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Article by Lidia Ferenc-Kaivo 10D (Published 23.06.2024)
Summer is coming up pretty soon and we all want to go outside and enjoy the rare sunny weather of Berlin. But what to do? I realised that I had done pretty much everything you can do in the summer in Berlin, from going for walks and having picnics to swimming in Krumme Lanke. At least that’s what I thought was all I could do. But there is so much more that hides in the deep corners of Kreuzberg, Neukölln and many more quirky areas of Berlin. Recently I went to visit Warsaw with my friend and we spent five days merely walking through the looping streets of the city. We’d reach one corner, thinking there was nothing else to see and that we would have to make our way back, when, just around that corner, a new street blossoming with small cafes and restaurants and hidden parks appeared just in front of us. We would continue our walk, spontaneously going into little boutiques, not buying anything, but enjoying the feeling of experiencing and seeing new and different things. To get out of the cycle of going straight to school, then home and then school again and instead to live in the moment and slowly browse through the city, enjoying the sights and smells, and not having a specific direction. The joy of walking just to walk and not have to get anywhere is something that we often forget to experience. So as I was doing this in Warsaw it got me thinking that maybe I should do it in Berlin too. After all, Berlin is famous for being lively and filled with hundreds of different cultures, each bringing something new to the city. Warsaw is nothing compared to Berlin and yet I enjoyed myself there so much more just because I wasn’t stressed and living on autopilot. Sure, it’s normal to be stressed with school and struggle with the day-to-day life of growing up and going through the general teenage years but we should all stop once in a while, look around, and enjoy the fact that we live in Berlin, of all cities, and that in reality there is so much that we could be discovering and learning about this colourful and exciting city. So, without beating around the bush, these are 5 things you could do with your friends, family or alone once in a while to get out of the usual rhythm of the day and feel like you're on holiday in your city once in a while. And yes, I know, we are all students and have a limited budget so most of these things are free or very cheap. But you can also get a little side job so that you can splurge every now and then.
1. Go to a Photoautomat
Dotted all across the city, there are little vintage red photo booths where you can get four black and white snapshots of your life that you can put in a scrapbook, stick to your wall or perhaps you will forget about them and lose them under your bed only to find them again when you are moving out. But hey, you still get the memory flooding back into your brain, even if the photo was marinating in dust for three years. Just google “Photoautomat Berlin” and they’ll pop up. And it’s only 4 euros. Go take some cute snapshots with your friends or alone!
2. Go take a stroll through Neukölln
Maybe I’m biased because I live here but I feel like so many people, especially in our school, think that Neukölln is dodgy and dangerous which, sure, is kind of true but there’s also another side to it. It’s filled with community, culture, different cuisines and an air of excitement and bustle, which you probably won't get in Charlottenburg. No offence. Walk through Tempelhofer Feld, go to some Turkish restaurants, try something new, maybe pick up some cute free clothes off the side of the street, and meet some new people. I mean, you never know what will happen if you don’t go out of your comfort zone.
3. Parks, parks, parks.
Yes, going to a park might seem like the most basic thing to do in summer but surrounded by the right people you can definitely enjoy lounging in the sun on the grass. But which park to go to? Well, in Berlin we are spoiled for choice. Tempelhofer Feld, Treptower Park, Hasenheide Park, Tiergarten, and many more. The spree is also nice to sit by. Check out the green area along the south bank of the canal at Carl-Herz-Ufer.
4. Cafes and Restaurants
Yes, I said these would all be cheap options and going out is not exactly budget-friendly but there is a way to do it cheaply. You can go out with your friends and you all order one meal to share, something new and interesting that you all want to try. A meal that is fun and exotic that you don’t eat every day. You can go out for a new refreshing dining experience and be cheeky by ordering only something small, maybe even just drinks. Some waiters might look at you weirdly but who cares, you will have fun!
5. Go visit a museum
Maybe you have the idea that going to a museum is boring and something that you would only do in school but that is not true! Going to a museum can be interesting and even exciting. You get to see so many different pieces of art from statues to paintings and so much more. Learn about art, and history and perhaps even improve your attention span! We all need to try to do that more. Go alone or with friends, maybe dress up a bit, take some photos of the artwork or maybe sketch them yourself if you want. Make a trip out of it! In Berlin every first Sunday of the month museum entry is free so make the most of it. All in all, there are so many different things that you can do in Berlin. Start opening the door to a world of colour, culture and excitement. After all, why not? Now is the perfect moment to explore the city and make new memories.
Sources:
Mya, Kacey. Under 30 Experiences. 25 Apr. 2024, www.under30experiences.com/blog/solo-travel-activities-10-things-to-do-by-yourself-in-a-new-city.
Bradley, Alexander J. E. “The Photoautomats of Berlin — Aperture Tours.” Aperture Tours, 18 Aug. 2019, www.aperturetours.com/blog/2017/berlin-photoautomat.
Images:
Caballero, Ana. “Was Man in Kreuzberg Unternehmen Kann.” Hellotickets, 13 Feb. 2024, www.hellotickets.de/deutschland/berlin/aktivitaten-kreuzberg/sc-158-2781.
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