Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Berlin

What are the best restaurants in Berlin?

wooh — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:13:17 -0800

I'll be in Berlin for 4 days in June and the people I'm with (3-4 of us total, 1 is unsure) want to eat in some great places in Berlin. Ideally, they want places with delicious food, but also possible also places with memorable or remarkable interiors or clientele. Assume money is no object.

Budgeting for Berlin trip - how much for food?

GenericUser — Sun, 05 May 2013 06:10:19 -0800

I'm planning on taking a solo trip to Berlin for a week. As a general guideline, if I stick to cafes (and the occasional doner kebab) how much should I expect to spend on food?

Independent art in Berlin

devnull — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:28:23 -0800

I'm in Berlin on Saturday, and I'd like to look at, and maybe buy some art. Where should I go? I'm looking for the equivalent of London's Spitalfield Art Market. I also know of Kunst Supermarkt, but there isn't one in Berlin at this time of year.

Is there something similar I can visit in Berlin, this Saturday?

Can you help me plan my trip to Germany, France and Italy?

BitterYouth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:29:22 -0800

I will be in Berlin, Prague, Venice, Florence, Rome, Marseilles and Paris this summer. I've never been to any of these places before. I will be spending about 2 days per city apart from Prague which is only 1 day. I realize it is a hectic trip and hard to see so much in such a short time, but that's the way the budget and time worked out. I will be traveling with two other students.

Advice I could use: where to stay (good hostels that you've stayed at?), tips/tricks to make things cheaper or easier to see (for example in Rome, I'm told that getting the bus tour package allows me to skip lines at the main tourist spots). We’re students and on a small budget and limited time in each city, so any ideas for making things efficient/cheaper would be awesome. Also things to see that I definitely don’t wanna miss in any of these places?

I have been using lonelyisland, ricksteves and seat61 but I was looking for more personalized advice.

THANK YOU!

Transportation - I'm traveling by train between most cities (already booked). So EuroRail pass is a nonissue at this point.

I have read some previous relevant threads, particularly this one about staying in Rome.

PS - I've never asked a Q before so I might be doing this all wrong....have mercy.

A trip to Hamburg and Berlin

dubold — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:40:41 -0800

Our family is heading to Hamburg and Berlin. What should we see? I'm interested in things that aren't necessarily top of the list in guidebooks; I can look up tourism websites to find out where the major landmarks are, etc. I'm thinking more of street markets, interesting architecture, neighborhoods to walk around in, or things that might interest a 4 year old.

Sci-Fi Noir?

kittensofthenight — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:16:29 -0800

I recently read Berlin Noir, The City and The City and Chasm City, and was looking for recommendations for sci-fi detective fiction, or detective fiction that reads like sci-fi. The sort of SF I'm thinking of has a strong world building aspect as well as vibrant, detailed urban environments and cultures (ie. not space opera, although I love space opera).

In etective/noir fiction I'm drawn to the strong first person voice, the 'classic' story set-ups, and the middle-aged tough but lovable protagonist. I am much wider read in sci-fi, so feel free to suggest obvious detective/noir novels as I probably haven't thought of them.

Of course I've read quite a bit of PKD and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep is great but not quite what I'm looking for, although Blade Runner is, FWIW.

I thought of Peter Hamilton's Gregory Mandel series but I kinda dislike his writing, esp. the ridiculous sex scenes. Should I read these?

I realize now that I was particular drawn to The City and The City because of the allusion to the Berlin Wall and a divided Germany, so bonus points for working that into suggestions!

(Great answers here, but I am looking for non-SF recommendations as well.)

Modern Motel in Mitte?

Xurando — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:23:08 -0800

Looking for the current trendiest, most happening hotel in Berlin? Will be in Berlin in a couple of weeks. It's hotel scene appears to be at the apex of modern lodging. Which hotel is the most out there currently. Moderate price is nice but not essential.

