Quirky Berlin
Berlin isn’t just the capital of Germany, it’s one of the world’s greatest cities. Many visitors come for the party scene, yet others come for the eclectic history. The city is also a hub of world-famous attractions, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the Reichstag Building. Berlin is the third most-visited city in Europe behind London and Paris, and there were over 34 million overnight stays in 2019, with around 14 million visitors in Berlin’s capital city.
However, Berlin also has an array of unusual things to do. The city has a huge counterculture and artistic scene, which the collection of eccentric things to do shows. You can spend weeks exploring Berlin, but if you’re on a short trip, here are the best quirky things to do in Berlin.
1. Take a Swim at Badeschiff
Berlin has reasonably mild summers, and hot heat waves aren’t unusual. An excellent place to cool off and enjoy some local world-famous beer is at Badeschiff. The recreational area is open from May to September, and the pool is in the middle of the Spree River.
It’s effortless to spend your entire day here drinking exquisite German beer and relaxing in the sun from inside the pool. The pool is open daily throughout the summer from 8 am to midnight. DJs play at the bar throughout the day as you enjoy the summer sun.
Address: Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin, Germany
Website: www.arena.berlin/en/location/badeschiff/
2. Take a Trip to Tempelhofer Feld Airport
Berlin is a city steeped in excellent history, and Tempelhofer Feld Airport is one of the world’s oldest airports. Locals first built the airport in 1923 and aviation experts often regarded it as the world’s oldest commercial airport. However, the airport closed in 2008 despite anger from thousands of locals.
The airport is one of the focal points of the Third Reich. The building served as a weapon production site during the Second World War and became an expression of Nazi ideology. You can get a two-hour walking tour which takes you to the most exciting parts of the vast 300,000 square meter airport.
Address: Tempelhofer Damm, 12101 Berlin, Germany
Website: www.thf-berlin.de/en/
3. Relax at Local Tropical Islands
You might be thinking, how can you witness a tropical island in Germany? On the outskirts of Berlin lies Europe’s largest tropical island holiday world. You can easily take a day trip here because it’s only 60km outside Berlin and a mere 30-40 minute drive on the Autobahn.
Once you arrive, you’ll find a rainforest of 50,000 plants and 60,000 various species, a tropical village with traditional buildings from Bali, Thailand, Samoa, and Borneo, and a 460-foot tropical swimming pool. How does that sound for a relaxing escape from Berlin’s hustle and bustle?
Address: 2PQX+HC Halbe, Germany
Website: https://www.tropical-islands.de/en/
4. Visit the Puppentheater-Museum Berlin
Berlin has a massive creative scene, yet very few cities can boast an entire museum dedicated to the history of puppet theatre. The Puppentheater-Museum Berlin has precisely that. The collection includes puppets from across the globe, including Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Furthermore, the museum offers changing exhibitions and puppet theatre performances. As a result, the museum is superb for people of all ages. The museum aims to educate visitors on the excellent craftsmanship surrounding puppets.
Address: Karl-Marx-Straße 135, 12043 Berlin, Germany
Website: www.puppentheater-museum.de/
5. Wander Around Buchstabenmuseum
The Buchstabenmuseum has the goal of preserving and documenting letters, making it the first museum of its kind. The museum focuses on the presentation of three-dimensional designs and their histories.
What’s more, the museum captures a crucial niche of urban and cultural history through its conservation of typography. The museum is a mixture of quirky, vibrant, and contemporary blended into one brilliant museum.
Address: Stadtbahnbogen 424, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Website: www.buchstabenmuseum.de/
6. Explore Design Panoptikum
Design Panoptikum is a museum based on surreal industrialist objects. If you love history, you’ll enjoy exploring the collection of historic tools. These include realms of medicine, industry sports, construction, and much more.
Moreover, the museum has a myriad of human-machine hybrids, whereby metal pieces are attached to replicas of human body parts. The idea is to serve as an exploration of the relationship between machines and man during the industrial era.
Address: Poststraße 7, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Website: www.designpanoptikum.com/
7. Check Out the Forbidden City
If you’re a history buff, you’ll have to check out the Forbidden City. You can take an easy day trip to the Forbidden City. It’s a mere one-hour drive south of Berlin. The city started as a military area for the Prussian army, then it became home to the Nazi’s command center during the Second World War.
Today, you can witness an old Soviet map, a theatre hall, a swimming pool, old Soviet maps, and a Lenin statue. You’ll need to wear good walking shoes when walking around the site and take precautions. Still, it’s an incredible attraction that many tourists avoid.
Address: Wunsdorf Forbidden City
Website: www.abandonedberlin.com/2013/09/forbidden-city-nazis-russians-lenin.html
Final Thoughts
Berlin isn’t just a party city with an incredible history. There are so many fascinating attractions within and on the outside of the city. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day in a tropical rainforest or a historic day exploring the fascinating history of the Soviet Union—you’ll find it all in Berlin.
Of course, plan your time so that you can see the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Reichstag Building. With that said, don’t forget these quirky attractions either.
