Overview:
Put on your lederhosen chaps, it’s time to voyage to that fruitful land of buxom beer maidens, bratwurst and beer goggles! Berlin, being the German capital, is a hotbed of some absolutely storming nightlife, and by day, some real cultural and culinary delights! You name it, Berlin’s got it. Where else can you see some of the finest art galleries in the world, then get on a bicycle bar that you and your pals pedal around the city as you sink a few tankards of beer!? If that sounds like a bit too much effort, then there’s always a horse-drawn bar crawl so you can put your feet up! Remember though – Horses do not perform as well when force-fed beer und schnitzel. There’s so much to see and do - Berlin ist die Scheiße!
Getting around:
Berlin's public transport system is composed of buses, trams, the U-Bahn (subway), the S-Bahn (light rail), Regionalbahn (RB) and Regionalexpress (RE) trains, and ferries. With an extensive travel system like this, you won’t need to even think about renting a car, as many of the services run with that slick German efficiency!
Must See/Must Do:
• Take in the amazing views from the top of the Reichstag, the German federal parliament building!
• Experience a taste of life on the other side of the Iron Curtain at the world-famous DDR museum!
History and Culture
It’s been twenty-odd years since the wall came down, (If you don’t know the wall I mean, you should have gone to school) and Berlin’s been flourishing in its newly reunited state. It’s been a hotbed of activity for all your arty-creative-types, and has experienced a lot of regeneration in the last few years – the wall fell, and so did all the inhibitions and barriers to creativity along with it!. Berlin is a friendly, welcoming city, with rustic architecture and brutally fun nightlife.
Nightlife
Berlin has had some legendary night-time hotspots surfacing in the last few years – try Bar 25 – where you can rock-up to a twin-peaks style log cabin on Thursday night, and not get kicked out until closing time on Sunday - Complete with trance club, restaurant, outdoor cinema and spa with sauna! Or if you’re up for a more intense experience – try Berghain/Panorama Bar. This place is a wild electro club in the true sense of the word. Set in a disused power station, you can find a wide selection of house music upstairs in the panorama bar. If that’s a bit too gekühlt (chilled) for you, descend into the hall below that is Berghain, where you’ll be aurally assaulted by techno basslines so filthy, you’ll feel like you’ve just had a seven-hour session with a tranny called Steve from Dagenham.
Eating & Drinking
Dining in Berlin is a pleasure, especially if you’re a carnivore – German meats are some of the best-prepared in the world. No-one matches their sausage craftsmanship – try Curry36 for some of the best curried sausages in the city, but be prepared for a queue, whatever the hour! Or perhaps, you could try the Schlemmerbuffet – ‘What is this?’ I hear you cry – never fear, pal – it’s the name of the best Doner Kebab shop in Berlin. If that’s not useful, I don’t know what is.
In terms of drinking, the Germans are known for their love of beer, so where better to grab a stein or five of lager, than from an authentic Berlin beerhouse, served by busty (and sometimes Industrial) beer maids, in that traditional ‘picnic table’ style of seating. If you’re after something a little retro – try the hilariously named Künstliche Beatmung(it means Artificial Respiration) for a step back towards the 80’s with hobby DJ’s on many nights, and a wide selection of drinks to set your evening off to a fine start!