Travel – Eat – Sleep

Popular with holidaymakers throughout Europe for its cultural offerings, modern hotels and exquisite cuisine, Berlin is a truly cosmopolitan city that boasts a nearly endless supply of things to see and do. As Germany’s capital, it serves as a centre for government and politics by day while, by night, Berlin’s vibrant club and music scene is known worldwide for its ground-breaking festivals and exclusive venues.

With all its cultural and architectural attractions, Berlin may seem an unlikely destination for budget-minded travellers. However, visitors to this cosmopolitan city can enjoy some of the best that Berlin has to offer for far less than they might have guessed. Throughout the year, and especially during the off-season, flights to Berlin are available at discounted rates. For those travelling from the U.K. to Germany, scheduling the trip to take advantage of these cheaper flights to Berlin can often save considerably on the overall cost of the holiday.

The city’s seat of government is housed in the Reichstag; its massive glass dome stands as a landmark for the surrounding area, while travellers will enjoy the chance to explore the portion of the building that is open to the public. History-minded holidaymakers can continue one block south of the Reichstag for a memorable journey visiting what remains of the Berlin Wall and the famed Brandenburg Gate that once separated West Berlin from the Communist eastern portion of the city and country. In the heart of Berlin, but slightly off the beaten path, sits the Berliner Dom, the largest church in the city that, for a small admission fee, allows visitors to climb atop its dome for a spectacular view of Berlin’s city centre. Or, for a completely different experience, the Berlin Zoo is rightly praised as one of the world’s finest with over 1400 species of animals on display.

The main attraction for most visitors however, is Berlin’s superb nightclub and music scene. Berlin is rightly regarded as the nightlife capital of Europe with countless nightclubs, restaurants and bars catering to nearly every taste and preference. From jazz to punk to gastro pubs offering an eclectic mix of live musical performances, holidaymakers can explore the most exciting venues Berlin has to offer until the wee hours of the morning. Berlin’s split-level Watergate Club (Falckensteinstr. 49, 10997, Berlin) which overlooks the River Spree is particularly noteworthy.

One of the newer and more unique developments on the city’s night scene is the arrival of the Berlin Weinerei, which invite guests to eat, drink, and pay whatever they think the experience was worth at the end of the evening. Currently, there are three Weinerei establishments in Berlin under the joint ownership of Jürgen Stumpf and Mariano Goni.

While each of the three ‘honesty bars,’ Perlin, Forum, and Fra Rosa, has its own individual atmosphere, they share the same general location and the same customer-oriented attitude. Guests who arrive earlier in the day pay regular rates for their meals and drinks, but after 8:00 p.m. a charge of one Euro is applied for rent of a glass for the evening.  Patrons of the pay-what-you-want bars can refill their glasses as many times as desired and order what they like from the eclectic menus, paying what they wish at the end of the evening. Given the current economic environment, this may seem a risky decision; however, the Weinerei actually turn a healthy profit for their owners and are a not-to-be-missed aspect of Berlin nightlife.

While the city is known for its ultramodern luxury hotels, numerous less expensive options like the Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie are available close to the main tourist attractions. Savvy travellers can take advantage of periodic discounts on budget and charter flights to Berlin to experience this glamorous city on a shoestring budget. Hidden treasures like the Berliner Dom and the Weinerei honesty bars can help make this dream holiday a practical reality. For further information be sure to visit: www.weinerei.com

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This post was written by Nadine Hallak, travel expert at leading flights deals website www.cheapflights.co.uk.