According to Thomas Munko, “Berlin is past, present and future rolled into one. Berlin is colourful. You can see the personality of this city in the places where different periods and cultures meet.”
He is the Chief Concierge of The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin and president of the concierge association Les Clefs D´Or Germany, and one of the foremost experts on the German capital. Here’s Thomas’ top twelve tips for a fun summer in Berlin.
Summer events – Concerts and events in and around Berlin
1. Classic Open Air – 2nd - 6th July 2015, the Gendarmenmarkt (pictured below), one of the most beautiful squares in the city, will transform into an open-air opera house with popular classical and modern melodies and impressive light and firework displays.
2. Berlin Fashion Week – 6th - 10th July 2015, all of Berlin will be under fashion’s spell as national and international designers invite the entire city to Berlin Fashion Week. For five days, restaurants and clubs will be transformed into real runways and the city will encapsulate an energy beyond compare.
3. Botanical Night – The Botanical Garden Berlin invites guests to this year’s Botanical Night on 18th July 2015. It will be a magical event with music, theatre and dancing. Visitors will be able to enjoy the plants in the garden, its mythical creatures and a major fireworks display until 2am.
Sightseeing – The city’s classics
4. Brandenburg Gate – With its famous quadriga, the very symbol of Berlin links the east of the city with the west once again – and it is only a five-minute walk from The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin.
5. Berlin Wall Memorial – The Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse is the main memorial site to the division of Germany. Visitors can still see segments of the original Berlin Wall and the former death strip.
6. The Reichstag – Looking out from the modern glass dome designed by star architect Sir Norman Foster, visitors can see into the assembly hall or take in a breath-taking view of the city.
Kid’s Corner – Berlin for families
7. Discovering the German Historical Museum with its Exploration Kit – Kids can experience the permanent exhibition on their own with a magnifying glass, binoculars and a compass: children aged eight and above can independently explore either historical exhibits from the 18th century or the period of Germany’s division.
8. Baby Concerts at the Deutsche Opera – Chamber music for the very youngest: baby concerts allow children up to two years old to experience classical music with all their senses, hear familiar and new sounds, and move to the rhythm of the music.
9. Söhnel Werft – With its playground, jetty, restaurant, water deck, ice cream production, coffee roasting, farm shop, beach bar and docking area (below), this adventure dockyard right on Lake Griebnitzsee in Kohlhasenbrück has a wide range of activities on offer for guests of all ages.
Shopping – Take a piece of Berlin home
10. Hackescher Markt – The Hackescher Markt is filled with alternative boutiques and shops. With their many nooks and crannies amply supplied with craftwork, the Rosenhöfe and Sophienhöfe are particularly worth looking into. The deeper you go into Berlin’s new centre, the more inventive the shops you will find.
11. Flea Market & Antiques at Street of 17th June – The largest flea market in Berlin takes place along the Strasse des 17. Juni (Street of 17th June). Merchants of all kinds offer treasures that are sometimes very old and are always willing to bargain. Try your luck any Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 5pm.
12. Mall of Berlin – With four floors and around 270 shops, the new district at the old Wertheim area offers a wide range of shopping. The Mall of Berlin is just two minutes from The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin.
Thomas Munko, Chief Concierge of The Ritz-Carlton
