Berlin - Any Tips?

BarryBlue

We are off to Berlin for a few days next week. We've booked the Reichstag and plan to go to several of the most obvious sites, such as the Berlin Wall Memorial, DDR Museum, Stasi Museum, Brandenburg Gate etc.

Is there anyone who has been who can suggest any less obvious must-sees, (or must avoids ) or provide any useful tips for the trip. Thanks.:)

Ames

Berlin's fantastic, so different to other capital cities like London or Paris. It's really laid back.

The DDR museum is brilliant, loads of fun. I've been to communism museums in four countries and the Berlin one has a different perspective.

One must see is Fassbender und Rausch. It's a chocolate shop with huge chocolate sculptures, and a cafe upstairs that does the best hot chocolate and cakes. It's a couple of streets over from Checkpoint Charlie.

Museums are open late, so it'll be easy to pack in lots of them. Be warned if you visit the Topography of Terror though, it's huge. I thought two hours would be enough and I didn't even get half way round. It's just lots of information on boards though, so shouldn't be top of the list.

Have fun!

maman

Fabulous views (weather permitting) from the TV tower and we enjoyed a river cruise.

kandg

Buy a ticket for the TV tower in advance or there'll be a long wait. If you have time catch the train to sachsenhausen, a WWII camp about 40min outside of the city. I'd also recommend asador steakhouse for a special meal.

shown73

There's a currywurst museum as well, believe it or not.Practically lived on those until I could decipher the menus!

C_Mababejive

If you need a meal during the day, go to the restaurant on the top (?) floor of the Galeria Kaufhof where there is a huge multi choice buffet and hot counter and they weigh your plate at the checkout and charge by weight !

Galeria is the big shopping centre near the TV tower.

BarryBlue

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I already had the DDR museum on my list but have read that it gets very crowded. There is another one called Alltag in der DDR which looks interesting too. The chocolate place looks promising, especially if my wife discovers it!:o

We may do the TV tower if it's a clear day. The river cruise sounds good too. I suppose that would be regarded as a 'Spending Spree':D

I'd heard about the Currywurst Museum but it doesn't get well reviewed. I shall be doing extensive sampling around the city though!

The buffet by weight restaurant sounds like a plan. Thanks again all.:wave:

pendragon_arther

Avoid Jason Bourne.

knightstyle

A few years ago we had a break in Berlin, every morning before breakfast I walked to the tourist office by the Brandenburg gate and got tickets for a show that night, usually less than 1/2 price!

C_Mababejive

Be careful down near the Brandenberg gate as we encountered

(a) some scam artists,usually with surveys or similar
(b)some youths about to harrass/mug a young Chinese couple who were sightseeing and in a quiet spot. We happened along and our presence saved them.

pogofish

If you are into aircraft, the Luftwaffe museum at the former RAF Gatow is well worth a look. Huge collection of planes in indoor and outdoor settings, radar sets and missiles from both sides and a lot of other interest as well.

It is a bit out of the way though - U/S-Bahn to Spandau, then the X135 bus from the stand outside the station to Kurpromenade then an approx 20 minute walk to the gate. Take the long, straight and unsignposted residential street between the Kaisers and Aldi stores for the shortest/nicest route there. There is a good cheap cafe in the Kaisers as the museum one is very basic - the whole place is still in its establishment phase. The Bus out also takes you right past the few remaining bits of Spandau prison/barracks, although there isn't much left apart from the barrack blocks and a couple of small service buildings for the prison.

Expect to walk further when you are in the place as the exhibitions are in hangars and towers right across the site but its worth it.

Potsdam is also well worth a visit and the bus/tram service is excellent and regular, covering all the main attractions and others like the Glenike bridge/Palace. Again, good cheap cafes etc in the (newly rebuilt) main station, so you can use that as a base and bus/tram it out from there.

Also pack for heat! Berlin can be very hot in August and just now is having one of its hottest summers in years. I'm there just now and it hit 37C the day I arrived and every day since has had temps in the high 20s/low 30s, although it does cool down to a more comfortable low-mid 20s at night. Also the U-Bahn can be very uncomfortably hot in this condition, so if you have the choice, take the S-Bahn instead as its trains and stations are a lot cooler Trams are also air conditioned, which makes them a good choice for getting about!

And if you have not thought of it yet, get yourself a BVG ticket for the duration of your stay - All your bus, tram, U and S-Bahn travel across the different zones for the duration. There are several forms of ticket some covering museum entry as well as just transport. An A/B zone ticket covers most of the city itself and A/A/C for 36.50 for a full week covers you right out into the hinterland - like Potsdam or Oranienburg. Ask at the BVG desk in the airport/station when you arrive.

Oranienburg and Sachensenhausen camp is a sobering but fascinating place to visit. Again, S-Bahn to Oranienburg and bus or a 30 minute walk to the camp. Buses are rather sparse here but its around 5/6 Euros each way for a taxi from the station. Again cheap cafes/bakers around the station.

Also had an excellent day trip to Dresden using the "Insider Tours" bus - 49 euros.

Have fun but take plenty of water and good sunscreen.