We heard that visiting the Cliffs of Moher is a must while traveling in Ireland. So we decided to take a tour there from Dublin. We took this tour through Irish Day Tours company. We really enjoyed touring with them and our driver was very nice.
We had to have a very early start, as it’s a day with lots of traveling (Over 700 Km in a single day). Therefore, by 6:45 we were already waiting at the tour’s meeting point, by Molly’s statue. The drive to the cliffs is about three and a half hours long, although about an hour and a half into the trip scheduled stop at a restaurant where you can get tea or coffee and some breakfast. Coffee was vital considering our early start.
During the ride the driver doubles as a tour guide, giving detailed regarding each place we pass – This served to make the ride much more intriguing. Truly, the views were so beautiful that I’ve spent most of the ride hypnotized by Ireland’s grace.
Cliffs of Moher
We arrived at the cliffs of Moher at around 10:30 and had some free time to roam the area. Luckily for us, the weather was amazing and visibility was great. We started on the right side and went up the tower (At 3 euros per person). The tower provided a good vantage point over the cliffs. Afterwards we continued to the left side. We had plenty of time to take photos (A ton of them!!) and explore both sides.
Lunch time at Doolin village
From there, we moved on to Doolin village where we had lunch. There were several restaurants at the area we were dropped off at. The driver told us about a fish and chips place named Chervil, and Roman led us straight there. It’s better to figure out where you want to eat ahead of time, as all the tours stop at the same area and restaurants are packed as a result.
I’d recommend heading straight for the restaurant and not dallying too long over where you want to sit.
While the line does move quickly and the food is quickly prepared, it would be better to sit as fast as possible if only to have more time to enjoy a quite meal. We ordered two servings of fish and chips there. There is also chowder on the menu, which is a creamed fish soup. Although I’m not really into deep fried food, I gathered that you can’t visit Ireland and not try the fish.
Burren
After lunch, we went to Burren – an area dominated by karst landscape, displaying large swathes of layered limestone which goes back to the ice age. We had free time to roam and take photos there. The area is quite slippery and should be traversed with care.
Galway
From there, we drove on to the city of Galway where we had about an hour to ourselves. The city was truly charming – if we had more time on our trip we might have gone there for a night or two. The central area is home to lots of shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as many cool street performances. We had a blast walking around and enjoying the jovial atmosphere. We also sat down at the Caffe Nero and had coffee with cookies.
When we were finished, we walked over to the Spanish arch. It’s very pleasant there – lots of people took their coffee to go and just sat around it.
We came back to Dublin at around 19:30. This proved to be one of our favorite tours of the whole trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Usually we like to rent a car to travel but the rental costs in Ireland were high, the roads narrow and hard to drive on – not to mention that they drive on the opposite side of the road. We felt that the tours were a great way to explore Ireland that was also less tiring for us.
In Dublin many people choose to go for a beer tour at the Guinness factory, which sounds quite nice –Yet we decided to go for a whiskey tour, particularly since while we have heard some stories of the beer before, the history of whiskey was far less known to us.
After searching for a whiskey tour in Dublin online, I’ve come across several options and had finally chosen the Irish Whiskey Museum tour.
Their tour includes tastings, and there was also another where you could blend your own whiskey. We pre-ordered a spot on the tour, since the tour groups are rather small and demand is high.
We arrived for the 4 o’clock tour. Our group totaled nine people, and our guide, Hannah, was really lovely. We moved on to the next room after brief introductions
In this first room, Hannah told us of the history of whiskey and how it used to be made.
Afterwards, we went on to a room designed as a bar where we talked further of the history of whiskey, before finally entering a room with a large bar table.
Next to each seat were four glasses of whiskey, and an empty one with a pipette in it. Hannah told us about each whiskey and how to properly taste it.
We smelled and tasted each of the whiskies and discussed their flavors. Considering I’m not a great whiskey enthusiast, I’ve found the flavors too strong for my taste – but any whiskey lover would surely have enjoyed the experience.
Having tried the four whiskies, we could then blend them to our own taste using the pipette.
If you’re a whiskey enthusiast, you’re sure to enjoy this part, as you can try your drink with each addition and keep balancing it to your liking.
When we finished concocting our own whiskey, we were given a jar to store it in.
At the end of the tour, Hannah gave us some tips regarding restaurants and bars and even wrote them down for us. The tour was a nice and engaging experience, and I enjoyed the design of the rooms we got to visit.
I think this tour is definitely worth it when visiting Dublin, though If you’re not a big fan of whisky – the standard tasting tour may be enough.
During our stay in Dublin we did a great day tour to the Malahide castle & Howth with DoDublin company.
Following breakfast, we headed to the meeting point for the Day Trip.
This particular tour leaves at 11:00 daily, from the DoDublin offices (They offer many additional tours).
The bus
Ours was a nice green bus, who’s driver was also the guide, offering explanations and background for the sights along the trip. Initially we sat down at the back of the bus’s first floor, but the engine noise drowned out what the driver had to say and so we moved a few minutes later. We moved upstairs, where we could hear much more clearly – So I would recommend doing so immediately. After an approximately 45-minute drive we arrived at the castle.
The castle
With about 10 minutes before the castle tour kicks off, we headed inside to wait. The tour’s price includes the guided part within the castle. We walked from room to room down the castle’s corridors, as the tour guide told us of the family that used to inhabit it. The castle’s household had belonged to a single dynasty for the past 800 years up until no legitimate heir was left and it was abandoned.
The castle’s tour
The castle itself is very impressive, yet has a homey feeling to it. I could almost see the family’s daily life in it, and to be honest I wanted to live there myself.
As the tour came to a close, we had about 45 minutes of free time. We walked the castle gardens and went over to a large shopping center on site which included a big food court. Roman bought a sandwich while I had juice.
After the castle we rode on to Howth harbor, a lovely area with many boats – a beautiful place to take photos at. They had a huge variety of sea-food restaurants, as well as other cuisine and cafes. We had about an hour of free time there, and so walked around and took some pictures.
Roman got a bit peckish after a time, so we went into a simple pizza and wrap place Prego Pizza. Roman had a chicken wrap which turned out really good (I tried it myself, of course, and thought it was very tasty). This is an awesome choice if you’re looking for something light for lunch in the area.
We started off back to Dublin around 15:00 and had practically finished the tour by 16:00.
Ordering a ticket online awards you a 20% discount. The tour ticket also doubles as a pass for the 17:00 o’clock “hop-on hop-off” bus and can be used to tour the city.
If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, or just feel like treating yourself to a night to remember – Look no further than the L’Ecrivain restaurant. It belongs to Ireland’s Blue Book, a chain of incredible boutique hotels and high-class restaurants. We had a reservation for 19:00 and ended up staying until nearly 23:00, a sure testimony to just how much we enjoyed ourselves!
First off, the restaurant’s design is very prestigious and appealing, and service is without a hitch
On offer are a 90 euro (per person) tasting menu, as well as a three-course seasonal menu for 75 (First, main and dessert). We elected to go with the seasonal menu, as it featured both a lobster risotto and a shrimp dish I’ve yearned to try.
We followed it up with a glass of wine each – I had a glass of rose and Roman had champagne (You may choose to order several glasses of wine, so as to accompany each individual dish to your preference).
The meal began with a small appetizer of clams with potato mousse – Roman later claimed this was one of tonight’s “winning” dishes and perhaps the best clam he’s ever had.
First dishes
Afterwards, we were served our two first dishes of choice, a lobster risotto and shrimps, with fennel and cucumber and red pepper sauces. We shared each other’s food so we can both try more dishes.
Both dishes were outstanding. The shrimps were crunchy and the lobster risotto was pleasantly tart and subtly flavoured.
For an additional fee we ordered an extra dish of Mackerel, and a good thing we did – as it was by far the best Mackerel I’ve ever had. It was garnished with cauliflower and caviar and was absolutely delicious.
