Berlin - Long Weekend
Discussion
Planning a long w/e in Berlin with the wife, early October probably. Very interested to hear recommendations of places to stay, attractions, things to do, good restaurants bars etc.
Like - beer, eating, bit of culture but not endless museums and galleries (with exception of car / industrial museums), parks / gardens and historical interest stuff.
Thoughts / guidance appreciated.
Like - beer, eating, bit of culture but not endless museums and galleries (with exception of car / industrial museums), parks / gardens and historical interest stuff.
Thoughts / guidance appreciated.
Most places to stay are pretty good, depends what you're looking for. We've stayed at the Park Inn (was East Berlin so a bit cool if you're into the history of the place) If you want to know what that area (Alexanderplatz) is like, just watch the second Jason Bourne pic, there's a few sections filmed around there 
There's a cracking Chinese inside the station called Asia Gourmet (chain thing), lots of shops including huge departments, cafe's etc.
Stuff to do - loads - Check Point Charlie Museum is good, Sony Centre and Film Museum, walking through the parks is relaxing, the Reichstag is great. Just down from there is the Soviet Soldiers memorial, typically grand, the locals have a different and less flattering name for it - you can't miss it as it's flanked by a couple of T34's. The toothpick (Alexanderplatz again) is pretty impressive as well - the Ku'Damm section is great, we'll probably stay there this year, it's a little more central - think Oxford Street type of thing.
Brilliant place however, you won't be bored.
Top tip - public transport is amazing, get a day ticket (tageskarte) (spelling?) and use that, utterly brilliant value. Just don't forget to validate it when you first use it.
There's a cracking Chinese inside the station called Asia Gourmet (chain thing), lots of shops including huge departments, cafe's etc.Stuff to do - loads - Check Point Charlie Museum is good, Sony Centre and Film Museum, walking through the parks is relaxing, the Reichstag is great. Just down from there is the Soviet Soldiers memorial, typically grand, the locals have a different and less flattering name for it - you can't miss it as it's flanked by a couple of T34's. The toothpick (Alexanderplatz again) is pretty impressive as well - the Ku'Damm section is great, we'll probably stay there this year, it's a little more central - think Oxford Street type of thing.
Brilliant place however, you won't be bored.
Top tip - public transport is amazing, get a day ticket (tageskarte) (spelling?) and use that, utterly brilliant value. Just don't forget to validate it when you first use it.
We stayed here http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-berlin and it was really nice. Here's the view of the catherdral from our room. There is an aquarium next door hence the interesting lobby feature.
It's right next to Alaxandreplatz, Brandenburg gate, the TV tower and a lot more. We had cocktails in the TV tower, visited all the ususal tourist stuff like checkpoint charlie, all the historic buildings and did a boat cruise located outside the hotel.
For evenings, this place (hackescher markt) had a great vibe. Outdoor eating and drinking although we went during the world cup so it was very busy. Again not far from the hotel.
Overall we had a great time, lovely people, nice hotel, good food and German beer. It's full of win.
It's right next to Alaxandreplatz, Brandenburg gate, the TV tower and a lot more. We had cocktails in the TV tower, visited all the ususal tourist stuff like checkpoint charlie, all the historic buildings and did a boat cruise located outside the hotel.
For evenings, this place (hackescher markt) had a great vibe. Outdoor eating and drinking although we went during the world cup so it was very busy. Again not far from the hotel.
Overall we had a great time, lovely people, nice hotel, good food and German beer. It's full of win.
As Kuroblack350 said the public transport, rail, U-Bahn & buses are really excellent, if you have a smartphone then there are several freebie apps that you can stuff on your phone for route and real time travel info, also several free apps for attractions and how to get to places.
You can order the Berlin WelcomeCard to cover all travel before you leave the UK, you need zone ABC if you are flying to Schoenefeld or want to visit Potsdam, otherwise get zone AB and select how long you want the ticket to last.
You can buy the same ticket when you arrive but that means finding the booth at the airport etc., plus you will also receive a book of offers for entry to lots of attractions so you can read up on those in advance to plan your trip before you get to Berlin.
Oh, and as stated, you must validate the ticket on the first journey, at Schoenefeld the validation machines are nondescript grey boxes on a pole at the top of the stairs on the railway platform, just stuff the card in, quite firmly and it will be date stamped. After that you just show it to the bus driver or ticket inspector on the U-Bahn or train.
Berlin is a great city, you will enjoy the visit.
http://www.berlin-welcomecard.de/en/product-inform...
You can order the Berlin WelcomeCard to cover all travel before you leave the UK, you need zone ABC if you are flying to Schoenefeld or want to visit Potsdam, otherwise get zone AB and select how long you want the ticket to last.
