Germany


24hrs in Berlin

Berlin - maybe not the prettiest of city i've ever been to but it would definitely nearly hit the top spot on an entertainment level. Due to the length of our trip, we struggled to fit all Berlin had to offer into the space of 24hrs, however (with heavy backpacks in tow) I was impressed by the amount we saw (and ate!) in this short period of time. 

   After our (slightly!) delayed arrival into Berlin, we started our trip with a wonder down Unter Den Linden (sadly at the time the street was invaded by cranes) to get a vibe of what Berlin had to offer. This is one of the many large streets connecting one side of Berlin to the other. At one end is the Brandenburg Gate, at the other, Alexander Platz and the infamous TV Tower! Being as late as it was, it wasnt long before we stumbled across a typical German eatery by the river where we consumed a great deal of local cuisine - on the whole its extremely tasty but mighty filling (and come in monstrous portions!). 
   
   Day two - sightseeing!! 




The famous Oberbaumbrucke Bridge which crosses the river Spree. Now bridging the north and south of Berlin, it is considered a sign of unity.



St Mary's Church, situated next to Alexanderplatz




 City Hall







TV Tower, the tallest establishment in Germany,  situated by Alexanderplatz. Tip: buy tickets in advance so you can skip the queues (they get extensive during peak times!) Take you time to read the information and get a sense of where everything is from a birds eye view. A bar is located on the viewing platform just incase you get parched! 



The Holocaust Memorial - next to the Brandenburg Gate



 The remains of the Berlin Wall. If its a sunny day, take a walk between the Berlin Wall and the Spree in order to find little hidden gems along the way! 



 Reichstag Berlin, next to Platz Der Republik. The glass dome on top of the building is also a viewing platform giving 360 degree view of the city. 


Alexanderplatz


Museum Island 


  Other must-do's whilst visiting Berlin:
  •     Take a wonder down by the river and stumble across some watering holes. Near the Oberbaumbrucke bridge there is a great bar called Pirates Berlin - the perfect place to sit with a cool beverage on a sunny day. On the other side of town on the opposite side of the river to the main train station there is also another great little hot spot lined with deck chairs on the bank. 



  • There are some really fun things happening all over the city - research this online before you go! We were lucky enough to meet some fine German fellas who took us 'ball room dancing' in an open area amphitheatre (hilarious!). 
  • If possible, try and taste the following typical German cuisines: Bratkartoffien (potatoes, bacon and onions), Currywurst (spicy sausage covered in sauce), Bratwurst (the traditional German sausage), and Buletten (German style meatballs).

  • Go to a beer garden (there is a handful of them scattered around the city) and sample the local brews! 

  • Hostels: on the whole (compared to other eastern Europe cities), staying in Berlin is quite expensive. We stayed at the Generator (http://generatorhostels.com/en/destinations/berlin/?gclid=CPybsJKj-LsCFYlF3godtWsAPw). Relatively cheap, not too far from the centre of town, near a metro station and clean! 
  • Take a stroll through one of the many parks in central Berlin. 

  • Berlin is probably the only city where the streets are littered with photo booths. Cheap and cheerful its a nice bit of memorabilia to go home with. 
Happy travelling x



Berlin's bright yellow metro! 












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