Russian (or Allied) accounts of Berlin, April 1945 to Potsdam

BWA — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:18:17 -0800

Looking for memoirs or histories (or fiction, if necessary) of Berlin from the period between the April/May 1945 collapse to the Potsdam conference told from the Russian perspective. Also interested in the first Americans to show up and how they were or were not accommodated. Additionally, American or other allied memoirs from that specific time and place, the more detailed and hands-on the better. Where the different levels of support staff lived, how they set up the Potsdam conference, what kinds of cooperation and awkwardness ensued.

Like The Good German, only non-fiction. (Or fiction, why not, if something really good is out there.)

Sewing, fabrics and craft stores in Berlin?

buck:fuller — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:30:08 -0800

I'm looking for fabrics and sewing notions in Berlin. Large selection of fabrics, especially home decor would be great. Google is not helping me.

Joymany

cloeburner — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:29:36 -0800

My friends went to Germany on a whim and now they are cold and miserable until their flight back in early February. I don't want them to give up hope. What are some truly awesome things that they can do in Berlin and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks? Museums, concerts, sights, hidden nooks and crannies of Berlin, people to meet, oddities, murals, etc. They aren't big on bars, and they don't have a lot of money but they are huge on culture. I know there's tons of cool stuff in Berlin, so divulge if you know it!

Thanks.

Breakfast spots in Berlin?

vacapinta — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:24:28 -0800

I'll be in Berlin for about a week and would appreciate recommendations for cafes/breakfast places. I'll be staying on the border between Kreuzberg and Neukölln so places near there would be especially appreciated. If you have any other Kreuzberg/Neukölln area recommendations, I'd love those too. Although I'll certainly explore greater Berlin during the weekends, during the week I'll probably only have time to walk around locally.

New Years in Berlin

jeffburdges — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:16:25 -0800

Any suggestions for events or activities in Berlin between 30 December and 2 January, especially New Years Eve? I'm ideally looking for the burner, hippie, artist, rave, etc. vibe that'll appreciate laser pants, but the burner groups haven't posted anything yet.

Berlin, when the wall fell?

meronym — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:35:22 -0800

What was it like to be in Berlin when the Wall came down in 1989? I'm interested in learning about the events which took place leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and especially, what was the experience of ordinary (West and East) Germans who lived through that time. I'd be grateful for recommendations of non-fiction books, preferably more along the lines of popular history rather than weighty academic volumes. Are there any movies which capture the mood of the time? I'd also be fascinated to hear any eyewitness accounts from Mefites!

Do you know any affordable hotels that offer suites in Berlin?

tumples — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:48:22 -0800

Do you know any hotels worth recommending in Berlin that offer multiple bedrooms in one suite? I am looking at hotels for an upcoming trip with my parents and my teenage sister to Berlin. My parents want her to have her own room, but as part of a 'suite' instead of an entirely separate booking. Finding nice and affordable hotels using Google is harder than I expected, and I was hoping someone might know one that they could recommend. I will be staying in my own accommodation, I am just looking for them. I am not putting a price range as I want to keep the options open.

Thanks

Billigste

outlandishmarxist — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:55:18 -0800

I need cheap tickets to Berlin from Durham, NC ASAP. I'm looking for as cheap as I can get. If it means flying to Hamburg then taking a cheap European service to Berlin, that's fine. I need round trip, beginning of October. I'm only staying a week or slightly more than a week.

Public baths in Berlin

Megami — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:16:36 -0800

I am lucky enough to be going to Berlin for a week in September, and would like to know if some recommended public baths are okay. Have had recommendations of two different public baths, but this is from someone who was there a little while ago. Do you know what these places are like now?
Thermen am Europa-Center (I know this is a bath where everyone goes naked, that's not a problem)
Sultan Hamam

I am interested in both Turkish style baths and more badkultur type places, so if you have any others to recommend, please do!

