History has not treated Berlin very kindly, and this is very noticeable while walking around the city, when you notice the complete mixture of peoples and styles. Even so many years after the Berlin Wall fell, there is still an atmosphere of disunity. And you can’t get rid of the memories of the war, after all, and the Reichstag building, over which the Soviet flag rose in May 1945, is located right here. This city is the best place to immerse yourself in history and be relieved to realize that the past has no power over the present. Also in Berlin you can fully enjoy the benefits that the European capital can provide.
When to visit?
There is no such thing as too cold weather in Berlin, unless you expect surprises from global warming, but for now the winter temperature rarely drops to -5°C. It is best to go to Berlin in spring, summer or autumn, especially if you are a fan of long walks, but you will be quite comfortable in winter. Of course, there is snow in winter, but not enough to make your way through the snowdrifts. But the city is magnificent during Christmas. Berlin is also famous for its excellent seasonal sales, which fall in January-February and July. In February, Berlin becomes the capital of world cinema during the famous Berlin Film Festival, so you have the opportunity to admire celebrities striding along the red carpet.
Where to stay in Berlin?
Like any European capital, Berlin offers a lot of accommodation options: from campsites to luxury hotels. There are also offers for renting apartments, which will be convenient for you if your trip lasts a week or two.
There are quite a few hostels, they are located both quite close to the center and in quieter residential areas, the cost per night per person is about 35 €, and the conditions are almost heavenly.
Accommodation in a double room in a regular mid-level hotel will cost from 50 €, and during the discount season you can find cheaper ones. This is determined primarily by what attractions you are going to place in the first place, as well as whether you are a big fan of active nightlife.
The cost of a room in a top-class hotel, for example, "Hotel de Rome" or "Brandenburger hof Berlin" starts from 250 € per night. Although during the off-season you can count on 100 €.
What to see in Berlin?
If you begin your acquaintance with the city with a walk around it, then you should start from the symbol of Berlin, which, without a doubt, is the Brandenburg Gate with the goddess of victory hovering above it - Victoria. The gate is located at the western end of the Unter den Linden boulevard, which stretches to the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island on the Spree River. Next to the gate is the famous Reichstag building, which is not trampled by any self-respecting Russian tourist. You can even go inside on a guided tour. After which it is very pleasant to leisurely walk through the entire Unter den Linden to the Museum Island itself, where you can leisurely admire the exhibits of ancient times in the tranquility of the huge halls. There are a huge number of museums in Berlin. If you are interested in dinosaurs, then at the Natural History Museum you will find the largest skeleton that has survived to this day, but besides that there is a lot of interesting things here that will please both adults and children. There are many art galleries in the city that offer an opportunity to get acquainted with both old and new collections.
Bellevue Palace, built at the end of the 18th century, is also a great place for a walk. Nowadays, it houses the residence of the federal president. Head to Kurfürstendamm for lunch and shopping. On the eastern edge of the boulevard is the building of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was destroyed during the Second World War and was not specially restored, as a warning to posterity. In the sixties, a new church of an original octagonal shape with a separate hexagonal tower was built next to it. Potsdamer Platz is another of the must-see places for tourist accommodations; it is the business center of the city and a major transport interchange. There are many shops here, including the wonderful Arkaden shopping center, and lively streets leading to different areas of the city, which the square seems to tie together. And it is absolutely impossible to ignore the TV tower, which is 368 meters high! You can climb it to look at Berlin from an amazing height.
History buffs can stroll along Oranienburger Strasse, which was once the center of the Jewish Quarter; at night it is crowded and music can be heard from numerous bars. It is interesting to visit Charlottenburg Palace and take a walk through the gardens, which are impressive even in winter. Fans of modern architecture will certainly appreciate the western part of the city, which became an experimental ground for architects after the end of World War II.
In the evening, Berlin invites you to visit theaters, musicals, and watch cabaret shows, which are especially popular among tourists.
