A typical itinerary for an Art Amble to Berlin

Berlin is a hive of creativity and there is always so much to see and do meaning no two Berlin holidays are ever the same. We continually adapt our Berlin Art Amble to make the most of what events, exhibitions and activities might be going on at the time of the holiday. The following itinerary offers a good idea of the kind of things that we'll be doing.

Day 1

Arrive, check in to hotel and the Berlin Wall

After arriving at Berlin’s Schoenefeld airport, we transfer to our hotel in the heart of Berlin’s Mitte district, now famous for its trendy cafes, restaurants and contemporary art galleries.

After settling in to our luxurious rooms, we head to the Niederkirchnerstrasse stretch of the Berlin Wall. Unlike the East Side Gallery, which now has some modern (and quite naff) artwork painted on the wall, Niederkirchnerstrasse displays original examples of artwork from when East and West Berlin was divided.

Gallery drinks and dinner

At around 6ish we wander down to Auguststr (a road in Mitte lined with galleries and cafes) and meet a local curator, Katerina Valdivia Bruch, who we will join for drinks in the gallery she works with. From here we have dinner with a renowned artist turned chef who has made his name from cooking meals in his gallery in response to the work that is being shown.

Day 2

Gallery tour

This morning Katerina takes us on a gallery tour around several different districts of Berlin. Katerina is very much a part of the Berlin art scene, so she will gladly explain and introduce us to some local trends, styles and themes.

Lunch, Treptow Park and photography/drawing class

After lunch at Rote Harfe café we have the chance to explore the impressive Treptow Park, a memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Berlin. It is here that you can take part in a photography or drawing class, depending on what tickles your fancy. Hidden among the greenery and statues is an abandoned theme park. With dinosaurs, Ferris wheels and roller coasters left to rust, this bizarre location is a unique place to take photographs or make sketches.

Dinner and ballroom dancing at Clarchens Ballhaus

Tonight we eat at one of Mitte’s best restaurants, Schwarzwaldstubun. Surrounded by traditional décor and in the company of locals, tonight’s dinner is a real Bavarian feast. Afterwards it’s a short walk across the road to the dancehall, Clarchens Ballhaus, the interior of which has remained untouched since the 1930s. Here we learn to ballroom dance with Berliners of all ages and abilities.

Day 3

Artist studio visits

This morning we accompany Katerina, who will take us to a couple of studio blocks and introduce us to some Berlin based artists. Rather than only seeing artwork hung on the white walls of a gallery, this gives us a unique opportunity to see and discuss work in a more relaxed and informal environment.

After lunch you can choose whether to have a cycle tour of Berlin or visit the Hamburger Bahnhof contemporary art museum on foot:

Either: Cycle tour, visit to the art space ‘RADIALSYSTEM V’

For those who want to, this afternoon there is a chance to don your peddle-pushers and explore some of Berlin’s more unusual districts on bicycles with Katarina. We will eventually end up at the arts space RADIALSYSTEM V, where we will get yet another taste of the city’s art scene.

Or: A visit to Hamburger Bahnhof contemporary art museum

If saddle sore isn’t your bag then we can visit Hamburger Bahnhof, one of Berlin’s most celebrated contemporary art museums. Afterwards we can have a coffee in the museum’s beautifully designed riverside restaurant.

Dinner in Prenzlauer Berg and a late night game of ping-pong!

Tonight we go to the area of Prenzlauer Berg, which is the stomping ground of young, up and coming Berlin artists and creatives. Here we eat at a lively restaurant called Bird, famous for their burgers.

Afterwards it’s a short walk to Prater, a beer garden on the sociable road of Kastanienallee. Across the road from this beer garden is the Ping Pong Bar. This quirky little bar has a distinctly East German concrete look about it. The owners have done little to tart it up other than put a ping-pong table in the front room. Here we can play a round robin game of ping-pong with Berlin’s younger crowd. If you get down to the last 5, you’re not doing badly!

Day 4

Flea Market in Boxhagener Platz and brunch

This morning we wander around Berlin’s best Sunday morning flea market, where you can find all sorts of German nic-nacs, past and present. After doing some deals and finding some bargains we go to the flea market’s lovely little café/restaurant where we sit down to a traditional Berlin brunch.

Afterwards it’s back to the hotel to grab our bags before heading to the airport and Auf Wiedersehen!