Berlin: journey through the city

This is my guide to Berlin, including all the essential things you need to know or tips and tricks for your future trip.

Maps

I added all the locations I wanted to visit to the maps on my iPhone to see where they were and plan my days based on their location. I could create albums for the days, see them visually on the map, get quick directions, and tick them off once we completed them.

Transport.

The airport in Berlin is a distance from the city, so the train is the most efficient time-wise and cost-wise. When you buy a ticket, remember to validate it before you get on the train at the platform. However, I only got my ticket checked once. It is like Oslo, where there is an honesty policy with no barriers to cut you in half, like in Paris or London. The trains are affordable, so always check the zones in which you are travelling and how many journeys you will take to find the best possible ticket for your trip. Like most European cities, they have an overground, underground, cross-city rail service, buses, and trams. It is all very well connected, but beware of cyclists. They are everywhere and not always friendly, so watch out for the cycle lane.

Shoes

you will be doing a lot of walking, which is self-explanatory, but bring shoes that are comfortable and have been broken in so you don't get aching or blisters. Also, there are cobbled stone paths. There are not always escalators at the station stops, so be prepared. On these lines, check the weather we went to. It was so hot, but we were prepared with sunscreen and chafing shorts. Remember to be realistic with your outfits. It is not a runway that you get off after a minute. You will be walking around for hours.

shopping

They have everything in Berlin and other shopping centres, but brands like Adidas, for example, are more expensive in Germany than in the UK. I would go to independent shops for gifts or home pieces. I loved Depot; it was like Anthropologie and Oliver Bonas, but the price was HomeSense. I would also go to Broke und Schon and the C&A clothing shops, which are beautiful and have German-owned brands. I found many pieces I loved, but I had to be selective about what to bring home. Some brands are, in fact, cheaper in Europe. I saved three pounds just on the item alone at Zara without considering transport to Zara or post and packaging, and it was just convenient and an item I wanted to get.

food

All things German food involve schnitzel, pretzel, apple strudel and bratwurst. All are delectable, and you are not exactly missing out on German culture if you eat them. Although it is nice, completing Berlin on your city list is unnecessary. The Schitzal I was presented with was not exactly what I was expecting or had in the past with the same name or description, so please be aware of this. The most crucial German thing is beer, though if you want a boozy German experience, Oktoberfest is the way to go in Munich rather than Berlin. Just bear that in mind.

We got British Airways flights and Hampton by Hilton hotel in Alexanderplatz for three nights for around three hundred pounds, and we booked only a few weeks before we left. This also included a backpack, a small suitcase, and breakfast. Our room was modern, though we did not figure out how to stream TV from my iPad on the TV. The room has two ¾ or double beds and a large bathroom. It did what it said on the tin. The continental breakfast was open from 6 to 11 a.m., so we never needed to worry about missing it. The food was constantly being replaced when it was finished. It is an organised buffet with all the options: fruit, hot breakfast, and even a waffle maker. We made sandwiches and wrapped some pastries for lunch to get our money's worth. They also had someone at the desk to help book hop-off buses or river cruises. Like most hotels, we could drop off our bags before check-in, which was helpful. Our hotel was in a central, busy area that can only be described as Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, this being Alexanderplatz. The hotel also had a mini gym, though it was minimal and lacked strength training machines. After a long day of walking, we did some stretching and yoga.

Our day-by-day itinerary

I will give you a 3-day and 4-day itinerary for Berlin so you can choose your itinerary.

Three-day itinerary

Day 1

Brandenburg gate

Holocaust memorial

Reichstag building

Futurium

Lunch Suppeto or Mogg

East side gallery

Market Hall Street Market (only Thursday evenings)

Day 2

Checkpoint Charlie

Gendarmenmarkt

Hot chocolate at Rausch

TV tower (ticket €19)

Lunch Factory girl

Museum Island (ticket)

Dinner Joy Restaurant & lounge (Asian)

Day 3

Breakfast Your Best Shot Café

Charlottenburg Palace (ticket, €10)

Cafe Kutika (good cake)

Berlin Cathedral (ticket

€10)

Four-day ternary

 day 1

• Hackesher markt- famous and fancy shops
• tv tower- at sunset
• drinks

day 2

• Brandenburg gate
• holocaust memorial
• checkpoint charlie
• Potsdam platz
• Topographie des Terrors

day 3

• Charlottenburg
• berlin zoo
• schreusnkrug park
• schnitzel

day 4

• Reichstag building—Request the visit three weeks in advance, as they will need to give your information to the policy for a background check. We were never made aware of this when we requested it and therefore did not get in, and we complained that their format or booking was horrendous and not helpful. If this is not good when you arrive, go to the ticket office, go further into the park, and book for the day after. However, remember that you need a legal form of identification. I am unsure how to book in person during the day, but online takes a week. Background check, but you get on the day people will have little time for a background check.

- 1-hour river cruise guided tour, there are 2-hour ones, but the 1-hour one does the main buildings like all the government buildings and the museum island, and it is more efficient and does not take up so much of your time

DDR Museum: This museum was jam-packed with information. Given the detailed information on the experience of those in East Berlin/Germany during the Cold War, it did become overwhelming, though.

If you're going in the summer heat, book a two-hour slot at the Badeschiff. An outdoor swimming pool sits on the river and goes through the city. Tickets are released four days at a time and sell out quickly when the weather is good

Other recommendation 

And the KaDeWe is a super lovely department store 

Also, the HIGHSNOBIETY store

Jewish Museum

Shopping independently or in a non-shopping centre environment, go to Weinmeister-strobe perfect boutiques but also fitness clothes like Adida and Lululemon

Cafe and bakery guide

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