For some years now, Berlin has been THE fashionable capital. Its nightlife attracts young people from all over Europe. Arm aber Sexy, poor but sexy, the slogan coined by former mayor Klaus Wowereit, Berlin doesn't necessarily shine for its architecture or the cleanliness of its streets, but rather for its relaxed, young and lively atmosphere. Berlin has many hidden treasures and unusual places, not least the Reichstag, East Side Gallery and Brandenburg Gate. In this top list of unusual places in Berlin, you'll discover places that reflect the city's rebellious image and its fight against rampant gentrification.
1. Prinzessinnengarten participatory gardens
Participatory gardens at Prinzessinnengarten © Claudia Tribin - commons.wikimedia.org
A typically Berlin initiative: the Prinzessinnenstrasse urban gardens. On a large plot of land left derelict because of its proximity to the wall, a number of plants and initiatives are now growing. Anyone can come and cultivate their own plot of land, take gardening lessons and take part in the project to preserve green spaces. The site also boasts a restaurant serving homemade dishes made from organic produce, children's games and a library. A place not to be missed for a few moments in the countryside, in the midst of urban immensity.
2. Sunday morning: karaoke at Mauerpark
Sunday morning, Mauerpark karaoke© sfreimark - Flickr.com
A classic of the German capital, Mauerpark, in the Prenzlauerberg district, is known for its flea markets and bohemian atmosphere. You can even see a piece of the Berlin Wall, which today serves as a canvas for many taggers. But as soon as summer rolls around, the park offers a new distraction : giant karaoke every Sunday morning for all you singing apprentices. In a former amphitheater, Berliners young and old sing along to GDR classics, Britney Spears, Oasis and the Beatles in one of Berlin's most unusual venues.
3. A detour down Berlin's most communist alleyway, Karl-Marx-Allee
A short detour along the most communist of Berlin's alleys, Karl-Marx-Allee© Gryffindor - commons.wikimedia.org
Passage Karl-Marx-Allee , or KMA to its friends, is the very symbol of what the GDR was all about. A must-see in Berlin. First called Große Frankfurter Straße, then Stalinallee, it's a 2.3 km by 89 m alley (20 m wider than the Champs-Élysées!), whose buildings were constructed in the purest Soviet style. It was a veritable utopian beehive, in the style of Le Corbusier, for East German workers. A good idea is to ride your bike through it, stopping here and there to take a few snapshots of an artery full of history. Another option: book this sightseeing tour on a multi-stop bus to see all of Berlin's most mythical spots.
4. Picnic in a former airport at Tempelhofer Feld
A picnic in an old airport at Tempelhofer Feld© Anticiclo - shutterstock.com
Templehofer Feld is all the spirit of Berlin in one place. On the tarmac of the former Tempelhof airport, closed in 2008, the city has created a vast park where anyone can picnic, cycle or relax. Already in the past, when the military carried out parades and maneuvers here, Berliners came here at weekends and on public holidays to relax and spend time with friends and family in their spare time. Often threatened by property developers, the 360-hectare park (larger than Central Parc!) is holding its own. A must-see in Berlin!
5. Street art at Raw-Gelände
Street art at Raw-Gelände© Jennifer Davies - Flickr.com
As we all know, Berlin is a paradise for urban art and offbeat music. This unusual venue is therefore recommended for fans of street art this time around, as well as for lovers of festive music evenings. Located in the former GDR district of Friedrichshain, RAW is home to 14 soccer pitches, numerous associations, nightclubs, punk, electro and new wave concerts, a flea market, a climbing wall, a skate park... These former railroad maintenance warehouses, now redeveloped as creative wastelands, are the delight of artists and fans of Berlin nightlife. Yes, Berlin isn't one of Europe's top 10 party cities or top 13 EVG destinations for nothing!
Discover Berlin through the eyes of local street artists on an unusual guided tour, bookable right here.
6. A ride in a legendary Trabant
A ride in a legendary Trabant© ilovebutter - commons.wikimedia.org
For number 5, we're not talking about places, but rather about an unusual way to visit the German capital. A number of companies offer you the chance to take on Berlin in the mythical Trabant, the totem of the GDR. This small, brightly-colored car, said to be indestructible, will show you the city through the filter of "Ostalgie", the nostalgia of the East German regime. For the record, East Berliners sometimes waited several years to receive their Trabant, with a waiting list that never let up. A crazy experience awaits you if you dare to take the plunge by booking here.
