The Best Travel Blogs for Exploring Berlin
The Value of Local Travel Blogs
Local travel blogs serve as invaluable companions in the quest for authentic city exploration. It’s not just about where to go but how to experience Berlin like a local – immersing oneself in its culture, flavors, and unique nuances. Offering everything from recommendations that lead off the beaten path to insider tips on navigating local customs, these blogs come directly from the people who call Berlin home.
Slow Travel Berlin 🔗
As its name suggests, Slow Travel Berlin invites readers on an unhurried exploration of the city's neighborhoods. Beyond the conventional tourist spots, the platform immerses itself in the local rhythm, offering insights into community-driven events, lesser-known attractions, and offbeat experiences. The website is broken down into clear sections for easy navigation; alongside the usual selection of culture picks and family-friendly choices, time and space are dedicated to Q&As with Berlin residents – further localized insight into the city’s inner workings. In all, Slow Travel Berlin is a worthy companion for genuine city exploration.
Berlin Food Stories 🔗
Answering the question of where is best to eat and drink in Berlin, Berlin Food Stories is for the culinary enthusiasts among us – and it’s a name that will surely appear in Tipsiti’s guide to Berlin’s best food blogs. The platform sets a standard for gastronomic advice with recommendations and articles laced with first-hand experience. The content is straightforward, digestible, and, above all else, trustworthy. Their site even features curated food maps for a visual breakdown of Berlin’s best eateries – refine recommendations by cuisine, budget, district, and occasion.
iHeartBerlin 🔗
iHeartBerlin is the product of passion for the city – from natives, longtime residents, and new arrivals. The 2007 venture began as a small collection of party recommendations for friends and has since grown into one of Berlin’s most trusted forums for local information. Now, iHeartBerlin publishes feature-length explorations of city life, first-hand guides, restaurant reviews, nightlife recommendations, and compelling interviews with resident business owners and creatives. There are no frills, just an honest portrayal of life in the city by people who call it home.
Stil in Berlin 🔗
Mary Scherpe, known in online circles by the username Stil in Berlin, curates many of her Berlin insights via her Instagram – from spontaneous food picks to travel sights and shopping inspiration. Mary collates much of her insider knowledge into purchasable guides on her website, the latest of which is the ninth edition of her “Best Places in Berlin.” Outside of these pay-to-view guides – which are absolutely worth it – and Instagram insights, readers can find valuable information via the Stil in Berlin blog.
Cee Cee Berlin 🔗
“From Berlin, about Berlin” – this was the founding philosophy behind Cee Cee Berlin, an online platform that delivers weekly curated recommendations via a widely subscribed newsletter. Cee Cee’s writers really do have the inside track of much of what happens within Berlin, making it an essential insider’s guide. Whether it’s new waves made in the restaurant and bar industries, excitement within the entertainment circuit, or spontaneous events worth knowing, Cee Cee will likely have something to say about it – it’s a go-to resource for staying in sync with the ever-evolving Berlin.
Berlin Loves You 🔗
Berlin Loves You understands the vast and often complicated nature of city exploration, especially given the nuance of Berlin’s neighborhoods. The online platform subsequently dedicates itself to collating all there is to know about the city – from its food, drinks, events, artists, performers, musicians, and everything in between.
Notes of Berlin 🔗
Notes of Berlin carries the flag for nuanced city insights, compiling a visual database of notes left in public spaces. These messages contribute to an understanding of the city’s social reality, defining the tone of Berlin through everyday occurrences. Yes, there’s little insight to glean from the site regarding the latest and greatest coffee spots. Still, there’s something meaningful in reading the very human communications between residents – from love notes and informal giveaways to urban poetry and housemate hunts. There’s a charm to be found in that which is often overlooked.
Berlin Enjoy 🔗
Berlin Enjoy keeps up-to-date on how best to enjoy the German capital, with topical articles about the best activities, restaurants, and events. Simply, the site is a practical guide to much of what happens in the city.
Needle Berlin 🔗
Joseph Pearson began writing The Needle in 2008 as a conduit for his historical interests in Berlin, starting with the Alexanderplatz television tower. As an academic, Pearson was taken by the changing dynamics of the city and continues to document the city’s renaissance in the shadow of its sobering past. Articles on The Needle foremost explore Berlin’s history with a contemporary lens but also engage in curious discourse – whether that be the “Story of Berlin’s Sidewalks” or a conversation about Berliners and spicy food. Pearson’s authoritative perspective is a valuable resource for travelers wanting to engage more deeply with Berlin.
Visit Berlin 🔗
True, Visit Berlin isn’t a conventional travel blog, but it is the official tourism portal for the city. It is a comprehensive resource for travelers, offering practical information on attractions, events, and travel tips. While more formal, it still encourages authentic exploration and keeps readers up-to-date on current events.
The Hidden Secrets of Berlin 🔗
The 500 Hidden Secrets operation gives the pen to locals who want to spill the secrets of their city. The result is 100 lists of five addresses or facts pertinent to specific topics and subcultures – broadly, the city’s best food and drink spots to its independent shops and galleries. Of course, the lists are more nuanced than that. For example, readers can hone in on the five best bars for people-watching, five places to find good buskers, five places with a strong David Bowie signature, or even five of the city’s hottest sex shops. Nathalie Dewalhens authors the site’s Berlin ecosystem, leaning on her knowledge as a decade-long resident. Overall, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Berlin is a proven resource providing local advice in a very digestible format.
The Berlin Life 🔗
The Berlin Life focuses mainly on helping people move to the city and find work, a process the platform’s author, Cheryl, has experienced twice. Alongside providing practical information for those moving into Berlin, the site maintains guides to eating and drinking in the city.
Abandoned Berlin 🔗
Driven by the motto “If it’s verboten, it’s got to be fun,” Abandoned Berlin delves into the city’s ruins and derelict places, documenting them before they pass beyond memory or are lost to developers. The blog offers, albeit from a niche perspective, an intriguing and honest look at the remnants of Berlin's history, taking readers through its often-overlooked past.
Berlin Ick Liebe Dir 🔗
Berlin Ick Liebe Dir is an open conversation about all things people love about the city, and that conversation manifests predominately as food recommendations. The platform also keeps its audience up-to-date with current events via a running news blog – stories frame everything from upcoming festivals and exhibitions to business advertisements and restaurant openings.
Kreuzberged 🔗
Kreuzeberged looks beyond the neighborhood from which it gets its name, instead being an ode to the wider city of Berlin in its entirety. Still, there is ample content on the ever-multicultural Kreuzberg district. Beata Gontarczyk-Krampe, the page’s author, moved to Berlin in 2003 and has since delved diligently into its history, penning explorations of cultural and social events. The site is a testament to Beata’s interest in Berlin and its seemingly unending depth.
Introducing Berlin 🔗
Though it functions predominantly as a conduit for tour bookings, Introducing Berlin provides a broad but generic spectrum of information about the city – from universal travel advice and money-saving tips to accommodation recommendations and sample itineraries. As one of the more commercial Berlin resources, Introducing Berlin’s travel guide is also available as a mobile application.
