Nicole_Lipsky

Hi everyone,

My friends and I are traveling to Berlin later this month for only 4 days, 3 nights and the 4th day we are leaving very early in the morning, so really only like 3 days. These are some of the things we are interested in seeing: Unter Den Linten, Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Brandenberg gate. We are staying in the Mitte area. I am wondering in what order we should do things, like what things are near each other to do in the same day? I'm sure there are also other touristy things we should see that I have left out of the list, and I would appreciate any other recommendations. We are not, however, interested in any museums (time constraint) or any Holocaust/WWII sites (recently visited Israel and Poland).

Thank you so much in advance!
Also, if you can recommend any restaurants, we would appreciate it, we have a reservation at Unsicht Bar one night, but no plans for the others. And if you can give any opinions on Riva Bar or Saphire Bar!

Thanks again!

-Nicole

danon

If you are not visiting museums you can easily see those
places in the time you have.
Depending on where your hotel is in Mitte, you can
look at the map an decide. Going west on UDL from Friedrichstraße leads to Branserbrg gate and Reichstag (around the corner), then south to Ptsdamer ( you will pas by the Monument to the murdered Jews of Europe), from PP east to the wall and further east to CC.
Or the other way around.

hsv

All of the places you mention can be seen in one leisurely day. If your hotel is in Mitte, stroll down Unter den Linden towards the Brandenburg Gate, and head towards the Reichstag which is just steps away.
See the Reichstag (the view from the cupola is good) and head back towards Brandenburg Gate, but turn right in front of it. After some 70 yards you will see the impressive holocaust memorial (despite not being on your list) to your left. Spend some time in the labyrinth and allocate some time to the museum below it - it is a moving experience and I think should be a (brief) part of every Berlin visit.
Head on a further 300 yards and you're on Potsdamer Platz. Other than maybe having a coffee break there isn't that much to see unless you want to go up one building with a rooftop observation deck.
Head back East towards Friedrichstr. and turn right for Checkpoint Charlie (which is a tourist trap joke these days and hardly worth your time). Head back North on Friedrichstr. and turn left on Mohrenstr. for the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt Square.
Remains of the Berlin wall are a bit hard to find. It's easiest at Eastside Gallery on Muehlenstr. between Ostbahnhof and Warschauer Str. stations (quick train ride from anywhere in Mitte).

So overall with this programme you have only 1 day filled and can spend the rest on museums and holocaust memorials - or head to West Berlin (Kurfuerstendamm, KaDeWe, the fantastic Kaiser-Wilhelm-Memorial church, Charlottenburg etc. and take a boat tour on Landwehr Canal and the Spree River).

I would cancel the reservation at Unsichtbar - a drink/eat in the dark experience can be had in almost any city these days and you don't need to go to Berlin to experience seeing nothing.

Instead I'd go up to Solar one evening (decent food, great views, good drinks - http://www.solarberlin.com/).
Riva Bar is an upscale proposition - quite decent drinks.
In the West you could have a leisurely evening out around Savignyplatz - maybe have some good Austrian food at Ottenthal ( http://www.ottenthal.com/start_restaurant.html ) or tapas at a place appropriately called Tapas on Grolmannstr just off the North side of Savignyplatz ( http://www.tapas-berlin.de/ ). Afterwards have a drink either at Hefner's on Savignyplatz (Holsten Pilsener on tap, good cocktails; http://www.hefner-berlin.de/ ) or any other of the countless places in the area.

In Mitte, Borchardt on Franzoesiche Str. off Gendarmenmarkt still is a place to be seen (and their bistro style menu is quite decent (albeit Ottenthal's Schnitzel is better) and their courtyard on a warm day always an option.
Alternatively Lutter & Wegner on Charlottenstr. has a better wine list and similar quality food with a bit more focus on Germany and Austria ( http://www.l-w-berlin.de/index_flash.html ).
If you crave a steak and feel the urge to spend some money in an otherwise dirt cheap city, try Grill Royal ( http://www.grillroyal.com/ ).
A bit off the tourist path there is Schneeweiss on Simplonstr. in Friedrichshain that serves some decent German-Austrian fare in modern white surroundings ( http://www.schneeweiss-berlin.de/schneeweiss.html ).

hsv

the first link doesn't work due to the bracket. It's
http://www.solarberlin.com/

If you feel young and like a bohemian vibe for nightlife, try Club der Visionaere (Club of visionaries):
http://www.clubdervisionaere.de/

danon

great tips from hsv.

