Things to do in Berlin (merge)

thegills

Going in 2 weeks for a 3-day weekend. I'm looking for something out ot the ordinary to do - arty, theatre, etc.
thegills

Electric

Was there this time last year and have to say the zoo was pretty cool. Nothing like Dublin at all! We had a brilliant afternoon in it there's loads of different animals to see and some of them you can get quite close to.

Popel

don´t forget, there are two zoos, and they´re very different from eachother. I prefer the east one, even if Knut isn´t there.

Lots of artsy things in Friedrichshain, so maybe focus a google search on that area.

barett

If you are in Berlin, you definitely need to check out the Ku'Damm (Kurfuerstendamm), and the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens).


If you are looking for a museum, I can recommend the Pergamon Museum, it's located on the museums island in the middle of the river Spree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon_Museum

Especially the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate are really impressive.

Electric

Ku'Damm is good for shopping but is ridiculously long. If memory serves there are 2 metro stops along it.

KaDeWe is a tourist trap! It is ridiculously expensive though it's nice to look around. I wouldn't buy anything in there though. Chances are you will find it cheaper elsewhere

Popel

yeah, Ku´damm is long, not particularly pretty, full of tourists, and is only really good for shopping unless you go to the one theatre at the ´far´ end of it. Pergamon museum is brilliant, a lot more interesting, and not as exhaustive as the Altes Museum. But for a non-tourist-infested experience, call around to the areas of Kreuzberg, which was very alternative before the wall fell, or Friedrichshain which IS very alternative now, or Prenzlauerberg, which is not as up-to-the-minute, but which is a nice area. And there are arty things and interesting things aplenty in all of those places.

thegills

Thanks Lads / Lassies for all the feedback.What about nice places to eat?
thegills

Electric

TBH we ended up having Burger King for the whole week. There's loads of fast food places (McDonalds, Pizza Hut etc) in the train stations.

Berliner's tend to get their food on the go from these stalls that are along the street.

That said we did stumble across this restaurant that served Argentine steak (OMG the most amazing steak we've ever had!!!!) It was somewhere up in Kreuzberg.

DeadSkin

thegills wrote: »

Thanks Lads / Lassies for all the feedback.What about nice places to eat?
thegills

Definitely avoid getting somethin' to eat at the KaDeWe, way, way overpriced. The foodhall is on the top floor.

Can't remember names of other places we ate, but we went to a couple of Asian places and got excellent value for money.

Just another bit of advice, I think you can get a pass that will cover a few days travel for the metro at the airport cheap enough. Transport system is excellent over there, but still didn't have enough time to check out all we wanted.

gary the great

Going in a few weeks myself. Is it a cheap enough place. Is the nightlife good, anyone recommend anywere?

Also im looking for a hotel (cheap) what area is recommended.

What else is there to do other than shop?

sharkDawg

A trip to the Fernsehturm (German tv tower), has a visitors platform with revolving restaurant, don't know what the food is like but the views of the city are awesome. Also the reichstag is worth a look, and Checkpoint Charlie is a must.

Electric

gary the great wrote: »

Going in a few weeks myself. Is it a cheap enough place. Is the nightlife good, anyone recommend anywere?

Also im looking for a hotel (cheap) what area is recommended.

What else is there to do other than shop?

If I were going back I would stay in Kreuzberg or Mitte. They have most of the night life & shops and stuff.

Mushy

When I was there recently, I found the pub crawl to be a good laugh. You can easily meet people etc, its quite cheap aswell.

Also, if you wanna see the sights, walk around the city, dont be getting trams/u-bahn everywhere. i know the place is big, and my body hurts after it, but it is definately worth it.

lubie76

Was in Berlin in November and loved it. Definitely do the Berlin walking tour run by english speaking students. You are taken to all the landmarks including checkpoint Charlie, hitlers bunker and the twin cathedrals. I am not that into history but the BF is and so I was reluctantly dragged along.
I was really surprised with how interesting it was. Its about 2.5 hours long but its a handy way to see all the main attractions in one afternoon and believe it or not its free. Just make sure to give a good tip. We saw a few Europeans giving the guide a measly euro for nearly 3 hours work!

