Why not ditch your local supermarket that is only five minutes from your house and go on a shopping adventure to the Turkish market in Kreuzberg/Neukölln (even if not for your weekly grocery shopping, then at least for the experience). The Turkish market at Maybachufer is a mix of stalls selling a variety of different things, from household items to fabrics, to books, and of course, lots of, lots of food (including cooked lunch options). Most of the fruit and vegetable is unbelievably cheap in comparision to normal supermarkets. We remember times, where former roommates used to come home with 10 mangos for only 5€ (noone can eat this many mango though). It can get a little crowded, once local shoppers and curious tourists are all heading down the rather narrow path between the stalls. However, this just gives you the time to slow down your pace and immerse yourself into the numerous food options.
As Berlin is unofficially known as Europe’s gay capital, we would like to take the opportunity and give you a little overview of Berlin’s most gay friendly districts (obviously in no way is this a complete list). The neighborhoods featured have a rich density of queer bars and clubs and convey a general feeling of inclusiveness.
S c h ö n e b e r g
When the city was divided into East and West Berlin, the Schöneberg district slowly began to develop a vibrant gay and lesbian community. As the wall came down in 1989, Schöneberg’s queer community continued to grow. Today it is known for being Berlin’s most gay-friendly district and is considered the traditional center for gay culture in Berlin. Along Fuggerstrasse, there are dozens of clubs, pubs, restaurants and all manner of other businesses catering to the queer community. A hot spot for gay culture is also Schöneberg’s Motzstraße. For a more extensive list on queer pubs and clubs in Schöneberg see a map here.
Schöneberg’s queer set up also makes it a very fitting location for Berlin’s Schwules Museum* (Gay Museum), which moved from Kreuzberg to Schöneberg’s Lützowstraße a couple of years ago. The museum presents a number of regularly changing exhibitions on everything queer. It also organizes talks, lectures and get-togethers evolving around gay culture. And! If you like to get a little bit of reading in on the topic of gay culture, their library consists of more than 20,000 volumes covering all areas of scientific inquiry from humanities, social science, sexology, fine arts and popular science. In this context it is also worth mentioning that in the last couple of years they have made a bigger effort to collect literature on female homosexuality, queer feminist theory and trans and inter experiences.
Where? Lützowstraße 73, 10785 Berlin
Opening Hours: Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 2pm - 6 pm, Thu 2 pm - 8 pm,
Sat 2 pm - 7 pm, closed on Tuesdays
Approx. 15 minutes from the subway station Nollendorfplatz
K r e u z b e r g
The queer scene in Kreuzberg started as an alternative to the scene in Mitte. Although Kreuzberg’s queer culture has changed over the years, there are still a few staples to be found. One of them is Möbel Olfe, which is always incredibly crowded, but a real institution. It’s an old furniture store that has been remodeled into a bar with changing events and DJs. No chance for boredom.
Close to Kottbuser Tor at Mariannenstraße you find the women’s café Oya, which mostly caters to women, lesbians, trans, inter and queer individuals. This being said, all identities are welcome (except on Thursdays, which is reserved for wltiq). They offer vegan and vegetarian dishes for lunch, reasonably priced coffee for 1,80€ and drinks in the evening hours. Events at the café revolve around queer-feminist and anti-racist topics.
No chance for understatement provides Roses in Kreuzberg, where chairs and walls consist of fur fabric. The interior is a mixture of trashy and cheesy and definitely worth a visit.
At Mehringdamm you find the queer bar Rauschgold, which is also a good location for karaoke. What you’ll get at Rauschgold is a mixture of relaxing bar venue and alternative party location. Besides karaoke, they organize regular events, with a focus on drag shows (some shows are fee-based). Stay up to date with their event calendar or visit their Facebook page.
