Berlin adventure travel guide

  

Berlin Highlights (Edit)

Wow...what a destination!  When most people think of Berlin they think of the wall...and any trip here should include a visit but resist taking home a sovenier of the wall (like what is a piece of rock on your mantel piece going to do - if it truely is from the wall).....

The city is so simple to get around using the popular metro system (even late at night).

The history of the German Empire, The Third Reich, the first, second and cold wars, the east/west divide and reunification is laid out before your eyes. In addition to this there is some fantastic architecture and urban design within the city.

A rich cultural heritage is being maintained. This is evident in the many historical and modern monuments of its cultural heritage. Some of the most popular tourist Berlin attractions are Alexander platz,Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Neue Wache, Brandenburg Gate, and Charlottenburg Palace.  The Brandenburg Gate, which is one of Berlin's most famous landmark, is over 200 years old.  Until the year 1989, it divided East and West Berlin and Germany. When the Berlin Wall was torn down in November 1989, huge celebrations were held here. Today, it has become a symbol of national unity. This area, which was sealed off in1961 when the Berlin Wall came up, is today freely accessible to the public.

The city is flat and full of open pedestrian areas making it ideal for walking or cycle tours.  I did the new Berlin walking tour (departs10.30am everyday from outside Starbucks near the Brandenburg Gate).  Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and the group not overly large (they try to keep it down to about 30 persons max).  

Just outside of Berlin there is one of the first Nazi concentration camps, Sachsenhausen. You can get there by catching the S-bauhn to Oranienburg,the last stop on the line. You will need to buy a ticket for zones A, Band C which is 2.40euro. From the station it is about a twenty minute walk (taking a right straight out of the station, followed by the next first right, and then a left after a shopping center about 400m down the road). Alternatively you can catch the number 804 bus. Entry is free, unlike other concentration camps, however it is very well set up.It is signed in German and English, has great modern displays as wellas touching memorials. You can buy portable guides also.