full book: http://www.lulu.

com/content/e-book/berlinside-out/19071547

BERLINSIDE
OUT

inside the guide

introducing berlinsideout
The basics

4-9

Survival Tips......................4-5
Making Berlin Buddies.....6
Getting Around..................7-8
Accomodations.................9

history

Food & DRink

10-24

A Brief History of Berlin........10-11

Landmarks..............................12-13
Churches.................................14-15
Palaces....................................16-17
Memorials................................18-19
Museums.................................20-24

ART

25-33
34-41

Platzes & Strasses...........35-37

Activities...........................38-39
Lakes & Parks..................40-41

a summer guide to the

city
1

1 berlinsideout

42-53

Cafes........................................43-44
Street Food..............................45
Eating Vegan...........................46-47
Fast Food & Restaurants.......49-50
Sweet Eats...............................51-53

Shopping

54-57

Markets................................55
Hidden Treasures...............56-57

nightlife

Street Art............................26-31
Galleries.............................32-33

OUT & about

2-3

58-63

Comedy & Film...........59

Drinking Holes.............60-61
Clubs............................62-63

meet the team

64-65

Berlinside Out
So youve shelled out on a summer trip to Berlin. The sun is likely shining and you have one
of the worlds most vibrant cities at your disposal - a city that bubbles over with creativity and
dynamism, a city where you can spend entire weekends in the same nightclub dressed in your
least impressive clothes, where gigs spontaneously erupt outside S-Bahn stations and where
street art and a strange curried sausage snack rule supreme. Its all terribly exciting, but now
what?

berlin
basics

BerlinsideOut is here to help. Well take you to the historical tourist hotspots the Check Point
Charlies and the Brandenburg Gates, but were really interested in filling you in on the places
where the locals hang out in the hot months. Think parks, lakes, outdoor cinemas, flea markets,
rooftop bars and quirky hipster cafes.
In addition to providing the lowdown on the citys museums, monuments, food, art scene,
nightlife, shopping and outdoor activities, well briefly chart Berlins history, as well as providing a host of hot tips for how to navigate the citys daunting transport network - and how to
find a suitable place to rest your head.
To cut your chances of injury or a stern telling off, well give you a good idea of how to avoid
a confrontation with an angry Berliner. Theres also a few German phrases thrown in to charm
any Herr or Dame that might catch your eye, as well as helping you make platonic buddies, of
course.
For our journey, weve recruited the citys Ampelmen: the iconic traffic-light twins youll see as
you cross streets in East Berlin.

Mr Green is our intrepid urban adventurer a dude whos got the bit between his teeth to seek
out new sights, sounds and tastes. Hes our storys real hero.
Lets not forget Mr Red, though his job is to make you stop and take stock of things and to
highlight important bits you might have missed.
Both were brought to life by Matthew Harris-Edwards, who made sure the duo are seriously
embracing the summer vibe throughout this guide. They wont be caught without a floral shirt,
shades and a beer in their hand - and neither should you.
So without further ado, sit back, relax and soak up the sun as we bring you BerlinsideOut: our
definitive summer guide to Germanys buzzing capital.

Tristram Colledge

BERLINSIDE OUT

Summer survival
Bag check
Berlin can reach above 30C in the
summer, so you need to make sure
youre prepared to handle the heat
wherever you may find yourself during
your wanderings. Below are a few
handy suggestions for things to pack
before you go discoverin...
- Sun cream: even if youre not planning
on much walking, this stuff will be your
staple when the sun is out
- A towel: for spontaneous trips to
one of Berlins awesome lakes or the
Badeschiff
- Cash: it can be very difficult to find
shops which accept non-German credit
or debit cards, so make sure you always
have enough change on you to cover
food and any emergency buys (20 a day
should be enough)
- Passport/ID: planning on climbing the
Reichstag dome or checking out the infamous Berlin club scene? Carrying a form
of ID on you is always essential
- Student Card: lucky you for having
one of these bad boys in the first place!
Most museums and galleries offer a
discounted price for students, so its
worth carrying around

Key Phrases
Most Germans are excellent at speaking English, but its always useful (and
polite!) to have a few key phrases up
your sleeve...

The essentials
Please - Bitte
Thank you - Danke schn
Sorry/excuse me - Entschuldigung
How much does this cost? - Wieviel
kostet das?
I would like x, please - Ich mchte x,
bitte
I am allergic to... - Ich bin allergisch
auf...

Delicious! - Lecker!
Without cheese, please - Ohne kse,
bitte
The bill, please - Die rechnung, bitte
Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie
Englisch?
Bye! - Tsch!

Getting to know Berliners

How are you? - Vie gehts?
Im good - Mir geht es gut
I come from... - Ich komme aus...
What are you up to tonight? - Si bis
heute abend?
Can I go clubbing with you tonight? Kann ich heute Abend mit dir in den
Club gehen?
Id love to be the reason for your sleepless night! - Wrde gerne der Grund
fr Deine schlaflose Nacht sein!

