I t’s Sunday afternoon and the party’s still going at Berlin ’s world-famous techno club, Berghain. Beats emanate from heavily guarded doors as a few black-clad clubbers sit around smoking on the concrete outside. I should say at this point, I’m not one of them, but it’s because of places like this that Berlin is a clubber’s paradise.
Though I know it’s a cardinal sin, I snap a picture as I walk by, causing a huge, punk-dressed bouncer to bark at me to put my phone away. The club’s closely-guarded secrecy is a large part of its allure. Gaining entry is infamously difficult, with a strict, though mysterious, door policy.
Many queue for hours, only to be turned away with no idea why. Berghain’s mystique also undoubtedly played a role in Berlin ’s techno scene gaining Unesco cultural heritage status this March. The recognition followed a decision by local government in 2021 to make Berlin’s clubs cultural institutions.
And it’s the reason I’m here: to seek out some of the city’s best clubbing spots, while exploring all the other ways you can enjoy its incredibly diverse music scene – from its bars and restaurants to its museums and markets. I arrived in Berlin the previous Friday with friends, and that night we headed out bar hopping – it’s a perfect way to experience the city’s music culture, with soundtracks to suit all moods. If punk rock is your vibe, then head to Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, where a number of dive bars, such as Trinkteu.
