| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... 14:48 - Aug 9 with 8887 views | Zx1988 |
Turning to next Saturday's match against Union Berlin - a city in which I've lived, spent many many holidays over the years, and have a deep affection for - I thought it might be useful to put together a little guide for those who may not have been before, and might appreciate a little additional information. I'll spread this out over a few posts in the thread. Do feel free to add your own questions, and I'll help where I can.
I'm sure BerlinerBlue will also have their own thoughts!
Getting There
If you're arriving by plane, you'll fly into Berlin Brandenburg International (on the former Schönefeld site), which is situated on the south-eastern edge of the city. There's no need to worry about a taxi or other sort of transfer into the city centre - the rail network will have you covered. The station is situated beneath Terminal 1. If you're arriving into Terminal 2 (which I think serves Ryanair flights) it's a short walk to the station, which may not be particularly well signposted (see below). From the station, there are a couple of options depending on your final destination.
If you're headed for central Berlin, or anywhere North/South/West of the city centre, you can take the FlughafenExpress (marked as 'FEX') which will take you straight to Hauptbahnhof (via Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz) in about 25 minutes.
If the eastern side of the city is your aim, then you might be better served by the S-Bahn. The S9 and S85 both run through the south-eastern suburbs, with the S85 stopping at Ostkreuz before heading to the north-eastern suburbs, and the S9 running through Ostbahnhof on its way to the city centre and the western suburbs. [Post edited 9 Aug 16:56]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 14:48 - Aug 9 with 5189 views | Zx1988 |
Getting About
Public transport in Berlin is plentiful and easy to use. You can find ticket information here: https://www.bvg.de/en/subscrip
Tickets are valid on all bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, and ferry services, as well as RE/RB services within the Berlin area. Broadly speaking you have two options for tickets:
1) Individual BVG 24-hour tickets
These cost €11.20 for Zones A&B, and €12.90 for Zones ABC. They're valid for 24hrs from the point of validation, so will carry over into the next day depending on when you start travelling.
2) The Berlin WelcomeCard
This is a more tourist-oriented ticket, and comes in durations from two to six days. It would prove more expensive than using 24-hour tickets for stays of one to four days, but is the cheaper option regardless if you're staying five or six days.
The value proposition is that it comes with a range of discounts for various attractions and restaurants - https://www.berlin-welcomecard - so it may work out the better option for a shorter trip if you've got sightseeing planned.
Bear in mind, however, that there are three price levels for the Welcome Card - WelcomeCard, WelcomeCard Museumsinsel, and WelcomeCard all inclusive - and your own plans will dictate which one (if any) offers you the best value.
REMEMBER TO VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS
If you're using a paper ticket, check whether it needs validation before use. This sets the time period for which they are valid. If you don't validate your ticket, you can be fined. Look for machines like these in and around stations, and on buses/trams which will allow you to validate your ticket:
A yellow validator, commonly found on buses, trams, and the U-Bahn
A red validator, commonly found on the S-Bahn network, and in 'normal' train stations
Once you've validated your ticket, you don't need to stamp it again.
The Honour System
There are no ticket barriers in Berlin's public transport system - you are trusted to be in possession of a valid ticket. Semi-regular inspections are undertaken by plain-clothes staff and, if you don't have a valid ticket, you'll have to pay a €60 fine.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the airport is only just inside Zone C. This is one of the most regularly-patrolled sections of the network for this precise reason, and there's always at least one tourist who ends up with an expensive end to their trip. Don't be that guy/gal.
Tickets are transferable, so if you find yourself back at the airport with a good chunk of validity left on your ticket there's no problem with gifting it to someone who's just arrived, if you're that way inclined. [Post edited 11 Aug 8:25]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:05 - Aug 9 with 5079 views | Zx1988 |
I've not - but I've heard good things about it.
The only fly in the ointment is that it looks like a bit of a pain to get to if you're on public transport. You'd need to get either the RE2 or RE7 out to 'Brand Tropical Islands' station (hourly service on each line), and then get the free shuttle bus from the station to the resort.
https://www.tropical-islands.d
The bus is coordinated with train arrivals, but for rest periods marked on the timetable, so it should be a fairly seamless transition. Just bear in mind that it's about 90mins each way, and you'd need an additional ticket as it takes you out of the Berlin ABC setup. | |
| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:08 - Aug 9 with 5036 views | GlasgowBlue |
Arriving by plane? For a friendly? Have you run that past [redacted] yet? |  |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:39 - Aug 9 with 4937 views | Zx1988 |
Sightseeing
A few tips from my own experiences - your interests and mileage may differ. I'm more than happy to answer any questions about your own ideas/plans.
Tour Buses
You can avoid paying through the nose for commercial tour buses, and let your travelcard take the strain.