Emergencies
Help! My hair is on fire - Hilfe! Mein
Haar is auf Feuer
I have a tooth infection - Ich habe ein
Zahn-Infektion
Pharmacy - Apotheke
Hospital - Krankenhaus
Where is the bathroom? - Wo ist die
Toilette?
Do you have a spare room? - Haben
Sie noch ein Zimmer frei?

How to avoid being shouted at by

a German in five
easy steps (also
known as avoiding
game over)
1) Have you noticed that pavements
and roads here have a smooth section? Its about a metre wide and
snakes around the whole of the city.
No? Well, now is the time to take notice: this is the cycle path. Reserved for
cyclists. Not pedestrians. Wandering
into this as you roam the city at any
time of day or night is akin to being
sucked into a black hole: unpredictable
and potentially very messy.

dispose of them in the correct manner

there. I repeat: TAKE YOUR RECYCLABLES HOME AND DISPOSE OF
THEM THERE. The lack of bins around
the city is not the citys fault. Dont litter,
and definitely dont put plastic, glass,
paper or cardboard in any bin which
isnt specially marked to collect them.
Yes, this means that youll be carrying
around your rubbish all day, but it also
means that youll be helping to save
the planet. Go figure.
3) One good way of saving money
at a restaurant is to order tap water
(Leitungswasser). One good way of
annoying the restaurant youre eating
at is to order tap water.
4) There are three golden rules when
going clubbing in Germany: first, dress
down (preferably in black) - dressing up
will be sure to get you turned away at
the door because youre clearly trying
too hard; second, dont turn up wasted:
pre-drinking here is rarely excessive, so
when you arrive at 2am and cant meet
the discerning bouncers eye at Watergate, shell just signal for you to keep
walking back round to the exit; third,
cameras and taking photos in clubs are
prohibited. No, you wont be able to show
off the fact that you got into Berghain on
social media, but yes, this does mean that
anything that happens in Berghain stays
in Berghain.
5) German people are comfortable with
being naked, especially when water is
involved. So stop trying to put your pants
on under your towel (almost falling over
as you do so) and embrace the feel of
fresh air on your skin. Not for too long,
though. That would be weird.

So whats the
deal with wifi
here?
When it comes to wifi provision in
places like hotels and restaurants, its
taken Germany a while to catch up
with other European countries - this is
because German law holds all internet
providers liable for the activity of its
users, both legal and illegal. Providers
are able to avoid this liability by asking
potential users to register before they
can access their network, which is a
faff many people would rather avoid.
On a positive note, discussions are
underway as we speak, and the laws
surrounding liability may be revised
and relaxed later this year.
You dont need to panic just yet: if youre
in Berlin for a short stay, catching up on
some crucial social media time outside
of your hotel / hostel / yurt should not be
too difficult. Most cafs and restaurants
have wifi which you can access without
any difficulty, although there may be a
time limit for internet usage (generally
around 30 minutes).
Street wifi is also available in over 100
hotspots throughout the city - download
the Hotspotfinder app for a comprehensive list.

Words by Helene Burgess and Maddy

Morris; graphic by Maddy Morris.

6) You know how in most places the

red light for pedestrians really means
you can cross the road if no cars are
coming? Well, not in Germany. Germans will quite happily stand at a
red light for minutes on end, patiently
waiting for nothing to cross their paths.
Break this rule at your own peril.

2) Take your recyclables home and

BERLINSIDE OUT

getting around

making berliner buddies

Its all very well traipsing around the city with Brad from the US who thinks Berlin is totally awesome, man, and starts playing his guitar every time he comes across a piece of the Berlin Wall, but hanging out with some (real) Berliners might just
be more a little more fun. Want to spend some quality time with locals who know all of the citys secrets, or improve your
German so you can understand when that handsome Herr or foxy Frulein is chatting you up in Berghain or Watergate?
Here are a couple of good places to start...

ARRIVING IN BERLIN

There are two possible airports to land at when visiting Berlin: Tegel and Schnenfeld. To get from Tegel airport to the city
center, use either the TXL or X9 express bus services. Schnenfeld airport offers Tram, S-Bahn and Bus services from the
airport to the city center. To find out which is best for you, find your hostel or hotels nearest station, plan your route using
the maps at the end of this guide.

meet-ups (meetup.com)

For the rest of your stay, Berlin offers a variety of quick and cheap methods to explore the city, as outlined below:

After registering your profile on the website, simply search for Berlin-based groups and take your pick: theres a group
catering for every kind of interest and hobby here, from yoga aficionados through to start-up networkers and internationals
in the city looking for some fun evening activities. Many of them use English as their main language. Youll need to join each
group in order to see the details of the next planned meeting and other like-minded individuals intending to go along. Each
group has a different timetable, although some organise events several times a week. Joining in means that youll start to
feel like a local and youll soon have masses of mates and a bustling social calendar.

