I'm dying to go to Berlin. I've been once before but it was during a post-high school "backpacking" trip, and I definitely didn't do it right.

When I inevitably visit again (soon), where should I go? Where do the locals hang out?

Links to photos, foursquare locations, etc. would be much appreciated – and feel free to add your friends!

Thanks!

This is an art commune in Mitte. Pretty Bushwick-y :)

en.wikipedia.org

Try to stay in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte will give you the best offer for hotels. Both neighborhoods will be your base from where you'll explore other parts like Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain.

The SoundCloud triangle list on 4sq will give you a nice selection of lunch places in Mitte, all in the vicinity of the SoundCloud offices: foursquare.com

For nice dinner places, contact me, I haven't created a 4sq list yet with a selection for dinner.

Breakfast in Prenzlauer Berg, walk through Mitte, take the subway to Kreuzberg. Spend a lot of time walking and ask me to join join you :)

If it's still standing, Berghain. I suggest sleeping in on Saturday and going here on a Sunday morning (like around 8am). The party is still going on as strong, no line, and the bouncers seem to be less picky. A funny experience to step in a dark club on a Sunday morning and drink beer :)

I was in Berlin for a long weekend this summer and these are the museums/sites that i saw...there is literally too much to do you have to pick and choose...unfortunately, i did not have time to see galleries but i can only imagine how terrific they are

Clubs:
Berghain...amazing music and there is something for everyone

Suicide Circus...semi-outdoors and all one level...kind of like a small warehouse labrynth mix... one dj reminded me of modeselektor with screens etc behind him...then there was an outdoor area w a bar/sitting areas...super relaxed

Museums:

East Side Gallery: wall graffitied by 118? artists...

Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe: memorial and museum
sacred-destinations.com

Bode museum: more classical art museum...absolutely massive
smb.museum

Deutsche History Museum: an exhaustive presentation of the history of Germany...i only looked at the 1900's on and still spent hours there
dhm.de

Hamburger Bahnhof Museum: permanent collection of warhol/rauschenberg/lichenstein, and then the temporary exhibits
hamburgerbahnhof.de

Bauhaus Archive...museum was on the smaller side and definitely worth it
bauhaus.de

Tacheles: old theater building completely graffitiied where artists now squat and show their work...this building was incredibly symbolic for the 90's alternative culture...the artists are trying to hold on to it since the city/developers are trying to take it back in order to transform it into they luxury apartments...apparently the city is winning because a friend went more recently and it was closed due to generator safety issues
en.wikipedia.org

Tiergaarten: massive park on the west side of berlin...huge so ride a bike around it to see more
Potsdam platz
Alexander platz

Kreuzberg: German hipsters and Turkish immigrants, shoulder-to-shoulder.

Also, if you'd like to see the "regular sights", these walking tours are amazing. You get a different random guide each time, who usually are foreigners having an extended stay in Berlin. It's free and they work entirely off tips, so they try hard to be good :) I did this twice and had fun both times.

newberlintours.com

+1 Berghain

Prenzlauer Berg is a great neighborhood.

Rent a bike. Ride through the Tiergarten.

I have two very incomplete Foursquare lists (locals, I'd love your feedback)
Food – foursquare.com
Coffee – foursquare.com

Rent a bike at Finding Berlin Tours. They have an amazing collection and are the only company offering fixie bikes for rent. Also, you can go on one of their tours organized by local hipsters and tastemakers. findingberlin-tours.com

50+ places to visit, relax and feel more local; Eat from kosher Sabbath dinners over to fried chicken, fine German and French dining, Japanese & Italian homemade food and classic shawarma and falafel; 5th wave coffee places for espresso nerds and a shop to pick up your read from; Berlin night life hot spots for summer and winter visits in my 4sq list: foursquare.com

Definitely recommend hanging out in Mitte and Preanzlauer Berg, like David said.

For hotels, there are lots in Mitte (Circus, Camper, Amano, The Weinmeister, etc), but I recommend Myer's Hotel in Prenzlauer Berg: myershotel.de. It's away from tourists, in a courtyard on a residential street.

Also, check out this list of cafes and bars in Mitte: foursquare.com

But hey guys, don't limit Berlin to Mitte. There is so much more to explore, so many more spots to have fun at than (the sometimes boring) Mitte. Pick a hotel in Mitte and then use it as a departure point for the other neighborhoods. :)

Airbnb it!

I'm going to Berlin on October. I heard about Festival of Light. Is it cool?