Category: Germany

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Not to miss in Berlin – local’s favourites

Not to miss in Berlin

Living in Berlin for 9 years, these are my absolute favourite spots in the city. I highly recommend visiting them if you’re traveling to Berlin.

I moved to Berlin in 2015, and here are my favourite spots (on no particular order) you should visit when you come to the city. Honestly, the places I’m introducing in this blog post aren’t hidden gems; on the contrary, they’re quite famous among Berliners. Nonetheless, I highly recommend visiting them.

Strolling through the flea market on Sundays

If you’re looking for the perfect Sunday, you should visit Mauerpark. It is a park located between the two districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding, and (almost) every Sunday, it hosts a huge flea market. Some commercial sellers offer a variety of handcrafted items like clothes, art, and jewellery, but there are also many private sellers mainly offering second-hand clothes. My flatmate and I love the mix of the market and have already bought lots of great clothes for just a few coins. But honestly, I also really love the handcrafted accessories. There are food trucks and Spätis (Berliner convenience stores) nearby as well.

Batches on the flea market in Berlin

Besides the market, the park is a great place to visit. Especially on weekends, many people come here to relax in the sun. And nowhere else will you find so many street musicians. Sometimes, there is even karaoke in the park. People also come here to play sports – I once joined a free Zumba session. Mauerpark is also one of the few places where having a BBQ is allowed.

Flea market at Mauerpark
  • Mauerpark Flohmarkt
  • Park/ flea market
  • Bernauer Strasse 63-64; 10435 Berlin (Wedding/ Prenzlauer Berg)
  • Admission is free
  • The park: 24/7; The flea market: Sundays, 8am-6pm
  • M10 Wolliner Straße; U8 to Bernauer Straße; U2 to Eberswalder Straße
A Taste of Thailand in the Heart of Berlin

Berlin is a place which thrives on its people and diversity. One of the most popular places to enjoy street food, and definitely my favourite, is Thaipark in the Charlottenburg district. It features mainly Thai food – as you can probably guess from the name – but you can also find other East Asian dishes.

Dumplings at Thaipark

It all started with a few people sharing Thai food in a park and grew into a large food market and a popular weekend meeting spot for Berliners. There were even several discussions about moving or closing Thaipark. This year, the street food market was relocated to a neighbouring street. I think the atmoshphere is still great. In the recent years, Thaipark has made significant strides in environmental responsibility. Food is served on reusable plates, which you can borrow for a small deposit (usually 2€). Alternatively, you can bring your own containers or plates. The food is freshly cooked right in front of you, and offers this little vacation nostalgia from your last trip to Thailand. 

A stall at Thaipark
  • Thaipark
  • Thai/ Asian Street Food Market
  • Württembergische Straße; 10707 Berlin (Wilmersdorf)
  • Admission is free; A dish costs around 6-8€
  • April-October, every Saturday and Sunday, 11am-9pm (can be closed due to rain)
  • U2, U3, U7 Fehrbelliner Platz; Bus 101, 115, 143 U Fehrbelliner Platz
  • Official page (only available in German)

Since this year, a smaller version of the Thai market can also be found at Gleisdreieck Park on Fridays. Please note that both street food markets accept cash only.

Thai Bridge
  • Thai Bridge
  • Smaller Thai/ Asian Street Food Market
  • Gleisdreieck; Jules B-Part Café, Luckenwalder Straße; 10963 Berlin (Kreuzberg)
  • Admission is free; A dish costs around 6-8€
  • April-October, every Friday, 3pm-10pm (can be closed due to rain)
  • U1, U2, U3 Gleisdreieck
  • Official page (only available in German)
Visit an Urban Village Right Next to the Spree

Holzmarkt25 feels like its own little village, where people come to enjoy street food, dance, relax by the Spree (the largest river in Berlin), and simply have a good time. The urban village is named after its street address and is located between the S-Bahn stations Jannowitzbrücke and Ostbahnhof in the district of Friedrichshain.

Holzmarkt

There are many small shops and stalls offering food, and sometimes also handcrafted flea market jewellry, accessories, and clothes. My highlight is a large wooden ship next to the Spree, with benches and wooden chairs to relax in. Holzmarkt25 is also really family-friendly, they even have a small playground for kids. The atmosphere is always positive and open-minded. Entry is usually free, but a fee may be apply if a special event is planned.  Please check their website for information on upcoming events. It is not allowed to bring any food or drinks (except water) into Holzmarkt, so please support this incredible place by buying food and drinks on-site. In winter, they also offer a small Christmas market and a bonfire.

Holzmarkt

Aside from the main village, there is also the famous techno club Katerblau, which is part of Holzmarkt. A little tip: you can only pay with cash inside the club, so be sure to bring enough. In addition to the club, Holzmarkt also has a restaurant, a kindergarten, a music school, and a small event space.

  • Holzmarkt25
  • Urban village with street food and events
  • Holzmarktstraße 25; 10243 Berlin (Friedrichshain)
  • Usually admission is free; Fees apply for events
  • 24/7 (can be closed due to heavy weather conditions)
  • Bus 300, N40 Holzmarktstraße; U8, S3, S5, S7, S9 Jannowitzbrücke; S3, S5, S7, S9, S75 Ostbahnhof
  • Official page (only available in German)
Enjoy Street Art – Without Worrying About the Rain

One of my favourite museums is Urban Nation, which features urban art from various artists worldwide. The exhibition changes approximately once a year, as does the building’s façade. There is no entrance fee. Many of the art pieces reflect society and address political issues. The Urban Nation Museum also has its own art project called One Wall, which brings five artists to Berlin each year to repaint old building walls.

