Things to do in Berlin

[paudie]

thinking of going to berlin should i
and if i do what sould i go and do there?

thanks paudie

[jungle]

You'll have no bother with finding things to do there.

Obviously, there are all the wall related things. There is a remaining section in Bernauerstrasse and the checkpoint Charlie museum is pretty interesting - as well as the standard history stuff, they have exhibits of some of the ways that people were smuggled out of the east.

If you're interested in things historical, the Pergamon museum has a lot of reconstructed buildings from ancient Greece and Babylon etc. It's at the end of Unter den Linden, which is a road that should be strolled in its own right. It was the main street of pre-war Berlin, but was left in the east and hasn't really regained the stature, but definitely take a look at it.

I had the fortune of being brought round by a local, which meant I could be told where all the Third Reich stuff had been. It's a while since I was there, so maybe it's changed, but most of the guidebooks etc. regarded this as being off-topic for the city.

Otherwise, go to the Ku'damn (Kufuerstendamn) for the experience. If you're looking for shopping, it's where you'll find it. In particular, electrical and photographic equipment is a lot cheaper in Germany (and Gilette razor blades are half the price for some reason...).

The Olympiastadion is a small distance outside the city, but the area is nice, so if you have time, it could be fitted in.

For trips out of Berlin, the sans-souci palace (the palace of the Kings of Prussia) in Potsdam is close by and is good to visit. A great way to see this is to go to Potsdam by boat over the lakes. And there are plenty of trains or s-bahns to get back to the city if you want to return a bit faster (about 30 minutes on these).

[Roachy]

I've never been there but a few of my friends were there recently and won't shut up about how good it was. Lots of nice bars that serve until very late in the night apparently.

[EDDIEB]

You'll have no bother with finding things to do there.

Obviously, there are all the wall related things. There is a remaining section in Bernauerstrasse and the checkpoint Charlie museum is pretty interesting - as well as the standard history stuff, they have exhibits of some of the ways that people were smuggled out of the east.

If you're interested in things historical, the Pergamon museum has a lot of reconstructed buildings from ancient Greece and Babylon etc. It's at the end of Unter den Linden, which is a road that should be strolled in its own right. It was the main street of pre-war Berlin, but was left in the east and hasn't really regained the stature, but definitely take a look at it.

I had the fortune of being brought round by a local, which meant I could be told where all the Third Reich stuff had been. It's a while since I was there, so maybe it's changed, but most of the guidebooks etc. regarded this as being off-topic for the city.

Otherwise, go to the Ku'damn (Kufuerstendamn) for the experience. If you're looking for shopping, it's where you'll find it. In particular, electrical and photographic equipment is a lot cheaper in Germany (and Gilette razor blades are half the price for some reason...).

The Olympiastadion is a small distance outside the city, but the area is nice, so if you have time, it could be fitted in.

For trips out of Berlin, the sans-souci palace (the palace of the Kings of Prussia) in Potsdam is close by and is good to visit. A great way to see this is to go to Potsdam by boat over the lakes. And there are plenty of trains or s-bahns to get back to the city if you want to return a bit faster (about 30 minutes on these).

If the weather is nice take the S-Bahn out to Wannsee or Grunewald.
Unter den Linden is a great street to stroll along with the K'Damm.
The later at night you head out the better as its a late night city in all the best pubs and clubs.
Fantastic city.

[storysham]

go to the fernesturm first and get your bearings, its in alexanderplatz. 8 euro.

I can highly reccommend the fat tire bike tour of the city. sounds lame but its a great laugh, you get to see all the great sights and get to know the city.
english speaking guide too.

http://www.fattirebiketours berlin.com/

jewish museum is shit, except for 2 parts of it.
Deutch tecknik mueseum is ok.
the u bahn is a pain in the hole.
there is engineering works on the u2 line at the moment. all the announcements are in german.

[Pez123]

thinking of going to berlin should i
and if i do what sould i go and do there?

thanks paudie
Go to the Brandenburg Gate, place finger under nose, raise right arm to an angle of 45 degrees, goose step around the place for half an hour shouting zeig heil, they'll love you....

[kellele2]

I loved the history side of Berlin, like the view from the TV tower where everything to the east was either green area or soviet-era buildings, nothing older than 60 years.

The house where the Soviets and Germans signed the Instrument of Surrender in Berlin-Karlshorst was very intetesting.

The Bundestag and Brandenburg gate are must-sees.

Came across a site offering underground tours (after I'd been, unfortunately)
http://www.berliner-unterwelten.de/en/002/002.htm

The beer is tasty, but many resturants didn't take credit card.

[doppellanger]

The Bundestag and Brandenburg gate are must-sees.

The beer is tasty, but many resturants didn't take credit card.

Bundestag is cool but you might have to queue to go up to the top (probably not that busy off-season though). Hitler's bunker was also in that neighbourhood, maybe 5 or ten minutes away but it is not well publicised.

Yeah, Germans don't really get credit cards, they usually use ec cards i.e. debit cards.

[kellele2]

[QUOTE=doppellanger]Hitler's bunker was also in that neighbourhood, maybe 5 or ten minutes away but it is not well publicised.QUOTE]

That would be interesting, haven't seen any info on it's location. Where might one find it?

[doppellanger]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/germany/at-last-a-plaque-marks-site-of-hitlers-bunker/2006/07/20/1153166489981.html

see abovelinked article.

[helmutderhaas]

http://www.permanode.net/?p=39

See Link above :D

The Tiergaarten is good too, go to zoologischer platz for the shopping.

All the good clubs and stuff are around friedrichshain, stay away from the west, its pretty boring, the easy is great though.

Lots of unlicensed bars, clubs.

Cafe Moskau is cool .. paul van dyke was playing when we were there. Cabs are cheap, dont be put off by the big shiny mercs ;) their cheaper than here anyway and generally pretty honest.

[What the Hell]

There is no sign of the bunker. You just stand over it. There is just a sign to mark where it is. Try out the free walking tour. Its great. Nearly four hours long and you get to see everything and its really interesting. Plus you get a euro off the pub crawl that night! (Free vodka!) www.newberlintours.c om

[DiamondGeezer]

Pfefferberg was a great (and seedy) club when I was last there. Somewhere just in the East. http://www.berlinfo.com/Freetime/Music-Clubs/clubs/mitte/index.htm

[Frag]

Have not been there in Years but this may sound gay but do the Walking tour of Berlin. It is 10 Euro and it was well worth it. Takes all day and you get to go to the Berlin Wall and Shit. It was Serious and I would definatley