http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/

sull

Went to Berlin in March, heading back for a week in July. It's an amazing city. Stasi Museum in Lichtenberg is in the old Stasi HQ and has been left untouched. Fascinating place:

http://www.stasi-museum.de/en/enindex.htm

We stayed in Prenzlauer Berg, really nice. Went to a place called Dr. Pong's there, which is in a dilapidated old building with a communal ping-pong table. Great place. The Berghain is a club near Ostbahnhof. Not for the faint-hearted but had a great night/morning there. Walking up Karl Marx Allee is pretty evocative with all the Soviet architecture. In fact, we walked around loads, there are just so many cool little things that you come across. Graffitti is everywhere and is very impressive.

Staying in Kreuzberg this time, can't wait. Just read Zoo Station by Ian Walker, gives a good idea of the place before the wall came down, it is well worth a look.

Sizzler

Looking at Berlin for a wkend in Feb.

Anybody recommend the brewery tours and a decent hotel in a decent location that doesnt cost an arm and a leg

Cheers.

Downtime

Stayed here https://www.motel-one.de/2006/home.php?chid=1&m=3 on a stag and it was excellent - good value and very central. Very clean and new.

Lots to do in Berlin - the sights are excellent - Sony Centre, Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Reichstag.

Sizzler

Nice one. Thats the one in Alexanderplatz yeah? Walking distance to town etc?

Morlar

Sizzler wrote: »

Nice one. Thats the one in Alexanderplatz yeah? Walking distance to town etc?

Alexanderplatz is walking distance to most of the above mentioned sights - you can also go the other way into the old east berlin for some of the less touristy ones. Watch out for turkish taxi drivers as in my experience they will try to rip you off.

sam34

do a cycling tour- its mostly a flat city so no major struggling on bikes, and its a great way to see all the sights. takes a few hours. well worth it.

axer

Best thing to do in Berlin is get out. Go to Potsdam, lots of culture and things to see. You can get a train from Berlin - its not very far (maybe 30mins).

Dancor

http://www.baxpax.de/downtown/en/prices/

Stay here, Its a hostel/hotel, Right off the Friedrichstrase(sp?) spotless and very cheap.

Make sure you take in a free walking tour of the city, You can give an optional tip at the end, I found this was the best way to find your way around and see everything. And the history of Berlin is amazing, You learn everything about the city on this tour.

Nightlife was also excellent, Dont bother with any pub crawls unless you like rowdy Americans who cant handle a few drinks. Great club around the corner from the above hotel on a street called Orianburgerstrase(sp?)

bealbocht

the Stasi museum is worth a look. Mostly in German.. but you get the gist,

http://stasimuseum.de/en/enindex.htm

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Thursday evening is free museum night after 6pm here if you get here early enough.

www.alternativeberlin.com - walking tour (allegedly free - they do it for tips and donations. They may and try and advertise paid ones, but no obligations)

camel toe

going on friday with my mum, bit fearful of the cold, was in ny last year and ZOMG i could hardly move with it, ireland may not be saint tropez but i can easily wear a t-shirt this time of year.

but anyway im very excited as i havent been here since i was very small so i want to know any good current things to do? places to eat? im only here for the weekend which is too short, but if its anyway good i'll head back during the summer.

are hertha berlin playing at home next week? pity keith fahey isn't playing for them yet, could go give my support.;)

Popel

It's snowing and bitterly cold at the moment, with the weather due to stay this way for at least a few days. So bring warm clothes and good shoes! Havn't a clue about Hertha, sorry.

camel toe

actually screw that its freezing today here.

Pigman II

Goto Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachsenhausen_concentration_camp#

It's possibly the one thing you can see in Berlin where terrible weather will actually add to the emotional experience.

projectmayhem

camel toe wrote: »

are hertha berlin playing at home next week? pity keith fahey isn't playing for them yet, could go give my support.;)

Finally a football question I can answer 'round here

Hertha are playing Friday evening at home against Koln, which will be a good match if you're able to get there. I'm a Munich man myself so if they're anything to go by this season, you're best to book online asap for fear of the stadium getting sold out (apparently this is a bumper year for the bundesliga, despite the recession).

