A Day In Berlin

[tangof1]

Hi

I am going through Berlin in August for a day (i land at 11:45am and take off at 10:00pm) and was wondering if you could recommend what to do and see in the city, how quick is it to get into the city from the airport (landing at Schoenefeld) like to do the main sights like the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall, but any advice would be great.

Thanks.

David.

 

[solfi]

Hi David,

welcome to my hometown. If you are out of the airport and can catch the next train it takes only 30min to central station.

Transportation: Best thing is to buy a day pass for Zone ABC so you can hop on/off where ever you want for 24h. S-Bahn Berlin - Home or BVG.de - Homepage

What to do in Berlin:
1st time visitor: do the tourist stuff: aka what you mentioned. But i think that Chepoint Charlie is overrated. You can´t really see how it was back then. But a lot of tourists are till going there. To see what is left of the wall you can go to the Eastside Gallery but I would recomment the museum on Bernauerstrasse or the Niederkirchnerstrasse. It´s nearby Potsdamer Platz. If you go there do not to forget to visit the Topography of Terror Documentation Center (Topographie des Terrors - Topography of Terror). Quite impressive and/or depressing.

Otherwise stroll through Kreuzberg (Oranienstrasse), Friedrichshain, or make a short stop (Station Senefelder Platz) on Karl Marx Allee and be impressed by a monumental socialist boulevard Karl-Marx-Allee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or go shopping on Postdamer Platz or Kudamm.

Food: Try some Koefte, Doener in Kreuzburg on and around Oranienstrasse or if you like pizza il casolare trattoria (Grimmstraße 30, 10967 Berlin). A very good burger can be found on Burgermeister (Burgermeister · Burger Berlin Kreuzberg · Am Schlesischen Tor · U1 · created by SNYSOLUTIONS © 2009-2012)


Overall: You have too less time. There is so much to do and see in Berlin.

 

[Alanslegal]

Jump on a Segway tour, that will cover all you need to see in a few hours

 

[codash1099]

Hi David,

welcome to my hometown. If you are out of the airport and can catch the next train it takes only 30min to central station.

Transportation: Best thing is to buy a day pass for Zone ABC so you can hop on/off where ever you want for 24h. S-Bahn Berlin - Home or BVG.de - Homepage

What to do in Berlin:
1st time visitor: do the tourist stuff: aka what you mentioned. But i think that Chepoint Charlie is overrated. You can´t really see how it was back then. But a lot of tourists are till going there. To see what is left of the wall you can go to the Eastside Gallery but I would recomment the museum on Bernauerstrasse or the Niederkirchnerstrasse. It´s nearby Potsdamer Platz. If you go there do not to forget to visit the Topography of Terror Documentation Center (Topographie des Terrors -*Topography of Terror). Quite impressive and/or depressing.

Otherwise stroll through Kreuzberg (Oranienstrasse), Friedrichshain, or make a short stop (Station Senefelder Platz) on Karl Marx Allee and be impressed by a monumental socialist boulevard Karl-Marx-Allee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or go shopping on Postdamer Platz or Kudamm.

Food: Try some Koefte, Doener in Kreuzburg on and around Oranienstrasse or if you like pizza il casolare trattoria (Grimmstraße 30, 10967 Berlin). A very good burger can be found on Burgermeister (Burgermeister · Burger Berlin Kreuzberg · Am Schlesischen Tor · U1 · created by SNYSOLUTIONS © 2009-2012)


Overall: You have too less time. There is so much to do and see in Berlin.

As solfi said, there's really too much to try and get in one day. Get on a Hop on/Hop Off bus which will take you to most of the sights. You won't have time to do anything in detail.

Instead of the Topography of Terror (which is very good and there's a pristine bit of the wall there as well) get to the Holocaust Memorial and the education centre beneath it.

Oh, and forget the Fehrnsehenturm. Berlin is very flat and relatively featureless from that height.

 

[JessicaTam]

I agree that one day is not enough time. I spent five days there last year and barely scratched the surface.

The hop-on hop-off bus is a great idea. Make sure you get an english speaking one, as they come in many different flavours. One spot to spend some time is the Brandenburg Gate. You can get some iconic holiday snapshots as well as some history. If you do visit it, drop in to the quiet room for a few minutes; quite a contrast from the hustle and bustle outside.

