Me and Hollie are planning a short break to Berlin in late September, very exciting stuff. Neither of us have been before and after seeking advice on Twitter last month we put some pieces in place and are now mostly sorted. Pretty much decided on a hotel and flights but we just need a bit of help with things to do and places to go.
So can you help, have you been to Berlin? We're looking for interesting and curious things to do, absolutely anything you can think of. Do you know any museums, sites, landmarks, interesting areas, food & drink, slap bang in the middle, off the beaten track, relaxed, hectic; we want to hear it.
Anything beer related most welcome too :)
I've been to Berlin three times and feel as if I hardly saw or did anything. I am good at wasting entire days at the zoo looking at all the bears. If I were to go to Berlin tomorrow, I'd probably head straight for the bears again, predictably.
ReplyDeleteI hear the Stasi Museum is great, and regret not visiting. The Trabant tours look great, too!
Another thing I missed out on was seeing the part of the wall that's still standing (apparently?!), but I did find a watchtower and I found that interesting.
The best thing I ate was Apfel-Vanille Strudel. I picked one up every morning for my breakfast.
Gosh, my suggestions suck. I really need to go back to Berlin and actually see/do something!
Hope you both have a great time!
That's some great graphic design!
ReplyDeleteI am off to Berlin just before. I'd love to know any tips you pick up!
ReplyDeleteHey if you are staying at the Circus-Berlin I would recommend hiring a bicycle from there and cycling all around Berlin Mitte - cycling in Germany is actually a pleasure with wide roads and motorists treating you as equals...no better way to get around.
ReplyDeleteYou have to go to the huge Sunday Flohmarkt (fleamarket) http://www.mauerparkmarkt.de/ and grab a bite of traditional German food near there at Entweder Oder - any of the places on Oderberger Strasse are nice and good vibe at night.
Otherwise do all the usual stuff - Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Berliner Rathaus, Berlin Wall and Brandenburger Tor.
The hip place to go is Kreuzberg but too much for me to list here...
Have a good time, I love Berlin!
@hombre_mediocre
How exciting!
ReplyDeleteBerlin Wall, of course, is a must see. There is a place where you see the whole length of wall full of art works, which is really wicked. I can't remember what it is called. I used Lonely Planet and saw some great places from it so I'd recommend you using this guidebook. A bit of shopping there is good too.
Sorry I am not much of help, it has been a long time since I visited Berlin and I don't have a brilliant memory.
If I hear any more good tips, I'll sure let you know as soon as I can
Never been, but have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Alternative Berlin Tours' is pretty good. It's free (pay a donation at the end if you want) and it's an hour long tour and they show you round local artists squats, 'famous' underground graffiti spots and other 'alternative' areas around Berlin. It goes on everyday I think and you meet under the TV Tower :) Have a currywurst whilst you are there too!
ReplyDelete*3 hours hours! But it flies past especially if you get a good tour guide :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely recommend going to the Jewish Museum, particularly if you haven't been to a large one before. They have a lot of really interesting stuff, huge memorial artwork and it's all been moved to this celebrated piece of modern architecture (p.s. I prefer the old building).
ReplyDeleteI also highly recommend an Austrian restaurant in the city called Diodata. It's kind of in a suburb but it's soooo gooood.
Wish I could but have never been! i can only imagine typing Berlin- things to do on Google would give you the general tourist-like things,but i'm sure once you arrive everything perfect will be blocks, or a bus ride away. have a great time! and do take a million photos for show and tell x
ReplyDeleteI've been to Berlin once and absolutely loved it. Make sure you check out the holocaust memorial. xx
ReplyDeleteBerlin's an amazing place! Have fun :)
ReplyDeleteHi Matt,
ReplyDeleteI believe Lomography do a guide for every major city around the world so it's worth checking them out! I'm not on any commission honest! Happy planning.
http://www.mypassporttostyle.blogspot.com
I recommend visiting the Prenzlauerberg area. There a lots of cute shops and places to eat as well as an old synagogue (I believe) among other things. But it has a really relaxed atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteAlso the Guggenheim has free entry at mondays - which is nice because there's not a lot of exhibition space and free stuff's good. Hehe.
