Deterred from visiting the German capital because you think it’s just for those who like beer, sausages and techno? I’ll admit it: I was “That Person.” I remember a few years ago a work colleague, about to move to Berlin, excitedly summed up the city to me with those three things. I’m pretty sure I shuddered.

However, having finally got around to visiting what has fast become one of Europe’s coolest city-break destinations, I can confidently report that there’s much, much more to Berlin than beer, sausages and techno. Here are just some of the alternatives . . .

1) Discover Great Modern art, Indoors and Out

First, Berlin is a modern art lover’s paradise. It’s packed with galleries, ranging from tiny independent studios and private-view-only collections, to the expansive national gallery at the Hamburger Bahnhof.

The latter began life as the city’s train station, and in fact unusual settings are a recurring theme in Berlin’s art scene. Take for instance, the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, housed in a former margarine factory, or the Sammlung Boros Collection, a former bomb shelter, which has also spent time as a prison, storehouse and fetish club.

Then there are the many “unofficial” outlets for art in the city. While the best-known of Berlin’s artists’ squats, Kunsthaus Tacheles, has recently been cleared, you’re still likely to come across small studios and collectives, many with their doors open to the public.

That said, you don’t even have to go indoors to find art here. Much of the graffiti that covers Berlin is deserving of “street art” status, and it’s also definitely worth a trip further out of the center to the East Side Gallery.

This is a mile-long stretch of the remains of the wall that once divided Berlin in two, covered with artworks by more than 100 artists — some playful, some political — overall adding up to something pretty special.

2) Delve Into History

Following on the open-air theme, I was very impressed with the Topography of Terror exhibition, an open-air (and free) museum that tells the story of the city in the years before and during World War II.

The material on display is engaging, moving and often disturbing, capturing the horrors of this time by focusing on individual lives and deaths, viewed through letters, photographs, official documents and memoirs.

The exhibition is located on the site of former Gestapo and SS headquarters, running alongside another remaining stretch of the wall.

It’s also close to Checkpoint Charlie, the best-known of the old checkpoints between East and West Berlin during the days of the wall. A replica checkpoint stands on the spot, complete with guards who you can get a photo with if you’re so inclined (for a fee — they’ll snarl if they catch you snapping without paying for the privilege).

Heading further west you’ll find the Holocaust Memorial, a grid of concrete slabs of varying heights, reaching well above your head as you wander further in to its passageways.

And, delving further back in time, it’s just a short walk from here to the impressive neoclassical Brandenburg Gate, and the also-impressive Reichstag, Germany’s parliament.

3) Wander on Foot, Bike or Segway

Okay, so I like walking, and I’m pretty sure any city-break article I write would include the (not so) revelatory idea that walking about is a great way to get a feel for a place.

However, my own predispositions aside, I would argue that Berlin is a city that especially rewards this approach.

It doesn’t take long to get out of the central touristy area (which is itself, generally very pleasant and relatively uncrowded — but then, I do live in London), and pretty soon you find yourself in quiet, leafy streets, lined with beautifully aging apartments blocks and balconies hung with plants.

If walking’s not so much your thing, bike rental is also very popular and fairly inexpensive, starting from around €10 per day. And if you fancy trying something a little different, Segway tours seem to be a growing craze (for better or for worse).

4) Indulge In Café Culture

As you stroll, cycle or Segway along, you’ll probably notice lots of cool-looking little cafes, bars and shops. During the daytime, these are ideal for sitting outside (in summer at least), grabbing a coffee and snack, and indulging in some people-watching.

In my experience, the food is likely to be at least pretty good (potentially very good), and all the tastier for being relatively inexpensive (though again, I should point out I live in London, so my perspective may be skewed).

As an example, the very first place I ate at was Nord-Sud, a little French restaurant on Auguststraße. The menu here changes every day, but there’s usually a choice of three different three-course menus, for the bargain price of just €8.

I initially assumed I’d misheard this, but no: three freshly sourced, high-quality courses for just €8. (And yes, I did have a sausage — I decided I’d better try one after all.)

5) Enjoy Live Music, Definitely Not Just Techno

Finally, a brief note must be dedicated to Berlin’s music scene — brief not because the scene is in any way small or unimpressive, but because I’m unlikely to do it justice.

Suffice to say, there’s plenty going on across the full musical-genre spectrum, and, like everything else I’ve mentioned, it literally spills out onto the street.

During the day, you’ll find musicians busking in and around the city’s parks and squares, and at nighttime, many of those cool little cafes and bars turn into intimate venues.

