Berlin - Any Tips?

bigadaj

The whole Second World War, Berlin Wall, Stasi, Cold War thing got to me after a bit, just a bit depressing.

Personally the museum insel area was fantastic in my opinion, fantastic ancient historical pieces including the Ishtar gate and nefertiti statue were great.

pogofish

bigadaj wrote: »

The whole Second World War, Berlin Wall, Stasi, Cold War thing got to me after a bit, just a bit depressing.

Personally the museum insel area was fantastic in my opinion, fantastic ancient historical pieces including the Ishtar gate and nefertiti statue were great.

It does indeed - Personally I was surprised to find the STASI museum so much more unsettling than Sachenhausen. Possibly the way they insinuated themselves so completely into people's lives till so recently?

I've not got to the big/top-flight museums yet - and there is a lot of renovation going-on around the Museums Insel, so not all are fully open just now.

However there is so much more to Berlin and just slowing-down to take the place-in is good, regardless of those aspects of its history. I was first in Berlin 30 years ago when the wall and constant milatry activity were just a fact of everyday life and things have changed a lot for the better.

BarryBlue

Many thanks for all that detail and insight, Pogofish. Some very useful ideas there, I have to say.

We plan to get our transport ticket at the airport (Tegel) so should be sorted there. The weather forecast is for around 28C every day and no rain so we are packing for that.

We are staying close to the STASI Museum so that is a definite. We are also planning to go to Hertha Berlin v Werder Bremen on Friday night. We have 4 nights there so I'm going to try and plan a rough itinerary around our fixed events. It's our first visit but if it's as good a city as people suggest we shall no doubt be returning.:)

GrannyKate

Beautiful city great for walking round. We went in December when it was very cold but agree with others re chocolate shops and I also recall a wine bar that sold delicious pastries and cakes. I would recommend visiting the Neue Wache War Memorial with its sculpture of a Mother with her Dead Son - it is a masterpiece of simplicity and one of the most moving places I have ever visited.

lovehackney

Mauer park has a flea market on the weekends which is good fun to go to. Can be a bit touristy but good to walk round and has food stalls. Sometimes there is kAraoke in the park too - entertaining! There is a good burger place nearby called The Bird but it can be very busy - can't remember if you can book.

For the evening, if you want to avoid the touristy places Prenzlauerberg is a nice neighbourhood with a number of good Vietnamese restaurants. There's also a great cafe called Anna Blume which does fantastic cakes.
Mitte is another good area for restaurants and bars. Food and drink is generally much cheaper than in the UK too.

pogofish

Well, the weather finally broke last night with a pretty spectular thunderstorm. For a few hours after the city was like a sauna due to the heat built-up in the pavements/surfaces buildings etc.

This morning its a cooler, much more pleasant atmosphere. Hope it sits around these temps for the rest of my trip.