Having finished our first course, we were served a refreshing palate, to prepare us for the main course.
Main Dishes
Our mains were fish and venison. I must say the venison blew me away, it was definitely tonight’s winning dish in my book. The fish was excellent as well, you could really feel the freshness of the ingredients shining through in both dishes, and the presentation was very appetizing.
For dessert we went with a cheese plate and an amazing chocolate cake.
The cheese plate turned out to be a brilliant idea, as it easily proved good enough to be a standalone dish and paired delightfully with our wine.
The chocolate cake with berries was excellent. We ended the meal with tea, served with balls of chocolate, gel and macarons –
a perfect finish to a perfect evening.
The delicious food, exquisite presentation and 5+ star service all play a part in turning the meal into an entire night of culinary delight.
Killarney is a charming town from the 19th century, it’s located in the Kerry County Ireland. There are many things to do and see in Killarney and in its surrounding areas.
I stayed at a homey hotel close to the town center called Harmoni Inn – Glena House. I booked a single room but got a spacious one with two beds. The room was clean and had hot water. The breakfast was really nice with a small buffet and a dish from the menu like a traditional Irish breakfast, scrambled eggs with salmon, and more. The staff was very nice and helpful.
I arrived into Killarney from Dublin. The ride lasted about 4 hours. It’s a nice trip on which you get to see some of the beauty of Ireland. You can book a train ticket in advance from this site. If you book it in advance you get a reserved seat and your name will appear above it (I found that to be pretty cool).
Things to do in Killarney
Do a trip to the Gap of Dunloe
There are many day trips you can do from Killarney, but after a little research on the Internet I decided that the place that I wanted to visit the most was the Gap of Dunlow. The trip includes a boat tour that lasts 1.5 hours in a gorgeous area in which you cross several lakes and hike for about 3 hours in an amazing place.
I booked the tour from the company Gap of Dunloe. I arrived in the morning at their office which is located in the town center, and from there I had a transfer to Castle Ross. I had a few minutes to spend in the castle area and then the boat tour started. In the beginning the weather was very stormy with heavy rain, so it was hard to enjoy the view, but after about 20 minutes the showers stopped and the sky turned clear, and from that moment on, the tour was awesome.
We crossed through beautiful landscapes and beneath a few bridges. The tour ended in a place that has a cafe-restaurant. So whoever wanted to, could eat something or grab a drink there. I chose to drink a coffee with the beautiful view. From there I started hiking.
You can do the trail by walking, on a horse carriage, or cycling. If you want to cycle, you need to bring the bikes from the town center to the boat with you. The trail is not flat all the time so if you want to cycle you should be aware that there are some difficult uphills.
You do the hiking independently and there signs that show you the way. I met two German girls on the boat and walked with them. We stopped every few minutes to take pictures and videos and, except for a few rain drops, the weather was lovely. After the hike we had a transfer back to the town center.
You can do the trip in the opposite way; to start with the hike and then to do the boat tour.
You can also arrive independently to the Ross Castle by car or bike and there to pay only for the boat tour.
Visit Muckross House
What a magical place it is. The house was built in 1840 and it’s located near a beautiful lake and surrounded by amazing gardens. Everything is colorful and well-maintained. You can spend hours there just wandering around the gardens.
There’s an option to do a trip with a horse carriage, or a tour, or to walk by yourself and enjoy the silence and the birds’ tweets.
You can also do a tour inside the house which costs 9 Euro.
The place is open every day from 09:00-17:30
Visit the Killarney National Park
Ross Castle and Muckross House are part of the Killarney National Park. In the park there are many walking trails and a there’s a waterfall. You can go with bikes and cycle there.
Beyond that, there’s a fantastic viewpoint which overlooks all the park. And at this viewpoint there is also a cafe-restaurant so you can drink a coffee on the roof balcony with an amazing view. The name of this viewpoint was given by the queen Elizabeth, who visited there and was impressed by the view.
Hang out in a cool Irish bar
In Killarney, like the rest of Ireland, there are many local traditional bars with fun music, lots of alcohol, and a happy atmosphere. I had the chance to visit some bars in Killarney and the one I loved the most was Reidy’s Bar, which is a huge place with many sitting areas outside and inside, and a large variety of drinks. The music there is great and sometimes there’s a live show.
Another bar was Courtney’s Bar, which is a cozier place where many locals and tourists hang out.
Wander around in the town center
In the town center there are many shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. It’s very nice to wander around the main street and side ones. If you want to do some shopping they have a Penny’s store which is actually Primark.
It’s huge store with a big variety of clothes and accessories at affordable prices. If you want to buy an electrical adapter, water, and other stuff you should visit Dealz, which offers stuff for 1.5 euro.
Eat tasty food
Close to the town center there is a local beer brewery called Killarney Brewing Company, which has great beers and delicious pizza. I sat there with some friends and they all enjoyed the beers and pizza. I ordered a tasting of three beers and they were great.
I also loved an Asian restaurant called Khao Asian Street Food. There, I ate one of the best Pad Thai I have ever tried.
A great bar-restaurant is Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder, where I ordered three small buns with beef, lamb, and salmon and they were really good.
There is also a good gelato place called Murphy’s that has special ice cream flavours. I took the Caramel Special which came with yummy toppings.
If you are looking for an organic coffee shop with vegan options, I highly recommend Lir Cafe which is located at the entrance of the old town. It’s a really great coffee shop. I drank a coffee and ate a raspberries cake there.
Berlin is undoubtedly one of my favorite cities. I’ve visited it four times, and each visit felt like a completely new experience. The first time was with Roman, later I traveled alone in September, and the last two times were for the ITB tourism conference – but even then, I made sure to find time to explore the city and discover new and unique spots.
In addition, I’ve included recommendations from 8 other bloggers with their favorite places in Berlin, so you now have an up-to-date 2025 list of all the coolest things to do in the city (I’m sure there are spots on the list you haven’t heard of before! 🙂 ).
Berlin has a unique vibe that blends rich history, modern culture, and endless entertainment options. Around every corner, you’ll find cool restaurants, stylish cafés, lively bars, iconic clubs, fascinating museums, fun tours, and bustling markets – making it the perfect destination for any type of trip. I felt safe exploring it alone and enjoyed being there both in winter and summer (though I preferred summer).
Go to a hilarious standup show
One of my favorite entertainments are standup shows , so when I found an ad about a standup show that cost 18 euro (including pizza) and had great reviews, I knew that I had to go there – Cosmic Comedy show.
Every Thursday and Saturday they have an open mic night. It means that eight different comedians (some with a lot of experience and some that are pretty new) star for about 10 minutes each. They open the doors at 8pm (I recommend to go early in order to get a good seat), at 8:30 they serve the pizza and at 9pm they start the show.
I enjoyed the show so much. Some of the comedians really made me laugh out loud and some of them less, but they were all good and the host was really funny too. At the end of the show my cheeks were in pain because I had laughed so much.
They also have nights on which only two experienced comedians appear for about 40 minutes each. I wanted to go to that night too but I had so many things to do that I didn’t have the chance to go there again.
Address
Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 41, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Cool Food tour
Before we arrived in Berlin, we checked with Visit Berlin about things we could do in town and one of the recommendations was a food tour. We always like to do food tours on our travels because it’s a great way to see the city and taste the local food, so of course we thought it was a good idea. We received a recommendation for the tour with Fork and Walk Berlin tours and were very pleased. The tour was about 4 hours in East Berlin on Saturday. We got to know a really cool area we hadn’t known much about previously, and also to visit special local places and eat great food. Our guide Dov was really charming and interesting. In short, we highly recommend this tour.
Markthalle neun erste Market
I love markets, and somehow had never previously visited this one. I recommend coming hungry, as it has a ton of food stalls, but it’s also nice to simply wander around and have a coffee, especially when it’s raining outside. It has many local produce stalls as well, offering cheeses, sausages, beers and more. For those with small children, it also has a cute corner with wooden toys. Directions.
