Berlin - pointers?
Discussion
Morning all
Heading to Berlin in a couple of weeks. Guide books are ten a penny, but wanted some real feedback as to some great places to go and visit while there.
We are travelling with a beer officiando so got the bars / beers side sorted. What about the sights? Things worth seeing and avoiding? Any hidden gems?
Help appreciated!
Heading to Berlin in a couple of weeks. Guide books are ten a penny, but wanted some real feedback as to some great places to go and visit while there.
We are travelling with a beer officiando so got the bars / beers side sorted. What about the sights? Things worth seeing and avoiding? Any hidden gems?
Help appreciated!
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a... to drink in Berlin?
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
i'd recommend the timeout city guide.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
i'd recommend the timeout city guide.
k!
From one of the thtreds linked by Shirt:
When we were planning on leaving, one of the lads still hadn't had a dance and we were ribbing him for it. I saw the dog walking past in its little diamanté harness, grabbed the dollar and tucked it in the harness. The dog wandered off and a moment later we heard roaring laughter as the table next to us had seen it. The dog did a fill circuit of the bar and was greeted by laughter everywhere it went. The manageress looked around to see what the fuss was about and spotted the dog. She had a face like thunder as she quickly picked the dog up off the floor. None of the girls looked impressed either as all eyes were on the dog!
Nyphur said:
Thanks for all the suggestions guys.Oranienburger Strasse was great for bars, we were already heading there for Aufsturz anyway, but ended up visiting a fair few bars along the way (can't remember any names unfortunately 
). I think Aufsturz was by far our favourite place we went, really great place.
Oranienburger Strasse is also the place for 'Gentlemen's Entertainment'. When I was there, we were in the vicinity late one night and those of us that wanted to stay out decided to find a titty bar. We asked a German lad and he said "Just follow the breadcrumbs!". As we walked, the concentration of hookers increased. We got to one spot and there were loads outside the strip club. We went in the club and were all given a dollar bill with the name of the club for a free dance. As we walked past the bar, there was a woman sat there with a couple of girls either side and was clearly the manageress. She was a large lady, dressed like Bet Lynch with a feather boa and holding a pug dog.). I think Aufsturz was by far our favourite place we went, really great place.When we were planning on leaving, one of the lads still hadn't had a dance and we were ribbing him for it. I saw the dog walking past in its little diamanté harness, grabbed the dollar and tucked it in the harness. The dog wandered off and a moment later we heard roaring laughter as the table next to us had seen it. The dog did a fill circuit of the bar and was greeted by laughter everywhere it went. The manageress looked around to see what the fuss was about and spotted the dog. She had a face like thunder as she quickly picked the dog up off the floor. None of the girls looked impressed either as all eyes were on the dog!
on oranienburger, my friends were in a cellar bar as me and another guy were stood outside waiting for a straggler. 2 girls come over and start chatting, i'm being polite but my mate clearly thinks he's on a winner. with his back to the door he couldn't see the rest of our group who had also clocked the 2 toms and were pissing themselves as our mate started with his 'moves'. silly boy...
same girls were there every night trying to lure people back to their 'hotel'. became a bit of a joke as we'd all stop to chat to them.
but yeah, berlin is a fantastic city, simultaneously managing to be one of the coolest destinations whilst also being the one of the ugliest.
same girls were there every night trying to lure people back to their 'hotel'. became a bit of a joke as we'd all stop to chat to them.
but yeah, berlin is a fantastic city, simultaneously managing to be one of the coolest destinations whilst also being the one of the ugliest.
Try and book a Trabi Tour! I did one with a load of people (15 cars) on a travel 'fam'(familiarisation) trip'. What a way to see the city, Brandenberg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Hitlers bunker and loads of other sights. All of us in a convoy of Trabants, the lead car had a tour guide with a walkie-talkie telling you the sites & directions, the Trabi's were gtreat to drive and tourists were constantly taking photos of us, great fun and a great way to see the city. Also went on a boat down the river Spree, another way to see the city from a different perspective. AND we went to the Pan-Am Lounge, an apartment in the city where Pan Am pilots and stewardesses got up to all sorts! It has been restored to its original state including a bar, 60's bedrooms and furniture etc and amazing outdoor terrace overlooking the city. Try and check it out.