Don't forget to visit the famous Berlin Zoo - one of the best and richest in the world, with an amazing collection of animal species. There is also an aquarium here. And if you are a fan of leisurely walks in nature, then Berlin is the ideal city for you, it is very green, with a huge number of different parks.
If you come in the summer in search of a beach holiday, then Ransdorf Beach and Lake Müggelsee are at your service.
Where to eat in Berlin?
Unlike many European capitals, food in Berlin is amazingly low in price. And this despite the fact that you came to Germany - a country with a very high-calorie national cuisine, so that even if you order a small portion in the smallest eatery, you will not remain hungry. And in addition to any food - beer, and again beer, and again beer... There are many varieties of this drink here, and beer is on the menu even in those restaurants that are dedicated to the cuisines of other nationalities. And, of course, the ice cream, by the way, is no worse than Italian.
To enjoy coffee, choose any of the small cafes - the drink will be excellent and the baked goods will be fresh. To combine coffee with shopping, head to Die Hakenschen Höfe, a huge centrally located shopping complex that offers both boutique shopping and conversation over a great drink. You can also visit Friedrichs 106, which offers wonderful breakfasts and wonderful cakes. Or the Einstein Cafe, reminiscent of the best establishments in Vienna.
You can get an impression of Berlin cuisine by visiting, for example, the Kartoffelkeller restaurant, which offers a choice of hundreds of dishes, prepared mainly according to old recipes. You can go for dinner to the restaurant located at the top of the TV tower. If the main dish on your menu is beer, go to the Alt Berliner Biersalon, which welcomes visitors around the clock.
Berlin has a wide variety of eateries, including vegetarian ones, so any of the city's guests can choose an establishment according to their taste and capabilities.
Public transport in Berlin
Berlin offers an enviable variety of transport options.
First of all, this is the metro (U-Bahn), which operates not only during the day, but also at night before the weekend: on Saturday and Sunday, as well as before holidays. During the rest of the nights, the metro's work is duplicated by buses moving approximately along the routes of the lines. There is a city train (S-Bahn) with the same schedule, but not duplicated by buses. And in Berlin there is such an interesting phenomenon as the “MetroNet” - partly redundant, partly not trams and buses, this is a very convenient and time-saving organization of these types of transport. The maximum traffic interval is about 10 minutes, and they move not only along the central wide avenues, but also along numerous narrow Berlin streets. The tram park is large. By the way, you can travel along the river by ferry.
There is also public transport designed specifically for tourists, two routes - No. 100 and No. 200, the buses of which are double-decker and open-top, which is exactly what is required for study tours. The Stadtbahn S-Bahn trains take you past popular landmarks such as the Reichstag, the Victory Column, government buildings and Museum Island.
Tickets for Berlin public transport are also varied. There are a huge number of benefits, discounts and zone tickets accepted here. There are three zones in the city: A, B, C. In order to move within them without problems, you need to be at least a little oriented in the city map. There is an optimal solution - the BerlinWelcomeCard, its cost depends on the validity period: for two days - 16.90 €, for three - 22.90 €, for five days - 29.90 €, during which you can travel by public transport as much as you like. It also offers discounts on entrance to theaters, shows, museums and shops. If purchasing a card is not profitable for you or you simply don’t want to, take a look at the offered ticket options and choose the best one for yourself. If you are not particularly keen on public transport, the easiest way is to buy a ticket for each individual trip (depending on the zone of your movement, it will cost from 2.10 €).
Of course, in Berlin it is quite easy to take a taxi. You can also rent a car and, if you wish, a bicycle, as there is a network of excellent bicycle paths.
Shopping in Berlin
The most expensive shopping in Berlin is on Friedrichstrasse; it makes sense to go there only if the prices don’t bother you and you can easily pay with a platinum card (or at worst, a gold card). A more accessible place is Kurfurstendamm, where there are not only exclusive boutiques, but also shops with more affordable prices. The largest department store in continental Europe, "Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe)", whose six floors you can wander around all day, is located on Wittenbergplatz. It is also interesting to walk along Wilmersdorfer, where there are many shops, and the street is pedestrian and without any special requests.
