Berlin…a Cultural Mecca

I was not sure what to expect from Berlin, but after just returning from a recent whirlwind trip, I was pleasantly surprised.

The atmosphere in this bustling city is that of energy, creativity, growth and pride. One can literally spend days exploring the museums and public institutions, and if art is your thing, the galleries alone would take a week to explore. There are wonderful ways to tour this city; the locals recommend taking the local bus however, the bike and/or boat tours seem to be a bit more interesting. We had the fun experience of the Trabi-Safari tour; they are funky little cars with a live radio intercom, which is perfect for groups under 10 people.

Once I had my overview city tour, I spent my time walking around and taking it all in; from the stunning rivers and canals, the renovated neighborhoods to the incredible Tiergarten, otherwise known as, Berlin’s green heart. Little sidewalk cafes are abundant and historic alleyways have been turned into hotspots for artsy gallery hoppers and pub crawlers. In the beautiful square known as Gendarmenmarkt in the former East Berlin, you will find tourists, students and locals just relaxing and enjoying the stunning scenery. People are out and want to see and be seen in Berlin.

History, however, does repeat itself throughout the city as you find glimpses of the historic wall or notice the cobblestone reminder of where the wall once stood. Nazi Germany has its presence as well with the stunning Holocaust Memorial Park which sits in the center of the city. This park is designed as a grid of nearly five acres of tall concrete slabs that appears to roll east in the manner of a cemetery.

Food in Berlin is all over the map, from authentic German to French and Indian, however the street food in Berlin is not to be overlooked. It encompasses everything from sidewalk stalls that sell currywurst (sliced sausage smothered with curry powder and ketchup) to hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve Turkish döner kebabs (thick pita sandwiches stuffed with shaved meat, salad and yogurt sauce). I particularly enjoyed Berlin's coffee-house culture as it definitely matches that of any European city. Coffee & Cake (Kaffee & Kuchen) is a German institution and you will find that most cafes also have the best of freshly made cakes.

One will certainly not be amiss for a luxury hotel in Berlin. The area boasts everything from a stunning Rocco Forte property (originally the Dresdner Bank), Regent, Ritz Carlton and the 5-star Kempinski Hotel Adlon. Smaller more boutique properties are abundant as well.

Berlin is a city with an undeniable past, clearly a city with a future, but most importantly, it is a city that is happening now. Its fantastic architecture, hip crowd, food and museums have made this culture capital worth the visit.

- Tammy Zacks, GTP General Manager