The 100 bus runs between Zoologischer Garten station in the West, and Alexanderplatz in the East, and travels past many of the main sights:
https://www.berlin.de/en/touri
If you do a bit of digging online, you'll also find that a few enterprising souls have also put together audio-guides to accompany the journey. You'll probably get fewer queues at the starting stop if you go from West to East and, as ever with these sorts of things, the earlier the better.
There are also the 200 and 300 buses which offer similarly touristy routes, but the 100 is far and away the better of the three options.
If you want to do a paid tour, I'd highly recommend a river trip over and above a bus tour. The main river tours depart from Friedrichstraße station, and most take an hour or so. There are also longer tours available if you have the time/inclination.
The DDR
If you're interested in the history etc., of East Germany, I would highly recommend the State-run 'Alltag in der DDR' (daily life in the GDR) museum at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg (U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße, U2) over and above the more heavily-advertised DDR Museum not far from Alexanderplatz. It's a lot less touristy/sensationalised than the DDR Museum, and (to my mind at least) paints a more balanced picture of life behind the Iron Curtain. It's also free!
If you're really into the DDR, there's a museum flat situated out in Hellersdorf which has been maintained as an East German time capsule:
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/
It's open for two hours every Sunday, and is a short walk from U-Bhf Cottbusser Platz (U5).
There's also the Berlin Wall Memorial Centre on Bernauer Straße (S-Bhf Nordbahnhof, S1/S2/S25/S26; U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, U8; Tram M10) which includes a preserved section of the wall and its general installation, visible from a viewing platform at the centre. I'd highly recommend starting at Nordbahnhof and walking north-east along Bernauer Straße, taking in the wider memorial along the right-hand side of the road, stopping at the centre itself, and then carrying on to either U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, or further to U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße. If you're doing this on a Sunday, you'll also be able to take in the flea market at Mauerpark if that's your sort of thing. Which leads me to...
Flea Markets
Berlin is famous for its flea markets (Flohmarkt/Flohmärkte). The most famous one is up at Mauerpark (see above), but it's a lot more commercial than it used to be. There are still some traditional stalls, but nowadays it's full of organic juices, generic leather goods, and other commercial traders. If you want a nice unique and arty souvenir, though, you'll find plenty of options there.
More traditional markets can still be found at Arkonaplatz (about 300m south of Mauerpark), Boxhagener Platz (about a 20min walk from either U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor or S/U-Bhf Warschauer Straße), and at Ostbahnhof. You can find a larger directory here: https://www.berlin.de/en/shopp
Taking in the Views
Personally I'd avoid the Fernsehturm at Alexanderplatz. It's incredibly expensive these days (€24-€33 depending on date/time/capacity) and isn't hugely special. It's become a bit of a tourist trap. If you want a decent elevated view, I'd recommend:
Siegessäule/Victory Column - 69m high and offers pleasant views over the Tiergarten and beyond. €4.50 for adults, but definitely not step-free.
The Bundestag Dome - You can visit the dome of the Bundestag for free, so long as you book in advance - https://www.bundestag.de/en/vi It's a worthwhile experience, and gives a decent view over the surrounding area.
Humboldt Forum roof terrace - Situated close to Museum Island, and 30m high. €3 entry.
Viktoriapark - Situated in the southern district of Kreuzberg, the 66-metre high hill is one of Berlin's highest natural points, even has a waterfall, and offers good views of the southern part of the city in return for the climb.
Other Bits and Pieces
There are museums for every interest and taste in Berlin, from the famous arts and antiquities museums at Museum Island, to the David Hasselhoff Museum. If it's of interest to you, there's probably something catering for it somewhere within Greater Berlin.
If you want something a little more serious and sombre, there's the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp up at Oranienburg (S1), which went on to be used as a Soviet 'special camp'.
Talking of the Soviets, if their architecture/styling is your thing then I'd highly recommend the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal (Soviet Memorial) at Treptower Park (S-Bhf Treptower Park - S8/S9/S41/S42/S85). A stroll along Karl-Marx-Allee between Alexanderplatz and Frankfurter Tor is also a nice way to spend an hour or so.
There are two zoos in Berlin - the famous one at Zoo, and the former East German 'Tierpark' (U5 - Tierpark). They work together these days and each is slightly different, so it's best to check which one best suits your interests if you fancy a zoo trip.
If you're in to walking and nature, you're well catered-for as well. Berlin is surrounded by woodlands and lakes, and a trip out to Wannsee or Müggelsee can be a lovely way to spend a summer Sunday.
Further afield you've got Potsdam, as well as slightly longer-distance trips to Dresden, Leipzig, or up to Rostock/Warnemünde on the Baltic coast. Poland is also easily reachable if you fancy knocking off a second country on your trip - just take the RE1 to Frankfurt (Oder) and walk over into Słubice on the other side of the river. [Post edited 9 Aug 17:18]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 16:00 - Aug 9 with 4844 views | Zx1988 |
Food & Drink
Whatever you fancy food-wise, Berlin will cater for you. There's all the usual bits and pieces you'd associate with Germany - Bratwurst, Currywurst, Döner, Pretzels etc., - and lots of excellent international cuisine as well.
