Kurten

My cousin wants to go to Berlin in April for 2 days (flying in from Leverkusen), and I was curious what the attraction is. I've never been there, and I was hoping someone could offer advise on what to see (bearing in mind I'm only there for 2 days). I'm not a big museum person either. Thanks

Michael

Get the book BerlinWalks. It gives you a choice of 5 or more different walks for different sections of the city.

rhkkmk

the zoo is fabulous....seeing old east berlin and how it is being &quot; enhanced&quot; or some would say destroyed....the museums are some of the best in the world---lots of treasurers looted over the centuries from far off places, as well as german treasurers....<BR>the german seat of government....the famous church in the center which has been reconstructed and its ruins next door....walk, walk, walk,,,,boat trips on the many lakes....noodles and strudles.....and much more....2 days or two years...

_Julie_

I wouldn't miss the Reichstag - It's open quite late and the view from the top affords a beautiful perspective of Berlin after dark. You can walk from Freidrichstrasse u-bahn station up Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg gate, past a small memorial to those killed trying to cross the wall and you'll be at the Reichstag. <BR>http://www.reichstag.de/<BR>If you follow the link go to 'home' in the bottom left corner and then click on the link that will take you to the english page.<BR><BR>I would also agree that the zoo is a great place to visit, I spent the better part of a day there.

Patrick

I'm not a &quot;museum&quot; person either, but we dropped into the Checkpoint Charlie museum and spend the better part of a day -- fascinating stuff.<BR>And loved going out to Potsdam and seeing the &quot;castles&quot; all in a special large park there, and also a boat trip on the waterways.<BR>And you really need to see the section of the &quot;wall&quot; which has been preserved.

Queenie

<BR>We did the 'Hop on hop off' city tour bus for an overview, then we used the U bahn and city busses to go back to the places that really interested us (ie. Checkpoint Charlie area).

ben_haines_london

<BR>If you avoid museums I suggest these visits. I am surveying from west to east.<BR><BR>The palaces of Potsdam<BR>The airlift memorial at Tempel airport<BR>The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by Zoo station<BR>The Reichstag<BR>The pedestrian area of Potsdamer Platz<BR>The Hackescher Hof, courtyard after courtyard<BR>The Brandenburg Gate, the street Unter den Linden, the statue of Marx and Engels, and the inside of the glass-fronted government house, the Former Palace of the Republic<BR>Karl Marx Allee, Strausberger Platz to Frankfurter Tor<BR>The Kulturbrauerie and nearby areas of experimental arts and living in Prenzlauerberg<BR>Buy the events magazine in German, Berliner Tips, and find music of the kind you like. Your hotel keeper can tell you how to book and go.<BR>If you take in just one museum, the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie, which opens until evening daily, and has captions in English.<BR>The Zoo is fine, but has not the rich tang of history of each of the places I have listed.<BR><BR>[email protected]<BR>

Hiroshi

I enjoyed the Bauhaus museum. It studies architectural design mostly so it's a different kind of museum. If you don't like it, you can walk through it quickly.

JES

I was going to say the exact same thing Charlie did--I am not a museum person, but you HAVE to see the Checkpoint Charlie museum. It's so interesting and gives you the entire backdrop and history of what happened in Berlin. It goes without saying that you have to see the wall as well.

JES

Oops, I meant Patrick!

Bootman4U

I totally agree with both the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the palaces..at least see one of them if you can..in Potsdam

Firstmate

Ya might want to check out the Pergamon Museum. Did not take long was located in an area of the Unter den Linden in an area where you will probably be. Great shopping along the K'damm..and the food counter at Ka-De-Wa department store was great!

CharlieB

Though you might not be a &quot;museum person&quot;, I would definitely recommend a stroll around &quot;Museum Island&quot;. You don't have to go into any, but the architecture and ambiance is great. I would suggest just going into the Pergammon Museum for a &quot;quicky&quot;. The alter just past the entrance hall is breath taking as is the replica of the Ishtar Gate. Enjoy your trip!

anissa

My vote too for the Checkpoint Charlie museum - I don't think that you can fully savor the history of Berlin when the wall went up and until it came down till you see that! Esp since so much has changed there in the past 14 years.<BR><BR>Also, if you get to the old eastern section of Berlin I LOVED the Berliner Dom. This is where the Hohenzollern family was crowned and buried. It also has a MAGNIFICENT organ. It is right next door to the Pergamon Museum, the old Red Reichstag (I forget the official name), and is within walking distance of the TV tower.

LindaW

I love Berlin. Agree with the others re Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Templehof Airfield is home of the Berlin Airlift, Olympic Stadium where Jesse Owens ran, Kurfustendamstrasse is a great street with KaDeWe Department Store, Unter Der Linden, Reichstag, Info Box near remaining piece of wall, Brandenberg Gate, Pergamon Museum with entire ancient ruin, etc. Berlin also has a great nightlife and good restaurants.

Huitres

If you only have 2 days, I would suggest taking a &quot;Berlin Walks&quot; tour for 2 1/2 hours and you will see all the monuments and points of interest in central (formerly east Berlin). Then go to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum; take a walk near Berlin Zoo; visit the Ku'Damm dept store; have lunch or dinner at Marche restaurant for the best bargain meal in town. Day 2, take the 145 bus from Berlin Zoo Station out towards western Berlin and tour the beautiful Sophie Charlotte Schloss (palace) and gardens. Bring along some sandwiches and wine and enjoy a picnic lunch in the picturesque gardens, complete with a serene lake, ducks, lovely walking bridges, lots of foot paths for walking, etc.