Berlin, Germany: two-day solo trip ideas needed
 

Hello! I will be in Berlin in December (at the Ringhotel Seehof Berlin, Lietzensee-Ufer 11,
14057 Berlin) for a meeting and plan on staying two extra days (Friday and Saturday) to see the sights. Love shopping in unique, local areas, and history and architecture. Like local flavor (pubs, restaurants) and friendly local places. Bear in mind I will be a single woman traveling alone. I am also recovering from a knee surgery so probably would not be able to walk extensively. Your expertise would be appreciated!

Berlin is a safe city, so no worries there. ANd public transit is regular and efficient.

All that really matters is that you are near the U-Bahn or S-Bahn (which by the map on your hotel's website, you are). Berlin is a very spread out city so some walking is unavoidable. Kurfürstendamm, or Ku'damm, is the shopping mile near your hotel and you will find many shops and cafés there.

Although you are in the west, we just came back from a trip there in August and stayed in the east. I was lucky enough to discover the Nikolaiviertel, near the Museumsinsel. Cute little neighbourhood, a little touristy but in a good way, some nice shops and restaurants and a great museum in the old church there. Would have spent longer there if I could have.

Lavandula

Thank you both!
Would anyone happen to know if I am far from Mitte, the east Gallery, or Christmas markets at Gendarmenmarkt or Potsdammer Platz? I might have some interest in visiting these.

You said "history" - can't beat the Pergamon! http://www.smb.museum/smb/standorte/...ng=en&objID=27
But be selective about which parts interest you since your knees might not hold up, it's large.

For the spatial relationships use Google maps, input yourhotel's address then use the Destinations feature and click on the public transport icon.

For architecture start looking here - Berlin has it all, even some pre-war buildings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_in_Berlin

You are a fair distance from Mitte and Gendarmenmarkt. You could walk from your hotel to the Charlottenberg S-Bahn station or the Sophie-Charlotte U-Bahn and travel to Gendarmenmarkt (Franzosische Strasse U-Bahn), which is right in the middle of Mitte's sights, in about 24-26 minutes.

The East Gallery is a little farther away but can be reached by traveling to the Ostbahnhof rail station (S-Bahn stop) station from the Charlottenberg S-Bahn in about 19 minutes. It takes about 29 minutes to get there from the Sophie_Charlotte U-Bahn station.

Potsdamer Platz is about 18 minutes by S-Bahn and 16 minutes by U-Bahn

Good specific info from Aramis -- all the sites are easily reachable even if you are on the "wrong" side of town. We stayed in Mitte and traipsed to the West for dinner one night -- no biggie.

See if photos from our trip help:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-with-kids.cfm

The area of your hotel is quite nice. Upscale old-style residential area with many nice (non-touristy) restaurants and pubs in 5 min walking distance.
One "local favorite" is nearby Engelbecken restaurant (modern Alpine/ South German/ Austrian dishes w/o attitude) in Witzlebenstr. @ Steifensandstr.
www.engelbecken.de/en/

Across the main street "Neue Kantstr." from the hotel you'll find the bus stop of M45 bus towards Zoo station. This will be much easier transport-wise than to walk to the subway or S-Bahn. The M(etro) buses run at least every 10mins.
At Zoo station you can transfer both to the crosstown S-Bahn and U2 subway which both will take you to Mitte district.

KaDeWe department store and Ku'damm/ Tauentzien shopping streets are just a stone's throw walking distance from Zoo station.
If you should be in need of just regular shopping (usual chain stores etc), you will find the nearest shopping street and mall at Wilmersdorfer Str., just 3 or 4 stops with the M45 bus towards Zoo station.

For a real neighborhoody shopping stroll, with nice old-Berlin style food imbiss-style in the old market hall, somebody recommended Bergmannstrasse to me (the area closer to Mehringdamm, not Suedstern to the east) http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergmannstra%C3%9Fe and it really was a refreshing change of pace. Lots and lots of stores and restaurants, and if there were any tourists there, it was probably me.

If you "love history and architecture" you probably would really like a visit to the Reichstag.

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

Both tours and lectures are offered in English.

Oh my word! You are all so helpful. Thank you so much!
May I ask another question?
I am interested in seeing a typical Berlin cabaret. Any ideas? Ticketing(prefer to buy online, from site in English) and travel info from my hotel also appreciated.

Perhaps I should be more specific. As said, I would like something very Typical of Berlin cabaret, a variety show. I have some interest in the following theaters, but am still open to suggestions. Not sure which are easy to get to and good; I did note the Wintergarten Varieté has English on its website, but not on the page you buy tickets. I've also read there is a way to buy half price tickets on the day of the show, but wonder how likely this will be in December (on a weekend no less) and I do like a nice seat.

Chamäleon Theater
Rosenthaler Strasse 40–41

Friedrichstadtpalast
Friedrichstrasse 107


Wintergarten Varieté
Potsdamer Strasse 96

All three are good - any "typical" in their own league.
If one is good or not, is more a matter of the actual programme or show - and not so much a matter of the venue.

Friedrichstadtpalast is a huge place, with big shows like Cirque du Soleil or similar.

Wintergarten is more cosy in size, more like a regular theater - with lots of patina. The shows are usually more variety following a certain theme. You can have a pre-show dinner here right in the theater (all seats are grouped around tables) - and the service of drinks also continues during the show.

Chamäleon is more an "off" theater - though it also exists for decades now. Shows are sometimes less mainstream than at Wintergarten and esp. than at Friedrichstadtpalast.

Thanks. Any thoughts on the distance and ease of traveling to/from my hotel? Good shows to see?

Hey, no worries. I've booked a show at the Palast. It seems easy enough to get to!

No worries how to get there.
Again, the M45 bus will take you to Zoo station.
Follow the "S" logo inside the station to the platform of the suburban "S-Bahn" trains.
Take any eastbound train and get off at Friedrichstr. station.
Walk 5mins from there to Friedrichstadtpalast.
For after-show drinks there are lots of bars and pubs around, especially around S-Bahn station Oranienburger Str. - another 5 minutes walking from Friedrichstadtpalast.

Thanks, Cowboy!

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-journal.cfm

34 different Fodorites offer their advice in this thread I started. So much to do so much to chose from - I love Berlin!

Wow... The thread is great, thanks. Still working my way through it.