chrisp65 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 OK, we must have had several Berlin threads I'm sure. But this one was kinda sorta for historical walks and middle aged stuff. My recent visit I got very very lucky with the weather. I stayed over at the very west end of the Tiergarten, minutes from the zoo, and walked through the park every day on my way in to town. so, interesting things to see on a walking tour: first advice - pre book a visit to the Bundestag Dome & Restaurant cuts out hours of waiting for clearance and gives a great view out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFC_Hitz Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 I used to live in Berlin. I used to be the guide on the free walking tour and the evening bar tour. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 We were going to do the free walking tour. Then we realised how easy and 'safe' it was to just go and explore by yourself. By safe, I mean even when I got lost (two of us out on a reccie for fast food) down the zoo end of the Tiergarten, in the dark, next to the river and ended up in a tunnel by the bus terminal with a load of rough sleepers, I still felt everything was calm. I was stood there, in the dark, with a glowing smart phone in my hand and the guy wrapped in cardboard and blankets looked up from his book. I nodded, he nodded. I asked (in english), 'how's the book?'. He responded (in english), 'it's ok, thanks, you ok or lost?'. I passed him the next day and called across the street 'did you finish the book?', he did the international sign language thumbs up. Wife utterly bewildered that I could possibly know a Berlin rough sleeper. Youngest nipper helpfully explained to her that we'd met him the night before in a tunnel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddywhack Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Seems we were probably there at the same time Chrispy, last week? I was on my surprise stag do with Rob182 and lapalfan. Loved it, great city. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 I want to go back, now. This time last week a mate of ours was getting bullied by a barmaid because she wanted us to have 11 1L steins and we only wanted a .5L beer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 https://www.google.sk/maps/@52.5100003,13.3102421,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1szyy6IHF4k96E.kUz1ok1VgPY4?hl=en That's basically what we did. We didn't hit that many of those bars/restaurants - there was too much stuff in between. But we achieved on Day 1: Reichstag Building Brandenburg Gate Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe fuhrerbunker GDR Tower Topography of Terror Check Point Charlie Maximillian's (Beerkeller) Day 2; Walk down the Spree to the Capital Beach Bar Train to Olympic Stadion - watch the game Hard Rock cafe on the west end of Tiergarten Day 3; The Room - and escape game, thought to be one of the best in Europe Templehofer Feld Airport, for a guided tour around the disused airport, and a walk around there. Ended the day watching the sunset over the city in TV Tower, with a couple of cocktails, some new friends and loads of great stories Day 4; Home from Schodenfeld Airport BOOOOOOO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 My trip was a good few months ago now, before Christmas. We did British Airways out of Heathrow T5, used the futuristic pod parking. Landed in Tegel airport which is the older but closer one. Had a taxi waiting at the airport to take us to the hotel. The idea was minimum drama and give the kids a look at T5 and a trip on that sort of robo monorail system from the car park. Living like kings on expenses! We stayed in the Tiergarten Novotel, the kids loved the giant stereotypical German waitress on the first night that delivered their pizzas and declared in a booming voice 'you vill enjoy it!'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 22 minutes ago, chrisp65 said: We did British Airways out of Heathrow T5, used the futuristic pod parking. pods are great aren't they , whenever we fly me and the kids always go for a ride on them even if we aren't parked there P.s - I'm only 20 mins from T5 , your always welcome to leave your car at the office and I'll run you to the airport and save you a few quid on hefty parking fees 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 ahh, you're a good man! As it happens, the parking was one of the bits I could claim expenses on which dampens the bill down a little. The office knew it was a work trip / family break combo. The guidance I was given on expenses was 'just don't take the piss'. This rule has come in since one of the Directors had 2 kiddy meals and a family entry to Longleat on his entertaining expenses. Subsequently, lunch for four had to be somewhere 'proper' and not Coconut Brunhilda's Bouncy German Pirate Land (which I believe Paddywhack and the guys might have gone to). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayls Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) Did you guys stay in a hostel? And did you manage to visit the Matrix club by one of the train stations - was a weird experience. Edited May 13, 2016 by Tayls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 On 13/05/2016 at 22:51, Tayls said: Did you guys stay in a hostel? And did you manage to visit the Matrix club by one of the train stations - was a weird experience. Yea, we stayed in a hostel called "Heart of Gold". It's on Johanstrasser, just off Friedrichstrasser - so extremely central (utterly brilliant location for the price of the rooms to be honest). We did neither the Matrix club or Coconut Brunhilda's! We did manage to quickly squeeze in a Kufasta's Kebab though (street vendor with a constant 20 minute wait!) - amazing kebabs and a drink with change from 5 euro? No brainer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccfcman Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Just after a quick scan - Mustafa's is a bit of a tourist trap but seems like a right of passage for most! Matrix is a **** kip. If anyone wants any secret tips and treats that you won't find anywhere else, gimme a shout (particularly pubs - us Irish tend to find some crackers bizarrely), I've been living in Berlin for the last 2 and a bit years 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nath182 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 (edited) Has anyone been to Berlin recently? Just booked flights for a group of 11 for my mates stag do in April and looking at booking hotel/hostel/Airbnb tonight and wondered if anyone had any recommendations of areas to stay? The stag doesn't really drink and can't stand clubs etc so wouldn't have thought it will be particularly rowdy. Only plans we currently have is to watch a Hertha Berlin game. Anyone got any suggestions for things to do while we're there? Edited November 17, 2017 by Nath182 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 On 17/11/2017 at 14:17, Nath182 said: Has anyone been to Berlin recently? Just booked flights for a group of 11 for my mates stag do in April and looking at booking hotel/hostel/Airbnb tonight and wondered if anyone had any recommendations of areas to stay? The stag doesn't really drink and can't stand clubs etc so wouldn't have thought it will be particularly rowdy. Only plans we currently have is to watch a Hertha Berlin game. Anyone got any suggestions for things to do while we're there? I took @Paddywhack there for his stag do, 10 of us - seems like almost the same sort of crowd (i.e. not a crowd full of clubbers/alcoholics!) - I've been twice for stag do's (participant first time, organiser 2nd time) and I've got maps and all sorts online I could send you (pubs/restaurants/sight seeing things/things to do/public transport etc). How long are you going for? It's probably my fave city now - I absolutely love it. Let me know a few more details and I can help you as much as you want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurembergVillan Posted November 20, 2017 Moderator Share Posted November 20, 2017 I always recommend 12 Apostel, the pizza joint. Book ahead, and try to get over to the original one which is in the railway arches. I've not been to the new one (Mitte) but the original one is awesome. You can order a giant pizza for as many people as you like. They're massive, and delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 On 17/11/2017 at 14:17, Nath182 said: Has anyone been to Berlin recently? Just booked flights for a group of 11 for my mates stag do in April and looking at booking hotel/hostel/Airbnb tonight and wondered if anyone had any recommendations of areas to stay? The stag doesn't really drink and can't stand clubs etc so wouldn't have thought it will be particularly rowdy. Only plans we currently have is to watch a Hertha Berlin game. Anyone got any suggestions for things to do while we're there? I went there with my lad in the summer , he’s 12 so needless to say it wasn’t a booze trip the Tribant Safari is a good fun if people can stay sober enough to drive , they take you along the route of the old wall and give you some commentary along the way so you’ll learn a bit about the Cold War era and get to drive a car from a bygone era ... and rightly so bloody awful to drive with no power steering , decent brakes etc !! might not be what your looking for but google it on yahoo and you should find the company that run them ... based near checkpoint Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nath182 Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 21 hours ago, lapal_fan said: I took @Paddywhack there for his stag do, 10 of us - seems like almost the same sort of crowd (i.e. not a crowd full of clubbers/alcoholics!) - I've been twice for stag do's (participant first time, organiser 2nd time) and I've got maps and all sorts online I could send you (pubs/restaurants/sight seeing things/things to do/public transport etc). How long are you going for? It's probably my fave city now - I absolutely love it. Let me know a few more details and I can help you as much as you want That would be great, thanks. I'll message you! We've booked a hotel in Alexanderplatz as it seemed to be close to a lot of bars etc. We're getting there on Saturday morning and leaving Monday afternoon so got basically 2 full days to do stuff! As I say, other than the football match we've got nothing planned so far, would like to visit a Casino as the stag likes a bit of a gamble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 2 minutes ago, Nath182 said: That would be great, thanks. I'll message you! We've booked a hotel in Alexanderplatz as it seemed to be close to a lot of bars etc. We're getting there on Saturday morning and leaving Monday afternoon so got basically 2 full days to do stuff! As I say, other than the football match we've got nothing planned so far, would like to visit a Casino as the stag likes a bit of a gamble. Cool. Gimme the dates and I can knock something up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nath182 Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 10 minutes ago, lapal_fan said: Cool. Gimme the dates and I can knock something up. We're going 28th April to 30th April, cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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