Thanks to the DDR relying heavily on immigrant workers from the Far East, some of the best Thai and Vietnamese food I've had has been in Berlin, and it's bloody well-priced as well.
Generally you can ignore the social media hype around certain outlets (Mustafa's Gemuse Kebap, I'm looking at you...). You'll get decent food at most places, and Google reviews will always be a better marker of quality than some FaceTok influencer.
A couple of my personal favourites (admittedly a little off the beaten track at times):
German Food - Thomas Eck, Pestalozzistraße (S-Bhf Charlottenburg - S3/S5/S7/S9; U-Bhf Wilmersdorfer Straße - U7). Excellent hearty German food in a typical local restaurant environment. Big portions - come hungry.
Döner - Imren Grill, Boppstraße (U-Bhf Schönleinstraße - U8; U-Bhf Hermannplatz - U7/U8). Probably the best Döner I've ever eaten. A big favourite with the local Turkish expat community, so you know it's going to be good.
Asian - Bangkok Treffpunkt, Prenzlauer Allee (Tram M2, Marienburger Straße). Excellent range of Asian food - the Thai currys there are my favourite.
To be honest, though, if you head out of the city centre into the more residential areas of the city, you'll find decent food at reasonable prices pretty much anywhere. Just avoid the obvious tourist traps in Mitte and you'll be fine.
As for drinks, fill your boots! You can find excellent beer all over the place, in a variety of styles, flavours, and brands. You'll find plenty of popular bars around Friedrichshain, and Simon Dach Straße in particular is one of the main nightlife streets for bar culture.
If you want a more traditional Berlin 'Eck-Kneipe', may I recommend 'Uebereck' on the corner of Prenzlauer Allee/Christburger Straße in Prenzlauer Berg - just a short walk from Bangkok Treffpunkt above.
Otherwise, if the weather is set fair, just grab a Wegbier (road drink) or three from the local Späti (off license), and find a nice spot in a local park or by the river to while away the afternoon/evening. Drinking in public is a very different kettle of fish in Berlin compared to the UK - it's the done thing, rather than the preserve of alcoholics and undesirables.
I can also highly recommend an evening stop at the Admiralbrücke in Kreuzberg. Every evening in Summer, young (and not-so-young) locals and tourists gather on the bridge to enjoy some drinks and music as the sun sets on the Landwehrkanal:
https://www.berlin.de/en/attra
If you do have a few beers whilst you're out and about, just remember not to throw your empties into one of the many orange bins dotted about the street scene. Plastic and glass bottles have a deposit of between 8c and 25c attached to them - if you're not wanting the deposit back yourself, just leave them on the pavement beneath the bin, and someone more needy than you will claim the deposit instead.
Similarly, don't be alarmed if you're sat somewhere and enjoying a few drinks, and you get approached by someone politely asking for your empties. It's one of the easiest acts of charity that there is. [Post edited 9 Aug 16:18]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 16:08 - Aug 9 with 4821 views | Zx1988 |
General Miscellany
Finally, a few random bits and pieces that might prove useful:
If you need, or think you might need medication etc., whilst you're in Berlin - take it with you! Things like paracetamol, anti-histamines, bite cream etc., just aren't as widely available in Germany as they are in the UK, and you can only generally get them from Pharmacies. As a result, they're so much more expensive. I ended up paying €14 for a small tube of bite cream last summer.
Sunday trading is different. German Sunday trading law is still rather old-fashioned. Most places (with a few exceptions like bakeries) will be closed on a Sunday. Stock up in advance or, if you find yourself in need, go and brave the masses and queues at a larger station such as Zoo/Hauptbahnhof/Alexanderplatz/Ostbahnhof - exceptions are made for transport hubs and, as a result, most major stations also incorporate a shopping centre.
Carry cash. Germany is still about 10-20 years behind when it comes to accepting card payments. Covid brought a lot of traders into the modern era, but you'll still find a fair few occasions where cards aren't accepted.
Expect to spend a penny. Free public toilets are as rare as hen's teeth in Berlin and, if you do find a free one, you probably won't want to use it! The majority of public toilets will cost between 50c and €1, and those found in major transport hubs are probably your best bet. If you use station toilets, you'll usually get about 50% of the fee back in the form of a voucher than can be redeemed at shops in the station.
If you do want to claim your deposit back on bottles, then take them back to any supermarket. There'll be a machine (usually located on the back wall) which will take and scan your bottles, and provide you with a voucher for the total redeemed. You can then redeem it at the tills.
Berliner Schnauze is probably something you'll encounter during your stay. Berliners have a bit of a reputation for being rather blunt, direct, and sarcastic; so they can seem positively frosty when compared to British standards of customer service. It's about as far from hostility as you can get - it's just Berliners being Berliners. If a bus driver, waiter, or shop assistant appears mildly irritated by your very existence, there's a reasonable chance that everything is actually perfectly normal.
