Berlin - City of the Wall

Compared with many major European capitals, Berlin doesn't have the charm of Paris, doesn't have the grace of Prague, and doesn't have the rush of London. It has, however, an intriguing past that has mesmerized and fascinated me ever since I was a kid.

The Prussia Empire, WWI, Hitler, The Third Reich, WWII, Berlin Wall, Cold War, Collapse of Communism, Reunification... need I say more?!

At night, Berlin is a different beast. You won't realize the mass of nightlife in this city by just walking on the streets. Go to any clubs around 11pm and you will see crowds pouring in after midnight. I asked myself, don't they have to work at all - hmmmm!

Quick Tips:

With a current gloomy economy, Berlin is amazingly inexpensive by Western European standards. Take a city tour bus and cruise around the city to get yourself oriented first. Then join local guided tours catered toward independent travellers. They are very reasonably priced, and you will learn a lot of the history about Berlin from them.

Best Way To Get Around:

S- and U-Bahns can practically bring you to everywhere, and if they can’t, there are above-ground buses.

Take a bus from Tegel Airport straight to the Zoo (main) station, which is located in the old West Berlin city center.

I stayed in both a four-star (supposedly) hotel and this hostel. It turned out that the single private room in this hostel is actually cheaper, bigger, and cleaner, but without all the amenities, such as an in-room TV, phone, etc.

The location of this hostel is excellent, right at the center of West Berlin. It is next to the main train station, subway, and a major bus hub. Zoo and the West Berlin shopping district are within a 5-minute walk. There are also many late-night fast-food restaurants around it.

The hostel itself is very clean, safe, and fun in the lobby and terrace, but very quiet in the sleeping quarter. The staff is rather impersonal, though. They are not mean or unfriendly, but just have the typical no-nonsense German-ish style. Prices run from about $25 for a dorm bed to $80 for a single private room.

In general, Berliners are not mean-spirited. However, don't expect them to hug and love you when you meet them the first time. In a sense, I can understand how they feel, because if my city and country were forcibly divided for decades, I would look pissed at all times, too.

Try to look for the remnants of the Wall throughout the city. Also, try to find Hitler's bunker, where he spent his final days.

There are statues of bears throughout the entire city. They are beautifully painted with different themes. Go find them; you will find at least one that you like!

It is called "The Father of all Concentration Camps," northeast of Berlin, about 50km away into the good old East Germany territory.

It is about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the train station to the campsite. A few blocks before Sachsenhausen, there is a small stone memorial for the Death March. Inside the camp, there are only a few original structures left, but the visual effects are still stunning.

Pick up a copy of any tourist magazine or pamphlet and you can find info on guided Sachsenhausen Memorial Tours for independent travellers. Go; it is a wonderful learning experience.

It is easily one the most fun, biggest Pride parades I've ever been. It is also one of the biggest outdoor events in Berlin each year. At the end of the march, people gather at the Siegessaule (Victory Column) to party till midnight, with laughs, music, dance, and alcohol... hmmmm, what a fantastic combination.

Personally, I am not fond of any Pride events in the States because they are way too commercialized and full of attitudes. In Europe, Pride days are just one big fun party for people to enjoy themselves.