On weekends, flea markets open in Berlin, the largest of which is the Mauerpark, located in Prenzlauer Berg next to the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark (U-Bahn: Eberswalder Straße station), and on Sundays not far from it, Arkonaplatz is also open.
The main souvenir, of course, is the symbol of Berlin – the bear. There are a great variety of them there. Another popular souvenir is the branded green traffic light man. A lot of postcards presenting views of old Berlin and the notorious Berlin Wall (as if on the “other side”). You can even buy a piece from the Berlin Wall; another question is whether there are still real pieces left.
It should be remembered that the vast majority of stores open at 9-10 am and close around 6-6.30 pm. Extended working hours in some stores are on Thursday - until 20.30, and Saturday - on the contrary, is most often short - until 14.00. It's rare to see shops open on Sunday.
Deciding where to spend an unforgettable summer vacation? Head to Berlin! Excellent weather conditions, the fragrance of a city surrounded by greenery, the absence of a colossal influx of tourists and relatively reasonable prices for flights and hotels. You will not regret it! And we’ll tell you what interesting things to do in the German capital, what events are planned for June 2019, and what to take with you so as not to freeze in changeable weather conditions.
Summer Berlin is ready to welcome dear guests!
What does the weather have in store for us in Berlin in June?
This is the most favorable month to visit the capital of Germany. The sun has not yet melted the asphalt, and the trees (there are about 425 thousand of them here) are already covered with young greenery. The air is clean and cool. Crowds of tourists are just beginning to flood the city.
The sun will delight you quite often, but an umbrella in your bag will not be superfluous.
The average air temperature is approximately 22 degrees Celsius. There are many sunny days, but rain is also possible. An umbrella and a light raincoat may come in handy. For walks around the city at night, take a couple of sweaters and jeans with you.
There are many reservoirs and canals in Berlin. Therefore, the air is characterized by high humidity. Prolonged showers and thunderstorms occur rarely, once or twice a month, for two or three days.
Warm clothes should definitely accompany you when going to the park.
When going on a tour of Berlin's parks (“islands of cold,” as local meteorologists have dubbed them), also take care of warm clothes. It would be wise to grab a blanket and take a nap for a couple of hours right on the bench while the birds sing.
Weather forecast for Berlin for June 2019.
Who's going to Berlin in June?
This month is rightfully considered “seasonal”. In the capital you can meet schoolchildren going on bus tours, families traveling by car, and single “savages”.
A lot of people flock to Berlin to enjoy its picturesque views.
Thanks to the pleasant weather, this is the best time for walking tours of Berlin's streets.
Regarding shopping
The summer sales season starts on the last Monday of July, after Haute Couture Week. However, many small shops reduce prices long before it starts. You may be lucky and you will leave the German capital with a suitcase full of high-quality and inexpensive items. This applies not only to shoes and clothes. Discounts apply to electronic goods and other useful items.
After fashion week ends, be sure to visit the stores.
Looking for quality leather shoes? Go to Hackescher Markt(station name). Here you can try on and purchase models of all colors, as well as outlandish handmade shoes.
Do you want to buy high-quality comfortable shoes? Then come to Hackescher Markt!
Visit a luxury department store Ka De We(analogous to GUM in Moscow). Don’t get lost in the abundance of goods of all price categories and leave time to explore the 6th (the “tastiest”) floor. Here you can try 1,800 types of cheese, taste fresh and fragrant bread and German sweets.
Ka De We - several floors of happiness.
Don't forget to walk along the famous boulevard Kurfürstendamm(luxury goods), visit the Gallery Kaufthaus(more affordable price tags) and be surprised by the chic assortment in the chain stores Peek@Cloppenburg.
Where to swim
Spend especially hot days on the beach.
