Whether you're considering a visit to Berlin for the first time, returning for another look, or even considering a longer stay or move to Berlin, this Berlin resource guide is for you.
We brought together Berlin experts Adam Groffman (Travels of Adam), Natalie Holmes (Context Travel and Slow Travel Berlin) and Giulia Pines (Fodor's) to talk all things Berlin on a Google Hangout (see the video below). We gleaned some of the best tips and advice from our discussion and put them together here for you.
We will actively update this list as we continue exploring and finding new bits, spots and intelligence to share on Berlin.
Skip Ahead to:
- Visiting Berlin: How to See the City
- Berlin Neighborhoods, Kiez Culture
- Food in Berlin – Where to Eat, Where to Shop
- Recommended Berlin Cafes
- Creative and Art Scene in Berlin
- Nightlife in Berlin
- Recommended Tours in Berlin
- How to Find Out What's Going on in Berlin
- Berlin Blogs and Websites
- Best Beers in Berlin
- Finding an Apartment in Berlin
- Moving to Berlin: Visas, Insurance, German Lessons
All Things Berlin Google Hangout
Visiting Berlin: How to See the City
- Berlin Beginner's Guide – our recommended neighborhoods, parks, sights, food
- Hipster Berlin Travel Tips
- 48 Hours in Berlin with €130
Berlin Neighborhoods, Kiez Culture
Food in Berlin – Where to Eat, Where to Shop
- Berlin Food: Favorite Neighborhood Meals Under €10
- Berlin Cheap Eats: Top 10 Under €5
- Berlin Food Rally: Beyond the Plate
- List of Berlin's best supper clubs
- Adam's Favorite German Restaurant: Tiergarten Quelle
Coffee Culture and Recommended Berlin Cafes
Culture and Art: Recommended Berlin Galleries, Cinemas and More
- Sammlung Boros – a private collection built over a bunker. Reserve in advance for a tour in either English or German.
- Sammlung Hoffman – private collection in apartment near Hackescher Markt
- Georg Kolbe Museum – contemporary art
- Gallery Weekend Berlin – usually takes place in April
- Haus der Kulturen der Welt
- Yorck Cinemas
Nightlife in Berlin
- Berlin Späti Culture: A classic Berlin night, especially in summer, includes choosing some beers at a spätkauf or späti (literally “late buy”, a convenience store open late) and enjoying them with friends in a park or at the table just outside the store. More on the Berlin späti culture.
- Recommended Cocktail Bars
- Peristal Signum: Berlin’s Labyrinth Bar
- Kater Holzig
- Walk down Revaler Strasse
Recommended Tours in Berlin
- Context Travel Tours of Berlin. We can recommend the walking tour of Kreuzberg.
- Street Art Workshop and Tour with Alternative Berlin. Spend a couple of hours walking around Kreuzberg with a street artist to learn more about the graffiti and street art scene in Berlin. Then, finish with a workshop on how to create your own stencil at an abandoned bread factory. Lots of fun to create your own street art.
- Canoe tour with Berlin on Bike and Backstage Tourism. We took the Wind of Change tour that starts from Treptow and goes south to the former DDR Radio Station Building.
- One of our favorite Berlin websites, Slow Travel Berlin, also offers walking and photography tours of different parts of Berlin like Kreuzberg, Wedding, and Neukölln. We haven't taken one of these yet, but we've heard great things about them and the guides.
How to Find Out What's Going on in Berlin
- Cee Cee Newsletter – a weekly newsletter with more of a focus on food and arts.
- Exberliner Events Calendar
- visitBerlin Events Calendar – can be overwhelming, so use the search function to find what sorts of events you want
Best Beers in Berlin
- Heiden Peters at Markthalle IX
Finding an Apartment in Berlin
A list of places to look for short and medium-term accommodation in Berlin. Note: we are not affiliated with any of these sites.
- Airbnb
- Craigslist Berlin
- WG-Gesucht – has both sublets and long-term flats
For longer term accommodation in Berlin, check out Immobilien Scout 24. Expath also offers workshops on how to find a flat in Berlin.
Moving to Berlin: Visas, Insurance, German Lessons
- How to Get a Visa in Germany as an American
- Expath Coaching and Workshops on the visa and whole relocation process, including how to set yourself up in Berlin as a freelancer.
- German language lessons with Expath. We've taken two classes with them so far and have been really happy with the small class size, quality of teachers and how interactive and active the courses are.