I went for a lads weekend in Feb. Berliner is a nice beer as mentioned - but you have to eat currywurst - I was addicted to the stuff
As mentioned do the tours - very interesting all the historical side of things - especially the site of hitlers bunker. The old classical architecture is very interesting, certain residential buildings that pre date ww2 can still have bullet holes in from the war.
We also did an alternative city tour - which involved an insight into the graffiti and anti commercialism that is rampant in Berlin. It wasnt really my thing but a couple of the lads wanted to go and it was worth a few hours. The graffiti is EVERYWHERE, its the only thing that brightens up the drab prefab concrete Russian buildings.
Dont bother paying for the train or tram - supposed to be a 40 euro fine but we never got checked for tickets once and saved far more than that in the process - maybe try and plead ignorance if asked?
We stayed away from the tourist clubs and tried our hand at the nightclubs where the Germans go..The music is very minimal certainly not my cup of tea but again its all about new experiences especially when drunk. Try to get in the Berghain, we went to Maria a couple of times. We accidentally walked into a 'gentlemen's only club' around the back of the Berghain - luckily a bouncer in a vest top, combats and a beret saw we were doe eyed English tourists and kindly pointed us back in the right direction. One of the guides later told us its not uncommon for the clientele at that sort of place to have rulers tattooed on their wrists so they know how far they are fisting each other
As mentioned do the tours - very interesting all the historical side of things - especially the site of hitlers bunker. The old classical architecture is very interesting, certain residential buildings that pre date ww2 can still have bullet holes in from the war.
We also did an alternative city tour - which involved an insight into the graffiti and anti commercialism that is rampant in Berlin. It wasnt really my thing but a couple of the lads wanted to go and it was worth a few hours. The graffiti is EVERYWHERE, its the only thing that brightens up the drab prefab concrete Russian buildings.
Dont bother paying for the train or tram - supposed to be a 40 euro fine but we never got checked for tickets once and saved far more than that in the process - maybe try and plead ignorance if asked?
We stayed away from the tourist clubs and tried our hand at the nightclubs where the Germans go..The music is very minimal certainly not my cup of tea but again its all about new experiences especially when drunk. Try to get in the Berghain, we went to Maria a couple of times. We accidentally walked into a 'gentlemen's only club' around the back of the Berghain - luckily a bouncer in a vest top, combats and a beret saw we were doe eyed English tourists and kindly pointed us back in the right direction. One of the guides later told us its not uncommon for the clientele at that sort of place to have rulers tattooed on their wrists so they know how far they are fisting each other
seany87 said:
you have to eat currywurst - I was addicted to the stuff
you really don't, it's rank. food is not a teutonic strongpoint.seany87 said:
We stayed away from the tourist clubs and tried our hand at the nightclubs where the Germans go..The music is very minimal certainly not my cup of tea but again its all about new experiences especially when drunk. Try to get in the Berghain, we went to Maria a couple of times. We accidentally walked into a 'gentlemen's only club' around the back of the Berghain - luckily a bouncer in a vest top, combats and a beret saw we were doe eyed English tourists and kindly pointed us back in the right direction. One of the guides later told us its not uncommon for the clientele at that sort of place to have rulers tattooed on their wrists so they know how far they are fisting each other
not sure what constitutes a tourist club, but the berlin scene is very eclectic. white trash do decent indie / alternative / electro nights but my favourite club was a place called kaffee burger. it's an old east german social club open until 8am. great music from music hall to cowboy to 50s rock n roll. very 'interesting' inhabitants too.re: berghain, split up in the queue if you're a group of lads and keep quiet. 6 of us were turned away one night for being english. the bouncer sounded exactly like the anarchist from the big lebowski and went into a huge spiel that 'this is myyyyyyyy house' and 'people i don't know don't come into myyyy house' etc. i have heard plenty of tales of gay guys shagging openly in berghain, so no great loss.
tbh, other than the irish pubs obviously, i would be surprised to find a rubbish bar in berlin.
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