As for the weather... it's that time of year, so wrap up!

camel toe

thanks lads.

really the olympicstadion will be filled? was watching them against pat's earlier and while i know for the berlin locals, pats wouldn't exactly be considered top of the range opposition but i just couldnt imagine them selling that out like only 12,000 were at that game i believe.

would love to go to a bayern munich game and munich, might do later in the year. sure the flights for the two of us were 120 return, thats nothing really.

Pigman II

It doubt the place will be filled. The place holds about 75,000 and I was there for a league game recently where only 40k turned up.

projectmayhem

camel toe wrote: »

thanks lads.

really the olympicstadion will be filled? was watching them against pat's earlier and while i know for the berlin locals, pats wouldn't exactly be considered top of the range opposition but i just couldnt imagine them selling that out like only 12,000 were at that game i believe.

would love to go to a bayern munich game and munich, might do later in the year. sure the flights for the two of us were 120 return, thats nothing really.

Well Hertha vs. Pats is an unknown to most Berliners really. Koln is a huge game. Looking at the table, Hertha are 4th, behind Munich by 1 point. There's only 3 points separating the top 4/5 teams, so it's a big deal. Just did a quick search and the last few bundesliga games have had massive crowds.

As for Munich, great city but going to see the Alianz Arena is something else, just to see a whole stadium change colours in front of your eyes is unreal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeTHikjFaiY

antomorro-sei

Berlin's an amazing city, transport system is second to none IMO.

Was there for the Pats game, Olympionstadion is some stadium, worth a visit even if not for the game.

As for going with your mum, there's guided tours and stuff. Although, if I was you, get the €6 ticket for a day transport and just get a map and away you go, also, you can drink beer everywhere lol

The Harp bar has lovely food, not too sure where that is though, near-ish to Olympionstadion though.

Great City, enjoy

omgiluvxmas

Hi,

I have also been to Berlin and I loved it but its a bit of a kip I think.

Sonnenblumen

What Berlin is a kip, must be the end of the world time?

shano_88

just wondering if anyone here has been to berlin before. Group of lads heading oveer there in 2 weeks for 3 nights and know nothing about the place. We will probably just be boozing alot but does anyone recomend a bar or nightclub? Any other activites anyone would recomend.?? Any thing to see or do??

nads

Went on an interrailing excursion through there, great city. was a bit skint for cash so only half did it.
Check out a district where there's warehouses full of clubs, mad euro trash quality places.
Definately go around the 'neightbourhoods' of berlin and drink in each, they're basically stops on the U Bahn - oh and buy a ticket for the public transport - they're all over checking that craic, burly lads who'd kick 10 lads' a$$es not a bother.
there's all night pubs/bars but the drinks are very very expensive and they're as far as i seen were trendy arty farty places.
I think Oragniestrasse has loads of hookers - and generally hookering is in most places - might be legal i don't know. but good pubs around that orangiestrasse.
Also check out the classics, Brandenburg gate etc... Alexanderplatz is crap check out the tv tower then go, bit like o'connell st, the spire then dodgy f*cks that's all.

rossie1977

in terms of things to see, first trip to berlin should include a visit to the brandenburg gate without question. its one of europes great sites not just berlins, its easy to find, subway to unter den linden. walk under brandenburg gate straight for about half a mile and you come to the victory column, its something like 2euro to climb the 180-200 of so steps to the top.

checkpoint charlie is another must see, they have recreated in detail how the russian/usa border control looked back then, really interesting museum on its history too, checkpoint charlie can be reached by stopping at kochstrasse subway. its so strange to walk across a now invisible line that at one time nearly started WW3 when for 2 days russian and american tanks faced off against each other on this small stretch of berlin street.

about 1km of the berlin wall is viewable at a place called eastside gallery. its across the road from Ostbahnhof subway stop

a visit to the olympic stadium with all its history will pass an hour or two, its a bit of journey, olympic stadion stop on the subway, out but its only 4euro to tour the inside and see where hitler had to put his feelings aside in 1936 and honour four time gold medal winner Jesse owens, the stadium is also the site of the 2006 world cup final and zidanes never to be forgotten headbutt.

