Museums in Berlin
Dec 13th, 2014, 08:28 AM
#1
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Museums in Berlin
My husband and I are flying into Berlin for a 2 night stay. Have never visited Berlin before. How can we best use our time there??
We will be staying in the Hampton Inn Berlin? Not sure where it is located? Know that it is not in the center of Berlin, but has public transportation nearby.
My husband is interested in the WWII history. We visited Hitler's Eagle Nest last Summer- so would like more history on "his" war war. which museums would be best for us. (most likely we could do only 2 at the most in 2 days--(jet lag 1st day)
Was thinking of the "Hop on, Hop off tour-any recommendations
We will be staying in the Hampton Inn Berlin? Not sure where it is located? Know that it is not in the center of Berlin, but has public transportation nearby.
My husband is interested in the WWII history. We visited Hitler's Eagle Nest last Summer- so would like more history on "his" war war. which museums would be best for us. (most likely we could do only 2 at the most in 2 days--(jet lag 1st day)
Was thinking of the "Hop on, Hop off tour-any recommendations
Dec 13th, 2014, 08:42 AM
#2
If this is the Hampton Inn I think it is then it is close to the U-Bahn Kurfurstendamm stop.
I suggest you take a look at googlemaps.com and you can easily locate your hotel.
As to museums, depending on the time of year, I would go EARLY in the day.
I suggest you take a look at googlemaps.com and you can easily locate your hotel.
As to museums, depending on the time of year, I would go EARLY in the day.
Dec 13th, 2014, 09:00 AM
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We have been to Berlin five times.
I would recommend this museum for those interested in WII
http://www.topographie.de/en/
I would recommend this museum for those interested in WII
http://www.topographie.de/en/
Dec 13th, 2014, 09:05 AM
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Take one of the walking tours if you can - it will take you to most of the WWII sites, even though there are really few of them left to see. But you can stand in the spots where a lot of history happened, even if you can't see much. The spot where Hitler's bunker was located - where he committed suicide near the end of the war - is now a parking lot in a communist-style apartment building built in the former East Berlin, a spot hard to find on your own (it's barely marked), but the walking tour guides know where it is.
The Topography of Terror is a dense "museum" detailing a history of the Gestapo, basically, though it's almost entirely photos and written words, on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters (though you can see only the excavated foundations of the former headquarters, which was previously demolished). It is right next to one of the few surviving sections of the Berlin Wall. There are lots of interesting Nazi-era photographs, however.
Berlin has an unusual number of "outdoor museum" stuff to see - that is, markers and photo/plaques out on the street. There are even some in the U-Bahn stations. If you do a lot of walking, keep your eye out for plaques and markers.
One of my favorite sites from visiting Berlin was actually in Potsdam, at the Cecilienhof Palace, which (though itself not an impressive "palace") is the site of the famous Potsdam Conference that took place right after the war ended. You can still see the table - surprisingly small - where the Big Three sat with their advisers to negotiate the final boundaries of post-war Europe. A side trip to Potsdam is probably too time consuming for you with the short time you have in Berlin, though.
The Topography of Terror is a dense "museum" detailing a history of the Gestapo, basically, though it's almost entirely photos and written words, on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters (though you can see only the excavated foundations of the former headquarters, which was previously demolished). It is right next to one of the few surviving sections of the Berlin Wall. There are lots of interesting Nazi-era photographs, however.
Berlin has an unusual number of "outdoor museum" stuff to see - that is, markers and photo/plaques out on the street. There are even some in the U-Bahn stations. If you do a lot of walking, keep your eye out for plaques and markers.
One of my favorite sites from visiting Berlin was actually in Potsdam, at the Cecilienhof Palace, which (though itself not an impressive "palace") is the site of the famous Potsdam Conference that took place right after the war ended. You can still see the table - surprisingly small - where the Big Three sat with their advisers to negotiate the final boundaries of post-war Europe. A side trip to Potsdam is probably too time consuming for you with the short time you have in Berlin, though.
Dec 13th, 2014, 09:32 AM
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You need to understand that Berlin has a definite split personality. Since it was almost completely destroyed in WWII what you have now is a west that was built in the current style in the 50's. 60s and 70s - a lot looks like route 17 in NJ. The eastern section was either reconstructed to look like original buildings - or has a ton of dreadful soviet monolithic apartment houses.
Dec 13th, 2014, 11:53 AM
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In addition to some truly unattractive architecture there are many residential streets in the West
where buildings survived the war .
