Discover Polish life and work in Berlin
The UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany is coming up. And Poland is there! On 21 June they will face Austria in the Olympic Stadium. To help fans travelling to Berlin feel at home, we have picked out 11 places for you where Berlin will show off its best Polish side.
Tip 1: Go on a cultural journey of discovery by train
If you're travelling to Berlin from Wrocław and the surrounding area for the European Championships, why not leave your car behind and take the train? But not just any train: The Cultural Train Berlin-Wrocław is travelling again every weekend. The 4.5-hour journey goes by like a - must! - train. Because they are packed with readings, concerts, language courses or simply karaoke and partying. The programme is of course bilingual. This season's motto is "History/s in your luggage - czas historii, czas podróży". There will be stops in Legnica, Chojnów, Bolesławiec, Węgliniec, Weißwasser and Cottbus. So slip into your jerseys, pack your bags and make your way to the European Championships, to Berlin and on a cultural journey of discovery.
Where: Berlin-Wrocław railway line
When: Friday Berlin-Wrocław-Berlin, Saturday Berlin-Wrocław, Sunday Wrocław-Berlin
More about travelling on the culture train
Tip 2: Feast on Polish specialities at Mały Książę
Whether curry or stadium sausage, sometimes you just crave the taste of home. Especially if the tournament takes a little longer for the Polish team. This is where Mały Książę comes to the rescue. And what a remedy! The Polish grocery shop at Südstern is two places in one: on the one hand, there is the café, where you can enjoy all kinds of Polish specialities - from pierogi and soups to Polish beer on tap. On the other hand, you can also stock up on everything you crave from a culinary point of view. If you're in Berlin and have an appetite for Polish sausage, cheese and baked goods, then head to Kreuzberg to the Kleinen Prinz!
Where: Lilienthalstraße 6, Kreuzberg
When: Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm, Sunday from 10am to 8pm
More about the Polish grocery shop and café
Tip 3: Don't give hunger a chance at the Wroclaw restaurant
After the game is before the game. But in between is hunger. As die-hard football fans, you know of course that cheering loudly is impossible when your stomach is growling noisily. You can do something about this at Restaurant Breslau. However, the choice is difficult here, as the menu is packed with everything tasty that rich Polish cuisine has to offer. Should it perhaps be krokiety or pyzy ? Pierogi filled with spinach or salmon? Or sweet with berries? Is it still too early for Polish vodka? And of course: Was yesterday really offside or was it a penalty? Questions upon questions. You can discuss them for hours on end during your cosy stay at Breslau in Prenzlauer Berg.
Where: Sredzkistraße 67, Prenzlauer Berg
When: Monday to Friday from 5pm, Saturday from 3pm, Sunday from 12pm
Polish cuisine at Restaurant Breslau
Tip 4: Marvel at the paintings of early modernism
A visit to the Berlinische Galerie in Kreuzberg is always worthwhile. In this European Championship year, however, a very special exhibition is being shown here - with a large Polish contingent. Alongside Edvard Munch, Max Liebermann and Lovis Corinth, painters from what are now Polish regions played a key role in shaping the Berlin art scene of early modernism: Theo von Brockhusen from Olecko, Walter Leistikow from Bydgoszcz and Lesser Ury from Międzychód were their pioneers. Their works are on loan from the Markisches Museum, which is closed for renovation, and now complement the permanent exhibition "Art in Berlin 1880-1980". So if you feel like pure inspiration and aesthetics after all the football hustle and bustle, don't miss out on this cultural highlight.
Where: Alte Jakobstraße 124, Kreuzberg
When: Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 6 pm
Find out more about the exhibition
Tip 5: Go to the theatre and follow the absurdity of our existence
Sometimes, the game with the ball on the green pitch seems like a great piece of world theatre. And sometimes it can be absolutely absurd. If you like absurd theatre, then go and see "Beckett's Legs" at the ACUD Theatre. The play, staged by a Polish ensemble, is a scenic attempt to deal with the absurdity of human existence. It interweaves the works of Samuel Beckett and Anton Chekhov to create a sentimental grotesque. The play's nameless characters become archetypes that represent the pure perception of existence and human desires that arise and fade in the course of life. The play explores human pain, loneliness, but also the love of life and the sometimes hopeless pursuit of happiness. And let's be honest: doesn't that totally sound like our absurd passion for football?
