Europe Up Close

Shopping in Berlin – A Local’s Guide

Published/Revised October 15, 2017 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Shopping in Berlin: A Local’s Guide Style-wise, Berliners pride themselves on their idiosyncratic sense of liberality and urban cool. Fluid, individual and no-nonsense, a common Berlin ‘uniform’ is notorious for its embrace of anything black, shapeless and street-chic. However, you’d be foolish to think the city’s shopping options end there. Broad-minded and tolerant, there is a seemingly endless ... Read Full Article

Berlin’s Kreuzberg and Kreuzkölln: a Good Food, Drink & Coffee Guide

Published/Revised September 29, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Cafes, bars and restaurants continue to sprout out of Berlin’s gentrifying neighbourhoods like spargel in the summertime. Kreuzkölln, the apex of gritty Kreuzberg and Neukölln, and its surrounds, remain a lure for Berlin’s flock of international émigrés, students and creatives. It’s no secret that the borough offers some of the best and cheapest options in the city for great food, drink and ... Read Full Article

Learning More About the Brandenburg Gate

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

I’ll admit it. When my Berlin-savvy friend asked if I’d like to stop by the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), I said “yes, of course!” As we strolled past the Hotel Aldon (of Michael Jackson fame), I racked my brain trying to think of what I remembered (or had ever learned) about the Brandenburg Gate and came up next to empty. I guess this is the beauty of traveling- to discover new places and ... Read Full Article

German Christmas Markets: A World of Christmas Magic

Published/Revised November 29, 2017 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

During the Holidays, Germany reveals its most magical side. More than 2,500 German Christmas markets invite you to share in the joy of the Christmas season and enter into Germany's festive spirit. If you want to enjoy these enchanting markets, you will need to plan ahead. In October and even sooner, tour companies roll out their Winter Escorted Tour brochures and online offerings. December is a ... Read Full Article