Berlin Cathedral
I think this is one of the most beautiful cathedrals I’ve ever seen. Its structure and turquoise domes make it very special (directions). Although it was a gloomy day and a little rainy we decided we would not give up on going to see it. When it started to rain we decided to enter the Allegretto cran cafe. A refined and prestigious cafe where we drank cappuccino and enjoyed the warmth. We waited until the rain stopped and then we went on walking around town.
In addition, there is a whole area of museums near the cathedral. Our last time in Berlin, we were at the Pergamon Museum. Due to the uniqueness of its exhibits, UNESCO decided that this museum, together with other museums on Museum island, would constitute a World Heritage Site. The museum contains a collection of antiquities from ancient times (ancient Greece and ancient Rome), a Museum of Ancient Eastern Antiquities and a museum of Islamic art. We spent a whole day in this museum and it was very fascinating. We took an audio guide and covered the museum part by part. The area of ancient Greece impressed me the most.
Victoria park
This is a park in the Kreuzberg neighborhood. It’s a very lovely park and also has a pretty waterfall, which unfortunately was dry this time, but I got to see it on my last visit when it was flowing and it’s a location not many tourists know about. The park itself is large and filled with greenery, while also offering a good vantage point over the city. Directions.
It’s a great place to go for a walk in or even have a picnic. By the park is a high-quality café, Café Freiraum. We had lasagna and a vegetable casserole with cheese there, and they were both delicious. They also have great looking cookies, so it’s worth a try. Directions.
Vivid Grand Show
Content update – this show is no longer available – you can find other shows options here
A few years ago, while visiting Berlin, we got to watch two shows and had a great time, we thought this could be a good recommendation for those looking for something to do on an evening in Berlin. We’ve come across many recommendations for Vivid Grand Show, and to our delight, Friedrichstadt-Palast theatre wanted to host us for the show. The theatre itself is impressive and very prestigious. Beyond that, the show was amazing. Some parts were funny, while others left us astonished. The set was also really high-quality and the dancing and acrobatics were amazing. We left the show very excited, and I definitely think it’s something worth going to see if you’re in Berlin.
Tropical Island
I was looking online for things to do in winter in Berlin and then I came across something that looked really cool. Tropical Islands (to the official website or through the Get Your Guide attraction reservation website which allows you to reserve without payment in advance and free cancellation up to three days before) at a distance of 60 km from Berlin.
It’s actually a huge dome-shaped structure that has an artificial beach, a rain forest, a water wave, a hot air balloon, a spa, restaurants and even a resort where you sleep. We drove to search and when we arrived, we felt like we had entered another world. Outside it was snowy and terribly cold and inside we were suddenly wearing a bathing suit in tropical weather.
There is a complex for adults only that includes saunas and a jacuzzi (note, you can only enter there fully naked. It was very strange at first but then I got used to it). There are restaurants there. Hot air balloon and all kinds of facilities for children.
Enjoy a drink on a rooftop bar – Klunkerkranich Bar
I really like bars that are on rooftops. This way you can drink wine and enjoy a nice view, with a good breeze. A girl that I met in a bike tour (Chi-An) told me that her Airbnb host recommended her a bar, so we decided to go there together and check it out.
We went there around 6pm, which was a great time before the sunset. The bar is a big roof with many tables and places to sit and there is also a covered area with a DJ and place to drink. I chose a rosé and Chi-An had a beer.
At the entrance we paid 3 euro each. They charge 3 euro after 4pm because after that hour they bring a DJ and need to cover this expense. I really loved this bar. It’s a popular place among the locals and it’s highly recommended.
Address
Karl-Marx-Straße 66, 12043 Berlin, Germany
Go to the Blue Man Show
Content update – this activity is no longer available – you can find other shows options here
If you are looking for another great idea for a fun evening I highly recommend the Blue Man Show. It’s a very elaborate show that’s very funny and enjoyable. It’s fit for both kids and adults. I went there with Roman the first time I visited berlin and we really liked it.
Sit in good coffee shops
In Berlin there are so many good coffee shops that every few steps you want to stop and sit in one, to relax in between the different activities. There are healthy coffee shops, ones with special designs, fancy ones, and coffee shops that are great for just working on your laptop or reading a book. I wrote about my favorite place in the post “Trendy coffee shops in Berlin”.
Go to a huge flea market on Sunday
Every Sunday there is a huge flea market in Mauerpark. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s really nice to wander around there and be impressed by the cool things they sell like: furniture, bags, clothes, souvenirs, tools, wallets, and more.
Another great thing to do is to sit in the park itself and enjoy the street performances there are there.
In the market itself there are many drinks and food stalls so my recommendation is to wander around and then to buy some food and drinks and have a little picnic on the grass in the park and enjoy the shows.
Go on awesome tours
I love tours – special tours are my favorite activity to discover any city and honestly in Berlin is where I have done the most. One of the main reasons is because I travelled solo and tours are a great way to meet people. I chose different and unique tours like a self-guided food tour, a beer tour, an abandoned places tour and a bike one.
Beer tour
I must admit that I’m more of a wine and cocktail person and less a beer one, but I love to learn about the drink’s history and how they make it and I love to try new things. So when I saw that there’s a beer tour that includes tasting unique beers and that you can learn about the beer’s history, I decided to give it a try.
The tour was through the company Sandemans Europe (I had already done a great tour with them in Jerusalem, in Israel). The tour starts at 6pm.
We were a pretty small group of only seven people and the guide. The guide was from Chile and already from the beginning I liked him. Because he started to tell interesting facts about beer and to ask us questions that no one knew the answer to, like, in which country do people consume the most beer?
Turns out it’s in the Czech Republic (surprising, isn’t it?).
During the tour we passed through old breweries and tasted different kinds of beers. We learned about the preparation process and the things you can learn about beer before you even taste it. The tour was easy-going and fun, and the other guys were super nice.
The tour lasted 3 hours and we finished it in a cool bar with great music and special beers, like strawberry beer which was really good. Also when the tour ended, we all stayed there to drink and afterwards went to eat something.
The tour was really awesome and I really liked hanging out with the other participants. I highly recommend this tour even if you are not a big beer drinker.
Sights bike tour
The last time that I’d been in Berlin it was with Roman in the winter and we did the free tour in order to get to know the city and learn about its history. This time I traveled alone and I wanted to see the sights on a bike. The tour was through the company Berlin on Bikes and I booked it from the website Get your guide.
I was a little bit worried about the bikes tour because I thought that the roads would be too crowded but it turns out that Berlin is a great city for cycling. Most areas have cycling trails and, if not, you can cycle on the road and there are not too many cars, especially during the weekend.
The tour included stopping in some of the most famous sights in Berlin and at each spot that we stopped, the guide told us about the place.
We were a group of 12 people and in the middle of the tour we had a break in a coffee shop which was nice.
The tour was supposed to last 3.5 hours but on the way back we ran into a huge parade against racism (which was a fascinating thing to see), so many roads were closed and the guide had to take us through improvised ways back, so the tour was about 4 hours. But I can’t complain about having to cycle more, it was so much fun.
The cycling is mostly on flat roads and there are many stops, but if you are not used to riding, it could be too hard for you. The tour was very interesting and fun. The bikes are well-maintained and easy for riding. If you are a cycling lover I’m sure you will love this tour.
Abandoned places tour
As this tour is not available any more, you can look for other cool graffiti and art tours in Berlin.
I booked this tour through the local Guddy website (This tour and website are permanently closed by now). It was a great site that offers different types of tour with local people; it’s not with a guide from a company but with someone that’s a local.
The picture you saw on Pinterest is a picture from a tour I took to abandoned places in Berlin. During the tour we visited an abandoned hospital and school. This tour was in 2017 and unfortunately it is no longer available (also the website through which I booked the tour has already closed).
