What to do at Berlin’s #appsworld
Since opening its doors to the world since the fall of the wall, Berlin has become a bustling, cosmopolitan and hugely popular destination for business and leisure travellers alike. It’s no coincidence that a city with such historical and cultural significance should become a key exhibition hub for industries to showcase their innovations. Few cities in the world have the unique mix of the old and the new with such a vast amount of iconic landmarks and things to do and see if your schedule allows you the time.
Apps World (April 20th-21st) is next up on the events calendar.
Apps World, Berlin
CityCube Berlin, Messedamm, 26, 14055 Berlin
How to get there...
From Berlin Schönefeld Airport, it will take you about an hour to get to the venue. Hop on the RB14 Towards Nauen Bahnhof, change at Berlin-Lichtenberg for the S5 to Messe Süd.
If you’re flying into Berlin Tegel Airport jump on the 109 towards S+U Zoologischer Garten, in 10 minutes you’ll be at Berlin Charlottenburg. From here, get the S5 towards Spandau Banhof, and alight at Messe Süd.
Getting around Berlin
Berlin is a relatively small city, with great public transport that runs like clockwork. There’s the U-Bahn (underground/subway) and the S-Bahn (above ground train) – at times you might switch between the two to get where you’re going. Oh and it runs 24 hours, so no excuses for not exploring the city!
And remember: STAMP YOUR TICKETS. At each station, there’s a box that you should time-stamp your ticket at before boarding any public transport. Plain clothes ticket officers may pop up – and they will fine you.
The nearest station to Apps World is Messe Süd, on the S9 (which the Flughafen Berlin Schönefeld is on too, albeit on the other end) and S75. These are great lines to be on, and can whizz you from West to East in no time. Here’s a handy tube map.
You can, of course, use Uber whilst in Berlin. Or download the handily named Taxi App, which works in the same way but also allows you to pay in cash (especially good if you’ve got some extra Euros to use).
Berlin in the Distance Fernsehturm
Local Eateries and Bar Hotspots
House of Small Wonder (Johannisstraße 20, 10117 Berlin, Germany)
Climb the twisting staircase through jungle plants and odd paraphernalia. It’s not the biggest café, so make sure to arrive with plenty of time. Foodwise, their Okinawan Taco Rice is delicious and they serve their coffee with a smile.
House of Small Wonder
Dr. Pong (Eberswalder Str. 21, 10437 Berlin, Germany)
No trip to Berlin would be complete without a trip to the local’s local Dr. Pong. It’s gained a bit of a reputation in recent years with travelers, but the core essence remains the same: beer, and a whole lot of group pong action.
Any bar near Sonnenalle…
It’s totally worth taking a little trip to Neukölln of an evening. Take a little walk and peek behind any number of doors and you’ll probably find a dimly lit bar serving beer and €2 Prosecco. If locals are to be believed, Neukölln is the new Kreuzberg, and it’s packed to the brim with bars and restaurants.
EAT:
Ban Ban Kitchen (Schillerpromenade 32, 12049 Berlin, Germany)
Korean Soul Food is totally a thing in Berlin. They’ve got two locations, so whether you’re looking for a quick snack or ready for a proper meal, they’ve got you covered. And simply put, they have the best darn Kimchi Fries ever (yes, they’re a thing!).
THEN DRINK:
Das Gift (Donaustraße 119, 12043 Berlin, Germany)
This has to be the only Scottish bar in Berlin, and it’s owned by Mogwai keyboardist Barry Burns. It’s a dive bar, in the best possible way… and one of the only places in around that knows (and appreciates) what ‘cider’ is!
Klunkerkranich (Karl-Marx-Straße 66, 12043 Berlin, Germany)
This shopping centre on Karl-Marx-Allee might look like every other mall around. But hop in the elevator and head to the top of the car-park, and you’ll be rewarded with great views of Berlin, a welcoming beer-garden and an ice-cold Fritz Kola.
View from the Klunkerkranich Brandenburg Gate
Evening Entertainment
Let’s Go Gaming: IRL or VR?
Want to actually get hands on? It’s Berlin International Games Week, April 18th-24th. Head to the achingly cool Urban Spree (Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin, Germany), which is 1700sqm dedicated to art and DIY ideas – and just down the road from the East Side Gallery. And they welcome everyone from experts to n00bs.
Or go analogue at dinner and grab a bento box and a board game at Go Bento (Stubbenkammerstraße 5, 10437 Berlin, Germany). The chef’s philosophy is simple: meat, or no meat? Then he’ll whip you up a bento box filled with the freshest flavours. It’s BYOB, and green tea comes free. What more do you need?
Tech gets techno…
Golden Gate (Schicklerstraße 4, 10179 Berlin, Germany)
Looking for some classic Berlin club-scene but don’t want the Berghain queues? Golden Gate is the one – world class DJs, sticky floors and the kind of front that looks like you’re stepping into an abandoned building. It’s what house music was made for.
For the Health and Fitness Conscious
Let’s go swimming!
Behind every door in Berlin there’s a surprise, and that extends to swimming too. If you’re looking central, check out Stadtbad Mitte (Gartenstraße 5, 10115 Berlin, Germany) – a public swimming pool housed in a Bauhaus building. The outside isn’t much to look at, but push open the door and you’ll be rewarded with high windows that let the light flood in.
If you’re East, then Stadtbad Neukölln (Ganghoferstraße 3, 12043 Berlin, Germany) is another hidden gem, with palatial domes and grandiose columns to gawk at whilst you paddle by. Then there’s the infamous Badeschiff Berlin, which is equal parts beach bar and Spree swimming. It gets busy though, so be ready to queue.
Vegan? No worries!
There are lots of vegan and veggie places in Berlin, but if you’re looking for something a bit more high class then head to Kopps (Linienstraße 94 10115 Berlin). It’s determined to do fine dining and fresh food the right way – not a schnitzel in sight!
Retail Therapy
Fancy a spot of shopping? There’s only one district you need to head to, and that’s Mitte, near Alexanderplatz. It mixes alternative high-street gems like Monki and Muji with vintage kilo shops and independent boutiques.
Pick n Weight Kilo Store (Alte Schönhauser Str. 30, 10119 Berlin, Germany): Does what it says on the tin – gather as much as you can, and pay per kilo. Just remember those baggage limits on the way home!
Highstreet with a Berlin twist: Weinmeisterstrasse
Just around the corner from Pick n Weight is Weinmeisterstraße. It’s got all the best high-street stores like Urban Outfitters, Monki, ACNE and COS with some independent boutiques thrown in. If you head the other way down Neue Schönhauser Straße, you’ll find even more. Basically, wander round Mitte whilst you have the shopping bug and you can’t go wrong.
Fancy Something a Bit Different?
AREA: Prenzlauer Berg
Bearpit Karaoke
Bearpit Karaoke + Mauerpark Flea Market (Bernauer Str. 63-64, 13355 Berlin, Germany)
If you’re staying on for the weekend and want to do one tourist-y thing in Berlin, you HAVE to go to Bearpit Karaoke. Held at the heart of the famous Mauerpark flea market, make your way through the food stalls and junk tables towards the amphitheater. There, you’ll find the bear pit. Armed with a bicycle and portable karaoke machine, every Sunday Joe Hatchiban brings sweet (and not so sweet) singing to the city.
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