{"id":4383,"date":"2014-10-19T23:26:01","date_gmt":"2014-10-19T15:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rearviewmirror.ruqa4eh2-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=4383"},"modified":"2023-10-11T07:15:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T23:15:58","slug":"exploring-berlins-kreuzberg-neighbourhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rearviewmirror.tv\/exploring-berlins-kreuzberg-neighbourhood\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Berlin’s Kreuzberg Neighbourhood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When a neighbourhood is described as a hipster, trendy, punk, immigrant, expat, squatter neighbourhood, you know it\u2019s going to be interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Kreuzberg<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

One of the first things you\u2019ll discover about Berlin is that the locals will often tell you they\u2019re from Prenzlauer Berg or Neukolln or Kreuzberg etc rather than Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a way their neighbourhood defines them and you\u2019re often judged based on where you live.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Urban<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Mitte is the touristy centre of Berlin where you\u2019ll find many of the city\u2019s sights, museums and art galleries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prenzlauer Berg is the heavily gentrified, yuppy neighbourhood where kids abound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlottenburg (also known as Charlottenboring according to some) is home to the main shopping precinct and upmarket hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neukolln is the arty, not-yet-gentrified, hipster neighbourhood and Friedrichshain is kind of like Prenzlauer Berg but without the pretty architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Autumn<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kreuzberg is something else. It\u2019s unique in many ways, strongly influenced by its Turkish immigrants, punk lifestyle and alternative culture of the past as well as its proximity to the Berlin Wall and recent gentrification.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"New<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to really understand Kreuzberg\u2019s history and what makes it so different from Berlin’s other neighbourhoods. Without talking to my guide Lucia I never would have understood why squatters still exist in some areas (which I find kinda crazy), why long term immigrants can\u2019t vote but do have a voice in the community or why gentrification is such a massively hot topic.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Courtyards<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Squatters<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There are so many interesting things to discover about this part of Berlin. Before the war, there was a huge department store in Kreuzberg that paid to have the U-Bahn diverted and a new station created beneath the store. That\u2019s one way to get visitors to your store I suppose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building was destroyed during the war and has now been replaced by a veggie allotment and cafe\/beer garden. It\u2019s not at all what you\u2019d expect to find in the centre of a busy urban area.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Random<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

My other favourite spot in Kreuzberg is Markthalle Neun. It\u2019s a great everyday food market, but it\u2019s also where you\u2019ll find the weekly Street Food Thursday<\/a> event and delicious food from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Street<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kreuzberg is the kind of place you need a local to show you around, especially if you\u2019re only in Berlin for a short period. It\u2019s an area popular with tourists although there are few sights that you would typically find in a tourist area. But you will find many hidden courtyards, beautiful parks, cool cafes and great food. It\u2019s a fantastic place for wandering and people watching.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cafe<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Gourmet<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Kindergarten<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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This post is part of my North Germany itinerary<\/a> series that takes in the best places to visit in the north of the country.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I was shown around Kreuzberg on Context\u2019s Everyday Life in Kreuzberg<\/a> walk (they gave me a complimentary ticket). I loved the previous Berlin tour, on Crossing the Berlin Wall<\/a> that I did with them but this was totally different as it\u2019s not just about Berlin\u2019s history but also about life today and thoughts on the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the video of my afternoon exploring Kreuzberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n