To visit Berlin, a weekend will give you an overview of the city. However, we propose a two-day itinerary which takes you through everything that made Berlin the most dynamic and alternative capital of Europe at the moment! Enjoy and feel the vibes!
1st day: Trip from Classical and historical Berlin to modern and alternative Berlin (Tour time: about 8 hours walk).
A: Arrival in Alexanderplatz towards the center of the city, with world clock: Uraniaweltzeituhr, the TV tower: Fernsehturm and its huge shopping center Alexa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexanderplatz
B: First we move away from the park, passing under the TV tower with on your right, the Rotes Rathaus, the seat of Berlin government and on your left one of the oldest churches in Berlin.
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotes_Rathaus
C: Then you cross the bridge over the River “Spree” and you can see and / or visit the Berliner Dom ...
After admiring this beautiful building, you go towards the Unter Den Linden, Berlin's Champs Elysees, between the Humboldt University, the oldest university of Berlin, the museum of German history (http://www.berlin.of/mauer/Museen/dhm/index.html) and the State Opera
D: Bebelplatz, you can visit the monument commemorating the burning of 10 May 1933. Front of the university of law, you must stop to look through a window on the ground.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz
E: You can walk on the pedestrian walkways under the linden (Unter Den Linden) towards the Brandenburg Gate with embassies Russian, British, French and American around you; admire the different architectural style...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unter_den_Linden
E (optional): the intersection with Friedrichstrasse, you can turn left towards Checkpoint Charlie (by foot or subway “station Franzosichstrasse”, stop at the station “Kochstrasse”). Checkpoint Charlie is the name given by the west countries to the border points which, during the Cold War allowed people to cross the border that divided the German capital between the western and the eastern sector. This place is the seat of the museum of the Berlin Wall. On the location of the former checkpoint, you can join the U.S. and east German border guards for a photo (not for free) or for an east german stamps on your passport!
For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie
F: Then you should pass the arch and the former border between East and West Berlin and you proceed to the Reichstag, the seat of German government and its glass dome (book at least 2 days in advance to have the chance to visit the dome: http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits/kupp.html)
For more historical information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_(building)
G: Cross the river towards the contemporary art museum “Hamburger Bahnhof”. The exhibition in the main hall is most of the time impressive by its dimensions or its installation.
Useful information: http://www.hamburgerbahnhof.de/text.php
H: Direction the “Kunsthaus Tacheles”, a place of residence and establishment of young artists in a huge tagged squat! Art is alive and militant, a threat of closure hanging over this structure in the modernization and gentrification of the city, come and show your support: http://super.tacheles.de/cms/
In front of Tacheles, you will find a French fries street restautant “Tom frittes” where you can enjoy the best French fries in Berlin. Careful choice of sauce is amazing ...
I: Hackescher Market, old market converted into a subway station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackescher_Markt). Make a detour to the “Central Kino”, in a dead end alleys full of graffitis that transform this impasse into a vibrant living museum. For Cinema addicted, Central offers a selection of German and foreign movies in OV or OV with English subtitles (for more information: http://www.kino-central.de/home.php)
J: Back to Alexanderplatz to enjoy the sunset at the top of the tower (http://www.tv-turm.de/en/index.php), it is possible to book in advance to visit or to have a drink at the restaurant… so you will avoid waiting in a row…
Depending on the evening you want to spend, here are different names of clubs / concert hall where you can enjoy a funny night (watch the entrance fee) Astra (http://www.astra-berlin.de/), Magnet club ( http://www.magnet-club.de/), White Trash (http://www.whitetrashfastfood.com/), Icon (http://www.iconberlin.de/) or Festsaal (http:// www.festsaal-kreuzberg.de/).
To learn more about the concerts and parties in Berlin: http://www.zitty.de/list?
2nd day: Berlin today, Berlin's life, alternative city, alive and vibrant ...
