7 days in Berlin
If you are thinking of going to Berlin for a weekend, go for a week instead. You will never be able to see the main attractions in just a weekend, especially if you want to see some of the museums. Here is a description of what to do in Berlin for every day of the week:
Monday
Take one of the walking tours where an experienced guide will help you orientate yourself round the city, pointing out some of the key landmarks and tell you the history about each one and the city. Brewer’s Berlin Walking Tours is one of the most well known in Berlin. However, for those who cannot walk as far, take the hop on hop off bus around the city where an audio guide will narrate some of the history of Berlin. You will visit some of the most famous attractions, such as the Brandenburg gates, the Berlin Wall and Alexanderplatz. Make sure you rent one of the Berlin apartments close to the city centre so you can be within walking distance of some of these attractions.
Tuesday
Now that you have seen where to go in Berlin from the walking tours, find out more about the history by visiting some of the museums. They are open every day except Mondays. The first one is the Holocaust Museum by the Brandenburg gates. Also visit the DDR museum and see what life was like for the East Germans. The museum is located in the centre of Berlin on the river Spree, directly opposite the Berlin Cathedral.
Wednesday
Head to B-Lage in Neukolln, for a typical Berlinner Volkskuch (translation is “people’s kitchen”) every Wednesday from 8pm. They are very healthy vegetarian dishes. It costs from just 1 euro up to 3 euros, a very good deal. Visit www.b-lage.de for more information. For those who love Jazz, every Wednesday night there is a free jam session at Bflat Jazz club at 9pm. Arrive early to secure your seat as it is very popular.
Thursday
Visit all the museums on Museum Island. There are 5 museums, each one is a10 euro entry fee, however, you can get a day pass for all 5 for 19 euros. All of the Berlin State Museums are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Pergamon and the New museum are also well worth a visit and the German history museum just next to the island is really interesting. In the evening, head to SAGE, which is free entry before 10pm on Thursdays and there is also a swimming pool inside.
Friday
On Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:00 – 6:30pm, there is a Turkish market on Maybacher ufer (kreuzberg, near Kottbusser bridge) very colourful and energetic. There is a wide range of food on sale, fruits, nuts, olives, Turksish breads. You can get have an open air hair cut.
Saturday
Take one of the Brewers Berlin tours out of the city to Potsdam. You can visit the Frederick the Great’s Palace, the Palace Sansouci, the Neue Palace and, the Charlottenhof Palace too. The tours take place during the summer months – May 9th to October 31st on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Sunday
Head to the flee market in Prenzlauer berg, in Mauer Park. There are many vintage items as well as food and drink. You will need to barter hard to get a deal, these people know their stuff. The flee market is open from 8am. There is also an Irish man who organizes karoke in the park.
There is plenty to keep you busy in Berlin, it is well worth a week to see all the sights and attractions. There are many short term apartments in Berlin for rent. so next time you are thinking of Berlin for a holiday, make sure you take the full week off from work.
