Berlin - recommendations for hotels and must sees

[Notsoskinnyminny]

I've booked a surprise trip for DHs birthday but haven't got a clue which area to stay in or what do although he's into WW2 aircraft so we'll have to visit a military museum and I've just discovered the shops are closed on Sundays so less time to get my shopping fix so

where would you stay? (don't want to pay more than £150/night)

What have we got to see and what can we miss?

Best shops/what to buy

where to eat (will try most things)

TIA

Try to stay in Mitte.

Must see:

Book in advance for Reichstaag dome (it's free but you have to book online with passport details and take passports with you)

Topographie of Terror

Holocaust Memorial

Treptower Park for Russian memorial

River boat trip

Best shops - haven't done much shopping there but Galeries Lafayette is worth a look. People will say the foodhall of the big place on the Kudamm which I have currently forgotten the name of, but I just thought it was busy and smelly.

Don't bother:
DDR museum
Checkpoint Charlie

There are several Holiday Inns. We've stayed at the Movenpick before, which was good but it's not quite so central. Hotel Gatpoint Charlie is (surprise) near CPC and is fine - lovely staff. The Movenpick is the 'poshest' but none of them are flash, so ignore these if you want flashier, rather than clean and fine!

Thanks Remus and the hotels are great - I think I'd looked at the Gatpoint one. I'm more cheap and cheerful, as long as its comfy and would rather spend the money doing things than going for a swanky suite. We splurged on a place in Madrid that had the hardest beds and lumpiest pillows I've ever slept on, never again

KaDeWe department store is wonderful, and has a great cafe.
There are some great Markets too - look for the Turkish market, and also if you are there on a Thursday night there is a fantastic indoor street food market, can’t remember the name, sorry.
The Reichstag is well worth the faff of booking in advance.

Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, I looked it up. It’s in a really interesting area too. And worth a visit during the day.

We had brunch in the revolving restaurant at the top of the TV Tower on our first morning which was a great way to get to see the whole city. It was fab and I would highly recommend it!

Stay at a motel one, they are simple, cheap and clean. Not dusty and old.
Try and stay in Mitte. There are fabulous Berlin shops and restaurants and bars and cafes around the Alte Schönhauser Straße- go and eat (with reservations??, or go early) dinner at Monsieur Vuong (cult and delicious and affordable) and have lunch at Dolores (Mexican Wraps).
Avoid the Hackescher Markt - except for a quick photo op on the way to the Museumsinsel - it is trashy and touristy. I have never been to Checkpoint Charlie for the same reason but it may interest your husband and is iconic.

Happy to answer more questions - ask me more.

So my recommendation would be Motel One Hackescher Markt (even though it’s actually Alexanderplatz/Mitte)
www.motel-one.com/de/hotels/berlin/hotel-berlin-hackescher-markt/#scrollTopAnchor

And buy either a weekly travel card if you will be zigzagging across town or a Streifenkarte for shorter trips, which you need to “stamp” at the stamp machines depending on whether you need to validate one or two stamps.

Walk along the river Spree between the museums because it is beautiful. The ballet is open again. Walk from your hotel down Unter den Linden because it is the best way to see the city.

Oh, and try and avoid Marathon Week- everything will be booked out, full, roads blocked. I think it is in September.
I was wondering why early June was so expensive and sold out, it turns out to be Triathlon Week, also avoid. www.berlin.de/special/sport-und-fitness/laufkalender/4399613-36032-berlin-triathlon.html

Berlin has a huge beach bar culture too: www.berliner-buzz.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sbahn-nativemap1_berlinerbeachbars_HELL.pdf so you might want to take Flipflops and a swimsuit.

Yes to a weekly transport pass - an absolute bargain and the service is fantastic.

And depending on how long you're there for, try to get out to a lake.

Thank you everyone, keep the tips coming

Harebell we're going in February so I think I'll pass on the flipflops and cossy

Gawd, there must be something on the weekend we're there loads of hotels including the Motel-one are fully booked

Also watching because I really want to go. Does anyone have experience of the Trabant tour?

We did a free walking tour (you tip at the end) which was great. There was lots of information/things to see that we’d have missed otherwise.

I loved the DDR museum! We got discounted tickets so didn’t pay full price.

The Reichstag was fantastic too.

We went 9 years ago and would love to go back with the dds. Dd1 was 4 months old when we visited.

I really enjoyed the ddr museum. The Holocaust memorial was a waste of time for me - I know it's very moving for some but I've been twice and never gotten anything out of it. Checkpoint Charlie was ok, but just ok.

We're off to Berlin in a couple of weeks and staying in the Movenpick. Booked direct with the hotel via Quidco and I think they gave us some restaurant vouchers or something for booking with them. The hotel appears to be very close to the metro.

We've also booked two 72 hour all inclusive Berlin passes - free entry into most museums, free public transport, etc. Never been before - we did try to book into the Bundestag visit, submitted all our details and passport numbers etc, had a message saying we had a slot but then had an email saying that it was cancelled due to parliamentary business. Shame.

Going in xmas. Staying in ibis styles Mitte.

Didn’t know about ddr but looks interesting

There are some bunkers tours I’ve been recommended www.berliner-unterwelten.de/en/guided-tours/public-tours/cold-war-nuclear-bunkers.html

We stayed at the nhow near the East Side Gallery.
DH loved it as he could hire music equipment to the room.

Place marking for later

Raven - did you go downstairs to the exhibition under the Holocaust memorial? I thought it was superb.

Movenpick is almost next door to an S Bahn stop, so really easy to get around. It's walking distance from Potzdamer Platz too, and also from Kochstraße U Bahn (at Checkpoint Charlie).

There is a free DDR exhibition at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg.

This exhibition is excellent for WW2 buffs - a bit off the beaten track.

Ah I'd forgotten about that. I thought it was good, yeah, but a bit small. I'd sooner do the Topography of Terrors or the Jewish museum, both really good. Just as an activity I'd probably skip the Holocaust memorial if I had to choose something.

I've just remembered another thing OP - the museum island was superb! Spent a day there in two museums.

I would really recommend visiting the former airport at Tempelhof. The runway area is now a park and you can cycle or walk on the runways, and then you can do a tour of the actual airport - make sure you book this in advance as I think there's only one English speaking tour a day, if that. But it is well worth it if you like that sort of thing.

And I second the Reichstag and free walking tour.

Berlin is great - take comfy shoes!

Jewish museum excellent - brilliant staff too.