U-Bahn | Sun - Thurs: 5:30 - 00:30 hr;

Fri - Saturday: 24hrs |

tandem lessons (tandempartners.org)

Finding a language partner through this site is completely free - and it also couldnt be easier to use. All you have to do is
select your mother tongue, then your target language (which you are hoping to improve) and finally the area youre currently based in: youll then be matched with hundreds of individuals whose mother tongue is your target language, who you can
message through the site. Its a good idea to make sure that the two of you have enough knowledge to hold a short conversation in at least one of the languages you speak in common before meeting - no-one likes awkward silences and baffled
gesturing, after all...
Other than that, meet your language partner as often as you like and practice away to your hearts content! Who knows?
Your level may progress so fast you might be able to try out some of your flirting skills around the city on actual Germans in
actual German. Thats when things will get interesting: they do say the best place to learn a language is in bed...

Helene Burgess

The German underground predominantly serves the Western side of the city, with only one
line running to the east. The line most useful to tourists is the U2 which runs under the entire
city centre from the Zoologischer Garten to Alexanderplatz.

Trams
| Mon - Sun: 24hrs |

The Tram and MetroTram mostly run on the eastern side of the city. These trams stop more
frequently than the S-bahn, making them very useful for short local journeys. Tourists will
mostly frequently come across the MetroTram in Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichschain.

S-Bahn | Sat - Thurs: 5:30 - 0:00 hr;

Friday: 24hrs |

The S-Bahn runs throughout Berlin, with a few lines to the suburbs. Lines which tourists will
find particularly useful are the S41 and S42 which make up the ring tram, running a circle
around the main inner city Berlin area.

Buses | Times and routes vary |

Berlin has an extensive bus network which complements the U-Bahn and Tram networks.
Whilst the buses can be extremely useful and they run throughout the night, they are a lot
slower and less reliable than the other transport options listed.

BERLINSIDE OUT

Which Ticket to
Buy?
Tickets for public transport can be
bought at both airports. Berlin is divided into three ticketing zones (A, B and
C), but as the vast majority of attractions are located within zones A and B,
it is cheapest to buy a ticket for the AB
zone and buy singles to zone C as and
when you need them.
Daily ticket: Ideal for short stays, a daily ticket costs 7 per day for zone AB.
Weekly ticket: For stays of seven or
more days, this ticket costs 30 for
zones AB.
Berlin WelcomeCard and Berlin CityTourCard: Prices start from 19.50 for
48 hours. This includes discounts to
over 200 attractions. It is worth checking what you wish to see first, as many

attractions are free.

Any additional tickets required can be
bought at ticket machines located at
every U-Bahn and S-Bahn station and
on each Tram and MetroTram. Before
you can use your ticket, it must be
validated. This is done by placing the
ticket into the yellow ticket stamper
machines located in each U-Bahn and
S-Bahn station and on the Tram and
MetroTram.

Cycling
Cycling in Berlin is extremely popular
and is a great way to see the sights,
especially those further out of the city
centre. Berlins parks, green spaces and lakes are best experienced
by bike. Rental places are common
throughout the city with prices starting around 10 a day. Rent A Bike 44
(Mahlower Str. 9) is the lowest rental
place at just 4 for the whole day.

Top Tips
- Remember to press the stop button
on the tram when it is your stop, especially late at night
- Download the BVG app free to make
journey planning easy
- Station names arent always easy to
spot from the train - make sure you pay
attention to the stop announcer

= 30 and under
= 30 60
= 60 and over.

- A lack of barriers does not mean that

you dont have to pay! Plain clothes
ticket officers frequently get on trains
and will issue large fines if you are
caught without a ticket

Hostels:

Grace Burke and Abgina Sohail

Of course, these buses are known to

just about every other tourist in town,
so you need to be swift in grabbing a
good seat on the top deck!
Bus 100 in particular can get extremely
crowded, especially during peak hours
and at stops located at top attractions
such as the Reichstag.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive Berlin tour, you should try and
persuade a local along too.
While some tell of friendly bus captains
keen to entertain with running commentary, others should be prepared for
a more lackluster ride.

However, if you dont want to sweat,

get caught in the rain, or waste precious time while your friends try
their best to make sense of the upside
down city map, Berlins public metro
buses, Bus 100 or Bus 200 can be life

savers for a low price.

These two bus routes conveniently run
through many of Berlins major historic
sites.
For those on a limited budget or those
who want to explore the city in their own
time, these are ideal options.

BERLINSIDE OUT

Finding somewhere to stay which suits

you is just as important as deciding
what to fill your days with. Berlin
offers a wonderful variety of options
for young people. Whether you are
searching for the luxurious and no
expenses spared getaway, or the shoe
string budget holiday, Berlin will have
the perfect place for you.

