Hamburger Bahnhof – museum for modern art

Every Thursday the amazing Hamburger Bahnhof opens its doors longer than usual: you can experience some of the worlds greatest artists from 10am to 8pm! Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol are just some of the names you will come across in this one of a kind exhibition. Even the building itself looks truly stunning and is conveniently located near Hauptbahnhof. So even tho the weather is almost too nice to stay indoors – this museum is a must for Berlin visitors!

In view is: Joseph Beuys, DAS KAPITAL RAUM 1970–1977, 1980, Detail, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Nationalgalerie, Sammlung Marx

Summer is finally here! Wanna swim?

We all know that Berlin is not the most famous city for beach holidays, but did you know that in our city there’s a lot of wonderful lakes where you can swim and enjoy the sun during the hot days? (Yes, there’s hot days in Berlin too!! )

Some of them are also inside the city, others a bit more outside, but it’s also a good occasion to stay in the nature and have a break from the chaotic city-life.

Here ‘s some of the nicest:

Schlachtensee

You can reach this beautiful lake directly with the S-Bahn train (S1 – stop “Schlachtensee”). Just in front of the station you will see it. It’s a pretty big lake, has some small beaches, really clear water. For the bravest ones, you can jump from the trees hanging on the ropes 😉 . For the lazy ones, you can rent a boat and float in the middle of the lake.

Müggelsee

This lake, situated outside of the city, is really huge. Water is also clear, and the “Strand” (sand beach) is huuuge ! Seems like to be on the sea! To get there take the S3 train till “Rahnsdorf” stop. From there it’s a 20 mins nice walk trough the wood and then you’re there!

Weißensee

This lake is in the city, located in the north east part of Prenzlauer Berg (district where’s also Mauerpark, famous for the flea market on sunday). Surrounded by a nice park, you can swim till the fountain placed in the middle. A good option to don’t go too far from the center of Berlin.

These are only three of the big amount of lakes you can visit here, for more infos, just ask at the reception!!

 

Enjoy!!

 

Your

U inn Berlin Hostel staff

Carnival of Cultures street festival 2015

Here we go! It´s time again for the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin, one of the most attractive and funny events in our wonderful city!

Like every year, this week end thousands of people will join in Kreuzberg to breathe the spirit of different cultures, listen to the variety of music and admiring all the costumes and music trucks at the street parade that takes part sunday 25th of May.

 

 

The Carnival takes place from friday 22nd to monday 25th around Blücherplatz (U1 and U6  stop “Hallesches Tor”) with over 100 bands and DJ´s performing all kind of imaginable music and over 200 street performers out of the stages!!

Now to the highlight: The Parade on Sunday 24th

It begins at Hermannplatz (U7-U8 stop) at 12.30 pm and goes all along Hasenheide, Gneisenaustraße, Yorckstraße

End: ca. 9 pm, Yorckstraße/Möckernstraße

For more infos –> http://www.karneval-berlin.de/en/english.175.html

 

Have fun and see you there!

Your U Inn Berlin Hostel Team

 

Summer in the city – best beach bars, chill out places and parks in Berlin

You planning to visit Berlin now or in the coming weeks? Surely you will visit the main touristic spots, like Brandenburg Gate, Fernsehturm, Eastside Galaery and so on. But Berliners like to chill out after a full day at the riverside, or in nice open air location with cold beer and good music. Here are some of the best places you shouldn’t miss.

Sommer in Berlin

Bearchbars, Cafes or Sitting Outside:
Klunkerkranich

At the parking level of the shopping mall Neukölln Arcaden you can find not only a chill-out-café-bar called Klunkerkranich but also one of the best views over Berlin. You should definitely go there in case you are – by chance – one of these people in Berlin that are NOT blessed with their own gigantic roof terrace. You are not alone if you are one of them. Not alone at all.

Prinzessinnengarten

The Prinzessinnengarten is a mobile garden next Moritzplatz in Kreuzberg. In the shade of the trees you can have a relaxing beer, or try a snack of the homemade organic food.

Club der Visionäre

Club der Visionäre aka CdV is a bar swimming on the water of a sidearm of the river together with the bar Freischwimmer it’s the favourite place for people from Kreuzberg and Friedrichhain to chill out on a long long Sunday afternoon. At the CdV there are always really good Dj’s playing. There are no big gigs, it’s more like they go and play in their own living room. So often you get the chance to meet some high ranking Djs.

Yaam

Yaam is one of the oldest Beach Bars in Berlin. It’s like a little island of Jamaica right in the middle of Berlin. Here you always find a little peaceful beach and chilled reggae music. At night they do some good parties too. Right now the Yaam is under threat because of a luxury condo they want to build on this location. That’s why a move is already scheduled for 2013. The new location will be the area of the former Maria/Magdalena/Josef Club and Schilling Bridge.

