Berlin

Tower_75 said:
Out of interest, what would you say is your favourite pal?
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Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Lisbon is probably my favourite. Off to Porto next month.
 
I think the schnelly that introduced Currywurst to the world is still there. There’s also a Cold War museum that I think is still there, too.
For the Lefties - Ulrika Meinhof is buried in Berlin, as is Rudi Dutschke. There’s also a pavement plaque on the spot where the attempted assassination of Dutschke took place. A monument to Benno Ohnesorg, whose murder by plain clothed police during a demo against the Shah of Iran is there too. His killing radicalised the German student movement in the late ‘60’s.
 
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20togo said:
My missus was based in the Army in Berlin prior to the wall coming down and so I was considering doing it for my 70th birthday next year. So i was really interested in this thread and peoples opinions. It's left me feeling a bit mixed about it.
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Great city 20s well worth a visit lots to see and do, stepping over into the old eastern part at Checkpoint Charlie is very interesting.
 
Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Florence is a fantastic city well worth a long weekend there.
 
Matesrates said:
Isn’t it full of Germans?
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You would be surprised how little German you hear in Berlin.

When Angela Merkel was in charge she was concerned that English was becoming the dominant language in Berlin. Reason? Relatively reasonable rents, reasonable low cost of living (I mean for locals) and a young persons vibe attracting young people from around the world.

Certainly if you go into a cafe in Berlin, you won’t need to know a word of German.
 
Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Sevilla is a great city, like you say bloody hot though.
I got so lost there in the thin streets, I thought I was going to melt. Ducked into a bar to regroup.
 
hampshire_exile said:
You would be surprised how little German you hear in Berlin.

When Angela Merkel was in charge she was concerned that English was becoming the dominant language in Berlin. Reason? Relatively reasonable rents, reasonable low cost of living (I mean for locals) and a young persons vibe attracting young people from around the world.

Certainly if you go into a cafe in Berlin, you won’t need to know a word of German.
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That's good to hear. The only German I know is from Commando war story comics. Don't think that would go down well.
 
straightatthewall said:
Not much I can add to this, but I've been loads of times and always found it a great city. Loads of variety in terms of culture and leisure activity. It doesn't have a focal point or centre like some cities so you can find some really good places in seemingly random and otherwise non-descript areas. But it's definitely worth walking and looking because you'll find gems everywhere.

Depends on what you like but the bar at the 25hour Bikini hotel is great. Ignore the hotel name, it has nothing to do with bikinis. Next door to the zoo and the bar is on the top floor/roof. You can have a slash whilst looking down onto the monkey enclosure...

One of my favourite restaurants is called Marjellchen in Charlottenburg. Old school Prussian food. Never taken anyone there who hasn't walked out saying how good it was.

Hope you enjoy it.
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I've never heard it called a monkey enclosure before.
 
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CGP1 said:
Yes the walking tour is one of the better ones I've been on. Very interesting.

Can't remember the road it's on but the Bendlerblock is worth seeing. Where the home army revolution following the failed assassination attempt on Hitler was finished and the officers executed. As in the film Valkeyrie.
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Stauffenbergstrasse !
 
Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Sorry for slightly going off topic guys.
Raging - we are going to Malaga soon and i want to catch the train to Seville for the day as it’s one i’ve not done either for a few days away or with England. I’ve heard it’s really nice anything do you think we must do / see whilst we are visiting ?
 
SpionKop said:
Sorry for slightly going off topic guys.
Raging - we are going to Malaga soon and i want to catch the train to Seville for the day as it’s one i’ve not done either for a few days away or with England. I’ve heard it’s really nice anything do you think we must do / see whilst we are visiting ?
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Quickest way I saw Sevilla was to do a segway tour....Great fun too!!
 
Hej, new fan here from the nordics. I once went on a weekend to Berlin and I ended up on my back naked in Alexanderplatz and someone used me as a chair. Good place for a weekend, will go back.
 
SpionKop said:
Sorry for slightly going off topic guys.
Raging - we are going to Malaga soon and i want to catch the train to Seville for the day as it’s one i’ve not done either for a few days away or with England. I’ve heard it’s really nice anything do you think we must do / see whilst we are visiting
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I love Sevilla. If it’s just a day trip go early, stay as late as the trains allow, it’s a great city. The place is always lively, the back streets are brilliant to get lost in.

In terms of set piece tourist attractions the Alcazar is definitely worth a couple of hours wander.

I would recommend wandering into Parque Maria Luisa both to see the Plaza de España and for some people watching.

The Palace de Las Duenas is a much smaller and less visited version of the Alcazar but useful to know if you can’t get in the Alcazar.
 
hampshire_exile said:
I love Sevilla. If it’s just a day trip go early, stay as late as the trains allow, it’s a great city. The place is always lively, the back streets are brilliant to get lost in.

In terms of set piece tourist attractions the Alcazar is definitely worth a couple of hours wander.

I would recommend wandering into Parque Maria Luisa both to see the Plaza de España and for some people watching.

The Palace de Las Duenas is a much smaller and less visited version of the Alcazar but useful to know if you can’t get in the Alcazar.
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brilliant thanks Hamps - is there a city square as such.
yeah sussed the trains out early start but will be worth it i’m sure. I’m testing the water with Mrs SK as Seville play at home on the sunday night 😜🤔
 
Never been to Germany or owned a German car or motorbike…..but whatever you do …don’t mention the war..🤣…
Ps i’ve been pondering a vw camper, so there’s time yet…
 
Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Porto. Been a few times and definitely recommended. Great place.
 
