For Fall break, we decided to spend a few days in Berlin. It is a great time to travel because the air is crisp and the leaves are changing. Here was our 2 day itinerary:
Hotel – Hotel Berlin Berlin – it is inexpensive and easy to walk to all kinds of restaurants, underground station and Tiergarten. They have taxis, bikes and electric scooters just outside the door to help you get around. They offer family rooms that can sleep four with murphy beds. 24 hour well equipped fitness center. The only real con was that the wifi is pretty terrible.
Day 1:
We started by exploring Teirgarten. It is a huge, beautiful park with paths to explore. Definitely worth visiting.
We booked at boat tour down the Spree River. From there we saw the cathedral, parliament, and lots of old and new architecture. It was an hour and a great introduction to the city.
Checkpoint Charlie – There is history posted on the wall as you approach Checkpoint Charlie, which is a checkpoint for US on one side and Russia on the other to monitor the crossings between East and West Berlin. It was a bit overrun by tourists but it was still interesting to see that part of history.
Berlin Zoo – we hesitated to visit thinking it was just another zoo but it was definitely a highlight for all of us. They have panda, elephants, monkeys, giraffes and more. The playground for kids is probably one of the best I have ever seen. Dylan had a blast.
Day 2
Memorial for Murdered Jews – 2700 concrete blocks in memorial of the Jews murdered. There is a museum downstairs which documents much of the persecution and extermination.
Brandenburg Gate -Built in the 18th century, this neoclassical gate once marked the entrance to the city. It is now a symbol of unity and peace, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
DDR museum – This is an interactive cultural museum but we found it difficult to navigate and it was very crowded.
Berlin Cathedral – Beautiful and worth seeing but we prepared that it is 7 euro to enter but that includes access to climb the dome for a panoramic view.
East Side Gallery – where there are murals painted on pieces of the actual wall to explore.
Museum of Computer Science – this is a video game lover’s paradise. It gives some history as well as plenty of opportunities to play a number of games. A must for a gamer.
FOOD
The food is very international in Berlin. You can get nearly everything you could want from Mexican to Sushi and everything in between. A favorite meal was a great lunch at Mogg in Mitte. Also, currywurst is a must try street food. There is a coffee shop on every corner to keep you caffeinated.
NOTES: We didn’t love the DDR museum so would maybe trade that in for a long river cruise to get more history and see more sites. We loved the Mitte neighborhood and would want to stay in that are next trip.