Where: Veteranenstraße 21, Mitte
When: Friday, 28 June, and Saturday, 29 June, both at 8pm
Tip 6: Pay a visit to the Polish Institute
A bit homesick? No problem! There's a place in Berlin that will quickly make you forget: the Polish Institute. The lively cultural centre builds a bridge between Poland and Germany. At this meeting place, visitors can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Polish art and history. With a diverse programme of music, literature and visual arts, the Instytut Polski w Berlinie offers a platform for inspiring dialogue and artistic discoveries. Simply a window to the Polish soul, open to all those who want to be enchanted by the rich culture and tradition of Poland - or simply indulge in feelings of home.
Where: Burgstraße 27, Mitte
When: Tuesday to Friday from 1pm
All about the Polish Institute in Berlin
Tip 7: Browse Polish literature
Do you need reading material for the breaks in between the football matches? Then the Buchbund bookshop is the right place for you, incidentally the only German-Polish bookshop in Berlin. In addition to German and English-language literature, you'll find an extensive selection of Polish books here, from contemporary literature to classics, biographies, non-fiction books on history and politics to travel guides, children's books and, of course, language textbooks. Because Buchbund also sees itself as a meeting place for anyone who is interested in Poland and would like to chat over a coffee.
Where: Sanderstraße 8, Neuklölln
When: Wednesday to Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm
More bookshops in Berlin
Tip 8: Visit the "Club der Polnischen Versager"
Of course, we hope that failure is not an issue for the Polish team at the European Championships. But if it is (and not only then), we have the perfect tip for you: the "Club der Polnischen Versager". Founded on 1 September 2001 at 5.45 am, the club is now a test box for anything you fancy. It's all about books, films, radio and analogue communication - all garnished with a dash of anarchy and do-it-yourself. The Versager have found the perfect location for their events and the cosy neighbourhood pub in the Schokoladen cultural and residential project. Just drop by. The club is open when the door is not closed.
When: Open when the door is not closed (usually Saturday and Sunday from 20:00)
Where: Ackerstraße 168, Mitte
More about the Club der polnischen Versager
Tip 8: Emancipate yourselves - feminist art from Poland
Football is no longer a man's game. And it never really was. Fortunately, women are gaining more and more freedom - in sport and in the arts. One great pioneer is the Polish artist Natalia LL. The exhibition "Natalia LL - only love will survive" is a tribute to the feminist art movement and presents Natalia LL's long fight for the emancipation of women and erotic freedom. Her works, which liberate the female body from the role of passive object, are a bold contradiction to traditional values and social norms. The exhibition shows her series "Consumer Art", "The Word" and "Animalistic Art", which celebrate everyday life, intimacy and love. An inspiring experience that reveals the power of art. On display at NADAN in Schöneberg until 30 May.
Where: Meraner Straße 7, Schöneberg
When: Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 6pm
All information about the exhibition
Tip 9: Visit the exhibition about the freedom fighter Witold Pilecki
The 2024 European Championship is a celebration of friendship, international understanding and humanity. The new permanent exhibition at the Pilecki Institute at the Brandenburg Gate is a vivid reminder that these achievements cannot be taken for granted in history. The exhibition "Witold Pilecki: In Resistance to Hitler and Stalin" is a moving tribute to a hero of the 20th century. It tells the story of Pilecki, who voluntarily went to Auschwitz to organise a resistance movement and inform the world about the Nazi crimes. After his escape, he fought in the Warsaw Uprising and was later executed by the communist regime. His courage and determination are a timeless example of the fight for freedom and justice.
Where: Pariser Platz 4A, Mitte
When: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
All information about the exhibition
Tip 10: Unwind at the BONA Kollektiv
Polish hospitality, Italian culinary culture - and vice versa: The BONA Kollektiv in Neukölln is a little culinary gem that will make the hearts of street food lovers and coffee connoisseurs beat faster. It also has the potential to become a meeting place for Italian and Polish football fans. Gastronomically, Polish and Italian flavours merge here to create a unique taste experience. Whether it's crispy zapiekanka, savoury pierogi or a piadina filled with ham and rocket - the palate is spoiled here. Add to this a high-quality Italian coffee or a cool Sicilian beer and the day is perfect. Enjoy the warm atmosphere, discuss the progress of the tournament and simply relax with your fan scarves.
Where: Hermannstraße 178, Neukölln
When: Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm
Tip 11: Take a trip to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin, picturesquely located in the Grunewald district, is more than just a diplomatic venue. It is the heart of the Polish community and offers you culture, education and, of course, support if you have any consular questions. And it is a living symbol of Polish-German friendship and cooperation. With an open ear and a rich calendar of events, it can also be a little piece of home away from home for you. It also organises art exhibitions, musical performances and much more. And you're sure to find compatriots here who want to discuss the last game of the Polish national team with you.
Where: Richard-Strauss-Straße 11, Grunewald
When: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 2pm, Tuesday 1pm to 6pm
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