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Berlin

"Achtung Baby" Berlin in October

BerlinMore Photos
  • by Kathy
  • An October 2002 travel journal
  • Last Updated: September 5, 2005
Journal Usefulness Rating 3 out of 5
Journal Usefulness
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Berlin had been on our list of cities that we really wanted to visit. It was rather cold the week we were there but we did manage to enjoy most of the highlights of Berlin, except the zoo.

"Achtung Baby" Berlin in October

Overview

Berlin
We spent 5 days in Berlin. The highlights were the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and Charlottenburg Palace. Also the churches and the Reichstag.

Quick Tips:

See my info about getting to hotel, we took bus to Zoo station then train to Hackersher Markt and then tram to hotel but we should have just taken a taxi. You definitely need a good city map and a metro map but with that you can find you way around no problem at all. The U-bahn and S-Bahn can be confusing because there are some stations that have both but often you have to walk outside and around to get from the S to the U or the other way around, but once you get the hang of it there isn't a problem.

Best Way To Get Around:

Get at daily pass for €6.00 that is good for train and all trams. One day we just got on a tram not knowing where is was going and rode for a while. It was fun and we got off and then just got on a train. The train system is like London or Paris and really easy once you get the hang of it.

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Hotel Pension Kastanienhof

Hotel

Berlin

Hotel Pension Kastanienhof

See the hotel website here.

We paid €108.00 for a non-smoking room facing the back, but they had less expensive rooms. In Oct 2002, €108.00 was just about US$97.00. Check out the website--there are pictures of the rooms and they really look like the website pictures. The room we had was very nice and the location was very quiet. Breakfast (included) was wonderful, with lots of wonderful breads and pastries, fruit, cheese, cold cuts, yogurt, and cereal. The only drawback was that there were no restaurants close to hotel, but Hackesher Market was only three tram stops away, and the tram runs often.

The best way to get to the hotel from the airport is by taxi. It costs about €17.00. We took taxi on the way back, but on the way there we took a bus to Zoo Station and then a train to Hackesher Market and finally a tram to the hotel--it wasn't worth the time and hassle to save about €10.00. However, I would most definitely stay here again, because I liked that it was in a quiet neighborhood.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 15, 2003

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Hotel Pension Kastanienhof
Kastanienalle 65 Berlin, Germany
30-44-30-50

Rocco's

Restaurant

Hackesher Market Berlin

Rocco's

Walking into Rocco's, we were warmly greeted and asked where we wanted to sit. The service here was excellent. We had pizza and wine on the first night we ate there and it was about €20.00. We went back three nights later and our waiter remembered us and gave us good service again. We had pasta and wine this time and it was excellent and cost us about €24.00.

The restaurant had warm, dark wood and a fireplace going the night we were there. I also noticed some outdoor tables, but it was October--I presume you can dine al fresco in the nicer weather.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 15, 2003

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Rocco's
Hackesher Markt Berlin, Germany

Kilkenny's Irish Pub

Restaurant

Hackesher Market Berlin

Kilkenny's Irish Pub

I know no matter where we go in Europe we can usually find an Irish pub. The atmosphere was typical and the food was pub food. They have quite a selection of good Irish beers like Guinness and Kilkenny. It seems the Kilkenny is almost impossible to find.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on February 15, 2003

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Kilkenny's Irish Pub
Hackesher Market Berlin, Germany

Reichstag

Activity

Berlin

Reichstag Buildingl

The Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament, is one of Berlin's most historical landmarks. It is close to the Brandenburg Gate and before the unification, it was right next to the wall.

In April 1999, the seat of German government was transferred back from Bonn to Berlin. Now that Germany is unified, the Parliament will be here in Berlin.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 15, 2003

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Reichstag
Platz der Republik Berlin, Germany 10557
+49 30 2273 2152

Brandenburger Tor

Activity

Berlin

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate was commisioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace. The main architectural design of this landmark hasn't changed since it was first constructed in 1791.