Do try speaking a little German. Even if it's in a thick Suffolk accent and gramatically incorrect, you'll win over the locals in a heartbeat. They'll probably switch straight into English, apologising for their dreadful grasp of the language before giving you a gramatically perfect analysis of Shakespeare, but at least you tried! [Post edited 9 Aug 16:46]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 16:27 - Aug 9 with 4702 views | Zx1988 |
I've just had a look at the Deutsche Bahn website, and it looks as if an adult return from Hauptbahnhof to Brand Tropical Islands would be €22.40.
If you had a Berlin ABC travelcard for the day, you could buy a ticket from Königs Wusterhausen instead (both the RE2 and RE7 stop there), which would bring the price down to €15.40. | |
| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:29 - Aug 9 with 4682 views | Meadowlark |
Although you say the station is under the terminal building when we went there a couple of years ago the station was not that easy to find. In fact I'm pretty certain we had to exit the terminal and walk a couple of minutes. It may have been that we missed the obvious entrance? I guess if you know, you know, but for first time visitors to the airport it wasn't well signposted. |  | | |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:32 - Aug 9 with 4657 views | Zx1988 |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 16:29 - Aug 9 by Meadowlark |
Although you say the station is under the terminal building when we went there a couple of years ago the station was not that easy to find. In fact I'm pretty certain we had to exit the terminal and walk a couple of minutes. It may have been that we missed the obvious entrance? I guess if you know, you know, but for first time visitors to the airport it wasn't well signposted. |
Yes, I think you're right - sorry!
I normally fly from Norwich via Amsterdam with KLM, so end up in the main terminal. I think you're right that Ryanair flights and other budget carriers end up at Terminal 2, which is a short walk from the station.
I'll edit the initial post - thanks! | |
| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:14 - Aug 9 with 4496 views | urbanpenguin |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:39 - Aug 9 by Zx1988 |
Sightseeing
A few tips from my own experiences - your interests and mileage may differ. I'm more than happy to answer any questions about your own ideas/plans.
Tour Buses
You can avoid paying through the nose for commercial tour buses, and let your travelcard take the strain.
The 100 bus runs between Zoologischer Garten station in the West, and Alexanderplatz in the East, and travels past many of the main sights:
https://www.berlin.de/en/touri
If you do a bit of digging online, you'll also find that a few enterprising souls have also put together audio-guides to accompany the journey. You'll probably get fewer queues at the starting stop if you go from West to East and, as ever with these sorts of things, the earlier the better.
There are also the 200 and 300 buses which offer similarly touristy routes, but the 100 is far and away the better of the three options.
If you want to do a paid tour, I'd highly recommend a river trip over and above a bus tour. The main river tours depart from Friedrichstraße station, and most take an hour or so. There are also longer tours available if you have the time/inclination.
The DDR
If you're interested in the history etc., of East Germany, I would highly recommend the State-run 'Alltag in der DDR' (daily life in the GDR) museum at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg (U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße, U2) over and above the more heavily-advertised DDR Museum not far from Alexanderplatz. It's a lot less touristy/sensationalised than the DDR Museum, and (to my mind at least) paints a more balanced picture of life behind the Iron Curtain. It's also free!
If you're really into the DDR, there's a museum flat situated out in Hellersdorf which has been maintained as an East German time capsule:
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/
It's open for two hours every Sunday, and is a short walk from U-Bhf Cottbusser Platz (U5).
There's also the Berlin Wall Memorial Centre on Bernauer Straße (S-Bhf Nordbahnhof, S1/S2/S25/S26; U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, U8; Tram M10) which includes a preserved section of the wall and its general installation, visible from a viewing platform at the centre. I'd highly recommend starting at Nordbahnhof and walking north-east along Bernauer Straße, taking in the wider memorial along the right-hand side of the road, stopping at the centre itself, and then carrying on to either U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, or further to U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße. If you're doing this on a Sunday, you'll also be able to take in the flea market at Mauerpark if that's your sort of thing. Which leads me to...
Flea Markets
Berlin is famous for its flea markets (Flohmarkt/Flohmärkte). The most famous one is up at Mauerpark (see above), but it's a lot more commercial than it used to be. There are still some traditional stalls, but nowadays it's full of organic juices, generic leather goods, and other commercial traders. If you want a nice unique and arty souvenir, though, you'll find plenty of options there.
More traditional markets can still be found at Arkonaplatz (about 300m south of Mauerpark), Boxhagener Platz (about a 20min walk from either U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor or S/U-Bhf Warschauer Straße), and at Ostbahnhof. You can find a larger directory here: https://www.berlin.de/en/shopp
Taking in the Views
Personally I'd avoid the Fernsehturm at Alexanderplatz. It's incredibly expensive these days (€24-€33 depending on date/time/capacity) and isn't hugely special. It's become a bit of a tourist trap. If you want a decent elevated view, I'd recommend:
Siegessäule/Victory Column - 69m high and offers pleasant views over the Tiergarten and beyond. €4.50 for adults, but definitely not step-free.
