I'm going to Berlin at the end of the month...

[malachibk]

What should I definitely *not* miss?

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

1. Your flight!!

HA! Never been there... so I have zero input other than... HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

[malachibk]

4. Thanks -- pretty excited. n/t

[DBoon]

2. KaDeWe department store

and the Bauhaus Museum

[malachibk]

6. Just googled the Bauhaus museum. Seems like something I'd enjoy...

But what's the allure of the department store? I'm not a big shopper...

[DBoon]

9. It's a beautiful showcase

It is right by the old east/west wall, so it was supposed to showcase the wonders of capitalism to the east block.

It has everything in it. An incredible deli.

[Kellanved]

18. it is one of the "big" stores.

Harrod's, LeFayette, Macy's, KaDeWe. It is actually a pre-war name and has nothing to do with the cold war - the interesting thing is that it has a huge deli-department.

[MrScorpio]

3. The Beer

Try 'em all out

[DBoon]

7. KaDeWe has a cafe that serves beer

have a Budovar. Much better than American Budweiser.

[babylonsister]

5. The zoo is supposed to be good. nt

[Kellanved]

17. both of them are

:D

[Bitter Betty]

8. Art, Architecture, Hefe Weizen

I was there in 2003 for approx. 10 days & went to museums (sometimes multiple museums) almost every day. There is so much incredible art in Berlin. Also, the architecture is really interesting--decaying East German government buildings, Gothic pre-WWII buildings & churches that have been restored (the buildings are constantly being cleaned up so you'll always see lots of cranes dotting the landscape), shiny modern skyscrapers (Postdam Platz). There is a river boat tour which is a great way to see the buildings & bridges. The subway is inexpensive & always on time. Places that you can take a day-trip to are Pottsdam (Sans Souci palace & gardens is fun to wander around in) & Dresden (incredible architecture). Just jump on a train. And after all that walking, you'll want to sit down at a sidewalk cafe & people-watch while drinking a hefe weizen. This was my first trip to Europe, so perhaps I am overly gushing about it, but now I want to go to Italy, France, etc...

[malachibk]

10. Wow, thanks. I think it's time to get a guidebook. eom

[nytemare]

11. Jaegerschnitzel

It is breaded pork(sometimes veal) in a mushroom sauce, and it is to die for. Usually, the restaurants will give you a hard roll called brochen, that is really good too.

Also, french fries with mayo! "Pommes frites mit mayo" are sort of a staple there.

I was in Frankfurt, and never got to Berlin, so I can't tell you much about the sights, just about the food.

[malachibk]

14. Appreciate the cuisine tip. eom

[nytemare]

15. Sure thing!

I am sure you will enjoy your trip.

:hi:

[Kellanved]

21. yelp

Sorry, but that might be difficult to find in Berlin.
Or rather: I would not frequent places serving it; the whole Schnitzel-thing is more southern/western.
The only Schnitzel acceptable to order in Berlin is Wiener Schnitzel. And that only at places where the people know what they are doing (Austrian or Pan-European restaurants).

[jmowreader]

12. See the Teufelsberg

The Teufelsberg (devil's mountain) overlooks the Teufelssee (devil's lake). It is the second highest mountain in the eastern part of the country, and it's completely man-made.

After the last bomb fell in World War II, the Berliners had to do something with all of the rubble. They piled it up in one big heap in the middle of the Gruenewald. Then they covered the rubble with 10,000 cubic metres of dirt and planted trees on it.

The Teufelsberg is so big, they once held an international ski championship off the side of it.

And when I was in Berlin, this is what it looked like...



Forget all these phony "phallic symbols"--this is THE only truly penis-shaped building the United States government ever built.

[malachibk]

13. That's pretty funny. Will check it out. Thanks eom

[Kellanved]

16. Ok brace yourself

ASAP you should try to get a tour through the Parliamentary buildings. It is probably too late already, but certainly worth a try.
http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/info/050vberl.html
Also: on the 27th and the 28th all Federal ministries will be open to the public (among them the Chancellery) . The queues will be very long, so it might not be the best investment of your time.