- Cycle lanes are often on the pavement at tram stops, watch out for
cyclists

100/200 Metro Bus Tour

Summer in Berlin is the prime time for

that nice stroll youve been meaning
to take.

accomodation

Ruonan Ma

Hostels are an absolutely great way of

immersing yourself in the spirit of exploring a city. Cheap and (usually) of a high
standard, hostels in Berlin are convenient
and reliable, giving you more than your
moneys worth. Here are our top three
recommended hostels:
Wombats Berlin: Great to meet other
travellers; own bar; hostel run events.
Alte Schnhauserstr | . | wombats-hostels.com/berlin/
PLUS Hostel: All you can eat breakfast
buffet; free Wifi.
Warschauer Platz. | | plushostels.
com/plusberlin
Meininger Hostel Central Station:
Perfect central location; best hostel for
a short stay.
Ella - Trebe - Strae 9, | |
meininger-hotels.com/en/hotels/berlin/
central-station/

Tryp by Wyndham Berlin City East:

Buffet breakfast included in price; free
wifi.
Ruschestrae 45 | | Book via trivago.com for best deal
Michelberger Hotel: Breakfast included; access to popular city hotel bar;
onsite activities
Warschauer Str. 39 | | michelbergerhotel.com/en/
The Circus Hotel: All ensuite rooms;
own local popular bar; garden courtyard for BBQs
1 Rosenthaler Strasse | | circus-berlin.de

airbnb
Airbnb offers you the chance to feel
what it is like to live in Berlin rather
than simply visit it. Often you will have
the apartment to yourself, but occasionally travellers will live with the host
who will show guests the city through
native eyes.

couchsurfing
This option is great for those who are
simply passing through Berlin and need
a place to stay for a maximum of two
nights. The site hooks visitors up with
hosts who have a spare bed or their sofa
to offer weary travellers for free.

Words by Jessica Harris-Edwards and

Molly Wyatt; graphic by Maddy Morris.

Hotels:
Berlin has become the land of boutique
hotels, which aim to be smaller and
more intimate establishments than big
company chains. A boutique hotel is
a great way to still meet fellow travellers, but tend to be a better way than
hostels to meet locals.

1640

12th century
Berlin is founded in todays
Nikolaiviertei
quarter. The area
becomes part of
the Margraviate
of Brandenburg,
a principality of
the Holy Roman
Empire, under the
rule of Albert the
Bear in 1157. As
the town grows,
Berlin merges
with the neighbouring town of
Clln (now Museum Island) and is
given its own coat
of arms - a bear by Albert in 1432.

Frederick William takes

over as the Elector of
Bradneburg and begins
promoting immigration and
religious tolerance, which
helps to expand and grow
Berlins population. Jewish
families from Austria and
refugees from Bohemia,
Poland, and Salzburg
arrive in Berlin.

1815

1933

1862
Ottoman Von Bismarck
is appointed minister
president of Prussia. He
begins a series of military
campaigns with the aim
of unifying the Germanic
states. Bismarck reclaims
old German lands from
Denmark, Austria, and
France.

A brief history of Berlin

Hitler is elected Chancellor of Germany and

suspends the constitution
after left-wing protestors
set fire to the Reichstag.

1918

1945
Hitler commits suicide in the
Fhrerbunker underneath
the Reich Chancellery.
Berlin is captured days later.
Germany, and Berlin, are
split into four sectors: the
American, British, French,
and Soviet. The split between East and West Berlin
begins.

End of World War I: The

Hohenzollern family
are overthrown and the
Weimar Republic begins.
The Treaty of Versailles
forces Germany to pay
high reparations, leading
the nation to struggle
economically.

Prussian troops
help defeat Napoleon in the Battle
of Waterloo and
reclaim
the Quadriga.

1961

Germany invades
Poland; Beginning
of World War II.

Berlin Wall is erected. East Berliners are no longer

allowed to travel into
West Berlin and access from the West
is restricted.

Berliners
attempt to
overthrow the
Hohenzollern
family, but the
revolution is
crushed. This
is just one of
many attempted revolutions
across Europe following
the success
of the French
Revolution.

1415
Frederick I becomes the Elector
of Margraviate of
Brandenburg. He
is part of the Hohenzollern family
who rule Berlin,
the Kingdom of
Prussia, and the
Empire of Germany up until 1918.

1920
Wolfgang Kapp, founder
of the German Fatherland
Party, overthrows the
Weimar Republic but is
forced to give back power
after a general strike.

1929

1848
1914
WWI begins.

Wall Street Crash and the

Great Depression:Berliners
burn their cash for
fires as it is cheaper than
buying firewood.

1919
1871
The German Empire is
established after a victory
over France, and Germany
becomes the most powerful European nation.

Berlin becomes the capital

of Germany.

1939

1884
The Reichstag
is built to handle
municipal
government
operations.

1991

Communist Party of Germany attempts a revolution. Communist leaders

Rosa Luxenburg and Karl
Liebknecht are executed.

1945-1960

1938
Kristallnacht - the Night
of Shattered Glass.
Jewish communities
are attacked and Jews
imprisoned.

Residents of East Berlin

seek refuge in West from
harsh conditions, leading
to a huge population loss
for the eastern half of the
city.

1989
Berlin Wall is knocked
down.

1943

Jews sent to concentration

camps. Only 1,200 Jews
survive the Holocaust.

1701
Elector Frederick III becomes the king of Prussia,
makes Berlin the capital,
and starts construction of
the Charlottenberg Palace.
(Crown)

10

BERLINSIDE OUT

Word by Jessica Harris-Edwards and

Amanda Hoover; graphics by Maddy
Morris.

