Berlin or Barcelona

JanCee

We are about to book a 3 night break in September and can't decide between Berlin and Barcelona. Any advice or comments from people who have been to either or both would be appreciated.

VfM4meplse

Problems, problems!

Both are great cities but I thought Berlin had the edge, esp indoor activities which makes it an ideal winter destination. But if you want some late summer sun, I would head for Barcelona.

nuttyrockeress

Berlin for me all the way. Been 3 times and still not seen everything or fed up of the city. I'd live there if I had the opportunity!

JanCee

nuttyrockeress wrote: »

Berlin for me all the way. Been 3 times and still not seen everything or fed up of the city. I'd live there if I had the opportunity!

Thanks for your quick response. Any tips on hotels or areas to stay in.

alex21

I haven't been myself but DS was in Berlin and Kracow last March. On asking which he preferred he said deffo the latter. According to him, Berlin had a bad drain smell and it wasn't due to heat of summer!!

phatbear

Oddly im doing both in the next two months, going to barca this weekend for a new tattoo and berlin to see elbow.

I prefer berlin i find the culture and history more appealing to me, also ive found berlin to be a tad cheaper on the food and drink front. However barca is also v.interesting and has plenty to see and do. So it really depends what you want out of a break

cazziebo

Possibly my two favourite cities (maybe throw in NYC and make it 3!)
I'd find it difficult to choose between them. Barca possibly better food. Berlin possibly has the edge for me and difficult to say why - I just love the city.

I think whichever you choose you won't be disappointed.

VfM4meplse

cazziebo wrote: »

Barca possibly better food.

Actually I thought the food on Berlin was much better - far more diverse for a start. There is only so much tapas a girl can stomach.

Having said that, swarthy Catalunyans are more appealing that pasty German men.

nuttyrockeress

First time we went we stayed in the Holiday Inn near schönefeld airport. It was a good hotel, cheap and good food but a good 30 minutes S-bhan trip into the city.

Second time we stayed at the Hotel Berlin Mitte (a Best Western hotel)

Last time we went we stayed at Park Plaza Wallstrasse. This was by far the best hotel out of the three and a good location.

Re the drains, you do get a whiff but its nothing to write home about.

The first 2 times we went we did lots of touristy things and the last time we went to see a band so didn't do much as they played 2 out of the 3 nights which we'd booked for.

We found the best book for tourists is the DK Top 10 things to do in Berlin. It was fab as it has a small almost laminated map of the U and S Bhan as well as map of the districts within Berlin.
(apologies in advance for spellings on the below!)
Top things to see:-

Berlin Zoo
Alexander Platz
Checkpoint Charlie - Fredrickstrasse
Brandenberg Gate
Reitchstag - try and check out Tiergarden and also the Russian memorial

These are to name but a few.

If your not a veggie i'd reccomend the Kebab shop in Alexander Platz - its fab!!

VfM4meplse

nuttyrockeress wrote: »

Second time we stayed at the Hotel Berlin Mitte (a Best Western hotel)

I quite liked this hotel.

VfM4meplse

nuttyrockeress wrote: »

Reitchstag - try and check out Tiergarden and also the Russian memorial

Book tickets for a visit online well in advance - when I travelled there was a 3-wk wait so I didn't get to see it as hoped.