Inside of the museum of Urban Nation

If you’re looking for more museums, check out my blog post on my favourite museums in Berlin: Free Admission to Berlin’s Best Museums.

  • Urban Nation Museum
  • Art museum
  • Bülowstraße 7; 10783 Berlin (Schöneberg)
  • Admission is free
  • Tuesday-Sunday
  • U1, U2, U3, U4 or Bus 106, 187, M19 Nollendorfplatz
  • Offical page
Berlin from Above: The City’s Best Rooftop Bar

On the rooftop of a mall in Neukölln, you’ll find my favourite rooftop bar and club in Berlin: Klunkerkranich. Simply head to the upper floor of Neukölln Arcaden, where you will arrive at parking deck 5. From here, walk a bit further and turn right to reach the entrance of Klunkerkranich. There is uausally an entrance fee, starting at around 5 € (5.50 US$), depending on the evening. I recommend arriving early, as it can get very crowded at the door in summer.

A woman on a rooftop bar in Berlin

Klunkerkranich is a combination of a bar and club, also depending on the event of the night. It can range from a club night to a Pride event or even a laid-back evening with relaxing house beats. The entire parking deck is part of the club, offering perfect sunsets over Berlin, and you can of course also see the TV tower at Alexanderplatz from here. You’ll find lots of plants and a small urban garden. There is even a small sand box in the middle of the floor. I absolutely love the vibe, especially on long summer nights in Berlin.

View from Klunkerkranich
  • Klunkerkranich
  • Bar and club
  • Neukölln Arcaden; Karl-Marx-Straße 66; 12043 Berlin (Neukölln)
  • Usually 2-10 € (2-11 US$)
  • In high season: daily; Thursday-Sunday from 4pm; Monday-Wednesday from 5pm
  • U7 Rathaus Neukölln; Bus N7 U Rathaus Neukölln
  • Offical page
Berlin's Most Unique Backyard

Another place you should visit is the backyard of Haus Schwarzenberg. It is a dream come true for street art lovers, filled with murals, drawings, stickers, graffiti, and collages that change over time. You’ll discover countless hidden messages and details, so be sure to take a closer look.

Haus Schwarzenberg in Berlin

There are also two museums located here. One is a small museum about Anne Frank, which is also very suitable for children, and the other one is the Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt, a former factory where Otto Weidt hid Jewish people during the Nazi regime in Germany.

The backyard is located near the famous Hackesche Höfe, which is also worth a visit but offers a stark contrast. At Haus Schwarzenberg, you can relax in the backyard under red-yellow buntings with a beer from Café Cinema and soak in Berlin’s vibes in one of the city’s most unique backyards.

  • Haus Schwarzenberg
  • A backyard full of art
  • Rosenthaler Str. 39; 10178 Berlin (Mitte)
  • Admission is free
  • 24/7
  • S3, S5, S7, S9 Hackescher Markt; Tram M1 S Hackescher Markt; U8 Weinmeisterstraße
  • List Item
Having a Picnic on a Runway

Nowadays, Tempelhofer Feld is used as a park and for sports, especially those involving wheels. Until 2008, it was an airport in the centre of the city.

At Tempelhofer Feld

The runyway is now open to various activities, from jogging, and biking to inline skating, or also wind sports. It is also the perfect spot to rent an e-scooter to dash around for fun or to fly your kite. The area is huge, offering not just green spaces but also a dog park, an urban garden, and a small observation tower. It is occasionally used for festivals, including music festivals in the past (Florence + the Machine and Muse were performing here) or the annual Festival der Riesendrachen (a festival showcasing some of the world’s largest kites, with free entry). Tempelhofer Feld is the perfect place to enjoy the unique,  calm noisiness only cities can offer, all while being in the middle of Berlin.

Festival der Riesendrachen
  • Tempelhofer Feld
  • Park (former airport)
  • Tempelhofer Damm; 12101 Berlin (Tempelhof)
  • Four entrances: Tempelhofer Damm; Columbiadamm; Oderstraße/Herrfurthstraße; Oderstraße/Crashgate
  • Admission is free
  • Depends on the month; usually from dawn till dusk
  • S41, S42, S47 S Tempelhof; U6 U Tempelhof or Paradestraße; U8 Leinestraße or Boddinstraße; Bus M43 Friedhöfe Columbiadamm or Golßener Straße
  • Offical page
Between Urban Art, Clubs, and Bars

RAW is a place filled with small clubs, urban art, and good vibes. It is especially popular with night owls, but it also offers exhibitions, sports classes, and a flea market on Sundays.

You can even find Berlin’s smallest disco here – the Teledisco, a former phone box where you can have a private dance. I also love the little photo booths where you can create nice memories with friends in the form of a photo strip. Around RAW, you will find plenty of food spots and bars (especially Simon-Dach-Straße is really famous for all its bars). The RAW area consists of former railway halls, now repurposed as a hub for alternative culture.

  • RAW area
  • Area full of clubs, art, exhibitions, and a flea market on Sundays
  • Revaler Strasse 99; 10245 Berlin (Friedrichshain)
  • Admission is free
  • 24/7
  • S3, S5, S7, S9, S42, S75, U1, U3, Tram M10 Warschauer Straße; Tram M10, M13 Revaler Straße
  • Offical page

These were my top favourite places in Berlin. Do you agree or did I miss something?

