Berlin, Tips for a weekend Berlin

It is so nice to be able to travel again after Covid-19. First weekend of April we were in Berlin. My daughter, niece and their friends were running the half marathon. Together with my brother and his wife we enjoyed encouraging the runners and because we were using our bikes as much as possible, we saw a lot along the way. Join us on our trip with tips for a weekend in Berlin

if you view a city by bike, it becomes your city

My motto is “if you view a city by bike, it becomes your city.” The half marathon was the main event but some tips, anyway, for your next visit. 

Transportation

• Metro, there are two different subway solutions: The U-Bahn is the regular metro and has an intricate network through Berlin. The S-Bahn (express metro) with 132 stations covers Berlin City and the suburbs. There is usually a station in the area you want to visit. Buy a single ticket in a ticket machine or have a look at the special visitor-tickets over here. There are four zones. We stayed in the A-Zone .
• Bike, if you want to discover the town on your own maybe you can rent bikes from the hotel or rent a bike at Berlin on bike. Another possibility is to join a tour along the highlights of the city, more information you can find here.  
• E-bikes, Mopeds, scooters, and Steps, around the half marathon we saw a lot of steps. E-Tretroller in German. Lime is one of the apps you can use. 
• Taxi / Uber 

What to visit

The Berlin Wall

• The Berlin wall memorial, Checkpoint Charly, crosses to remind “Mauertote” – the people who lost their lives at the Wall, last remains of the wall at Potsdamer Platz. Everywhere in Berlin you will find memories of the Wall 

Brandenburger Gate

• More about the 200-year-old gate on the official website of Berlin “The Brandenburger gate used to be a memorial of division – after the construction of the Berlin Wall, it was in the restricted area and could not be visited by East or West Germans. After the fall of the Wall, the gate became a symbol of German unity.” 

Reichstag

The marathon ends near the field in front of the Reichstag building. Lovely place to eat a pretzel. You can visit the Federal Chancellery and learn more about the work of politics in the Reichstag building. You must register to visit the glass dome on top of the building 

Tempelhofer Feld

In 2008 Tempelhofer Feld closed as an airport. The terminal building, the hangars and surroundings are now a public park. You can bike or skate on the runways, have a picnic along the runways or visit an event like a concert or sport event. 

Victory Column

While biking you will see one of the most famous landmarks of Berlin. The Victory Column is in the center of the Tiergarten. Under the statue is a viewing platform. (285 steps staircase).  You might also recognize it from the dancing crowd at the love parades. 

TV Tower

TV Towers are a bit of professional deformity arising from my former job at KPN Media. I always take pictures of TV Towers and this one you can see from every corner in Berlin. It is 368 meters high, and the viewing platform is open to the public. 

Architecture

On Potsdamer Platz you will find the highest skyscraper (103 m (about the height of the Statue of Liberty) in Berlin, the Kollhoff Tower by Hans Kollhoff with a viewing point on the 24/25th floor. (Kolhoff is in the Netherlands known for Piraeus building at KNSM eiland in Amsterdam)

The Kurfürstendamm, is a 3.5 km long shopping street. Interesting architecture, and of course shops, well-known chains and high-end boutiques. KaDeWe a large department store around the corner. 

Interior shops on the Kantstraße.  

Bonus Tips

• Restaurant L’Osteria Savigny Platz Berlin, fine Italian food 
• Restaurant Fine dining in Restaurant Patio am Wasser 
• Hotel Sir Savigny, in the literary quarter of Berlin, Charlottenburg. A neighborhood where art and culture play an important role.  
• Music, David Bowie – Where Are We Now? (Video)   Klein Orkest/ Over de muur
• Other places to visit in Europe: Paris, Iceland

Use the tips for a weekend Berlin and Enjoy!