Beautiful Berlin in Winter

When one thinks of winter in Germany, one of the first things to come to mind is, naturally, the Christmas Markets.

What’s not to like? Warm glühwein, delicious guilt-free treats, festive decor and music, and endless shopping possibilities.

But coming from a Nordic country myself, I was glad I got to experience Berlin under (and, well, during) a brand new layer of snow, and feel a bit closer to my home, if only for a few days.

Even though that snow meant I had one of the worst flights of my life flying in the city, and that my feet were wet for most of my time there, I didn’t mind – the spectacle was too gorgeous to complain about anything.

In an attempt to get an opinion for myself about the old West vs East Berlin debate, I walked around quite a bit in both areas, explored many of their hidden corners. And I have come to a conclusion.

I prefer East Berlin.

While West Berlin is by far much prettier, it felt too sanitized, too picture-perfect for my taste. And also, I probably was the only person NOT way ahead in their 60s. I liked the energy of the East, the quirky shops, and the funky cafés. I look forward to seeing more of it in the future.

What to do when it snows in Berlin?

I decided to indulge my inner tourist and buy a ticket for these hop on/hop off tours. I don’t usually go for them because I find them restrictive and generally quite boring but in this weather? It was the best option. I was warm, I was dry, I was entertained in my own language, and because, there wasn’t anybody but me in there, I got the best seat (aka that much coveted front seat on the upper deck!)

One of my favorite neighborhoods in the city is Prenzauler Berg – or, from what I observed, Preggo Town. It seemed as though every woman I walked past by was either holding a baby or expecting one. Not that I minded – it was actually really cute to see these adorable red-cheeked little creatures all bundled up in heavy winter gear, unable to move arms or legs.

And the local scenery was quite lovely too, in fact.