Self-guided food tour
As this tour is not available any more, you can look at this food to Kreuzberg and Neukölln Walking Food Tour in Berlin.
I did this tour through the BiteMojo Application. This app offers self-guided food tours and the price included the food (5 different dishes). They offer this tour in some big cities in Europe.
In the beginning I looked for a group food tour but the prices were too expensive for me, until I found this kind of tour, which’s prices were much more affordable and it sounded like a nice experience.
The tour is through a map which directs you each time to a new landmark. Some of the landmarks are really cool places like hidden courtyards or special shops and some are restaurants or food stalls where you get a dish to taste.
BiteMojo offers some different food tours in Berlin. I chose the one in the Kreuzberg neighborhood, because the bites looked good and it was a neighborhood that I wanted to explore.
Visit cool Neighborhoods
Berlin is full of cool Neighborhoods that are worth visiting. You can wander for hours and stop to eat in a nice restaurant or a coffee shop.
I liked the hipster neighborhoods Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. In Kreuzberg I wandered a lot during my self-guided tour. It’s a lovely neighborhood with so many beautiful buildings and good places to eat at. Friedrichshain is full of street art and cool shops.
Digital LightHouse
By Ulysse at slowsightsoul-slowtravelblog
In Berlin, there is an underrated place where you can dive into a hypnotic blend of light, sound, and space. Located in a former industrial site which has been transformed into a pop and underground culture neighbourhood, this is an experience you shouldn’t miss when travelling slowly in Europe.
Unlike traditional museums, this one challenges your senses with its immersive digital art experience and large-scale installations that pulse, shimmer, and react around you. From light sculptures and infinite mirror rooms to AI generated 3D painting, the whole environment invites you to lose track of time, and be fascinated by this intersection between technology, lights, sounds, and emotion.
I stumbled upon the digital lighthouse by coincidence, and it has been one of my highlights in Berlin. I paid 18€, and in my opinion, each euro is worth it for every curious traveller or couple interested in a new kind of immersive art. Directions.
Berlin Spy Museum
By Anna & Anne at Germany things to do
If you’re into spies, secrets, and Cold War intrigue, the Spy Museum Berlin (Deutsches Spionagemuseum) is a must-visit. Just steps from Potsdamer Platz and the Berlin Wall, this unique museum lets you explore the shadowy world of intelligence and covert operations.
You can try hacking passwords, cracking codes, or sneaking through a laser maze like a real undercover agent. The Berlin spy museum is worth it for anyone curious about espionage, German history, or hands-on museum experiences—from spy drama fans to families with kids aged 9+..
It’s open Monday to Sunday (10 AM–8 PM). Plan for 2–3 hours, and if you can, go on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds and get the most out of it.
Park Inn viewing platform
By Ali at Berlin Travel Tips
Berlin has so many amazing things to do, especially if you enjoy views from above. One of the best views of Berlin is somehow still a little under the radar. It’s the viewing platform in the Park Inn hotel, where you’ll get the most amazing view of the Berlin TV Tower. It’s on the 39th floor of the hotel, but to reach it, you have to take the elevator to the 35th floor and walk up about 80 stairs after that. Unfortunately, that means it’s not a good fit for wheelchairs or people with mobility issues. This fantastic view will only cost you 6 euros, and since not a lot of people know about it, it’s usually not crowded. Just be aware that it could close due to bad weather. Park Inn is located here, at Alexanderplatz, and is easy to reach with public transport.
Dancing city tour
By Lisi at Escaping worlds
Dancing through a beautiful Museum Island in Berlin
This is an alternative city tour that is a lot of fun. Spoiler: It gets sweaty. The tour starts at “Unter der Linden 3”. There you will be given headphones. The guide will lead you through the Museum Island of Berlin, stopping at large squares where you can dance to 80’s and 90’s tunes. The entertainment portion of the tour is included, making it interactive and a fun way to explore this area of Berlin. If you are trying to learn about the breathtaking architecture of Museum Island, you are on the wrong tour. This tour is like a moving silent disco that promises to be a blast. It takes place every Friday at 9 pm.
The silent move tour is for anyone looking for an alternative city tour and a unique experience in Berlin. Alternatively, the company also offers tours at the government district every Saturday.
DDR Museum
By Shweta at Zest in a tote
If you want a lesson in history, an interactive space to touch and feel and see what life was like in GDR (German Democratic Republic), visit the DDR museum. Even if you are travelling to Berlin with kids, this museum is a good addition. From the economy to the military to goods to schooling system to jobs, this museum tells you a lot about life in East Germany. The presentation style is very engaging. Visitors are encouraged to touch, hold and interact with a range of objects and installations, from products used in East Germany to the workings of the Stasi to a fresco in praise of Communism.
My daughter and I even sat in a Trabant – the car produced then and used in East Germany – and drove it virtually through video footage of roads back then. You must give this a try! Directions.
Tempelhofer Feld
By Steff at JustTravelous
Tempelhofer Feld is one of Berlin’s most unique public spaces—an abandoned airport turned into a massive urban park. Located in the heart of the city’s Neukölln and Tempelhof districts (Directions), it’s where you can cycle, skate, or kite-surf down the former runways. Bring a picnic or just sprawl out on the grass with locals and enjoy the wide-open sky—something pretty rare in a city this big. If you’re into photography, sunsets here are next level. It’s perfect for cyclists, runners, families, and anyone needing a break from the usual urban buzz. Whether you’re a traveler looking for a very Berlin experience or a local in search of space to breathe, Tempelhofer Feld is the place to be.
Teufelsberg
By Marga at Discover Portugal
Teufelsberg is a unique place on the outskirts of Berlin. It was once a listing station that was used during the Cold War. The hill on which it was built contains rubble from the Second World War. After the Cold War, Teufelsberg was abandoned, and nowadays, it’s a place filled with graffiti and a popular spot for a day out. It’s located in the woods of Grunewald and is perfect for anyone who enjoys art and culture, as well as the edge of abandoned buildings. Before you enter the grounds of the former NSA Field Station, you pay a small entrance fee. You can explore several buildings and climb the tower. From the top, you have an incredible view of Grunewald Forest and Berlin.
Trabrennbahn Karlshorst
By Chris at Spritzience
For something unique in Berlin, try visiting the Trabrennbahn Karlshorst, in the Karlshorst section of Berlin (about 40 minutes on public transit from the Brandenburg Gate). While the course has been open since 1884, it’s wasn’t until GDR days that it started hosting harness horse races.
I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good race and something off the typical tourist track. You can bet as little as a Euro, with races generally held on Fridays and Sundays. For the more adventure-minded, you can pre-book a 1-hour course at the trotting driving school. You’ll be paired with an instructor to ride together in the sulky (cart), where you take the reins.
It’s also a great spot for vintage antique fans, as on the 1st Saturday of the month (and Sunday), there’s a vintage antiques fair. You can usually score vintage Christmas ornaments, vases, GDR pins and knick knacks of all sorts.
Be forewarned, depending upon which entrance you use, it may look like you’re walking into a time warp. That’s because much of the park fell into decay after the fall of the Berlin Wall. To raise funds to revitalize it, some sections were sold off, and others were knocked down.
Eat yummy food – Recommended Restaurants in Berlin
In Berlin there are endless restaurants with all the cousins in the world. There are many local traditional restaurants, Asian ones, Mediterranean ones, and more. There are also many street foods like Currywurst which is the most popular food. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.
Currywurst – Bergmann Curry
Currywurst is one of the most popular street foods in Berlin. Everywhere you go you will find a Currywurst stall. This is a great dish if you are looking for something fast, cheap, and yummy to snack on. I really liked a stall that I visited during a self-guided food tour that I did.
When I arrived to this place I was already pretty full, so I ate only half of the dish, but it was really good. Both the wurst and the fries were so delicious.
They also have a vegan option.
