Berlin alone

Lionel Messy

I'm going to Berlin alone next month. I will be staying 4 nights. I want to see the usual stuff. Is there a good local place to have beer and Kraut?? I am staying beside kurfurstendamm. What's that like and is Berlin good on yer tod?

tatli_lokma

Not much to do in the area at night - went last May and we stayed in the Ivbergs premium on Kleiststrasse and took a ramble towards the KaDeWe and there was almost nothing open in the evenings past 9pm except McDonalds and a Doner kiosk.
However head away from the KaDeWe towards Nollendorfer platz U-bahn and on the right (so KaDeWe is behind you, the u-bahn station in front of you) and down that area are some nice restaurants and bars. We had a great Indian meal and it was really cheap and very very good. Can't remember the name of the place, but its on the corner. Other than the bars in that area, it is a very quiet area we found. And we are quite happy to wander around and explore, but it was really quite uneventful. Which we were surprised by as we thought given the area it might be a bit more lively. If I was returning alone, personally I wouldn't stay in that area if I was looking to get out in the evenings.

On the 2nd and 3rd night we stayed in the Park Plaza on Wallstreet and this was much better for getting out in the evening. We headed to Spittlemarkt on one evening and then Friedrichstrasse the second. Spittlemarkt and around that area had a good few brauhaus - didn't try the trad foods myself, being a veggie, but I there was a good few to choose from, particularly under the railway bridge there were a few and the one we went into had a great atmosphere.

the final night I was there alone as OH had an onward flight and I had a meeting the next day. As far as wandering around, I did find it a bit quiet past 8pm - some streets eerily so, and this is in the 'busy' areas, so I was on my guard quite a bit. I wasn't intimidated on the U-bahn, and was happy enough to walk around, but I was just aware of how deserted some of the streets felt. I don't know what sex you are, and that might make a difference to how you feel about the place, but for me, as a female, although I wasn't overly nervous or intimidated if I were to return on my own I don't think I would venture out too much on foot or u-bahn as I just felt a little 'exposed' I think. I'd get taxis I think.

But other that that, had a really nice time in Berlin. I highly recommend the insider walking tours - a great way to see the city and possibly even meet up with other people you can hang out with. It's also a good way to get your barings as everything really is within walking distance, although on the U-bahn it can seem miles away because you change lines, but if you were to walk it's like 10 mins! I also recommend getting a welcome ticket which will cover you for bus and rail travel within certain zones. Don't bother with the open-top tour - instead get the 100 or 200 bus - these go the same routes as the hop-on hop-off tourist buses. Invest in a decent city guide and it will be every bit as good as the tour buses (which I hear can be pretty bad as far as the commentary goes!). The welcome card will cover your travel on the bus so it means you get the benefit of the hop-on/off bus but at no extra cost!

Even if you are not a museum person, you have to visit the Pergemon muesum - out of this world. Also, book in advance for a tour of the dome of the Reichstag - you have to book in advance. Sadly we didn't get to do this, but it is definitely on my list if I ever return.

So first stop - the walking tour which will help you get your barings, meet others and also you can pick the guide's brains for places to go too!

Enjoy Berlin!

Slashman X

Piggy-backing on the walking tour, there's a cool cycling tour around the city as well which is really good for meeting people. It also gives you free access to a pub crawl later that same night.

This is the one I did

Also, the Welcome ticket is a must in my opinion.