11

Brandenburg Gate

The Reichstag
A visit to the Brandenburg Gate is not
just about basking in the warm fuzzy
feelings that come with laughing at the
French: Hotel Albion, where Michael
Jackson dangled his baby over the
balcony, sits next to the square; bullet
holes from WW2 are visible in the Gate
itself; and its a fantastic point to start
any tour of Berlin as the Reichstag,
Victory Tower, and Holocaust Memorial
are all within easy walking distance.

spectacular view. Before starting the

slow walk up the domes winding ramp,
be sure to grab an earpiece. As if by
magic, after just a couple of steps on
the path, a German gentleman begins
whispering sweet nothings in your ear,
giving you the lowdown on the history
and symbolism of both the old and new
components of the building. The audioguide is incredibly informative and
insightful, pointing out important landmarks as you circle around the ramp
- and, amazingly, it involves absolutely
no button pushing.

If you dont fancy the walking tours

provided by Sandemans, then you can
always opt to take a horse and carriage, or the travelling bar which leaves
from the square, around the city.

Jessica Harris-Edwards

It is always satisfying to visit another

country who shares Englands love of

humiliating the French.
Germany has far outdone the English
in reminding them of their crushing defeat in 1815 with the neoclassical Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz, both
designed in the late 18th century by

Carl Gotthard Laudhans. Pariser Platz,

known previously as The Square,
gained its name after Prussian troops
seized Paris from Napoleon in 1814.
The goddess who now sits on top of
the Gate and glares at the French
embassy was also changed to Victoria,
goddess of Victory, after Napoleons
defeat.

Victory Column
Siegessule

Sitting in the heart of the Tiergarten,

the Siegessule (Victory Column)
provides a spectacular reminder of
Germanys imperial past. The column
is made up of three pillars representing
German victories in the reunification
wars, and a fourth added by the Nazis
in anticipation of victory in the Second
World War. It provides a commanding
view over the city of Berlin for Viktoria,
the bronze statue standing imposingly
on top.
To share Viktorias panorama view of
Berlin, take on the challenge and climb
the 285 claustrophobic steps to reach
the observation deck at the top of the
column. Although the climb is tiring,
there are regular seats to take a break,
and the breath-taking views from the
top encompassing the Reichtag, TV

12

Tower, Tiergarten and distant Berlin

suburbs are well worth it. Theres also
another observation deck near the
bottom of the tower which, whilst it
does not offer spectacular views, is still
worth visiting to admire the rich materials used in the towers construction.
At the bottom of the column is a small
museum which briefly outlines its history. Although it is interesting, it is not a
crucial stop and can be skipped if short
on time.

Grace Burke
Groer Stern 1 | (Bus) 100, 106,
187 to Brandenburg Gate | Mon-Fri
9-18:30hr; Sat-Sun 9:3019hr |3
adult, 2.50 student

BERLINSIDE OUT

The dome is open until midnight

so make use of those spectacular
twilight hours by booking a trip late
in the day.

Pariser Platz | (Bus) 100, 200 to Unter den

Linden; (U) Brandenburg Tor | 24 hr | Free
If theres one absolutely essential activity for your time in Berlin, its to take
a trip to the Reichstag. A melting pot of
old and new architecture, the German
parliament (Bundestag) and its dome
offer a stunning panorama over the city
- and one of the slickest audio guides
youll ever experience.
But first things first: you aint going
anywhere if you dont book your visit
in advance. Check out the Bundestag
website well before your visit and make
a request by entering the names and

DOBs of everyone in your party. You

can either book a guided tour (these
are like gold-dust, so booking a few
months in advance is recommended)
or a simple visit to the roof terrace and
dome, which includes the aforementioned daddy of all audio guides.Both
types of tour start with a security and
ID check at the visitors entrance, so
make sure youre carrying a passport
or driving licence (not your old student
ID which is being held together with
sellotape). Then its up to the roof to
grab a quick couple of snaps of the

Checkpoint Charlie

Once the location of a tense stand-off

between American and Soviet tanks
which nearly kick-started WW3, Checkpoint Charlie is now the site of Berlins
number one tourist battleground. Get
within a short distance of the famous
Cold War crossing point and youll start
to see and hear the hordes amassing.
Tour guides are forced to shout above
the chaos of traffic as their listeners
huddle together on the cramped pavements. Amidst the madness, Eastern
European actors dressed in US army
outfits are on hand for a photo - for
about the cost of a coffee that is. If you
try and take a pic without their permis-

sion, be prepared for them to get suddenly get very bashful and cover their
faces. Bring a passport and some extra
cash if you want to add to the authenticity by buying some Checkpoint Charlie stamps too. For a further few Euros,
hit up one of the numerous souvenir
shops/tourist traps to buy a postcard
complete with a fragment of the wall.
For more history (theres plenty of it),
pop into the nearby Checkpoint Charlie
Museum, but be prepared to negotiate
a mass of hard-to-tackle wall texts.
Perhaps a better bet is The Wall Panorama an emotive exhibit featuring a
gigantic impression of Berlin during the

The important message for the building

both physically and metaphorically is
transparency, and by glancing down
the magnificent whirlpool/tornado
style glass centrepiece, youll catch a
glimpse of the bright blue seats of the
chamber below.
If youre into your German politics, make
sure to book a visit on a Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday to catch a glimpse of
Angela and the gang in full swing.
After coming down the ramp theres
a photographic display to check out,
showing iconic images of the building
over the years. And just to entice you
further all of this is FREE! Book up
now and domet miss out.