The Bundestag Dome - You can visit the dome of the Bundestag for free, so long as you book in advance - https://www.bundestag.de/en/vi It's a worthwhile experience, and gives a decent view over the surrounding area.
Humboldt Forum roof terrace - Situated close to Museum Island, and 30m high. €3 entry.
Viktoriapark - Situated in the southern district of Kreuzberg, the 66-metre high hill is one of Berlin's highest natural points, even has a waterfall, and offers good views of the southern part of the city in return for the climb.
Other Bits and Pieces
There are museums for every interest and taste in Berlin, from the famous arts and antiquities museums at Museum Island, to the David Hasselhoff Museum. If it's of interest to you, there's probably something catering for it somewhere within Greater Berlin.
If you want something a little more serious and sombre, there's the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp up at Oranienburg (S1), which went on to be used as a Soviet 'special camp'.
Talking of the Soviets, if their architecture/styling is your thing then I'd highly recommend the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal (Soviet Memorial) at Treptower Park (S-Bhf Treptower Park - S8/S9/S41/S42/S85). A stroll along Karl-Marx-Allee between Alexanderplatz and Frankfurter Tor is also a nice way to spend an hour or so.
There are two zoos in Berlin - the famous one at Zoo, and the former East German 'Tierpark' (U5 - Tierpark). They work together these days and each is slightly different, so it's best to check which one best suits your interests if you fancy a zoo trip.
If you're in to walking and nature, you're well catered-for as well. Berlin is surrounded by woodlands and lakes, and a trip out to Wannsee or Müggelsee can be a lovely way to spend a summer Sunday.
Further afield you've got Potsdam, as well as slightly longer-distance trips to Dresden, Leipzig, or up to Rostock/Warnemünde on the Baltic coast. Poland is also easily reachable if you fancy knocking off a second country on your trip - just take the RE1 to Frankfurt (Oder) and walk over into Słubice on the other side of the river. [Post edited 9 Aug 17:18]
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No mention of downstairs at the Berghain or the Kit Kat club? |  |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:23 - Aug 9 with 4467 views | brogansnose |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:14 - Aug 9 by urbanpenguin |
No mention of downstairs at the Berghain or the Kit Kat club? |
Hmm, not sure about getting into Berghain in an Ipswich shirt. |  | | |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 17:26 - Aug 9 with 4465 views | FullerFlavour |
Thank you for this. Four of us will be flying out early Saturday morning and then have time to kill from after the game until early Sunday morning for our flight home. We haven't got any accommodation and we are relying on stumbling our way through the evening eating, drinking and doing whatever before heading back to the airport no doubt too early!
I'm sure what you have written will be very useful for us. |  | | |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 17:30 - Aug 9 with 4444 views | Zx1988 |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 17:26 - Aug 9 by FullerFlavour |
Thank you for this. Four of us will be flying out early Saturday morning and then have time to kill from after the game until early Sunday morning for our flight home. We haven't got any accommodation and we are relying on stumbling our way through the evening eating, drinking and doing whatever before heading back to the airport no doubt too early!
I'm sure what you have written will be very useful for us. |
You'll be absolutely fine in that respect!
If clubs are your thing, not all of them are as tricky to get into as Berghain. Watergate, for instance, is very good. Just try your best not to look/sound like a group of football-going Brits, if you fancy going.
Otherwise the city is very much your oyster. | |
| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:39 - Aug 9 with 4414 views | urbanpenguin |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:23 - Aug 9 by brogansnose |
Hmm, not sure about getting into Berghain in an Ipswich shirt. |
You know, maybe in that black third kit (if you cover up the Sheeran with gaffer tape) maybe would work, with the right footware. But I said downstairs at Berghain, which has a different dress code and I suspect football shirts might sometimes be ok there. [Post edited 9 Aug 17:40]
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:26 - Aug 9 with 4259 views | BerlinBlue2226 |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 16:00 - Aug 9 by Zx1988 |
Food & Drink
Whatever you fancy food-wise, Berlin will cater for you. There's all the usual bits and pieces you'd associate with Germany - Bratwurst, Currywurst, Döner, Pretzels etc., - and lots of excellent international cuisine as well.
Thanks to the DDR relying heavily on immigrant workers from the Far East, some of the best Thai and Vietnamese food I've had has been in Berlin, and it's bloody well-priced as well.
Generally you can ignore the social media hype around certain outlets (Mustafa's Gemuse Kebap, I'm looking at you...). You'll get decent food at most places, and Google reviews will always be a better marker of quality than some FaceTok influencer.
