sightseeing
But if that's really what you're after… more information on these can be found here.
For those so inclined, all that we would add, is that we recommend bus lines 100 and 200 (e.g. from Alexanderplatz), as these are normal bus lines at the normal price, and will take you round almost all the main places of interest.
But for those who want to experience something more, here are some additional tips:
The districts which offer the most to young, dynamic table hockey aficionados like yourselves, are Kreuzberg, Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg. So our tips will direct you mainly towards these areas. Now and then, we'll update and extend this page.
Cuisine
Currywurst
Never heard of it? You won't believe it. Sliced sausage, traditionally served
on a piece of cardboard, smothered in ketchup and (wait for it) curry powder!
Hugely popular amongst the locals.
Currywurst during
the day, Prenzlauer Berg: Konnopke
beneath Eberswalder Strasse Station (on the U2 line). Konnopke has an
authentic GDR feel to it, especially with regard to the opening times: it is
barely open at all on weekends, so head there for a welcoming sausage on Friday
between 6am and 8pm. Wiki articles in German
and Swedish.
Currywurst at night, Kreuzberg: Curry 36 at Mehringdamm 36 (where lines
U6 and U7 intersect) is the western equivalent. Berliners queue here at almost
all hours for a "Curry ohne Darm" (skinless curry).
(Information)
Alt-Mariendorf, a classic old Berlin kiosk at the underground station (U6) with sensational prices (chips 0.50 euros, curried meat patty 0.70 euros, Currywurst 0.80 euros).
Vegetarian and
vegan
Everything in the internationally-renowned Yellow
Sunshine has the eco-seal. Situated near the remains of Görlitzer
Bahnhof.
You can enjoy a vegan brunch on sundays at Café Morgenrot, Kastanienallee
85.
Döner macht
schöner
A slogan which claims that the doner kebab, Berlin's "national dish"
has beauty-enhancing properties. This delicacy can be acquired for as little
as one euro. But investments of up to 2.50 are possible.
Arabian vendors offer the shwarma as an alternative. Also available: halloumi,
humus and falafel.
Kreuzberg: Maroush,
Adalbertstr. 93, near Kottbusser Tor
Mitte: Shark Döner, near Hackesche
Höfe
Prenzlauer Berg: Kamun, Kastanienalle 89, also called "Casting Allee"
Ice cream
Possibly the best ice cream is found where no tourist deigns to tread: Eis-Boutique
in Wedding, Badstr. 24, at the corner with Pankstr. (on the U8 line). But you
could certainly make do with any of the following:
Kreuzberg: Aldemir, Falckensteinstr. 7
Prenzlauer Berg: Kleine
Eiszeit, Stargarder Str. 7
Extra tip: Kauf Dich
Glücklich - here you can combine waffles and ice cream of all varieties,
and you can even purchase retro furniture and toys while you're at it. Oderberger
Str., Prenzlauer Berg.
Brunch
The later and larger breakfast has become a cherished custom in recent years.
It is now possible to gorge yourself at buffets almost anywhere in the trendy
districts from the early morning (i.e. around 11am) until evening approaches.
Most places charge around 7 euros, without drinks, and the food is usually quite
substantial, so that the "br" doesn't end without an "unch".
Kreuzberg
Morgenland, Skalitzer Str. 35, (reservation recommended: (+49)30 - 6113291),
a classic.
Prenzlauer Berg
Walden, tasteful and
peaceful.
Osswald, Göhrener Str. 5, lively and delicious.
Schall
und Rauch, you might be allowed a Prosecco, unless you've been a naughty
boy...
Mellow evenings
Whiskey and
Whisky
Prenzlauer Berg: choose between 120 varieties in the Irish pub at Kollwitzplatz
(Husemannstr. 6).
Kreuzberg: the Madonna in Wiener Strasse 22 offers over 200.
Cocktails
Prenzlauer Berg: on weekends, Fellas
offers fantastic happy hour times until midnight. The food is also highly recommended.
Kreuzberg: Mas y mas, Oranienstr. 168, has happy hour (€4,-) until
9pm, and the most delicious daiquiris.