The beach season in Berlin starts at the end of June. You can enjoy the coolness of the water on the territory of a well-equipped beach complex Wannsee. In the suburbs of Berlin there are many beautiful lakes, also suitable for swimming. Of course, the water temperature here is not the same as in Mediterranean resorts (only about 21-22 degrees). But it is great for cheering up and relieving fatigue.
If for some reason you can't travel to Berlin in June, why not go there in March. At this time of year, the German capital will greet you with deserted streets, and there will be no crowds of tourists in museums and cathedrals. good for leisurely walks.
For those who love shopping and who are not tired of long shopping trips, we recommend visiting. Read this article about which stores to go to and where to buy things at the best deals.
What to participate in
Berlin's cultural life is in full swing.
Carnival of Cultures
The incredible kaleidoscope of bright costumes on the streets of Berlin is worth seeing for everyone!
One of the noisiest, brightest and most pompous city events of the coming summer. The incredibly colorful costume procession starts at noon from Hermannplatz and continues until the evening at Blücher Square. Take care of your eyes and ears! After all, the Carnival of Cultures is a real extravaganza of bright outfits of the most unimaginable colors and styles. The procession takes place to the beat of drums, the sounds of violins and ringing singing accompanied by a Spanish guitar. Brazilian dancers, Uruguayan musicians, Hindus in saris, acrobats and girls twirling hoops... Drive, emotions, a flurry of impressions!
Love parade
In June, another gay pride parade (“Christopher Street Day”) will take place on the streets of Berlin. This insanely spectacular event is not for the prim. About 10 thousand representatives of sexual minorities from all over the world are rushing to demonstrate bold costumes and infect the audience with outrageousness and irrepressible energy. Don't forget your camera. Extraordinary and shocking photos are guaranteed.
YOUBERLIN
An international youth fair will be held in Berlin in the last days of June. At the exhibition you will get acquainted with modern educational programs and plunge into the world of electronic innovations, music, fashion and sports.
What to take a photo against?
Your photo report should include the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the grandiose Berlin Cathedral and the ancient Wilhelm Kaiser Church.
The capital of Germany is full of beautiful places with a rich history.
Take home a photo with the Berlin TV Tower in the background. Its height is 400 m. Enjoy the taste of German cuisine in a local restaurant.
Breathe linden trees and visit museums
Unter den Linden (the so-called “Street under the Linden Trees”) is especially beautiful in early summer. Fresh greenery pleases the eye, and linden blossom fills the air with an intoxicating aroma.
You can smell the fresh green linden trees on Unter den Linden.
The street has its own difficult history. The first linden trees were planted in the 17th century. Then they were repeatedly cut down and landed again.
Unter den Linden is rich in museums and stately buildings. This is the Berlin Cathedral, and the Crown Princes' Palace, and the Arsenal (Zeikhhaus).
It will be possible to touch celebrities at Madame Tussauds.
Don't forget to visit Madame Tussauds, admire the animals at the Berlin Zoo, and get to Museum Island.
A hippopotamus has a big mouth!
Roll naked (yes!) on the grass in one of the city parks (Tiergarten or Treptower Park). Sit on the steps of the Reichstag and remember how our grandfathers took Berlin. By the way, there are still traces of bullets on some buildings.
Where to go from Berlin for one day
How to save on transport
Tourist buses constantly run around the city. The ticket costs 18 euros. From the window of such a “bus” it is easy to see the main attractions of the city. At any stop you can get off, take a couple of photos, have a snack and get back on a similar bus.
Speeding around Berlin on two wheels is exciting and interesting.
Bicycle rental is common. Fortunately, fans of this type of transport do not feel like outcasts on the roads. There are special paths for them.
Has your visa to Germany expired? No problem! Contact us and your new German visa will be ready in just a few weeks.
How to fill out a visa application? This question worries many people traveling abroad, especially those who are traveling to Germany for the first time. It will help you cope with the task.