Gendarmenmarkt Square is a wonderful. Don't miss it.

JAX9000

I went to Berlin in February and the Reichstag was restricted. You need to apply far in advance to be cleared to go inside. I'm not sure if these measures are still in place. I also recommend you to book a walking tour (we used Berlin Walks). It takes 4 hours and will take you to all the places you mentioned above except Potsdamer Platz (that is very close by the way). You'll have plenty of time for museums...

Nicole_Lipsky

Thanks a lot! Do you guys have any suggestions for our other day or two since we can get that all done in one day? We are all in our twenties and not interested in museums. If there are any thrilling or active things that are sort of different or out of the ordinary, we would be really interested!

danon

Berlin is best known for its history, outstanding galleries ,museums,
and "cool vibe".
Perhaps, you should consult a few guide books like: The Rough Guide to Berlin and Lonely Planet.

You might take a bike tour through the city
Not sure what would be trilling for you.
(have not been 20 in a long time..)

Mainhattengirl

To get the most of your first day, and also to see the most sites in Berlin in an efficient way, then the best suggestion is to go on one of the quality walking tours of Berlin. They only cost between 10-15 euro, last about 4 hours and can be lots of fun. The bike tours are a good suggestion too. At the end of your tour, you can ask the guide for good suggestions of places to go, special events while you are in town, where to eat, and so on.

madamtrashheap

A bike tour as mentioned would be a good way to explore the city, if you're into that. Otherwise there are quite a few free walking tours which don't cover the inside of museums, but do cover the areas mentioned in hsv's excellent post.

If you want to have a bit of a food crawl and get to other parts of the city, you could have your own Currywurst "compare and contrast" day. There is a Currywurst stand/hole in the wall every few steps in Berlin. Well, it is a city dish! OF course, if you don't eat pork then don't go on the hunt, but if you do, start at Konnopke Imbiss (food stand) just as you get off the U-Bahn at Eberswalderstr. in Prenzlauer Berg. It claims to have the best Currywurst in the city, so see if you can prove them right/wrong by testing the others in town (stand just outside KaDeWe near the station - Witty's I think is the name,Frizt & Co for fries and Currywurst just nearby on Wittenbergplatz, Biers on Ku'damm, any of the vendors in the Alexanderplatz station...that should get you started). There's even a museum which celebrates Currywurst - I kid you not! - on Schutzenstrasse in Mitte. You might have to make a concession on your no museums policy for that one.

Other great places to eat include the relatively new Die Schule in Prenzlauer Berg (on Kastanienalle) which does German "tapas" so you can try different German foods (I'm in love with the Boulette, but a lot of people enjoy the Kleine Eisbein)and while you're in the area, try the Prater Garten if the weather is good - an outdoor Berlin institution with beer and food and atmosphere. I'm a big fan of Savignyplatz (good call hsv)area too.

For nightlife, try Tacheles for a taste of pre-Wall Berlin (I always feel like I've come "home" when I'm there) vibe, or see what's on at the Kulturbrauerei.

danon

this might be of interest:

"Top 10 wacky things to do in Berlin"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...3/berlin.top10

hsv

For your other days I do recommend a sightseeing tour by boat if the weather is good. You can see the city from a different perspective, it keeps you busy for a few of hours (a bridge tour lasts about 3 hours, http://www.reederei-riedel.de/index....=Fahrten&Id=33 ) and - if you were out partying the night before - you can replenish your blood-alcohol levels by sipping a few drinks on deck.

For a clubbing experience, Berghain obviously remains a top choice - and could well keep you busy dancing into the morning hours ( http://www.berghain.de/ ).

hsv

And if you are into exploring clothes by local designers, check out the Berlin Fashion Network's concept store in Hackesche Hoefe in Mitte ( http://berlinfashionnetwork.com/bfncs/ ) or some of the stores recommended at Berliner Klamotten ( http://www.berlinerklamotten.de/ ).

fritzrl

I second the earlier vote for an evening meal in or near Savignyplatz. If plain ol' comfort food, pub-grub style, is attractive, you might try the Dicke Wirtin ("Fat Landlady). It's kind of an institution in the neighborhood. Good food, great beer, interesting crowd.

Fritzrl