Why
Travel to Berlin?
Berlin has a vitality, creativity and diversity found in few other
capital cities, overcoming some dour, cold housing districts.
Scattered around this spacious and cosmopolitan city are some stunning
new buildings - like the Reichstag [interior pictured top right] and the
cluster in Potsdamer Platz [photo below], alongside many well preserved or well
rebuilt reminders of the past, from pre-war to the post-wall years.
The wall years have more visible impact now, with a clear social
and financial divide still existing east/west.
Unemployment is high and the young are restless but there's a strange,
thrilling joie de vivre about the city, with its superb museums,
lively local culture - especially visible in the wild festivals, arts scenes and vibrant night action.
Click on any photo below to go to Germany Mini-Travel guide
A panoramic composite of Potsdamer Platz redevelopment, demonstrating the regeneration of East Berlin and the integration of the previously separate East and West sectors of the city.
Berlin
Travel Guide, climate:
Best: May-Sept.
Avoid: January-March. Short daylight hours, cold and grey, but
snow may help the ambience and Christmas fairs late November-December
are light and lively.
Berlin
Attractions and Activities:
Berlin was bombed flat during the last great war, so old buildings
and monuments are limited mostly to a few survivors and some huge
restoration efforts.
Unter den Linden avenue is the throbbing spine of the city, running
from the River Spree to the Brandenburg Gate [small picture top left].
Berlin is multicentred but this is a classic starting point for
new tourists and offers many attractions nearby.
The Reichstag's Norman Foster glass-dome rebuild, finished in 1999, is incredible and
can be visited for free with no prior reservation. The rooftop terrace provides superb 360 degree views of Berlin [picture below] .
Behind Norman Foster's masterpiece pieces of the Berlin Wall are
still visible. Go early or be prepared to queue.
A sunset view of the Riechstag's roof, Germany's parliament building.
Other examples of stunning new architecture are the Sony Centre,
Debisstadt - the hyper modern Daimler/ Chrysler complex and the
New National Gallery.
Berlin's main Cathedral is impressive and fully restored, while
you can get a drink and another great view from the top of the
fairly hideous TV Tower in Alexanderplatz.
Gendarmarkt square is old and beautiful, while Potsdamer Platz,
bohemian Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg are a fascinating mix of
tatty old and spectacular new, with cultural happenings aplenty.
Berlin
City Travel:
River/canal travel is one of the most relaxing ways to see some
of the sights and water tours are plentiful.
The overground S-Bahn [rail] can give visitors a grand overview
of the area on the cheap, from the affluent Nikolassee to the miserable
Lichtenberg via many of the big sights.
The U-Bahn is the underground [metro] service.
The city is bike friendly and there are bike rental shops around.
Short
Trips:
The S-Bahn will take you to the city's best park, the Grunewald
forest, the 1km beach on Lake Wansee, the glittering palace of
Schloss Charlottenburg/museum, and to the exotic Park Sanssouci
in Potsdam [less crowded during the week], with its palaces, park
and various odd structures.
A view of Berlin showing, from left to right, the Reichstag, Television Tower, Brandenburg Gate
and historic Adlon Hotel, with a section of the huge Tiergarten park visible in the foreground.
Berlin
Festivals Guide:
Dec 31-Jan 1, Brandenburg Gate, New Year celebrations.
February, Transmediale. 'A platform for artistic and critical
reflection on the role of digital technologies in present-day
society.'
Easter week, Berlin Opera Festival.
May, Carnival of Cultures, Kreuzberg district. Four exotic days
of cross-cultural parades, dance, music and artists.
End of June, Christopher Street day. A monster Gay Pride parade
and street party.
Early July, F**k Parade. Anarchy rules.
early July, Classic Open Air Berlin. Classical music in the open
Gendarmarkt.
Mid July, Love Parade, Berlin - the wackiest of local festivals,
a weekend of ecstatic body-baring by 1.5 million techno- ravers.
July, Heimatklaenge Festival. Five days of folk music from Europe.
Early Aug, Klassiktage Berliner Schlossern, 10 days of classical
music in the city's finest old buildings.
Most of August, Tanz im August [Berlin International Dance] -
a wide range of innovative, international dances.
All August, Berlin Festival Weeks. More exceptional classical
music in various venues.
Late October, Wigstockel, crossdressers unite.
All Dec, Christmas markets.
For
some precise dates or more information see: European
Festivals or Arts
Festivals.
Arts/Culture:
Museums: Of around 170 museums, the most popular is the Pergamon,
located on an island and housing a spectacular archeological collection.
The Jewish Museum gets 5* for design and layout, while the tiny
Haus am Checkpoint Charlie celebrates life and death of and on
the old Berlin Wall.
Galleries: The Gemaldegalerie is the best traditional art
gallery in town, while the smart Mitte area has a good selection
of galleries.
Classical & Opera: Berlin is home to seven orchestras and
three opera houses so finding a seat shouldn't be too hard.
Night Club/Live Music: wild club scenes are a feature of this
hectic city, with many excellent clubs and bars especially found
in the cool Kreuzberg and Mitte areas.
For avant-garde clubs and bars, travel to Friedrichshain - though
they'll probably be out of date by the time you read this.
Flyer magazine lists the latest favourites.
Many clubs offer free entry or ask only a small cover charge.
Oberbaum Bridge over the Spree River, Berlin
Shopping:
Traditionally, the west's Ku'damm [Kurfürstendamm] and
the east's Friedrichstrasse are the big shopping streets, but
Ludwigkirchplatz [square, west] has a good selection of shops,
while Potsdam and Prenzlauer Berg [east] are for bargain hunting.
A popular market on Wednesdays and Saturdays is Winterfeldplatz.
Cuisine:
Previously renowned for its grossly meaty cuisine, Berlin now
offers lighter and more health-oriented eateries - even vegetarian
and there's no shortage of great ethnic restaurants.
Try the assorted, attractive eateries and drinkeries in Kurfurstendamm,
Oranienburger Strasse or Hackesche Hofe, though the latter is
very touristy. Many bars don't open till 10pm!
If you fancy a picnic in the Tiergarten park then the wonderful
Turkish Market in Maybachufer will supply your every need.
Don't forget to go into a pastry shop and try a doughnut - in
memory of President Kennedy, who, in 1961 in front of half a million
people famously said, 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' ['I am a doughnut'].
His speechwriter was later terminated in extreme deep fat.
And
if you plan Berlin Travel, how about adding a neighbour or two
to your trip? Check these tourist guides:
Heidelberg
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London
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Travel | Copenhagen
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