ps76 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2988 times:
Hello(!),
Thought I'd try to ask this question for any German A.Netters or any A.Netters who've spent time in Berlin. I have a day trip to Berlin booked for this Wednesday. I know a day is a really short time to try to see Berlin but I do have from about 9am until 9pm so hopefully I'll be able to see a bit. I'm flying with Ryanair to Schonefeld? airport which I know also is quite far away but we'll see how it goes. Have been looking at guidebooks and from the books there just looks like there's so much to see in Berlin and I don't know what area to start if I want to see it. My preference in cities is normally to visit nice pedestrianised shopping districts with lots of shops and cafes etc. but does Berlin have one of these (or two if there's from East and West Berlin). Can I get the metro to such a district? Is there a main shopping street or beautiful expensive area?
CV990A From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 1391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2981 times:
I'd recommend a walking tour- I only had 2 days when I was in Berlin, so I was equally pressed for time. I did one and really felt like I got a good overview of the whole city. The Checkpoint Charlie museum was also really good. Enjoy your trip!
TransIsland From Bahamas, joined Mar 2004, 2031 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2973 times:
Expensive shopping? Probably Ku-Damm and Fasanenstrasse,,,
Haven't taken public transport from the terminal in Schoenefeld, only to the ILA area on the southern part of the airport. Probably similar though, take a bus to U Rudow (tube station), and the tube to U Adenauerplatz. From there, walk down Kurfuerstendamm heading north-east, and (window) shop along the way. Fasanenstrasse is a pricey side street. When you get to U Wittenbergplatz, you're done. Â
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Rara From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1823 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2937 times:
The equivalent in the East is FriedrichstrassŸe. Start at subway U KochstrassŸe (Checkpoint Charlie), walk north towards Unter den Linden, then either west towards the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag; or east towards the opera, history museum, and the TV tower at Alexanderplatz.
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[Edited 2010-02-08 13:48:32]
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SW733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2930 times:
I like Rara's tour...it hit all of my favorite places. Berlin is an excellent city, but I would argue the East is much more fun than the West. I've been to Berlin several times and spent about 75% of my time, and all of my nights, in East.
1) Holocaust Museum - went right after it was built, and it's fantastic. Very moving as you would expect. I thought walking through the memorial/statue area above ground is a neat experience
2) Reichstag...walk up and look down on Parliament. I did it at night in the winter and it offered some nice views too. So, you may not be able to go at night...but still try to go.
3) Soviet War Memorial - not a "must see", but pretty neat if you're into history like me
4) Brandenburg Gate - a must see, but it doesn't take more than few minutes
The perk is that all of these places basically within earshot of each other!
5) TV Tower - going up it is fine if you have time, but wasn't anything that I "must" do...a nice bonus on a 3-day trip, but not a 1-day in my book
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5745 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2924 times:
Take a round-trip on bus 101 (I think?) between Bahnhof Zoo and Alexanderplatz. You'll pass a lot of the 'main' sight along the way and you can get a fairly cheap day ticket that lets you use all the public transport, allowing you to hop on and off as you feel like.
nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4987 posts, RR: 38 Reply 6, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2913 times:
Quoting SW733 (Reply 4): 1) Holocaust Museum - went right after it was built, and it's fantastic. Very moving as you would expect. I thought walking through the memorial/statue area above ground is a neat experience
2) Reichstag...walk up and look down on Parliament. I did it at night in the winter and it offered some nice views too. So, you may not be able to go at night...but still try to go.
4) Brandenburg Gate - a must see, but it doesn't take more than few minutes
The perk is that all of these places basically within earshot of each other!
I was in berlin a few years ago, and managed to see all those sites in about 2-3 hours. Walked down to the Brandenburg gate, across to the reichstag and on to the station back to Brandenburg Gate, then followed the line of the Berlin wall round to the Jewish memorial statues, and finally on to Checkpoint Charlie and some sections of the wall that still remain.