On the way back to my hostel, I came across a gig happening in the street outside one of these cafes, holding captive many people who seemed, like me, to have just been wandering/cycling past.

Of course you can take a more organized approach, and there are larger venues, many of which join the city’s art galleries in gaining character from past lives — Fritz Club was once a post-loading hall, Lido is a former theater, and so on.

*

Which pretty neatly brings us full circle. So, in place of beer, sausages and techno, how about cafes, culture and cycling? If someone had used those three words instead, I’m sure I would have visited years ago.

By Laura Bridgestock

[Topography of Terror by Roger Wollstadt/Flickr; Berlin Street Musicians by Thomas Quine/Flickr; Courtyard Cafe, Berlin by La Citta Vita/Flickr;

About the Author

Based in London, U.K., Laura writes about student experiences in different countries for Top Universities, and covers women’s rights issues for Women’s Views on News. She loves London, but tries to get out of it as often as possible.

The post Top 5 Things To Do In Berlin (Besides Beer, Sausage And Techno) appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.

1) Shoreditch in London, U.K.

This East London neighborhood is by far the most painfully hip in all of Londontown (painful because of the high prices and really, really tight jeans). The bulk of the action can be found around Old Street and Brick Lane, where lanky girls and boys alternate chain smoking with pouting.

The area is peppered with intricate graffiti (or “street art” if we’re going to be pretentious), which makes it perfect for a daytime walk. But even in the daytime, make sure you don’t risk being caught without your Ray-Bans and attitude. Like any decent hotspot, the real fun happens at night at the slew of random bars, themed speakeasies and warehouse parties. The latest development in the area is Boxpark: a temporary (at least for the next five years) pop-up mall made out of shipping containers, featuring a mix of international and independent fashion designers as well as galleries and cafés.

2) Amsterdam-Noord in Amsterdam, Netherlands

With the amount of bikes in Amsterdam, it’s no surprise that this city is hipster friendly, but the crux of action is in the north. “I feel like I’ve been exiled to hipster island,” said the indelible Anthony Bourdain upon visiting the industrial, but oh-so-cool neighborhood of Amsterdam-Noord. The area is peppered with former warehouses and shipyards that are now outfitted as tricked-out offices, art studios and even a skate park. Even Red Bull and MTV got in on the action and moved there.

3) Shimokitazawa in Tokyo, Japan

In western Tokyo you’ll find a hub of cool indie and antique shops, galleries, resto-bars and live music venues. Shimokitazawa (pronounced SHEE-mo-kee-tah-zah-wah) is actually pretty tame compared to the neon glare of the rest of Tokyo, but it’s still a nucleus for young Toykoite culture vultures. Most streets are pedestrian-only; the small storefronts, which are mainly converted residences, lend to lazy exploring and browsing in the wealth of chill record shops and second-hand clothing stores.

4) La Roma in Mexico City, Mexico

A local described La Roma (also called Colonia Roma) and neighboring La Condesa as the East Village and West Village of Mexico City, respectively. Along Alvaro Obregon, vendors assemble to sell books, antiques and collectibles, while Calle Orizaba and Calle Colima is know as an art Mecca full of galleries (such as Galería OMR). Like the other hipster locales, La Roma mixes grungy roots with a fresh high-end influx. La Roma isn’t without a grime factor. The area — though upscale— has problems with prostitutes and squatters, but hipsters don’t scare easy.

5) Kreuzberg in Berlin, Germany

First off, it almost goes without saying that Berlin is a modern-day hodgepodge of hipster culture. In fact, it may be the hipster-est city in all of Europe. Hipsters of every sub-genre congregate at Görlitzer Park for impromptu jam sessions, DJ sets and brews (though they don’t have PBR) at the park bar, Das Edelweiss. Other activities are centered upon Oranien Strasse and Skalitzer Strasse where the nightlife magic happens.

6) Fitzroy in Melbourne, Australia

Fitzroy’s main drag is Brunswick Street, full of cheap, vegan eats and funky, retro pubs. The area is packed with the usual mix of the beautiful and the damned: broke students, fashionistas, boho artists and of course 20-something hipsters. The neighborhood is bursting with creativity as depicted by the slew of always-curious street art and graffiti, which can even be observed via an official tour. Take it all in and enjoy. If you’re not feeling Zooey Deschanel enough, the neighborhood is also home to Rose Street Artists Market hawking handmade goodies like clothes, jewelry and homewares.