A: Departure from Alexanderplatz
B: Direction Ostbahnhof (East Station), When leaving the station by the main entrance, you'll find east side gallery, part of the former Berlin Wall painted by artists of all nationalities, more than a hundred paintings about 1.3 km long (http://www.eastsidegallery.com/). If the weather permits, you can relax along the spree in the grass.
C: Oberbaum bridge, a symbol of the unity of the city and a splendid Gothic architecture. On the bridge you will have a beautiful view of the Fernsehturm and on the other side of a giant sculpture in the middle of the river, Finally you will notice along the bridge of a lot of lovelockers without keys…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberbaum_Bridge
D: Kreuzberg, known as little Istanbul is famous for its tags and its delicious Turkish food. You can enjoy a walk in Kreuzberg (ie along the spree with a possibility to go to the bars on the bank of the spree along the abandoned buildings. Today, although the area is still considered as "infamous," the district will benefit from the punk, alternative, against-culture, vast covered with graffiti, is attracting a new population connected or bourgeois bohemian. But numerous alternative centers are still active and participate in the life of the "little Istanbul "and found the best Turkish kebabs and pastries in town!
F: Mauer Park then head for a giant karaoke, grab a beer and watch strangers get wild in front of an amphitheater full of enthusiasm ... In Mauer park you will also find a flea market where you can buy everything ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauerpark
starting afresh towards the subway station Eberswalder on the road a great little restaurant: Happa Happa, delicious Lebanese cuisine (vegetarian) and a beer garden “Prater” and finally just before the subway station, you can taste specialties from Berlin: currywurst in Konopke (sausages are homemade).
F: If you have still a bit of time, you can hope in tram to go to Friedrichsain, another part of Kreuzberg to drink a beer in one of the numerous bars with terrasse...
Where to eat:
Lunch: Germans eat outside at lunch, feasting on a sausage (currywurst) or Bagels. You will find many small lunch stands sausage, kebab sandwich or snack with a beer (Becks and Astra, these beers are not from Berlin but excellent)
Best currywurst: Konnopke Imbiss under Eberswalder substation (U2)
Dinner: Depending on the area here are some names of restaurant:
- Prenzlauer Berg:
Falafel / kebab: Happa Happa. Address: smetanastraße 17, 13088 Berlin, Tel: 030 2904-5225
Italian food: I Due Forni (pizza punk), caution it is a punk atmosphere and you'll get your money, the service can be rude but this is not an ordinary restaurant, people like or dislike. Address: Schönhauser Allee 12, 10119 Berlin. Tel: 030/44017333
Mexican food: Maria Bonita, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas as in Mexico. Address: Danziger Str. 33, Prenzlauer Berg, 10435 Berlin, tel: 49 17670179461
Sushi: Sasaya, one of my best sushi place in Europe, you should book it in advance… Lychener Straße 50, 10437 Berlin, Tel: 030 4471-7721
Papa-nô, Average-good sushi but always open and no booking required, Danzigerstr. 11, 10435 Berlin
Thai food: Maothai, you are in the islands… delicate and cheap, a pleasure for a dinner in summer… Wörther Str. 30, 10405 Berlin, Tel: 030 4419261
Burgers: Burgerie, excellent, fresh homemade buger, cheap and big portions, Schönhauser Allee 50, 10437 Berlin, Tel: 030 83212441
- Kreuzberg:
Italian: II Casolare pizza place; Street fridreichsein
Vietnamese food: Hamy café, simple place with different dishes everyday, cheap and tasty… one of the best place in Berlin, Hasenheide 10, gegenüber von Bauhaus, 10967 Berlin, Tel: 030 61625959
- Mitte:
French Fries: Tom's Fritten, hand-cut, hand-made fries from a cheerful truck with more than 20 different kind of sauces… Even if I am living in Belgium, Tom’s Fritten is a step further from everything I experience in Belgium… Oranienburger Strasse, corner Auguststrasse
Middle East: Falafel Dada nice place to try fresh falafel, a must for vegetarian people, Linienstraße 132, Tel: +49 171 3597392
Curry 61: Good place to test the famous currywurst, Oranienburger Str. 6, Tel : +49 030 26 36 99 41