Badeschiff

The Badeschiff is a very unique place. Since the river Spree isn’t particularly made for swimming. They transformed to old ships into a swimming pool on the river. Pretty awesome right?! A lot of people hanging out at the Badeschiff the whole day. Swimming, chilling, sun bathing and later on dancing since they also do a lot of open air parties in the summer months.

Lichtpark

Lichtpark is one of the newer Open Air Party locations. For the weekend they provide for a small entry fee nice electronic music and a chilled location on the river. This place is often crowded by people who either just come or go to Kater Blau Club or did not get in for the Sunday after hour party but still want to make party.

Monbijou-Theater

You’ve probably been to open-air festivals at  ://about blank or  Sisyphos already. But it does not always have to be all electronic beats for crazy dance moves. At Monbijoutheater for example, you can learn to dance mambo, tango or swing. Feels like Dirty Dancing!

Admiralsbrücke

During the summer the bridge and its grassy shores are alive with droves of Berliners, relaxing and chilling with some cheap späti beers. All whilst taking in the vibes from the buskers, acoustic groups, And any other manner of movers and shakers that swings by. Free entertainment at its best! Setting the groove all the way into the night.

Tempelhofer FeldWe also recommend the big and green parks in Berlin like:

Preußenpark
Tempelhofer Feld
Insel der Jugend Treptower Park
Volkspark Friedrichshain

 

 

Images © Sabine Alex

Looking for a room in Berlin? First take a bed in our Hostel!

Just for the first few weeks…

…a bed in our hostel is a good alternative after a busy house hunting to relax and to get insider tips from our hostel team about available rooms and the most amazing parts of the city. Compared with the room rents in Berlin depending on bed category to book a bed at our hostel is often cheaper or equal. Our door is open to all home seekers. We want to make your start in Berlin as pleasant as possible.

Roughly 3.5 million people currently live in Berlin. Many of them are students who just stay for one or two semester in Berlin. And some just stay for the summer. Since the revolutionary student protests in the 70s it is common to live together in a big shared flats. It is the easiest way to settle down in Berlin and you will find many shared flats (WG) available. Since the wall came down and Berlin has grown up to be a busy metropolis the situation with the rent market has changed and the prices have gone up. Finding a proper room in a WG (German for shared flat) isn’t that easy any more. The location is very important. Among the Berlin Hipsters Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Neukölln are the best districts in Berlin. But finding a room there is a troublesome adventure. Standing in a long line with about 20 other Students can be a normal situation now days. But maybe we can help you. We as Berliners got plenty of experience in finding a WG since we used to live in shared flats for a long time.

 Your room at the In-district

 Which area is the best to live in? This is the first and most important question. In Berlin the answer usually is Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. There you will find a lot of old buildings and old buildings mean large rooms and plenty of space. A must if you’re looking for a shared flat. No one wants to live in the broom closet. Friedrichshain and especially the neighbourhood around Boxhagener Platz is crowded and popular among students. It offers many pubs and cafés and of course the Revaler Straße, also known as “Technostrich” where one club chases the other. This gives you a good diversion from a stressful study. Neukölln has gotten very popular during the last few years but think about the everyday transportation. The FU Berlin is located at Dahlem. For us locals here in Friedrichshain it is in the middle of nowhere. Every day pilgrimage thousands of students to the campus in Dahlem. From Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg area the transportation could easily take you 45 minutes. The HU Berlin and TU Berlin are located straight in the middle of Berlin and are easier to reach. The technology and science headquarters are in Adlershof and it is relatively easy to reach from Friedrichshain using the S Bahn.

 How much is a shared apartment

Find your flat in BerlinThe times when you could get a cheap apartment in Berlin are long gone. But shared apartments in Berlin are still a good option for those making their first steps in the city. Around semester breaks and in the beginning of spring the renting price rises and it gets harder to find a place. There are however companies who make a lot of money with shared apartments with high rents, so when you are in Berlin take your time for your search for suitable apartment.

 Intern ship in Berlin

 It can be really hard to find a room if you are a trainee looking to stay only for few months in Berlin. For those people we got the magic word they need to look for: “Zwischenmiete” (interim tenant). Many locals are leasing their apartments/rooms out for short time period and you will find them online as well.

 Resources

For Berlin and surroundings the websites wg-gesucht.dewg-welt.dewww.studenten-wg.de and also www.kleinanzeigen.ebay.de are the most important flat- search websites on the Internet If you are staying for a short period of time look at “Mietwohnzentrale“. Of course we at the U inn Berlin Hostel can help you out ones you are here and give you a hand searching for an apartment or maybe we already know a residential community that is searching for a new member.

 Photos by: Libertinus _timl and offshore @ Flickr