While there is a lot of information about Berlin on the internet, this site included, if you are serious about getting a feel for the city, there is only one thing for it; you must visit Berlin!
It’s fair to say that for some overseas investors, the attractive yields and predictable rental incomes have meant that they are happy to invest without even viewing the property they buy or even the borough it is situated in. Some large investment banks have been buying job-lots of several hundreds of apartments without a care for the details, they base their purchases purely on price per sq metre. However, for most people this is simply not an option and for those wanting a holiday apartment or hoping to move permanently to the German capital, a little more reassurance is needed. Of course, for some, all the fun is in the planning and the research.
Planning a visit
Like most European cities, Berlin is a year round tourist attraction. It can get cold in the winter, but nothing out of the normal for central Europe. It does snow but this just adds to the charm of the city and it’s possible to go ice-skating in some of the parks and, in December, visit the famous German Christmas Markets. In the summer, the city is hot with days spent relaxing by the river or even on the beach! In the evening one can grab a beer at one of the cities attractive and numerous beer gardens, or for the more cultured, listen to opera or classic music at an open-air concert.
Getting there
No matter where you are based in the world, it is easy to get to Berlin. Berlin has three international airports, Tegel International Airport (TXL), Tempelhof International Airport (THF), and Schönefeld International Airport (SXF), all of which are served by several airlines including Lufthansa, British Airlines, US Airlines and Continental. Berlin is also a major destination for the European budget airlines and Air Berlin, Easyjet and Ryanair all serve the city. German cities are typically served by its excellent high-speed rail network and Berlin is no exception, visitors from all over Europe can take the train to the city, avoiding the check-in queues associated with flying. With the opening of the new Eurostar line in England, British people can even take a high-speed train from London to Paris via the channel tunnel, before changing at Paris to another high-speed train, an exciting way to get to Berlin. If you want to drive, Berlin in well connected by the country’s famous Autobahns, you can take the A111 from Hamburg or A115 from Hanover.
Staying in Berlin
As with any large city, there are a huge number of hotels to choose from in Berlin. While these do include some very reasonably priced options, the best thing about Berlin hotels is the more electric choices. I’ve outlined a few of our favourites below.
- InterContinental Berlin Hotel - This hotel in former East Berlin was the height of Communist luxury. Very grand and a great location in Mitte.
- Die Fabrik - A former factory in Kreuzberg which has been converted into a budget hostel. A very cheap and interesting place to stay.
- Louisa´s Place - A small, comfortable hotel in Charlottenburg.
Eating in Berlin
Berlin has some truly great restaurants, with a fantastic choice of different cuisines. It’s easy to eat well and in general, it’s easy to eat inexpensively, especially in areas like Prenzlberg and Friedrichshain. Below are a few of our favourite places to eat when we are visiting the city.
- Hasir - Adalbertstrasse 10 - Kreuzberg. Supposedly the inventor of the doner kebab, it would be wrong to visit a city with some a large Turkish population and not have a kebab.
- De Nhat - Auguststrasse - Unbelievably cheap Vietnamese restaurant in Mitte.
- Lutter & Wegner - Gendarmenmarkt - One of the best restaurants in the city with prices to match.
- Konnopkes Imbiss - Schönhauser Allee 44 - The best Currywurst in town!
Interesting things to see in Berlin
You could live in Berlin for years without getting bored, there is so much to do and see. However, if you are there only for a few days, we recommend that you find time to see the following.
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - The famous memorial to the people who died during the Holocaust. Taking up a large area close to the Brandenburg Gate, this memorial is confusing and thought provoking.
- East Side Gallery - The only remaining part of the Berlin Wall is kept intact as a gallery.
- Reichstag - The German parliament building, especially the new glass dome, looks spectacular and is well worth a visit.
- Brandenburg Gate - The only remaining city gate and the symbol of the city.
- Oranienstrasse - an interesting street in Kreuzberg featuring numerous cafes and shops.
- Olympic Stadium - The best reason for visiting this famous stadium in Charlottenburg is to watch a football match
