When it comes to which European city to visit for a romantic weekend, few people think of Berlin. Paris, Prague, Venice – these are the cities that immediately come to mind. But if you want to go on a romantic trip and have an unforgettable time with your other half, Berlin is a surprisingly good choice too.
While it might not be a city that’s famous for love and romance, like Paris, you can still find exciting places here with a romantic mood – and not just on Valentine’s Day. This city has everything a traveling couple can dream of: romantic restaurants, gorgeous parks and architecture, unique places to stay, viewpoints, and many secrets to discover. Intrigued? I have collected the most romantic places in Berlin for you, where you can celebrate romance and love any time of the year!
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1. Walk around the filming locations of romantic movies shot in Berlin
Many romantic films have been shot in Berlin: “Berlin, I love you,” “Wings of Desire,” “A Coffee in Berlin,” “Run Lola Run,” “Beloved Berlin Wall,” and others. Take your partner for a loved-up walk inspired by one of these romance movies. You can visit the locations where the movies were filmed, and you could even act out scenes from the movies. Who wouldn’t love to walk around Berlin acting out scenes from famous romance films?
2. See Berlin with your beloved from a bird’s-eye view @ Panoramapunkt
If gorgeous views are your idea of romance, go to the roof of the Kollhoff-Tower, a 103-meter, 25-story building located in the city center in the Potsdamer Platz district. Here, at an altitude of 90 meters, there is a terrace with stunning views of Berlin.
From this observation deck, you can see all of Berlin’s districts and its important sights: Brandenburg Gate, Government Quarter, Victory Column, TV Tower and Reichstag Building, Berlin Cathedral, Red City Hall, and St. Nicholas Church. There is a special place on the terrace where couples in love can hang padlocks that symbolize eternal love and the continuity of relationships. What could be better than admiring fabulous panoramas in the clouds with your loved one? It’s a perfect place to say “I love you” for the first time or the one-thousand-and-first time.
3. Take a romantic river cruise
Continue your romantic weekend with a boat ride on the Spree River. No matter how well you know Berlin, all cities are perceived completely differently from a boat, and the views from the water open up a completely unexpected side to the city.
And, in case you needed more convincing, a river cruise is one of the best romantic things to do in Berlin! During the boat cruise, you can listen to this city’s fascinating story and admire the sights from the water. To create a truly romantic mood, go on this boat trip at sunset.
4. Visit Berlin’s most beautiful bridge Oberbaumbrücke
The Oberbaumbrücke is Berlin’s most photogenic and romantic bridge. It’s also a perfect place for a romantic photoshoot.
This old red-brick bridge connects the Spree banks in central Berlin and two districts – Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. They used to be separated by the Berlin Wall, so the Oberbaumbrücke Bridge is considered a significant symbol of German unity. Being such a symbol of unification, it’s a must-visit for couples.
Come here to watch the sunset, stroll along the river, and relax at one of the charming riverside cafes.
5. Have dinner with your partner in the dark
No, I’m not talking about a candlelit dinner or dinner in the intimate twilight. In Berlin, you have an opportunity to experience completely new sensations and dine in the dark.
At Dunkelrestaurant Nocti Vagus, you can focus on each other’s inner worlds and your feelings. At the restaurant entrance, you will be met by a waiter, blind or visually impaired. He or she will help you choose dishes from the menu and guide you into a dark room. Your sensory adventure will begin there. After that, you will have to do everything by touch – pick up a fork, eat, and drink, and enjoy a conversation with your partner in the dark.
Be prepared, this can be a challenging experience! Turning on any light from a mobile phone, flashlight, or lighter will not be allowed – the idea is to spend the whole evening in total darkness.
It is pointless to describe such an experience, you need to feel it. You can be sure that you and your partner will remember a date like this for life.
6. See the famous kiss at the East Side Gallery
East Side Gallery is one of the largest open-air galleries in the world. Its only exhibition is a 1,316-meter-long wall. What makes it an exceptional and unique gallery? It’s a fragment of the Berlin Wall.
