My boyfriend and I are going to spend a long weekend in Berlin in October, and I wondered if anyone had been there and have any tips as to what to see and do. We have a hotel already, but are there any places to eat that anyone can recommend? (Our budget can best be described as tight )
~~When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.~~
Eating out is pretty similar to here but just like anywhere in the world if you stick to the tourist drag you'll pay the premium. When you're hungry turn down a side street, you only need to go a couple of hundred tards off the beaten track and you'll find some very reasonably priced restaurants. A good guide is look where the locals use. Ask your hotel staff to recommend somewhere nearbye within your budget. Have a good break.
Maybe you can give me some tips when you return! I'm also looking for advice on a good area to stay in Berlin if anyone can help? We'd like somewhere reasonably quiet but within easy reach of the centre? Thanks!
Can you let me know a few tips when you return please? Also, I'm interested in finding a decent area to stay when in Berlin, if anyone can help? Thanks!
A couple of accessible scenic places are the Wansee Lakes (which is the nearest thing to a beach/seaside) and the historic town of Potsdam. You'll see the Lakes from the plane as you fly in.
They are close together on the same metro/train line and so you can visit one and then the other . They are about 20-30 mins from the centre. And I also think that the Lakes is covered by the equivalent of the travelcard and if Potsdam isn't, then it doesn't cost much more to get there.
Some of the things to see in the centre are: remnants of the wall (of which there are more on the eastern side), the central area of Unter den Linden through the Parks and Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie.
Berlin has more food outlets than I've seen anywhere . You have absolutely no worries there. Even the most obscure metro station seemed to have loads. Pastries, sarnies, cakes and ice-cream everywhere.
And there's also the 1936 Olympics Stadium (and you can climb the tower and get a good view of Berlin). I also seem to recal there an area with an astronomic clock and a TV tower (though am possibly getting mixed up with Leipzig).
I lived in Berlin for two years and have since been back to visit. too late I know for the instigators visit but maybe helpful for anyone else wishing to go in the future. Not the most beautiful city in Germany (look at Dresden for the most likely candidate for that crown) but it has to be the most exciting. Easy trips from Berlin include Schwerin and closer to home Potsdam both are stunning and you will need plenty of time to see it all. Charlottenburg palace is lovely, the Grunewald is worth wandering through. Wansee is pleasant. Spandau has excellent water ways and an interesting citadel. Gatow now has the Luftwaffe museum - fascinating. There are walks for those interested in the communist era (stasi walks and wall walks) Hitler walks. Berliner Dom, many theatres, opera houses etc. I could go on forever - go and see for yourselves you'll love it.
Incidentally you don't have to pay a small fortune for accomm (you will in the inner city) instead go to some of the outlying villages/town and look for family run pensions, it is hit and miss sometimes but they can still be convenient. We stayed on our last visit in a small pension in Dallgow just off the autobahn, close to the Havel centre, a good shopping centre with plenty of ready made cheap food for those interested in self catering. It's a convenient drive straight past Gatow down the HEERSTRASSE there are plenty of free areas to park near the Olympic Stadion (this is where I lived). From there you can get buses, U-bahn and S-bahn to anywhere you want. Very easy to navigate your way round too. The cheap little place we stayed was THE SPERLINGHOF if you're looking for 5 star look elsewhere but cheap, cheerful, clean and good grub for those who wish to dine in their own restaurant. Hope this can be of help to someone. Germany - the most underrated holiday destination in Europe.
We where in Berlin just 3 weeks ago. If you're only going for a weekend it might be worth taking the city sightseeing tour the first day. This'll give you a good idea of where all the tourist spots are. From then you can use the bus 100 or 200, which does the same route. We paid 25euro each for a weekly travel ticket and where able to use the s bahn, u bahn, train and bus. Getting the bus to Zoo station each day and then travelling from there is probably the easiest way in such a limited time.
Berlin is a great spot and the food is really really cheap. Main courses cost between 5 euro and 9 euro and are really healthy and filling. The Berliners are really friendly too so don't hesitate to ask anyone for help, they'll be only too delighted.
)
Not going until the end of Oct though, so don't expect anything before then!
. You have absolutely no worries there. Even the most obscure metro station seemed to have loads. Pastries, sarnies, cakes and ice-cream everywhere.