Tristram Colledge
Platz der Republik | (U) Bundestag | MonSun 8-24 hr | Free

East/West days by artist Yadegar Asisi.

And after youve had your fill, turn back
into the crowds, grab an overpriced beverage from an American chain and, wait
for it check Charlie off your list.

Tristram Colledge
Friedrichstrae | (U) Stadtmitte | 24hr;
Checkpoint Charlie Museum Mon-Sun
9-22hr; The Wall Panorama Mon-Sun
10-18 hr | Free, 5-25 for additional
museums

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st. hedwigs cathedrale

Berliner dom

For a breathtaking, panoramic view

of the city from 50m off the ground, a
journey through Berlins largest church
is well worth the 267 steps.

The Berlin Cathedral, known for its

striking architecture and dome gallery,
is one of Berlins most recognizable
landmarks. Completed in 1905, the cathedral has a rich history as one of the
few architectural remnants to survive
World War II.

For those looking to take a breather

from a fast-paced itinerary, St Hedwigs
Cathedral is perfect.
This is not the best place for a pint or a
picnic, but the regular ethereal music
presents a welcome break from the hustle and bustle outside.
Expect to emerge with a clear mind, free
from any last vestiges of travel clutter.

Not a music-lover? Pay a solemn visit

to the grave of Bernard Lichtenberg,
leader of the Catholic resistance during
WWII.
Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised
by the buildings modern 1960s interior,
despite its classic 18th-century exterior.
With its geometric-patterned windows
and domed cupola, St Hedwigs Cathedral is definitely one of the alternative

must-sees in the city, not to be judged

by its religious cover.

Ruonan Ma
Hinter der Katholischen Kirche 3 | (U)
Franzsische Strae ; (Bus) 100/200
to Staatsoper | Mon - Sat 10-17hr; Sun
13-17hr | Free

Gendarmenmarkt

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Composed of intricate pillars, archways, statues, and murals trimmed in

gold, the sanctuary is an impressive
space full of details to explore. Standing in the center and looking up, the
complex designs beneath the dome
are illuminated by the natural light
shining from the ceilings windows.
A walk downstairs and through the
crypt leads to the resting place of the
Hohenzollen family, and the climb to

the top includes places to stop and see

various models of the cathedral while
also reading about its unusual design.
Climbing to the top also provides the
perfect spot to snap some photos of
the landscape and see sights from
a new perspective. This excursion

combines the chance to take in some

of Berlins history with stellar views and
the chance to relax in the quiet sanctuary of a church.

Amanda Hoover
Am Lustgarten | (Bus) 200; Lustgarten | Mon-Sat: 9-20hr; Sun: 12-20hr |
Adults: 7; Students: 5

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial

Church

Still visibly bearing its war scars from

1943, when the church was almost
entirely destroyed by an allied bombing
offensive, the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedchtnis Kirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
Church), in the heart of West Berlin,

is a very visual symbol of the extent of

the damage to Berlin during the Second World War. Whilst a new church
has been built around the ruins of the
original, the main attraction at this site
is still the original building, which has
been preserved in its ruined state.

Only the small ground floor area is accessible, playing host to an exhibition
on the buildings history, from its conception to destruction and subsequent
rebuilding. Of particular interest is the
parishs link to Nazi resistance and the
models of the church before and after
the bombing raid, highlighting the level
of destruction. Make sure you look up,
too, as the original ornately decorated
ceiling is still largely intact.

A quaint little square, just right for

those 18th century architecture enthusiasts. The two churches (Franzsicher Dom and Deutscher Dom) and
the concert hall make up the square,
with the grandiose structures of all
three enough to make you feel small.
In fact, you can climb the tower in the
Franzsicher Dom for some stunning
views of Berlins historic skyline for
three euros - if you can stomach the
250 steps!

passing through just to admire the

area if pressed for time. There are also
guided tours and exhibitions available
if you do happen to have the time. If
history isnt quite your cup of tea, then
treat yourself to an actual cup of tea,
coffee, or even nice meal at any of the
nearby cafes and restaurants.Cheaper
alternatives are also available from
food stands in the square. If you just
fancy a drink, then there are plenty of
beer gardens and pubs too.

Though the winter months provide a

better time to visit with the Christmas
market, the historic square is still worth
your time and attention. Its even worth

Liam Govey

Grace Burke

Gendarmenmarkt | (U)
Hausvogteiplatz, Stadtmitte |
Deutscher Dom: Mon-Sat 9-20hr; Sun
12-20hr | Adults: 7, Students: 5

Breitscheidplatz | (U+S) Zoologisches

Garten; (U) Kufstenstrae | Mon-Fri
10-18hr; Sat 10-17.30;hr Sun 1217.30hr | Free

BERLINSIDE OUT

After visiting the original building,

its still briefly worth visiting the new
church to check out the stunning effect
of the blue glass tiles which make up
its walls. These create an unexpectedly
calming oasis within the hustle and
bustle of the centre of Berlin, providing a striking modern contrast to the
original building.

