Tips on visiting Berlin for a weekend

My wife, kid and I are coming up to Berlin for 3-4 days starting the 15th of June. So I was hoping to bother the Berlin crowd for some tips.

First, I need a recommendation for inexpensive accomodations. We prefer Bed and breakfast/pension type places but cost a location are key.

That brings me to my second question, where do I want to stay? We want to see the sights, eat well and I would like to try as many local brews as possible. So is the city center the best or would you all stay in another area?

Third, does anyone know of a good walking guide?? As the kid is still in a stroller I would rather not deal with the hop on, hop off buses. Aber I would like to get a little history/insider kinda tips over the course of an afternoon. If no one is providing this, would any TTers want to play host?

Lastly, if anyone would like to meet up for a drink or a meal, or to run around for the day, by all means please IM.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

I hope this bump will get the a few more views now. Like I said, we are coming up friday for the weekend and would like some advice, since you Berliners are the experts.

I would especially appeal for some info on accomodtions ASAP, so I can get something booked.

Thanks

ps
Did I mention that I am all about buying beers for those that contribute??

accommodation try hotel reservation: www.hrs.com

Kid in a stroller! Wow then you will be able to by-pass the long queues at the reichstag! Just go through the side entrance for disabled folk!

Good info, you have earned 1 beer. Keep'em coming!!

Hotels anywhere inside the ring and close enouh to a u or S-bahn should be ok. (Mitte probably your best bet) A lot of the sights are in Mitte so if you do not wish to travel much then there.

I remember seeing a flter about walking tours somewhere. No idea what it is like but the link is here, Berlin walking tours

Personally I think it is a bit expensive but...

Insider Tours (couple of walking tours)

Fat Bike Tours (if you want to dinky the kid)

Boat Tours (maybe let the skipper do the walkin and talkin)

prater beergarden is fun with kids as is schleusenkrug in tiergarden ... (also very close to zoo). google both for more info.
walking tours I really like www.insidertour.com. great guides who have been here for years.
local beers aren't very good in my opinion but I do love flensburger pilsner which is available in a lot of places (brewed up north in Flensburg)

other kid friendly stuff
there's a new lego center in sony center that's driving the kids bonkers.
all around kolliwitzplatz in prenzlauerberg there are great cafes and people watching. check the market there on saturday morning..a must!

New Berlin Tours does free walking tours starting in front of the starbucks at the brandenburg gate everyday at 11 and 1, it is a really good tour, lasts about 3.5 hrs with a half hour lunch break and all you have to do is tip at the end.

Thank you for the info, now we need to sort out beer collections. I am a man of my word, so tell me where would be a good place to pay up??

Also, I am looking at a place on Eisenacher Str., in Schöneberg. Looks like a good spot, with pubs and places to eat around, oder??

Hi there, I am living in Frankfurt for 6 months now and plan to come and visit Berlin the first weekend of May as it is a four-day weekend. I have never been there so far and was wondering if you would have any advice to help me plan a 3 day stay (what to do, where to stay,...) to discover the best of Berlin.

Thanks for your help !
Cheers,
Charlotte

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Today I just got back from spending three days in Berlin. Here's a link to a great apartment or you can use this site to find a smaller or less expensive apartment. I used a magazine entitled New in the City-Berlin that's published in both Deutsche and English for reference. It was a great magazine as it's chocked full of really good information on everything Berlin and the surrounding areas.

You can pick up this magazine in any major city at the train station. I bought mine in Nuremberg at the train station a few months ago.

http://www.ferienwohnung-zimmer-berlin.de/...nft.php?unr=969

In the upper right corner of the page you can change the language to English on this link

Hi dolfan

For breweries, we have tried a few round Berlin and have found Lemke, under the arches 100m or so east of S-bahn Hackescher Markt to be the best, their Pils is really tasty, and they generally have one seasonal brew on as well. (Also child friendly in the sense that they have baby-changing facilities should the need arise).The Pils in Brauhuas Mitte (close by) was also good, but the food we ate was pretty grim.
When the weather improves I intend to try this place out (though can't recommend it as yet!), http://www.brachvogel-berlin.de/de/
Have a good trip!

Hi guys,

I am visiting Berlin the second weekend in May and have a few questions I would appreciate some feedback on, here goes and please forgive me if I am being dim:

1. I love my beer and want to try micro-brews or brewpubs while in Berlin, any tips?
2. Planning to go and see Hertha Berlin while there, any blocks to avoid? As in, I am taking the missus and wouldn't want to be in with the Ultras.
3. What are the absolute must see things?

Thanks in advance for your advice, looking forward to getting out of Prague and seeing a proper German city

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i highly recommend the 'story of berlin' museum. It includes a tour of a old cold war bunker and i very interesting.

i highly recommend the 'story of berlin' museum. It includes a tour of a old cold war bunker and i very interesting.

