Berlin trip
 

Hello everyone,

I will be visiting Berlin for the first time this christmas and New Year and don't know what to expect. Can any one give me some tips as to weather and places to visit? I was told East Berlin is the place with most tourist sites, is that true? I'd appreciate your help:)

thanks, Elina

The Museum Island is in what was East Berlin, but there are major museums near the Tiergarten in West Berlin, and a few smaller museums near the Charlottenburg Palace, which is also worth a visit.

Have you studied any guide books, read trip reports, did research on the internet? What made you choose Berlin?

You can look at average temps on weather.com.

As for recommended places to visit, we base our choices on things we personally enjoy - your question is very general.

Weather will be +/- 20 degrees around the freezing point, perhaps with some snow.

Unter den Linden will be magically illuminated at Christmas time.

Berlin has at least three centers: Berlin-Mitte (the focus is the crossing of Friedrichstraße/Unter den Linden), the Kurfürstendamm (the focus is at Gedächtniskirche) and Potsdamer Platz. All these areas are excellently connected by public transportation, so it does not matter too much where your hotel is located (if it is close to an U-Bahn/S-Bahn station).

Berlin has enough places to visit for a two-week vacation. As others, I recommend to read a guidebook first, then come back with more specific questions. We will gladly help.

Thank you so much, at least I have ideas. I plan on staying there for 2 weeks december-january so I wanted to get a feel from travelers before I hit the guide books. but this is definitely helpful!

One more thing...winter attire? I know it's going to be cold, but I live in Miami, FL so what "exactly" do I need to bring?

elly, I live in Florida and we are headed to Berlin (and other parts of Germany) in a few weeks. We have been at this time of year before so have learned how to pack.

I bring layers so I can add or subtract as needed. Generally I wear a camisole, then a pullover sports type top (Dri Fit or similar) designed to provide warmth with no bulk. Pants are either cords, jeans or lined wool blend. I wear my Uggs every day and pack a nicer pair of leather boots for evenings as we like to go to dinner at nice places. In the evenings, I wear a cami and turtleneck with slacks or dressy jeans and leather boots.

Gloves, hat, umbrella and full length coat (waterproofed) are also needed by those of us not accustomed to German winters.

OK, thanks so much for your help:)

I would recommend staying in Mitte.
I was in Berlin this summer, stayed at Melia on
Friedrichstrase - could have not been a better location!

I just came back from a week in Berlin. The salzburger christmas market has already started last week at the Potsdamerplatz due to the Berlin wall celebration. There will be a total of 25 christmas markets in Berlin by the end of November.

I agree with danon about Melia (one of my favorite hotels), it has a nice strategic location but so do many other hotels like Sofitel, Regent, Hilton, Westin, NH hotel in the Mitte. Not to mention the Hyatt, Mandala, Marriott, & Ritz at the Potsdamerplatz. There's nothing wrong with staying in West Berlin either as you'll see one of the best christmas market around the beautiful Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church ruin, easy access to Kudamm & Kadewe (Berlin's answer to Harrods). I would recommend the Concorde Hotel, Swissotel, Kempiski if you decide to stay in the refined Charlottenburg area in West Berlin. As Traveller 1959 has mentioned Berlin has a very good transportation network so it doesn't matter much where you stay.

This November has been drastically warmer than last November when I couldn't stay outdoors too long in the evenings/nights even with two winter coats on. Bring layers of clothing as the weather is unpredictable.

I agree, Westin , Hilton etc. are great hotels in fantastic locations - I just couldn't afford them.
I am not that fond of Potsdamerplatz location.
West Berlin is great for shopping... but I really enjoyed being close to everything ( art, history) East has to offer. In any case, U-Bahn and S-Bahn are easy to navigate.

Danon: <<I agree, Westin , Hilton etc. are great hotels in fantastic locations - I just couldn't afford them.>>

They are all in the same price range as Melia with some possible variance due to occupancy level. I actually do prefer the newly built Melia over the DDR built Westin or Hilton.

I find Potsdamerplatz really fantastic probably because I like the warm ultra modern architecture (in contrast to the cold La Defense concrete modern architecture in Paris). Potsdamerplatz also has a superior location because it's right smack in the center & heart of Berlin between the East & West Berlin (see any Berlin map). The old classic precincts in Berlin is not quite as refined as in Paris in terms of architecture so I much prefer staying in the newer precinct. One hotel that I recently come to stay often is the Berlin Marriott in Potsdamerplatz; not just for the location but also for their really good fun & hopping bar downstairs. To me it's one of the best hotel bars in Berlin. That said, I am also fond of the Level club lounge/bar on top of the Melia which includes a cigar and whisky room.

I booked a king at Melia for 80 E per night on their website. The Hilton and Westin (enjoyed my stay there as well) were far more.

We hope to do a paid upgrade to the Level on arrival as we were told we could not do so in advance.

" booked a king at Melia for 80 E per night on their website. The Hilton and Westin (enjoyed my stay there as well) were far more."

My experience as well.
I liked the restaurants along the river just across the bridge from Melia.

For what to bring in terms of clothing, I find the "Hot Chillys" very warm, super comfortable, light weight, and you could wear them as an under layer beneath pants or jeans or as pajamas.

They can be found at stores like REI, Sports Basement, Sports Chalet. They aren't cheap, but they should last a couple of winters.

kfusto: That's exactly my point, by the time you pay the LEVEL upgrade, it costs the same as all the other hotels, except at Melia you get the LEVEL lounge with all day food & drinks.

danon: I agree with you, I also like those restaurants along Schiffbauerdamm across the river. Another plus is the lively Oranienburgerstrasse a few blocks north of the hotel and the museum island just a couple blocks east of the Melia.

' Another plus is the lively Oranienburgerstrasse a few blocks north of the hotel and the museum island just a couple blocks east of the Melia."


The street was an easy walk from the hotel , it was jammed with people on the July evening when I was there. Nice vibe.
There is also a number of restaurants in what seemed like a renovated market Hackesher (?) also within walking distance from Melia.

I agree about the Oranienburgerstrasse for the most part, but an enduring memory is seeing a young blonde prostitute marching off with a client (actually it practically looked like she was dragging him) who looked like a stupid lummox. (Not that I should criticize his appearance, but the scene was quite memorable.) There are numerous ladies of the night who hang out around there.

Yup last year, I took my wife and close friends through Oranienburgerstr right after I unsuspectingly bragged about it being one of my favorite streets in Berlin! I had a really tough time trying to convince them that I've never seen all those gorgeous young blondes... in long white boots... ever before. It's got to be a recent trend because in years past it was just a fun lively street to go out for a drink or dinner.

DAX, I saw them in 2006. Maybe you just weren't there at the right time before?