Address
Bergmannstraße 88, 10961 Berlin, Germany
Vietnamese restaurant- Monsieur Vuong
I went to this restaurant the previous time I had traveled with Roman to Berlin and already then we had claimed that this is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Europe. So, when I traveled now to Berlin there was no way I was going to give up on this culinary experience.
From the moment you enter the restaurant you feel like you step into Vietnam. This is a very popular restaurant and I recommend you book a table before you go. Since I went alone I was lucky to get a seat.
The menu is pretty limited, but each dish is excellent.
Ramen restaurant- Cocolo Ramen Mitte
During the bike tour that I did, I met two nice guys, one from Japan that had moved to Berlin a month ago, and a girl from Chicago, and we decided to go to a restaurant together. The guy said that he missed Japanese food and that he wanted to eat ramen. I’m a ramen lover, so of course I wanted some too.
We looked for a recommended restaurant. We saw a few options but we chose the one that was located pretty close to us and had really good reviews.
We had to wait a bit for a table (so I recommend to book one before going). For my first dish I ordered dumplings filled with shrimp. Is was really good. The guy said that it’s a high standard for dumplings.
For main dishes we ordered a ramen soup (of course). I ordered a spicy minced meat one, and they ordered the belly pork one. Both of the soups were excellent (I preferred my version because I don’t like fatty meat). My soup was really tasty but this version came without an egg. So I ordered an extra egg (it’s one of the things that I like the most in ramen soup).
The ramen’s price range is 7.5-9.5 euro.
Address
Gipsstraße 3, 10119 Berlin, Germany
German restaurant- Weihenstephaner
This is a traditional German restaurant which is also a famous brewery in Berlin. I visited this restaurant during a beer tour that I did, so after the tour I went back there to have a late dinner.
The design of the place and the waiter’s uniforms immediately will insert you into a happy, German atmosphere.
I ordered a grilled sausages with steamed cabbage dish and an award-winning beer – Vitus spicy single- bock. The sausages were very good. Sometimes I don’t like sausage too much but those were great.
The cabbage was ok and the beer was excellent. Unique flavors. I didn’t feel the spiciness too well, but it’s definitely a good beer that’s worth the try.
Address
Neue Promenade 5, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Local German restaurant Max und Moritz
If you are craving local and delicious German food, then this restaurant will suit you perfectly. This is a restaurant with really good dishes and the truth is also really big and satisfying (I took half a takeaway portion). Roman ordered a potato and meat soup for a starter and a pork dish for the main and he said that both dishes were successful. I took sausages in apple sauce with potatoes which was excellent. Directions.
Amrit Indian Restaurant
At first, we thought it was a palace (the entrance and interior are very impressive and golden) but it turned out to be an Indian restaurant. I do not usually like big restaurants but this one had good reviews and we decided to try it. The prices at the restaurant are very worthwhile because the dishes also include rice and a large salad.
We ordered a vegetarian dish of Paneer cheese in a tomato and cashew sauce that was really tasty and a serving of chicken in a curry sauce that was also great. The dishes arrived within a few minutes (quite rare in Indian restaurants) but they were also very tasty, so the speed wasn’t detrimental to the flavor. In short, if you are looking for an Indian restaurant, this is a recommended restaurant. Amrit restaurant. Directions.
Mercosy Korean Restaurant
A small restaurant with six tables serving one dish of Bibimbap with various additions such as salmon or beef or pork or tofu.
This is a bowl full of sticky rice with a rich selection of stir-fried vegetables and, above it all, chili sauce. The dish is large and very satisfying. I got a bowl with salmon and Roman chose pork and we were both satisfied. Great option for anyone looking for a different and tasty dinner. Mercosy. Directions
PHO – Noodlebar Vietnamese Restaurant (Kreuzberg)
As you can see, we are fans of Asian food. It is light and usually healthy and very tasty. On one of the evenings we decided to eat Vietnamese food and found the Pho-noodles bar. This was a charming restaurant with courteous and good service. We ordered a Vietnamese roll, a salad off the specials with strips of meat and a hamburger in a steamed bun. All the dishes were delicious and we had a great time at the restaurant. PHO – Noodlebar . Directions
Chai Ji Indian Restaurant
Indian food is among my favorites and when I was walking around the hipster neighborhood Friedrichshain I came across this restaurant and decided to try it.
I ordered one of my favorite dishes Palak paneer which is a spinach stew with Indian cheese. In addition, I ordered naan (Indian flat bread in a pan) with garlic, rahita which is yogurt with tomatoes and cucumber that is delicious to eat with flak cheese on the naan and I ordered mango chutney sauce.
Address: Rigaer Str. 30, 10247 Berlin, Germany
Yorckschlösschen, great Jazz Bar
We went to this bar with someone who was our guide in Swiss Franconia. She saw on Instagram that we were in town and suggested we meet for dinner. She got a recommendation for this bar from a friend of hers living in Berlin and it turned out to be a good one. This is a bar that has live jazz concerts. It is recommended to book a table in advance, when we arrived we were lucky there was one table available.
The show costs EUR 4 per person. We also ordered beer and wine and a portion of curry sausages with French fries and a local version of Macaroni and cheese. The music was excellent and it was a very nice evening and definitely a place that is recommended both as a place to eat and as a place to spend an evening. Bar Yorckschlösschen. Directions
Wander around the city
The public transportation in Berlin is very simple and makes it easy to move around, but I recommend you to sometimes give up on using the train and to walk instead. You’ll be surprised how much it is fun to walk on Berlin’s streets. You will see lots of street art and graffiti and discover some cool parks and hidden gems. Walking in Berlin is addictive; you can spend hours without noticing, so walk with comfortable shoes.
Go shopping
Usually I don’t shop while traveling, but I found the store Primark in Alexander Platz. I must admit that I had never been in a store of this chain but I had heard a lot about it, so when I saw it, I decided to go in. The store was three floors with clothes and accessories.
At one point I got a headache but I found two cute sweaters, a coat, and a hat. I barely managed to close my suitcase after this unpredicted buying, but after sitting on it and with a lot of strength I was able to close it eventually.
There are many other shops and malls in Berlin so if you are looking for a shopping experience, don’t worry; you will find it. For me one store was enough 🙂
Tips before flying to Berlin
SIM card
On previous occasions I purchased a Sim card for 20 Euros in the Alexanderplatz area. This time we found a shop in the Kreuzberg neighborhood where we bought a Sim for 10 Euros with 4 Gb of data for a period of up to one month. Arrival instructions. Please consider the first time there is a registration process where you need to be authenticated with your passport by an employee. This is why I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Where to sleep in Berlin?
Berlin has many cool neighborhoods to sleep in. We liked the Kreuzberg Neighborhood, which is fun and young. The areas of Alexanderplatz and Mite are also very comfortable for those who want to explore Berlin.
When I traveled alone, I stayed at the Circus Hostel, which was amazing and in an excellent location. I found a pretty good price for it: 50 euro per night for a single room (tips on how to find cheap hotels). Across the street, they also have the Circus Hotel.
To search for a hotel or apartment in Berlin
Car rental in Berlin
Berlin and Germany in general have very convenient public transportation. But for those who want to explore the suburbs or reach more distant attractions like the Tropical Islands, I recommend renting a car. You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through it because it saves me time (instead of going to several websites) and it also has the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
How to get from Schoenfeld Airport to the city center?
When we landed, we went to the WelcomeBerlin stand to collect our transport ticket which we received courtesy of Visit Berlin. The Berlin Welcome card can be purchased from the stand before leaving the airport. This is a card that reduces the costs of public transportation in the city, according to the number of days you plan to spend in the city. You can buy an ABC card that also includes the trip from the airport to the city.
Once you have this card, you only need to use it once at the machine next to the train or on the bus and from that moment just make sure the card is with you at all times, thus allowing you to travel freely by public transport.
From the airport we took the S9 train and after 9 stops we switched to the subway u3 to the area of our apartment. I recommend using Google Maps to see which public transit is best for your route. There are trains every few minutes and it’s very simple to use public transport in the city.
