Germany
Germany, you’re glorious. The history here is heavy but it's also fascinating. After WWII it was split into East and West, and it wasn’t until 1990 that they reunited. I’ve been to Berlin twice and somehow I always catch the gloomy weather, but it doesn’t take away from the city’s energy. I only made it to Berlin and Munich on my trips, but even in just those two cities, you get a real sense of the country. To sum it up in just a few words: history, culture, and beer. I think that’s Germany in a nutshell.
Berlin
Berlin's party culture is notorious. You really have to see it to believe it. The parties start late, end early, and sometimes go on for 72 hours straight. Even though the weather was pretty gloomy during my visits both times, Berlin still managed to give off cool energy. I was there for four days both times, and to be honest that felt a little long since we didn’t have much planned beyond the usual touristy stuff and partying.
The East Side Gallery is an essential visit. It’s covered with more than 100 murals including the iconic Honecker and Brezhnev kissing painting. There's a Caribbean and African hangout spot called Yaam at the end of the wall. It used to be one of the coolest places in Berlin, and it's still relatively chill, but the vibes and food were a bit meh. We rode scooters around the Brandenburg Gate, one of Germany's best-known landmarks. Drinking while scootering is a no-no.
After shopping at the Mall of Berlin, we visited the Holocaust Memorial where you see 2,711 concrete slabs of different heights. We also visited Checkpoint Charlie in Mitte and Niederkirchnerstrasse, taking in more of the city’s deep history.
Then it was time to hit the clubs. We started at Watergate. The dress code’s casual, so we got in no problem. Cool place, but let’s be real Kit Kat was next level. That place is a legend. It’s a sex and techno club with multiple dance floors, a swimming pool, and a fetish dress code (except for Electric Mondays). They're pretty strict about no phones inside. Didn’t even bother trying for Berghain.
KITKAT CLUB, BERLIN
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL, BERLIN
Munich
We made a pit stop in Munich on the Euro Trail, and although we only stayed for one night, it definitely wasn’t long enough. We crashed at Wombats Hostel, one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in, clean, plenty of privacy, and with an individual fan over each bed.
The Hofbräuhaus pub is buzzing, one of the most famous and iconic pubs in the world. It’s 400 years old. The ground floor accommodates over 1,000 beer drinkers with live music. Outside, there's a big, sunny beer garden. We had a mega pint of Radler! (a traditional Maß) and a schnitzel with mash.
The Viktualienmarkt is Munich's best-known market. I loved exploring it, it's a great spot for a quick bite before continuing sightseeing. It’s similar to Boqueria in Barcelona but much sweeter. There's plenty of delicious food, fresh produce, baked goods, and a beer garden serving traditional dishes like hot sausages and slices of apple strudel. All the good stuff.
HOFBRÄUHAUS MÜNCHEN