Hi all, I'm a college senior visiting Berlin for the first time w two other college students. we land thurs night and leave mon morning, giving us three full days. turns out nov 14 is a national holiday in Germany, so I assume we'll just walk around and eat that day instead of seeing sights - but otherwise, suggestions? I def want to see the Reichstag but the website isn't letting me book any sort of ticket for the dome. And I'm a big foodie so any restaurant/cafe/bar suggestions are welcome as well. again, we are students, so nothing crazy expensive, and activities with a student/young person discount are a plus!! we are staying in the Prenzlauer Berg district. thanks!!
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6985 posts
For food that is not crazy expensive there are two classic Berliner fast foods Currywurst and Döner.
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
turns out nov 14 is a national holiday in Germany
Did I miss something? What holiday is that supposed to be? It's Volkstrauertag (a kind of memorial day), but that's not anything that would affect your plans more than other Sunday.
You can't expect regular stores to be open on a Sunday. Restaurants and touristy stuff will be open though. And the sights will be open or closed just like on any other Sunday.
Posted by
Irving
3230 posts
To be honest, I was disappointed with the Reichstag. All you do is walk up a slope to the top. You will not be rewarded with a great view.
I love Berlin, in fact it is by far one of my favorite cities in the world. What makes it spectacular are its historical neighborhoods. Too bad you don’t have a minimum of five nights to spend there.
My favorite things to see in Berlin is the street art, the DDR Museum and the beer gardens. Also, don’t miss out on the curryworst and I don’t like curry.
Rick Steves has a third edition guidebook that I would purchase now and you can download an electronic copy from his app.
Oh, and one more thing, be prepared for rain.
Posted by
Southeast US
4046 posts
Hi, izzyv! Welcome to the forum. You will find 3 days in Berlin most rewarding.
A couple of places in Berlin that have interesting but relatively inexpensive food:
Berlin has a dizzying array of things to do. I don't think the holiday is going to close many things but here is a recent forum thread started by a young adult who said he was having trouble finding things in Berlin that interested him because he wasn't really in to museums. A number of ideas got thrown out for outdoor things to do. I may have gotten a little carried away answering his query (about 2/3 of the way down).
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
You will not be rewarded with a great view.
You looked the wrong way. :-)
The great view is of the parliament. The point is that the people are "above" the parliament, so to speak, and literally oversee the parliament.
Posted by
Irving
3230 posts
You looked the wrong way. :-)
My first trip to Berlin, I took a hop-on hop-off bus tour and saw the parliament illuminated at dusk. That's the view that knocked my socks off, not the one from atop the Reichstag.
Posted by
Southeast US
4046 posts
To be honest, I was disappointed with the Reichstag.
I think the Reichstag is great. Sitting on the front lawn looking at it while reflecting on its history. Walking up its steps. Entering the building. Walking the cupola while listening to the audio guide. Wandering the roof as the sun goes down. Taking in the gorgeous twilight view from the east side of the roof looking down the Spree River towards the Fernsehturm (TV Tower).
But, then again, I'm a wide-eyed wonder kind of guy... it makes me love pretty much everything 🙂. Except Currywurst. It's the worst Wurst. Well except for maybe Blutwurst. That creeps me out too much to even think about trying it. I have trouble staying on topic.
Posted by
898 posts
Travel and Leisure's Berlin guide (published today): https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/berlin
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Among the choice of cold-cuts offered at breakfast in the Pension in Berlin, slices of Blutwurst (blood sausage) are also available but not always. I've had it. It's all right. In France you can get blood sausage too but not at breakfast.
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
I thought the tour of the Reichstag was outstanding. You will be taken into parts that you won’t see if you are on your own. Why don’t you see if there is another way to reserve it, or get in touch with the TI office for help?
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
The wurst (worst?) off topic:
Except Currywurst. It's the worst Wurst.
Everybody has the right not to like something, but "the worst" sounds like it's bad quality. I don't believe that the quality of this sausage is any worse than that of any hot dog or breakfast sausage.
Well except for maybe Blutwurst. That creeps me out too much to even
think about trying it
This German at least would totally agree with you there. :-) I'd have to be really close to starving before I'd eat that.