Whenever I travel, I love hearing from locals what they think is worth exploring! I think you save yourself a lot of tie and money when you just get to know a bit about how things are done in a city/country. Since I am German (if you didn't already know) and have lived in Berlin I wanted to share some of my favourite tourist-y and local things to do and Berlin Tips.
THE LIST
Hackischer Markt for shopping, cute places to eat like Monsieur Vuong right next to a specialty tea shop
Hackische Hoefe, Ice cream at Waffel oder Becher
Christmas Market at Gendarmenmarkt & and Christmas Market in Preuzlauer Berg (Kulturbrauerei)
Monuments (must see!): Jewish memorial, Brandenburger Tor, the Wall of Berlin, Berlin Dom
Galleries Lafayette (shopping)
THE LIST (cont.)
Klunkerkranich (best roof top bar!)
Berghain & Panorama Bar (must try, but good luck getting in!)
Stattbad, which used to be a swimming pool
Watergate, this has gorgeous views of Berlin
Odessa, in Mitte
Kurfuerstendamm, shopping!
Museum Island, great history, during the summer this is a popular hang out spot near the river
Alexanderplatz - TV Tower (nice but super touristy)
As much as I want to name many more places, i think this is a great place to start and from here... just get lost! I used to plan every step and every hour of a trip but I have enjoyed getting lost and exploring a city that way as well. You find the true things that you like and fall in love with a city in a much different way. Berlin definitely isn't for everyone but if you are a touch creative, like history and architecture - there is something in Berlin for you for sure!
Shooting location Hotel Amano, Augustusstrasse | Berlin.