It has become a paradise for street art and graffiti artists from around the world. Famous and unknown street art artists have created over 100 works here. The most famous mural in the East Side Gallery is “Brotherly Kiss,” created by the Russian artist Dmitry Vrubel.
A reference to a famous photograph from the celebration of the GDR’s 30th anniversary, the painting depicts Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker, the then leaders of the USSR and the People’s Democratic Republic, kissing on the lips.
The caption can be translated as a prayer: “God, help me survive amid this murderous love.” Although this street art masterpiece’s original message was political, this mural has become a favorite spot for couples to take selfies and kiss each other. Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev set the example, all that remains for you to do is to follow it.
7. Go for a romantic swim at a stunning pool, Stadtbad Neukölln
For many, swimming unites, relaxes, and gives a lot of positive emotions. So why don’t you invite your partner for a date at the Berlin swimming pool? The Stadtbad Neukölln swimming pool is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in Berlin. It is housed in a fascinating old building with round arches and high ceilings. The pool building is more than 100 years old and is considered an architectural monument.
It was opened in 1914 and immediately entered the list of the most beautiful baths in Europe. The complex was also one of the largest in Europe – the daily number of visitors can and has reached up to 10,000.
The Neukölln Swimming Pool is a sports and entertainment center with several saunas, solariums, and a rooftop terrace, where you can easily spend the whole day. Here you can relax and unwind with your other half. You will be surprised by the fascinating interior decoration, which has been preserved in its original form since 1914.
8. Immerse yourself in culture on Berlin Museum Island
Art unites people and hearts, and you can experience the romance of art in abundance on Museum Island in Berlin. The picturesque northern tip of the Spreinsel Island, surrounded by the Spree River, attracts tourists with its constellation of unique museums and their massive collections of masterpieces.
Berlin’s Museum Island brings together some of the world’s best museums. There is nothing like this in other countries, and since 1999, Museum Island has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Monbijou Bridge on both sides of the city leads to the Bode Museum, which is visible from afar. With an architectural shape similar to a triangle, the majestic building is crowned at the top with a massive dome. Parallel to its southern facade, you will see the Pergamon Museum’s monumental structure, connected to the city by a pedestrian bridge thrown over the canal.
In the Pergamon Museum’s vicinity, the Old National Gallery building attracts attention, with its main facade reminiscent of ancient Roman temples’ architecture.
In these museums, you can see ancient Greek and Roman art, antique sculptures, art canvases, mosaics, Islamic art from the 7th-19th centuries, cultural and household items of the Byzantine era, and much more.
9. Explore the most romantic district of Berlin – Charlottenburg
Would you like to see a completely different Berlin, with romantic architecture, magnificent gardens, and a palace? Head to Berlin’s Charlottenburg area, home to the former Baroque residence of the Prussian kings.
Charlottenburg Palace is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Germany. The palace was built by order of Frederick I’s wife, Queen Sophia Charlotte.
When visiting the palace, don’t miss the Charlottenburg gardens and a park. It has repeatedly changed its appearance but has remained invariably beautiful. Initially, it was laid out in the best French traditions, but over time, all garden and park architecture was subordinated to the British landscape fashion, and the palace park began to change.
You can also visit the palace interiors which feature a large oak gallery, the Porcelain Room with Chinese and Japanese collections, the White Room and the Golden Gallery, rooms with Rococo and French paintings, and greenhouses.
To explore Charlottenburg and its park, be ready to spend at least several hours here. Charlottenburg is now owned by the Prussian Palaces and Parks Foundation in Berlin and Brandenburg (Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg). The palace and the park are a perfect setting for a romantic walk.
Looking for more things to do in Berlin and beyond? The Alternative Travel Guide has plenty for you.
This guest blog post was written by Sasha Naslin, a founder of The Alternative Travel Guide and a world citizen at heart. She is Russian-French born in a country that “does not exist,” – Pridnestrovie. She writes about alternative tourism and alternative things to do in popular European destinations.
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