A couple of my personal favourites (admittedly a little off the beaten track at times):
German Food - Thomas Eck, Pestalozzistraße (S-Bhf Charlottenburg - S3/S5/S7/S9; U-Bhf Wilmersdorfer Straße - U7). Excellent hearty German food in a typical local restaurant environment. Big portions - come hungry.
Döner - Imren Grill, Boppstraße (U-Bhf Schönleinstraße - U8; U-Bhf Hermannplatz - U7/U8). Probably the best Döner I've ever eaten. A big favourite with the local Turkish expat community, so you know it's going to be good.
Asian - Bangkok Treffpunkt, Prenzlauer Allee (Tram M2, Marienburger Straße). Excellent range of Asian food - the Thai currys there are my favourite.
To be honest, though, if you head out of the city centre into the more residential areas of the city, you'll find decent food at reasonable prices pretty much anywhere. Just avoid the obvious tourist traps in Mitte and you'll be fine.
As for drinks, fill your boots! You can find excellent beer all over the place, in a variety of styles, flavours, and brands. You'll find plenty of popular bars around Friedrichshain, and Simon Dach Straße in particular is one of the main nightlife streets for bar culture.
If you want a more traditional Berlin 'Eck-Kneipe', may I recommend 'Uebereck' on the corner of Prenzlauer Allee/Christburger Straße in Prenzlauer Berg - just a short walk from Bangkok Treffpunkt above.
Otherwise, if the weather is set fair, just grab a Wegbier (road drink) or three from the local Späti (off license), and find a nice spot in a local park or by the river to while away the afternoon/evening. Drinking in public is a very different kettle of fish in Berlin compared to the UK - it's the done thing, rather than the preserve of alcoholics and undesirables.
I can also highly recommend an evening stop at the Admiralbrücke in Kreuzberg. Every evening in Summer, young (and not-so-young) locals and tourists gather on the bridge to enjoy some drinks and music as the sun sets on the Landwehrkanal:
https://www.berlin.de/en/attra
If you do have a few beers whilst you're out and about, just remember not to throw your empties into one of the many orange bins dotted about the street scene. Plastic and glass bottles have a deposit of between 8c and 25c attached to them - if you're not wanting the deposit back yourself, just leave them on the pavement beneath the bin, and someone more needy than you will claim the deposit instead.
Similarly, don't be alarmed if you're sat somewhere and enjoying a few drinks, and you get approached by someone politely asking for your empties. It's one of the easiest acts of charity that there is. [Post edited 9 Aug 16:18]
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Yes to add to this, drinking in the larger stations, like Zoo, Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof is now banned.
And if you you want the best Schnitzel or Currywurst in toen, head to Currybaude at Gesundbrunnen underground station. | | | |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:30 - Aug 9 with 4244 views | Zx1988 |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:26 - Aug 9 by BerlinBlue2226 |
Yes to add to this, drinking in the larger stations, like Zoo, Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, Ostbahnhof is now banned.
And if you you want the best Schnitzel or Currywurst in toen, head to Currybaude at Gesundbrunnen underground station. |
Thanks BB.
Has the change succeeded in making Zoo, Alex, and Ostbahnhof any less intimidating/unpleasant at times? [Post edited 9 Aug 18:31]
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| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:31 - Aug 9 with 4239 views | BerlinBlue2226 |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 14:48 - Aug 9 by Zx1988 |
Getting About
Public transport in Berlin is plentiful and easy to use. You can find ticket information here: https://www.bvg.de/en/subscrip
Tickets are valid on all bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, and ferry services, as well as RE/RB services within the Berlin area. Broadly speaking you have two options for tickets:
1) Individual BVG 24-hour tickets
These cost €11.20 for Zones A&B, and €12.90 for Zones ABC. They're valid for 24hrs from the point of validation, so will carry over into the next day depending on when you start travelling.
2) The Berlin WelcomeCard
This is a more tourist-oriented ticket, and comes in durations from two to six days. It would prove more expensive than using 24-hour tickets for stays of one to four days, but is the cheaper option regardless if you're staying five or six days.
The value proposition is that it comes with a range of discounts for various attractions and restaurants - https://www.berlin-welcomecard - so it may work out the better option for a shorter trip if you've got sightseeing planned.
Bear in mind, however, that there are three price levels for the Welcome Card - WelcomeCard, WelcomeCard Museumsinsel, and WelcomeCard all inclusive - and your own plans will dictate which one (if any) offers you the best value.
REMEMBER TO VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS
If you're using a paper ticket, check whether it needs validation before use. This sets the time period for which they are valid. If you don't validate your ticket, you can be fined. Look for machines like these in and around stations, and on buses/trams which will allow you to validate your ticket:
A yellow validator, commonly found on buses, trams, and the U-Bahn
A red validator, commonly found on the S-Bahn network, and in 'normal' train stations
Once you've validated your ticket, you don't need to stamp it again.
