35 years of town twinning: visitBerlin and go2Warsaw swap their social media accounts for a day
- As part of a social media takeover, the two tourism organisations are showcasing their respective twin towns from a new perspective
- Poland is one of the most important source markets for tourism in Berlin
- Comeback: Cultural train to link the two capitals once again in autumn 2026
Berlin, 6 August 2026 35 years of town twinning, 35 years of active neighbourly relations: to mark the anniversary, the tourism organisations visitBerlin and go2Warsaw are inviting each other to experience a special change of perspective. In August, the Polish social media team will explore Berlin from the perspective of a city break visitor. In Berlin, the tour takes in the TV Tower, Museum Island, Warschauer Straße and the Oberbaum Bridge. In Friedrichshain, the focus is on street art and the young, creative restaurant scene, which are particularly popular with Polish city breakers. Along the River Spree, participants experience the city as a relaxing waterside retreat. Small everyday phenomena are also discovered: for example, the Berlin ‘Späti’ as the local counterpart to the Polish ‘Żabka’.
The Berlin team, in turn, explores Warsaw: from the Highline Warsaw viewing platform in the Varso Tower, on a boat trip along the Vistula, and on a stroll through the Łazienki Royal Gardens and across the Magdalena Abakanowicz Bridge. The itinerary also includes a Polish memorial featuring a preserved section of the Berlin Wall.
A change of perspective on Instagram
On the anniversary of the town twinning, 12 August, content will be published on the other organisation’s accounts: visitBerlin will post on go2Warsaw’s channels, and go2Warsaw on visitBerlin’s. On Instagram, the teams take their communities along for the ride and showcase authentic life in both capitals up close. In this way, the social media takeover whets the appetite for a visit to the neighbouring city and opens up new target groups for both destinations.
“Berlin and Warsaw are linked by more than just their 35-year city partnership: both cities stand for openness, creativity and an urban way of life. With the social media takeover, we’re sparking curiosity about each other’s partner city and combining a vibrant European neighbourhood spirit with new travel inspiration,” says Dr Jürgen Amann, Managing Director of visitBerlin.
Poland is one of the most important European source markets for tourism in Berlin. In terms of visitor numbers, Poland ranks third; in terms of overnight stays, it ranks sixth. In 2025, Berlin welcomed more than 270,000 visitors from Poland and recorded around 580,000 overnight stays. Good transport links also contribute to the close ties between the two cities in terms of tourism: up to six daily direct flights between Berlin and Warsaw, as well as direct EuroCity services to Warsaw, Wrocław and Kraków, make travel between the two countries straightforward.
The Berlin–Poznań–Warsaw Cultural Train returns to the rails
Another highlight of the anniversary year will be eight special journeys on the Berlin–Poznań–Warsaw Cultural Train between 24 September and 10 October 2026. More than 32 bilingual events will take place on board. Readings, concerts, performances and discussions will turn the train journey itself into a cultural experience and create opportunities for direct encounters between people from Germany and Poland.
The anniversary year will be accompanied by a wide-ranging cultural programme in both cities. This includes Polish art on Museum Island, the ‘Meet Polish Cinema Berlin’ film series running until December at City Kino Wedding, and the exhibition ‘Images of Identity’, which can be seen at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw until the end of November.
35 years after the signing of the town twinning agreement, Berlin and Warsaw are demonstrating how European neighbourliness remains alive through encounters, cultural exchange and new perspectives.
