Tempelhof-Schöneberg Is Chic-As-Can-Be But Only If You Can Afford It

Templehof-Schöneberg could not have been made up of more different localities had the city tried. Settled into an alcove of south-central Berlin, the area is both historical and beautiful, containing six smaller districts which each have a flair all their own.

Tempelhof, by area the largest of the districts, takes its name from the iconic airport which was built there in the 1923 and closed in October of 2008. Flughafen Templehof (U6 Platz der Luftbrücke), as it's called by locals, was where the Berlin Airlift took place from 1948 to 1949, and the airport, although no longer open to the public, is a site you absolutely should not miss in Berlin. Although Tempelhof also has some parks, it is a largely residential and industrial neighborhood.

North-east of Tempelhof is Schöneberg, where the rich and beautiful come to play. The largest department store in continental Europe, KaDeWe (Tauentzienstraße 21-24, U: Wittenbergplatz), is located in Schöneberg, and is an absolute must visit. Although the items for sale inside likely cost as much as one months rent (or more!) the famous food floor is an amazing (and delicious) place to visit.

East of KaDeWe, at Nollendorfplatz (U: Nollendorfplatz) you'll find the twice-weekly Winterfeldmarkt, where you can eat spicy Thai dumplings while searching for hidden antique treasures. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, it's sure to be a treat for your taste buds.

Also nearby is Rathaus Schöneberg (John-F.-Kennedy-Platz, U4 Rathaus Schöneberg), where President Kennedy made his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in 1963.

Nearby in Friedenau is Never Never Land (Cranachestraße 55, S1 Friedenau), an Australian pub and steak house that's delicious and won't break your wallet. If you're up for trying something other than German cuisine, and you're exploring Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Never Never Land may be worth a try.

To the south, in Mariendorf, you'll find Volkspark Mariendorf (Prühstr. 90, U6 Westphalweg), a large park with a hill for sledding during the frigid Berlin winters, an ice rink, and three ponds. Perfect for taking a long walk and relaxing, the park also contains a large stadium and an open air cinema in which films are played during the summer months.

South of Mariendorf you'll find Marienfelde and Lichtenrade which, following in the tradition of Tempelhof, are both highly residential areas with flowing pockets of industrialism.