Europe Travel Blogs

Guide To Visiting IGA Berlin 2017 – The Gardens Of The World

Find out all you need to know about visiting IGA Berlin 2017 – The Gardens Of The World.

Last week I clocked up a record 100,000 steps in just four days. Where did I go? Berlin! It was a city I’d wanted to visit for a long time, so when an invite arrived in my inbox, it was a no brainer.

After breezing past a gigantic colourful giraffe at The Circus Hotel, and settling into my cute, kitsch room, I felt a little overwhelmed. There was just SO much to see and do in the city, and I only had four days. I wondered if I’d even scratch the surface.

Exploring the street art of Berlin on a tour with With Locals.

The big thing on my list was a trip to the International Garden Exhibition (or IGA Berlin 2017). It’s open until 15^th October and offers visitors a mini world tour, without hopping on a flight. Well… actually, the main access is via cable car, so some flying is involved!

I spent around 6 hours walking around the gardens, enjoying views from a super-modern viewing tower, exploring Japanese, Chinese and Balinese gardens and putting the macro function on my camera to good use by snapping beautiful close-ups of colourful blooms.

So, whether you’re already planning your trip, or want some inspiration, here’s my guide to visiting IGA Berlin 2017.

Stupid question but… What Is IGA Berlin 2017?

Nope, not stupid at all! I’d never heard of it either until this trip. It’s a huge garden show, featuring beautiful flower displays, inspirational architecture, and themed sections designed take you on a tour of the world. There are areas dedicated to China, Japan, Bali, Korea and more. You could compare it to Chelsea or Hampton Court Flower Shows, although this one covers a bigger area.

Once you arrive at Kienberg, you catch the cable car over the various gardens. It gives an amazing overview of the exhibition. It’s at this point you’ll realise just how vast it is! I read the exhibition covers 104 hectares (approx. 140 football pitches) – well that explains how I clocked up so many steps!

How Do I Get To IGA Berlin 2017?

The nearest station to the entrance is Kienberg, which is served by line U5. The journey is just 26 minutes from Alexanderplatz in the city centre. The 197 bus also stops just outside. You can view a map of the site here.

What Are The Highlights Of IGA Berlin 2017?

Well… there are lots! It’s a very photogenic place. Here are a few of my favourite spots from my day there.

The Ropeway

The beautiful cable car system transports visitors 1.5km all the way from the entrance at Kienberg to the main flower hall. Soaring over the site is a magnificent way to arrive, particularly when the sun is shining!

The Chinese Garden

What a gorgeous spiritual place! This is the largest Chinese garden of its kind in Europe, and was built with materials shipped all the way from China. The traditional teahouse overlooks the lake, which is known as the ‘Mirror of Heaven’. It felt like one of the calmest spots in the exhibition, and one of my top tips is to sit and order a pot of tea (4-5 EUR) while watching the huge fish swimming around in the lake.

From Borough and Brixton to Camden and Hampstead, there are food markets selling delicious street food ALL over London!

Time for a blog filled with foodie joy! Food markets are one of my favourite things on the planet. I try to visit them in every destination I visit. From bustling Barcelona, to small towns in Guatemala and the buzzing night markets of Indonesia – they’re all different but give you a truly local vibe.

London’s food market scene has been growing and growing. We don’t want to buy fresh produce to take home, we want creative cuisine from around the world… and on a budget.

We are so lucky to have food from pretty much every corner of the planet available too. These days it’s no surprise to see Chinese baos next to authentic Mexican tacos and Indian rotis. Infact, it’s pretty rare to see a standard hot dog or burger!

So, with the street food revolution in full swing, it’s time for a quick tour of London’s top street food markets. A trip to any of these makes a great day out in London. I’ll be sure to update as and when new places pop up too!

Borough Market

Over 100 stalls sit under Borough Market‘s open roofed structure just south of the river. Along with great produce – cheese, bread, cider, fresh fish and meat, your nose will be guided by delicious smells of venison burgers, Lebanese falafel, goat stew, Indian vegetarian street food and some of the most delicious scotch eggs around!

Opening Times: Borough Market’s main market is open Wednesday – Saturday although there are some stalls there on Monday and Tuesday.
Address: Borough High Street, Borough, London, SE1 9DE.
Nearest Tube: London Bridge

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Check availability and prices for a food tour of London.

