Berlin in May - what to see, what to miss
Discussion
I've just booked a long weekend in Berlin in May, simply because it's a city I've always wanted to visit.
There are the obvious things - remnants of the wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Olympic Stadium, the Brandenburg Gate - but is there anything I really need to make a point of seeing/doing? What's the best local brew? And is there anything that's massively hyped but, in reality, rubbish?
There are the obvious things - remnants of the wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Olympic Stadium, the Brandenburg Gate - but is there anything I really need to make a point of seeing/doing? What's the best local brew? And is there anything that's massively hyped but, in reality, rubbish?
Twincam16 said:
Hmmm. Nothing on the search function other than threads about buying property and WW2.
You're doing it wrong 
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sclient=psy-ab&...
LHD said:
Twincam16 said:
Hmmm. Nothing on the search function other than threads about buying property and WW2.
The war stuff is worth seeking out.Berlin is awesome but bloody expensive.
V8mate said:
LHD said:
Twincam16 said:
Hmmm. Nothing on the search function other than threads about buying property and WW2.
The war stuff is worth seeking out.Berlin is awesome but bloody expensive.
Along those lines i suppose...
http://www.insidertour.com/tours.php/cat/27/id/44/...
I find all the stuff about Nazi Germany quite fascinating.
king bridge. 
We went last year, and it was easily the best place I've ever been!
A bit of a list, but you may be interested and/or it may help.
Brandenburg Gate - Fantastic to look at, and steeped in history. It really is quite impressive close up, and when you look at some of the old photos when the wall was up, it really brings it home.
Reichstag - Just round the corner from Brandenburg Gate, and really REALLY impressive to look at. Make sure you PRE-BOOK a tour in the dome online. We didn't, and we were absolutely gutted to miss out. You can easily sit for an hour or so just soaking up the atmosphere. I'd recommend taking a picnic along if that's your thing, as it seems the ideal place for it - though we didn't.
Charlottenburg Castle - Out of Berlin, but well worth a visit! I actually went to Charlottenburg just to go to where we used to live when I was younger, but was surprised how nice it was. The detail on the railings is fantastic.
Hard Rock Cafe - Not really a sight, but thought it worth mentioning, since we ate there. It's quite an interesting one, and if you're lucky enough, it has a balcony to sit out on and people watch, if that's your sort of thing. Also ideal for watching some nice cars go by!
Potsdamer Platz & Sony Centre - Really, really interesting mix of buildings, and the Sony Centre is quite cool. None of the places looked that good to eat, though ideal for a beer or two!
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial) - An odd one this. You look at the pictures and think it looks quite striking. When you start getting close to it, it doesn't look that impressive, but take a walk through and it really does feel impressive.
East Side Gallery - Absolutely worth the trip over to the east side to see this gem. Absolutely fantastic collection of art. If you can be bothered and/or like walking, take the trip through the Turkish quarter to get there. It has some interesting sights, and in some parts you feel like you're walking through the ghetto a bit!
Unter Den Linden - Beautiful place to walk through. I can't quite remember the name of the museum, but if you're coming from Brandenburg Gate, walk down Unter Den Linden on the left hand side, and a little way down, you'll see a small German language only museum. I don't understand a lick of German, but the photographs on display were really quite interesting. There's also a posh car showroom down Unter Den Linden, which is worth at least a look!
Protestant Memorial Church - Unfortunately covered up when we were there, but don't let this put you off if it's still covered. It is SO impressive when you step inside.
Tiergarten - Ideal for a picnic or a walk (the latter of which we did a couple of times, as our hotel was next door). It's really nice to take a break from the city, and it feels odd being inside with the city just outside!
Alexander Platz - Really REALLY not worth the visit. We went here on the way back from the East Side Gallery, and I really don't see the appeal. It was EXTREMELY boring... To us, anyway.
Checkpoint Charlie - Very commercial, and there's not much to see. We didn't bother with the museum, as we saw reviews of it saying it was rubbish. Still worth going to see though, and for me it was more interesting because it was the checkpoint my parents used to go through when we lived there.
Embassies - Take a look at all of these... They're really interesting buildings! Unfortunately the British one is probably one of the worst, but that's to be expected, eh!
Topography of Terror - One of the best parts of our trip. An extremely interesting museum (indoor and outdoor). Even for someone not that interested in history, I found it really good.
Ku'Damm - Shopping and cars! If you like shopping, you have to go here! A bit too expensive for our tastes though, unfortunately! (Or pockets, perhaps!) ... Then there is the cars! Down every single street, you'll see wave after wave of nice cars (although normally in black)! I even saw a McLaren Mercedes SLR, which from videos on YouTube appears to have been driven by Stirling Moss!
The most important thing is though... Take a wander! Take a trek off the beaten track, and you'll get to see some good stuff.
We didn't do the TV Tower, as we queued for ages only to get nowhere. I was knackered at this point, and wasn't prepared to wait any longer! Reading reviews of it suggests it's rubbish, so I didn't feel like we missed out.
