First Timers

Hi All - 4 Day Break Berlin

We fly into Shoenefeld airport late Thursday and out again Sat morning.What transport should we use. We hear so much about the trains etc being very safe. But how much would a taxi cost

We have been told the Suite Hotel, Potsdamer is good reasonable hotel. Is this a clean quiet hotel, or should we try somewhere else

Looking for an iternary to see as much as possible: interested in the Museums, historical sites, war sites generally, old buildings. We are not interested in noisy nightlife, but would like to see a show - theatre, opera, classical music.

Can anybody suggest a practical iternary so that we are not running about like headless chickens.

Thanks all

JC

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The best option is to take a tour from the Kurfurstendam near the europa centre - hop on/hop off bus that goes round the major tourist sites - cost 19 euros pp and buses run every half hour. the tourist information at Brandenburg gate has a ticket office for all sorts of shows and they can advise on cheap tickets for the evening.

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Disagree with Zippy regarding the bus, there are much better options. But first things first.

(1) Taxi from the airport to Anhalter Bahnhof (IMHO the trains are great, but if you still want to take a taxi): about EUR20, I think.

(2) Suite Hotel : guests of mine were there and were positively impressed. The breakfast is very minimal, though.

(3) And now for seeing stuff:

Day I - I%26#39;d take a tour with one of the walking tour companies (such as Insider Tour - www.insidertour.com). It leaves either from the Zoo Station or from Hackescher Markt. You%26#39;ll see most of the %26quot;must sees%26quot; in such a tour, except museums of course.

Evening - either a brief walk through Potsdamer Platz, or through the Hackescher Markt area (where you can eat); or opera, if you get the tickets (you can order some through www.berlin.de or the different websites of the opera houses).

Day II, III, IV: I%26#39;d recommend a morning to:

- The Jewish Museum

- The Museum Island, and especialy, the Pergamon and the German Historical Museum (DHM)

- The Neue Nationalgalerie and the museums in the Kulturforum (Potsdamer Platz).

I%26#39;d dedicate a couple of hours to stroll on KuDamm and especially to visit the KaDeWe and their %26quot;Feinschmecker Etage%26quot;, the food floor (6th floor, restaurant on the 7th).

You can also do one of the non-introductory tours offered by the walking tour companies (Third Reich, Communist Berlin, etc.)

Remember, that most museums are shut on Mondays, and that most stoers are closed on Sundays. On the other hand, if you%26#39;re there at the weekend, dedicate a morning to one the town flea markets.

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4 days might give you an opportunity to visit Potsdam, too. Berlin Public Transport will bring you there for very little money, and Schloss Sanssouci and the city centre are well worth a visit.

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%26gt; 4 Day Break Berlin

vs.

%26gt; late Thursday and out again Sat morning

~ 1 day (= Friday) ???

Taxi will approx. EUR 26,00.

BVG timetable

http://www.fahrinfo-berlin.de

From: SXF

To: Anhalter Bahnhof

Single ticket (for any trip inside Berlin) is EUR 2,10.

I also would warmly recommend to start with a walking tour. E.g.

http://www.brewersberlintours.com/

http://www.newberlintours.com/

For events check

http://www.wintermagic-berlin.com

and see what you can still book.

See also the offers in the right column of this page on:

Berlin Welcome Card

and

SchauLUST Berlin Museumspass

(a 3 day museums pass; makes alread sense if you visit 2 or more of the covered 70 museums)

further info

berlin-tourist-information.de/english/sights…

(has e.g. suggested itineraries)

berlin.de/tourismus-fotogalerie/…index.html

Close to the Suite Hotel is the Anhalter Bahnhof, once the biggest railway station in Berlin.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhalter_Bahnhof

Today only the underground S-Bahn platforms of this station are used.

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Sorry Should read in late Tuesday out early Friday.

Thank you very much for all your help. I am looking forward to this trip and feel happy about my choice of hotel and various tours outlined.

Thanks

Jc