HOW TO SPEND A VERY PLEASANT DAY IN BERLIN
Written: Aug 05 '02 (Updated Aug 06 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: a very interesting city, the 100 line will get you anywhere you need to go
Cons: .
The Bottom Line: Definitely one of the most interesting cities in Central Europe!
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| polishlad's Full Review: Berlin |
I've only spent one day in Berlin. I still had time to see all the most important sites.
I think this review is suitable for people who want to know what to see in Berlin when there's very little time.
It's best to start the tour at the Zoo Garten Bahnhof. It's Berlin's main train station located in the middle of the city. Also, this is where the Bus No. 100 starts it's route. Buy a day ticket (eine Tageskarte) for about €5 at the BVG office and hop on the 100 bus.
You will reach your first stop after a few minutes: Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtniskirche. A church that was destroyed during the Second World War and never restored. It left that way to remind people of the cruelty of the war. There is a small museum/ gallery inside which will give you a general idea about the history of that place.
It's located at Kurfurstendamm next to 'Europa Center'.
If you wish you could spend some time at Kurfurstendamm although it's most interesting after dark.
Hop on the bus again and go to the Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament. The building looks really great with the glass dome designed by Sir Norman Foster. It's a very interesting mix of old and new. It's possible to access the dome (through the west entrance) between 8am and 10pm.
The Brandenburg Gate is only a very short walk away. It's one of Berlin's best-known landmarks. Once a symbol of the cold war, now a symbol of unity. You can't leave Berlin before going to the Branderburger Tor first!
Now, it's time to start a short walk along Unter den Linden and hop on the bus again. It will take you to Alexanderplatz, more commonly known as 'Alex'.
It's actually one of the ugliest places in that part of Berlin. Once the most important square on the east side. What's so special about Alex is that this is where the Fernsehturm is located. It's about 200 metres high. Going to the top will cost you something about €7.50 and believe me, the view's definitely worth it!
There is an overpriced restaurant the top.
Now, hop on an S-Bahn to Kochstrasse (line S7 or S9 to Friedrichstrasse, change to line U9 there). This is where you will find the world-famous Checkpoint Charlie. Once the only place to cross the border from OstBerlin to WestBerlin. You step back in time, back to the days in which people tried many different ways to escape to freedom.
You might also wish to visit the East Side Museum at Muhlenstrasse (Bus No 227). A very interesting place where various artists decided to paint parts of the Berlin-Wall.
If you like museums then the Museuminsel is the perfect place for you!
Altes Museum: Mostly exhibits from ancient Greece and Rome. Entry fee: €4
Pergamonmuseum: It was built between the wars and was design to resemble a Babylon temple. It contains the great Pergamon Altar of Zeus and the Altar of Athena and other exhibits brought by German archaeologists. Entry fee: €4
Vorderasiatisches Museum contains exhibits from the Babylon and the Middle East.
Berlin is a very interesting city, very different from other German cities. Once divided into two different worlds now is a symbol of unity. It would be a sin not to spend at least a day in!
Getting there and away: Nearly all international airlines fly to Berlin. If you want to do it cheap you should consider flying a no-frills airline. BUZZ fly from London Stansted to Berlin Schoenefeld a number of times per day and charge about €100 for a return ticket (including taxes).
All Berlin airports (Tegel, Tempelhoff and Schoenefeld) are well linked with the centre. You can choose between trains, U-Bahns, S-Bahns and buses.
Tegel: buses X9, X109 will take you to Zoo Bahnhof
Schoenefeld: S-Bahn number 9 will take you to central Berlin.
Tempelhoff: This airport is virtually located in the centre, take bus number 119 to get to the centre.
If you come by train you will probably arrive at Berlin Zoo Garten Bahnhof- and you can get virtually anywhere from there. Other train stations (OstBahnhof, Lichtenberg) are well linked with Bahnhof Zoo by S- and U-Bahn lines.
If you arrive by coach (at Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof): Take bus No 142 or U-Bahn No 2 to central Berlin.
HAVE FUN!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
polishlad
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Member: Radek
Location: Warsaw, Poland/ London, United Kingdom
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
I travel, therefore I am
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