You can also ask at the booth you buy the ticket from which train you need to get to your hotel or apartment. You can even ask at the airport information stand and buy a ticket at it, if you do not want to purchase the ticket for multiple trips.
Attractions & Activities in Berlin
There are many more cool things to do in Berlin that I did not do and do not appear on the list. You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price).
I hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Berlin ? I have in the blog more posts about Berlin and posts about Germany.
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Berlin is an awesome city with plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, museums, markets, colorful houses, tours, attractions, and actually everything you could wish for in a big modern city. I’ve decided to write a post with the best coffee shops in Berlin (I know there are many more but I didn’t have time to explore them all :))
High-standard coffee shop- Districk Cafe
I found this coffee shop while wandering in Instagram. I searched for Berlin foodies and saw a healthy bowl that looked super yummy. I checked on the map to see where the coffee shop was located and discovered that it was 10 minutes walking from my hostel, Circus Hostel. So of course this was the first coffee shop I went to for breakfast.
The coffee shop was popular and was full all the time. It is a little bit pricier than regular coffee shops where you can find breakfasts for around 5 euro but it was definitely worth the price if you want to spoil yourself with yummy food.
I ordered the healthy bowl I saw on Instagram which was kind of like a smoothie with banana, berries, and soy milk and on top of it there were toppings like granola, chia seeds, cacao nibs, goji, and coconut. Like I said; a healthy bowl. It cost us 8 euro. The dish was really tasty and light. I’d be willing to start my day every day like this.
There were other dishes which looked good, like poached eggs on toast and toasted brioche with apricot and cream. Next to me there were some guys who ordered those dishes so I asked them if I could take pictures in order to show them here 🙂 (so if you are less into healthy foods, there are some other good options).
Address
Bergstraße 68, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Coffee shop with an intellectual atmosphere- Cafe Tasso
This coffee shop also has a selection of used books, newspapers, and magazines, and a place for intimate concerts. I went in the afternoon and discovered that sometimes in the evening they have concerts there, so it’s worth it to check it out.
You can borrow a book or choose to buy one. There are two shelves with books in English. It’s a great place to go and just read a book. I ordered a Chai latte which was good and enjoyed the calm atmosphere. They also serve food and desserts.
Address
Frankfurter Allee 11, 10247 Berlin, Germany
Porridge and coffee – Haferkater
My favorite breakfast is oatmeal porridge. I guess some people are not porridge lovers, but for me it’s one of the best ways to start my day.
After 3 days in Berlin I missed my porridge in the morning, so I decided to google and search for a coffee shop that served it. To my surprise, I discovered that there is a coffee shop which’s concept is porridge and coffee. Yay 🙂 I was so excited about it and decided to go and check it immediately.
It’s a lovely place which serves porridge with different kind of toppings like: granola, chocolate, applesauce, banana, honey, and more. I ordered mine with berries, banana, maple, and coconut. The porridge was so delicious. Exactly like I love it. Not too sweet and with yummy toppings.
Address Boxhagener Str. 76, 10245 Berlin, Germany
A cozy coffee shop with frozen yogurt – Good Q
It’s a cute little coffee shop with homemade dessert and frozen yogurt. I sat there before the beer tour I did.
I was full from lunch so I only ordered a Chai latte.
Address
Tucholskystraße 43, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Coffee shop with summer vibes- Café Hüftengold / Foodshop Hüftengold
It’s a coffee shop with a colorful and happy design. It’s located on a street that I really liked, that had many coffee shops with sitting areas outside and the buildings are really beautiful, so you have a nice view.
It’s an idyllic coffee shop for breakfast or a drink on a sunny day. It serves pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, and more and also refreshing drinks for the summer. They also have vegan options.
I went there after I had eaten the porridge, so I just ordered a coffee, but as always I looked at what other people took and their dishes looked good.
Address
Oderberger Str. 27, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Great vibes and a nice buffet
This coffee shop belongs to the hostel I was staying at; Circus hostel. It offers an affordable buffet for 5 euro from 08:00-13:00. It includes filtered coffee/tea and nice buffet options with breads, mini waffles, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, granola, yogurt, and more. Definitely a value for money breakfast.
I wasn’t in the mood for a buffet so I had a bagel sandwich with cheddar cheese and sundried tomatoes. I asked the worker to put it in the toaster so it would be crunchy. And I also ordered a cappuccino, with was good.
They also have cakes, fruit salads, and cookies.
Address
The Circus Hostel Weinbergsweg 1a
Der Milchladen café
An intimate café with high-quality coffee, sandwiches, cakes, quiches, rice pudding and more. I had rice pudding there with apples and cinnamon, a light breakfast for those looking for nice and small for their morning, along with a coffee. On one of the days we also got a vanilla cream pastry there which was especially good. Der Milchladen. Map
Kremanski café
A café operating from morning till night and has a variety of healthy breakfasts such as oatmeal and fruitshakes. It also offers sandwiches, croissants and more. I ordered a simple yellow cheese sandwich there and a cappuccino there. Kremanski. Directions
Fraulein wild café
A café with some of the best bagel sandwiches I’ve ever had. I order an avocado, tomato and egg bagel there and it was delicious and filling. Additionally, the café itself is very nice and has good service. You can also sit down and work on your laptop there. They have a variety of breakfasts, as well as cakes and pastries. Fraulein wild cafe. Directions.
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Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria and a seaside resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea. Varna is a cheap destination where you can find beaches, bars, a huge park with attractions for kids, big malls, interesting museums, and a central street with many restaurants, bars and coffee shops.
I must mention that it’s not a lively city others in Europe (Berlin, Rome, etc.) but it’s a nice place where you can spend a few days. I also recommend to do a day trip to the town of Balchik (post about Balchik) or to visit the Golden Sands area, especially if you are looking for nightlife and a promenade with many stalls and restaurants (post about things to do in Golden Sands).
We stayed at the Golden Sands area in the all-inclusive HVD Viva Club Hotel (Tips on how to find cheap hotels). We arrived in Varna with a taxi that cost 25 leva for a one-way ride, but there are also buses that ride to Varna and back to the Golden Sands area.
Tips before flying to Varna
Sim Abroad
Today you will find wireless internet in almost every hotel or restaurant you visit, but it is always convenient to have internet everywhere. In Bulgaria you can buy a local SIM in the shops of the local telecommunications company Yettel for a fairly low price of about 20 to 40 BGN. Here is a photo of the packages they offer to tourists and you can just buy their sim and put it in your phone and start surfing. In my opinion, the smallest package of 25GB will be enough for most visitors and will only cost 10 euro.
I personally recommend using an eSIM, which is an electronic SIM, and highly recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of a SIM card abroad as well as about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for Airalo to purchase an eSIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link.
Where to sleep in Varna?
We will sleep in the Golden Sands area at the Viva Club Hotel, an all-inclusive hotel (tips on how to find cheap hotels). We took a taxi from the airport to the center of Varna. It cost 25 Lev each way, but there are also buses that go to the city of Varna and back to the Golden Sands area. It is recommended to visit there in the months of May – September. In the off season many places for tourists will be closed but if you are not planning on the beach or water parks, you will find enough things to do because Varna is a big city after all.
How do you get to Varna?
There is an airport in the city of Varna and from many European destinations you can find direct flights there.
Car rental in Varna
There is no need to rent a car in Varna, but if you plan to take a trip and leave Varna (like we did to Balchik or the Golden Sands), then the most convenient thing is to rent a car, certainly if you are traveling with children. Car rental in Varna and Bulgaria is very cheap compared to Europe and you can rent a small car for 25 Euro per day.