Hopefully your day will leave you wanting to come back for more.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I have been to Berlin twice in the last 6 months, first time for 2 days in November when it was bitterly cold and again last month(June) for 18 hours.

If arriving into Schonefeld Airport(SXF) then best to catch the train into the city. tripadvisor tickets cost 3Euros.

If flying into Tegel(TXL) then you catch the X09 bus to Zoologischer Garten the bus drive understands the term the zoo I think 2.40 euro.

In the 10 hour so hours you have I would suggest the following.

Go and buy a ticket for the TV tower near station Alexanderplatz, try and buy a ticket to go and look during the evening. 6-8pm

Then catch a U Bahn train to Friedrichstraße and go and have a look at the Brandenburg Gate

Next to Brandenburg Gate is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Then its about 1km walk maybe less to go and have a look at checkpoint charlie. the closest station is Stadmitte or Kochstrabe.

One option is to go to the Brandeburg Gate and you could get one of those 15Euro city tours which last about 2-3 hours, another option is to go and do a walking tour, there are a few free tours around which generally start around Brandenburg Gate, there is a bunch of tours, lots of people trying to flog a quick tour and it would give you a good overview of the city.


There is quiet a bit of reading about the Berlin wall around check point charlie, Topography of Terror Documentation Center is near Check point charlie.

The view of Brandenberg Gate, yes it was cold.

Schonefeld is the old airport in East Berlin, yes there are some improvements but not much, and it is about a 400 metre walk from the airport to the train station.

Maybe download some maps before you go. I usually get mine from the hotel or get a sim card for Europe for data that way you don't get lost.

Next time I go back to Berlin, it will be not winter and I might try and stay for a few days, 10 hours is plenty of time.

So just take some photos and take in the sights, and follow the crowd.

I hope this helps.

And the wall wasn't north to south, just to confuse, there are bit of the old wall around near Brandenburg Gate or Checkpoint Charlie.

 

[Foreigner]

I visited Berlin for one day, having taken ICE train from/to FRA. At the central station (Hbf), I took a BBS city circle tour for Euro20 taking me to 15 different locations. full tour is 2 hours but you'd want to get on and off wherever you fancy. Check this weblink:

BBS BERLIN - Sightseeing - Incoming - Stadtrundfahrten Touren

(Click on flag at bottom of screen for English.)

 

[Flashback]

Suggest considering this too: German Bundestag: Registering to visit the dome of the Reichstag Building

You do have to book ahead, which has caught me out on both trips I've done to Berlin!

 

[Robert Qld]

I love this city completely.

The question is often not what to do, but what will I have time to do.

I was just there last month (for CSD) and it was once again it was an awesome experience. I do recommend like the above poster the Reichstag, though since our inital intent was to go there to have breakfast specifically, it was amusing to have to bring out passports along just for food (but all a part of the experience!)

You need to find a nice resturant to try the pork knuckle however!

 

[Foreigner]

I love this city completely.

The question is often not what to do, but what will I have time to do.

I was just there last month (for CSD) and it was once again it was an awesome experience. I do recommend like the above poster the Reichstag, though since our inital intent was to go there to have breakfast specifically, it was amusing to have to bring out passports along just for food (but all a part of the experience!)

You need to find a nice resturant to try the pork knuckle however!

Berlin ist schoen!

 

[Robert Qld]

Hehe Foreigner. I will be starting German lessons come October!

 

[Foreigner]

Mark Twain called it the awful German language. Read more at this link:

http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/awfgrmlg.html

I suggest you learn the basics of the language before you go. I recommend learning in class/group environment (10 lessons or so) and then when you arrive in Germany, you'll be familiar with what was learnt. Viel Glück!

 

[Grogan]

Instead of the Topography of Terror (which is very good and there's a pristine bit of the wall there as well) get to the Holocaust Memorial and the education centre beneath it.

.

+1 for this. One of the most moving memorials you will ever encounter.

 

[xt_20]

I was in Berlin for 2 days, lots to do.
Did the free walking tour (NEW Berlin FREE Tour - Berlin Tours - SANDEMANs NEW EUROPE) - highly recommended.

 

[Flashback]

I was in Berlin for 2 days, lots to do.
Did the free walking tour (NEW Berlin FREE Tour - Berlin Tours - SANDEMANs NEW EUROPE) - highly recommended.

I've always been pleased with the quality of Sandemans's walking tours.