You have read the blog post Not to miss in Berlin – local’s favourites on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Exploring Hiddensee: Beaches, Heathlands, and Cliff Coasts at the Baltic Sea

The heathlands in summer on Hiddensee

Hiddensee, the car-free island in the German Baltic Sea, is just a three-and-a-half hour (public) train (or 2:50 hours by express train) journey and a 90-minute ferry ride away from Berlin, making it the ideal little weekend getaway from Germany’s 3.6 million capital. It offers the perfect opportunity to detox, slow down, and explore its beaches, heathlands, and cliff coasts. Allow me to introduce you to beautiful Hiddensee.

At the beach on Hiddensee

Hiddensee is the neighbouring island of Rügen in Northern Germany. The island is 17km (10.6 mi) long and is only around 250m (820 ft) wide at its narrowest point. Approximately 1,000 residents live in the four districts of the island: Kloster, Grieben, Vitte, and Neuendorf. Apart from Grieben, each district has its own ferry stop from where you can start your expedition. Within these four locations, you can find a few stores, restaurants, and supermarkets; while in between the small towns, you will be enveloped by nature.

One special fact about Hiddensee is its prohibition on cars. There is public transport, a horse carriage or plenty of bicycle rental shops available if you wish to traverse the island.

On the coast of Hiddensee
Between heathlands, beaches, and cliff coasts

The charm of Hiddensee lies in its wide beaches, colourful heathlands (especially during the summer months), cliff coasts, lighthouses (a larger one in the North and a smaller one in the South), and endless views –  Northern Germany’s flat terrain is ideal for bicycle tours. During our bike tour, we found some cute umanned stalls selling art and homemade products such as marmalade. These stalls operate on an honor system, with an unattended cash register relying on trust.   

The tree parts of Hiddensee

The island is divided into three parts. In the northern part, you will find the cliff coast up to 60m (197 ft) high, crowned by the landmark lighthouse Dornbusch, named after the area. Situated in the heart of Hiddensee is the lowland featuring expansive sandy beaches and dune heath.  The heathlands cover an area of up to 75 hectares (185 acres) and have been a protected area since 1964. This area blooms beautifully in August and September, and making it therefore the best time to visit. The third and lowest point of the island is inaccessible to visitors as it serves as a protected area for birds.

Walking along the beaches
A meadow full of sheep in the middle of the island
An umanned stall selling homemade marmelade
At the seaside of Hiddensee
The lighthouse at the beach in the South of the island
The seaside of Hiddensee
The heathlands in summer on Hiddensee
Sunrise from the ferry leaving Hiddensee
How to reach Hiddensee

The ferry to Hiddensee departs from four different harbours. Coming from the south, the easiest option  is to take the ferry from Stralsund, which operates year-round. However, ferries also depart from Dranske, Wiek, and Schaprode on Hiddensee’s neighbouring island Rügen but only during the season.

For those coming from Berlin, you can take a direct train( RE3) to Stralsund, which takes approximately 3 hours 15 minutes, then catch a ferry from the harbour, adding another 1.5 hours to reach Neuendorf.

Hiddensee has three different harbours: Kloster in the north, Vitte in the middle, and Neuendorf in the south.

An extra tip for travellers with the Germany-Ticket: you can utilize the ferry from Schaprode (Rügen) for only 4 € one-way (you only need to pay the reservation and curtax fee) by taking the Warnow-Fähre.

You have read the blog post Exploring Hiddensee: Beaches, Heathlands, and Cliff Coasts at the Baltic Sea on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Berlin’s best spots for the Cherry Blossom-season

Cherry Blossom in Berlin

What the cherry blossom season in Berlin has to do with the Cold War, how Japan was involved in planting the trees, and where to find the best spots for the pink sea of blossoms – all of this I will tell you in the following blog post.

Every year between mid of April and the begging of May, Berlin blazes in a pink sea of cherry blossoms. The time mostly depends on the weather and how early in the year it is getting warm. In general, the trees bloom between two and three weeks.

💡 Information about cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms (also Japanese cherry) or in Japanese called “sakura” (桜 ) is the white or pink flower of the ornamental cherry tree and of particular importance in Japan. The blossom of the tree is considered to be the national flower of the country. In Japan, it describes the attributes of beauty, departure, and caducity. In Japanese, it is combined in the non-translatable word “mono no aware” (物の哀れ) that describes the bittersweetness of a fading moment of transcendent beauty. The cherry blossom season in Japan markers the peak of the Japanese calendar and the beginning of spring.
The Japanese cherry is only used as an ornamental tree in contrast to cherry trees that are planted for the actual fruit.
A present from Japan

Germany received the cherry blossom trees in 1990 as a gift from Japan. East and West Germany celebrated their reunification on the 3rd of October. Therefore, the Japanese TV broadcast TV Asahi started fundraising for the planting of some cherry blossom trees. They received enough money for more than 9,000 trees, most of them were brought to Berlin.

Exchange of spies during the Cold War

The first trees were planted at the Glienicker Bridge in November 1990. The bridge links Potsdam (former East Germany) with (West) Berlin and was especially important during the Cold War since the USA and the Soviet Union used it to exchange their spies. Until today, the bridge is painted in two different shades of green and markers the borderline (nowadays it is just the borderline between two different federal states). The GDR (German Democratic Republic, East Germany), as well as the FDR (Federal Republic of Germany, West Germany), painted both around half of the bridge. The part of West Berlin is in a darker green shade. Not only because East Germany chose a slightly lighter green but also because West Germany started painting the bridge a few years earlier and therefore, the weather conditions stained the bridge.

