellent. Flavour is a language we all speak in common.
Tip 4: Alpine flair in Berlin
Not surprisingly, Berlin can't hold a candle to the Swiss Alps when it comes to hiking routes. But to ensure that the hiking enthusiasts among you don't get bored, you can at least get a bit of exercise. Because summit hopping is also possible in the German capital: the Berlin Summit Tour takes you across three districts and up five Berlin summits from which you can overlook the city. There certainly won't be an Alpine breeze, but the air up here - at a total altitude of 350 metres - isn't too bad either.
If you've worked up an appetite on the summit tour, we recommend the Schwarze Heidi. Here, traditional Swiss dishes are combined with experimental cuisine and served in a stylish, hip ambience. If you prefer something a little more traditional, pay a visit to the Joseph Roth Diele. Enjoy the German-Austrian home style cooking and the rustic interior.
Tip 5: City panorama, please!
The fastest elevator in New York is located in SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. The fastest elevator in Europe can be found in the Panoramapunkt in the Kollhoff Tower at Potsdamer Platz. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a unique view of Berlin city centre. An open-air exhibition gives you an insight into the history of Potsdamer Platz, which was located in the death zone between East and West during the division of Berlin. Enjoy a hot drink at lofty heights in the Panorama Café.
Tip 6: Mediterranean castle on Wannsee
Southern European style - in the middle of the Mark Brandenburg countryside - Glienicke Palace's inspiration is clear to see. Prince Carl of Prussia was a great fan of Italy. Whilst travelling to the Bel Paese, he came up with the idea of having an antique-style villa built on the Havel. Karl Friedrich Schinkel provided the designs and presented the many antique works of art that the prince had collected as a passionate art collector. Good for you, because you can relax in the Brandenburg countryside with Italian flair.
Tip 7: Lekker fietsen in Berlin
Although Berlin is not quite up to Dutch standards yet, cycling is becoming increasingly popular here too. No wonder: Two wheels are simply the best way to discover the city. No parking problems, no traffic jams and always fresh air around your nose. There is also no shortage of beautiful destinations. For example, how about a tour to the Marzahn Bockwindmühle? It still provides freshly ground grain for the "Marzahn mill crust". That sounds more like a rural idyll than a big city with almost 4 million inhabitants.
By bike in Berlin
Tip 8: Discover Japan in Berlin
Berliners are known for embracing cultural influences from all over the world with enthusiasm. So it's not surprising that Japanese culture has left its mark in every corner. Japanese design and lifestyle products can be found at honoki in Prenzlauer Berg, for example. There are also several shops specialising in anime, manga and K-POP, such as Neo Tokyo Berlin on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz or J-Store in Charlottenburg. Of course, Berliners won't want to miss out on the Japanese culinary delights. Marubi Ramen and Beyond Ramen are just two of the many Top Japanese restaurants in Berlin.
Tip 9: Tango dancing in Berlin
At first glance, you probably wouldn't expect tango to be part of Berlin. But Berlin actually has a lively tango scene and is even the second largest Tango metropolis after Buenos Aires. You can regularly take part in classes and milongas - even outdoors when it's warmer. You can find the latest news from the tango scene, for example, in the online magazine Tango Society, which is published by Berliners Kerstin and Jörg Buntenbach.
Tip 10: A date for an elegant afternoon tea
English people love their tea just as much as they love their gardens. So what could be more quintessentially English than drinking a delicious cup of tea surrounded by flowers? "The Cottage" in the rose garden in the Gardens of the World. Sandwiches, scones and homemade cakes are served there in style.
A somewhat more exclusive treat is, of course, tea time in a hotel. Some luxury hotels in Berlin also offer everything you need for a relaxing break with tea, sandwiches, scones and fine pastries. The elegant café "Opera Court" at the Hotel de Rome serves a classic afternoon tea and a gin tea. You can indulge in a royal afternoon tea with piano music on the Bel Etage or in the lobby of the Adlon . Choose from 40 types of tea at a fine tea time with live music at the weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Tip 11: Tropical expedition in the Botanical Garden
You can marvel at the fascinating vegetation of different climatic regions in the botanical garden. When you walk among the bamboo, orchids and banana trees here, you almost feel like you're on a little tropical expedition. But the cuddly succulents and prickly cacti will also win your heart. And it's not just the plants that are a feast for the eyes, the botanical garden also has a lot to offer architecturally. The 25-metre-long tropical house will leave you speechless with its imposing Art Nouveau steel construction.
