kpiepen

Hello all we are going to spend a week in Berlin in late February. Looking to rent an apartment and get a feel for the city. We are interested in modern Berlin and in WW2 sites/museums. We like to have a leisurely pace as we are part way through a long trip. This is our big modern city stop and It is unlikely we will visit art museums or Charlottenberg based on my kids interests. We hope to do a guided walk and enjoy cafes, window-shopping,people watching, trying new foods.

I had a few questions...when we went to Munich we were disappointed that most signage in the Third Reich museum was in German. Will this be the case in Berlin? I'm thinking of Check point Charlie museum, topography of terror etc.

My son is an avid photographer and loves to see interesting modern buildings and street life.
Any suggestions of interesting neighbourhoods?

We would love to take in a concert or other entertainment. Is there an English source for what's on in town?

For an apartment we have heard to choose Mitte. Is there another neighbourhood that would be better suited to our interested with casual restaurants and perhaps more local feel? I love to be near a park to go for a run (weather permitting!) as well as near a good grocer with fresh produce. Have looked at Prenzlauer Berg but it may be further to get to see things...

Thank -you so much for any help!

Dukey1

You will have little trouble if you only speak English in Berlin. The Third Reich?????

kpiepen

Thanks, I know that many people in Germany speak excellent English. I was referring to signage and explanations of exhibits in the museums. We were not able to understand any of the signage in the museum in Munich and there was no audioguide. Just wondering if this is the case for any of the WW2 museums in Berlin.

Also wondering if people have recommendations on the other questions. Thanks again.

Southam

I think your question pertains to English in museums. If signs are not in multiple languages, the institutions will usually have an audio guide available. These are always worth renting for their added insights.

LSky

Try reading the signs aloud. German is quite a bit like English. Plus, signs in a museum are meant for the lowest readers. Don't let the long words intimidate you.

nytraveler

Don't know how much cafe sitting you will do in February. Berlin has a real winter and while youight not get a lot of snow you can count on it being cold.

kpiepen

Thanks yes I was just wondering about the signage and audioguides in the museums that deal with WW2 specifically. I would really like to get the most of our visit to the museums and we like to read all the details. I will call them when we are there I guess.
NYtraveler yes I think indoor cafe sitting is what I have in mind!

tower

kniep:

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...62895520876578


I do not write trip reports, though I have visited Berlin on three occasions since the 80's..but I thought these "familiarization" pics (scanned...I'm a rank amateur!) might give you an idea of sites to see in and around the city. A visit to Potsdam (30-minute train ride from Zoo Station) might be interesting for you and the teens. Several of the places you've mentioned can be seen herein.

stu

danon

"Topography of Terror"....one of the best museums on WW2 \IMO/ has signage in English.
Don't miss it.
A tour of Reichstag is very interesting..you have to book it ahead of time.

danon

Mitte ( close to Friedrichstraße)
is a much better location than PB.

ter2000

We are just back from Berlin and rented an apartment from these people - http://www.ota-berlin.de/ . The apartment was in Schonhauser Allee in the Prenzlauer Berg area, about a 20 minute walk to Alexanderplatz (we walked everywhere). We found them very satisfactory to deal with and the apartment was spotless and very safe (one caveat - don't rent a Schonhauser Allee apartment facing onto the street - very noisy!). We loved the area and ate there most nights - I think the apartments would be ideal for those travelling with kids. It was a really great neighbourhood with plenty of local restaurants, coffeeshops and bars. It's also within walking distance of the Flea Market that takes place at Mauerpark on Sunday mornings.

My husband and two of our party visited the Deutscher Historische Museum and were very impressed. I visited the Neues Museum for the Greek and Egyptian exhibits and the Pergamon Museum for the Pergamon Gate - both were wonderful. More details here - http://www.berlin.de/international/museums/index.en.php . All museums visited included an audioguide in the price and all exhibits were labelled in English as well as German.

One thing you really should do is to book a visit to the dome of the Reichstag. It's free of charge, includes an audioguide in English, and the views are splendid - email [email protected] .

You can also do a free walking tour of Berlin which is well worth your time, but depending on the ages of your children - they may find it tiring - www.newberlintours.com - for more details.

Have a great time - Berlin is a wonderful city!

kpiepen

Wow great info. Thanks ted, stu, danon. I have looked at OT apartments. The ones on Schonhauser aren't available but there is a nice one ("penthouse") on Metzer Strasse. I think this would be a good location?

Turns out we have friends from Munich who may come up for a weekend visit and would stay in Prenzlauer Berg so it might make sense to go there, even though Mitte might be more convenient for sightseeing.

How far in advance should I book Reichstag? Ignore this if the info is on the site - I am going to check it now. We definitely will visit Topography of Terror and the walking tour.

Getting excited now. Thanks everyone! What about the zoo? Probably not as good in winter....

tower

Kpiepen:

Just an additional note to give you the address of that Deportation Memorial (replica freight cars)...it's a taxi or S-Bahn ride. It's in a residential area on the site of one of the numerous synagogues burnt down on Kristalnacht(November 1938). I think the memorial will have an impact on you and yours, even more so than some of the museums on WW II/Holocaust.

It can reached on the corner of Leveto(w)v and Jago(w)v in the Moabit District.

Stu

lavandula

I'm pretty sure the Checkpoint Charlie Museum does have signs in English. From memory, my father-in-law navigated the museum with no language issues, and he has no German.

Lavandula

danon

CC has all the info in English.
For Reichstag tour you have to give then several options ..date and time , and they will reply.
I don't know how busy they are in Feb.

http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/vis...upp/fuehr.html

kpiepen

Thanks Lavandula, that's great info. We were disappointed in Munich as we waited a long time to get in and then we could not access all the information.
Stu I am noting the Deportation Memorial.

Had a chat with my son tonight and he is also keen to explore the Cold War/communist/Stasi stuff. We might to a Red Berlin tour - would this be a good avenue?

danon

don't miss the Dome

http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits/kupp.html

kpiepen

danon just saw your reply now. I have sent in some times for Reichstag. They don't seem busy at all which is good for us. We will go late afternoon and hope for a nice sunset! We did not opt for guided tour, just audio guide. Thanks

Cowboy1968

"What's on" in Berlin in English:
http://www.exberliner.com/