S c h w u Z and S i l v e r F u t u r e i n N e u k ö l l n
Neukölln is not necessarily known as a particularly gay district. This being said, a couple of years ago SchwuZ, one of Berlin’s favorite gay clubs, moved from its old location in Kreuzberg to its new and bigger one in Neukölln (close to the subway station Rathaus Neukölln). Besides having a bigger venue at hand, the decision to move was also a political one. The club’s move to the culturally very distinct Neukölln represents SchwuZ’s aim to combine different lifestyles and, as the owners state, „Neukölln’s exciting Kiez is an important catalyst for this.“
The bar SilverFuture located in Neukölln’s Reuterkiez could have easily been named PinkFuture, stemming from its interior. So get prepared for some serious pink and silver vibes. The cosy queer bar is fully packed at peak times and features concerts, DJ sets and vernissages.
For those of you who need a break from the (at times overwhelming) bustle of Berlin and want to reconnect with nature, be sure to visit Domäne Dahlem!
Domäne Dahlem is an organic farm in a historic country estate with a blacksmith shop and an open-air museum for agricultural and food culture. So if you’re at all interested in what organic farming in Germany looks like, this is the place to go!
Domäne Dahlem is an organic farm in a historic country estate with a blacksmith shop and an open-air museum for agricultural and food culture. So if you’re at all interested in what organic farming in Germany looks like, this is the place to go!
At their traditional potato festival, you can harvest organic potatoes from the field yourself. Both modern and historical potato varieties with different cooking properties and very different tastes and appearances are grown here. You can harvest the popular „Linda“ yourself as well as rarities, e.g. „Bamberger Hörnchen“ and „Blauer Schwede“.
Experience and discover selected stands with handicrafts and specialities, ecological delicacies with and without potatoes from their organic gastronomy, live music and lots of hands-on activities.
Welcome to Germany! To help you settle, you will want to have a local phone number and mobile internet available. For that, you have two options. Either you are getting a mobile contract that binds you for usually 24 months, or you can get a flexible and more affordable prepaid SIM card in Germany and choose the phone plan most suitable to you.
Make sure to only get a Prepaid option, do not commit to any long-term binding contracts!
Prepaid SIM cards offer the best value for money when it comes to mobile communication in Germany. To help you make a choice and not feel overwhelmed by the chaotic offer of mobile phone plans out there, we have selected the best prepaid SIM card in Germany.
Lidl Connect
Lidl Connect is the prepaid mobile offer from the big German supermarket LIDL. It uses the Vodafone network lines and offers LTE internet speed. Lidl offers different plans. Its basic Smart S plan was recently awarded as the best Prepaid Tariff by the renowned magazines CHIP and Connect.
The Smart S plan offers unlimited phone calls and SMS within Germany and 3 GB LTE data. It costs 7,99 euros for 4 weeks. The biggest plan, Smart XL brings 12 GB data for 17,99. The card costs 9,99 euros; however, it comes with a balance of 10 euros. So basically, it is for free.
Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Lidl online account. You can change the tariff whenever you want or add data packages when needed.
With Lidl, you can either manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge from your bank account or via Paypal of let’s say 10 euros, each time your balance drops below 10 euros.
Instead of ordering your SIM card online, we recommend to buy it at one of the many LIDLs across Berlin. Just ask for the LIDL Connect Starterpack at the counter.
Aldi Talk is the direct competitor of Lidl, not only in terms of the prepaid mobile phone offer but also with its core product, the supermarket. Aldi offers a very similar product as Lidl; however, the most significant difference is that Aldi uses the O2 network, which is the smallest network in Germany. The O2 reception in cities is excellent, whereas, if you spend a lot of time in rural areas, it is not a good choice for you.
The Paket S plan offers unlimited calls and texts and 3 GB LTE data. It costs 7,99 euros for 4 weeks. The biggest plan, Paket L brings 12 GB data for 17,99. The card also costs 9,99 euros; however, it is preloaded with a balance of 10 euros. So it is basically free as well.
When you compare mobile phone contracts, those using O2 are always cheaper than those using Vodafone or Telekom. Therefore Aldi offers the same product for the same price on a weaker and cheaper network.
Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Aldi account. You can change the plan online, whenever you want.
With Aldi, you can also manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge of let’s say 10 euros each time your balance drops below 10 euros.
Of course, you again have the option to buy a top-up balance card at an Aldi supermarket. You will find them at the cashier counter.
The Vodafone Germany prepaid sim card packages are called CallYa and they offer the following data packages valid for 4 weeks. Vodafone Germany has a very advanced 4G/5G network and their prepaid sim card deals are by far the best. For €20 you get 15 GB data + unlimited calling and texting in all of Europe.
Once you hold your card in hand, you need to activate it. Since July 2017, all prepaid SIM cards need to be registered in person or via VideoID, to prevent crime and misuse.
You will need your official ID card or passport and a German home address to register. Online is the fastest way and only takes a few minutes. However, not all passports are supported online. Should your nationality not be valid for online identification, you can go to your closest post office.
Once you activated the card, you can choose the tariff you like and your preferred top-up method in your online account.
If you ever find yourself at S+U Zoologischer Garten, it’s worth stopping by C/O Berlin, an exhibition space for photography and visual media. Located right next to Amerika-Haus on Hardenbergstraße, the nonprofit organization focuses on presenting works by respected artists as well as supporting emerging talents, and welcomes everyone to discover contemporary visual culture. As a place to exchange new ideas, C/O Berlin organizes Artist Talks, Panel Discussions, Film Screenings and guided tours, offering visitors a place to exchange thoughts on the exhibition program and engage in current debates on visual culture. Their upcoming exhibtion Queerness in Photography (Sep 17, 2022 – Jan 18, 2023) examines the representation of identity, gender, and sexuality in photography in three complementary exhibitions.
If you happen to find time during your first week here in Berlin, there’s two more amazing artists being exhibited at c/o until Sep 07, 2022.
Susan Meiselas
The exhibition Susan Meiselas . Mediations is the first retrospective in Germany of the Magnum photographer’s over 50-year oeuvre—from her early portraits of neighbors to intimate shots of strippers to her iconic photographs from crisis and war zones.
In her solo exhibition A Chance Encounter, Bieke Depoorter presents Agata and Michael, two series that begin with chance encounters. Personal relationships with the people featured in her photographs, which were developed over the course of several years, significantly influence Depoorter’s artistic practice.
Summer in Berlin means many things. It is also the time for outdoor cinemas (in German ‚Freiluftkinos‘). The season is from May to September, which means all Fall FU-BESTers will defnitely be able to catch a movie under the starlit sky.
To make your life a little easier, we have put together a list of the best outdoor cinema opportunities in Berlin.
Berlin’s oldest open air cinema is tucked away behind the Kunstquatier Bethanien, which makes for a very special atmosphere. The pro tip is to buy tickets beforehand online and come early, so that you can grab one of the sun loungers available and safe yourself the perfect spot on the grass in front of the screen. If you snooze, you will lose. So don’t be late. Most movies that are shown are originals.
This one is located in Volkspark with bench-style seating options. If you prefer to spread out, you can bring a blanket and sit on the grass. They mostly show dubbed movies, so pay attention to their program.
Rehberge is a lovely park in Wedding, which provides a very peaceful location for watching a movie. Probablyt the only thing you will hear whilst watching the movie will be the whistling of the trees around you. They have seats available for up to 1500 people. Again, pay special attention to their program to see which films are in English or German.
This is by far the open-air cinema with the most urban feel setting in this list. It is not as intimate as some of the other suggestions, but for those who want an opulent city view to come with their movie experience it is perfect. From indie films to blockbusters, this cinema shows originals with German subtitles.
Going back to a more cosy cinema experience, Freiluftkino Hasenheide comes to mind. It’s a charming open-air space with a sizable screen. The bench style seats can be a little hard on the bum though, so you might wanna bring your own blankets or cushion.