The Honour System
There are no ticket barriers in Berlin's public transport system - you are trusted to be in possession of a valid ticket. Semi-regular inspections are undertaken by plain-clothes staff and, if you don't have a valid ticket, you'll have to pay a €60 fine.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the airport is only just inside Zone C. This is one of the most regularly-patrolled sections of the network for this precise reason, and there's always at least one tourist who ends up with an expensive end to their trip. Don't be that guy/gal.
Tickets are transferable, so if you find yourself back at the airport with a good chunk of validity left on your ticket there's no problem with gifting it to someone who's just arrived, if you're that way inclined. [Post edited 11 Aug 8:25]
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If you are a group of up to 5, get a small group ticket (Kleingruppenkarte). Its 35.20€ for 24hrs.
Be very careful if you are are using single tickets. They are valid for 2 hours, and you can get on and off, or change. But, they are only valid in one direction. As soon as you start going back towards your start point, you can be fined. | | | |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:33 - Aug 9 with 4228 views | BerlinBlue2226 |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:39 - Aug 9 by Zx1988 |
Sightseeing
A few tips from my own experiences - your interests and mileage may differ. I'm more than happy to answer any questions about your own ideas/plans.
Tour Buses
You can avoid paying through the nose for commercial tour buses, and let your travelcard take the strain.
The 100 bus runs between Zoologischer Garten station in the West, and Alexanderplatz in the East, and travels past many of the main sights:
https://www.berlin.de/en/touri
If you do a bit of digging online, you'll also find that a few enterprising souls have also put together audio-guides to accompany the journey. You'll probably get fewer queues at the starting stop if you go from West to East and, as ever with these sorts of things, the earlier the better.
There are also the 200 and 300 buses which offer similarly touristy routes, but the 100 is far and away the better of the three options.
If you want to do a paid tour, I'd highly recommend a river trip over and above a bus tour. The main river tours depart from Friedrichstraße station, and most take an hour or so. There are also longer tours available if you have the time/inclination.
The DDR
If you're interested in the history etc., of East Germany, I would highly recommend the State-run 'Alltag in der DDR' (daily life in the GDR) museum at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg (U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße, U2) over and above the more heavily-advertised DDR Museum not far from Alexanderplatz. It's a lot less touristy/sensationalised than the DDR Museum, and (to my mind at least) paints a more balanced picture of life behind the Iron Curtain. It's also free!
If you're really into the DDR, there's a museum flat situated out in Hellersdorf which has been maintained as an East German time capsule:
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/
It's open for two hours every Sunday, and is a short walk from U-Bhf Cottbusser Platz (U5).
There's also the Berlin Wall Memorial Centre on Bernauer Straße (S-Bhf Nordbahnhof, S1/S2/S25/S26; U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, U8; Tram M10) which includes a preserved section of the wall and its general installation, visible from a viewing platform at the centre. I'd highly recommend starting at Nordbahnhof and walking north-east along Bernauer Straße, taking in the wider memorial along the right-hand side of the road, stopping at the centre itself, and then carrying on to either U-Bhf Bernauer Straße, or further to U-Bhf Eberswalder Straße. If you're doing this on a Sunday, you'll also be able to take in the flea market at Mauerpark if that's your sort of thing. Which leads me to...
Flea Markets
Berlin is famous for its flea markets (Flohmarkt/Flohmärkte). The most famous one is up at Mauerpark (see above), but it's a lot more commercial than it used to be. There are still some traditional stalls, but nowadays it's full of organic juices, generic leather goods, and other commercial traders. If you want a nice unique and arty souvenir, though, you'll find plenty of options there.
More traditional markets can still be found at Arkonaplatz (about 300m south of Mauerpark), Boxhagener Platz (about a 20min walk from either U-Bhf Frankfurter Tor or S/U-Bhf Warschauer Straße), and at Ostbahnhof. You can find a larger directory here: https://www.berlin.de/en/shopp
Taking in the Views
Personally I'd avoid the Fernsehturm at Alexanderplatz. It's incredibly expensive these days (€24-€33 depending on date/time/capacity) and isn't hugely special. It's become a bit of a tourist trap. If you want a decent elevated view, I'd recommend:
Siegessäule/Victory Column - 69m high and offers pleasant views over the Tiergarten and beyond. €4.50 for adults, but definitely not step-free.
The Bundestag Dome - You can visit the dome of the Bundestag for free, so long as you book in advance - https://www.bundestag.de/en/vi It's a worthwhile experience, and gives a decent view over the surrounding area.
Humboldt Forum roof terrace - Situated close to Museum Island, and 30m high. €3 entry.
Viktoriapark - Situated in the southern district of Kreuzberg, the 66-metre high hill is one of Berlin's highest natural points, even has a waterfall, and offers good views of the southern part of the city in return for the climb.
Other Bits and Pieces
There are museums for every interest and taste in Berlin, from the famous arts and antiquities museums at Museum Island, to the David Hasselhoff Museum. If it's of interest to you, there's probably something catering for it somewhere within Greater Berlin.