15

Olympic Stadium

As the old saying goes, the English

invented football whilst the rest of the
world got better at it. Nowhere is this
more apparent than with the current
world champion, Germany, who occasionally plays home matches at this historic stadium in West Berlin. The stadium
currently hosts the perennial yo-yo team
of Germanys top two divisions, Hertha
Berlin.
Initially built for the 1936 Olympics by
Werner March, some of the greatest moments in sporting history have occurred
within. From Jesse Owenss historic gold
medal win in front of Adolf Hitler, right
through to that Zinedine Zidane headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final, the
stadium has seen it all.

There is little around the stadium, apart

from the training ground, a few beer
and food stands and the stadium for
Hertha Berlins reserve side. However,
guided tours are available on event-free
days at 11, though only in German.
Despite this, the tour takes you around
some of the most historic areas in sport.
More recently, the stadium hosted the
2015 Champions League final between
Juventus and Barcelona, a game that saw
Barcelona run out deserved 3-1 winners.
With the guided tour, you can visit the
very room in which the pre-final press
conferences were held.

Sanssouci Park
moting the citys top team and pick
yourself up a memento. There are classic
shirts, footballs, and trinkets available. If
you feel like experiencing a Hertha home
game, then the football season starts in
August and stretches through to May.
With the Bundesliga producing some of
the worlds top talent in football, theres
bound to be a game worth seeing.

Liam Govey
Olympischer Platz 3 | (S) Olympiastadion | Mon-Sun 9-19hr | 7-11

As well as guided tours, you can also pop

to the Hertha Berlin club shop pro-

Schloss Charlottenberg
Gardens
Just outside of the energetic city of
Berlin lays the tranquil gem Sanssouci
Park, which offers a perfect escape
for anyone wanting to get away from
the usual hustle and bustle of city life.
Indeed, the acres of gardens, fountains
and decadent palaces were intended to be used as a retreat from royal
duties by Frederick II, when he created
them in 1745. Be transported back in
time by strolling along the wide boulevards, sitting amongst the wild flowers,
or enjoying a picnic on one of the many
sculpted lawns, as Prussian EmpressThe Charlottenberg Palace is the
gateway to a sweeping royal garden
commissioned by 18th century royals
Sophie Charlotte and Fredrich III.

of the German Empire, were laid to rest

or take in the Belvedere, a small garden
palace built by King Frederick William II of
Prussia in the late 18th century.

Now opened to the public, the sprawling fields of green hold trails for walking, biking, and running beneath the
shady canopy of trees on sunny spring
and summer days.

What used to serve as a private retreat for

royals now plays host to Berlins federal
porcelain collection.

Nestled along the paths of various trails

and moats are several historic buildings.
Those walking the trails can stop to
explore mausoleum where the Hohenzollern family, a former dynasty of royals

16

Those looking to retreat from the bustle

of the city streets can take shelter under
the shade of trees along the moats and
ponds, which winds their way between
the palace, gardens, and other monuments.

BERLINSIDE OUT

Closer to the palace grounds, theres a

small but meticulous garden of hedges,
roses, and various statues overlooking
the water.The palace, which is the largest
in Berlin, serves as the ideal backdrop for
a sunny afternoon exploring the gardens.

Amanda Hoover
Spandauer Damm | (S) Westend | TuesSun 10-18hr | Free

es and Emperors once did.

The park is home to over six palaces,
temples, and a gallery. Start with the
gardens of Charlottenburg Schloss,
done in the style of a Grecian vineyard, before proceeding forwards
in time to the quaint roman bath
house just around the corner with its
still functioning water features. The
Chinese House, carved from marble
and adorned with gold statues, is also
worthy of a visit: it is an architectural
wonder and leaves you in easy walking
distance of all the parks palaces.

The tickets for each palace include
an audio guide which will explain the
unique character, history and visitors
to each royal abode. Three different
versions of the guide help you tailor
your experience: the in-depth version,
perfect for the history buff, provides
great information on the occupants,
furniture and architecture; the brief
overview, for those in a rush; and the
childrens guide, which is fun to listen
to for people of all ages.

intended it for. However, with the diversity of palaces and all those perfect
picnic spots just waiting to be enjoyed,
it will not be hard to find time to go
back to indulge in your royal fantasies.

Jessica Harris-Edwards

Zur Historischen Mhle 1, Potsdam |

(S) Potsdam Hauptbahnhof | Tues-Sun
10-18hr | 9 - 15

There is simply too much to do here in

one day to experience the park in the
carefree manner the Hohenzollerns

17

The Berlin Wall Memorial

The memorial is a fascinating snapshot
of German history, taking into account
the walls erection right through to its
fall. Throughout the outdoor exhibition
are stories of escaping East Germans,
brutal accounts of those injured or
killed during the division, and excerpts
from the surrounding control towers.
Audio descriptions are available in
both English and German.
Though only a relatively young nation,
Germanys history is plentiful, if bleak.
Located on Bernauer Strae, and
beginning just outside of Nordbahnhoff
station, the memorial spans 1.4 kilometres. Its the perfect place to walk on
a warm midsummers day, with a caf
next to the Visitor Centre if you need

refreshments. Even if you dont necessarily fancy anything educational, you

can just sit and enjoy the weather in
this uniquely historical location.