Last but not least, here is a tip for a free cinema experience. The Kulturfabrik, which usually serves as a concert hall, music venue, art house theatre, to name but a few things that are happening here, hosts free open-air movies in the courtyard, on Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm. Most of the films shown are in German.
Lehrter Str. 35, 10557 Berlin
Gereral-open-air-cinema-advice: Do not make the rooky mistake and be fooled by the warm weather. After the sun goes down it still gets pretty chilly, especially when you are sitting. Bring layers!
It’s easily one of the most iconic meals in the United States of America – the hamburger. And if you’re looking for a taste of home during your stay, Berlin has you covered. There are, in some districts quite literally, burger joints around every corner. Many of these places serve you puns with their buns, with names like Burgermeister or Burgeramt. However, my favorite burger place in Berlin has a more straightforward name: Tommi’s Burger Joint.
Tommi’s doesn’t reinvent the wheel – and it doesn’t have to. Their burgers may be somewhat basic, but the ingredients are high-end, and so is the taste. In addition, they also have very solid vegan and vegetarian options. Originally from Iceland, Tommi’s has now become an international phenomenon, with three stores in Berlin alone. One can be found at the Kurfürstendamm (Kurfürstendamm 212), one in Mitte (Invalidenstraße 160), and one near Boxhagener Platz (Gabriel-Max-Straße 17).
Tommi’s at Kudamm (https://www.facebook.com/BurgerjointDE/photos/a.611330555593799/3200186550041507/)
Their burgers may not be exactly cheap, but they are well worth the money. They also offer a large variety of condiments for everyone to use for no extra charge. And if you go there on a Tuesday, you’re in for an extra treat. On Tommi’s Tuesdays, you can get a whopping four euros off their Offer of the Century (i.e. burger, fries, and a soft drink).
One of our favourite restaurants to go to with a group of friends is the Schnitzelei. Not only do they serve the probably most delicious Schnitzel you can find in Berlin (they are huuuge), but they also make their own Schnaps from all different kinds of fruits (Obstler). When you order the Obstler, they serve it in a big bottle that marks each 5cl. By the end of the night, you only pay what you ended up drinking Plus, the first round is usually on the waiter/ waitress. The best day to go is Monday – it’s their Schnitzeltag. This means their Schnitzels cost only 13.31 € instead of 19.50 € (and you are free to choose either potatoe salad or pan-fried potatoes on top of your order). Additionally, you will be handed a small beer on the house upon arrival. For all the vegetarians and vegans under us or for those who are simply not big fans of a Schnitzel, they offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan Schnitzels and loooots of other super yummy dishes. Check out their menu.
Where? Schnitzelei Charlottenburg, Röntgenstraße 7, 10587 Berlin
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 4pm – 12am and Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 11pm
or
Where? Schnitzelei Mitte, Chausseestraße 8, 10115 Berlin
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 4pm – 12am and Sunday 12pm – 10.30pm
Each year the Jewish cultural festival presents a diverse potpourri of theatrical performances, readings, discussions, exhibitions, church services, and concerts featuring outstanding performers from around the world. This year’s theme is „Shalom Berlin“. Please find the program here.
When? November 7 - November 17, 2019
Where? Synagoge Rykestraße, Renaussance Theater, Jüdisches Gemeindehaus Fasanenstraße and more
Admission: depends on the venue
A rumor persits under FU-BEST students that we usually don’t tip in Germany. Where this is coming from we don’t know. This being said, surprisingly, if you google ‚tipping etiquette in Germany‘, one of the first things you find is that the tip is included in the bill and that it will be enough to simply round up. This, however, is not the case! Tips are not included in your bill and you should definitely tip at least 10%. This is true for restaurants, cafés and bars alike.
FU-BEST organizes a weekly Stammtisch (regulars table) in different bars all over Berlin. This means there will be lots of opportunities for you to perfect your tipping game. The usual way to tip in Germany is to ask for the bill, check the amount you owe and then work out in your head what you’re going to tip. When you are ready to pay, tell the waiter/waitress out loud the amount in total, including the tip.