The longest cherry blossom alley of Berlin

More than 1,000 trees seaming the TV-Asahi-Kirschblütenallee (cherry blossom alley) on the wall trail (Mauerweg) between former West-Berlin and the GDR (German Democratic Republic, East Germany). The alley is more than 100 metres (109 yards) long. Usually, there is also the Hanami Festival. Hanami (花見) is Japanese and means literally translated “flower viewing”. It describes the Japanese tradition of visiting the first cherry blossoms in spring and enjoying their beauty. In Berlin, the festival offers a picnic, Japanese food, and a cultural programme.

❗️ Cherry blossom ticker
The city of Teltow in Brandenburg has its own cherry blossom ticker (Kirschblütenticker) to check if the blossoms are already blooming at the TV-Asahi-Kirschblütenalle, the longest cherry blossom alley of Berlin. The ticker is in form of a photo gallery with a current photo of the bud of a flower, renewed every second day during the season. You can check out the ticker here (the homepage is in German).

Cherry blossom meets German history

The cherry blossom trees are mainly planted along the wall trail (the former location of the Berlin Wall) and also marker some H#historical places in Berlin. A lot of trees are under the bridge “Bösebrücke” which was the first open borderline between East and West Berlin on the 9th of November 1989, the day of the fall of the wall.

🚌 Where to find cherry blossom trees
📍 TV-Asahi-Kirschblütenallee (Borderline between Berlin-Lichterfelde and Teltow):
Take the S25 or S26 to the S-Bahn station Lichterfelde-Süd, from there you follow the Holtheimer Weg. After around 550 metres (601 yards) you should reach the cherry blossom trees.
📍 Under the bridge “Bösebrücke” at Bornholmer Straße (Prenzlauer Berg/Gesundbrunnen):
The Mauerweg with its cherry blossom trees runs directly under the bridge of the S-Bahn station Bornholmer Straße (S1, S2, S25, S26, S8, S85).
📍 Volkspark am Weinberg or also called Weinbergpark (Mitte):
You can reach the Weinbergpark in around 5 minutes by foot from the U-Bahn station Rosenthaler Platz (U8).
📍 Zionskirchstraße (Mitte):
The Zionskirchstraße is just another 5 minutes walk from the Weinbergpark. If you follow the street in the direction of the same-named church you will find an alley of cherry blossom in the middle of the city.
📍 Schwedter Straße at Mauerpark (Prenzlauer Berg):
The Schwedter Straße on the Mauerpark lays between the U-Bahn station Bernauer Straße (U8) and Eberswalder Straße (U2).
📍 Strausberger Platz (Friedrichshain):
The cherry blossom trees are directly at the U-Bahn station Strausberger Platz (U5).
📍 Gärten der Welt (Marzahn):
Gärten der Welt (literally translated Gardens of the World) offer 22 different garden installations. The park costs an entrance fee and is best reachable with the U5 to the U-Bahn station Kienberg – Gärten der Welt.
Click here to visit the official page and to get more information.
There are a few more spots in and around Berlin, especially at the Mauerweg (Wall Trial) where you can find more cherry blossom trees. These are the more famous spots.
The public transport of Berlin is called BVG, click here to find more train connections.

First written on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021, you have read the blog post Berlin’s best spots for the Cherry Blossom-season on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Best views and tips for Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

At the latest, Disney made Neuschwanstein Castle world known. Read all about how to get a ticket, what to expect from a tour and find the best viewing points to see the castle in all its beauty.

Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous castle in Germany and probably also one of the most known in Europe. The castle was also used by Disney as an inspiration for Cinderella’s castle and can be found on the well-known logo of the company itself.

Last summer, I decided that it was finally time to visit the famous castle on my small trip through Bavaria and therefore to cross one of my must-sees from my travel bucket list. I found the perfect viewpoint and will share all my tips with you in this blog post.

💡 Facts about Neuschwanstein Castle

The construction work of Neuschwanstein started in the summer of 1868. The castle was built for the Bavarian king Ludwig II. and was designed as the ideal knight’s castle from medieval times. Nevertheless, the latest technic was used outside as well as inside for the construction work. The castle was even fitted with hot air central heating, running water and an automatic flushing system. The king actually also had a telephone available. If I remember it right he could only call the post with it.  

The king only lived a few months inside the castle because he died in 1886 before the castle was completed. Therefore the construction work was never finished.

Tips for booking tickets

If you want to visit the castle from inside you should book your tickets already beforehand online to make sure you will be able to visit the palace. The tickets are often sold out days before, in summer even weeks before, especially if you plan on going on weekends or holidays. One ticket costs 17.50 EUR (18.60 US$) for adults and one Euro less for students, pensioners, and disabled persons as well as if you have the Gästekarte (you will get the Gästekarte in most hotels if you stay overnight, I even got it on my camping spot). If you want to bring your children make sure to also buy tickets for them, every child – even babies – need their own tickets. Tickets for children from 0 to 17 years cost 2.50 EUR (2.60 US$). The tours are available in English or German but you can also book a time frame to use an audio guide which is available in 19 different languages.

