* Visit the WALL near check...
by Cheewa
* Visit the WALL near check point Charly.
200 mts. of the wall... and Topografie of Terror with images of the nazis.
* Visit The Check Point Charly Museum. You will see the comunist crimes... I fought with an English guy... in the hostel... He attacks me for behind... Incredible..
Go to Alexanderplatz, the...
by oja
Go to Alexanderplatz, the centre of the city. Although the place itself does not look particularly spectacular, there's always something happening there. Last year I saw this lovely car which persuades us that gardening is possible everywhere. Who wouldn't believe it?
Farmer's Market at Kollwitz Square
by Turtleshell
Kollwitzplatz or Kollwitz Square is one of those places in Berlin, the RAF fortunately had forgotten to bomb. After the wall fell, houses were beautifully reconstructed - only those stupid graffiti can get on one's nerves.
Every Saturday morning, there's a small but eclectic farmer's market. When I lived in that area, I rarely missed a change to go there, and I always bought more than I needed, even if I was on a strict budget. There's this Tirolean deer sausage, home-made pasta, lots of organic food, wine, espresso, a fishmonger whose daughter apparently had fallen in love with me, some great bakers (especially the one opposite site of the fishmonger), fantastic French soap (what a scent!), flowers, cheese ... you name it. One vendor sells apple juice in 5 liter (1.3 gal) bags like hot cakes. And speaking of cakes ...
Again, it's a small but eclectic market.
More importantly, especially for tourists, everyone I dragged along, immediately fell in love with this beautiful and peaceful place.
After strolling around and having a Bratwurst or fresh oyster, you may want to try one of the numerous coffeehouses or have lunch at Guggelhof, a restaurant at the opposite site of the market were President Clinton, Madame Albright and their German counterparts once had dinner. Or check Kulturbrauerei for upcoming shows.
If you are familiar with German actors and politicians, you may spot one or another here. No one of the more ordinary mortals thinks of bothering them.
Market closes on 4 p.m. but you should come a lot earlier. At 2 p.m. or later the market looks very (for the lack of better words) worn. There are one or two playgrounds at Kollwitzplatz where you can leave your kids.
Getting there: Take the U2 and exit at Eberswalder Strasse. Go down Sredzkistrasse and turn right into Husemannstrasse.
Covered by graffiti
by matcrazy1
Graffiti mean words or drawings, especially humorous, rude or political, on walls, doors, etc. in public places. Sometimes graffiti are real art, sometimes just voice of street, sometimes both. They are often painted by unknown authors and against the law (art crime ?), sometimes local authorities designate usually neglected walls to be cover by graffiti as a kind of decoration. Never mind the local law, I think it's always a kind of local culture.
In Berlin I found different kinds of graffiti at a few places esp. in Kreuzberg district which is artistic and... a little bit underground and crazy part of Berlin. These one on my picture I found on a wall of ground floor of a house at Frankentaler Ufer.
Chill at the Beach
by eliowny about Der Strandbar Mitte
A beach bar?! In the middle of Berlin?! With real sand?? Yep, and an easy walk from the S-bahn. Get your beer at the bar, plonk down at the beer garden-esque tables, the 2 seater cabins, or the rickity lounge chairs, and chill out, watching the boat tours go past, full of bored people with nothing better to do than wave at you hopefully. I like waving at people on shore as much as the next person, but why? When we walk past these people every day on the street without so much as looking them in the eye? There's something abotu getting on a boat that seems to imbue the human soul with an irrepresible amount of freundlichkeit. Anyway, cool bar. Go early for the sunset. Also, because on a nice day, you won't get a seat (or a place on the sand?) without perserverance. Probably the wrong place for your best shoes.