It seems strange to say that one of the biggest highlights of our trip to Berlin was our hotel – but I can’t deny it was terrific! We usually stay in AirBnbs when we go for city breaks but decided to treat ourselves to a hotel for our 3-night trip. We stayed in the 25hrs Bikini Berlin, and it was probably the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. The room was decorated to perfection with a hammock at the window overlooking Berlin Zoo, the monkey enclosure just below us. It boasted a gorgeous restaurant, Neni Berlin, an impressive in house bakery, and even a rooftop bar/club (light sleepers beware this is open until 2am every day!).
We ate a lot of great food while in Berlin the highlight being vegan Vietnamese food from 1990 Vegan Living in the city’s alternative Friedrichshain district. Pastries, waffles and coffee galore were also on the weekend menu. During our stay, we also walked miles, hopping on and off the u-Bahn to a tonne of incredible sights. We visited the zoo and aquarium which were right across the road from our hotel, which was super convenient. It was good, but due to it being winter, a lot of the animals were indoors and sleeping away from the cold. I imagine it’s bustling and full of life during the summer months.
The East Side Gallery was a personal highlight for me. I have long admired the art which adorns the remains of the famous Berlin Wall, so it was great to finally visit and walk the 1.3km length of gorgeous artwork and history. It’s great to see that it is a protected area and gets retouched every ten years or so. Definitely worth a look if you ever go!
Berlin’s TV Tower, the tallest structure in Germany. Being deathly afraid of heights, it was a massive achievement for me going up to the revolving restaurant 200 metres up. Once seated next to the window, and once my heart rate had slowed a touch, we enjoyed a lovely meal while taking in stunning 360-degree views of the city.
We spent the rest of our time leisurely strolling the streets of this beautiful, historic city, seeing Berlin Cathedral, the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the eerie and overwhelming Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and Museum Island.