By Nicole Trilivas

[Al Volo by Chris JL/Flickr; Netherlands by zemistor/Flickr;  Shimokitazawa by Michael Vito/Flickr; ; La Botica Mezcalería by Alejandro De La Cruz/Flickr;  Cafe V, Vegetarian Cafe by hack man/Flickr; Untitled by Louisa Billeter/Flickr]

About the Author

Nicole Trilivas is the author of the novel, Pretty Girls Make Graves: A pretty girl’s ugly story told in borrowed voices. She is currently scheming away on her next novel, and being terribly bohemian by living off of canned soup and indulging in delusions of grandeur. Snoop around NicoleTrilivas.com for more glittery gems of information.

The post Top 6 Hipster Neighborhoods Around The World appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.

This is the first time I’ve heard about it, but for the past five years, Berlin has celebrated the Festival of Lights in mid-October. The festival entails, basically, letting the boat-load of artists that call the city home do what they want with light projections all over the city, including on some of they city’s more iconic structures, including the Brandenburg Gate and the Fernsehturm (television tower). Somehow this seems fitting for a city so connected to electronic music.

Believe me, after seeing this incredible video you’re going to want to be there too.

Highlight: I love the building at 2:08, which basically looks like those floaty things from Pandora are swarming some neo-classical building in Berlin.

The post Video: This Is What Happens When Artists Are Let Loose In Berlin appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.

Any city can be difficult to navigate or to really get a feel for it. It’s always nice to meet or know locals so that they can take you on a tour of a different nature. Locals are able to see the small things — the trees in the forest — which keep the city so close to their hearts.

Whenever I heard about Berlin, I always imagined straight-lines and block-buildings left over from the utilitarian days of yore. However, I had always wanted to visit the city, fascinated by its history and captivated by its modern, progressive culture.

When reading Rory MacClean’s article, I noticed it wasn’t just any “10 things to do” list. It was accompanied by beautifully shot photographs to illustrate just how culturally rich Berlin is. From a revamped bombed-out museum to where to eat the best Turkish food, MacClean really tries to take you inside Berlin’s walls.

One of my favorites that MacClean writes about is the Ellington Hotel. You can have a private dinner amidst a “wine bank vault,” choose an ultra-modern room of rest, or dip down to the terrace. While out and about, on your way to trendy Prenzlauer Berg, you can stop by the Circleculture Gallery, which displays art from up-and-coming artists, or just look at some graffiti on the streets.

I had always heard great things about the city, especially its arts scene, but I never got to see nor read about the little things. Afterall, the little things are what makes any city. I think that this article effectively explained the most endearing qualities of Germany’s biggest metropolis.

Even though Jon went through all that work posting our hopes for 2010, I’m changing my wishlist to just one place: Berlin.

Sorry, Jon.

By Brit Weaver

About the Author

Toronto born and based, Brit is an avid leisure cyclist, coffee drinker and under-a-tree park-ist. She often finds herself meandering foreign cities looking for street eats to nibble, trees to climb, a patch of grass to sit on, or a small bookstore to sift through. You can find her musing life on her personal blog, TheBubblesAreDead.wordpress.com.

The post Berlin: 10 Things You Should Really Do appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.

I guess I didn’t realize that short-term/weekly rentals are far and few between in England, so imagine the shock a Londoner received when they found out they can squat in a decked-out Berlin penthouse for a full week for about the same as one night would’ve cost in a hotel.

Turns out, Berlin’s student-heavy/artist friendly population means there’s a thriving supply of rooms to be had while the owner’s out-of-town. As the Guardian explains:

Berlin’s army of hard-up freelancers, artists and students rent rooms to strangers on a daily or weekly basis to claw cash back while they’re away from home, via sites and agencies such as exberliner, easywg.de, wg-gesucht.de, or studenten-wg.de.

The post Want The Real Berlin? Try Sleeping In A Berliner’s Bed. Berliner Optional appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.

China’s having a six-minute solar eclipse in July, Berlin’s celebrating 20 years of reunification in November, French Guiana is still amazingly diverse, and Bintan Island is emerging as the place to be among the 3,200 islands in the Riau Archipelago — take that Rempang.

The other six to-do’s are kind of lame, and like most of your to-do lists that you’ve made over your lifetime, will likely be discarded and forgotten soon thereafter. But there’s always 2010.

The post Top 10 To-Do List For 2009 — Way Better Than 2008’s appeared first on The Expeditioner Travel Site.