Guten Tag, Berlin! My first solo trip abroad

Holiday blues. We’ve all been there. You come home from a trip and just want to go on another one. Well, that’s exactly what I did when I got back from Barcelona. I booked a few days in Berlin. Except this time, I would be travelling solo.

As much as I LOVE having company, I’m equally happy by myself. Being independent is extremely important to me and I hate relying on other people. There’s so many places I want to visit, I can’t wait around for others to join me. So I thought, blow it! I’m going alone.

I chose Berlin because it is full of vibrant culture, stunning architecture and incredible history. When it comes to trips, I’m all about sightseeing and completely immersing myself in a new city. I prefer to get up early, spend all day out and about then have a relaxed evening before doing it again the next day.

Accommodation and getting around

I stayed at the Nikolai Residence, which was a lovely little hotel in the quaint Nikolai Quarter. The location was perfect, I could see the famous TV Tower from my room and I felt safe, which was crucial to me as a solo traveller. I also rate the public transport in Berlin, I used buses and the S-Bahn which were cheap, efficient and easy to use. There was no need to get taxis!

History

With Berlin, I wanted to see as much of the history as possible. Brandenburg Gate was at the top of my list, followed by Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag building and the East Side Gallery. To get to the Brandenburg Gate, I walked down Unter den Linden, a gorgeous boulevard which links numerous sights and landmarks. A must-do!

Architecture

The city was full of beautiful buildings but Berlin Cathedral was my personal highlight. It took my breath away! As it was located on Museum Island in Mitte, I also took the opportunity to visit some museums too. Not to mention some of the opera houses! Fortunately, the Red Town Hall was just around the corner from my hotel, so I got to see that in all its glory too.

Christmas markets

I didn’t realise there were so many different Christmas markets in Berlin either! I visited one at Alexanderplatz and one at Schloss Charlottenburg, which was MAGICAL. Complete with a brass band, non-alcoholic mulled wine and strudel, it honestly couldn’t have been better!

Shopping

I don’t like to spend too much time shopping on a city break but I do like a wander around. The Kurfürstendamm, a broad avenue lined with shops, hotels and restaurants was designer heaven. If you like labels and luxury, you simply have to go here!

However, if you’re into more unique shops, I highly recommend the Hackescher Markt area, brimming with charming boutiques or Antiques Street, which was full of, you’ve guessed it, antiques and quirky vintage finds. Potsdamer Platz is popular for shopping too.

Food

As a vegetarian, I was apprehensive about German cuisine as I have always imagined it to be rather ‘meaty’. I wasn’t wrong, meat is very much a staple in Berlin but thankfully, there is a wealth of choice for vegetarians and vegans too. I found some fabulous places including:

Little Green Rabbit, Under den Linden

Here, I had an amazing pumpkin and mango soup (much-needed on a cold day!), a baked potato with quinoa and a hot orange, ginger and mint tea. It was one of those places where I could have ordered everything on the menu! Yum.

Katjes Café, Rosenthaler Str. 32

A sweet-as-candy café full of homemade vegan/vegetarian baked goods, fresh coffee and a pick & mix station. The banana bread was divine and (surprise, surprise) I adored the punchy hot pink interior.

Funk You – Natural Food, Rosenthaler Str. 23

This was the only place I could find Oatly milk so it immediately became a favourite! It was very busy so unfortunately, I didn’t get the best photos but I had a lovely matcha latte and chia pudding, while taking a break from exploring Rosenthal.

Black Fox Coffee, Wilmersdorfer Str. 46

Yet another trendy café with a funky neon sign but it was cosy and cute. I had already eaten when I stumbled across here but I enjoyed a hot orange tea with mint before heading to Schloss Charlottenburg.  

 All in all, I did everything I wanted to do in Berlin. It would have been nice to eat in the TV Tower restaurant if it wasn’t all booked up and I wouldn’t have minded visiting the world-famous Berghain nightclub but that’s something that would have been better with a friend anyway.

For my first solo trip abroad, it was a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t hesitate at going back in the future. What a cool city! Danke, Berlin!