7. Berlin and its squats
Berlin and its squats© Beek100 - commons.wikimedia.org
We can't talk about Berlin's history without mentioning its squats, one of the most unusual places to see in Berlin. The motto "Arm aber Sexy" (Poor but Sexy) sums up this state of mind. At the end of the Cold War, numerous anti-system groups occupied the abandoned buildings that populated the capital's streets. Today, most of them have been deserted, legalized or are of interest to property developers who want to take over the walls or destroy them. One thing's for sure, just passing by is worth the detour. Head for Tacheles and Linienstrasse 206 in Berlin Mitte, Kastanienallee 86 in Prenzlauerberg or Liebig 34 in Friedrichshain.
Explore Berlin's hidden backyards by booking this guided walking tour, which will show you the city from a different angle as you wander through some of its lesser-known hidden alleys, courtyards and creative spaces.
8. Systemfehler and Umsonstladen, stores where you don't pay 1 euro
Systemfehler and Umsonstladen, stores where you don't pay 1 euro © Jotquadrat - commons.wikimedia.org
Berlin is brimming with offbeat ideas and unusual places to see, all geared towards sharing and collaboration. These range from shared gardens in the heart of the city to disused sites that have been converted into cultural venues. Some have even had the idea of creating totally free stores. The Systemfehler, literally system error, and Umsonstladen, store for nothing, offer those who have too much clothing, books or furniture to get rid of it, and those who are looking for objects, to take them for free. Nothing is for sale, everything is for recovery in Berlin!
9. Spreepark, an abandoned amusement park
Spreepark, an abandoned amusement park© Till Krech - commons.wikimedia.org
A place that's not only unusual, but also a little scary: an abandoned amusement park in the former GDR. Spreepark, created in 1960, was one of East Germany's stooges. It welcomed over a million visitors a year! Visible from the other side of the wall, it was intended to symbolize the success of the regime. Today, the park has been abandoned and nature has reclaimed its rights, making the place almost ideal for a horror movie. Little trains in the trees, tracks covered in greenery, monsters mingling with nature, this unusual place is now the subject of organized tours.
10. A ride on Teufelsberg Devil's Mountain
A ride on Teufelsberg Devil's Mountain© Shanti Hesse - Shutterstock.Com
Teufelsberg is a hill to the west of Berlin. Standing 114 meters high, it was built from the rubble of the city's bombed-out buildings during the Second World War. It was here, in 1963, that the National Security Agency opened a listening station called "The Big Ear". Until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Anglo-Saxons tapped into the electromagnetic waves emitted by the former Eastern bloc, the GDR and the USSR. The site is recognizable by the three geodesic balls used to conceal the orientation of the antennas. Now abandoned, it's a favorite haunt of graffiti artists. It's a dream location for street art lovers, and also for those who want to enjoya sublime panorama of the German capital at sunset.
11. Berliner Unterwelten, Berlin's underground bunkers
This is one of Berlin's most unusual sights. The Berliner Unterwelten offer tours of underground Berlin, revealing the secrets of bunkers and fallout shelters. This association offers a resolutely underground exploration of the city. Three unusual, high-quality tours are available in French: one on World War II bunkers and bombings, another on Cold War fallout shelters, and a third on GDR escapes after the Wall was built (digging tunnels, pipelines, etc.). There's also an exhibition devoted to Germania, Albert Speer's city project. A must-see in Berlin if you're spending 3 days there.
12. Kulturbrauerei, the brewery turnedcultural center
A fine example of successful conversion. This former brewery has been transformed into a veritable cultural center , with theater, cinema and more. The Kulturbrauerei's vast red-brick complex is a veritable labyrinth for night owls. Formerly the Schultheiss brewery, which served as a furniture warehouse in the GDR and threatened to collapse after the fall of the Wall, it has since been converted. There's something for everyone: cinema, club, concert hall, theater, gym, tour agency (including the excellent Berlin on Bike), and GDR museum. Take a look at the courtyard. In December, it hosts a Scandinavian Christmas market.
13. Haus Schwarenzberg
Haus Schwarzenberg, nicknamed Street Art Alley, makes you understand why as soon as you see it! This little street in the Mitte district, surrounded by luxury boutiques, is famous for its street art, which completely covers the walls of the little courtyard... This set of backyards could have become a series of charming art galleries and boutiques (like the neighboring Hackesche Höfe), but it has managed to retain its destroy and alternative aesthetic. Although the place is rather small, you'll see plenty of graffiti, stickers and collages when you book this guided tour of Berlin's alternative and urban scenes.