In order to marry a German, you will have to apply for a fiancee visa. Preparation of documents takes a lot of time and effort. Some tricks for obtaining a visa are described on this page.
Types of travel tickets
Car rental
Due to the high cost of train tickets, it makes sense to rent a car. German roads are famous for their excellent quality and are replete with clear signs. All cars have navigators (there are copies in Russian). It's hard to get lost. All directions are signed, roads are numbered. It is better to plan your trip route in advance (Google maps can help).
Driving a car on ideal German roads is very pleasant.
On vacation or a business trip, sooner or later you wonder where to go for one day. Seeing picturesque surroundings and visiting one of the suburbs or neighboring cities is quite possible, even if you plan the trip yourself. A detailed map and schedule of public transport are available on the Internet, and traveling by rented car will allow you to enjoy stops and photo sessions against the backdrop of magnificent scenery.
Capital of the state of Brandenburg
Most often, when planning excursions, travelers go to. This city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, and its history is full of historically important events. When choosing where to go from Berlin for the weekend, tourists prefer Potsdam also because the cities are separated by only 20 km. They are easy to overcome on S-Bahn trains, departing several times an hour from Berlin's Zoo, Charlottenburg and Hauptbahnhof stations. Take a walk around Potsdam and find yourself in Berlin during a long flight connection - trains depart here from the capital's airport once an hour.
The main architectural attractions of the suburbs of the German capital are the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, Babelsberg and Pfaueninsel. Pearls of the Renaissance and Baroque era, they are also amazing examples of the art of landscape designers.
Fans of German cuisine prefer to take excursions to Potsdam to enjoy the best dishes of local restaurants. Especially lucky are those who come during the traditional Potsdamer Erlebnisnacht night festival.
In the land of silent giants
Both the Germans themselves and numerous guests of the country prefer to relax in Saxony. When choosing where to go from Berlin, nature lovers will certainly pay attention to this national park in Germany.
Saxon Switzerland is located in the upper reaches of the Elbe. It is only a few kilometers away, and about two hundred from the capital. There are several ways to get to Dresden:
- By bus. The travel time will be about two hours, the price of a round-trip ticket is from 10 euros, depending on the schedule and class of the bus. In the capital, buses depart from Alexanderplatz, Central Station and Schönefeld Airport.
- By train. The fastest - EU - departs from Berlin's main station Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes about two hours, but the price is about 50 euros in both directions.
- By car. Take the A13 highway southeast of Berlin. The advantage of this option is that Potsdam is on the way and you can combine a visit to its parks and palaces with a visit to Saxon Switzerland.
The main attractions of the national park are the unique mountain landscapes and landscapes. The most famous are the rocky bastion with the Bastei observation deck, soaring to a height of 200 meters, and the Lichtenhain Falls, from where many walking routes around the park begin.
It's time to talk about the beautiful things :) No, really, there will be food, music, cities, and small villages... all together, and you choose what you like.
Besides Berlin, the city I love so much, I would like to show something that is seasonal, something that is a must for tourists, and something that not everyone knows about.
Confused? Intrigued?
Now let's unravel :)
So, imagine that you have been in Berlin for several days or are not here for the first time. We’ve already walked under the linden trees, photographed the Brandenburg Gate, and explored Museum Island. We had breakfast on the Gendarmenmarkt, went shopping on Kudamm, swam along the Spree, became our own in the Hack courtyards, climbed the Reichstag, understood the difference between spicy and non-spicy currywurst, and even took a liking to some hipster cafe in Kreuzberg.
In the mornings, go for a run in the Tiergarten, wave to Golden Elsa and really don’t know what else to do. In fact, even inside the city there are a million more small amazing corners. But today we’re taking our backpack to the train!
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Less than an hour as the crow flies, and we are already in another federal state, Brandenburg, and hello to its capital - Potsdam.
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Strictly speaking, Potsdam deserves a hundred times over to stay for a few days in one of the small hotels and very slowly explore the city, parks, palaces... But even like this, by visiting, you can get something done.
