Hi! We are two 50 plus women going to Berlin for the first time in early December for 7-9 days. We want to see the usual sites, plus a Christmas market or two, and stuff like the Ramones museum. We might go to a club one night for the experience, but we are not party people. We want to base in a neighborhood with lots of cheaper restaurants and coffee shops, We love to people watch. Happy to take public transit. We are thinking of Prenzlauer Berg, or Fredrichshain-Keeuzberg. Also seeing some apartment style hotels in the Kurfürstendamm area, but Im worried that’s touristy. Any advice! ? Many thanks.
Posted by
Irving
2943 posts
Historic Mitte is where Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial are but it’s a bit sterile. Friedrichshain is where the East Side Gallery is and a great area. My last stay was in the Scheunenviertel and it was a gem.
Posted by
OP
Cleveland
160 posts
Thanks, Mary Pat. That looks like a good location. Lots of restaurants. And close to the markets.
Posted by
Berlin
2184 posts
Sorry to correct a previous poster: Historic center of Berlin and Cölln (not Cologne) are Fischerinsel and Nikolaiviertel. Brandenburg Gate was far away from earlier center - as named it was a gate from 17xx on.
Info: The Reichstag was placed where it is standing now (200 metres from Brandenburg Gate) because it was not in emperor's Berlin!
East Side Gallery is southern "border" of Friedrichshain (my district) and very articifical with all new buildings around Mercedes-Platz, new urban ntertainment area.
A good place could be the area north of S-Bahn station Friedrichstrasse, some smaller hotels and nice places to go. Also Rosenthaler Platz and Hackescher Markt with lots of cafès and rstaurants are only 2-3 tram stations away.
Most beautiful historic place is Gendarmenmarkt with French and German Dome.
With a little walk Nikolaiviertel is not far away (restaurants also wih places along river Spree).
Would also look on accomoation around Savignyplatz which has a lot of nice restaurants and bars as well as a S-Bahn connection which brings you quickly to sights in the Eastern center.
Posted by
Berlin
50 posts
Currently nothing at all :D
On another time around haekischer markt is nice or friedrichsstraße
Posted by
OP
Cleveland
160 posts
Yes, not so great now Gabriel. We are still hoping for December. We will book a refundable hotel and hope for the best. For our trip and the world.