Alias1024 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2643 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2910 times:
Quoting Rara (Reply 3): The equivalent in the East is FriedrichstrassŸe. Start at subway U KochstrassŸe (Checkpoint Charlie), walk north towards Unter den Linden, then either west towards the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag; or east towards the opera, history museum, and the TV tower at Alexanderplatz.
I like this idea. If you are pressed for time, I'd choose to go west once you reach Unter den Linden. People are going to look at you funny if you go to Berlin and don't see the Brandenburg Gate or Holocaust Memorial.
If you have a few hours, then heading east to the Pergamon Museum would be good if you are a museum person. The Pergamon Altar and Ishtar Gate are both worth seeing.
Quoting SW733 (Reply 4): 5) TV Tower - going up it is fine if you have time, but wasn't anything that I "must" do...a nice bonus on a 3-day trip, but not a 1-day in my book
I agree. I had three days, so it was fine to go up and take a few pictures of Berlin from up there. Not a must do thing though.
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Kent350787 From Australia, joined May 2008, 888 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2909 times:
Don't forget Museum Island - world heritage listed, and take your pick of the Museums (Musea?) which interest you. I know it's not a shopping district (although a short walk from Potsdamer Platz thorugh Tiergarten), but surely worth a visit, and there are some nice cafes on the Spree.
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29 Reply 9, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2888 times:
Go by THF. The airport is closed, but the buildings are still cool to look at.
THF 3-08
The Luftwaffe Museum is a must see. There are inside and outside exhibits.
If you like trains you have to check out the train station
ps76 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2829 times:
Hello(!),
Just to say many thanks for the tips/reccomendations etc. I'm now not sure if I'll go this time because I just got back from Norway yesterday and I have to get up at 3am tomorrow and I won't be back until around 11pm. Maybe one day is too much of a short time to see Berlin. But if I'm feeling well rested I might still go tomorrow (although London Stansted is on the other side of London from me). Will definitely give the reccomendations a try when I do go though (tomorrow or a later time), The "sights" sound cool and I would definitely like to see the train station (I like trains too) and of course Templehof (even though it's closed can you still go inside? I wasn't sure and of course I'm not sure how easy it is to get to, especially if only there for a day). Anyway thanks again for the tips. If I go tomorrow will try to write back and say which places I managed to see.
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2825 times:
If you do go, you can get a day pass for the city transport for EUR6.50, including the S-Bahn (reginal train) to Schoenefeld airport.
I've been a few times, and as well as the above suggestions, I'd add:
Potsdamer Platz, a new shopping centre build on the open ground where the wall was. There's a great Asian fast food place on the top floor that will cook your noodles etc. in front of you!
There's also the Allied Museum in the south of the city near Oskar-Helene-Heim U-Bahn (metro) stop. This one has the original Checkpoint Charlie hut, a plane, and some of the wall.
Don't forget the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz!
varigb707 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1220 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2817 times:
If you have time, go to where Hitler's bunker used to be and take a few shots. Then post it here. I understand the place is now a garden or a park.
BTW i don't to be funny or to offend anyone. I've always been curious and a WWII aficionado.
Metroliner From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 1058 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2812 times:
Quoting ps76 (Reply 12): Maybe one day is too much of a short time to see Berlin.
Not if you go again  I say push through the pain and go for it. It's an absolutely magical city. And do try and get up the TV-Tower at Alexanderplatz. I had to be dragged out of there last year!
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29 Reply 16, posted (3 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2794 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 13): Don't forget the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz!
You can't miss that thing, you can see it all over the city....
Quoting Metroliner (Reply 15): TV-Tower at Alexanderplatz. I had to be dragged out of there last year!
It reminds me of the arch in St. Louis, MO.
Quoting signol (Reply 13): There's a great Asian fast food place on the top floor that will cook your noodles etc. in front of you!
Why would you want to eat Asian food in Germany.... Boring! Go for a beer and a curry wurst or two.... That is how I roll!
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I say push through the pain and go for it. It's an absolutely magical city. And do try and get up the TV-Tower at Alexanderplatz. I had to be dragged out of there last year!
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