Maltby Street Market

One of my favourite discoveries from the last year, Maltby Street is compact, away from the main tourist areas, and has more of a local vibe! There are cute restaurants and bars on each side of the street, then a whole range of stalls down the middle. There’s tonnes on offer, with Korean fried chicken, Canadian poutine, oozing cheese toasties, tasty gyozas and gourmet brownies oozing with salted caramel to name a few.

Opening Times: Saturday and Sunday only.
Address: 41 Maltby Street, Ropewalk, Southwark, SE1 3PA.
Nearest Tube: London Bridge

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BOOK NOW: Street Food Tour Of London

Hampstead Market

Hampstead Market showcases the very best in fresh produce and delicious foodie treats. From huge barrels of olives and gooey burrata cheese, to fresh ravioli, gigantic savoury tarts, waffles and some of London’s best macaroons, whatever you’re in the mood for, there’ll be something waiting for you!

Opening Times: Saturdays only from 10am – 3pm.
Address: Hampstead Parochial School, Holly Bush Vale, NW3 6TX.
Nearest Tube: Hampstead

Broadway Market

This part of Hackney has quite a mix on offer, including cute shops, galleries, vintage stores and of course a top farmer’s market! The main market day is Saturday, when you’ll find the likes of Fin and Flounder (who serve lobster brioche creations), top burger stall Black Bear Burger, and Nonnas Gelato (where anything is possible when it comes to ice cream!)

Opening Times: Saturdays only, from 9am – 5pm.
Address: 38-44 Broadway Market, London, E8 4QJ.
Nearest Tube: London Fields or Cambridge Heath overground or a bit of a walk from Bethnal Green.

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Startisans Covent Garden Indoor Market

I found this place by chance one lunchtime, and was over the moon! Away from the touristy Covent Garden market, this one is run by Startisans – a company that puts together individuals who specialise in artisan foods. The food options are plentiful, and once inside it’s hard to resist the curries on offer. They smell so damn good! The quiches and tarts were also fab, but you can expect different people hosting stalls throughout the week, so it’s worth going back on different days.

Opening Times: Monday – Friday from 11am – 3pm.
Address: 77 Shelton Street, London, WCH 9JQ.
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden

Because singing your heart out while covered in glitter and tipsy on bottomless cocktails is ALWAYS a good idea!

It’s pretty rare that my school friends and I ALL get together in one place these days. With my constant jet setting, one of my friends living up north, and busy lives, we’ve got used to our annual Christmas shindig and catching up individually throughout the year.

When it comes to eating and drinking in Cadiz, you’ll be spoiled for choice with a wonderful mix of restaurants, tapas bars and cafes dotted through the labyrinth of skinny streets. Here’s my guide to the best Cadiz restaurants.

REVIEW: Curry Cooking Class at L'Atelier Des Chefs, London

Time for a curry cooking class with a professional chef at a top cooking school in the heart of London. Plus, if you fancy a trip yourself, scroll down for a cheeky discount code!

*Unfortunately this cookery school has now closed, but if you’re looking for other Indian food activities in London, I’d recommend this Indian food tour.*

I absolutely adore the flavours of Indian food. The spices, the aromas, the powerful blend of ingredients and of course the heat! Since travelling, my chilli tolerance has grown a lot it. From fiery chillies in Mexico, to Caribbean hot sauce and the delicious spices in Indonesia, I’ve worked my way through some punchy, flavoursome cuisines. One of my favourite meals always has been (and probably always will be) curry! Whether it’s a trip to my fave curry house or mum’s homemade concoctions, it’s one of those meals I always look forward to.

When it comes to cooking curry, I’ve gone through phases. I own a lot of spices, including a special Indian spice set. Yet, without a permanent home these days, it’s gone into storage. More often, I use a couple of spices and then add a shop-bought paste, but I’m totally aware that is pretty generic and a bit of a cop out! I also discovered that my partner cooks a mean curry, and so we decided that I’m the ramen queen and he’s the curry king!

So when we had the opportunity to visit a cooking school in Central London for a two-hour curry cooking class with a professional chef, we jumped at the chance. We hoped to learn some new techniques and hopefully add some new dishes to our repertoire.

L’atelier Des Chefs is a top cookery school with two branches – one in London’s Oxford Circus and the other in St Paul’s. They offer classes from 30 minutes to 4 hours, and last year taught over 30,000 people how to cook. They cover everything from knife skills and bread making to sushi and macaroons.

These are all of my Europe travel blogs!