I have both the Lonely Planet and the Time Out Guide to Berlin and both have been invaluable, as well as including "must see" lists for 1 day, 2 days, 1 week etc..

But the must see things as I would list them are:
Brandenburger Tor
Reichstag
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedaechtnis kirche (sp?)
Tiergarten, stop for a beer at one of the beer gardens, maybe go to the zoo if you are so inclined
Pergammon Museum & Altes Museum if you have time
Chilling out in a cafe for Sunday brunch in Prenzlauer Berg
a visit to a flea market (maybe Boxhagener Platz?)

It depends on what you like, but a 1hour boat trip down the river is nice and you can get one by the museum island/ Dom
I just love walking around the city and coming across new and fun things wherever I am.

I hope this helps and that you have a good time on your visit to Berlin

Only brew pub I know of is in the Sony Center in Postdamer Platz.

www.berlinerunterwelten.de do tours of a) WWII air raid shelter at u-gesunbrunnen 2 nuclear bunkers & c) WWII Flak tower

I'd recommend paying a visit to Tempelhof airport as the building is lovely.

Stadtbad Neukolln has a lovely sauna

KaDeWe food floor is worth a visit if only for the numerous bars/cafes/restaurants

Deutsche Technische Museum has tons of trains, boats & planes

That looks great! The missus loves technical stuff.

That would be Lindenbraeu in Sonycentre. The also have one in the Hauptbahnhof called Hopfingerbraeu.

A favorite one of mine is the GEORGBRAEU in Nikolai Viertel near Alexanderplatz.

Regarding brewery-pubs:
The best one I know is a bit outside the touristy places: Eschenbräu, Triftstrasse 67, near S-Bahnhof Wedding/ U-Bahnhof Leopoldplatz. (not that far away from the berliner unterwelten stuff at Gesundbrunnen gordonthemoron mentioned). Also the cheapest one (about 2,5o per half a litre), but not very much to eat there.

Three solid innercity brewery houses:
- Brauhaus Lemke directly at Hackescher Markt
- Brauhaus Mitte at alexanderplatz (Karl-Liebknecht Straße 13)
- Brauhaus Südstern at U-bahnhof südstern (Hasenheide 69) (if you want to eat something maybe the best, because it's not so expensive as the other mentioned - especially georgbräu and Lindenbräu)

Eating while drinking beer? Not sure that's a concept I understand fully. Unless by eating you mean the odd sausage and mustard while waiting for the next beer to arrive.

Wurst, Schnitzel, whatever

Looking forward to a healthy dose of wurst - grew up near Hannover and have itchings for bratwurst mit pommes frites

Other brew pubs
Brewbaker - in the arches of the Sbahn at Bellvue
Zillemarkt - just south of the Sbahn station at Savignyplatz

And the absolute best that ive found is Brauhaus Spandau, - take the U Bahn to Spandau and get out at the Altstadt, cross the road and its there.

When I'm in Berlin next time I will go to Clärchens Ballhaus near Hackescher Markt again. It's a dance hall, looks like all dance halls must have looked like 50 years ago. You can sit at tables, eat and drink and watch the people dance schwoofen on the dancefloor. There is lots of people in their 40s and 50s schwoofing but also many younger people. I found the atmosphere great.

The Stasi museum in Hohenschönhausen is interesting too. It is in the old Stasi headquarters. Still a bit like in the cold war. Erich Mielke's old office and lots of Stasi equipment are exhibited.

This is all good stuff, keep it coming.

Any comments on Hertha Berlin fans? Hopeing to go to a game and really don't want to get caught up in any aggro.

I only went to one Hertha game, last season when they lost to Borussia Dortmund, the atmosphere was really relaxed and no trouble at all. The Polizei control the access to public transport at the end of the match so its not a big crush. Oh and you can get served 1L plastic cups of beer in the stadium.

The Hertha fans are not really known for hooliganism. That is more for the FC.Union Berlin club fans.

I have been to a few gHertha ames and as said the atmosphere is great. Just try to get home seats and not with the away fans. There is always a large police presence so one feels safe

Thanks for all your tips and advice - had a great weekend in Berlin, visited several excellent pubs/brewpubs and ate plenty of bratwurst (though currywurst is being fast-tracked as my new favourite snack). Got tickets for the footie at Hertha Berlin, had a great time there as well. All in all, Berlin is a great place, can't wait to come back.

I will be in Berlin for a few days in June, I will be arriving Sat and will have some free time until Monday morning, then I will have business to attaned to for a couple of days before I leave again.
I would love some help with where I should stay and where I should go. I would liket to stay in a safe area close to some good nightlife. I do like wild fun, provided it is safe. Any help gratefully appreciated

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anywhere around oranienburger straße and hackescher markt.