You can search for a car in the search engine Paapm Paapm. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Events and festivals in Varna 2024
Summer music festival Borne 22.6-5.10 – link to all the events in the festival
Opera performances in the theatre in summer 15.6-30.8 Link to all performances
Jazz Festival 11.7-13.7 Link to all the details
Recommended beaches in Varna
Rappongi Beach Beach with restaurant bar and sunbeds.
Varna beach, a virgin beach with only sand and no sunbeds, but there are many restaurants and cafes nearby Directions
Beach Buna Beach First Buna Beach that is mainly suitable for a walk along the beach Directions
Retro Museum
One of the coolest museums we have ever visited. It’s located on the first floor in the Grand Mall and it’s nostalgic, filled with cars from the communism period (what awesome cars they had back then!), there is also music from this period and toys and daily stuff that help you see how they lived back then.
In this museum you will feel like you went back in time. There are also wax figures of famous people who drove those cars then.
We wandered around the museum for about an hour and really enjoyed to see these unique cars and reading about the figures.
An entrance ticket costs 10 leva. There’s an option to buy a combined ticket with the wax museum (which is also in the mall), but we chose to enter only the Retro Museum because we had already been in the wax museum in Berlin.
Visit Primorski Park
This is the largest, oldest, and most familiar park in Varna. We loved it. It’s a huge park and you can wander there for hours. There’s a big area with attractions for kids and a small Luna Park. There is also a dolphinarium in the park.
There are many walking trails in the park and you can go right down to the beach and the promenade from it. Along the promenade there are bars and restaurants.
We sat at the “Beach Selfie Bar”. I drank a cappuccino and Roman ordered a Bloody Mary cocktail which was good. The view to the beach was beautiful and we liked the bar’s design.
The only thing that was missing in the park was that there wasn’t any place to rent bikes from. And this park is perfect for bike-riding.
Shopping
Varna is a cheap destination for shopping. We usually don’t shop during our trips (we travel a lot and we try to travel cheap), but I bought a nice coat for 40 Leva, gloves for the gym and a bag (yes, I consider it a lot of shopping :)). The Grand Mall is a big mall with many famous brand shops like Zara, Bershka, H&M, and more. There are also local brands and designer shops.
Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral
The cathedral is located at about a 15-minute walk from the main street in Varna. This is a really beautiful cathedral. It’s impressive from the outside and from the inside. I think it’s definitely worth a short visit.
We sat there for a few minutes and loved to look at the small details and the wall paintings. I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that people spent months and years painting the walls. The most impressive one was in the Chapel in the Vatican, Rome.
Wander around the main street
In Varna’s center there’s a main street with many restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. If you are looking for a nice place for a drink or a meal with a lively atmosphere, this is the place to go.
Excursions outside the city of Varna
As I mentioned, with a rented car you can go to the areas near Varna. For example, we went to Belchik and the Golden Sands. If you are adventurous, you can also diversify with a visit to Burgas or travel west to the center of Bulgaria and visit Plovdiv, which is the ancient capital of Bulgaria and is absolutely a destination worth visiting.
Nesebar city
Nesebar is a small town that is swallowed up within the boundaries of northern Burgas. I did not visit it but one of the followers of the blog wrote to me about it. Its interesting part is the old city or the Straria Grad – which is located on a small peninsula connected by a narrow road and surrounded by ancient walls. Some people think it is simply the old town of Burgas. You can wander the alleys of the old city, admire the historical buildings, the amphitheater and the ancient churches. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site so expect lots of visitors and tourists (locals too). There are lots of souvenir shops on the streets and it’s worth a visit of a few hours.
You can park in the parking lot for a fee – at the entrance to the city turn right and continue to the parking lot.
And if you have already reached it, then you must visit Burgas. In Burgas you can find a lot of attractions and worthwhile things that I haven’t blogged about yet, but you can find a lot of information on Google.
Strandzha Nature Park
Another place I haven’t visited but one of the followers of the blog recommended is Strandza Nature Reserve. He wrote about the reserve: I visited the Strandza nature reserve on the border with Turkey and I really recommend it. There are forests, rivers and beautiful waterfalls. As a travel enthusiast, I took day trips in nature and saw that you can also ride a bike. The villages there are beautiful and full of old wooden houses that are special to the region. You can walk around the village of Brashlyan, in my opinion it is a gem that not many people know, the locals are very nice and calm and when you are there you feel as if you have gone back a hundred years in time.
And if you’ve already traveled all the way to the area, it’s really cool to reach the border with Turkey and see the huge Turkish flag flying in front of the Bulgarian flag on both sides of the Mutlu River. Drive to Rezovo and aim for the south coast or the border monument.
Things to do in Varna with children
When we traveled in Varna it was just me and Roman, but for those who come with children, there are lots of things to do in and around Varna.
- Dolphinarium Dolphinarium Varna directions
- bowling
- Carting
- The stone forest
- Zoo directions
More attractions in Varna
There were other things we wanted to do in Varna and we didn’t get to, so I’m attaching the list here:
- Casino
- Kayaking in the river, a daily trip – for more details and purchasing tickets
- 3 hour cruise in the Black Sea in Varna including lunch and drinks – for more details and ticket purchase
- Walking tour in the city of Varna – for more details and purchase of tickets
- Evksinograd Palace directions
In conclusion, Varna can be an ideal destination for a summer vacation that includes both belly and various attractions. We were there as a couple and we are waiting to go back there again with the girls.
Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more information about Bulgaria? I have more posts about Bulgaria on my blog.
Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria and a seaside resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea. It’s a cheap destination where you can find beaches, bars, a huge park with attractions fo kids, big malls, interesting museums, and a central street with many restaurants, bars and coffee shops (read our post about things to do in Varna).
We stayed in the Golden Sands area in an all-inclusive hotel. It’s a 20-minute drive from the city of Varna in a taxi.
Recommended restaurants in Varna
Vegetarian and fish restaurant – Jasmin Tea House
We went to this restaurant for breakfast and we enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go back again for lunch. First of all, the atmosphere is very cozy and pastoral (especially if you sit in the beautiful yard). We arrived at the restaurant exactly at the opening time, 11:00, so we were the only ones there.
We sat outside and when we got the menus we didn’t know what to choose. All the dishes sounded good and special. This is a great place for vegetarians and vegans, and there are also fish dishes.
After some deliberation we decided to order for starters a dish with 3 spreads (olive spread, hummus, and a peppers with tomato spread) with Arabic bread and a quinoa salad with peas, avocado, and goat cheese.
The spreads were very tasty. I especially liked the pepper spread. The quinoa salad was delicious; all the ingredients matched well. It was a filling dish, we didn’t even finish it because we wanted to leave space for the other dishes we ordered.
For our main courses Roman ordered a mussels dish and we also ordered a zucchini risotto with white wine and green pepper. Roman said that the mussels were very good; one of the best he had ever eaten. And the risotto was really good and light. Honestly, I was already full from the starters, but I couldn’t not try the risotto.
We also ordered Kombucha (a probiotic tea we tasted for the first time in Thailand and since then we order it on every chance we get) to drink. We ordered the rose Kombucha and it was very refreshing (if you haven’t tried it before, I recommend you to do so. It’s healthy and tasty).
Address
“Petko Karavelov” 26, 9002 Varna Center, Varna, Bulgaria
Opening hours
Every day 11:00-23:00
A traditional Bulgarian restaurant – Staria Chinar
I had received a recommendation for this restaurant from a local through Instagram (it’s a great way to get recommendations for things to do and restaurants). We arrived there for a late lunch and we loved the restaurant’s design. We sat outside (there are many sitting places in the inside and the outside).
The food there was cheap so it gave Roman the option to order many dishes to be able to taste as many as possible 🙂 For starters we ordered a grated cabbage and carrot salad and an Ikara. The salad was seasoned well with lots of lemon, the way I like it. The Ikara was the best we had ever eaten. The texture was good and the flavours were delicate.
