This weekend the city was aglow with lights spread out along 15km of the wall’s former path. It was a spectacular sight to behold across Berlin, and the city held several events to commemorate this historic moment. They even encouraged a hashtag #fallofthewall25 to document the festivities. It all built up to a big celebration last night on the official anniversary.

Here are some photos that capture the spirit of the city on this historic evening.

A mural along the famous East Side Gallery. Photo: Craig Nelson

A view looking over the preserved guard tower at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Photo: Craig Nelson

Looking up at the towers along the Oberbaum Bridge crossing the Spree River. Photo: Craig Nelson

The lights stretching as far as you can see along the East Side Gallery. Photo: Craig Nelson

The light display running through Mauerpark. Photo: Craig Nelson

Crossing Oberbaum bridge into Kreuzburg just after sunset. Photo: Craig Nelson

Thousands of Berliners of all ages turned out for this historic night. Photo: Craig Nelson

The balloons were released one by one around 7 pm. Here is the scene along Behmstrasse. Photo: Craig Nelson

November 9 Platz. This is where the border was first breached in 1989. Photo: Craig Nelson

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These sights will be more crowded on the weekend, but for good reason:  well-priced brunches, weekend-only flea markets and Friday and Saturday nightlife make this an attractive destination for residents and visitors from across Berlin.

Start at Ostbahnhof Train Station

Start your tour at Berlin’s Ostbahnhof train station. Over its lifetime this train station has had more name changes than any other in the city—it served as (East) Berlin’s central train station, and was known as “Hauptbahnhof” between 1987 and 1998, when it was renamed “Ostbahnhof”. While the station entrance has undergone major renovation and modernization, erasing most evidence of the periods before under a mall-like facade common to most German train stations, the wide, gritty station hall with numerous platforms and tracks wows with its massive steel and glass construction and eerie quiet.

As with any major train station in the city, it’s easy to grab a quick snack or drink here at one of the many small eateries or from one of the two large supermarkets in the basement. This is also one of the city’s only locations with grocery stores open on Sundays, if you’ve forgotten to stock up in advance.

Swing by the Postbahnhof

To the east of the station lies Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof. As its name suggests, it was used as a postal sorting and storage facility until the 1990s, at which point mail was transported by trucks and airplanes rather than by train.

It has since become a location for concerts, events, and temporary exhibitions, and houses FritzClub, a nightclub popular with students and younger night owls.

Stroll along the East Side Gallery

Toward the river, you’ll spot your first glimpse of the East Side Gallery, one of Berlin’s longest sections of extant Berlin Wall. This strip owes its existence and popularity to a post-Wall 1989-90 art project that brought together artists from around the world to decorate it in a series of murals, most touching on the historical and social aspects of the Wall’s fall. After years of decay and obfuscation by graffiti, many sections were repainted in 2009.

Related: 10 ways to explore the Fall of the Wall, 25 years later

This borderland area has undergone a tremendous amount of development in the interceding 25 years. This section of the Wall, once obscuring industrial eyesores from the sight of official state visitors traveling the road between Schönefeld airport and Ostbahnhof, now neighbors parks, beach bars, and hotels.

The riverside and East Side Gallery are threatened by development. In 2013 David Hasselhoff made international headlines by appearing alongside Berlin protesters attempting to thwart the removal of sections of the East Side Gallery in the name of long-approved public and private development projects. As you walk eastward, don’t forget to look at the development on the other side of the street as well—everything here has been built since the fall of the Wall, most notably Berlin’s stadium event hall, O2 World.

Take in (but don’t cross) the Oberbaumbrücke

Walking to the end of the Mühlenstr., you’ll reach one of Berlin’s most recognizable landmarks, the Oberbaumbrücke. This double-decker bridge with its two brick towers is a highlight of any Spree boat tour. Visitors may remember it from its appearance in the films “Run Lola Run” or “The Bourne Supremacy.” During German division, U1 subway service into the East was interrupted, and the bridge served as a pedestrian border from West (Kreuzberg) to East (Friedrichshain) Berlin.

Walk up Warschauer Str.

Turn left and walk up Warschauer Str. toward the U- and S-Bahn stations. Directly under the U-Bahn station (and accessed from the rear, or Warschauer Platz, side) is the dance club Matrix. One of Berlin’s largest, Matrix expands over ten “underground” vaults and is open to visitors over 18 years old, seven nights a week from 10 PM.

Across from the U-Bahn station, the gray building you see is the so-called Industriepalast. Built in the early 20th century, the building housed one of the GDR’s most prominent refrigeration and cooling compressor manufacturers. Since renovations in the early 1990s, the landmark-protected building now houses a hotel, a hostel, small shops and eateries, and Monster Ronson’s, one of Berlin’s best karaoke bars.

Cross the bridge over the train tracks (avoid stepping on the punks and their dogs!), pausing to capture an excellent photo of the Alexanderplatz TV tower, another of East Berlin’s icons.