14. Klunkerkranich, a superb hidden rooftop
Hidden away on the roof of a shopping mall, this beach-like rooftop bar offers a magnificent view of the neighborhood. It's one of our favorites in Berlin. The rooftop is almost undetectable from the street, which makes it all the more attractive. Getting there is almost a treasure hunt! You enter an ordinary shopping mall, take the elevator to floor P5, arrive in a parking lot and from there, follow the youth. The result is one of Berlin's most unusual places, part beach, part vegetable garden, part open-air bar and part concert hall! The view over the district of one of the world's most beautiful cities is magnificent.
15. Pfaueninsel, the peacock island: an unusual visit to Berlin
This 67-hectare island, redesigned as an English garden in the 19th century by a landscape gardener, is home to free-roaming peacocks. Acquired by Frederick William II in 1773 as a hunting ground, the island's trees were protected by a royal logging ban, enabling its oaks to reach over 400 years of age. Landscape gardener Peter Joseph Lenné redesigned the island as an English garden in the 19th century. Since 1990, the island, along with the parks of Potsdam, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A must for every visitor to Berlin? Book this boat cruise on the Havel from Tegel via Spandau and the Great Wannsee. You'll pass Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) and the Glienicker Brücke on your way to Potsdam.
16. Bathing in the Badeschiff: an unusual activity in Berlin
Part of our ranking of the world's most beautiful pools and unusual places to see in Berlin: since 2004, the Badeschiff has opened every summer and is without doubt the city's most unusual pool! Located between the warehouses of a former railway station, it's a floating pool built directly on the Spree. This gives swimmers the impression of bathing in the river, with the added benefit of clean, purified water. After a swim, you can even enjoy a cocktail on the quayside beach, or discover Berlin from a different angle ona guided canoe tour, bookable here.
Unusual restaurants in Berlin
Berlin is a city rich in unusual restaurants offering unique culinary experiences. Here are a few suggestions for the most unusual places to eat in Berlin.
- Dark Restaurant this restaurant offers a dining experience in total darkness. The waiters, often blind or visually impaired, guide customers through a surprise menu, allowing them to rediscover flavors without the aid of sight.
- Coda Dessert Bar: This dessert bar offers a unique culinary experience, focusing exclusively on desserts. The creations are innovative and often artistically presented.
- Burgermeister: Located in a former public toilet station, this burger restaurant offers a unique atmosphere and delicious burgers.
What unusual bars are there in Berlin?
Berlin is famous for its unusual bars, which offer unique and memorable experiences. Here are a few suggestions of unusual bars to discover in the German capital:
- Klunkerkranich: Located on the roof of a shopping center in Neukölln, this bar offers a panoramic view of the city. With its relaxed atmosphere, vegetable gardens and cultural events, it's an ideal place to spend a summer evening.
- Madame Claude madame Claude: This bar is known for its inverted decor, where everything is upside down, including furniture and decorative objects. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the bar often hosts concerts and themed evenings.
- Monster Ronson's Ichiban Karaoke this karaoke bar is famous for its private booths and festive atmosphere. It's the ideal place to spend a fun evening with friends.
- Bar Tausend bar Tausend: Hidden behind a discreet door under a railway bridge, this bar offers an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. It is often frequented by celebrities and offers a variety of cocktails and live music.
Where to stay in Berlin?
Berlin is a city brimming with accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. For those looking for a unique experience. Here are our two favorite unusual places to stay in Berlin:
- The Hüttenpalast located in the Neukölln district, this complex offers accommodation in vintage caravans and wooden cabins, all set up in a former warehouse. It's a unique and charming experience that you can book right here!
- The Circus Hostel located in the Mitte district, this hostel offers colorful, unique and unusual rooms. It's also famous for its rooftop bar, offering a breathtaking view of the city. Tempted? Click here to book your stay.
How to get to Berlin without flying?
To get to Berlin without flying, you can take the NightJet. The train departs from Paris Gare de l'Est at around 7 p.m. and arrives in the German capital at 8:30 a.m. the following morning, after a 13-hour journey. You can also take this train directly to Strasbourg at 11:40 pm.
Have we whetted your appetite for Berlin? Plan your trip by discovering our articles Tour of Europe by train: itinerary tips and What to do in Germany? The 17 most beautiful places to visit.
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