Pub areas
Prenzlauer Berg
At Helmholtz Platz, there are well-filled pubs and cafés, such as the
well-filled Wohnzimmer, Lettestr. 6, and the peaceful, tasteful Kakao,
which offers an unconventional range of beverages.
In Oderberger Str., the chic new bars have driven away most of the old pubs.
Nevertheless, the intersection with the even hipper Kastanienallee is a good
tip for a great evening. Especially the Entweder
Oder, Nemo or Razzia
in Budapest.
The area around Kollwitzplatz is flooded with tourists, yuppies and trendy eco-mums.
If you're not one to follow the crowd: avoid. (Exceptions: the above-mentioned
whisky pub, or Chagall at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.)
Kreuzberg
Wrangelkiez.
Try Kirk,
Skalitzer Str. 75, MIR,
Lübbener Str. 1, or Cake, Schlesische Str. 32.
Friedrichshain
Simon-Dach-Str.: each pub is followed by another, cheap kicks with happy hour
hopping, but long gone are the days when this was an insider tip.
Mitte
Oranienburger
Str. and Hackescher Markt also belong to the hum-drum standard tourist destinations.
A few pubs which have appeared since the fall of the wall are noteworthy exceptions:
Aufsturz
and Assel
in Oranienburger Str., Zosch in Tucholsky-Str. 30, and Café
Cinema near Hackesche Höfe.
There's also the Irish pub Oscar Wilde on Friedrichstr. 112a, with real
English and Irish clientele, plenty of Premier League action, as well as karaoke
and live bands.
Other pubs in
other areas
Irish Harp, by the Kurbel cinema near Adenauer Platz, also with live
bands, good conditions, and a pleasant owner. Very cosy, and recently re-opened.
Biersaloon on Ku'damm, Joachimstaler corner. Good sports bar, was once
only for real fans, today somewhat better.
Wild evenings
Mitte: Rio at Chausseestr. 106
On stage
Opera in the East:
at the Berlin State
Opera Staatsoper Unter den Linden, there is a Friday performance
of L'elisir d'amore.
Opera in the West: on Saturday evening, Pucini's Tosca is on at the Deutsche
Oper.
Exhibitions
New National Gallery - the "Neue NaGa" has already been home to half of the Museum of Modern Art, and this Mies van-der-Rohe building is always worth a visit.
The Story of Berlin (the name speaks for itself) isn't too overdone - it is quite possible to get through in one to two hours. Kudamm Karree, Kurfürstendamm 206-207.
Standard tourist destinations (okay, here we go anyway...) are of course the Jewish Museum (wiki) and the German Historical Museum (known affectionately as the "de-ha-em"), as well as the ensemble on Museum Island, the largest museum ensemble in the world.
The holocaust memorial, the so-called Stehlenfeld near the Brandenburg Gate, is not to everyone's taste. And before you get any fancy ideas, there are real Berlin guards in place to stop people from jumping around on the blocks. But especially in the dark, this labyrinth can be very impressive.
Sport
Alba Berlin, German champions seven times over, will fight for the title in this years play offs in front of a crowd of 10,000 in the new and huge O2 World.
Spielbank Berlin at Potsdamer Platz offers PotLimit Hold'em among other things...
Children
Animals
superlatives abound in Berlin's animal parks.
The zoo in the West is Germany's
oldest, and has more species than any other in the world.
The Tierpark in the East
is the largest animal park in Europe, in terms of ground area.
(Upon request, we can even offer a personal guide!)
Technology
Spectrum is a play-oriented
environment at the Deutsches Technikmuseum
(German Technology Museum).
Just Outside Berlin
Fancy a beautiful view and a load of history all in one place? Try the Teufelsberg (Devil's Mountain), complete with the ruins of a listening station! Here, you can walk on the ruins of the second world war, while viewing the ruins of the cold war...
Miscellaneous
Every Sunday, there's a flea market at Mauerpark ("Wall Park"), where (you guessed it) the wall once stood. This is also a great place to show a bit of skin and soak up the first springtime rays of sun in the park, or to relax in a café.
Second-hand shopping at Bergmannkiez (Bergmannstrasse between Mehringdamm and Gneisenaustrasse). For coffee and snacks, we recommend Knofi.