Cool Things to See in Berlin: Europe’s Kookiest City

Stereotypes which are cast upon us as kids sometimes leave us with the wrong impressions when it comes to people or particular places. Germans, as many will falsely claim, are uptight and uber-serious people who own some kind of internal mechanism which makes laughter and fun impossible. Of course, this silliness is only believed by the ignorant, but somewhere, in the back of our minds, we question things.

I found that, on my first visit to Berlin (and Germany), I had my own expectations for what I was to be letting myself in for. I envisioned soccer mad, industrious, beer-chugging folk with stone faces and linear attitudes to life. Citizens who upheld old-fashioned values and were obsessed with work, and building sturdy houses. Oh, how I was wrong. So, so wrong.

I landed in Berlin’s Schönefeld airport, having taken great delight in viewing the cool looking houses and factories from the airplane. I exited the terminal and caught a cab into Alexanderplatz to my hotel. Although tempting, I refrained from ordering a huge glass of beer and a pretzel, instead choosing to plan where both myself and my partner would go for the long weekend.

Having chalked off the majority of the most renowned attractions, we also stumbled across some true hidden gems. Below are the top five, which really sum up how cool and out there Berliners are.

Kraftwerk, Berlin

This abandoned power plant was turned into a huge, colossal venue where techno-icon Dimitri Hegemann came to prominence in the early 90’s. Aside from electronic music and gigs, the venue hosts art exhibitions, performances, and some pretty wacky but cool events!

The GDR Apartment

One of the most incredible but low-key things Berlin has to offer is Museumswohnung. This apartment has been left untouched since the Communist era, preserving a piece of local history. If you want to visit, please note that it only opens on Sundays, with very limited private viewings available otherwise.

Hohenschönhausen

One of the great talents of Berliners have is turning negatives into positives. This is better demonstrated by the Hohenschönhausen, a former main prison, which is now a museum. A number of tour guides are also former inmates, which adds a real touch of authenticity to proceedings.

Hüttenpalast

Hüttenpalast in Neukölln sums up the lighter part of Berlin’s quirky side. You can stay the night in any of the caravans and huts which litter the interior of the former vacuum cleaner factory. The place is unlike anywhere else I have ever seen, and the hosts add to the experience with their friendliness and fun-over-all attitudes.

Landschaftspark Herzberge

As someone with a keen interest in conservation and sustainability, this community project is a fantastic pioneering endeavor away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you can escape to sprawling greens, animals grazing, and a number of amenities and features which highlight the desire for Berliners to put their extraordinary talents to good use.

While these picks may not be the most obvious features of Berlin’s wonderful tourist attractions, they are certainly among the coolest!