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If only there was a whole long summer day ahead. Where will you start? After getting off the train, do you immediately go to the first bakery you come across to try some fruit pies?
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From the unique Dutch quarter, where bicycles are parked along traditional red brick houses and where fluffy pancakes are baked with a wide variety of fillings?
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Or immediately to Sans Souci, the very palace “without worries” of Frederick the Great?
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To admire the statues of ancient gods, look at the old mill, get lost in the shadow of the green arches, go out onto the deserted path of the park and walk under the old trees, completely losing track of time.
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Suddenly find a Chinese tea house or walk to another palace - Charlottenhof or Orangerie.
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Finding some special staircase and thinking about what should be here, among the roses and bindweed, Cinderella dropped her shoe.
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Immerse yourself in extraordinary silence, suddenly catch this feeling - wonderful loneliness somewhere in the forest. What in German is called "Waldeinsamkeit" is romantic and melancholic, a kind of unity with nature.
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And then, having worked up an appetite, choose one of the cafes right here in Potsdam.
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Drink cocoa, and then decide that you can’t have too much sweets and take dumplings with chocolate filling, almonds and whipped cream.
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Plan “B” - we also take the train and also travel for about an hour, but in the other direction, towards Cottbus. If everyone has heard about Potsdam, excursion groups are constantly taken there, then Lübbenau/Spreewald is a place that has not been replicated at all. There are enough tourists here, but they are all locals who came to see the beauty of the river and forest.
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If you delve a little deeper into the topic, it turns out that German Venice is located in a small cozy German town and you can still argue where the trip will be more interesting.
The Lusatian settlement region located here is a very special region, even within the borders of Brandenburg. It is Slavic, Lusatians live here, which, of course, affects both the language and cultural characteristics.
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From the very morning (from about 9.30) large and small boats depart from the pier. If you arrived earlier, it’s a sure thing, go to the bakery. There are fresh buns and the latest news.
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You’ll find out everything, have breakfast, and then walk along narrow and wide canals, past traditional houses, to ladies in folk costumes who will gladly offer you a taste of local delicacies.
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In most cases, all paths converge at the village of Lede and, depending on the amount of time you have, you can go to the museum and learn about history and culture, or stay somewhere on the shore in the shade.
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Drink local Fassbrause. It will definitely be appreciated by lovers of cider, Austrian almdoodler and similar stories. It is prepared from fruits and berries with the addition of malt.
Local raspberry - Lübbenauer Himbeerfassbrause - a drink that tastes very close to Berliner Weisse, but, perhaps, quite light, like unsweetened lemonade.
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Any menu will contain an incredible amount of everything cucumber: soups, cucumber plates, salads, bread (with cucumbers!) and hot dishes... Of course, this is a specialty of the region and the fame of Spreewald cucumbers resounds far beyond the borders of Brandenburg.
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Laugh and laugh as much as you want until you try it, and once you try it, you will definitely want to take a couple of jars with you :)
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What else to offer - throw your bag on the bus and let's go around Saxony! It’s very close and here, what do you want to do - stay or just look around for daylight?
The forests of Brandenburg give way to golden Saxon fields, and where will the bus turn? To Dresden or to Leipzig? We’ve already said a little about Dresden and I hope more will be said, but for now let’s turn to Leipzig. University, cozy, smelling of coffee, with the music of Bach and lines from Faust.
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The city went down in history with the Battle of the Nations, which took place in the surrounding area and is still memorable. The massive Völkerschlachtdenkmal, which overlooks Leipzig, is proof of this. However, this is not the whole city life and certainly not the whole history. Johann Sebastian Bach worked here (buried in the Church of St. Thomas), and the vaults of Leipzig cathedrals still remember his music. Of course not, because an international festival named after the great composer is held here. But the townspeople went further and named one of the cakes in honor of Bach. So, welcome to Leipzig, another piece of Bachtorte please.