For main courses I ordered a meatball dish which turned out to be more like 5 big kebabs. I managed to eat 2 and they were very good (the dish comes with bacon and cheese but I requested it to be without them). And I also ordered a vegetarian Moussaka which also was very good but I only managed to eat half and Roman ate the rest.
Roman ordered 3 dishes of different kinds of meat. The dishes were very big and this was one of the few times that Roman didn’t finish everything he ordered. He said that the meat was high-quality and cooked really well.
If you are looking for a cheap, traditional local Bulgarian restaurant then stop looking. This is the restaurant for you.
Address
“Makedonia” 154, 9000 Varna Center, Varna, Bulgaria
Opening hours
Every day 12:00-00:00
Local chain with good food that is also – Happy Bar & Grill
This is a local chain with 4 branches in Varna. They serve grilled food and sushi (a good combination). We were pretty skeptical about the food’s quality because it’s a cheap touristic restaurant. But our taxi driver recommend us to try it, and we also saw good reviews so we decided to give it a go.
It’s not a gourmet restaurant but the food was tasty and it was definitely a good value for our money.
I ordered different kinds of sushi and Roman ordered grilled calamari. We both enjoyed our dishes. We also ordered a mango sangria which was refreshing and yummy.
We were in the branch that’s located in the beginning of the main street. The restaurant is open 247.
Recommended coffee shops in Varna
A cozy coffee shop – Mafe Cafe
The coffee shop is located about 5 minutes walking from the main street. This is a great coffee shop with many pastries, cakes, and cookies. Its design is modern. The coffee was great. I had a jam cookie and Roman ordered a croissant. We both were happy with our choices.
You can sit inside or outside.
Address
бул.Осми полк 58, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
Opening hours
Monday-Saturday 07:30-19:30 closed on Sunday
A cafe-bar for a cold drink – Vogue Cafe Bar
A cool cafe- bar on the main street in Varna. This is a great place for a cold drink on a sunny day. They have many different types of coffee, milkshakes, and cocktails.
I ordered a cold coffee with coconut syrup. Since I am not a fan of sweet drinks, the syrup was too strong for me. So I loved this coffee less than others. But I guess that people who love sweet beverages will probably like it. Roman ordered a mango drink that was good.
Address
“Todor Dimov” 18, 9002 Varna Center, Varna, Bulgaria
Opening hours
Every day 10:00-00:00
Bar near the beach- Selfie Bar
This bar is located on the promenade near the beach. We went there after wandering around the park. We went down in the promenade’s direction and saw this bar which looked nice. I ordered a cappuccino and Roman ordered a bloody Mary cocktail. One of the most fun things to do is to watch the sunset with a tasty drink. We enjoyed sitting there and we loved the cool, colorful design of the bar.
Address
9002 Primorski, Varna, Bulgaria
Opening hours
Every day 10:00-04:00
If you are staying in the city of Varna or the Golden Sands area in Varna, we recommend you do a day trip to the town of Balchik (The truth is that it is not a town but a small port city in northeastern Bulgaria). We stayed at the HVD Viva Club Hotel in the Golden Sands and we took a taxi to Balchik from there. The drive took around 35 minutes.
Balchik is small and beautiful. You will find beautiful botanic gardens, great local restaurants, and a lovely promenade along the black sea shore.
How to get to Balchik?
- By taxi – from the Golden Sands area the taxi costs 30 leva (BGN coin)
- By bus- a bus from the Golden Sands costs 5 leva, and from Varna, it costs 7 leva. The timetable for the bus from the central station in Varna is: 09:30, 13:30, 15:00, and 18:00
- Renting a car – you can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
The promenade
The promenade is very beautiful with a good breeze from the sea. You can find restaurants, coffee shops, and gelatos along the way. You can also rent bikes and travel with them.
In the area of the promenade, there is a small market where you can buy local jewellery, souvenirs, and more.
The beach
There’s a small beach strip, so if you want to also add some beach time to your visit to Balchik, you can definitely do so (just bring a towel and a swimsuit and you are all set).
The beach has clear water and offers various water activities such as water sports, and you can rent boats, paddleboards, or kayaks. Along the beach, there are restaurants and bars, and there are chairs and umbrellas available for rent.
Botanic Garden
There are two entrances to the botanic garden. The first one is the main entrance and it’s from the town center; the second one is from the promenade area. The difference between the entrances is that when you enter the gardens from the main one, you continue your visit in the gardens downwards and if you enter the gardens from the second entrance, you continue your visit in the gardens upwards.
If you have a problem with climbing stairs, you should probably go in through the main entrance (you can take a taxi from the promenade to the town center which would cost 5 leva). The gardens are very impressive. They are among the botanic gardens that we have liked the most (other gardens that we liked were in Villa Melzi, in Bellagio, Italy).
The gardens are very big and well-maintained. You can spend easily 2-3 hours or more there. There is a gorgeous waterfall and really pretty areas. A good thing about the gardens is that you can visit even on a hot day because there are many shaded areas.
There is also a palace in the botanic gardens, but we must say that, compared to other palaces that we’ve seen, this was the least impressive one. The entrance to the palace is an additional 8 leva. We don’t think it’s a must-see, but it depends on you.
Entrance to the botanic gardens costs 6 leva
Opening hours: every day 08:00-20:00. Directions.
Balchik Dvoretsa Palace and Park
The palace is located near the botanical gardens and is characterized by an architectural style that combines Romantic and Mediterranean elements. It was built in the 1920s and belonged to Queen Maria of Romania, who chose the city of Balchik as her holiday retreat. The palace currently serves as a museum with exhibitions about the life of the queen. Directions.
Book tickets online
Open daily 08:00-20:00
History Museum of Baltchik
The museum was founded in the 1960s and is located in a building that was once the home of an Austrian doctor. It features collections that include archaeological artifacts, photographs, and items related to the daily lives of the residents over the generations. Directions.
Museum’s website.
It’s closed on Saturday and Sunday. open from Monday- Friday 08:00-12:00, 12:30-16:30
The city center
The city center is within walking distance of the promenade and the botanical gardens. It is a small area, but it has several restaurants, including Bistro Kestana and Restaurant The Castle, among others. There are also a number of hotels and guesthouses. In addition, you can find some souvenir stands there..
Recommended restaurants in Balchik
Antik Restaurant
We started our day at a restaurant near the sea. Antik Restaurant. We decided not to eat breakfast at our hotel and instead try it in Balchik and it was a very good decision. To sit in front of the sea in a colorful restaurant is a great way to start your morning.
We ordered 2 omelettes, 2 Parlenkas (a flat, Bulgarian bread with toppings like cheese and garlic), a Greek salad, and Roman also ordered a yogurt soup. The omelet and the Parlenka were pretty big so we could have ordered only one of each of them for the both of us.
Roman ordered a beer and I ordered a cappuccino. The food was good and the atmosphere was so relaxing; we could have stayed there for hours.We ate pretty late, so some of the people were already ordering lunch and their dishes looked really yummy, so I’m sure this restaurant would also be a great choice for lunch/dinner.
Restaurant the Castle
We ate lunch in a local Bulgarian restaurant (in the town center) that our taxi driver recommended. The Castle Restaurant. Honestly, I was still full from breakfast so I just ordered a fresh orange juice. Roman ordered a Bulgarian soup like Chorba and he liked the dishes.
Even though the restaurant is in a central touristy location, the prices were cheap and the dishes’ portions were big.
Where to sleep in Balchik?
If we had more time on the trip, I would have been happy to spend a night or two in Balchik. I really loved this city. It is small and relaxing, and from what I checked, there are a few places with good reviews for accommodation, including:
- Lighthouse Golf & Spa Hotel
- Balchik Sea View Apartments in Princess Residence
- Apartments Poemia, complex Carpe Diem
- Hotel Mistral
- Hotel Samara with Relax area
- Regina Maria Spa Design Hotel
Balchik is definitely a recommended place for a half-day or a full-day trip. Don’t miss it if you are staying in Varna or the Golden Sands area.
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