Berlin was one of the stops I was most excited for — not only because of its massive historical significance, but because my visit happened to land on my 26th birthday. I arrived ready to explore and ready to celebrate.

The city itself felt unlike anywhere else: a fascinating blend of gorgeous pre-war buildings standing beside modern post-war reconstruction, plus a scattering of brutalist architecture that I personally love (even if not everyone does). I visited the Brandenburg Gate, admired surviving Berlin Wall segments, grabbed currywurst from a street vendor, and made the most of Berlin’s excellent U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems.

As a Cold War history fan, the highlight was the DDR Museum. From depictions of everyday life in East Germany to Stasi technology and espionage tools, I found it all captivating. Checkpoint Charlie was more of a chaotic tourist zone than anything profound, but still worth the quick visit.

My favorite peaceful spot in the city was James-Simon Park, right on the Spree next to Museum Island. I spent warm evenings lounging on the grass, watching boats float by, and grabbing drinks from the bars tucked beneath the railway tracks.

But the best memory came on my birthday night. After a solo schnitzel dinner, I joined a traveler’s bar crawl advertised at a nearby hostel. I ended up celebrating with a lively group of new friends who took great joy in ringing in an American’s birthday. We hopped from a hookah bar in East Berlin to a club where I was definitely underdressed — and after far too many Red Bull vodkas, I somehow found my way back to my hostel in one piece. It may be a bit blurry, but it was unforgettable.

Berlin was chaotic, historical, social, and thrilling all at once. A highlight of the entire trip and a birthday I’ll never forget.

📷 Photos#

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