Three days in Berlin: a getaway in the German capital

Are you going to Berlin this month or are you thinking about it?

Then you made the right choice. Berlin is an exciting city to visit no matter what time of the year. If you always wanted to go, this November is the right time as the city is celebrating the 30th Year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

If there is a place in Europe which has changed so much in the last few decade years, it is Berlin. There is a flair of renewal in the city everywhere you look. Wherever you go you will be reminded by the vivid German past and what happened precisely in Berlin along the centuries.

So let’s visit the most beautiful places and squares of Berlin:

Gendarmenmarkt

The French Huguenots, who were welcomed to Berlin and immigrated after the revocation of Edict of Nantes at the end of the 17th century, left some contribution to this beautiful square.

Once a market, the name comes from the French word gendarmes (men with arms) who for four decades in the 18th century had their stables there. It is a place to stroll and to admire the three amazing buildings.

• The German Cathedral, built in the 18th century, is today a place for exhibits.
• The French Cathedral was built early 18th century by the Huguenots. Today it is a Huguenot museum and also a restaurant.
• The Concert Hall was first built by Langhans before it was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt later by one of the most well-known architects of his time, Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

Pariser Platz

Every tourist comes to Pariser Platz located not far from Postdamer Platz in Berlin Mitte. The Brandenburg Gate is on the same square.

Meaning “square of Paris” in French, it is a reminder that once the French troops marched into Berlin in 1806. In the 2000’s it was beautifully redone so that now no cars can drive under the Gate. Pedestrians can safely wander around and see the banks, the hotel and buildings which are on the square such as the French and American Embassies, the Dresdner Bank and the Hotel Adlon.

Pariser Platz is at the end of the famous avenue, Unter den Linden, which means under the linden (lime) trees. You can stroll on both sides of the Avenue without ever being bored as there is so much to see and do.

Potsdamer Platz

Postdamer Platz, named after the nearby city of Postdam, is really the place to be nowadays. If you like high rise buildings, you will enjoy this area of town. You will be astonished at the nice architecture of the 19 buildings on the square made of glass, teracotta, sandstone or brick. It is the New York of Berlin designed by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano. Many banks and exclusive hotels such as the Mandala and Grand Hyatt hotels have set their landmarks at the square. Sony and Daimler Benz have offices there too. You can also find good restaurants, cafés, theaters and the Cinemax. That is also the place where the famous Berlinale (International Film Festival) takes place each February, another good time to visit Berlin.

Since the 1990’s Potsdamer Platz has become once more the busy square it was once before the end of the Second World War.

Alexanderplatz

If you go a little further into East Berlin you will get to Alexanderplatz. It is named after the Russian Tsar, Alexander 1st, who visited Berlin in October 1805.

It has changed quite a bit in 20 years. It has been modernized. The department store, Kaufhof, and the large train station have been redone. It is also the site of the Berlin T.V. tower since 1969.

Let’s go to a museum:

If you are a museum fan, Berlin is the place to be at. You can spend a lot of time on the Museum Island in Berlin Mitte or wander to other parts of town and visit other fascinating museums.

Here are my favorite museums for a short stay:

Gemäldegalerie

It holds a collection of paintings from great masters from the 13th-18th centuries (Dürer, Rubens, Titian, Chardin, Rembrandt & Gainsborough).

Matthäikirchplatz 4/6
How to get there: U2 to Postdamer Platz or Bus 200 or 347 to Philarmonie
Price: €10 for adults

Pergamon Museum

Very large museum holding islamic art, Roman and Greek antiquities such as the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate from Babylon. A must see while visiting Berlin.

Am Kupfergraben 5, Museum Island
How to get there: U-Bahn and S-Bahn to Friedrichstrasse; tram M1, M4, M5, M6, or 12; bus 100, 200 or 147
Price: €19 for adults

Jewish Museum

The well-known American architect Daniel Libeskind designed the building. Vivamost had the chance to go there at the opening in 2000 and was struck by the powerful exhibit and architecture.  The Holocaust tower, the unreachable walls and ladder and the cold corridors leave you with a feeling of helplessness.

Libeskind has also worked on many other museums around the world and will be the one to design the Freedom Tower in downtown New York.

Lindenstrasse 9-14  Kreuzberg
How to get there: Bus 240, U-Bahn to Hallesches or to Kochstrasse �
Price: €8

Story of Berlin

It is an exciting exhibit on the history of the city from its beginning to now.

Kurfurstendamm 206, Charlottenburg
At the moment closed but will reopened in the fall 2020
How to get there:  U1 Uhlandstr, S-Bahn: S Savignyplatz, Bus to Uhlandstrasse

Let’s go visit some sites:

Reichstag

Expect long queues to go see the German Parliament. The views are well worth the wait. If you have booked a table to eat at the restaurant,Kaefer, at the top, you just have to tell them and you will not have to queue.

