Berlin On Your Birthday... A City Of FREE Gifts!
- Helen
- May 17, 2019
- 6 min read
This year, on my birthday, I was between house-sits and in the city of Berlin. Travelling alone, I was unsure of what the day would bring. I had only arrived in Berlin the day before my big day and was due to start my new house-sit in the city the following day. This gave me my birthday itself, free of house-sit commitments and with a whole city to entertain me!
Due to the fact it was my birthday, I decided to book myself into a (what I hoped would be) decent hotel for the two house-sit free nights I had.
Initially, the day started with my feeling quite lonely, waking alone in a hotel but I set off for the day more determined that the day would be good and I would find ways to make it so!
The determination paid off... the day turned out better than I expected and Berlin proved to be a city that delivered FREE birthday gifts in more ways than one....
It turns out that it pays to have a birthday in Berlin if you know where to go and who to speak to!
Let me share with you the experiences I had which you could enjoy too if you happen to be lucky enough to find yourself in Berlin on your birthday.
FREE Birthday Gifts In Berlin
Starting my day, I took myself to a great little coffee shop initially for a brew and bun and to plan my next steps...
Browsing online I found that the attraction 'Little BIG City Berlin', which happened to be just around the corner of where I was currently seated in Alexanderplatz, stated on their website that there was free entry to anybody with a birthday. I had never heard of the attraction before but thought I had nothing to lose so along I went!
Little BIG City Berlin
Venturing into the venue, I was greeted by a very helpful woman at their ticket desk. When I enquired about the free birthday entry, she confirmed that this was the case, providing I had proof (luckily I was carrying my passport).
Free entry ticket in hand, I then cheekily asked if she knew of any other attractions offering free birthday entry. Why yes, she said, these partner attractions also have the same deal!! Suddenly the day was opening up to a world of free possibilities....
Before, we get ahead of ourselves though, let me quickly give you the lowdown on Little BIG City Berlin.
So, Little BIG City Berlin is a very fun, bright and interactive small scale model museum that tells the history of Berlin from centuries ago to the present day. This is perhaps a venue aimed at a younger audience than myself (although I was far from the only child-free adult there) and the child in me loved the lights, the displays, the sounds and the parts you were allowed to play with!
The model displays are really well done and at the end of the journey through Berlin's history there is a great light and sound show depicting fireworks going off all around you at the Brandenburg Gate. To me it felt like they were lighting the fireworks to celebrate my birthday!
The experience at Little BIG City Berlin was a great way to start the day - I learnt more about Berlin's history than I knew before and it helped get me into the spirit for a day of fun.
FREE GIFT....
As a bonus to the day, at the end of the experience, the staff member in the gift shop advised me that if I completed their feedback form on their iPad I would also get a free gift of a Berlin thermal drinks bottle. The form took minutes to complete and then the bottle was mine too - yay!
Next Free Venture - Starbucks
Ok, I am not the world's biggest Starbucks fan and appreciate all the arguments against them, but I do have a Starbuck's card and understood that this meant on my birthday I was entitled to a free Starbuck's drink.
Finding myself in the vicinity of a Starbucks and ready for some refreshment, it was time to see if good old Starbucks would help make my day even more special.
Speaking to the young, 'barista' I was advised that as my Starbucks card was a UK and not a German one, the free drink did not apply (if I had a German card it would and I could get a free drink in the UK - go figure!). The barista and I both agreed that as Starbucks was a global brand, it made little sense that the Starbucks cards and promotions did not travel with the customer.
Well, to cut a long story short, my barista friend had a quick chat to her manager who could also see the error of the way in which Starbucks conducted business in this particular instance and agreed to my free drink being granted - oh, happy days!
Free Frappuccino in hand, it was time to sit and enjoy my birthday gifts from Berlin so far.
Berlin Dungeon
Once refreshed with my Frappuccino, I was ready for the next attraction, which I had been promised would also be free entry for my birthday - the Berlin Dungeon!
Happily, the information I had been given was correct and I was handed a free entry ticket to the dungeons without further discussions.
Berlin Dungeon is one of those attractions that is all about entertainment and how they can scare their visitors the most without causing medical harm! The dungeons tell the history of Berlin's more gruesome days... as you journey through you will escape the plague whilst narrowly avoiding be-heading, prostitution, general murder and debauchery!
The attraction includes a raft ride (very tame), great actors who make it feel real and it is a good way to spend an hour being made to regularly jump out of your skin.
Despite being alone, the nature of the Berlin Dungeon is such that all those in the group you are with soon become closer than family as you bond through fear!
Advice if you do go - don't be in the front or back of the group and just hope that none of the actors pick you out for any part of the show!
Historical Sightseeing River Cruise
Next stop on my seeking out free birthday fun was to the river, in the hope of finding a river cruise to introduce me to Berlin and allow me to soak in the sights and sun from the water.
Enquiring at the ticket booth for Stern & Kreis I was advised that yes indeed the 15 euro ticket price was waived as it was my birthday!
The river cruise was a one hour, relaxing glide down the water (and back) with full commentary which takes in some key sights of the city, including Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, the TV tower, the German government district, as well as past the beautiful Tiergarten where people were lounging by the riverside, enjoying the sun (it was a beautiful day) and a beer or wine.
This was a great way to enjoy the afternoon... be sure though if you do do the cruise you take your camera as there are some breathtaking views from the water.
For me, that was the extent of my free attractions that I managed to fit in the day, although there were more I would have loved to do if the day had been longer!
However, I wanted to enjoy those I did do and not be rushing too much between. Instead between each I spent time taking in the Berlin streets, riverside and general ambience... while also fitting in lunch and later coffee and cake (sadly not free that time!).
For me the final gift of the day from Berlin was as I ventured back to the hotel...
A Gift From The Hotel
As I returned to my room, after a full and fun day, ready to put on some Netflix and enjoy a celebratory glass of something, I found the hotel had left for me a tray of wine, fresh fruit and sweets!
Definitely a lovely final gift of the day from a city that was winning my heart in every way.
So, overall, in Berlin it certainly pays to have a birthday when you visit.
Berlin is a city of gifts that will just keep delivering!
If you are interested and due to be in Berlin on your birthday then these attractions also offer free entry...
- Madam Tussauds
- Berlin Sea Life Centre
A few other venues will also offer discounts on your birthday (often around 20 % off admission prices) so it is always worth asking!
Just ensure that you do have proof of your date of birth with you - passport is ideal.
When you do spend your birthday in Berlin, let me know what gifts the city provides you... Of course, it is also key to make time in any birthday for cake too - you get bonus points if you persuade somewhere to provide you with free birthday cake!
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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