Should the heavens open, take shelter

inside the Visitor Centre just across
the road. On the ground floor youll find
tales of the divided city, with stories of
repression and revolution on the first
floor. On top of the building, youll get
some absolutely stunning views of this
historically fascinating street, as well
as the familiar Alexanderplatz skyline
that youll be familiar with by the end of
your stay.

Liam Govey

Bernauer Strae | (S) Nordbahnhoff;

(M) Bernauer Strae | Visitors Centre
Tues-Sun 10-18hr | Free

Soviet War Memorial

A sudden turn in the winding forest
paths of Treptower Park will reveal the
dramatic Soviet War Memorial. Built
on top of the graves of over 7,000 Red
Army soldiers who fought in the Battle
of Berlin, the brutal granite statues and
sculptured lawns are a heart-breaking
tribute to those lost. This beautiful and
emotional physical reminder of just
what was lost during the Second World
War was created by a team of architects, engineers and artists, including
the famous Russian sculptor Yevgeny
Vuchetich.

The memorial consists of several statues of the men who died, gardens with
well-kept flowers, and plaques containing the speech Stalin made after the
war to praise the soldiers now buried
here. The most domineering aspect of
the memorial is the 12m tall statue of
Vasily Chuikov who supposedly risked
his life to save a German child who
had been abandoned during the Battle
of Berlin.
During the summer the area is a
strange and unsettling place to visit.

HOlocaust Memorial

Children clamber and play over the

bowed heads of the statues, whilst
Russian tourists pray and mourn the
dead by laying fresh flowers. The
juxtaposition of vibrant life against the
omnipresence of death leaves one
feeling unsettled long after leaving this
impressive memorial.

Jessica Harris-Edwards
Puschkinallee | (S) Treptower Park |
24hrs | Free

You could be forgiven for mistaking this

site for an art installation, instead of
the strikingly radical memorial that it is.
On approach from the west, children
can regularly be seen playing amongst
the concrete blocks (called stelae) and
locals and tourists alike will often perch
on them, pausing on their way to reach
another part of the city. The occasional
bouquet of flowers lain in plain sight
and security guards patrolling the
edges of the stelae grid serve as a
quiet sign that this is a solemn place of
meditation, intended to remind people
of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Interpretations of the grids symbolic
meaning are almost as diverse as the
points from which one can view it: the
memorial is said to echo Pragues Old
Jewish Cemetery, and it has been

suggested that the 2711 stelae each

represent the different Jewish communities persecuted under Nazi rule.
However, one thing is for sure; entering the grid will make you feel uneasy,
and perhaps even claustrophobic, as
you experience the shifting shadows
and perspectives caused by the surprisingly uneven, wave-like ground.
Designed by Peter Eisenmann, a New
York-based architect, the memorial was
opened in 2005, following some amount
of controversy surrounding the company
involved in producing the stelae. The underground information centre, accessed
from the eastern corner of the memorial, is worth a visit as it gives visitors a
touching insight into the plight of the six
million Jews who were oppressed, victimised and murdered during the second
world war. This includes Sabina Haber-

Bibliotek Memorial

Book lovers will find themselves reflectively clutching their prized tomes
closer to their chests after visiting the
Bibliotek Memorial. Constructed by
Italian architect Micha Ullman in 1995,
the eerie underground library was
inaugurated to mark the book burning
that was carried out by the German
Student Association on 10th May 1933.

18

BERLINSIDE OUT

Roughly 20,000 books from the citys

university library were destroyed, since
they were considered to [undermine]
the moral and religious foundation

of Germany; this included books by

Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Rosa Luzemburg and Erich Kestner, who was
in the audience when his books were
carried out of the library and thrown
onto the flames.

Today visitors can gaze through the
glass panel in Bebelplatz at the empty
shelves which have the capacity to
hold those 20,000 works of philosophy,
science and fiction which were lost.
Beside the glass panel is a plaque with
a quote from Heinrich Heines 1821

man, a holocaust survivor who spoke at

the memorials inauguration, and whose
familys history is covered in the Room of
Families. Expect to spend two full hours
in the information centre if you rent an
audio guide.

Helene Burgess
Cora-Berliner-Strae 1 | (S) + (U)
Brandenburger Tor | Field of Stelae
24/7; Information Centre - Tues-Sun:
10hr-20hr | Free

play Almansor, which was also thrown

onto the burning pile: Where they burn
books, they will ultimately burn people.

The plaque makes a good - if chilling stop for any tourist visiting the nearby
Berliner Dome, the Germany Historical
Museum or on the way to the Brandenburg Gate.

Jessica Harris-Edwards
Bebelplatz, 10117 | (Bus) 100, 200;
Staatsoper | 24hrs | Free

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