Fascinating and colorful Berlin is a cold place for many months of the year. But between May and September, the fun goes outside. Locals and visitors make the most of the long summer days in the many parks, gardens and lakes of the city, and enjoy pleasant temperatures under a sun that heats without burning.
Festivals, fairs, street parties and concerts; beer gardens, bike trails, food markets and beach bars. The German capital gets fresh without losing any of the attractions that make it unique at any time of the year. To find out more about the Berlin summer –and about the city and its inhabitants– we spoke with Juan Manuel Vicente, a Civitatis guide in Berlin.
How does one become a tour guide? And why in Berlin?
I visited it, I loved it and a short time later I decided to stay. I felt very comfortable quickly. I studied History, so I was fascinated by exploring the corners of Berlin, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the city. One thing led to another and in the end I made my passion my job, to share it with others.
What do you recommend to enjoy the Berlin summer? There is much talk about its canals and lakes.
Both the banks of the river Spree and its canals or the lakes that dot the area are important in the social life of the city. For those who have time and want to take a dip, I recommend the area between Berlin and Potsdam, a neighboring city, which has many leisure options, including one of the favorites of Berliners: Lake Wann. The biergarten, the typical terraces where beer is mostly drunk, are great for those who prefer a quiet afternoon after walking the streets. I would highlight the Café am Neuen See, in the Tiergarten, the city’s main park; the Holzmarkt, on the banks of the Spree; and the Kulturhaus on the Insel der Jugend, the Isle of Youth.
And at night?
Despite appearances, Berlin is a city with a multitude of bars and a great nightlife. It is considered one of the techno capitals in Europe, with parties that last all weekend. Throughout the summer, many parks host impromptu parties, and most clubs have outdoor areas. As in Spain, it is customary to leave quite late, and perhaps what most surprises visitors is that beer is usually preferred to cubatas. But there are places for all tastes, and there is no shortage of places to have good cocktails.
What makes Berlin unique and distinguishes it from other big capitals?
Being built on a swampy area, and unlike other large European cities, Berlin grew in width and not in height. That is why it has several centers and not just one, large green areas and neighborhoods with a good gastronomic and leisure offer, so crowds or traffic jams are rare. Its pace of life is similar to that of a provincial capital, but with the cultural and leisure offer of a big city. The population is very young and of very diverse origins, which makes it a very cosmopolitan place, where there is always something to do. Its complicated history explains the eclecticism; in each corner the old and the modern mix. The city does not become monotonous, since its appearance is constantly changing, with buildings with a Parisian air, avenues of Stalinist architecture, neighborhoods made of Soviet prefabricated blocks or modern glass buildings.
What is the best way to get around the city?
It depends on the distances. It is mostly flat and has very spacious avenues and a large number of green areas, so it is very pleasant to walk around, especially if you want to get to know the center. The bicycle is one of the favorite means of transport for Berliners; It is perfect for enjoying the city in summer. The public transport network is excellent and fast, although it may impose at first due to its number of lines.
What local customs can surprise us? Is there a Berliner character?
In such a cosmopolitan city it is very difficult to speak of one’s own character, although Berliners have built a reputation for being sarcastic and direct in the past. Visitors are often surprised to see restaurant terraces full at half past six in the evening. In Germany, dinner is very early, and although in the capital the kitchens close later, I would not recommend going to dinner after eight, especially if we want typical food. The prevailing silence in the streets, transport and premises is also striking. In general, noise is perceived here with strong apprehension.
The fabulous Pergamon Museum is undergoing a total renovation and closes in October, until 2037! What can’t we stop seeing there?
All! It’s unique. The Pergamon Altar room is closed, but the rest of the collection is just as amazing. The Ishtar gate is perhaps the most spectacular. The Miletus market gate and the Mushatta façade are also impressive. In a much smaller format, but no less beautiful for that, it would include the Aleppo room. And a curiosity: the octagonal wooden dome of the Torre de las Damas, belonging to the Alhambra.
Any other must-see Berlin museums, monuments or cultural visits?
The offer is of such variety that it is difficult to decide. In the center are emblematic places the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the monument to the murdered Jews of Europe, Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum Island. The narrow streets lined with art galleries and inner courtyards of the Jewish quarter are very charming, as are the palace gardens of Potsdam, the neighboring city. The New Museum and its Egyptian collection, which includes the bust of Nefertiti, are also unmissable. On the other hand, those most interested in Nazi Germany can visit the Topography of Terror facilities, in the place where the SS management and security service were located, among other sinister centers; the memorial site to the German resistance, or the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. To understand the period of the Wall and the German Democratic Republic, there are excellent museums, such as the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Palace of Tears or the DDR Museum.
How is it eaten in Berlin? What is typical?
Both the döner kebab and the currywurst, cooked or grilled sausage, are typical, which shows the imprint of the Turkish community in the city. If we are looking for something more traditional, we have two German classics: the cooked knuckle and the schnitzel or breaded steak. The country’s confectionery is very rich, and in Berlin the berliner pfannkuchen or Berliner stands out.
Where would you look for accommodation?
In the Mitte district or near Alexanderplatz. They are in the monumental area and of greatest tourist interest, and communications with other parts of the city are excellent.
We close with some practical advice. Tips, public transport…
Transport tickets can be bought inside the buses and at the stations, in vending machines with instructions available in Spanish. You must not forget to validate them, and only once, because traveling with a ticket without a stamp or validated several times is grounds for a fine. Many travelers are surprised when they buy bottled drinks in stores, because they charge them a few cents more than the price listed on the shelves. It is not a mistake or a hoax; is due to the pfand, a deposit for the container that will be paid to us if we return the container. The same is true of beer mugs in most biergarten and Christmas markets. Tips are not mandatory, but it is customary to leave 10% in restaurants. You have to bring something in cash, because not all bars and establishments accept cards. And one last piece of advice: the traveler should always pay attention to where the bike lanes are: Berliners tend to go very fast, and it can be dangerous.
