A Guide to Berlin in the Summer

I used to be lucky enough to live in Berlin and, although the promise of snow and wonderful Christmas markets made winter great, summer was, without a doubt, my favourite time of year in the city.

Here are just a few things to get up to when the sun is shining in Berlin:

Go Bargain Hunting

You probably didn't know this, but the Germans seem to be a nation of bargain hunters. Every weekend in the summer, Berlin's pretty squares get taken over by flea markets and if you love nothing more than browsing quirky stalls and picking up odd souvenirs, I suggest you check one of these out.

My personal favourite was held on Boxhagener Platz (in Friedrichshain) every Sunday. Take the U-bahn to Samariterstrasse, walk down Mainzer Strasse and you'll pretty much be there.

Enjoy Brunch

Another wonderful weekend activity that can be combined with a trip to the Boxhagener Platz market! You can go for brunch at any time of the year, but there's something lovely about sitting at a table on the pavement in the sunshine. There are a host of cafes and restaurants on Simon-Dach Strasse (just a short walk from the flea market) where you can enjoy all-you-can-eat brunch, usually for under €10 (£8.40).

Take a Trip to Potsdam

There's nothing stopping you visiting Potsdam in the depths of winter, but it's a beautiful place to explore when the sun's out. You can take the S-bahn from the centre of the city, so it's not hard to get there, and then wander around its amazing collection of palaces and parks.

The architecture is stunning and there are plenty of wide-open spaces to lounge around in. I'd recommend taking a picnic lunch, finding a spot in one of the parks and just relaxing for a couple of hours.

Go to a Beach Bar

Yes, Berlin has not one beach bar, but several, despite being nowhere near the coast! A host of friendly establishments pop up along the banks of the River Spree every spring and stay there until the warm weather finally disappears, so pull up a deckchair, get a cold beer and enjoy.

If you're staying centrally, the most easily accessible is Strandbar Mitte, conveniently located behind Museuminsel. Personally, I'd recommend hopping on the S-bahn to Treptower Park and then strolling along the banks of the river until you reach Badeschiff.

Bring your swimwear as there's a pool floating on the river, as well as the open-air bar on dry land. The fun doesn't end when the sun goes down, either, as the venue regularly hosts concerts and DJs.

This post was written on behalf of idealshortbreaks.co.uk, a site offering inspiration and recommendations to help you plan the perfect short break.

The Thinking Man’s Barcelona Stag Do

Stag weekends have something of an image crisis to attend to, especially in the UK. It seems barely a week goes by without a new story about “Brits abroad” getting in trouble on foreign soil, whether it’s scrapping with the locals or being too drunk to board the flight, sometimes the point that’s forgotten is there is a market for men looking to expand their cultural horizons with their “last weekend of freedom”.

For these more aspirational types, a Barcelona stag do might be just the ticket thanks to the cities’ peerless emphasis on good living as well as the small matter of the city being home to one of the best football teams the world has ever seen.

For foodies Barcelona might just be one of Europe’s highlights owing to the cosmopolitan outlook the city boasts. There is a world of international delicacies on offer but if it’s a more traditional Catalonian experience that your stag party is seeking, there’s a great selection of restaurants you should be targeting. Dos Palillos on C/ Elisabets serves traditional Spanish tapas infused with Asian influences, which, on paper admittedly sounds like a bit of a muddle but it’s well worth a visit.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to eat well but at a budget, keep an eye out of the Menu Del Dia, which translates at Menu of the Day where you can pick up a salad, a main dish, a drink and a dessert for as little as a tenner – just use your discretion as the quality will vary. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to stay off the tried path – take a detour from the more touristy spots and you’ll save money and get great quality food to line your stomachs before heading out to some of Barcelona’s plentiful night spots.

Give the identikit pub crawls a miss on your journey here and do some research before you travel otherwise you could be faced with the less than ideal scenario of paying top dollar to drink in places that will be much the same as you’re used to in the UK. These are the places that arguably give the whole Brits abroad thing its reputation. There’s a lot more to be said for stepping out of one’s comfort zone and giving the cities’ tapas bars your onceover. Here you can get a light bite of some authentic Spanish tapas free with your drinks. Alternatively, head for any bar with Chupitos hanging above it, Chupitos translates as “shots” and here you can get a start on a Barcelona stag night that will live in infamy.

So there you have it, an introduction to the Barcelona stag do with none of that unsavoury business of being a bad ambassador for your country. Pick up a phrase book, ingratiate yourselves with the locals and see your stag do as being the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons and you’ll be rewarded with a stag weekend experience that will last a lot long in the memory banks than your average binge’s wrecking ball.

Eating Out In Madrid – It’s Good For The Locals, It’s Good For You

It’s almost unheard of to have a bad meal whilst in Madrid. The city is very diverse and it’s restaurants, cafés and bars cater to all tastes and budgets. A good way of determining which are the best eating places in Madrid is by finding out where the locals go out to wine and dine. If the locals like the place, chances are that you will love it too.

One place that is certainly popular with the people of Madrid is known as the “Tienda de Comunista”. It is located in Chueca by the square. It is always a good idea to get there as soon as it opens for business at 9pm every night, as it is always packed to capacity with happy diners. I highly recommend it.

If you want to lunch like a true Madrilenian, the place to be is “La Playa”. Having lunch at this place has become a tradition among many residents that has been going on for generations.

If you like to eat well while you take your beverages, then Bar Melo is the place to be. It is a very well-known bar also known for its awesome cuisine.

Do you have a sweet tooth? If you answered “yes” then you definitely need to visit Café del Real. It offers a wide variety of chocolate and carrot cakes, served with some lovely local coffee. It is a good place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon, like the locals do.

On Saturday evenings, many Madrilenians head to La Taberna de San Bernado. This exquisite restaurant is start off on a quieter note but becomes bubblier as the locals begin to file in.

Casa Perico restaurant is a hidden gem, known only to individuals like an insider secret. Upon entering Casa Perico, you may wonder whether you are in a restaurant or not, but do not be deceived because the food there is marvelous.

You maybe be visiting Spain, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t like to have some Asian food made in Spain. If you are not running on a very big budget then I would recommend Wok Chinese Restaurant in Madrid. Yes, you guessed right, the food is cooked in a Wok!

If you would like to partake in history then you will definitely want to visit Restaurante Sobrino De Botin. It is said to be the oldest restaurant in the world, according to the Guinness Book of records. More to this, it offers really delicious food too. However, due to the astounding number of tourists desiring to eat here, you may have to eat your meal in a bit of a rush.

All in all if you travel to Madrid you will certainly not be let down by the huge range of places to eat out!