Best Things To Do In Berlin (For Those Who Don’t Like War)

Hello, Lovelies! Want to know the best things to do in Berlin? If you, like me, you wrote off Berlin as a memorial to too many wars, this post is for you. In addition to a lively art scene, many vegan cafes, and historical buildings, Berlin has gorgeous small boutiques and the best English bookstore I’ve found in Europe! Read on for the best things to do in Berlin!

Best things to do in Berlin – Sites

All the traditional points of interest in Berlin center around war and conflict: the memorial to the fallen Jews, Checkpoint Charlie, pieces of the Berlin wall, places of historical significance in the first and second world wars. While you can absolutely check them out (most are free), here are a few other favorites from my time in Berlin:

Dussman das Kultur Kaufhaus

This large bookstore ranks first on my things to do in Berlin, especially if you have been in Europe for a while. They have a hysterical humor section (see photos below), as well as a large selection of English books in every category. They have large, old leather chairs set against wall-length glass windows for curling up with a good book. When you get hungry, there is a café downstairs with lots of German cakes and coffee.

Walk through Tiergarten

This large park in central Berlin is perfect for biking, rollerblading, or walking. Join local Berliners by taking a picnic and sitting out on the grass, or enjoying a pick-up game of Frisbee or soccer.

Berlin Philharmonie Concert Hall

Set in the Tiergarten, this unique building, whose roofline reminds me of a draped strand of lights, offers a variety of concerts throughout the year. Get tickets to your favorite concert, or just sign up for a tour of the beautiful, historic building.

Visit Potsdamer Strasse

This shopping area, close to the Mall of Berlin, is filled with small cafes, many unique art galleries, and also a large theater. Wander around during the day sampling treats at the cafes and visiting the galleries, or return at night to see a show, or a movie. When you’re finished, you can always walk through the Mall of Berlin for some traditional shopping.

German Spy Museum

Interested in spies? The one thing that I didn’t do in Berlin that I wished I’d checked out was the German Spy Museum. With lots of interactive exhibits, this would be a great museum to take the whole family.  Located in Potsdamer Platz, you can combine shopping, art, and spy history in one afternoon.

Berliner Kunstmarkt an der Museumsinsel

Located near Museum Island, this weekend market is filled with all types of local handicrafts – from purses and wallets to candles, candy and Christmas ornaments. You can find old and new here. The shopkeepers are friendly, and there is often live music playing.

Visit Museum Island

With so many museums to choose from in one place, Museum Island, set in the Spree River that runs through Berlin, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will find the national art gallery of Germany and supporting art museums, as well as a natural history museum that highlights Egyptian, pre-history and early history collections.

Boutiques and Galleries in the Mitte Neighborhood

You can head to Rosenthaler Platz and Torstrasse for boutique shopping and hipster art galleries. Set in the Mitte neighborhood, you can find last year’s designer items at sale prices, mixed in with local Berlin designed. You can wander from art gallery to shop, just taking in the unique beauty and (sometimes) hipster vibe.

Walk Along the River Spree

One of my favorite activities while in Berlin was walking past all the cafes, through the wisteria covered terraces and gardens along the River Spree. This is a perfect morning or afternoon activity, or the best route to take if you plan, like I did, to walk through the city.

Rent a Bicycle

Berlin, like Amsterdam, is a bicycle-friendly city. There are many shops around the city where you can rent a bike for as little as 8-10 euro a day.

Best things to do in Berlin – Eat!

Berlin has an incredible array of delicious, healthy offerings. There were many vegan restaurants, healthy fast food places, as well as elegant sit-down meals. Berlin also boasts one of the only Michelin-starred vegan restaurants. Here were some of my favorites:

Steel Vintage Bikes Café

Serving a mix of classic breakfast foods and brunch favorites, everything is made with healthy, local ingredients, and served in a friendly, open atmosphere. There are many vegan options on the menu, from oatmeal to Italian options, as well as dishes to satisfy your carnivorous friends. I tried the chia-berry porridge and it was beautifully presented as well as delicious. Address: Wilhelmstraße 91, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Little Green Rabbit Café

With at least three locations around Berlin, Little Green Rabbit is perfect for healthy fast food. They offer fresh-pressed organic juices and smoothies, custom salads, a baked potato bar that is genius, chia puddings, and more. Their prices are reasonable and they are happy to accommodate almost any special diet. The portions are also satisfyingly generous! Over the course of my trip, I found myself there several times. I tried a baked potato with feta, sour cream, radishes and arugula. I also got several fresh juices, a smoothie, and the delicious mango chia pudding. Google says they are closed on the weekend, but the Friedrichstrass location is open 7 days a week. They offer great healthy food for vegans and non-vegans alike. Address: Friedrichstraße 200, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Amorino Eisboutique

Offering a variety of organic sorbets and rich ice cream flavors, this boutique ice cream shop is famous for creating an ice cream “flower” on your cone. The organic chocolate sorbet was incredible, as were every other flavor I tried (too many to recount today!). Their coffee and pasties are also delicious. They are more pricey for an ice cream shop, but worth it. Address: Oranienburger Str. 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Cookies Cream

This is the Michelin-starred vegan restaurant set behind the Westin Grand Hotel Berlin. You will need to make a reservation to even be allowed into the exclusive dining experience. I was told a single individual could get in without a reservation. That was not the case on a Saturday night. The entrance is a bit strange, as you walk through an abandoned hotel delivery lot before coming to a giant blinking chandelier and entering through an unmarked utility door. If you get to eat there, let me know how it is! Address: Behrenstraße 55, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Caffe e Gelato

Yes, I am putting two ice cream places on this list. With a line of at least 10 people on any given day, Caffe e Gelato is worth seeking out while you are in Potsdamer Platz. All of their house-made gelato flavors look amazing (including a few vegan and organic options!) but the mint chocolate chip was my favorite. I went back for it twice. Yes, it was that good. Address: Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, Alte Potsdamer Str. 7, 10785 Berlin, Germany

Summary of the best things to do in Berlin

Berlin has built upon its conflicted past into a Mecca for art, design, fashion, and culture. It is a fantastic city for exploring the vegan and vegetarian food scene, with options for healthy fueling where ever you are. I hope you enjoy exploring Berlin and  discover a new side of this historic city. If you want a downloadable map with all the destinations mentioned in this article, you can download it here. I will receive a small commission for your purchase, at no additional cost to you (a subscription is the best deal!)  Cheers! Kimberly

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