a trip up to the tv tower on alexanderplatz during the daytime is fun, queues can be long, we were waiting over an hour and half AFTER getting our ticket. its 10 euro to see berlin from about 900 feet in the air

mikedragon32

Moved from Travel forum

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

The areas of Friedrichshein (East/North East of Alexandersplatz) and Kreuzberg (South Central-ish) are the best for bars. For clubs (based on reputation - I'm not a clubby person) go to the Prenzlauer Berg area (North of Alexandersplatz).

Hope that helps and enjoy!

P.

pepsicokeacola

your going to freeze to death if you get unlucky but berlin is class.

BeansMeansHynes

There is also the free walking tours which are really good.

Here is the website
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/

Slunk

Rent a bike under the tv tower and get around that way. Its only about six euro for the day, and five euro overnight charge. Just lock them and they wont be touched overnight. We left ours outside the hotel and were fine.

Tresor club, two stops away from alexanerplatz train station, hienrich hiene strasse I think it is. Its an old power station. Dont go before 2am. Also, weekend club, on the 12th floor in the sanyo building. Kilkenny irish bar is one stop in the other direction under the train station from alexanderplatz. Good craic but expensive as is any irish bar.

kraggy

http://fattirebiketours.com/berlin/tours/berlin-city-bike-tour

Didn't do it but supposedly it's the dog's liathroidi.

Berlin is cool.

If you're looking for a hostel, stay in Singer 109. It's like a hotel but a bed is only 14 euro a night and the location is awesome.

Search for it on hostelworld.com

The Volt

can anyone tell me the cheapest/best way to get 18 of us from Schonefeld to our hostel?
It's called Generator and its on Landsberger Allee, east central I think.

Slunk

The train from the airport is €2.60 or €3.20. I cant remember. Its the S-Bahn so should drop you to alexanderplatz or nearby if thats anywhere near you.

The Volt

its relatively near, I just have a feeling I'll land us all in Poland or something.

rossie1977

Voltwad wrote: »

can anyone tell me the cheapest/best way to get 18 of us from Schonefeld to our hostel?
It's called Generator and its on Landsberger Allee, east central I think.

i stayed in that exact hostel for new years, nothing much in the area apart from a burgerking across the road but the hostel itself is very good and the bar is a nice touch

after existing the airport terminal follow the signs to the S-Bahn station, buy a single ticket, cost about 2.10euro.

take the S9 train and change at Treptower Park and just hop on the circle line train (S42) going north to landsberger alllee, journey from schonefeld should take about 30-40 minutes by subway. you can't miss the hostel when you arrive on landsberger allee platform, massive building staring back at you

berlin metro map http://www.berlinverkehr.com/netze/051212sumetro.jpg

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Voltwad wrote: »

can anyone tell me the cheapest/best way to get 18 of us from Schonefeld to our hostel?
It's called Generator and its on Landsberger Allee, east central I think.

Certainly, sir.

At the airport, find the S9 train - it'll have "Spandau" written on it and take it to Ostkreutz. There, change the S42 or "Ringbahn" going counterclockwise (S41 is clockwise). Get off at Landsberger Allez. The large Blue and white building on your right is the hostel.
Cost is 2.80 each. Airport is now in zone C and a slightly higher fare (check out Rozzie's map if this makes no sense). Normal cost is 2.10, which covers you on any tram, bus, metro (S and U bahn), even the ferry across the lake (which you won't be anywhere near, but just thought I'd mention ) for 120 mins.


DON'T eat the breakfast. Go out instead.

snowey07

The Weekender in Alexplatz is the best club Ive ever gone to. Goes on till all hours and is on the 13th floor of an old tower block.


White Trash Fast food is a great bar / live music place

http://www.whitetrashfastfood.com/


or Cafe Zapata in the old Tachles squat

http://www.cafe-zapata.de/



Dont go in to any bars or clubs in a very large group , youll be guarrenteed to be turned away with no excuse given.

conZ

Take a look at this thread...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055413763