I wouldn't bother with the public transport. We used it for getting to/from the airport, and it was FANTASTIC, but we didn't see the need for it in Berlin. Everything was close enough together for it to never be a problem.
If you want any more help, let me know!
A bit of a list, but you may be interested and/or it may help.
Brandenburg Gate - Fantastic to look at, and steeped in history. It really is quite impressive close up, and when you look at some of the old photos when the wall was up, it really brings it home.
Reichstag - Just round the corner from Brandenburg Gate, and really REALLY impressive to look at. Make sure you PRE-BOOK a tour in the dome online. We didn't, and we were absolutely gutted to miss out. You can easily sit for an hour or so just soaking up the atmosphere. I'd recommend taking a picnic along if that's your thing, as it seems the ideal place for it - though we didn't.
Charlottenburg Castle - Out of Berlin, but well worth a visit! I actually went to Charlottenburg just to go to where we used to live when I was younger, but was surprised how nice it was. The detail on the railings is fantastic.
Hard Rock Cafe - Not really a sight, but thought it worth mentioning, since we ate there. It's quite an interesting one, and if you're lucky enough, it has a balcony to sit out on and people watch, if that's your sort of thing. Also ideal for watching some nice cars go by!
Potsdamer Platz & Sony Centre - Really, really interesting mix of buildings, and the Sony Centre is quite cool. None of the places looked that good to eat, though ideal for a beer or two!
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial) - An odd one this. You look at the pictures and think it looks quite striking. When you start getting close to it, it doesn't look that impressive, but take a walk through and it really does feel impressive.
East Side Gallery - Absolutely worth the trip over to the east side to see this gem. Absolutely fantastic collection of art. If you can be bothered and/or like walking, take the trip through the Turkish quarter to get there. It has some interesting sights, and in some parts you feel like you're walking through the ghetto a bit!
Unter Den Linden - Beautiful place to walk through. I can't quite remember the name of the museum, but if you're coming from Brandenburg Gate, walk down Unter Den Linden on the left hand side, and a little way down, you'll see a small German language only museum. I don't understand a lick of German, but the photographs on display were really quite interesting. There's also a posh car showroom down Unter Den Linden, which is worth at least a look!
Protestant Memorial Church - Unfortunately covered up when we were there, but don't let this put you off if it's still covered. It is SO impressive when you step inside.
Tiergarten - Ideal for a picnic or a walk (the latter of which we did a couple of times, as our hotel was next door). It's really nice to take a break from the city, and it feels odd being inside with the city just outside!
Alexander Platz - Really REALLY not worth the visit. We went here on the way back from the East Side Gallery, and I really don't see the appeal. It was EXTREMELY boring... To us, anyway.
Checkpoint Charlie - Very commercial, and there's not much to see. We didn't bother with the museum, as we saw reviews of it saying it was rubbish. Still worth going to see though, and for me it was more interesting because it was the checkpoint my parents used to go through when we lived there.
Embassies - Take a look at all of these... They're really interesting buildings! Unfortunately the British one is probably one of the worst, but that's to be expected, eh!
Topography of Terror - One of the best parts of our trip. An extremely interesting museum (indoor and outdoor). Even for someone not that interested in history, I found it really good.
Ku'Damm - Shopping and cars! If you like shopping, you have to go here! A bit too expensive for our tastes though, unfortunately! (Or pockets, perhaps!) ... Then there is the cars! Down every single street, you'll see wave after wave of nice cars (although normally in black)! I even saw a McLaren Mercedes SLR, which from videos on YouTube appears to have been driven by Stirling Moss!
The most important thing is though... Take a wander! Take a trek off the beaten track, and you'll get to see some good stuff.
We didn't do the TV Tower, as we queued for ages only to get nowhere. I was knackered at this point, and wasn't prepared to wait any longer! Reading reviews of it suggests it's rubbish, so I didn't feel like we missed out.
I wouldn't bother with the public transport. We used it for getting to/from the airport, and it was FANTASTIC, but we didn't see the need for it in Berlin. Everything was close enough together for it to never be a problem.
If you want any more help, let me know!
Do check out the car dealerships in Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden. Seriously glitzy places!
The Peugeot Avenue store (a Peugeot design museum) is worth a brief wander round too (it only takes 15 minutes or so).
Then keep wandering along Unter den Linden and have afternoon kaffee and kuchen at the Opera House.
In the evening, get yourself over to the bars in Oranienburger Straße (U-bahn Oranienburger Tor) or Kastanienallee (U-bahn Eberswalder Straße) for drinking right through to the early hours.
The Peugeot Avenue store (a Peugeot design museum) is worth a brief wander round too (it only takes 15 minutes or so).
Then keep wandering along Unter den Linden and have afternoon kaffee and kuchen at the Opera House.
In the evening, get yourself over to the bars in Oranienburger Straße (U-bahn Oranienburger Tor) or Kastanienallee (U-bahn Eberswalder Straße) for drinking right through to the early hours.
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