A Whirlwind 36 Hours in Berlin!

36 hours in one of the most unique cities in Europe

11/18/20237 min read

In the heart of Europe, Berlin is a vibrant city that blends history, culture, and modernity. My sister and I recently visited Berlin as part of a Groupon £80 mystery deal, getting us 2 nights in the city and also included flights! We were over the moon when we released we had drawn our favourite European city as it had been a while since we had both visited last! So, here's a quick whistle-stop tour of our itinerary in the German capital - a whirlwind of iconic landmarks, immersive museums, and culinary experiences. Join me as I recount our adventures in Berlin, from the towering heights of the TV tower to learning more about Berlin's divided history.

Where we stayed: As part of the deal, we didn't get to choose where we stayed. This is usually way out of my comfort zone but I absolutely loved the spontaneity of it all. We were booked into the Comfort Hotel in Litchenburg, which is around a 20 minute drive into the centre (or you can hop on the tram right outside the hotel!) When we arrived, we were actually still in shock that £80 got us both our flights and two nights here - the rooms were spacious, clean and the staff were super friendly. The rooms are very similar to a Premier Inn in the UK, and we found them to be surprisingly large!

Day 1 - Exploring Berlin's Nightlife And Food! Our Berlin adventure began as we touched down at 4:15pm, eager to make the most of every moment we got ready on the plane and headed straight to the hotel to dump our bags and get changed.

Night one kicked off with a visit to the iconic Berlin TV tower, which was planned in because we intended to grab a drink there and take in the views from the top... however, the bar was closed and the restaurant had a private function! We were disappointed but we still took the time to have a full on photo opp (ring light and all) to make the most out of it! The views were cloudy due to the weather but we'd both visited before so we weren't too fussed. Following this, we headed to Mio Restaurant and Bar for a quick cocktail, and then grabbed an Uber over to our pre-booked meal at the Sushi Restaurant Ishi by Henssler (located in the Ritz Carlton, we later found out.) Let me say, this was the BEST sushi I have had outside of Japan, and actually very reasonably priced for a fine dining restaurant (plenty of food, cocktails and wine cost is us only €60 each!) I would highly recommend a visit when in Berlin!

After we had filled our boots, we planned to go to Club Der Visionaere but we missed the boat on this one as it was closed at 11pm (we kept forgetting it was midweek!) so we decided that the next stop was Madame Claude Bar, an eclectic venue that my sister had seen when searching for cool bars in Berlin. We weren't quite ready for just how unique this bar was, as we walked in to the red-lit bar with music that I can only describe as static noise, we just genuinely didn't know what to expect. We were told there was a concert downstairs, which was a DJ playing similar static sounds on his laptop in a dark room with people sat down watching him. We spent a few minutes there, and then headed back up for some drinks. The bar is reasonably priced and is an amazing place for people watching, there was such a diverse mix of people there and the decor is extremely quirky too! We'd had a fairly long and eventful day so we decided to call it a night and try to get some sleep ahead of our sight seeing the following day.

Day 2 - A Day Packed With History and Culture - After catching up on sleep, we headed for breakfast at The Reed at around 10am, setting the tone for a day filled with exploration. Our first stop was the DDR Museum, an immersive experience that transported us back to East Germany. Unlike traditional museums where exhibits are kept behind glass, the DDR Museum offers an immersive and interactive experience, allowing visitors to step into the everyday life of East Germans. It was really interesting and insightful to learn more about the DDR and the complexities of life under a socialist regime. The museum really focuses on storytelling and education which we really enjoyed.

We were on our way to our next stop and noticed the most amazing cathedral which is the Berliner Dom. This cathedral is such an architectural masterpiece, we were absolutely blown away. The Berliner Dom also houses the Sauer organ, which is one of the largest pipe organs in Germany! When you arrive here, you can have a wander around the grounds or you can challenge yourself and take the 227 steps up to the top of the dome for a panoramic 360 view of Berlin (we did both!) - it was 100% worth the thigh and calf ache at the top!

Next on the agenda was the historic Brandenburg Gate - I can't actually believe this is my second Europe trip in 2 months where the iconic landmarks are covered in scaffolding, I actually laughed when I saw it as it can't be helped but maybe next time I'll see it in all its glory! We then headed over to Checkpoint Charlie, which is a poignant reminder of Berlin's divided past. Checkpoint Charlie was a border crossing point between East and West Berlin during the period of the Berlin Wall. It was the only crossing point for foreigners and Allied forces between the Soviet and American sectors of the city. This was relatively uncrowded and there are people who take your picture and provide you with a copy in the style of a newspaper which was cool!

Now, onto my absolute HIGHLIGHT - the East Side Gallery. Last time I visited Berlin, I was so immersed in the Christmas markets I missed a lot of sight seeing and the cultural side of Berlin. I really wanted to see the artwork here, and I was not disappointed. The East Side gallery is a large stretch of the remains of a part of the Berlin Wall, which has now been transformed into an open-air art gallery. There are key themes of peace, hope and unity showcased in the form of the most incredible artwork from artists around the world. An absolute must-see in my opinion.

We got absolutely drenched in the rain after this, and after hopping on and off the wrong trams we took a little detour back to the hotel to get ready for the evening. We then headed out to YOSOY Tapas Bar, another incredible restaurant with the largest tapas portions I've ever seen. The waiter double took and even joked about our order when we ordered 3-4 dishes each, and promised us a shot if we could eat it all. We thought this amount of plates was normal for tapas, until we saw the size of the portions! (We got the shot just for our efforts of trying to get through it all!)
I still think about this food and feel like jumping on a flight back to Berlin just to have another meal here, the calamari, aioli and bread, and the ham croquettes were DREAMY.

Closing the night at The Coven bar, we had a couple of cocktails to say fairwell to an amazing trip. I've broken down our itinerary below so that you can use it if you like!

Day 1: