Christmas gifts are so yesterday! Experiences and adventures are the way forward!
Berlin was decided as a short city break to each other instead of gifts we didn’t want, and I’m so glad we did this.
Why Berlin? Well…Why not? The capital of Germany and one of the most trend driven and forward thinking cities around, who wouldn’t want to go!
Time scale:
Thursday-Sunday (Sunday been just a travel Home day as we had an early flight).
Budget:……there wasn’t really one.
Things we would like to see;
- Checkpoint Charlie
- Berlin Wall
- Tv Tower
- Holocaust memorial
- Anything else is a bonus.
Thursday (Day 1)
Early morning flight 07.10am from Manchester, departed my house at 3am, and what a good job we did as there was quite a large motorway diversion due to a closure, but all was well we made it in plenty of time still.
Flight was fab, slept most of the way! Thanks EasyJet.
On arrival into Berlin we hopped a taxi to the hotel (taxis are very easily accessible here and are directly outside of the airport), or if you have the “Uber” app you could save up to €7-8, and this will come straight off the card you have stored on the app, so no need to dip into your Euros (cash).
We arrived at the hotel at around 1pm, so just ditched our bags, changed our coats and off we went to explore.
First tourist sight to see was “Checkpoint Charlie”.
Only a 10-15 minutes walk from our hotel it wasn’t far and we roamed the streets to see what was around on the way.
This is a very heavily built up area now, with buskers, and performers on the street entertaining us tourists.
A FREE tourist attraction to see, and there is a museum next to the checkpoint if you want to know more about the history.
From here we got a little lost, tried to find a bar with a good stern German beer in, but all that was around was coffee places, so we ventured on.
Whilst on our venture we managed to come across Potsdam Plaza, a very modern built up area with a lot of business like buildings, cinema, food and clothes outlets. Finally we came across “Andys Diner”, where we both got a Erdinger (beer). For those of you who like Stella or Peroni, you will love this beer. I might be a lady, but I do love a pint, and this was by far the best beer here.
After a couple of pints we ventured on. We managed to stumble upon a memorial sight the “Holocaust Memorial”. It’s grey, it’s calm, it’s quiet, and imposing. You truly do not know how imposing these boulders are until you are there. With some of them standing over 7ft tall and dipping into the ground almost creating waves below the memorials, it’s defiantly one to see.
Again this is a FREE place to visit.
After visiting the Holocaust we went for pizza. A little place just along the same road as the memorial, in fact it’s literally on the next corner. Salami and mushroom…delicious to keep you going until tea time (dinner time for you southerners).
Restaurant: Viale Italian
We decided it was time for a siesta (yes we know we’re not in Spain, but we had had a very long day travelling).
Just look at our dreamy bed! Who wouldn’t want a siesta!
Hotel Arcotel John F Berlin
Amazing hotel, quirky, modern, exceptionally clean, very central location, very good breakfast. Our room was a superior room, and had its own kitchenette, so if you really wanted to rustle something up indoors then you can.
If your travelling with only hand luggage the hotel supplies eco friendly toiletries in the rooms, and also has a hairdryer, not forgetting those little touches like safety pins and sewing kit in case of clothing emergencies.
Would definitely return here, check them out on their direct website.
We booked this via booking.com
Freshened up and ready to go for an evening meal we had a wander and came across “Das Meisterstuck”. This was a modern yet rustic eatery with an open kitchen on entrance, great to see those grilled sausages cooking on an open wood fire. Truly authentic!
Here you are looking at a bill of €70-80 for two people for a main and a drink each, and it’s more than worth it. This restaurant also do a huge variety of craft beers, so if your with someone that likes trying new food and a good beer, then this is the place to go.
Tonight we only had drinks here, just getting a feel for the place. Wine and a craft beer €20-23.
We ate at “Lutter & Wegner” this evening. This was a lovely traditional bar and restaurant, booming with atmosphere, from those just finishing work with friends, families out for an evening meal, and couples on their “date night”.
