Things to do in Berlin (merge)

thegills · 03-01-2008 04:15PM #1

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 · 03-01-2008 04:35PM

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 · 06-01-2008 02:20PM

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 · 06-01-2008 03:07PM

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 · 06-01-2008 10:07PM

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 · 06-01-2008 11:26PM

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 · 10-01-2008 06:14PM

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

Electric · 10-01-2008 07:43PM

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 · 10-01-2008 11:33PM

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 · 13-01-2008 11:02PM

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 · 17-01-2008 12:06AM

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 · 18-01-2008 07:39PM

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 · 18-01-2008 11:44PM

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 · 19-01-2008 12:27AM

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 · 10-06-2008 02:39PM

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 · 15-09-2008 10:41AM

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 · 15-09-2008 11:24AM

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 · 15-09-2008 12:14PM

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

Morlar · 15-09-2008 12:17PM

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 · 15-09-2008 09:22PM

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 · 15-09-2008 09:31PM

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 · 16-09-2008 10:38AM

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 · 17-09-2008 07:49PM

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

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

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 17-09-2008 11:39PM

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 · 23-11-2008 03:53AM

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 · 23-11-2008 11:24AM

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 · 23-11-2008 02:40PM

actually screw that its freezing today here.

Pigman II · 23-11-2008 02:43PM

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 · 23-11-2008 02:51PM

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 · 23-11-2008 03:01PM

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 · 23-11-2008 03:04PM

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.

Things to do in Berlin (merge)

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