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If you want to quote Goethe, great, Auerbach’s cellar is perfect. The famous urban legend about the warlock Faust riding up the stairs to the exit riding on a large barrel took place here. Either evil spirits really intervened, or the wine cellar's regulars had too much wine - who can figure it out now. But the first part of Faust, by the will of the author, takes place here, now advertising is advertising for centuries.
Even if the evening turns out to be rainy, all you have to do is run to a cozy cafe in the city center and you are already enveloped in the warm aromas of freshly brewed coffee.
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Which one would you like: let's continue the musical theme and order Mozart with egg liqueur, cream and dark chocolate shavings? Or let's take a mug of the most delicate, like angel wings, white chocolate with honey? Not cloying, not oily... tender, gentle. And the warmth runs through the veins.
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We won’t say goodbye to ideas of “where to go from..”. I hope there will be more to show and tell. And don’t be left behind, pack your suitcase and go to Germany.
maria_kitchen
13/08/2015 11:00
The opinions of tourists may not coincide with the opinions of the editors.
I decided to go to Berlin in November, because I don’t like to travel during the “high season” and specifically plan vacations for unpopular months. I never take tours, and anyway, why are they needed if you know languages and don’t have complete and incurable topographical cretinism)
At the beginning of November, I bought Aeroflot tickets (since they were the cheapest), booked a hotel, and applied for a visa. Here it’s probably worth mentioning right away that I applied for the visa through the visa center, since there was less hassle. You can take photos on the spot, buy insurance, and even fill out forms for a fee. In order not to hang around in line for half a day, I bought insurance online, took a photo on the way home from work, and filled out the form on the weekend. I applied for a regular visa, but it was done in 4 days, so everything was very quick.
I have wanted to go to Berlin for a long time, probably a kind of childhood dream that I approached with an adult seriousness that was unusual for me. The trip was designed for 8 days and scheduled by day.
Arrival day. The most relaxed day. I arrived at 11:00 am in Berlin at Schönefeld Airport. It’s worth saying right away that Berlin is divided into zones A B C and tickets for public transport are purchased in accordance with these zones. So Schönefeld is located in zone C and this must be taken into account when buying tickets for public transport. I immediately bought a pass for 7 days (zones A B C), since I had to travel a lot and a one-time pass was very expensive. The pass is sold at the airport itself on the ground floor.
Having bought a ticket, I immediately went on the S-Bahn to get to the city and check into a hotel. Back in Moscow, I downloaded a public transport map onto my phone (it’s just a brilliant invention) and I chose in advance how to get to the hotel. As a matter of fact, there are several ways to get from the airport.
1. By taxi, which in my opinion is expensive.
2. By bus.
3. By S-Bahn (something like our light metro and MCC)
4. S-Bahn+RE (regional trains)
My hotel was called Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Center West, three stars. Very good territorial location, namely in the center, next to the zoo. Excellent rooms, breakfast and service. The road to the hotel took about 1.5 hours, provided that a couple of times I asked the way to the hotel and looked where to go. At one o'clock I was already in the room. Having quickly unpacked my things, I went to the cafe to have lunch. “Alt Berliner” caught my eye, as it later turned out that this is the name of a dime a dozen cafes. After lunch I took bus 100 and went to Alexanderplatz.
Alexander parade ground.
It seems to me that almost every subsequent journey began from here, since there is a large transport hub here. In addition, there are many shops nearby, including the famous “Gallery” in Germany.
Among the attractions here it is worth looking at the TV Tower, and there is also a clock in a strange, Soviet design. After seeing a couple of sights and shopping, I returned to my room.
Second day.
It was dedicated to a trip to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp located next to Oranienburg, which is located near Berlin. The easiest way to get there is to take the S-Bahn (line S1 to Oranienburg station), there is a bus stop next to the station that goes all the way to the camp. It is difficult to miss the bus, as there is always a crowd of tourists there.