Castle Hohenschwangau

You can also combine the ticket to visit Hohenschwangau Castle and/or the Museum of the Bavarian Kings which you can find right around the corner just a few metres further at lake Alpsee. In case all tickets are already sold out during your stay, you should take a look at the online shop at eight o’clock in the morning. Sometimes you can be lucky and more tickets will be unlocked for the day. You can buy your tickets online in the official shop of Neuschwanstein.de.

In case you missed buying tickets online and you want to check the ticket centre, you can find it next to the parking slots. There is no possibility to buy any tickets at the castle. So do not make the mistake to go all the way up to the castle first.

You should plan around 45 minutes of walking from the parking slot and bus stop up to Neuschwanstein Castle. There is also the possibility to take a bus or a horse-drawn carriage but from both stops, you will need to walk a bit further to reach the entrance.

Woman on a meadow with Neuschwanstein Castle in the back
Cows and a church in Schwangau
Woman on a meadow with Neuschwanstein Castle in the back
Woman on a meadow with Neuschwanstein Castle in the back
Neuschwanstein Castle from the front
Neuschwanstein Castle
Pöllat gorge from above
Neuschwanstein Castle
Castle Hohenschwangau
Alpsee
Alpsee
View on Castle Neuschwanstein and the lake Alpsee from the mountains
A woman infront of Neuschwanstein Castle
View on Alpsee and Castle Hohenschwangau from the balcony of Neuschwanstein

What to expect from the castle tour

Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public only seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886. This is a bit ironic since it was once planned as the retreat of the king. Until today more than 1.5 million people visit the rooms of the castle every year.

The inside of Neuschwanstein Castle can be only visited with a tour. The tour itself is actually quite short. I chose a guided tour which took not even 30 minutes in total. The reason is that only 14 rooms were completed before the death of King Ludwig II. Therefore the rooms on the second floor were never finished. Anyways, the rooms which were actually finished are worth a visit.

The view from the balcony of the castle

The picture cycles on the walls are inspired by the operas of Richard Wagner. You will find his different works and the medieval legends, they are based on, in all rooms of the castle. Another recurrent theme is the swan which is shown in different statues and paintings. The swan is also part of the name of the castle itself. Neuschwanstein means literally translated “New Swan Stone” –  the German word “Schwan” is the animal swan. Also the town Schwangau itself in where you can find the palace has the animal in its name. The swan is used as a Christian symbol of purity.

I was most blown away by the Singers’ Hall and of course the grotto. The king let built his own artificial dripstone cave in his castle. It was designed by August Dirigl and had originally coloured lights and even a waterfall. The Singer’s Hall occupies the whole fourth floor in the eastern section of the palace. It was planned as a stage for theatre and musical performances but was never used in this way.  

It is not allowed to take pictures inside the castle but you can see photos of all the rooms on the official page of Neuschwanstein.

Best viewing points around

📍 Behind the castle: If you visit the Neuschwanstein make sure to also follow the path behind the castle. It is really not an insider’s tip but you will have a really nice view of the backside of the castle as well as of lake Alpsee and Hohenschwangau castle.

📍 Marienbrücke (Mary’s bridge): Marienbrücke is only a 15-minute walk from Neuschwanstein Castle. There is also a bus you can take from the parking slot to go up. The bridge itself is very popular and often crowded. It can happen that you have to wait around 30-45 minutes to visit it if you come during the high season. If you want to avoid the crowds come in the morning before or in the evening after the opening hours. I visited the bridge around 6 pm in the summer. It was way less full and in the end, I had the bridge almost to myself. The view is just perfect. You stand right upon the Pöllat gorge with the castle right in front of you.

The bridge can be closed during winter because of bad weather conditions such as ice and snow. You can check it beforehand online on the page Hohenschwangau.de.

📍 Close to Marienbrücke: Also Marienbrücke itself is a beautiful photo motive. If you follow the middle path from the bus stop you will have a quite nice view to see Marienbrücke and the castle without too many people around. There is even a sign that shows you the way.

📍 Your own personal spot: If you want to have a stunning view of the castle without tourists, you should just follow the way up the mountains and use them for a beautiful view down. When I visited Neuschwanstein Castle at midday in summer, the line of people visiting Marienbrücke was endlessly long so I hiked further uphill. There I had the view just for my own. The spot is not really a secret since you can find it on google maps but since you need to walk around 20 minutes upward you won’t see too many people. Follow the spot on google maps and enjoy your own beautiful view. But please take care to not go too close to the edge. Safety always comes first and should be more important than any nice view and photo.

🚌 How to reach the castles by public transport
If you want to travel by public transport you can use a train to Füssen (for example from Munich central station) and from there a bus (bus number 9606 or 78) which brings you to the parking spot and ticket centre of the castles. The bus stop is called Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau. You can find all connections and buy tickets on bahn.com.

You have read the blog post Best views and tips for Neuschwanstein Castle on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Schwerin – a day trip from Berlin

The castle of Schwerin

Only 2.5 hours takes the train ride from Berlin to the state capital of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. A town that is often forgotten and somewhat underestimated. Schwerin convinces with its charm and its architecture, such as its famous castle, its old town, and its proximity to the Baltic Sea.

Schwerin is one of these cities which turn out to be a nice surprise when you visit it. We did not really expect too much when we planned our visit but in the end, it convinced us with its charm and beauty. It has a really pretty old town and of course, its wonderful castle which characterizes the cityscape. You can find the palace in almost every picture if you google Schwerin. Palace Schwerin is located on an island surrounded by the same named lake. Therefore you can explore it eighter way from the water by renting a boat or taking a long walk around.

