A day on our own in Berlin
 

I and my husband will be in Berlin for one day before embarking on a cruise. Can someone give us some suggestions as to places of interest close to the Jolly Hotel Vivaldi.? We love to walk, therefore, Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

thanks, sincerely

From the hotel you can walk easily a couple of blocks to Unter den Linden Strasse, which ia a main boulevard in Berlin. At one end is Brandenberg Gate, an in the other direction Museum island. There are several great museums - I'm partial to the Pergamon with it's ancient middle east ruins.

Both are an easy walk from the hotel. You can also walk a bit further than the Brandenburg gate to Potsdamer platz and visit the new Berlin holocust memorial along the way. The Platz in and of itself isn't necessarliy remarkable, but in the context of history - what and where it was 60 years ago, and again during the time of the Berlin wall, and how it has been transformed since the fall is amazing.

The Jolly Vivaldi is on Friedrichstr. bordering the station and the train lines (the rooms are soundproofed by at least three layers of glass). It's a prime location and the city lies at your doorstep.
You could easily walk to Gendarmenmarkt with its German and French domes, you could walk to Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and Potsdamer Platz. In the other direction, Museum Island, Alexanderplatz and Hackesche Hoefe are reachable by foot. As is Checkpoint Charlie after a stroll down the shopping districts on Friedrichstr.

J62,
now that was a coincidence!

I forgot to add the Reichstag that is just a few steps further from Brandenburg Gate.

:)

The only problem is that it's currently 9am for you, and 3am for me:(

With an entire day in Berlin I would not limit myself to just seeing things within walking distance of the hotel.

Berlin has an extensive U-Bahn network which is easy to use. You might also consider the Checkpoint Charlie Museum or the Charlottenburg (or is it "berg"?) Palace.

It's Schloss Charlottenburg...mit "u"

Also make sure to have backup plans in case it begins to rain. Berlin was an off-again on-again rainy city when I was there last.

Go to the top of the Fernsehenturm first to get a good grip on the city. (Make sure to check out the eastern view, and all the "dominoes" eastern german style buildings).

All the things mentioned above are great ideas. If it begins to rain check out KaDeWe and the Pergammon Museum.

Berlin is not a very touristy city, no matter what anyone says. Make sure you understand its amazing history before you go, or it can be hard to appreciate: especially if you are a lover of Prague, Vienna, Budapest, etc. Berlin's beauty is hidden, and it doesn't thrust that "wow" feeling onto you when you first step into the city center as many other places do.

Still, it is one of my favorite cities in the world. I'm moving there for two months in January, and cannot wait to get there.

Also, take advantage of the public transportation. It's exceptional...but then again, ofcourse it is, it's Germany!

Have fun!

Thank you everyone who responded to our request, We are going to enjoy our day in Berlin. We really appreciate you taking the time to give us all the information.

Thanks, sincerely
donata50

J62
Hsv

I have lost my notes on the photographs taken in Berlin, do you have any photographs I could look at with notes?
Donata50

sorry. no photographs, no notes here (it's all stored away in memory).