Berlin was one of the destinations that we explored, when we embarked on an 8-person European tour a couple of years ago. We had decided that Germany had to be on the list, but time was short. We only had 4 days to spend there. So we quickly had to figure out the best things to do in Berlin.
We opted to spend time in both Berlin and Munich, figuring that they would give us a good representative view of the country.
What we found were two very different entities, complete with different characters.
In my youth of course, Berlin was the capital of east Germany, and Bonn was the capital of west Germany. Thankfully, these days the foreign governments have largely retreated and left Germany to itself. As a result, Germany has become a powerhouse in Europe.
I can only imagine how Germany would have been today if it didn’t suffer almost half a century of occupation.
The History Of Berlin
Berlin has been at the centre of some of the most pivotal moments in European history, such as World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. Berlin was also a hotbed for expression during the Nazi era. In fact, it was in Berlin that Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, we were only in Berlin for a few days. But I found it difficult to get past World War Two, and the subsequent post-war period.
I am led to believe that Berlin started at least as a town around the 12th or 13th centuries, but I struggled to find much about that.
It’s almost as if the focus is firmly held in one 50-year period and all else falls away. That’s not to say that that isn’t an interesting time. It certainly is. But I would have loved to see a more overall picture, rather than focusing on a fairly bleak period.
How To Get Around
We arrived in Berlin by train form Paris. The regional train services across most of Europe are very good value and service the area well. Generally, I opt for train when I have longer overland distances to cover.
Whereas the Autobahns and motorways of Europe are excellent. It’s fair to say that Europe is much bigger than people at first imagine. So, spending 8-9 hours behind the wheel can be quite tiring. I would much rather arrive fresh at the location so I can hit the ground running.
Once in Berlin itself then like much of Germany the public transport is incredibly well organised and efficient. Whether you take buses or trains, the fares are cheap, and you can get just about everywhere.
Like most major cities, Berlin also has the Hop on/hop off buses. There are a few different companies running this service, and they are an excellent way to get your bearings initially.
On the last day of our stay, we hired a car as we were going to Potsdam Gardens, which are out of town a bit. The following day we used the car to drive to Munich. By doing it this way, we only hired the car for exactly the time we needed.
Although we didn’t use them, bicycles are a very popular way to get around the city. Most of the streets have been designed with bikes in mind. And at times it seems like bikes outnumber cars.
Brandenburg Gate
This landmark is known as one of the most iconic structures in Berlin. It was designed by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans, and built between 1785-1791 during the late 18th century Prussian era.
It’s a great spot to get a photo, which we did. But getting a photo without crowds is a lot more challenging. Like most tourist spots, try to get there early for your best chances.
Museum Island
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this island contains five museums, including the famous Pergamon Museum and Altes Museum, both on Museum Insel. The island is surrounded by a beautiful park and features a number of important buildings, including the Neues Museum (New Museum).
The Reichstag
The Reichstag has been the home to Germany’s parliament since 1871. Like much of Berlin, it suffered terrible damage towards the end of World War Two. Thankfully it was rebuilt, and the result is fantastic.
The central dome is a masterpiece and well worth a viewing. I believe that now you have to make bookings to get in.
Tiergarten
The tiergarten is Berlin’s equivalent to Central Park or Hyde Park. A large beautifully green open area in the middle of the city. Berliners and tourists alike frequent the park for some relaxation. Definitely worth a wander.
Berlin Zoo
Situated at one end of Tiergarten is the Berlin Zoo. I haven’t counted, but I’m told that they have more animals than any other zoo in the world.
To be fair they have a huge aquarium included in the zoo, so that might count heavily towards the numbers.
That said, it’s a very good zoo. I may be biased though. Any zoo which has a Polar Bear is a winner in my books. Jacqui and the kids have to drag me away when I’m watching the Polar Bears.
Checkpoint Charlie and Museum
Checkpoint Charlie is obviously a very iconic spot. So much so that getting a photo taken there without lots of other people in the shot is not easy.
The Checkpoint Museum is right next to the checkpoint itself. In fact you can see it on the left side of the photo. The museum focuses on the period after World War Two and prior to reunification. It paints a fairly bleak picture of life on the East German side of the wall.
Its two main points are massive oppression and numerous escape attempts. While I’m sure that there is a lot of truth to what is portrayed. I can’t help but wonder whether any propaganda is involved.
You could easily spend a couple of hours here. But it is a pretty depressing place. Still, there’s no point shielding yourself from the realities of life.
Take A Boat Cruise
There’s nothing quite like a boat cruise to give you a new perspective on a city.
The boat cruises in Berlin run for an hour or so and the tours are run in multiple languages.
Potsdam Gardens
These gardens are located just outside Berlin itself, and I’m led to believe that you can get there by public transport. We opted to hire a car instead, which worked well for us.
The gardens on their own are well worth visiting. Add to this that they have Sanssouci Palace in them as well, and this becomes an all-day event.
We even took the opportunity to take a horse and cart ride around the grounds, which gave us a great look at the site as a whole.
During summer though, make sure you drink plenty of water. It’s a big site with lots of open air, so you can get thirsty very quickly.
If you’d like to check out Potsdam. Here’s the official website.
Food and drink in Berlin
No list of Berlin’s best attractions would be complete without mentioning food and drink. The German capital is a foodie haven, with a wide range of restaurants serving traditional and modern cuisine from around the globe.
We certainly didn’t leave Berlin lighter than we came in. I love good hearty food, and they know how to serve it up in Berlin.
Most people would probably think of Munich when it comes to beer, which is fair enough. But Berlin is not far behind in the beer stakes. The beer is cheap, and there’s lots of it.
Conclusion
This probably seems like a bit of a mixed review of Berlin, which is a little unfair.
I enjoyed myself while I was there. We all did.
But I’m not convinced that I really got a handle on the place. Of course, 4 days is not long to get totally under the skin of a city. But I didn’t feel like I got too far at all.
The upshot of that is that I have to go back again.
Great food and beer, reasonable prices, friendly locals, and more exploring to be done. That’s probably all the reasons I need.
If you’re heading to Berlin then here’s a couple of other posts you might like.
The best things to do in Paris
Cheers and happy travels.