What to do in Berlin?

[Hubblebubbletripletrouble]

DP and I are going to Berlin next week. I haven't been before and to be honest I haven't done a lot of research so not sure where to start! I have a guide book so will read through that in next few days.

Does anyone have any recommendations of where to go, what to do etc?

Any restaurant suggestions?

Thank you!

Berghain

Tv Tower - you can eat or drink there in the revolving restaurant (book online to avoid queues)
Reichstag (it’s free but book online in advance]
East German museum
Amazing chocolate shop - I’ll find the link

www.rausch.de/en/schokoladenhaus/

This art nouveau area was pretty with lots of shops and bars and also restaurants under the railway arches

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187323-d190659-Reviews-Die_Hackeschen_Hoefe-Berlin.html

I liked this restaurant here - lots of Berlin specialities - meatballs in a creamy caper sauce were lovely

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187323-d2335606-Reviews-Restauration_1840-Berlin.html

Berlin is amazing , we love it

Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie museum
German history museum
The wall
The holocaust monument
Charlottenburg palace
Tv tower ( book or queue can take forever )
Reichstag dome and government area
City bus tour ( hop on / off)
Brandenburg gate
The zitadelle

Plus loads more

Go to a festive market for an evening beer with locals - great fun

Have fun !

There's a Cold War nuclear bunker under a car park which was amazing! Also a tube station used as a shelter in ww2. Wannsee House (where the final solution was decided). There's also an AMAZING Stasi prison which is well worth doing a tour of. Can you tell I teach history?!

Pre book breakfast in the Reichstag restaurant. It’s pricey but much cheaper than other meals and you get to see the dome at the same time. Great views.

Watch Travel Man: 48 hrs in Berlin for a good quick guide on 4OD

Failing that -

1. DDR museum; how life was in East Germany. It's opposite the Radio Tower so you could do both.
2. Topography of terror / Berlin Wall is interesting and walkable from Check Point Charlie
3. Hitlers Bunker Tour - near Pottsdammer Platz

Or if Techno is your thing you could queue for hours hoping to get in to Berghain as Britney suggested but I'd probably have a back up plan

The Stasi museum is fascinating - definitely worth the visit!

The dome at the Reichstag is free, but you need to book in advance. We did it at night which was good! May also be worth pre-booking the TV tower as it can get busy.

I’d recommend doing the walk from Mauerpark along the route of the wall to the free museum (the name escapes me). Lots of interesting information along the way.

Where is a good place to see a classical concert one evening?

Thank you for all your great recommendations so far, I'm doing lots of googling to look them all up!

Has anyone else got any tibs please?

I mean *tips!

Get a multi day train ticket, the zoo is good to have a wander round too.

I loved Berlin it's a lovely city.

Will look at the multi day train ticket, thanks!

Cookies Cream is brilliant. It's a fine dining veggie restaurant in a loading bay.

I really wanted to go to Berghain but DH wasn't up for it.

Beside the TV tower is a place where you can do the bicycle tour (fat tire tours) it’s brilliant and the guides are very knowledgeable. Berlin is so flat too so you don’t need to be super fit!

Free walking tour, really interesting seeing the different between the old East and.West

Holocaust memorial
Stasi museum
The Wall for the artwork, its brilliant.
We went to the National History Museum which was brilliant.
Book for the reichtag if you can. You have to take your passport but its worth it for the views.

If you want a break from history this model village was really cool!

www.theguardian.com/travel/blog/gallery/2012/apr/17/berlin-loxx-miniature-railway-in-pictures

We found a narrated boat trip on the Spree interesting- lots of different architecture. Also hired bikes and cycled to Charlottenberg and rode past the palace and through the gardens. The museum island is good in the evenings as well - lots of performers although we were there in the summer. Hope you have fun.

Best thing we did was a walking tour. Chanced upon them in Parizer Platz (this was several years ago but suspect some company will still be there). We normally prefer to do our own thing but this was great. Our tour guide was English (german history studenr) and knew loads of really interesting stuff. They cover all the main WW2 areas and Cold War sites, and we walked round then went back to the bits we were most interested in. You make a donation for what you think it was worth at the end. Best thing we did.

Wrap up warm - Berlin is freezing!

We've got about 7° C at the moment and people are sitting out having brakfast with plaids over their knees.

Take the 100 or 200 BVG bus line with your all day ticket. They go past all touristy and historical places and you can get out when you like and back in taking the next bus.
As for classical concert - start here - Berlin's official homepage - and switch to English
www.berlin.de/tickets/klassische-konzerte/

There is a lovely spa called Vabali, near to the main railway station. A lovely way to spend an evening.

Agree about the East Side Gallery and the Holocaust memorial. Visit Potsdam if you have the time as well.