Five years ago to the week, I hopped on a plane over to Berlin. Having never been to Germany before, I was excited to indulge in Christmas markets, beer halls and heapings of strudel.

I arrived on a cold, dark, wintery evening and met up with a friend I hadn’t seen in months, our first order of business was to grab two steins and catch up on life.

For our first full day in the city, we made our way over to the West side which is dominated by a number of government buildings and memorials.

It was the East side though that screamed out the city’s colourful alternative vibe, littered with street art, stacks of crumbling music posters and quirky bars.

We learned that street art comes and goes, with newer pieces swiftly engulfing the old. There is one piece though, of great historical significance, which has remained untouched. This is a portrait of Anne Frank that sits outside the entrance of the Anne Frank Zentrum.

Between pacing the streets in the freezing cold temperatures from sight to sight, we’d step into the cities countless Christmas markets to sip on warm glühwein and try out rich and creamy delights.

Aside from nightclubs that stay open from Friday to Monday morning, Berlin has so much to offer it’s visitors all year round. I loved visiting the grand Berlin Cathedral and greeting the animals at the Berlin Zoo.

A favourite travel tip of mine is to always leave an excuse to go back to the places that capture you. For Berlin, I look forward to returning one day in the summer months and exploring “Museum Island” – the world’s largest ensemble of museums. Until travel becomes possible again… Zum Wohl!