Once a symbol of ideological division and suffering, Berlin is now an active and progressive city, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. After the Wall was pulled down in 1989, some differences between the western and the eastern part of the city still remain; despite this fact, Berlin is moving towards a series of new initiatives to promote ecotourism and a more sustainable way of traveling. A tour of Berlin includes culture, gastronomy discovery, history and new modern trends experience.
Moving around in Berlin
A green travel in Berlin involves the use of local transports in the same way of Berliners. So, car is not the best option, as they prefer to walk and use bicycles or provided transports, like buses, trams, subway (U-Bahn), light subway (S-Bahn), Regionalbahn trains (RB), Regionalexpress trains (RE) and ferries.
Furthermore it is possible to explore Berlin with a Travelcard, accepted on public transport in the city (Metro Trains, buese, trams and overground trains). This pass covers a journey in the ABC zones and free yourself from the hassle of buying tickets anytime you need to move.
A more exhaustive option is the Berlin Pass, which comes with the Travelcard included and allows free entry to over than 50 museum, free hop-on, hop-off bus tour and a free Berlin guidebook.
Attractions and ecotourism
The city has too much to offer, so a Berlin eco tour is not difficult to find: some recommended activities are the ecofriendly Berlin on Bike, or Berlin Walk Tours.
These guided tour are also in English and let you discover the inner corners of Berlin. For a more asian-influenced experience, try the Rickshaw Berlin tour.
Water activities are also popular along the Landwehr Canal, with guided kayak tours or a solar powered boat ride. New Berlin Tours offers city tours on their hybrid bus or walking tours, for a combined ecotourism and cultural experience.
Green Accommodation in Berlin
An eco minded traveler will find a wealth of ecologic and sustainable accommodation in Berlin. Hotel Casa Camper boasts a contemporary design, using environment friendly products.
The Maritim Hotel Berlin is an accommodation with an ecologic awareness: solar collectors and thermal power station to produce energy, a water conservative policy and garbage recycling.
For the ones on budget, Jetpack Forest Eco Lodge is an eco-friendly hostel, located a bit outside Berlin, but the beauty of the surrounding forest worths the distance. The hostel power comes totally from renewable sources: solar panels for hot water and a wood-burning, CO2 neutral system for heating. Wastes are divided and recycled.
Vegetarian dining and organic food
This Berlin eco guide will focus the attention on vegetarian restaurants and organic food, as Germans are particularly sensitive about these issues.
Berlin has no lack of eco friendly and vegan restaurants and caf?s, in addition to an all vegan supermarket.
Very small, intimate and blessed with an amazing gourmet vegan cuisine, the Lucky Leek offers dishes from all over the world (Italian, Mexican, Chinese, etc.) changing every week. In the warm summer nights it is possible to dine outside.
Speaking of coffee, Goodies is one of the best option in Berlin. Cakes, salads, rice and other food are made using local, seasonal and fresh products. Vegetarian and vegan food is available.
Umasan is the best combination of ecologic high fashion label and vegan cuisine. The food is delicious and fresh, while the materials are all organic. The calm and luxurious atmosphere is inspired by the philosophy of yoga, shared by the two founders, Anja and Sandra Uman.
Looking for organic and vegan food? If so, there no better place than Veganz Supermarket, located in Prenzlauer Berg. Many of the products stocked (they are more than 6.000 in total) in Vegans are imported from the U.S. And are difficult, or impossible, to find elsewhere in Germany. The supermarket is the biggest of this kind in Germany and it also features a bistro, a caf? and a bakery.
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