7 Underground Things to Do in Berlin Before They Go Mainstream

2. The panoramic view of Berlin.

Find it: Middle of nowhere, but near Gockelweg 19, 12355.

The name that you gotta remember is Dörferblick. This place is a over 85 meters high and we Berliners can call it ” the mountain” but it is not really one. Dörferblick is made of debris from Berlin’s past wars. After the Second World War, the city was filled with rubble and pieces of concrete. How to you clean all that? Where do you take all that trash? Where do you put it? Dörferblick was one of the answers. Mountains of debris are really common here in Germany; so common that they even have a name for it: Trümmerberg.

Dörferblick started back in 1958, but it only became as high as it is today after the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Tip: Check the forecast; go on a clear day.

3. Time travel in East Berlin.

#Berlin

A photo posted by Michael Schulz (@berlinstagram) on Jun 28, 2015 at 4:08am PDT

Find it: Friedrichshain, Treptow, Mitte

There are so many great spots in East Berlin that will transport you to the cold war era. Two of my favorites are Karl-Marx-Allee and Leipzigerstrasse. Walking down both avenues is like going back to the 70s and 80s in Berlin. Karl-Marx-Allee is know as Stalin’s Bathroom because the architecture covered in tiles, just like in your bathroom.

Take the U5 or the tram on the east side and emerge yourself in history for free. Grab a beer on the way and walk through iconic places, used for movie sets for the like of “The life of others” and “Goodbye Lenin”

Tip: Take a long walk following The Spree from Elsenbrücke towards the TV Tower. You’ll see this on the horizon. You’ll note scenery from “Run Lola Run” and the new series “Sense8.”

4. The German Watchtower

Find it: Potsdamer Platz

This is one of those places that it is right in your face but if you don’t know where is it, you’ll never find it. It is one of the last historical sites to become open to the public in the city. This observation tower originally stood between the Brandenburg Gate and Leipziger Platz and it was the base for border guards to watch over the area at the former “House of Ministries.” In 2001, the watchtower was moved to its present location near Stresemannstraße on Potsdamer Platz and it is the only surviving watchtower of its kind.

Tip: For 3,5€ a guide will give you a full historical overview and you can climb up to the top and experience life as a border officer.

5. The Dong Xuan Center

Find it: Herzbergstraße 128, Berlin.

The Dong Xuan Center is a one-of-a-kind Asian market. It’s packed with seemingly endless whacky products. It’s the center of the East-Berlin Asian community.

Tip: Don’t visit without a large shopping bag or rucksack. Even if you’re not planning to spend money in weird and useless stuff, you will.

6. Gärten der Welt

Find it: Eisenacher Str. 99, 12685 Berlin

Gärten der Welt in Marzahn has 21 hectares of land with nine regional gardens, each representing the history and culture of the country. China, Morocco, Japan, Bali, and Korea are just some of the nationalities represented through the landscaping. Besides all the national gardens, the park has gardens dedicated to religions such as Christianity and the tropical garden that is filled with plants you can only find in South America or South East Asia.

The park’s visitor numbers are increasing annually and this is not a place to enjoy with the masses. Make sure you check it out before it is overrun.

Tip: Once a year they host the cherry blossom day. Check their calendar to see when it will happen next, it’s spectacular.

7. The eight windmills of Berlin

Find it: Buckower Damm 130, 12349

Did you know that Berlin has eight working windmills inside its perimeter? My favorite is Britzer Muhle. We discovered this amazing place completely unintentionally when our crew were taking the bikes for a long tour over to Brandenburg. Once I was at Buckower Damm, I saw this weird shaped thing on the corner of my eye and I had to stop my bike. In the distance I saw Britzer Muhle and after a quick Google search, found out that there are another seven windmills in Berlin.

Tip: Some of the windmills are much closer to the city center and there is one really close to Gärten der Welt. Britzer Muhle is open for tours Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 4pm.