Berlin is brilliant. As others have said, do a Free Walking Tour on your first morning - will help you find yourself around, and it is the most fascinating city in the world
 
SpionKop said:
Sorry for slightly going off topic guys.
Raging - we are going to Malaga soon and i want to catch the train to Seville for the day as it’s one i’ve not done either for a few days away or with England. I’ve heard it’s really nice anything do you think we must do / see whilst we are visiting ?
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SK, a couple of posters have already mentioned some good idea's what are worth considering, we didn't get chance to do the Sedgway tour but that sounds brilliant, it is a beautiful city so I would be tempted to stay over in a city centre hotel for one night, especially if you're thinking of taking in a game as you will be travelling over four hours on your round trip from Malaga. We went to watch Real Betis play so if you can take in a Seville game then great, but you would need to stay overnight to make it worthwhile. Enjoy pal.
 
Raging_Bull said:
SK, a couple of posters have already mentioned some good idea's what are worth considering, we didn't get chance to do the Sedgway tour but that sounds brilliant, it is a beautiful city so I would be tempted to stay over in a city centre hotel for one night, especially if you're thinking of taking in a game as you will be travelling over four hours on your round trip from Malaga. We went to watch Real Betis play so if you can take in a Seville game then great, but you would need to stay overnight to make it worthwhile. Enjoy pal.
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cheers mate and yeah good advice about staying over i’lol work on that one 👍
 
TangerineBayern said:
Great city 20s well worth a visit lots to see and do, stepping over into the old eastern part at Checkpoint Charlie is very interesting.
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Did an interrailing holiday in the mid 80's & landed in West Berlin. Even back then with ongoing building work it looked modern. We then found out you could cross checkpoint Charlie for a day tour of the East. Exchanged into Eastern deutschmarks which we soon discovered were near worthless. Was like time travel, derelict buildings & every car without exception was a trabant. Had a few scoops in an old bar & asked if they had a phone. On the wall was something from a Jimmy Cagney film, wind up & separate ear piece. Came across an photo of us at CC , soldiers to our rear & remembered growling at my mate ffs hurry up 😳
 
Went a few years ago as part of a trip.
Saw the Berlin wall, Check Point Charlie etc.
One thing which I vividly remember was the memory to the Jewish people who died there.
Very moving although a little perplexing. I eventually assumed that the marble shapes were a memory of all sizes of people.
 
SpionKop said:
brilliant thanks Hamps - is there a city square as such.
yeah sussed the trains out early start but will be worth it i’m sure. I’m testing the water with Mrs SK as Seville play at home on the sunday night 😜🤔
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The nominal city square is the Plaza Nueva and like most Spanish city squares impressive, but the Plaza de Espana is even grander and well worth a look.

I paid 40 euros at the ticket office for a decent side on seat to watch Sevilla v Osasuna. Prices are much higher for the premium fixtures (RM, Barcelona) and a bit higher for your Atletico Madrids.
 
Love Berlin brings back loads of memories from being 17 and left Germany at 21.. in 1988 I went through check point charlie to east Germany for 2 days.. brought the family years later and sounded like a right old man at 48 explaining the wall and how different it was for the better since my last visit 27 years earlier. Going back on a stag do next year, can't wait.. 😂
 
dave1772 said:
Stauffenbergstrasse !
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Course it is, silly sod me.

We stayed in an area called the Hackescher Markt. Only there a weekend but it seemed a really useful base point.

Train stop literally round the corner and 10 mins walk to Brandenburg area. There was a lot of cafes, bars restaurants in the Hackescher and it gave the impression of being more locals than tourist
 
Raging_Bull said:
Tower, I've done plenty including last week when we did 4 nights in Budapest which we really liked. I love the Spanish cities Malaga (back there in 2 weeks), Palma and Seville, (having great weather most of the year helps!) and when it comes to historic sites nowhere can touch Rome. My bucket list includes Lisbon, Porto, Florence and Ljubljana in Solvenia.

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Florence is fantastic. Great food and Museums, The Uffizi and an Irish Bar in the Duomo Square.
 
Shootz said:
Only recommendation I can offer is if driving don’t block crossings as members of the public don’t take kindly to crossings being blocked , waving a Blackpool fc scarf might not work as well in Berlin as it did in Macclesfield last week…,!
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Perhaps worth bearing this in mind for those politicians engaged in trying to formulate a more credible policy in relation to the ongoing immigration 'crisis', then...
 
DonCorleone said:
How was it, @bollieboy
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Really enjoyed it thanks DC. Stopped in Locke at East Side Gallery. Did the longer boat trip on first day as it was very hot but as it had a bar on didn't do too much sightseeing ! Did Museum Island second day as it was wet and then the walking tour, which was really good, on third day. Ideally, as suggested, it would be best doing walking tour on 1st day but we avoided doing that due to heat. Prices appeared muchmore competitive than London and it was probably about 20 % cheaper in bars and restaurants around East Side Gallery than the centre.

Would definitely go back and do some of the less central sites and do a trip to Potsdam.
 
Just got back after a few nights in Berlin. Loved the walking tour, the history behind the war and of course the wall is fascinating as is how the city has been completely rebuilt.
Got to say the food and drink was great value for a city centre, public transport was cheap and amazingly clean / efficient. Would highly recommend it for anyone thinking of going.
 
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