Getting started on solo-tripping? Try Germany’s bustling and artsy capital! From eclectic cafes to stunning graffiti, Berlin’s hipster vigour is just the adventure you are looking for! Plus, insider tips on where to go, stay, and how to get around!
Germany is one of the first countries on a European travel checklist — and the last time I travelled there was with family, following a touch-and-go itinerary, where I saw everything yet visited nothing. I was determined to do it differently this time around and zeroed in on the capital city, Berlin. Much of Germany is sprinkled with regency castles among Alpine mountains, but Berlin is a sprawling relic of the country’s more troubled yet vibrant urban past. With its beige building and techno vibe all you need is a leather jacket to fit in!
There’s so much to do in the city from massive museums to a buzzing nightlife — and limboing in the duality of its dark past, the city lives in a modernist nostalgia. Berlin is grungy and hipster, and with colourful graffiti splayed across every wall, every nook and corner becomes a Pinterest pin. Keep that My Chemical Romance playlist ready!
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First Time Solo-travelling In Berlin?
It’s the best! As a first-time solo traveller, I was passed down a mental anthology of horror stories from all those who had travelled across Europe, and admittedly, I was extremely nervous about how this experience would end up. But I threw out that book right after landing — Berlin is very open and accepting, especially given its multicultural fabric. You won’t find yourself “alone” even once, as locals flood in and out of the public transport with you, or just walk on the streets bundled in scarves with headphones on, a coffee in hand.
There is no judgement on solo travellers either. Worried about eating and wandering about alone? The city deeply respects individuality, so don’t be afraid to be yourself and cherish your own company!
However, while most people speak English, it would be great to bring a few German phrases in your cabin bag, and whip them out at the opportune moment! Auf gehts!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Here are a few German phrases you can memorise for your trip
Where To Stay?
If you’re not keen on hotels, considering how expensive it gets for solo travellers, hostels are the best places to set camp in Berlin. While I was crashing my friend’s couch, I still looked up some hostels in and around Berlin, just in case. And here are a couple that caught my eye:
Image credits: Circus Hotel
1. Circus Hostel: Seated on Rosenthaler Platz, one of the most bustling areas in Berlin, and close to the main spots.
2. EastSeven Hostel: Situated near Mitte district and perfect for socialising and meeting new people to make the best of your trip.
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Book with YouTrip Perks on Agoda to get up to 7% off
How To Get Around?
Public transport in Berlin is surprisingly easy to navigate despite how extensive it is. The overground train S-Bahn and underground U-Bahn take you around the city seamlessly, and there are also countless trams and buses to make up for any difference. Just get your tickets or passes at the counters outside the station, or buy tickets online via the BVG app. Be sure to validate your ticket, or you’re looking at a hefty fine.
For my week-long trip, I bought a seven-day pass which covered all public transport across all parts of Berlin and even Potsdam, for around Euro 45, and didn’t have to worry about the fare again!
While the trains run from 4:15 AM all the way until 1 AM, remember that aphorism about being as punctual as German trains? Well… be ready for delays and cancellations, because if they come, they come strong. Many public transports also track the timings, so keep them handy to stay updated!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
How To Not Feel So Alone On Your Solo Trip
While yes, you’re safe, and yes, you’re careful, how do you keep yourself company on this trip? As a first-time solo traveller, here are some ideas I found useful — while some of them may come across as simple, don’t underestimate their effectiveness!
- Interact with the locals
For the most part, everyone is happy to introduce their culture to new people and have them participate! Make new friends along the way — from shop owners to fellow travellers. I particularly looked to talk to locals closer to my age, and soon enough I was exchanging Instagram handles with them! - Learn basic phrases, and show a willingness to say them!
It’s hard, agreed. Nothing worse than to butcher the local language in front of a local — but the fact that you’re trying makes you feel more welcomed and involved! As for Berlin, a lot of the locals speak English well, but nothing brings out a smile better than when I (somewhat) spoke in German! - Read a book by local authors!
This one is especially for the readers: reading a book by a local author draws you in like nothing else — the scenes come alive in your head as you roam the streets or look at the artefacts! - Make yourself a travel playlist
A little on the self-indulgent side, a well-curated mix buzzing in your headphones might just be the anecdote to any loneliness. Try to find a mix which suits the city, (absolute grunge and a bit of the 1975, in the case of Berlin) and soon you have a background score for your travels!
Where To Go?
To truly appreciate the city and its many momentous aspects, I definitely recommend brushing up on the history of the region before your trip. Right after the seething darkness of the Holocaust, the city was split into two parts up until 1989, so intertwining histories run amuck in the streets, most prominently in the city centre. Among the many spots (which would take more than a week to explore) here are some of the unmissable ones:
1. Stand On Both Sides Of The Brandenburger Tor
The Brandenburger Tor, or Brandenburg Gate, is probably the mascot monument of Berlin. The ornate gateway, originally an entry gate, represents the point where Berlin split into two factions during the Cold War. Trust me when I say a chill will run through your spine when you stand where the Berlin Wall once passed.
