The American Church in Berlin has its roots in the work of the German-American American Methodist…read moreEpiscopal (ME) missionary preacher Ludwig Nippert. He began worship in English in the large hall of his apartment in Klosterstrasse in January 1859. Worship moved to a purpose built chapel in Junkerstrasse in 1880, and in 1903 a permanent church was erected in Nollendorfplatz. This was closed (and the pastor asked to leave Germany) in 1941 and the building was destroyed during an air-raid in 1943. The post war history saw the church split into a more distinctly Lutheran church in 1955, which reassumed the ecumenical and non-denominational mantle of the American Church in 1987. Worship moved to current building in 2002 which was purchased as a permanent home in 2007. The Church engages in a wide range of community outreach. There is a more traditional Sunday morning service at 11am with a more informal Gospel service in the afternoon. I've been attending on my visits to Berlin for around 7 years and found it friendly and welcoming.

American Church is one of the gorgeous buildings in the Bülowkiez, it hard to miss. The…read morecongregation can trace back to the 19th century, its original Church was built in Nollendorfplatz, later was destroyed by bombing in 1944. But the congregation continued their in others churches in South Berlin. Till 2002, it moved to the current location in Dennewitzplatz. Although the church is closed most of the time, its architecture style is still quite charming, it attracts many visitors. Next to the church is one of the most popular park - Park am Gleisdreieck, great to have a walk there.

While we were in Germany for the Berlin Marathon we had a chance to explore and visit the Kaiser…read moreWilhelm Memorial Church. It's over 100 years old and was badly damaged during the WW2 allied bombings. Amazing that it's still standing and is a reminder of such a terrible time in history. There is a newer more modern looking addition that is actively used and we viewed a listing of events and times to attend. We didn't have a chance to do these as we were on a tour with a quick stop here. Just from the outside you can view the remnants of the church, some sculptures, art pieces, and information. Some of the original church was rebuilt and restored and it's a beautiful piece of architecture. Definitely worth a visit if you're a history buff.

This was an amazing place to visit. We did not pay for the guided tour, but we did walk around and…read moreinside the church to see the amazing architecture, including what was destroyed in war and rebuilt. It was very interesting to see the lasting cracks and damage. The inside of the church has information about the church's history that you can read at your own pace for free. We also visited the chapel, which was beautiful.

With right conditions the cross on top of the church reflects off the top of the tower. The church…read moreis free to enter. This the famous "Pope's Revenge" church because the cross reflects off the tower.

The Marienkirche is one of the oldest churches in Berlin and well worth a visit if you're visiting…read morethe city! The exact date of the construction of the church is unknown, but the church is presumed to have been built in the 13th century. The church was Catholic, but was converted to a Lutheran Protestant church during the Protestant Reformation. Within the church is the Totendanz ("Dance of Death") - a wall painting in the vestibule that was created at the end of the 15th century to commemorate the plague of 1484, which shows Death inviting people of all classes of society to dance. The wall painting was covered by whitewash but rediscovered in 1860. The wall painting is currently being restored. The church is beautiful and free to enter (although donations for the restoration of the church and the wall painting are encouraged) - a must see if you're exploring Berlin or interested in European history or cathedrals.

Managed to run to Mass on a bitterly cold January Saturday night. Really enjoyed the service (in…read moreGerman of course) -- but still beautiful to a visitor from America. Architecture is post-war modern, but the dome is very Roman in influence. Beautiful church. We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton and this church -- the Cathedral of the Archbishop -- was quite convenient and welcoming. Loved the history in the entry hallway. Would love more plaques in English (of course).

This is a small church located in the Tiergarten area of the city right amidst the Kulturforum…read moremuseums. Admission is free 11-6pm daily though closed Mondays, and you could probably spend 10-15 minutes here as the inside is pretty modest in size and decoration compared to the other attractions nearby. This church location is the main office of an art and culture foundation by the same name which promotes dialogue between the church and the arts. Although the exterior looks fairly traditional in an Italian Romanesque style, the inside is actually quite updated and reminds me of the 20th century minimalist designs. Inside, the main sanctuary consists of two floors, with floor to ceiling columns, and a gallery level with plenty of windows to let sunlight in. There are rotating modern art displays that change every few months, sometimes hanging from the ceiling, hung on the walls, or laid over the floor. A good reminder that secular and sacred can mix and coexist in contemporary society.

Wild at Heart was exactly what I was hoping for. A proper punk/dive bar. It delivered in spades…read more The decor was perfect, messy, dark, a little dank. The peeps were friendly in their own way. Took a little bit of time but eventually they seemed to warm to me. One huge biker dude took a shine to me and kept joking with me all night in broken English. At the end of his night (which was quite early) he swooped in and gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished me a lovely vacation. The bathrooms were cleaner and nicer than the cobalt/funkys/astoria from my dives back home in Vancouver - seriously Vancouver, get your shit together - LITERALLY. Drink prices seemed super reasonable to me. But really anywhere in Europe they seem reasonable to me. Bartender didn't really know how to make a whiskey sour and what I ended up drinking wasn't that fantastic, but I think that's my fault, what the hell was I doing ordering a whiskey sour at this place? Beer seems to be the best bet. The place filled up quick and seemed very popular with the locals and tourists alike.

Wild at Heart is one of the best rock bars in the world. It's exactly like the sort of places I…read morelike to hang out back home... only better! Grab a beer and enjoy great DJs, awesome bands and even a regular burlesque show! I had been told to go here by various people who had travelled there to perform with their bands and I'm glad I listened to their advice. The crowd were all great too, you felt really comfortable and among like-minded people. My favourite night in Berlin was the night I spent at Wild at Heart. GO. I urge you. One final tip - make sure to go next door and eat at Tiki Heart.