Must Do's/Sees in Berlin?

[stumblymonkey]

Off to Berlin tomorrow morning for four days with DP. Any must dos or sees?

Recommendations for eating out?

Any tips appreciated....so far we have booked a four hour walking tour around the usual sites and a lunch at one of the Shokladenhaus (sp?) basically fancy German patisseries...

Maybe not one to do but me and my friends climbed a fence into the abandoned theme park on the east. Was amazing but very scary as obviously people living there.

Still got to see an abandoned Ferris wheel and loads of random stuff.

The Stasi museum

There's a great cafe just around the corner from there called What do you fancy love?
I like it.

How easy/hard is the Stasi museum to get to?

It's definitely off the beaten track but it's a nice glimpse of the suburbs as you travel out. And so worth it, especially if you are a fan of Deutschland 83! As I recall it was just a train out of Alexanderplatz and then a 10min walk. It's quite hidden away behind a big apartment block.

Just had a little look on google maps, just get the U5 to Magdalenstrasse

Thank you. Urgh to having to go through Alexanderplatz though, having sworn never to go there again!

I like Alexanderplatz. What's so wrong with it?

The Berlin Wall memorial out in the suberbs is really interesting. Makes you see how the wall literally went through the middle of streets and towns.

It's a bit out of town but worth the visit.

www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/the-berlin-wall-memorial-and-documentation-centre

Yes - the Berlin Wall memorial is amazing.

Alexanderplatz is like Birmingham New Street on a Saturday afternoon. I hated it. It probably doesn't help that they were doing lots of building work at the time we were there too.

Ha, I actually like Alexanderplatz too! It's dirty and grotty but holds a certain charm!

We are going in the next day or so too-currently we are all full of colds and I was debating whether to cancel,but now I feel all enthused! Any recommendations for chocolate/pastry houses would be great. Has anyone done one of the underground tours round the bunkers etc? They look like they are suitable for 14+ kids, just wondered if it would be a bit overwhelming for my 11 year old?

Chocolate house here It is gorgeous!

Oh and 11 yr old would almost certainly love the Ritter shop, which is just around the corner from there.

Thanks- just looking at the chocolate house menu, looks great! Need to get a move on and get myself organised pronto

We just got back today. Our highlights were:

TV tower - we did it after dark. I think it might be better in daylight or at dusk if you can manage it. We booked ahead. Only an hour or two before we visited but saved two hours of queueing.

Reichstag - again book ahead if you want a full tour including going into the chamber. The dome is worth a visit on its own though. All free!

East side gallery - DD 15 loved it!

KaDeWe department store - worth it for the fifth floor food hall alone!

Currywurst- our new favourite!

We also enjoyed the markets, the Kaiser Wilhelm church and the story of Berlin. We tried to go shopping at alexanderplatz but gave up because it was too busy. The chocolate shop (link above) was also good.

Have a great time!

We got back today as well. We stayed in alexanderplatz and it was a great central location.

Highlights were the topography of terror and checkpoint Charlie museums. The Berlin catherdral and the lustgarten. The TV tower we went up at dusk which was brilliant, and we visited the Kaiser Wilhelm church in the dark which was lovely with the market and the candles. We walked to Brandenburg gate but the Nye stuff was already set up, and went to the Reichstag but decided not to go in, as we had had a lot of museums the day before and wanted to stay outside (beautiful day)

Thoroughly loved my few days, highly recommend it.

And Gluwein with amaretto is my new favourite thing.