💡 Facts about Schwerin

Schwerin is the state capital and second biggest city (behind Rostock) of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (in German: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). It is located in Northern East Germany, approximately 225 km (140 miles) from Berlin. In the other direction, the seaside is not far. Schwerin is only around 30 km ( 19 miles) away from Wismar, a city directly located to the Baltic Sea. Therefore it is a perfect destination for a weekend or even a day trip.

Strolling through Schwerin
Schwerin Cathedral of the Old Town

You do not need a map, Schwerin is small and can be easily discovered on foot. The city also offers signposts to help you to orientate yourself. One other clue is the conspicuous tower of the Schwerin Cathedral which rises 117.5 metres (128 yards) above the old town.

Visit Castle Schwerin

The Palace Schwerin was the seat of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Nowadays the palace is not only a historian but also a political place. Since 1990 it has been used as the home of the parliament of the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The other side of the castle is a museum and can be visited by tourists. The entrance fee is 8.50 € (8.25 USD) but also offers a discount. Children (under the age of 18 years) have free admission. The park and gardens are also open to the public and can be visited for free. I would definitely recommend taking a walk around the castle.

The old town of Schwerin
In the gardens of Palace Schwerin
In the gardens of Palace Schwerin
View on the water in Schwerin
View on the water in Schwerin
The park of Palace Schwerin
Palace Schwerin
🚌 How to reach Schwerin from Berlin by public transport
Schwerin is easily reachable by (regional) train or bus.

From Berlin, you can take RE2 in the direction of Wismar, it takes approximately 2:30 hours. The trains leave from many stations, including Berlin-Spandau, Zoologischer Garten, Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof and Ostkreuz. You can find all connections on the official page bahn.de.

If you want to go by bus, you can use for example the bus company Flixbus. They usually offer one direct ride a day which takes around 2:45 hours. Typically the bus is leaving from Berlin ZOB (close to Messe Nord/ICC).

Click here to find more blog posts about other weekend and day trips in and around Berlin.

You have read the blog post Schwerin – a daytrip from Berlin on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Why do volunteering

This article might be a bit different from my other ones – today I want to talk about voluntary work (ergo working without getting paid) and why it can be a great opportunity for you. (Just to clarify I’m more talking about clubs, associations and societies – not about an official gap year). In this blog post, I want to share my personal experiences with you. And I would like to introduce you to my student association AEGEE – at least this part is about travelling, I promise.

Discussion about cultural differences in Russia at my student summer exchange 2018 in Saint Petersburg.

First of all, volunteering can involve a lot of different fields and you can join it in all kind of life circumstances. The definition is more or less to work and give your time for free – like a community service. But to be honest, yes it is especially an interesting topic if you are younger and still in your status of education like school, university or in an apprenticeship (but latter makes it harder to find the time, I know, I have been there as well). But in general, there is no age limit – especially not in the terms of getting older.

A lot of people link voluntary work with social work and yes this can be involved, but there are also plenty of other ways to volunteer especially in sports, cultural or economical ways. It can be a schools club or an initiative of your neighbourhood – the only important point is that it supports your interests – after all, you invest your time for free. Some organisations also offer volunteer work in other countries – this way you are actually able to combine your interest in working for a project with travelling. Even though, the interest in supporting the chosen project should be the main impulse. It probably also depends on how strong voluntary work is supported in your country. Actually, I heard from friends that in the Netherlands joining a student club is obligatory.

Moderating the 5th anniversary show of my radio club couchFM (Berlin)

I grow up in Germany where I feel the whole system of voluntary work especially in school is not that strongly supported. In school, we only had a very little choice in different clubs, I was part of the art club, Computer club and later of the pupil’s magazine. But I think for me the really important voluntary work started when I began studying. Lucky me, we had some student associations which presented themselves on our welcome event of my major – theatre and media science. This is how I joined the radio club of my university in my first semester. A few years later, I also became a member of AEGEE when I started my master studies in Berlin.

The flag of my student association AEGEE-Berlin at a summer event

What is AEGEE?
I want to gain the chance to actually tell you something about my student association of AEGEE – because it could be interesting for you (in case you live in Europe) – especially since you seem to love travelling. AEGEE is a student’s forum and the shortcut of Association des Etats Généraux des Éstudiants de l’Europe – or easier we are one of the biggest interdisciplinary student organisations of Europe. We strive for a democratic, diverse and borderless Europe. This is also the reason why AEGEE has locals who are not part of the European Union. We are non-governmental, politically independent, and a non-profit organisation. Our network includes around 10,000 members from over 160 cities in around 40 countries – from the Canary Islands until Siberia. To me, AEGEE supports especially the political and cultural exchange between young people and empower them to take an active part in society.    
For more information visit aegee.org

Craziest experience with AEGEE  

Until today I travelled to ten different countries with AEGEE where I took part in different activities and sessions around topics like history and local culture, arts, political discussions, project and self-development. One of my favourite memories is first when I travelled as a delegate to the Agora – our member’s meeting where all the locals of AEGEE come together (which means approx. 700 people from different countries) – to discuss five days about the future of AEGEE and Europe. But also to spend some time with friends you found in the past years in AEGEE and explore the city together (the location of the Agora changes with every meeting). You can read about my time as a delegate in the article on the right side.