This was the moment….I needed to sample the local food! Sausage, mash potatoes and sourcrout. It’s fair to say sourcrout isn’t for me, but the sausage and mash was to die for, along with the wine.
We did notice one particular item on the menu, which just kept flying out of the kitchen… crisp knuckle of pork!
It’s huge and you’d better be prepared to dissect it, but it seemed like a local favourite.
Friday (Day 2)
Starting the day with a lovely breakfast at the hotel to set us up for the morning. There is a selection of English breakfast items, fresh bread, and continental meats and cheeses, something for everyone.
We headed in the opposite direction on this day to sightsee.
Through the back roads and a few buildings that are under repair, you will be greeted with the most incredible piece of architecture “The Berliner Dom”. This was a breathtaking building.
A former church with an Italian style overlooking the River Spree. This is on a place you’ll find on the maps known as “museum island”.
Next stop “Fernsehturm” also known as the “Tv Tower”. This is Germany’s tallest structure at a whopping 368m high.
The tower has a restaurant and an observation level. We went upto the observation level as we wanted to see the views and have a drink at the swanky bar.
To go up there are a few options for tickets depending on if you are looking to just go see the view, or if your looking to book a table in the restaurant varying from €10-€30.
We went at peak time 12noon thinking we would need “fast track” personally don’t waste your euros, the que’s go down very quickly.
Once your in the lift, shuffle yourself to the back to see the lift going up, it’s mesmerising how high this is!
Give yourself an hour or two to take in the views and have a drink.
For you ladies I would definitely recommend the beer with raspberry.
Second stop “East Side Gallery”
This is a good walk away, so get those comfy trainers on!
The East Side Gallery is a 1.3km stretch along the riverside. This is the worlds largest open air mural strip, with over 100 paintings by 129 artists from 20 countries. It is mind blowing!
Today this is a memorial to the “fall of the wall”.
Admission: FREE
http://www.eastsidegallery-Berlin.de
There is a lovely little cafe/bar on the front next to the east side gallery. The walk there will most definitely entitle you to a yummy sandwich and a coffee or a beer. If you need the loo and aren’t purchasing food or drink it’s a €1 charge, otherwise free for customers.
I can imagine this place is booming in the spring and summer months.
Take a walk a little further and you will come across a hostel boat. Great little stop if you need to warm those toes by the open log burner, and grab yourself a beer.
On the walk back we decided to hop a taxi (taxi rank at the S Bahn station a 10 minute walk back towards the centre). We were dropped off near the tv tower. We decided to go and find a traditional and locally used bar.
I’m kicking myself for not remembering the name of this one, but if your looking for a bar with more locals than tourists (in a tourist location), this little corner bar directly looking at the tv tower is one to visit. Direction on my map below.
We decided to go back to “Das Meisterstuck” for tea. We just needed to have a traditional feast. A mixture of German sausages, salad, potatoes, beetroot, pineapple, and a mixture of mustards.
We ventured to a little wine bar “Lavida Wine Club”. This is one classy place!
You get given a card to enter into the wine machines to choose your wine, and the amount of wine you drink is logged on the card. You then hand the card back in once your finished topping yourself up with wine, and pay your bill. This makes for a classy undisturbed evening, although if you need wine advice the guys here are sure to help out. Did I mention they serve cheese and meats too?!
Saturday (Day 3 and our last day to sightsee)
We were on a mission this day!
Hotel to the “Victory Column” in Tiergarten, your looking at around a 50-60 minute walk if you don’t get too distracted by pretzel bakery’s on the way!
The walk there is beautiful. It was -2 degrees so very chilly, but feeling fresh on the face!
Walking through Tiergarten you will find statues, monuments, small lakes, and the soothing sound of the birds singing to each other….blissfully unaware that there is a huge road through the middle!
Once reaching the Victory Column you will need to find a tunnel. This roundabout is impossible to cross if you would like to stay in one piece, so please find the tunnels. You may find a busker down there and the echo of their music is a fantastic grand entrance to the steps that will take you up to the middle of the roundabout, where stands your glorious Victory Column.
At only €3 per person to go in and climb to the top it’s a bargain tourist attraction, and well worth the climb!
About that climb…..socks, trainers, water, and make sure you have plenty of energy! You have 285 steps to climb to reach the viewing platform. The views are well worth it believe me! Do not miss this.
On walking back through Tiergarten back towards the city centre you will come across a memorial of The Soviet War to represent those 80 thousand soldiers that died during battle.
“Brandenburg Gate” is the next landmark which you will find on re entering the “city centre” from Tiergarten. This is a symbol of division during the Cold War, and is a breathtaking landmark. Now used as a backdrop for festivals, concerts and New Year’s Eve parties it’s the perfect backdrop.
The Brandenburg Gate represents freedom. The gate was restored in 2000 and cost a whopping 6 million euros! You can still see bullet and blast holes, but also patch work and restoration work, a great historical landmark.
After all of that walking I needed a pretzel….yes needed! Quick re fuel before walking back towards “museum island” for a drink pit stop.
This cafe/bar was next to the Berliner Dom, so has a great view. Just on que the snow starts to flurry down, it’s just beautiful.
Sightseeing over we headed for Andys Diner for nachos and beer!
This “Andys Diner” was near museum island where as the first one we went to was in Potsdam (the opposite side of town).
Back to the hotel for a bit of a chill out, then ready to have our last evening meal.
Blockhouse steak restaurant!
Just wow! At €65-80 for two steaks (fillet and a very large rump) with sides and drinks its money very well spent. These guys know how to do a steak. They warm the meat first so it doesn’t matter if your having it blue or rare the meat will be warm all the way through, which some restaurants just don’t know how to do.
Great service, and top food it’s one not to miss!
Overall a fantastic city break!
Hints and tips
- Download uber for taxi to and from the airport, or just to get around if your not feeling like walking
- Take Euros, a lot of cafe/bars don’t take card
- Don’t plan too much! We didn’t pre book anything, so don’t feel too pressured to book, as you just don’t know what you’ll feel upto on the day
- Comfy trainers even if it’s summer, there’s lots of walking to do
- DO roam the streets, you might find some hidden gems like we did
- Set out what you’d like to see and everything else is a bonus
- Backpacks are no longer allowed in some of the monuments/landmarks or museums, so take a comfortable side bag instead
- Power bank-take a back up charger for on the go, especially if you take photos on your phone and are going to be out all day
- If your up for cycling, there are push bikes readily available on most streets
- Try the local food! I am a fairly picky eater and surprised myself a lot liking everything apart from sourcrout
- Beer-it has to be a Erdinger! If you like Stella you’ll love this even more.
- Book everything separately (flights and hotel)
Sights worth seeing
- Brandenburg Gate
- Tv tower
- Berliner Dom
- East side gallery
- Tiergarten
- Victory Column
- Holocaust memorial
- Checkpoint Charlie
If you have a little more time Tropical island is up there with recommendations from friends, so that’s one to add to the list too if you like water parks, it’s indoor so great for families too. The Zoo is meant to be fantastic too!
Budget- this all depends on your lifestyle whilst there, if you like coffee or beer pit stops, and snacks, or if your eating in your hotel and taking the U or S Bahn instead of taxis.
Personally I would budget €100 a day per person to include food, drink, and tourist attractions. Not including hotel and flights, after all you don’t want to get there and feel limited to what you can afford to do.
But do remember there are a lot of sights to see that are completely FREE.
On the flip side it can be done on a budget, there are lots of hostels, and you can travel via the U or S Bahn instead of taxis. If you ate at a bakery for breakfast it would cost you around €5 for a coffee and a pastry in comparison to a €15-20 add on to a hotel for breakfast.
Thankyou for reading, I hope for those of you thinking of a city break it has inspired you to visit this beautiful city. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Sarah xXx
Schits & Giggles 