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Germany : Berlin - January 2009

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The German capital always has plenty to offer, even in the dead of winter. Berlin may be shrouded in grim weather with limited daylight, but inside its pubs and clubs, the city lives on. There are loads of concerts taking place all over the city, including Tina Turner at the O2 World arena on 26 and 27 January. René Blixer reports

Getting around

Tempelhof Airport is located in the southcentral borough of Tempelhof- Schöneberg.

Train: The airport is connected to the city centre by U-Bahn line 6, which can be picked up from Platz der Luftbrücke station. The journey takes 10 to 15 minutes and tickets cost €2,10.
Taxi: The trip into the city centre takes around 15 minutes and costs about €12.
Tourist information: There are offices at the Brandenburg Gate and the main railway station (0025, visitberlin.de).

KREUZBERG

Those searching for a less polished Berlin feel right at home in Kreuzberg. From gritty Schlesisches Tor to quaint Bergmannstraße, this district has it all.

Shop til you drop – Enter secondhand heaven with the huge selection of used and vintage clothing at Colours (Bergmannstraße). It’s sold by the kilo, so knock yourself out on brightly coloured shirts and dresses.

Dance the night away – One of Berlin’s top places to catch a good show, Lido (7 Cuvrystraße) is also host to its fair share of dance parties.

Must drink – On one of the hippest streets in Kreuzberg, Wendel (42 Schlesische Straße) has live music, art and an excellent choice of organic beer.

Culture vultures – The exhibition at the Schwules Museum (61 Mehringdamm, schwules museum.de) traces 200 years of gay and lesbian experiences.

Sleep soundly – Hostel X Berger is a good place for bargain hunters to crash.

Must eat – You may not be able to travel to Rio and drink Caipirinha with the locals, but you can come pretty close at Café do Brasil (72 Mehringdamm, tel. ). The café serves up a mean version of Berlin’s favourite drink as well as the city’s favourite Sunday tradition: brunch.

PRENZLAUER BERG

Berlin’s trendiest district is ageing a bit, as stroller-wielding young families navigate around hip tourists. But the stores are still quirky and the café-toperson ratio still mind-bogglingly high.

Shop til you drop – Among the first to start the ‘purchase what you see in the café’ trend, Kauf Dich Glücklich (44 Oderberger Straße) has a split personality. Is it a cosy café or a cute second-hand store?

Dance the night away – Magnet (212/213 Greifswalder Straße) hosts both live acts and DJs. The crowd is as varied as the music and somehow every night here turns into a crazy party. Maybe it’s the drink specials.

Must drink – Tucked away from the madness at Eberswalder Straße, grungy Intersoup (31 Schliemannstraße) specialises in tasty cocktails and homemade soup.

Must eat – East Berlin’s most famous currywurst (sausage in curry sauce) stand, Konnopke’s Imbiss (44a Schönhauser Allee) can be found under the elevated tracks at the Eberswalder Straße station.

Sleep soundly – Offering nice rooms at budget prices, Meininger City Hostel & Hotel is located on a quiet corner just minutes away from the action.

FRIEDRICHSHAIN

Alternative Berliners have been moving out of the central districts to escape the gentrification, but easterly Friedrichshain remains relatively punk and yuppie-free. However, with the opening of new crowd-drawing venues, that atmosphere probably won’t last.

Dance the night away – If you want to avoid the queue outside megaclub Berghain, head straight for Rosi’s (29 Revaler Straße) instead.

Must drink – Goldfisch (67 Grünberger Staße) is cosier than most of Berlin’s fashionable lounge bars, substituting as it does try-hard glamour for a warmly decorated interior and plenty of cocktails.

Must eat – Treat yourself to a meal fit for Prussian aristocracy at Die Turnhalle (6-9 Holteistraße, ). Try the Schnitzel or the weekend brunch.

Culture vultures – Amid a lot of protests and controversy, O2 World (12- 30 Mühlenstraße, o2world.de) opened its giant doors last year and has been trying to win Berliners’ hearts by putting on superstar-studded shows and various sporting events.

Sleep soundly – Gaze at the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin wall from the East-Side Hotel.

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