Now to the "how and what to do" :D
The way to get around in the city is public transportation: fast and it covers pretty much every square inch of the town (with the notable exception of our beloved small airport). Tickets work on a honor basis; there are no barriers hindering ticket-less people entering the trains. But there ARE plain-clothes ticket controllers - believe me, you'll want to have a valid ticket.
The best approach is to buy a three-days or a week-ticket (depending on the length of your stay).
And never buy a newspaper while on a train. http://www.bvg.de/e_index.html

The other things important in this regard are shoes: Berlin covers an area bigger than NYC (all five boroughs) - the distances can get quite long. (Cabs are expensive, but easy to find and plenty)

Sights:
I'd say the "have to"s are (:
-Reichtstag Building
-Brandenburg Gate
-Holocaust Memorial
-Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse (the one at the Checkpoint Charlie is a fake - a tourist trap)
-the Jewish museum (http://www.jmberlin.de/index_e.html?meta=TRUE)


-The Museum Island (http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/ ; http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/smb/en/standorte/index.php?objID=3313&n=2&p=2)
--The Pergamon
--The old Museum (Altes Museum)
--The old national gallery
--The Cathedral

-The new national gallery (http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/smb/en/sammlungen/details.php?objectId=20)
-The Einstein exhibition (http://www.einsteinausstellung.de/)
...

Worth a visit are:
-(if you are so inclined) visit a Hertha (soccer) match
-The Helmut Newton exhibition (http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/smb/en/sammlungen/details.php?objectId=7191)
-The Flick Collection (http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/smb/en/sammlungen/details.php?objectId=7201)
-The Guggenheim (http://www.deutsche-bank-kunst.com/guggenheim/)
...
If you have the time, Potsdam is definitely worth a visit. Be warned however; finding an English speaking guide can be difficult - Russian is still the language of choice there. Also, while you're in the area, Einstein's house might be interesting (http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=20460&name=The+house+that+Einstein+loved)


Also Berlin is the home of several first-class orchestras and stages. The directors tend to be pretty unconventional: even in the most classic pieces you should not be surprised by shower-scenes, orange juice fights, mud wrestling and similar plot devices.

Shopping:
As mentioned before, the KaDeWe is a great department store. However, they are renovating it at the moment, so that most of it looks like a construction site. The LeFayette at the Friedrichstrasse can be a good replacement.
The international designers have stores on the Friedrichstrasse in the center and the Kurfürstendamm (Kuhdamm) in the west. There are several small start-up designer stores around the Helmholtzplatz in the Prenzlauer Berg district.
All prices are including tax (which you can get back when leaving the country), almost all stores are closed on Sundays.

Culinary things.
Berlin still has way to catch up in this department, yet first-class restaurants of almost any category (cuisine- and price-wise) can be found somewhere. (personal recommendations (reservation required): Chinese: good friends, Kantstraße 30; Japanese: Sasaya, Lychener Str. 50; local cuisine (prices slightly above moderate): Weinstein, Lychener Str. 33; Pizza (nothing else): Due Forni, Schönhauser Allee 12; cafe: Café Einstein, Kurfürstenstraße 58 ...)

The local specialities are Döner and Currywurst, I strongly recommend you try both.
For Döner, the place of choice is Saray (map): order a Dürüm Döner "komplett" - the best food €3 can buy.
For Currywurst it's "Konopke" under the subway, near the station "Eberswalder Strasse".
The Coffee-chains of choice are Balzac and Einstein.

Prices are including tax and service; 10% is considered a good tip.


Last but not least: it's election time - say hello to the gals and guys from the SPD . It means a lot :D .

If you want further details: just ask :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

19. the Berlin man has spoken ... LOL

if you have time (not you Kellanved) then go to Potsdam to see Sanssouci. It is very impressive

[malachibk]

20. Thanks so much

That post is very helpful. I'll do some research, but am pretty sure I'll have more questions for you soon!

Again, I appreciate it.