In the East , the area of Prenzlauer Berg is full of lovely streets and non- Soviet like buildings.
The poster has only 2 nights....not much chance to explore a huge city like Berlin.
where buildings survived the war .
In the East , the area of Prenzlauer Berg is full of lovely streets and non- Soviet like buildings.
The poster has only 2 nights....not much chance to explore a huge city like Berlin.
Dec 13th, 2014, 01:33 PM
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Dukey:
If interested in WW2 you will be interested in the Resistance Museum. Ot big, but you will see thenplace of the execition of colonel von Staufferberg and his monument, really moving. You can walk a few minutes from Sny Center or take a bus from other parts of the city.
If interested, read:
http://www.slowtravelberlin.com/wide...ance-memorial/
Yu will enjoy the city, no doubts.
If interested in WW2 you will be interested in the Resistance Museum. Ot big, but you will see thenplace of the execition of colonel von Staufferberg and his monument, really moving. You can walk a few minutes from Sny Center or take a bus from other parts of the city.
If interested, read:
http://www.slowtravelberlin.com/wide...ance-memorial/
Yu will enjoy the city, no doubts.
Dec 16th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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Thanks, Danon and jelopez33: Will look at the museum web sites you sited. think that that the Resistance and Topography of Terror if time permits.
And thank you, Andrew for the informative synopsis.
And thank you, Andrew for the informative synopsis.
Dec 17th, 2014, 06:22 AM
#10
The Germany History Museum is honestly one of the best museums I've ever been to, and I think the ground floor in particular would be of great interest to your husband. Also the Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer) is another interesting experience.
I recommend taking a walking tour. I took one with Insider Tours to cover the basics on my first day, and they included the parking lot which is where Hitler committed suicide. I wouldn't go out of my way to find it on my own, but if it's on the way, historic interest.
I'd say ditto to the Topography of Terrors as well. I also took an Insider day tour to Sachsenhausen Concentration camp which I highly recommend if you've never been to one before. The tour guide really makes this come alive for you, which is a chilling experience.
I wrote a very detailed trip report on my trip to Berlin a couple years ago, which is on here if you click on my name above and go through my list of trip reports.
I recommend taking a walking tour. I took one with Insider Tours to cover the basics on my first day, and they included the parking lot which is where Hitler committed suicide. I wouldn't go out of my way to find it on my own, but if it's on the way, historic interest.
I'd say ditto to the Topography of Terrors as well. I also took an Insider day tour to Sachsenhausen Concentration camp which I highly recommend if you've never been to one before. The tour guide really makes this come alive for you, which is a chilling experience.
I wrote a very detailed trip report on my trip to Berlin a couple years ago, which is on here if you click on my name above and go through my list of trip reports.
Dec 17th, 2014, 08:58 AM
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It would be a shame to go to Berlin and not see the Alter of Pergamon and the Ishtar Gate at the Pergamon Museum. You don't have to go through the entire museum to see them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon_Museum
The Hampton Inn is somewhat far from what you'll doing. We stayed there last March, and I happen to like the Ku'damm and that side of town, but it's not for everyone. The S Bahn station Savigny Platz is nearby. If you're using Hilton points, that's one thing, but if you're paying you might check out places closer to the sites you'll be wanting to see. You can find some reasonably priced hotels in Berlin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon_Museum
The Hampton Inn is somewhat far from what you'll doing. We stayed there last March, and I happen to like the Ku'damm and that side of town, but it's not for everyone. The S Bahn station Savigny Platz is nearby. If you're using Hilton points, that's one thing, but if you're paying you might check out places closer to the sites you'll be wanting to see. You can find some reasonably priced hotels in Berlin.
Dec 17th, 2014, 09:11 AM
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The Pergamon Altar area is closed for 5 years. The Ishtar Gate was more fascinating to me and it's still open. I also enjoyed the Islamic art t the Pergamon. In September the wait was hours for those who did not have advanced tickets. If you were at the museum by 9:15 there was only a 15 minute wait.
Dec 17th, 2014, 09:26 AM
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With only two days and one being jet-lagged, I would seriously suggest a walking tour to get an overview. We took the Insider Tour (actually two of them) during a week long stay n October. It began at 10 am and lasted 3+ hours. Excellent information and exposure to many of the highlights. Then you could concentrate on your desired subject matter--The Topographie of Terror and the German History Museum do focus on WWII as well as many other sights.
You won't be able to cover everything, just prioritize, its a fascinating city. And yes the Pergamon Altar is now closed but the Ishtar Gate is still viewable along with a lot of the rest of the museum but frankly with your limited time, the museums on Museum Island would not be my priority.
