Berlin is a city that does not remain stagnant in history. In the last hundred years, this city has seen the rise, fall and horror of the Nazis, the building and destruction of the Berlin Wall and the “Iron Curtain,” the reunification of its society, and a number of art movements. Despite all the chaos, these changes have made Berlin a great destination to visit. With over 100 museums, great food and entertainment, Berlin has boomed in popularity – to the point where Berliners are resenting the power travelers have on their city.
This resentment for tourists by the locals in any context is not something new. Rather, it is a common theme seen in many major destinations in Europe.
If you choose to visit Berlin as one of these “evil tourists” it may be best to hook up with the locals and see what the city really has to offer. Normally I would not suggest this, but a tour or two may not be a bad idea to get a feel for the city.
Most of these trips tend to focus on the general history of Berlin, with a nice mix of ancient, wartime and modern sites. With this said, the main focus of almost any tour in Berlin revolves around the Berlin Wall and the dynamics of both East and West Berlin. I went with BBT Tours and really enjoyed it, and having a guide who pointed out little details in the city I would never have seen on my own was a good thing.
Though the sites relating to the Wall are essential for understanding the dynamics of the city what I found most intriguing was the city’s “street art” scene. No matter who you are, the major thing you will notice about Berlin is the sheer amount of graffiti on buildings: murals, tags, stencil and many other styles of street art cover the city.
- See more at: http://www.travelculturemag.com/street-art-in-berlin/#sthash.YvBzU93W.dpuf