Second, another special experience with AEGEE was when I decided to become the main organiser of a two weeks exchange in Berlin with 35 people from all over Europe. The exchange was actually part of the Summer University (SU), one of the biggest and oldest projects of AEGEE, it started in 1988. The main idea of the SU and why it was founded is to promote European integration by doing cultural exchanges and to explore the multicultural dimensions of Europe. But also to find a place to discuss and meet new people from all over Europe. One main rule of AEGEE is to make all of our events affordable for all of our members which gave us a fixed financial frame. It is a really important rule but made it even harder for us to organise the summer exchange in the way we imagined it. Every participant pays only 14 EUR (~16.75 US$) a night, therefore we offer the accommodation, two meals a day, the whole programme, all sessions and the rides during the event (we went to a lake, on a day trip to Potsdam and for three days to Dresden). At some point, it was really challenging for us but in the end, we created the best exchange possible – and I think our participants really enjoyed their time in Germany. 

What can Voluntary work do for you?

I believe volunteering is more than just about to brighten up your CV (but this is actually a nice side effect). In the student associations I joined, I actually got a lot of responsibility and the opportunity to lead my own projects. It is always your own choice how much work and time you want and can bring in but I really enjoyed to use all the opportunities I got – and even to work in a leading position. It is a lot about reaching your own goals, being creative or more open-minded, working with a team, trying new things and ideas without being afraid to fail (and lose your job). There were so many different sections I was able to try out. Another good point is that I actually met a lot of great people – because all of us are care for the same or similar topics it is so much easier to find common interests.

Therefore, I hope I could convince you to give it a try – search for pupil’s clubs in your school, join student associations, take a look for regional projects around your home town or even international projects you can join.

Or maybe you are already volunteering or have other interesting thoughts on this topic? Feel free to leave a comment below.

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Karneval der Kulturen – celebrating diversity on Berlin’s streets


Berlin is a truly multicultural city, and this diversity is celebrated at the ‘Karneval der Kulturen’ (translated into English as ‘Carnival of Cultures’), held every May during Pentecost in Kreuzberg. The highlight of the festival is the grand parade on Sunday.

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Karneval der Kulturen in Kreuzberg


The Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is a large urban festival with an open program for four days in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The festival is free and features various stalls offering a wide array of food and drinks from around the world, as well as clothes, toys, some handmade musical instruments, jewellery, and other treasures. Additionally, there is a green area and many stages where various artists and musicians present their art and music.

Large parade in the streets of Berlin

One of the highlights is the big parade on Sunday, where about 1.3 million people come together. Dance groups, musicians, and other artists celebrate and dance through the streets of Kreuzberg, from Hermannplatz to Yorckstraße/Möckernstraße, turning them into the biggest stage in Berlin. This year (2015), the parade started at 2:30 pm and ended around 9:30 pm, featuring over 70 groups. The audience can join the parade and celebrate along with them. The music was mostly techno and electro music, which Berlin is known for. The atmosphere was fantastic and the streets were full of dancing people. All streets were closed to traffic, and it felt like a massive party where the whole city was involved.

First written on Friday, May 20th, 2016, you have read the blog post Karneval der Kulturen – celebrating diversity on Berlin’s streets on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Food Market in Berlin

I love to taste new dishes from foreign countries or enjoy meals I already know from my past vacations (it brings back good memories). That’s why I was very excited when I heard about the food market at the ‘Görlitzer Bahnhof’ in Berlin.

Arepas

From Switzerland to Peru …

In Berlin, you have the opportunity to choose between various food markets. I went with a friend to the Markthalle Neun (Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, Berlin-Kreuzberg), near the Görtlitzer Bahnhof (U1, U3) to sample some foreign dishes. The market opens every Thursday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. You can find a wide variety of food from all over the world, ranging from Switzerland to Peru, from Vietnam to Italy. There are different stalls offering dishes from specific countries. 

Summer rolls

Our first dish was summer rolls from Vietnam. They are rice paper filled with tofu, peppers, cucumber, rice noodles, Chinese cabbage, and fresh herbs, served with peanut-hoisin sauce. They were really tasty. My friend bought something like samosas filled with meat from an African stall. 

Naanwich

It was really difficult to decide what to eat because there were so many creative dishes that looked so delicious. In the end, we decided to eat a Naanwich, which combines the words Naan bread (typical Indian bread) and sandwich. So, you can already guess that it’s Indian food. You could choose between meat (12-hours cooked pork) and tikka cheese (paneer), combined with salad, various vegetables, coriander, and mint yoghurt sauce, all wrapped in bread. It was not easy to eat, but it was really good (I actually love Indian food).

Fluffy waffles filled with Mousse au Chocolat

My friend decided to try some of the wines they offered. I wanted to save my money for dessert. I forgot the name of the dish, but it was a special kind of waffle (very fluffy), rolled up to resemble an ice-cream wafer and filled with Mousse au Chocolat. You could choose between different fillings such as Baileys, strawberry, banana, Nutella, or just the classic option with sugar and cinnamon. The evening was very nice, and we plan to come again. After the market closed, we went to the nearest bar to drink a beer. 

Official page: Markthalle Neun

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Good to know about Germany

Do you plan to visit Germany? Then you found the right blog post. Here you find some “Insider” news, tips, help and other good-to-know stuff about my home country. 

