Embedded between river Spree, touristy-animated Hackescher Markt and Oranienburger Straße lies Monbijoupark. The park stretches over the area of a former palace (Schloss Monbijou), that was severely damaged in World War II and finally removed in 1959. The park was then conceived for recreation and leisure. Apart from the lawn to chill on, it pleases with a broad waterside promenade and in summer with an amphitheater-stage as well as with – exclusively for kids – an open-air pool. Considering the high number of oh-so-popular parks in Berlin, the not-so-big-sized Monbijoupark might not be suggested in your travel guide. But once you stroll around in Berlin-Mitte, you may easily find yourself sitting here in the grass with the background noise of playing kids or the peal of bells from the nearby Berliner Dom in your ears. And while watching tourist-ships chugging by in front of the pictorial coulisse of the Museumsinsel (Museum Island), you may understand why this green space in this unwound atmosphere close to all the hustle and bustle is called „mon bijou“ – my jewel.