You can buy the same ticket when you arrive but that means finding the booth at the airport etc., plus you will also receive a book of offers for entry to lots of attractions so you can read up on those in advance to plan your trip before you get to Berlin.
Oh, and as stated, you must validate the ticket on the first journey, at Schoenefeld the validation machines are nondescript grey boxes on a pole at the top of the stairs on the railway platform, just stuff the card in, quite firmly and it will be date stamped. After that you just show it to the bus driver or ticket inspector on the U-Bahn or train.
Berlin is a great city, you will enjoy the visit.
http://www.berlin-welcomecard.de/en/product-inform...
I visit Berlin reasonably regularly - a common stop for a proper German meal with a great (i.e not cheesy, and the place is typically full of locals) atmosphere is at Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt http://www.augustiner-braeu-berlin.de/galerie.html . The Gendarmenmarkt is a lovely part of Berlin, a touch up-market, and some really nice places for drinks as a couple - I would recommend Newton, a few doors away from the Augustiner http://www.newton-bar.de/index_flash.html . Interesting pictures on the wall.
As above, highly recommend getting the Berlin Welcome Card on arrival at the airport or before you travel - €20 or thereabouts for 48hrs unlimited travel across zones A, B and C (includes Tegel and Schonefeld airports) across all forms of public transport, includes discounted entry to most tourist attractions, and free entry to Museums on Museum Island in Mitte. You also get a free guide book and map. You can buy for longer durations, etc - as above, just remember to 'validate' by inserting ticket into validation machine when you first use it on your first journey.
Also, download the BVG app onto your smartphone - works really well. BVG.de has all the details.
Topographie of Terror also worth very much worth visiting - harrowing, but very well done and right next to a big part of still-standing wall. Easy strolling distance from CheckPoint Charlie (cheesy/naff in the extreme).
As above, highly recommend getting the Berlin Welcome Card on arrival at the airport or before you travel - €20 or thereabouts for 48hrs unlimited travel across zones A, B and C (includes Tegel and Schonefeld airports) across all forms of public transport, includes discounted entry to most tourist attractions, and free entry to Museums on Museum Island in Mitte. You also get a free guide book and map. You can buy for longer durations, etc - as above, just remember to 'validate' by inserting ticket into validation machine when you first use it on your first journey.
Also, download the BVG app onto your smartphone - works really well. BVG.de has all the details.
Topographie of Terror also worth very much worth visiting - harrowing, but very well done and right next to a big part of still-standing wall. Easy strolling distance from CheckPoint Charlie (cheesy/naff in the extreme).
Thanks Had Ham, http://www.augustiner-braeu-berlin.de/galerie.html the menu looks great its not an area I've been to before but will make a point of eating there when I go back in August.
My vegetarian daughter will be pleased that from the entire menu she will be able to have the noodles with cheese, spinach & salad.
I'll be knee deep in porky goodness.
My vegetarian daughter will be pleased that from the entire menu she will be able to have the noodles with cheese, spinach & salad.
I'll be knee deep in porky goodness.
Porkbrain said:
Thanks Had Ham, http://www.augustiner-braeu-berlin.de/galerie.html the menu looks great its not an area I've been to before but will make a point of eating there when I go back in August.
My vegetarian daughter will be pleased that from the entire menu she will be able to have the noodles with cheese, spinach & salad.
I'll be knee deep in porky goodness.
The Pork Knuckle is wonderful with a beer or three My vegetarian daughter will be pleased that from the entire menu she will be able to have the noodles with cheese, spinach & salad.
I'll be knee deep in porky goodness.
Another vote for the Augustiner!
It's a Bavarian beer keller in Berlin (hence the Schweinehaxe, pork knuckle) but it hits the spot for simple dining and plentiful beer.
As for daytime activities then the GDR (DDR) museum is a must but get there early. It's interactive and entertains all ages.
On a slightly more serious level the DHM (Deutches Historische Museum) provides a very easy and honest history of Germany and, in particular, the rise and fall of fascism.
Personally I'd give Checkpoint Charlie a miss - I passed through the real Checkpoint Charlie on a couple of occasions back in the '80's before the Wall came down and it really isn't much like the real thing now. There is a free area by the old checkpont to look at pictures from the past but TBH you will probably see all the CP C material in the other museums anyway.
For me the most interesting place was the Stasi museum which is a few miles east of central Berlin but easily accessible on the U-bahn. This is a 'live' museum in so far as you walk through the offices of the Stasi!
Be warned, however, that the total GDP of Germany is being spent on rebuilding Berlin. I stood outside the DHM and counted 13 tower cranes plus Unter dem Linden is currently being dug up to link the U-Bahn from old West to East Berlin.
Nonetheless a great city in the making (re-making) and very cosmopolitan. It's well worth a weekend visit.
