Berlin: History Made Fun

As I've aged, I've become increasingly keen to travel and will leap at any excuse to visit somewhere new, but I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about my recent trip to Berlin with a pair of history fanatics. From what I'd heard and researched, Berlin is a city with an enormous amount of history that's integral to the culture and as such, most of the landmarks or "points of interest" have it as their central focus.

From a very early age it was rather apparent that I wasn't especially gifted where academic subjects were concerned; my talents lay more in the creative fields. While some people were blessed with the mental capacity for things such as history and the sciences I was sadly not one of them. I'm not good with dates and have always struggled to retain such a level of concentration as to be able to develop a real interest in and passion for history so, while I was excited to me venturing somewhere new, I had my reservations.

As it happens, it was one of the best trips of my life. I managed to get sucked into the history (thanks to Fat Tire cycle tours) and even found a few activities that were not designed specifically for history enthusiasts...

Fat Tire cycle tours (yes, that's the correct spelling) are a mere €28 per person and take you round all of the major landmarks in Berlin with a fabulous, English-speaking guide talking you through the entire way.Perhaps we were especially luck with our guide, Jurgen, but we found the tour was incredibly interactive and light hearted, so a four hour cycle in the blistering cold was somewhat of a doddle and a great way to see the city in a short period of time. There's even a pit stop for lunch at a dinky little park cafe and Berlin is pretty flat so, even if you're not a keen cyclist, you're bound to have a great day.

If the prospect of cycling doesn't quite tickle your fancy then there's still a number of activities you can immerse yourself in:

Visit the 360 Tower. 

Now, I've been informed by the world and it's mother that the tower rotates over the space of an hour but I'm almost certain that the scenery didn't change for the entire hour I was sat staring over the city. This may have been a side effect of the cocktails I'd had, but I'm pretty adamant. Nevertheless, the view is spectacular and it's a great place to visit whether it's just for a brief look around, a couple of cocktails or a romantic dinner. 

Shopping.

This is one I'm a little sceptical about... It seems a bit of a waste to just shop but I think if you're willing to just wander in and out of quaint stores down unexpected streets then it's far more acceptable than B-lining for your nearest H&M.

Tourist Attractions.

The great thing about Berlin is that the majority of the museums and galleriesare located side by side, so it's easy to make a cultural visit into a day's worth of activities. I had my eye on the Natural History Museum because it's always my favourite one to visit in any country.

  A picnic in the park is always a great idea if you ask me. Nip out in the morning and find yourself some delis, cafes or even just a little market and pick up some delicious food to take along with you. That will give you a chance to explore the city and fill up part of your day. You can then picnic and explore the park all afternoon. If you get the opportunity, swing by the zoo too. I didn't manage to go during my time in Berlin but I'm told the zoo is one of the world's best.

Depending on the time of year you choose to visit, it's definitely worth taking a stroll through the traditional christmas markets. Even if you don't particularly plan on buying anything, the atmosphere is fantastic and there's no shortage of glühwein to keep you warm. My favourite market was down at Gendarmenmarkt.

My final recommendation is one I (of course) hold dear to my heart, and that's eating. If you read my post on eating in Berlin then you'll know there's a plethora of options available so make the most of the city and try the different cuisines and restaurant styles it has to offer.  Probably best to steer clear of "kebaps" though!