Platz der Republik, Tiergarden

Price: free
How to get there: Bus 100, 248 & 257 and S-Bahn Unter den Linden

The Berlin Wall Memorial

How to get there: 

S-Bahn S1, S2, S25, S26 STOP-Bahnhof Nordbahnhof 

Holocaust Mahnmal Berlin

It is a memorial for the murdered Jews of Europe. At least wander outside through the alleys between the 2,711 concrete slabs. The renown architect, Peter Eisenmann designed the memorial over 4.7 acres (19,000 square meters).

Eisenmann is also famous for his work in Ohio (US), Spain and lately for the construction of the Glendale University Stadium in Arizona.

Located at Cora-Berlinerstrasse 1
Price: free outside 
How to get there: U2, S1, S2, S25, Busses 100, 200, 347 & TXL

 

Alexanderplatz T.V. Tower

From the 1,207 feet/368 meters platform you have a fantastic view of the city. Only go there with clear weather. In Europe only 3 buildings are taller than this building.

How to get there: almost all trams, U-Bahns and S-Bahns go to Alexanderplatz

Price: €16.50 for adults
Opened daily from 9 a.m./10 a.m. to midnight

Let’s go shopping:

If it is too cold to stay outdoors or if you want a break from sightseeing, here are my favorites places to shop at:

KaDeWe – Kaufhaus des Westens (Department Store of the West)

Biggest department store in continental Europe where you can find anything you can think of.

Tauentzienstrasse 21-24, Kurfürstendamm in Charlottenburg
How to get there: U-Bahn Wittenbergplatz and busses 119, 129, 146 & 185.

Galeries Lafayette

This French department store is in Berlin since 1996 and has a good selection of French bags, makeup, kitchenware, books, clothing and lingerie. It has a great food court and a wonderful bakery and cheese counter.

Französische Strasse 23, Friedrichstrasse in Mitte

How to get there: U-Bahn U2 & U6, Bus 147 & TXL, S-Bahn S1, S2 & S25

The Arkaden

It is smaller than the KaDeWe but you can eat and do some shopping there. The Italian ice cream parlor on the top floor is a must if you like ice cream.

Alte Postdamer Strasse 7 in Postdamer Platz

Quartier 105-107

Luxurious shops are located there. Quartier 106 is the most luxurious one. It has a marble floor and a café in the middle where you can relax and listen to live piano music.

Friedrichstrasse, Berlin-Mitte

 

Mall of Berlin- Leipziger Platz

In this mall in Berlin Mitte you will find 300 stores where you can shop from 10 am to 9 pm.

Let’s go out and eat:

Berlin has amazing places to eat and I have selected a few for you.

Kaefer’s restaurant

If you are planning to go visit the Reichstag and go eat there afterwards, make a reservation. It will save you time and will not need to queue for the Reichstag’s visit!

Located on top of the Reichstag
Platz der Republik, Tiergarten
Tel: 0049 (0)30 22629900

Lutter und Wegner

Good choice for German and Austrian dishes and for wines. Already in Berlin since 1811.

Located in Charlottenburg, Gendarmenmarkt and Postdamer Platz.

Borchardt’s

I have eaten there a few times and was happy with the service and the food. Quick and classy. Reserve early for international and French cuisine. The Wienerschnitzel is my favorite. You will often see celebrities in the restaurant.

Französische Strasse 47/ Friedrichstrasse, Mitte, near the Galeries Lafayette

Midtown Grill

It is an amazing steak house, you get big portion and the service is great.

 

Galeries Lafayette

Crêperie: perfect for a lunch break; they will serve you thin French pancakes filled with meat, cheese, mushrooms or sugar, jam among other things.  The sushis are excellent as well.

Französische Strasse 23, Mitte

Here are two ways how you could spend your days in Berlin:

Way 1:

• Day 1 – visit a few museums
• Day 2 – go shopping
• Day 3 – do some sightseeing of the major landmarks

• Day 1 – take the BUS 100 across the city – go the museum the Story of Berlin (now under construction until fall 2020) – shop at the KaDeWe – stroll at the Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz
• Day 2 – Visit the Gendarmenmarkt square- go to the Reichstag – visit the Holocaust Memorial – Berlin Wall Memorial – go to Potsdamer Platz
• Day 3 – see the city from above at Alexanderplatz – stop at the Museum Island for a museum – wander on the Avenue Unter den Linden – go to Friedrichstrasse for some shopping.

 

• Alexander Platz
• Berlin
• Brandenburger Tor
• capital of Germany
• Gendarmenmarkt
• Germany
• Holocaust Mahnmal Berlin
• Hotel Adlon
• Lepziger Platz
• Pariser Platz
• Pergamon museum
• Potsdamer Platz
• Reichstag