You won't be able to cover everything, just prioritize, its a fascinating city. And yes the Pergamon Altar is now closed but the Ishtar Gate is still viewable along with a lot of the rest of the museum but frankly with your limited time, the museums on Museum Island would not be my priority.
Dec 17th, 2014, 10:27 AM
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third Reich era interests - Topography of Terrors and Plotenzee Prison, where Hitler had enemies garroted to death - the garrets still hanging there - these are two grim museums/sights highlighting the horros of the Third Reich.
Dec 17th, 2014, 11:09 AM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-journal.cfm
museums are covered here by me and many other contributors
museums are covered here by me and many other contributors
Dec 17th, 2014, 01:40 PM
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Pergamon Museum has such interesting ancient civilization displays. Brandenberg Gate of course, and nearby is the memorial to murdered Jews...somber grey granite stones.
http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/me...jews-of-europe. Not the same as Auschwitz yet a quiet reminder of Nazi horrors.
http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/me...jews-of-europe. Not the same as Auschwitz yet a quiet reminder of Nazi horrors.
Dec 18th, 2014, 02:41 PM
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For someone interested in WW2 history, the German History Museum (The Deutsches Historisches Museum) is exceptional. It covers German history from practically the stone age, so if he is exclusively interested in WW2, then it is good to look at the museum website ahead of time to see the layout of the museum and plan accordingly, because it is a large, dense museum. All of it is extremely well done, so if you want to see the entire sweep of German history, no reason to skip it but you will need to budget enough time for it. A solid two hours, and more if you want a coffee break. I don't know if they give tours but I assume they do. Everything is labeled in English.
I would also consider the Reichstag absolutely essential for anyone interested in that period. The entire area between the Reichstag and the Brandenburg, down to the Deutsches Historisches Museum along the Unter den Linden, is of tremendous interest, including the Bebel platz, where the infamous Nazi-era book burning took place. It can be very much worth taking a tour of the Reichstag because some very revealing areas of the entire structure, including areas where the great fire began.
Those two sights together, plus a visit to the museum of the Berlin Wall (also excellent with information, although not large, could easily fill two days. Some of the Holocaust memorials are open-air, and to me the most startling and important were the simple plaques one finds on buildings throughout the city giving the names of people who had lived there but were murdered by the Nazi regime.
I would also consider the Reichstag absolutely essential for anyone interested in that period. The entire area between the Reichstag and the Brandenburg, down to the Deutsches Historisches Museum along the Unter den Linden, is of tremendous interest, including the Bebel platz, where the infamous Nazi-era book burning took place. It can be very much worth taking a tour of the Reichstag because some very revealing areas of the entire structure, including areas where the great fire began.
Those two sights together, plus a visit to the museum of the Berlin Wall (also excellent with information, although not large, could easily fill two days. Some of the Holocaust memorials are open-air, and to me the most startling and important were the simple plaques one finds on buildings throughout the city giving the names of people who had lived there but were murdered by the Nazi regime.
Dec 28th, 2014, 01:30 PM
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And a big thank you to
Sandralist, PalenQ, amyb, animalmac and Ozarkbill for the informative museum synopsis. We have plenty to think about and will certainly your recommendations-- Exactly what I wanted!!!!. Thanks to all
Carole-Jean
PS we may even forego our 2 free nights at the Hampton Inn West to stay where Amyb recommendation. Do you have their email and other information? Amy you said it cost 60 Eros-- was that p/p or for the room itself? not bad
Sandralist, PalenQ, amyb, animalmac and Ozarkbill for the informative museum synopsis. We have plenty to think about and will certainly your recommendations-- Exactly what I wanted!!!!. Thanks to all
Carole-Jean
PS we may even forego our 2 free nights at the Hampton Inn West to stay where Amyb recommendation. Do you have their email and other information? Amy you said it cost 60 Eros-- was that p/p or for the room itself? not bad
Dec 29th, 2014, 05:33 AM
#20
The 60 euros was for the room, which for me was a single. I think a double is more. The website says 69-89 euros.
http://www.hotelbregenz-berlin.de/English/Rooms-Rates It includes breakfast, which was pretty good. And the hosts are wonderful. It's on a quiet side street off Ku'dam.
http://www.hotelbregenz-berlin.de/English/Rooms-Rates It includes breakfast, which was pretty good. And the hosts are wonderful. It's on a quiet side street off Ku'dam.
