What should I visit in Berlin in late December?

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Denise G

Only two days or from Christmas till New Years?

I will warn you, New Year's is CRAZY in Berlin. People shoot off fireworks all over the city, drop them from windows, throw them at people. I've always thought it is actually dangerous and should be better contained, but oh well. For that night, go to Brandenburg Gate.

I would also visit some of the Christmas Markets all around town. There's a good one at Gendarmenmarkt or on the Ku'Damm.

There's so much to do and see in Berlin, it's hard to say. But since you will be there at holiday time, enjoy the local customs like the markets. And walk around town enjoying all the decorations. It gets dark at 4 PM at that time of year.

I would focus on visiting the "boroughs" Mitte and Charlottenburg/Wilmersdorf area. Those are the two "city centers" of Berlin.

Have fun!

Erica

My advice: take an S-Bahn train to Warschauer Str. From there, make a left out of the station towards the big red bridge. Across from the bridge is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery. Follow the length of it. Just past the end is the Ostbahnhof train station. From there, take an S-Bahn to Zoologischer Garten. From Zoologischer Garten, you can use public transportation to see most of the big sights. Read http://www.visitberlin.de/english/sightseeing/e_si_berlinprogramme_hauptstadt.php for bus lines and information.

Other free stuff I like: browsing through second-hand shops on Bergmannstr. (U-Bahn: Mehringdamm, follow the Gneisenaustr. exit but continue to go past Gneisenaustr., make a left onto Bergmannstr.), the huge Turkish market on Tuesdays and Fridays (U-Bahn: Kottbusser Tor, then walk towards the river), heading to the artists' market at Museumsinsel on Unter den Linden on Saturdays.

If you like museums, look into buying this: http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/english/berlin-infos/e_bi_infomaterial_museumspass.php

Also make sure to go to the Kunsthaus Tacheles in the Oranienburger Str. for a "true" Berlin experience. The lease is up at the end of the year, so who knows what will happen to it? Admission is free, but you can buy beer, art, etc. while you're there. There's a beer garden in back, a huge club area, and an inexpensive movie theater in the top floor. The signs out front read "Cafe Zapata" and "Studio 54." It's okay to walk right in.

Other tips...

*Berlin is insanely huge, so it's hard to walk from place to place. Invest in a public transportation pass. It'll make your life easier.
*A lot of touristy stuff isn't particularly well-marked, either, so it'll be a good idea to get a map.
*Eat a "Doener" while you're there. It's Germany's #1 fast food, based off of Turkish kebab, and was invented in Kreuzberg. It's hard to find a bad kebab in Berlin.
*A lot of Berlin is really freaking ugly and a lot of people absolutely hate the city at first. However, there's usually a moment when you will fall hopelessly in love with the city. Don't feel bad if it takes you more than a week to get to that point.
*Berliners are also famously rude. Don't let that get to you either.

djhartmannn

There is the tour bus ... that will hit the wall, the capital building, brandanburg gate, the holocost memorial, and make sure you get to the cathedral.

But when you are done with that go warm your bones at Tropical Islands, Berlin

Europe's largest indoor water park has a beach, a bird-filled rainforest, a 360ft slide, rapids and a cabaret stage all under a massive glass dome. It is always warm, and for Â£13 you can have a late-night beach barbecue and camp for a night on the sand in a complimentary wigwam.

Â· Entry Â£16 for adults, Â£13 for children

(00 49 354 7760 5050)

http://www.my-tropical-islands.com

Pax B

It is going to be so cold then but it is still really nice. Most people go to check point charlie any cab will take you.

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