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

 

About Germany

Germany has a size of over 350,000 square kilometres and more than 80 million inhabitants. Our capital is Berlin, and of course, we speak German and pay with Euro. Our country has a big historical background, especially the Second World War is still an important subject in Germany and we were divided into two countries (with a wall which even divided Berlin into two parts). The German reunification was on the 3rd of October 1990, it is our national holiday. We are less than half per cent of the world…

 

Shops are closed on Sundays

It’s cheaper to buy food in the supermarket and cook your own meal than go out to a restaurant. However, if you go to restaurants or bars you usually give the waiter a tip of around 10% for his – and this is the important part – good service. On the other hand, it is also totally common to actually give no tip in case the waiter was impolite or the service bad.

If you want to buy food in the supermarket you should know that all shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays. There are some exceptions on special days (Verkaufsoffener Sonntag). There are also special rules for convenience stores, petrol stations and supermarkets which are part of a train station. If you are in Berlin, you can for example go to the supermarket at the central station or Ostbahnhof. But the groceries can be more expensive, especially at the convenience store.

One special attention for tourists in Bavaria (for example Munich, Nuremberg, castle Neuschwanstein) and Saarland: Supermarkets close here a little bit earlier, at the latest 8pm.

 

Deposit on plastic and beer bottles

In Germany, we have a deposit for most bottles. You recognise it through a little sign on the bottle, which shows a can and a bottle with a returning arrow. Plastic bottles, cans and beer bottles but also some other glass bottles (for example soft drinks) have deposits. Most big glass bottles with alcohol (wine or spirits) are non-returnable.

Plastic bottles and cans have a 0.25 Euro deposit, and beer bottles (glass) 0.08 Euro. There is also a deposit on the crate itself. After you emptied the bottles you can bring it back to the supermarket and get your money back. This deposit system is part of the environmental protection of Germany and should help the recycling system. Furthermore, many homeless people in Germany collect bottles with a deposit from public parks. So if you do not want to bring your bottle home you can just place it next to a trash bin people will collect it from there. 

Bundestag in Berlin
Bundestag in Berlin
Public transport

Compared to many other countries, Germany has expensive public transport. Especially the local transport could be very expensive (price reduction for single tickets only for kids under 14 years). When you want to travel across the country you can use planes, trains (for long-distance travel, it’s cheaper to buy the tickets at least three days before – Deutsche Bahn or sometimes cheaper here), busses (f.e. Flixbus, Postbus or Eurolines) or also take a ride with the car (f.e. Blablacar). The last one is a good decision when you want to travel spontaneously. There are different portals you can use and ask foreigners to take them for less money with you.

No speed limit

One cliche about Germans is, that they love cars. The fact is that Germany doesn’t have a speed limit on highways. But it was already discussed a lot if it would reduce car accidents.

Clean tap water

Our tap water in Germany is very clean. So you don’t have to buy water in the supermarket and can just use the tap to refill your bottle. Many people buy their water anyway in the supermarket. One reason will be that sparkling water is really in common here (but you can also buy water without carbonic acid).

Age Limits
Germany produces a lot of wine and beer. The age limit for beer, and (sparkling) wine is 16 years. For any other alcohol like spirits or driving cars, you have to be 18 years old. With 18 you’re at your full age in Germany. But you have to be 21 years old for some clubs and every casino.
 
 
 
 
 

First written on Sunday, December 20th, 2015, you have read the blog post Good to know about Germany on My Travel Journal-Blog.

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Japanese Christmas Market in Berlin

Japanese Christmasmarket

In Japan live about 2 per cent of Christians. For sure, it would not be the first country you would associate with Christmas. But this fact doesn’t keep Berlin from organising a Japanese Christmas market. What you can find there? Please scroll down …

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At the weekend of the second advent, I visited the Japanese Christmas market together with my flatmates (sometimes we’re Asia nerds). The market was in a big hall in Alt-Treptow in Berlin. The first look wasn’t really Christmassy (neither the second). There were a lot of different booths with typical Japanese stuff like soft toys, pictures, little action figures and accessories. We did also find hand-made kimonos and self-made art. The vendors were different people from Germany or Japan, who came to the market to present and sell special things.

Japanese food at a Christmas Market in Berlin

And of course, there were many different booths with Japanese food. Berlin is also really famous for offering a lot of Vegetarian and Vegan food, so there were also a lot of possibilities to have dishes without animal products. Of course, they had a lot of meals with rice like Japanese Curry or Thuna Don. The last one is a rice bowl with marinated tuna Sashimi. Other little things were Yakitori (chicken) or different crepes with Salmond-Teriyaki, Kimchi-Cheese or Matcha-Atzuki. They also sell all kinds of Hot Dogs with specific dishes like Kimchi, Wasabi and Teriyaki. Okonomiyaki reminded me of a big pancake, I think you could compare it with each other. Of course, you could eat typical food like Sushi and Japanese soup. They also sell Zenzai. It’s a sweet red bean soup. 

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My Gyoza

It was really hard to choose only one dish from the big offer. I decided to try Gyoza. It’s thinly rolled pieces of pastry filled with meat (pork) or vegetables (vegetarian). If you know the German “Maulentaschen” you will know, what I mean. You eat it with soy sauce. It was really delicious, but I waited for one hour to get them because the food needed a lot of time and many people wanted to eat them. But I was lucky because the seller gave me one Gyoza more. Thanks to the hospitable Japanese.

Click here to find more blog posts about different Christmas markets in Berlin

First written on Monday, December 14th, 2015, you have read the blog post Japanese Christmas Market in Berlin on My Travel Journal-Blog.