First Trip to Berlin
 

Looking for words of wisdom for a first trip to Berlin. I need to find reasonably priced modest & clean accomodations (hopefully a smoke-free room) in reasonable walking distance of museums or other attractions. Speaking of, any reccomended "must see" things/places. I'll have about three days before moving on to Prague.

Many thanks.

I have only stayed at the Hilton Berlin, which may not be modest enough for your needs. You may want to check it out anyways, though, because they sometimes have some very reasonable rates. It is a very nice hotel and is in an excellent location.

For must-sees and -dos, just about anywhere in East Berlin is interesting. My most enjoyable experiences were the Pergamon Museum and going up onto the roof and into the dome of the Reichstag. Other recommendations: walking through the Brandenburg Gate and strolling down Unter den Linden, Potsdamer Platz, the chocolate store ( :D ) across the street from the Hilton, KaDeWe (especially the food section), the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie.

It's a fascinating city - enjoy your visit!

For hotel booking in germany you may want to check out http://www.hrs.de

They often got better rates than expedia and list convenient hotels too...

If you tell a little more what you´re into, I could provide some more info...

Great Tips - Thanks
 

Thanks Jassy and McKay-

Hilton is running a little pricey at least as a direct purchase. I've yet to explore other booking options. HRS rates are unbelievable! 4/5*'s for the price of a motel six in the states. It seems too good to be true. (Always a cause for concern.)

Any tips before I proceed with a booking.

As for what we're into, just checking out the sights. I hear that the redevelopment in the former East Berlin is pretty amazing. (My wife and traveling companion is an architecture student and while she did Berlin before we met, I'm sure things have changed a lot since.)

Make sure to check out the Reichtag (german parliamrnt) and the "bundeskanzleramt" quite opposite: more info

Hotels in Berlin
 

OK, you need to try Priceline for Berlin. I got the Westin Grand for $65/night--one of the finest hotels I've ever stayed in. Pretty much all the known 4* properties are good, and people are getting the underrated Marriott as a 3*.

Berlin is less expensive than London or Paris, and huge and sprawling, but the mass transit is excellent, so don't worry too much about location. You can take an S-Bahn or U-Bahn pretty much everywhere you need to go.

Berlin's art collections rival--and perhaps even surpass--those of Paris. The Pergamonmuseum is a must, as is the Gemaeldegalerie.

I have had German colleagues booking the IC in Berlin at www.hrs.de for a conference at the IC. They snatched a 128€ price at a time when the IC web site listed a price above 169€. One of them got a small standard room, the other one the same type of junior suite I had been upgraded to as a RA. They regularly use hrs.de and have never had any problem with it.

I read a lot of travel forums and have never heard of a problem with www.hrs.de . Keep in mind that once you make your booking with HRS, you can then confirm it a day or two later with the hotel directly.

Don't worry about HRS - I use them all the time and have never had a problem with them at all! They are a serious business and have won a number of business travel awards.

Cheers,
Floris

Definitely try Priceline! They have some incredible deals in Berlin. Last summer I stayed at a 4* Moevenpick (which was awesome) for $65, amazing breakfast buffet included.

In addition to all suggestions above, you may also want to visit the very intersting Jewish Museum, and the Martin Gropius building musuem, which hosts lots of rotating exhibitions.

I just got back. Also check out:

1. Maerkisches Museum (near an U-bahn stop wtih the same name) -- amazing collection of stuff on the history of Berlin and the area, going back a couple thousand years, with a very impressive 19th and 20th century historical collection, artistic iron works, art works, science history, videos, even propoganda board games played by Hitler youth. It helps if you can read German because not all the exhibits have English translations, but isn't required to get a feel for the place.
I had to go back on two different days, there was so much interesting stuff to see, read.

2. The Museum at Checkpoint Charlie (metrostop/U Kochstrasse) -- if you have any interest at all in the story behind the Berlin Wall, escape attempts, murders at the wall, etc., everything in four languages. Nearby there's also a striking makeshift and unauthorized memorial on two private lots made up of crosses with the names/ pictures of people who died trying to escape the East -- surrounding by bizarrely contrasting western-style billboard ads. Easy to spend at least half a day or more in that area, good cheap food right there at Cafe Adler for a break, in a historic building on the corner.

3. The new Jewish Museum, if you're interested in a history of Jews in Germany, a huge exhibit, would easily take a day to see everything in detail, allow at least half a day.

4. Love gourmet foods? Check out the two top floors of the KDW department store (U-bahn stop Wittenbergplatz), in the western part of Berlin. The cafeteria-style restaurant on the top floor has a lovely roof winter garden, very light and airy, tatsy large selection of fresh foods, and the food shops one floor down have everything imaginable on beautiful display, very tempting. This place puts my local northern California gourmet markets Draegers/Andronico's/Whole Foods to shame. Come hungry!

5. Gendarmenmarkt, for three beautifully restored old buildings, two churches and a theatre (fairytale like lighting at night)

I agree to all of your 5 recomondations! I like to add

-Hackesche Hoefe in Berlin Mitte
-Prenzlauer Berg

The name of the department store is KaDeWe, Kaufhaus des Westens .. and it's great.

http://www.kadewe.de/

You know the little park behind this museum? Well, I was wandering around last time, and stumbled upon the little pen that houses Berlin's bears, the symbol of the city. It's pretty interesting, they have a couple of information boards that tell you the stories of Berlin's bears.

If you're going with an architecture student, you'll want to definitely check out Potsdamer Platz. All sorts of new buildings going up, and even from one year to the next, I would say you'll see a whole lot of change.

For a different museum, try the Hamburger Bahnhof, (U Bahn stop Zinnowitzer Str. or S Bahn, Lehrter Bahnhof)
http://www.hamburgerbahnhof.de/

Hotels: I'll second the Westin as one of the best hotels in the city. Be sure to leave time for a sauna/soak in the hot tub!

These are all great recommendations. I strongly recommend the Jewish Museum -- it was quite far from what I'd expected, as it focuses primarily on the Jewish experience in Germany before the Nazis. Also, the building is quite a unique architectural statement, designed by Daniel Libeskind, the same architect who is working on the new tower @ the WTC site.

I'd also recommend a walking tour of East Germany -- there are lots and my guide was great -- pointing out the little things that you would miss on your own, and proving a good overview of the city.