Coffee or beer break at RAW-tempel

At the next intersection, turn right into the Revaler Str. On your right side, you’ll come to the questionable looking entrance of the RAW-tempel. RAW is an acronym for Reichsbahnausbesserungswerkstatt (don’t you love German?), a really long word for a train repair facility—in use here until 1995—which explains both the RAW-tempel’s location as well as its size.

What started (and continues) as a non-profit organization promoting a free space for cultural activities now houses numerous popular clubs and bars, an art gallery, an open-air cinema, a circus school, and a weekend flea market. This expansive creative space definitely warrants a wander or perhaps a coffee/beer break! Come back at another time of day to experience a completely different atmosphere.

Simon-Dach-Str is filled with cafes and bars offering plenty of outdoor seating. Photo: La Citta Vita

Turn left onto Simon-Dach-Strasse

Continue eastward on the Revaler Str., turning left into the Simon-Dach-Str. At this end of the street, you can understand what this residential area felt like before post-Wall development took hold. Starting from the intersection with Kopernikusstr., you’ll discover one of Berlin’s most popular streets for going out, lined on both sides with restaurants and bars offering thousands of outdoor seats.

If you’re looking for something a little quieter, head just a bit further east (literally and figuratively) to Datscha (one of our recommended brunch locales) on the corner of Kopernikusstr. and Gabriel-Max-Str.

Hang out at Boxhagener Platz

Heading northward along the Gabriel-Max-Str. or eastward from the Simon-Dach-Str. along Grünberger Str., you’ll soon hit Boxhagener Platz. A popular neighborhood gathering space, the place comes alive on weekends for its Saturday open-air food market or highly-trafficked Sunday flea market. The square was the focus of a recent German film set in East Berlin in 1968 of the same name.

Walk north to Frankfurter Allee

From here, head northward on the Mainzer Str. until you reach Frankfurter Allee. Mainzer Str. was home to one of Berlin’s most famous post-Wall squats. Houses 2 through 11, 22, and 24 were occupied for seven months before being violently cleared in November 1990. Gentrification remains a central issue in the area. Today, most houses in this street, like those in the surrounding streets, have been renovated, leaving no trace of this alternative history.

Turn left on Frankfurter Allee. During the 1950s, this wide boulevard was renamed “Stalinallee”. Walk toward the Gendarmenmarkt-inspired twin towers marking Frankfurter Tor and the start of the socialist classical developments built by the GDR between here and Alexanderplatz along the Karl-Marx-Allee. The street, with its monumental architectural backdrop, was regularly used for GDR May 1st (Labor) Day parades. It has retained its popularity as a shopping street, albeit with less prestige than in it held the GDR.

Then choose your own adventure!

From here, you’ve got choices! You can:

• head back to the Simon-Dach-Str. or RAW-tempel for some well-earned refreshment.

• head out for a night of techno at the nearby Berghain, one of Berlin’s most legendary clubs, in a former power plant back toward Ostbahnhof (Am Wriezener Bahnhof).

• catch the U5 subway to Alexanderplatz and continue your city sightseeing from there.

Or, catch the M10 tram northbound toward Nordbahnhof:

• getting off after four stops (Paul-Heyse-Str.) to explore Volkspark Friedrichshain.

• getting off after 10 stops (Husemannstr.) to explore the Kollwitzplatz area of Prenzlauer Berg.

• getting off after 12 stops (Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark) to explore Mauerpark, visit the Mauerpark flea market, or enjoy open-air karaoke.

• getting off after 14 stops (U8-Bernauer Str.) to explore the Berlin Wall Memorial, walking along Bernauer Str. to Nordbahnhof.

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Although Berlin is renowned for its diversity, creativity, and rich (if complicated) history, there are a few places that can be worth skipping. Here are five places that are among the city’s most popular (and none of which was created as a “tourist trap”). However, each of these can also devolve into a waste of time. Know before you go—and spend your time (and euros) wisely!

1. Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz might as well be called, “Anarchy Central.” Located in the city center, it is a tamer version of New York’s Time Square—minus the naked cowboy, but with bratwurst vendors and the Fernsehturm looming above instead. This part of Berlin is heavy with traffic, as it’s the main hub for the U-Bahn and buses shuttling to and from Tegel Airport.

Although it’s quite a sight, if you’re not keen on crowds nor a big shopper, skip the square (or “platz”) and head either to Mitte for some quality shopping, designer studios, and a row of great cafes and bars, or skip on over to Museum Island.

2. Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie, along with Glienicker Brücke (Glienicker Bridge), was the best-known border crossing during the Cold War. Today, the Checkpoint is more of symbol, an echo of the past whose historical and emotional resonance is its main appeal. The sight itself possesses little charm and is always crowded with the flashing of overzealous visitors’ cameras.

As it is one of the only border remnants of the pre-1988 days, history buffs may feel compelled to stop and pay homage to ole Charlie and its museum. Your history text book, however, could also suffice.

