Off the Beaten Path in Berlin, Germany

So, you're heading to Europe and you're thinking about visiting Berlin, Germany. Berlin is one of the largest cities in Europe, and in a city as diverse as Berlin, there's no shortage of things for tourists to see and do. However, many would-be visitors to Berlin are intimidated by the complex German language, or don't realize that there's much more to Berlin than just the Berlin Wall. Before I moved to Berlin in 2009, I was petrified that I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone or have anything to do, but the reality is that Berlin is a tourist-friendly treasure trove of fascinating experiences waiting to be discovered.

Getting around a city as large as Berlin can seem daunting, but the city's public transportation system is actually top-notch. The S-Bahn (elevated trains) and U-Bahn (underground trains) lines along with a huge network of buses and the Strassenbahn (street trains that run only in former East Berlin) make getting around a breeze (see http://www.bvg.de for maps). Also, Berlin is very flat, and everyone rides bicycles, everywhere. Renting a bike is a great way to cover a lot of ground easily and to take in the scenery of Berlin's many beautiful parks and the Spree River, which runs through the center of the city.

As for the language barrier, never fear. Germans, like most Europeans, generally study at least one other language, and that other language is often English. Berliners are also remarkably kind and helpful to travelers who wish to improve their German or just try out a few words on a native speaker. Tourist information in Berlin is always available in a variety of languages and many Berlin restaurants have English menus for the asking.

Music lovers can take in a concert or an opera at one of Berlin's three opera houses, the Berlin Philharmoniker, or any number of smaller orchestras and arts organizations. Art lovers should visit the Museumsinsel or Museum Island, an island in the middle of the Spree, which is home to five different museums (forming a complex which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 -- see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/896 for details). History buffs will find no shortage of interesting places to visit, including Checkpoint Charlie, the DDR Museum, or the lesser known (but hauntingly beautiful) Jüdischer Friedhof Weissensee, in former East Berlin.

Foodies will find much to love in Berlin, from 3-star restaurants to terrific street foods. Currywurst (a hot dog-like sausage covered in curry-flavored ketchup) and Döner Kebab (which is actually a Turkish import, similar to a gyro) are two of Berlin's best known street treats. A trip to the top floor of the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), an enormous department store near the Kurfürstendamm shopping area, is sure to please any foodie's palate, with an enormous selection of German and European specialties, as well as products from around the world (for homesick tourists).

This is only a small sampling of what Berlin has to offer. Berlin is one of the most tourist-friendly cities I've ever visited, and unique among the great cities of Europe. Ich wünsche Ihnen eine gute Reise nach Berlin (have a great trip to Berlin)!