3 days in Berlin

August 2016

Germany’s capital, dates to the 13th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20th-century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification.

WEATHER

Berlin has a continental climate with cold winters, hot summers and fairly mild autumns and springs. Summer (June to August) weather in Berlin is pleasant and sunny, the days are long and with a high temperature of 23°C.

I really enjoyed Berlin in August, and if I go back I will choose again the summer months.

TRANSPORT

It is easy to reach the Berlin city centre from Schönefeld Airport as the Schönefeld train station has direct links to regional trains, the S-Bahn and buses. The station is a 10 minute walk from the terminal building. The S-Bahn lines S9 and S45 run to the city center. Travelers who want to get to Berlin Central Station can take the S9 to the station Ostkreuz and then change to the S-Bahn lines S5, S7 or S75 which stop at Central Station.

Another option is to take the Airport Express Train. Between 4.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. the regional trains RE7 and RB14 called "Airport Express", travel in 30 minute intervals between Schönefeld Airport and Berlin-Charlottenburg with stops at Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Berlin Central Station and Berlin-Zoo. It takes about 15 minutes to get to Ostbahnhof with the Airport Express and 30 minutes to get to Berlin Central Station. Note: Schönefeld Airport is located in fare zone C. To get to the city center an ABC ticket is required.

The best option is to get a day ticket for zones ABC which will cost you 7.70€. This ticket will be valid from the moment of its validation till 3am the following day. You can buy this ticket at the airport. Don't forget to validate your ticket at the yellow or red boxes on the platforms, in buses or trams.

Even we walked a lot around the city, we also used the public transport quite often, so I recommend you to get a day travel card.

PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO

Day 1

Visit the Holocaust Memorial that pays tribute to those who perished on WWII.
Admire the Berlin Cathedral.
Walk around Alexanderplatz where you can find some sights like the Weltzeituhr (world clock), the Brunnen der Völkerfreundschaft (Fountain of International Friendship) and the Fernsehturm – East Berlin’s famous television tower. You can visit the Fernsehturm for great views of the city.
Take a boat trip and see the city from another perspective.
Take a picture at Brandenburg gate, one of Berlin's main attractions.

Day 2

Visit the Reichstag and register in advance if you wish to visit its dome. I really enjoyed this visit and it's free. For registration go to this link Reichstag dome.
Go to see the Checkpoint Charlie, the crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War.
See the New Synagogue building. If you want you can visit its museum and its dome.
Pay a visit to the Jewish Museum. In my opinion it's a must see.

Day 3

Visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
Walk around the Berlin Wall, the concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Nowadays what the wall is covered by art works. One of the most famous works is, without a doubt, the “Fraternal Kiss”.
If you like museums, visit the Museum Island, a complex of 5 museums that was was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1999. You can spend a whole day visiting the museums. Alternatively, visit Charlottenburg Palace which is the largest palace in Berlin.

FOOD AND DRINK

Berlin is another great destination for beer lovers. My favourite beers: Warsteiner, Berliner Kindl and Pilsner.

Here I mention some traditional dishes:

Schnitzel: A thin cut of meat (originally veal) coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Usually served with potatoes.
Bratwurst: A type of German sausage made from veal, beef, or most commonly pork.
Eisbein: Pork knuckles.The meat is usually boiled or grilled, and comes served with sauerkraut, peas and potatoes.

My personal recommendation:

Gasthaus Krombach: This is more a pub than a restaurant. Located nearby the hotel where we stayed (Park Plaza Berlin Kudamm) offeres a good choice of German dishes and beers. Nice staff and reasonable prices. Address: Meinekestraße 4, 10719 Berlin.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at Park Plaza Berlin Kudamm. This 3 star rated hotel is located in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf neighborhood. Easy to reach the main attractions by public transport, this area is great for shopping and has nice restaurants around. The rooms offer free WiFi, comfy beds and a great shower.

If you wish to book this accommodation, use this link here Park Plaza Berlin Kudamm.

BUDGET

Around 200€ excluding hotel and flights.