There's also a looooot of World War 2 around Checkpoint Charlie, if you'd like to see you can go there... and somewhere near to that, there is a some 10 or 20 metres of the Wall still standing with an information centre next to it full of information (also freeee) about victims of WW2.
But Berlin is probably nice whatever you do. So I hope you and your girlfriend have a brilliant time!!
If you're not 100% decided on where to stay, then I'd recommend either the Michelberger Hotel or Plus Berlin Hostel, depending on your budget, the michelberger is weird and wonderful, a design paradise, plus berlin is just across the road and like a hostel but with private rooms, a bar, free wi-fi, super modern and decent buffet breakfast.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of things to do during the day, the Fat Tyre bike tours (from outside the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz) give you loads of local knowledge and a good idea of where everything is.
The museum of east berlin is really hands on and all about living under communist rule and how different life was, quite cheap too.
There is also a free graffiti and street art tour that takes in a lot of Kreuzberg (you'll want to be here for bars and shops!), some of the worlds most famous graffiti & Tacheles which is a squat/art centre threatened with eviction due to rising rent costs.
For shopping I recommend The Garage (vintage pieces which a great deal of is priced by weight of how much you get!), Soto (which is a mecca for the brands you post on here, everything from Acne to YMC and everything in between), the Torstrasse street in general is wonderful. There is also a great flea market at Mauerpark on Sundays where they have an outdoor kareoke auditorium, completely bizarre but all in the greatest humour and good spirit.
There is a brilliant Indian in kreuzberg, just as you reach the cross roads if you are walking across the bridge from Freidrichshain on Schlesische Straße, and loads of great falafel places on that street for a cheap eat.
Nightime has a plethora of options, for punk and rockabilly live music White Trash has to be seen to be believed. Badeschiff is an outdoor swimming pool and beach on the banks of the Spree and has some of Berlins finest resident DJs from the early evening. Later the infamous Berghain/Panorama bar lives up to all expectation, pure hedonism and a house/techno mecca, dont head there before about 6am though! or more relaxed but equally fascinating surroundings can be found at Kater Holzig http://www.residentadvisor.net/club-detail.aspx?id=46957, apparently the restaurant here is great but I havent had the pleasure of indulging yet.
Have a great time and there are loads of other good things to be found here: http://www.spottedbylocals.com/berlin/
Dan
Hi Matt!
ReplyDeleteWe are based in Berlin, and are currently putting together a guide this month. I will be sure to send it on as soon as it is ready.
Personally I would recommend a trip to the Mauerpark to see the "Bear Pit Karaoke". It's the best way to spend a Sunday, sipping cheap Eastern European beer and jeering or cheering with the performers.
Otherwise, hanging out in the trendy bars of Neukoelln is always a great way to experience the real Berliner hipster.
Hope you have a great time!
Sam
I have not been to Berlin. Its about time I corrected that really. Hope you have a great time. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteberlin is a wonderful place! there's the obvious east side gallery of the berlin wall, but i'd also really recommend the mauerpark markets which is this huge flea market! and if you're interested in graffiti i'd also suggest the "alternative berlin tour" i can't remember who runs it but i really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteRE: Seriously guys thank you so much for taking you time out to help me and Hollie out with this, some of your answers are soooooo long and it's fair to say we need to go through them all and make some kinda ultimate list to end all lists.
ReplyDeletei wish i had been there and could help! but take notes because its on my list :)
ReplyDeleteMake sure you visit Motto and Do You Read Me? for books and magazines.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite coffee shops is called the Barn - and I think there are two of them in Berlin at the moment. The whole area of Mitte is very cool and I'm sure you'll be able to find some interesting shops there.
Also, I was staying close to Boxhagener Platz, and there are many little food spots worth visiting - though they are away from the city centre!
Enjoy your trip guys!