For a relaxed and possibly romantic dinner then try Sagrantino (Behrenstrasse 47, basically in/near Gendarmenmarkt)
It's a Bavarian beer keller in Berlin (hence the Schweinehaxe, pork knuckle) but it hits the spot for simple dining and plentiful beer.
As for daytime activities then the GDR (DDR) museum is a must but get there early. It's interactive and entertains all ages.
On a slightly more serious level the DHM (Deutches Historische Museum) provides a very easy and honest history of Germany and, in particular, the rise and fall of fascism.
Personally I'd give Checkpoint Charlie a miss - I passed through the real Checkpoint Charlie on a couple of occasions back in the '80's before the Wall came down and it really isn't much like the real thing now. There is a free area by the old checkpont to look at pictures from the past but TBH you will probably see all the CP C material in the other museums anyway.
For me the most interesting place was the Stasi museum which is a few miles east of central Berlin but easily accessible on the U-bahn. This is a 'live' museum in so far as you walk through the offices of the Stasi!
Be warned, however, that the total GDP of Germany is being spent on rebuilding Berlin. I stood outside the DHM and counted 13 tower cranes plus Unter dem Linden is currently being dug up to link the U-Bahn from old West to East Berlin.
Nonetheless a great city in the making (re-making) and very cosmopolitan. It's well worth a weekend visit.
For a relaxed and possibly romantic dinner then try Sagrantino (Behrenstrasse 47, basically in/near Gendarmenmarkt)
I last went in December for four days to take in the Christmas Markets and had an amazing time.
It was mightly cold though, so if you end up not going in October and push it to later in the year, I would stress that a good coat / gloves is a must!
As mentioned above, the DDR museum is great, it's very hands on and visual. It gives you a great sense of what it might of been like to live in those times.
The Deutsches Museum is also good, but a little heavier. The parts about the 1920's to 1940's is fascinating.
We also visited the 'Topography of Terror', which is based in the ruins of the old SS headquarters down the road from Checkpoint Charlie. This place is very heavy going, lots of text to read, but really does help you build a picture of how it all came to happen.
Food and drink wise, we did a variety of places, most of which are usually mentioned in guide books as they're close to the Unter den Linden. Kaffeehaus Einstein - great cake, coffees etc (The strudel I had was amazing!), Nante Eck - Stopped there for a very german lunch, 3 types of sausages and all, Augustiner - as mentioned above is a bavarian themed pub, so Pork Knuckles, Snitzels the size of a plate and Duck are all on the menu.
If you do go any where near Christmas, I would highly recommend the one at Gendarmenmarkt, its the only one that charges to get in (only 1 euro) and is huge, full of great food and drink and just looks spectacular!
It was mightly cold though, so if you end up not going in October and push it to later in the year, I would stress that a good coat / gloves is a must!
As mentioned above, the DDR museum is great, it's very hands on and visual. It gives you a great sense of what it might of been like to live in those times.
The Deutsches Museum is also good, but a little heavier. The parts about the 1920's to 1940's is fascinating.
We also visited the 'Topography of Terror', which is based in the ruins of the old SS headquarters down the road from Checkpoint Charlie. This place is very heavy going, lots of text to read, but really does help you build a picture of how it all came to happen.
Food and drink wise, we did a variety of places, most of which are usually mentioned in guide books as they're close to the Unter den Linden. Kaffeehaus Einstein - great cake, coffees etc (The strudel I had was amazing!), Nante Eck - Stopped there for a very german lunch, 3 types of sausages and all, Augustiner - as mentioned above is a bavarian themed pub, so Pork Knuckles, Snitzels the size of a plate and Duck are all on the menu.
If you do go any where near Christmas, I would highly recommend the one at Gendarmenmarkt, its the only one that charges to get in (only 1 euro) and is huge, full of great food and drink and just looks spectacular!
I went for a long weekend a few months ago. Stayed about 15 minute walk from Brandenburg Gate.
It's a massive city, lots to see but getting around is easy. On any street you'll see the U-train (underground) platforms. They have machines selling tickets. I bought a 3-day tourist pass that covers U-train, S-bahn and most busses too. Bargain, and the trains are very efficient so it's a super easy way to get around.
I mainly just did the tourist sites which were cool but very busy. I'm sure as a city it caters to all needs though, you should enjoy it.
It's a massive city, lots to see but getting around is easy. On any street you'll see the U-train (underground) platforms. They have machines selling tickets. I bought a 3-day tourist pass that covers U-train, S-bahn and most busses too. Bargain, and the trains are very efficient so it's a super easy way to get around.
I mainly just did the tourist sites which were cool but very busy. I'm sure as a city it caters to all needs though, you should enjoy it.
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