Before your trip, I recommend that you check the opening hours and go there around 12 o’clock, because you will be there for at least 3 hours. Another feature of German attractions is that they are often free. Sachsenhausen is no exception; admission is free, but for a few euros you can get an audio guide in Russian. To be honest, I studied the map and read about the camp in advance, so I didn’t take a guide, but even without one I walked there for 4 hours.
Some may think that this is too difficult a place to visit, but in my opinion, such monuments should also be seen and known about them, especially when it comes to a trip to Germany.
Day three
After a long trip to the camp there was a day of rest. First I went to the Brandenburg Gate - this is the first thing I remember when thinking about Berlin. The best way to reach the gate is along Unter den Linden street. Along the way you can see the university building, visit a couple of shops and even have a cup of coffee. Also on this day I visited the well-known Berlin Wall, which once divided the west and east. In general, you can find the remains of the wall all over Berlin, but the place where I suggest you go is an open-air museum + a building with photographs opposite the wall. The Berlin Wall memorial complex is simply worth seeing, to see a gray wall made of concrete and reinforcement, a wall without embellishment or graffiti, to see and touch the history.
Day four.
Berlin Cathedral is a majestic and beautiful building. The first museum I had to pay for (7 euros), but it's worth it. Here, if I were you, I would take an audio guide and tour the entire building. Also
Be sure to go up to the observation deck from there you can see the whole of Berlin.
There are several cafes next to the cathedral, right on the embankment. My attention was given to one of them, where they served Currywurst (sausages in curry), I highly recommend trying them. And after a short snack, you can move on to the museum island, which is located within walking distance from the cathedral. Here you can buy a single ticket to three museums or choose one. I only went to the Pergamon Museum, which is so famous all over the world. To be honest, I was disappointed. Maybe for Europeans and Americans who don’t travel that much, it’s cool to see the ruins of temples, but for a person who has seen ancient temples in the open air, this is absolutely cool. The museum is small, only two floors. The first is ruined, the second is smaller ancient monuments (carpets, dishes, etc.), for me the Pergamon Museum cannot be compared with the Pushkin Museum. But it’s probably worth seeing what Europe is so passionate about.
Day five.
Rise and shine, wake and shine. We get up early, have a hearty breakfast and set off on a wonderful trip to Spreewal. Spreewald is the birthplace of those same pickled Spreewald cucumbers, German Venice as it is also called. A must visit place. We go to the main station and pay attention - we buy a ticket to Lubbennau, if we used to ride everywhere using our travel card, then here we will have to go with a different ticket (price 15 euros). On the way, by the way, we pass a tropical island which, unfortunately, I didn’t know about and therefore didn’t have time to visit.
And so we arrived in Lubbennau, we go to the central square and look for the main harbor. There, for 10 euros, a mustachioed German who doesn’t speak English will poop you on a boat for two hours, give you mulled wine to drink and give you a blanket. A great outdoor adventure. If you visit during the warm season, there are hotels there where, if you wish, you can spend the night away from the noisy city. What do you want after such a trip? Eat! There, in the main harbor, there is a cafe on the second floor of one of the buildings. It is designed in the shape of a ship. I highly recommend the trout and fish soup, plus the bread with the famous cucumbers. Well, once you’ve walked around the town (it’s very small), you can go back to the hotel.
Sixth day.
Again, relaxed. We are going to see the wall, or rather its most famous part. Westside gallery - wall with graffiti. It is located right on the embankment. For reasonable money you will even be allowed to draw something on it yourself.
Next, my plans included visiting the Reichstag, but since I had not booked a place on the website in advance, I had to take a photo outside and go see Bellevue Palace. Beautiful, with a perfect green lawn, but unfortunately closed for reconstruction. What to do when things are so bad? It’s right to go to an open-air museum. And this was the Berlin Wall Museum next to Checkpoint Charlie, which was a famous meeting place in the last century. Well, and from there the monument to the victims of the Holocaust. Some people may not be interested in this monument, but in my opinion it is worth seeing such an unusual structure.
