====== Berlin ====== ===== How to get there & local transport ===== * [[http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/|Berlin Airports]] are Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schönefeld * Public Transportation in Berlin is easy, safe and usually runs late into the night. You can reach all stops inside the city limits + airport Schönefeld with tickets of the zone "AB". Tickets are valid for bus, unterground, S-Bahn, tram (Streetcar) + the "Regionalexpress" (fast train) from airport Schönefeld. Transfers are allowed, but only in one direction. The cost for a single journey AB is 2.10 Euro. A day pass AB is 6.10 Euro. So it makes sense to buy a day pass if you are planning three or more journeys a day. Make sure that you validate (stamp) the ticket before you get on the train! For Tickets, prices and further information about public transport, please check the following website: [[http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/Bvg/Start|BVG]] ===== Tourist information (offices etc.) ===== * Information on Berlin in Germany: tourist information at Berlin central station * Another Information office is located at Berlin Brandenburg Gate * See also Berlin's official tourism Internet channel [[http://www.visitBerlin.tv|visitBerlin.tv]] for the latest news about Berlin events, attractions, and things to do and see. ===== City tours ===== ===== Sights ===== Berlin, the German capital is the country's largest city and belongs as a center of politics, culture and science to the most important and vibrant European cities. Not only amazing museums, bold new architecture and stately palaces make up the sights Berlin impresses with - it's the history of Berlin which couldn't be more dramatic. Major milestones after World War 2nd were the division into four occupation zones and the rise of the Berlin Wall built in 1961, which separated West Berlin from Berlin East until the German Unification in 1990. Fans of history and art shouldn't miss the huge Museum Island (Museumsinsel), that museum complex of five museums was added to the World Heritages in 1999 situated on an island in the heart of Berlin. Mitte Berlin (Berlin city center) is the city's historic core and packs in most famous landmarks in Berlin, including the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, Unter den Linden Boulevard, Potsdamer Platz and the TV Tower on Alexanderplatz Berlin. After sun set Berlin's real spirit awakes - besides the dozens of nightclubs and cafes such as in the quarter Scheunenviertel or Hackesche Höfe, a wide variety of concerts and other cultural events make up the legendary nightlife of Berlin. ==== Unesco World Heritage Berlin==== In 1999 the Museum Island was added to the World Heritage list. It includes the National Gallery, The Old Museum with a collection of paintings, the New Museum, the immense Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum (exhibits of Egyptian artifacts). Additionally the parks and castles of Berlin and [[Potsdam]] were together subscribed in the World Heritage (1990 already). ===== Activities ===== * Sigtseeing tour to the Berlin attractions: Start at the Reichstag (seat of German Parliament), head south to the Brandenburg Gate and visit the Berlin Holocaust Memorial 'Stehlen' which is made up of 2,711 gray stone slabs. Then you could stroll along Unter den Linden with a detour to the Gendarmenmarkt. * Culture attractions Berlin: The Museum Island includes The National Gallery, The Old Museum with a collection of paintings, New Museum, the immense Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum (exhibits of Egyptian artifacts). * Entertainment attractions Berlin: Potsdamer Platz is one of the major tourist attractions Berlin, aside from multiplex cinemas the arty Arsenal cinema, a musical theatre and a couple of night clubs bring in the crowds. * Recreation attractions Berlin: The Tiergarten Berlin is the oldest and most popular park, stretching from the Zoologischer Garten to the Brandenburg Gate. Another nice option is Schloss Charlottenburg, a Baroque castle sourrounded by English gardens. ===== Activities with kids ===== Make your kids happy with an excursion to Zoologischer Garten, it's one of the largest zoos in the world ===== Must Do's ===== * Take the lift up to the 365m tall TV Tower on Alexanderplatz which has a rotating restaurant on top and guarantees a great view over the attractions in Berlin * The street exhibition at Checkpoint Charlie, which documents with lots of photos and stories the time in Berlin and Germany after World War 2nd. Learn everything about the rise of Berlin Wall, the attempted flees, politics and much more - really touching ===== Day trips ===== * Activities Berlin to the rivers and canals of the Spreewald near Berlin (80km). People come here for boat trips through the green idyllic waterways, to hike the nature trails or relax while fishing - it's a famous tourist attraction Berlin visitors should take time for. * Leave the attractions of Berlin Germany for a day trip to the stunning town of [[Potsdam]]: with its wealth of parks, museums and palaces such as Sanssouci. It's also worth taking the time to explore more of the countryside around Berlin. At Niederfinow (68km) you can watch an amazing and huge ship-lift working, from here you reach easily the ruined monastery of Chorin. ===== Museums ===== * Museum complex on Museum Island (Museumsinsel) * Jewish Museum Berlin (the biggest Jewish Museum of Europe) * Check Point Charlie Wall Museum ===== Galleries & Exhibitions ===== * picture Gallery called Gemäldegalerie ===== Theater & Opera ===== * there are 150 theatres and three operas in Berlin you can choose from! ===== Restaurants ===== * visit the rotating restaurant on top of the tower Fernsehturm * A recommendation for the small budget: Go to the Asia Pavillon in the Potsdam Arkaden at Potsdamer Platz. There you get delicious China and Thai food for 2.50 - only 7 EUR ===== Going out for Brunch ===== ===== Cafés ===== ===== Bars & Lounges ===== ===== Discotheques ===== ===== Events ===== For many years, up to one million people came to enjoy Berlin's most famous techno music event - the Love parade. ===== Shopping ===== * Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm), Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse are the main shopping areas and attractions Berlin * Potsdam Arkaden at Potsdamer Platz - it's a big shopping mall ===== Accommodation Berlin ===== * You won't find many camping possibilities around Berlin, so just go to Campground [[http://www.campingpark-sanssouci-potsdam.com|Camping Park Sanssouci]] near Potsdam. It's a very nice and clean one with a restaurant and is beautifully situated at a lake. * Furnished guest rooms and apartments: As a good alternative to guesthouses and hotels, with the chance for self-supply with food and some good insider tips from your local host, which are often not in your guide-book. All accommodations are generally checked by the agency. Find more about here: [[http://www.zimmer-im-web.de/indexe.htm|Agency for apartments and guestrooms in Germany]] * Bed and Breakfast: - is accommodation with a private atmosphere, often known as "zimmerfrei". It is an alternative for the traveller looking for a low-priced accommodation and wishing not only get to know the country, but also to get to know the local people. If near Hackeschen Markt, Alexanderplatz, Kurfürstendamm or something near Berlin, you find some of these accommodations here: [[http://www.bandb-ring.de/p/rberlin.htm|Bed and Breakfast Ring in Berlin]]