By Genevieve Van Wyden
Visiting Berlin, Germany, is a unique opportunity to experience history, culture and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Although the city is very large, you will not have trouble getting from one site to the next. You can walk, ride a bike or use the U-bahn or the S-bahn (underground rapid transit railway and suburban metro railways). See as much as you can, however you choose to get around.
Bicycle Tours
Visitors to Berlin will be able to see this large city from a unique perspective--on a bicycle. Berlin has bicycle "tracks" dedicated to people traveling through the city. Berlin is uniquely suited for bicycling to get from one place to another. It doesn't take very long to get from your hotel to a destination such as the Gedachtniskirche in the western part of Berlin. Several businesses in Berlin will help you tour their city by bicycle.
Call Alex rent a bike at +49-(0)176-67092856; their shop is located at Alte Schonhauserstrasse 31/Weinmeisterstrasse 10119 Berlin. Website: www.alex-rent-a-bike.de.
You can choose a guided bike tour of Berlin. Fahrradstation offers bike tours of Berlin from April 3 to October 31 each year.
Contact information is: +49(0)180-5108000. FAX number: +49(0)30-20454566. Address: Berlin by Bike fahrradstation, Friedrichstrasse/Dorotheenstrasse 30 10117 Berlin. Website: www.fahrradstation.de.
Berlin History
Tour the Brandenburg Gate, one symbol of Germany's Nazi past; another stop on your tour of Berlin has to be the Reichstag, the seat of Germany's Parliament. Make another stop at Checkpoint Charlie, where you'll see the guard shack marking the point dividing the former East Germany from West Germany. Visit the East Side Gallery and view the remaining portion of the Berlin Wall. Germans in post-war Germany are not afraid to confront their past; the government has built a memorial to the Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The Holocaust Memorial Berlin is an evocative, powerful tribute; in the Tiergarten Central Park, visit the Russian War Memorial.
Contact Berlin Stadtfuhrungen Sightseeing Tours at +49(0)30-7974560; FAX: +49(0)30-79745601. Address: Adolfstrasse 12-12167. Web address: info@berlin-sightseeing-tours.de. See Sightseeing Tours link in Resources.
Berlin Palaces and Museums
The Charlottenburg Palace is only one of seven palaces throughout the city. Germany is a country of ancient history--your trip to Germany will not be complete without touring at least one German castle. Museum Island in Berlin will give you the opportunity to experience German art and culture; Museum Island is billed as a "World's Heritage Site." One museum to visit is the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, which houses technical and scientific collections. Tour the Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace) and the Zeughaus Berlin (Deutsches Historisches Museum) in the Old Arsenal Building. See Sightseeing Tours link in Resources.
Other Berlin Sites
Visit the Berlin Zoo for a day; stop at the Olympic Stadium, the Siegessaule (Victory Column) and the KaDeWe (Kaufhouse des Westens, largest department store in continental Europe). Spend a day on a cruise boat--Berlin has river cruises available and this is one beautiful way to see the sights in the city. Rest at the Grosser Tiergarten (Berlin Tiergarten Central Park). See Sightseeing Tours link in Resources.
Resources
About the Author:
Genevieve Van Wyden began writing in 2007. She has written for “Tu Revista Latina” and owns three blogs. She has worked as a CPS social worker, gaining experience in the mental-health system. Van Wyden earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from New Mexico State University in 2006.