3. The characters around Brandenburger Tor

Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most important historical monuments and certainly deserves a visit. Visiting the Gate, along with the nearby embassies and the Adlon Kempinski Hotel, however, can be slightly disorientating. First there’s the Starbucks located across the street from it, the overeager cameramen “kindly” offering to take your picture, and the Mickey Mouse and Space Invader ready to pose with you. They all have one track minds focused on ripping you off.

If you can’t shake the hangers-on, seek solace in the Tiergarten (located across the street) or head to the nearby Holocaust Memorial—a sight well worth the visit.

4. East Side Gallery

History meets art at the East Side Gallery. One of Berlin’s most popular tourist attractions, the remaining panels of the Berlin Wall offers a 1.3 km-long outdoor gallery. However, it’s lost its luster in the past few years due to an expensive copyright controversy.

The art is nothing remarkable, although the gallery’s ability to blend art and history is still impressive. Either way, the canal is nearby and is a perfect spot for snagging a beer and enjoying a lazy Berlin day.

5. “Traditional” and “authentic” German meals

When it comes to food in Berlin these days, the words “authentic” and “traditional” are used so loosely that they have lost their real meaning. Keep this in mind when you are on the prowl for traditional German food. Berlin is home to people from 187 nations, giving it a unique international flavor of its own. Although currywurst is a true Berlin dish, a döner kebab is just as “authentic,” and I would say tastier and more filling.

The city does have, however, a heady mix of Bavarian-style restaurants and biergartens that do serve something close to authentic German food. Best to avoid the commercial ones near Alexanderplatz as they are overpriced and overcrowded, especially during the summer months. (Oddly, there is also an American-imported “Hooters” restaurant located inside the Tiegarten that I advise against.)

However, if you don’t mind paying a little extra cash for sub-par schnitzel and bratwursts stuffed in starchy rolls, then go for it. It may not be terribly authentic, but it can be tasty. Guten appetit!

The post Berlin: 5 popular sights that can be tourist traps appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It is therefore unsurprising that the city’s art landscape includes a number of galleries exclusively showing street art. Overkill Shop, Circle Culture, and Intoxicated Demons are a few choice examples of galleries specializing in bringing street art inside. And recent super-successful shows by celebrated local street artists such as EVOL and Jaybo Aka Monk demonstrate the commercial viability of street art for international collectors.

A graffiti guide

But for everyone interested in just appreciating the work in its natural habitat, there is a new book by graphic designer Benjamin Wolbergs, “Urban Illustration Berlin: Street Art Cityguide.” The book makes the perfect guide for a walking tour through Berlin’s outdoor street art scene.

Written in both German and English, the book offers exclusive interviews with seventeen of the elusive artists. Wolbergs does not limit his focus to spray paint. Instead, he gives attention to the rich range of stencils, cutouts, markers and wheatpaste works across the city.

Wolbergs’ stunning street photography in “Urban Illustration Berlin: Street Art Cityguide,” along with the interviews’ insight into the artists’ working techniques, motives, and philosophies on street art, make the book a valuable purchase, regardless of whether one is planning a visit to Berlin.

A self-guided graffiti walking tour

However, the book’s real treasure is a tear-out city map detailing the locations of 500 iconic and admired instances of Berlin’s street art featured in the book. Tear it out and take yourself on a walking tour.

Street art is fragile. And a few of the works Wolbergs spotlighted no longer exist. But the neighborhoods remain active areas for street artists and well worth visiting for anyone interested in the origins of Berlin’s vibrant international art scene.

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And here’s the best part, Cheapos: The galleries are free to the public! As an alternative to costly museum-going, consider gallery hopping.

Here are five Mitte galleries to get you started, all within walking distance of each other:

Galerie Dittmar
Auguststrasse, 22

Though Peter Dittmar divides his time between Germany, Indonesia, and Australia, his gallery offers quality photography and painting exhibits throughout the year. Works by artists such as sculptor Gerhard Trieb and painter Fritz Klemm reflect the modern aesthetic of German architecture.

DAM Berlin
Tucholskystrasse, 37

Since 1998, DAM has showcased the cutting-edge in digital media. Artists incorporate math, science, and technology into hi-tech installations and paintings. Look for work by well-known painter Vera Molnar, who incorporates computer imaging and geometry to generate striking linear designs.

DNA Galerie
Auguststrasse, 20

DNA is home to some of the international artists who helped give Berlin its ethnically diverse appeal. Nezaket Ekici, a performance artist from Turkey, appears in a series of often hilarious video installations. Other DNA artists include Bulgarian videographer Mariana Vassileva and Japanese photographer Tatsumi Orimoto.

…and more

Plus, don’t forget: Berlin has an extensive underground art scene, too. When you visit the galleries, look for flyers advertising upcoming events. (For example, live performance art at the Alexanderplatz U-Bahn always draws a large crowd.)

And don’t forget the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery. Though not a traditional “gallery” and not located in Mitte, the open-air exhibit includes work by artists like Keith Haring. The gallery spans 1.3 km of the original Berlin Wall and features murals by 106 artists, comprising an “International Memorial for Freedom.”

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