The Brandenburg gate is probably the most well-known landmark in Berlin. It now stands as a symbol of the reunification of the two sides of this great city.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 15, 2003

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Brandenburger Tor
Am Pariser Platz Berlin, Germany 10117

Kurfurstendamm (Ku'damm)

Activity

These were all over Berlin

Kurfurstendamm (Ku' Damm)

This is the most elegant street in Berlin. There are lots of fine shops and restaurants here. There are also quite a few places to stop and relax and have a cup of coffee or drink. What we did was get off at Zoo Station and walk up the street; you could get off at the other end and walk that way also.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on March 3, 2003

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Kurfurstendamm (Ku'damm)
Kurfurstendamm Karree Berlin, Germany 10707

Fernsehturm

Activity

You can see 25 miles on a clear day

Fernsehturm (TV Tower)

This is the city's tallest structure at 353 meters, or 1,197 feet. It is the second-tallest structure in Europe, after the Warsaw Palace of Culture. There is a viewing platform and a tele-cafe that rotates every half hour to give a bird's-eye view of the city. There are small elevators and therefore also long waits. On clear days, visibility can reach 25 miles.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on March 3, 2003

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Fernsehturm
Panoramastraße 1A Berlin, Germany 10178
+49 30 242 33 33

Berliner Dom

Activity

Berlin

Berliner Dom

This is the Protestant cathedral, which was built from 1747 to 1750 as a church and mausoleum for the Hohenzollern family. The rich, impressive interior was decorated at the turn of the 20th century. The pulpit is quite elaborate, and the stained glass has depictions of the Ascension. The main altar dates from 1850. I took the tour and walked to the top of the dome and took some pictures. This was well worth the trip.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on March 3, 2003

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Berliner Dom
Lustgarten Berlin, Germany 10178
+49 30 20 26 90

Nikolaikirche

Activity

Berlin

Nikolaikirche

This is the oldest sacred building in Berlin. The original structure was built around 1230. What remains now of this stone building is the massive base of the two-tower facade, which dates back to 1300. More construction was done, and the Gothic-looking church remained the same. In 1945, the church was bombed and then restored in 1987. Today, it houses an exhibition covering the history of Berlin, featuring items that escaped the ravages of war.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on March 3, 2003

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Nikolaikirche
Nikolaikirchplatz Berlin, Germany

Berlin Museum

Activity

Story of Berlin Museum

Story of Berlin Museum

Notice the address. When walking the K'Damm as they call it we were in the very low numbers like 20, and thought we would never get to our museum. But just cross the street and the numbers were in the 200s.

This was our last day in Berlin and I wanted to go to the zoo, but it was cold so we went here. I really enjoyed it - lots of history and they even have a simulated bomb shelter that can be toured. This museum is in kind of a mall so you have to look for it, but it was well worth it. The website is in German so it's not real informative.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on February 18, 2003

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Berlin Museum
207-208 Kurfurstendamm Berlin, Germany D-10099
+49 (0)30 2093-8591

Checkpoint Charlie

Activity

Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie House

This was one of the highlights of the trip, we spent more than two hours here. They don't allow pictures inside, but seeing the ingenious ways people tried to get over the wall was so interesting, sometimes they didn't make it and they had a memorial to some who didn't.

One person was in the front of Volkswagen beetle, one lady smuggled her three-year-old kid in a backpack the size of the school book bag. Hard to believe these things until you see them.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 18, 2003

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Checkpoint Charlie
Friedrichstraße/Kochstraße Berlin, Germany 10969
+49 30 25 37 25 0

Schloss Charlottenburg

Activity

Charlottenburg Palace

Charlottenburg Palace

Frederick III built this for his wife Charlotte between 1695 and 1699. After Frederick became the first Prussian King in 1701, the Palace was extended into a stately building. This is a fine example of baroque architechture. Besides the main palace there is the summer palace and the newer addition, also the gardens and the mauseleum.

The €7 gave us a combination ticket which included the main palace, the new wing, the kings rooms and the mauseleum, and the summer palace.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 18, 2003

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Schloss Charlottenburg
Spandauer Damm 20 Berlin, Germany 14059
+49 33 19 69 42 02

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

Activity

Berlin

Kaiser-Wilhelm Church

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. The damaged tower is a symbol of Berlin's resolve to rebuild the city after the war and a constant reminder of the destruction of war. It is located at Breitscheidplatz, the center of former West Berlin. The Ku'damm shopping streetis right there and it makes a nice walk to check out all the shops.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on February 17, 2003

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Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
Breitscheidplatz Berlin, Germany 10789
+49 30 218 50 23

About the Writer

Kathy
Kathy
Northern Va Suburbs of DC, United States

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