Planning your go for a long weekend in March with Mrs Steady to celebrate a significant birthday of mine, hopefully going Thursday evening to sometime on the Sunday. I have been before, a good 20 years as go, on a sensible stag do.
So, recommendations please. Areas to stay , places to go, culture ,food, beer, the usual stuff.
Danke schoen
I should have used the Search function, soz, but any info from anyone who has been recently gratefully received.
Thanks @salwarpe
I actually did search for these after I made my post which was daft but as I say, if anyone has been recently, all advice gratefully appreciated
I’ve actually ordered a Rough Guide as I like the idea of having information close to hand rather than sprawled across the World Wide Web. There’s a lot of it.
I hope that you both have a good time. All I would say from my personal experience of Berlin is that it’s a big city and you’d be wise not to spread yourself too thin by trying to see too much. But you probably know that already, having been there before yourself.
Yes, was having that conversation with Mrs Freddy last night. We need to choose what we want to see wisely. For me, the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and DDR Museum so far
From the DDR museum, you’re only a short walk to the Wall Museum, next to Checkpoint Charlie, which is aces.
I’ve not been in decades, but I remember my 1990 walk from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate to the Tiergarten to the Zoo station as if it were yesterday. It made quite an impression on my 20-year-old brain, like the bit in the Wiz of Oz where it goes from B&W to Technicolour.
Go on one of the free walking tours from near the Reichstag – depending which route they will show you where Hitler topped himself and also how the very tasteful memorial to the burning of the books.
Yep, it was me that did the original post, and I can safely say you’ll have a great time, as we did.
Since all the original posts we have been back again and can recommend the Stasi museum, in the former Stasi headquarters. Not least because it’s in a bit of the former East Berlin.
We stayed in a lovely air b and b just above the tiergarten, and once we found a beer garden nearby we spent a bit of every day there.
Though a fan of the model village wherever we go the Berlin one is absolutely awful, but it’s in a wooded park that gave us a lovely walk.
Our son lives in Berlin so we go over once a year and find new things to do every time. It’s a big city and for 49 euros you can get a ticket which allows to go on any bus, tube, tram or train. There are loads of lakes so take your swimming gear and don’t miss the beer gardens which are everywhere. Have a great time .
49 Euros for a day ticket? Here in Bonn we can get a day ticket for 5 people for 9 Euros. Admittedly the former Hauptdorf is a bit smaller than that place by the eastern border, but still..
Or is it for a month?
Not sure how long it lasts but we were there for 5 so it’s at least that
49 euros for 5 hours? Blimey
Sorry ignore that, I am on strong medication right now
Sorry days 🤣
Real experts talking.
The 49 Euro ticket (»Berlin Welcome Card«) is valid for 5 days, and covers all public transport (bus, tram, tube, ferries) in greater Berlin, including Potsdam, Spandau and the airport.
That sounds quite good. Checking for Bonn, a 7 day ticket costs 35 Euros, to include Cologne, that would be 80 Euros.
Since I moved to Berlin in 1990 I’ve been a subscriber of the complete public transport/one year ticket. This cost 48 euros till last year.
They’ve now merged this ticket with the »Deutschland-Ticket« at a price of 58 euros – this means that I can use public transport in any German town. It also includes free use of regional train service – so if I want to visit Dresden, Hamburg or Nuremberg (and have an extra hour to spare…) I simply use my tube ticket.
That would be 58 Euros per month, wouldn’t it? Everything in Bonn is within cycling distance, and I don’t travel much beyond that, so it has never seemed worthwhile – but for commuters, it’s a Schnäpschen.
The Olympic Stadium is fantastic, not sure if they do tours but even walking around is great. I love the modern hauptbanhof – going up and own the escalators and revelling in the majesty of the construction gives me a thrill. There’s a small Bauhaus museum I visited which might be worth your while. Not sure if the Ramones museum museum is still open. Did do the Stasi hq which can be quite chilling because it’s so flipping ordinary. A trip out to Potsdam – not far by train – is interesting. Never been to a place where I saw no litter on the pavements. Only disappointment the local food apart from currywurst, go Asian would be my recommendation.
The Bauhaus museum was great when I last went, although I think it has moved since.
I have a couple of local favourites in my neck of the woods in Mitte, mainly German/European cooking
Lokal – ‘locavore’. Nice cozy evening vibe
‘Trio’ – ditto, near the Volksbuehne. Fantastic modern takes on hearty German grub
‘Grill Royal’ – push the boat out and splurge on meat. Popular with the upper echelons of the art scene (prices to match)
‘Les Valseuses’ – Run by a Belgian bloke, really nice steak frites and low-key atmosphere. Good value
‘Tor Bar’ – pricey, but nice for a posh dinner out.
‘Creasian’ – in the touristy Hackeschermarkt but I’ve had some great Vietnamese food here
”Wen Cheng’ Fat sloppy noodles, absolutely divine, but you often have to queue up to get in, no fun in winter.
@slotbadger
Many thanks for all this. We’ve booked the restaurant in the Reichstag Dome while we’re there.
I’m quite interested in the Lemke brewery’s. Beer and food…have you been to any of them?
Hey Freddy no problem! I’ve never been to Lemke, but I’ve seen it from outside – yes definitely if you’re in the mood for plenty of beer and some pork knuckle!
@slotbadger
Yes, I’ve checked the Lemke menu out and it is a little bit meaty which would be fine really…especially after a few beers.
It appears there are two Lemkes now but I think we’d go for the one in the Hacheschermarkt.
Yes thats the one local to me. If the weather’s fine, you can take a leisurely amble through Hackeschermarkt afterwards down to the riverside, the Cathedral etc. Very scenic
@slotbadger. That sounds lovely, ta.
There are, it seems, now 3 Lemkes but I think we’ll stick with this one.
Will check out your restaurants too.
I’m bumping this.
Has anyone booked the restaurant in the Dome of the Reichstag? If so, would you recommend day or night? What are the views like essentially!?
Ta