If you want something a little more serious and sombre, there's the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp up at Oranienburg (S1), which went on to be used as a Soviet 'special camp'.
Talking of the Soviets, if their architecture/styling is your thing then I'd highly recommend the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal (Soviet Memorial) at Treptower Park (S-Bhf Treptower Park - S8/S9/S41/S42/S85). A stroll along Karl-Marx-Allee between Alexanderplatz and Frankfurter Tor is also a nice way to spend an hour or so.
There are two zoos in Berlin - the famous one at Zoo, and the former East German 'Tierpark' (U5 - Tierpark). They work together these days and each is slightly different, so it's best to check which one best suits your interests if you fancy a zoo trip.
If you're in to walking and nature, you're well catered-for as well. Berlin is surrounded by woodlands and lakes, and a trip out to Wannsee or Müggelsee can be a lovely way to spend a summer Sunday.
Further afield you've got Potsdam, as well as slightly longer-distance trips to Dresden, Leipzig, or up to Rostock/Warnemünde on the Baltic coast. Poland is also easily reachable if you fancy knocking off a second country on your trip - just take the RE1 to Frankfurt (Oder) and walk over into Słubice on the other side of the river. [Post edited 9 Aug 17:18]
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This weekend is the 65th anniversary of the Berlin Wall going up. In the north south S-bahn tunnel, there will numerous exhibitions about the ghost stations, during the East West divide. | | | |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 18:39 - Aug 9 with 4194 views | StokieBlue |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 15:08 - Aug 9 by GlasgowBlue |
Arriving by plane? For a friendly? Have you run that past [redacted] yet? |
I really don't want to respond to you but since you are doing your best to prod and poke I'll reply to your disingenuous post.
The action itself is not the issue and is entirely up to you. The issue is you getting on your high horse and being rather unpleasant to other posters about their emissions and virtue signalling about your diet and how they should adopt it to save emissions and then getting on flights that pushes your carbon footprint far, far higher than the posters you were having a pop at.
Sorry if the nuance is all a bit complicated for you but I would prefer you don't disingenuously misrepresent my position in future.
Of course none of this would happen if you didn't spend most of your time on the forum virtue signalling, calling out posters at every opportunity and attempting to start arguments.
I'll not be responding any more in this thread or to you directly anymore.
Enjoy your evening.
SB |  |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
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| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 20:42 - Aug 9 with 3979 views | Bluespeed225 |
Thanks for this. I've got tours lined up Thursday and Friday, thought I'd take in the DDR on Saturday morning, then breakfast up the tower ( I know, but I'm very much into my mid century stuff!), think it's a short stroll to Alexander Platz station for the train to the ground? I'm staying on Gabriele Tergit Promenade, Scandic hotel, short walk from main station I think? | | | |
| A (not so) brief Berlin guide... on 21:25 - Aug 9 with 3932 views | Hogger |
Great effort, cheers for this | | | |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 21:49 - Aug 9 with 3890 views | glasso |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 17:23 - Aug 9 by brogansnose |
Hmm, not sure about getting into Berghain in an Ipswich shirt. |
That's what the blackout kit was invented for.
On a serious note, I went to Berlin on a stag with three other people and we struggled to get into ANYWHERE. Honestly never been turned away from so many clubs in a weekend before, it was ridiculous. I'd like to say it was because we were drunk and rowdy, but we couldn't GET drunk and rowdy because all we did was queue.
At one club, we were talking to some Australian girls in front of us in the queue. Over for a few weeks as tourists. Never been to this club before etc etc.
Got to the front, they got cheerily waved through, and then we got stopped and denied entry because it's 'locals only tonight.'
I thought Berlin seemed like a wicked place, but it can't have a reputation for being the world's best party city if you go there and can't party anywhere. | | | |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 22:21 - Aug 9 with 3841 views | Zx1988 |
| A brief Berlin guide... on 21:49 - Aug 9 by glasso |
That's what the blackout kit was invented for.
On a serious note, I went to Berlin on a stag with three other people and we struggled to get into ANYWHERE. Honestly never been turned away from so many clubs in a weekend before, it was ridiculous. I'd like to say it was because we were drunk and rowdy, but we couldn't GET drunk and rowdy because all we did was queue.
At one club, we were talking to some Australian girls in front of us in the queue. Over for a few weeks as tourists. Never been to this club before etc etc.
Got to the front, they got cheerily waved through, and then we got stopped and denied entry because it's 'locals only tonight.'
I thought Berlin seemed like a wicked place, but it can't have a reputation for being the world's best party city if you go there and can't party anywhere. |
I think that's par for the course for Berlin. Groups comprising solely English lads don't stand a chance - rightly or wrongly. | |
| Not a prophet, or a stone-age man; just a mortal with potential of a superman. | | Poll: | Worst Ginger? |
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