Now, the gate diplomatically marks the reunification of Berlin, as embassies and hotels encircle the area. Alight at the eponymous U – Brandenburger Tor station, and by the time you come up you already see the Tor on the horizon.
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
2. Survive With The Reichstag
The Reichstag is more jaded than your favourite jeans. Constantly bombed and burned through its chaotic life in the twentieth century, the monument still stands tall, housing the German Parliament. A glass dome atop the building serves as an observation point to the 360-degree view of the Berlin skyline (though don’t be too sold on the skyline aspect, Berlin isn’t exactly glittery skyscrapers). A winding ramp and the very useful, automated audio guide take you across the most prominent landmarks of the Berlin city centre — and you can again, lose yourself in a bird’s eye view of the history.
The tickets sell out quite fast, so be sure to book in advance!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
3. Spend A Solemn Moment At The Holocaust Memorial
Even if there are plenty of tourists here, the Holocaust memorial reels in the deathly silence that rings between the vertical concrete that descends from the undulating ground. The columns represent the claustrophobic mental and physical geography endured by Jewish victims who were murdered during the Third Reich, and while the world seems to have recovered from the weight of the World Wars, it is here you are met again with the impact of the atrocities.
However, when I was visiting, one of the most disconcerting things to see here was tourists posing for pictures for their Instagram — and the consequent frowns of the locals whose ancestors and families were ravaged by these events! Something to be mindful of!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
4. Walk Along The Last Of The Berlin Wall
For this one specifically, I suggest grabbing a bike and your camera and riding along the kilometre of street art that now displays itself on the remnants of the infamous Berlin Wall. Along Bernauer Strasse, one of the liveliest places to be on a sunny day, this stretch blooms with people. Take pictures and admire the ever-changing murals and some classic ones that have endured decades of weathering and stories. For a touch of the most eclectic and alive nightlife, head on a little ahead — especially on a weekend, and the streets come alive with lights and music and buskers that offer the best of Berlin.
❗ Pro-tip: Start walking along the Berlin wall in the evening for the best view and colours!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
5. Be Cool Like Kreuzberg
Pretty much the coolest neighbourhood in Berlin, Kreuzberg has the best cafes and restaurants, and street art to make the entire experience more picturesque. Try mouth-watering Turkish cuisine, authentic and well-loved, at Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebab and spend the day adventuring modern museums in the area. Vintage stores and bookstores are also abundant in this area, so be sure to visit them — and maybe you’ll find something that you can bring home!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
6. Put On Your Snobbish Glasses For Museuminsel
Perhaps my favourite moment from my entire trip, Museuminsel, or Museum Island is a conglomerate of the many gorgeous museums of Berlin, where you can catch from an original Monet and Rodin, all the way to the Bust of Queen Nefertiti (a stunning artefact, by the way, you can’t look away). An all-museum pass can give access to all museums for the day, and yes, do spare a day there if not more. Audio guides are also useful to learn the many histories of the artefacts residing within the museums.
My favourites were the Neues Museum, with a comprehensive exhibit on Egyptian cultures, the Pergamon Museum for its vibrant exhibit of Islamic cultures and the Altes Nationalgalerie, which had the finest of European masterpieces. On weekends, an art market also runs on the grounds, so if you’re one for fine arts and art history, this is your heaven!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
Bonus: Take A Day Trip To Potsdam!
Potsdam is just outside of Berlin, around 45 minutes by train and you can travel to this charming city and visit the Sanssouci Palace which arches majestically on a hill. Take some time to visit the old city centre, especially the Dutch Quarters, once inhabited by Dutch settlers, to find beautiful red-brick houses remodelled as boutiques and vintage bookstores, and of course, cafes!
Try a Döner for lunch at XXL Döner — the proprietor will greet you with the nicest smile, proceed to sharpen his swords, and hand you the largest and possibly the best Döner in the area. Have a coffee at Buena Vida Roasters to top it up.
While the city centre itself makes for a good walk, you can also opt for a walking tour with a qualified guide to know more about the city and its quaint history — and it will be totally worth it!
YouTrip’s Guide To Solo Tripping In Berlin 2023: Find out more here
Ready To Don Your Leather Jacket?
Now that you know the essentials of your Berlin solo trip, there’s no reason to wait! The first time is always the most daunting, so all you can do is gear up and take the step. Engulf the tsunami of culture and history that Berlin is and let the city take you! While booking your air tickets (which can get ridiculously expensive) or getting that döner, don’t forget to make use of your YouTrip Card to lock in those wholesale exchange rates and skip those pesky bank fees.
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