Bra-buying in Berlin for Beginners

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:26:47 -0800

Where should I go in Berlin to buy good bras? What are the good European brands that can accommodate a plus size, busty gal (I think my Euro size is ~85E)? I've recently moved here from the U.S., where I know how to do all this. I'm prepared to spend some money for quality. I don't think I need a fitting, but I need to know where to go and what brands to look for. And what's bra buying etiquette here, i.e., can I try them on in the store? I don't want to do it wrong! Those Karstadt shop ladies can be really bitchy, and I don't want to get yelled at.

American studying German and Arabic in Berlin

Corduroy — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 12:45:10 -0800

What would it be like for an American to live in a neighborhood of Berlin like Neukölin and attempt to study Arabic and German at the same time? I am currently a Junior at Portland State University double-majoring in Arabic and Middle East Studies. I am studying colloquial Levantine Arabic in Jerusalem this summer and am then studying both Fusha and Egyptian Arabic in Cairo this fall.

While in Jerusalem I have found myself with mainly German friends, and my German has improved remarkably better in only 2 weeks (I lived in Vienna as a child for three years and was supposedly 'fluent' at one point). I really enjoy learning Arabic and have invested my education in it, but I would love to become fluent in German and to live in Europe again. Therefore the idea suggested by my German friends is to live in Berlin (with it's large population of Arab immigrants) and study both, which outwardly is as attractive an idea as I've ever heard. Wikipedia says there are about 40,000 Arabs in Berlin from countries that speak the Levantine dialect (with variation, of course). I imagine studying German and Modern Standard Arabic at a university and learning more colloquial in the neighborhood (if it's not offered at a university).

What would some options be for an American with a bachelors degree (in 2014) to continue studying in Berlin? Experience studying two unrelated languages? What are some complications? Any price resources? Careers wherein knowing German, English and Arabic is good? Thoughts on being an American in Berlin in general?

Thank you for your help!

In Berlin for the month, looking for great live outdoor music! What's going on?

chasing — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:51:16 -0800

In Berlin for the month, looking for great live outdoor music! What's going on? My Google skills are failing me, but essentially I'm looking for good summer music events in Berlin this month. For example: Live music in the park (symphony, bands, whatever). Classical music works. Good indie rock. Electronica (although, y'know, not crappy). Whatever. But outdoors is key, something that involves an evening sitting in the grass with a beer or wine would be great. Otherwise: Let your imagination run wild. :-)

Thanks!

Food Fun in Vienna and Berlin!

Turkey Glue — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:24:06 -0800

What foods do I need to try in Vienna and Berlin? Are there any foods I should try to bring back? I'll be in Vienna (in the Landstrasse area) for 4 days next week and Berlin for 3. I'm looking for interesting, city-unique (if possible) food experiences and items I could return as gifts.

As an aside, we don't plan on checking luggage, so large containers of liquids are sadly a no-go.

(For what it's worth, I'll be traveling with my parents, who aren't big on crowded, loud, touristy things, so keep that in mind.)

Christmas time is here... auf Deutsche!

mostly vowels — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:37:24 -0800

Help me plan an awesome Christmas vacation to Berlin! I've been wanting to visit Germany since taking German in 8th grade, and am trying to figure out the best way to do it during the Christmas season (I am an American, and my university employer is closed between Christmas and New Years; going at that time is ideal because I won't have to use up any of my vacation days). I'm thinking of sticking to Berlin -- I've been told that there's plenty to do there, and I'm OK with seeing other parts of Germany another time. I am also thinking that given how big Berlin is, more will be open when I visit.

Relevant details:
--Young female traveler who will be going solo. I've traveled on my own before abroad, though most of my experience in non-English speaking countries has been in groups. I'm very comfortable in hostels (though prefer quieter ones to party places, and try to stay in private rooms since I'm a super light sleeper) and would prefer to stick to them for the camaraderie and to alleviate any "Alone on Christmas" loneliness.
--I can speak/read the tiniest bit of German, and will keep practicing until I leave.
--My favorite things to do when I travel are sample the local beer and specialty local foods. I also love visiting museums, libraries, greenhouse conservatories, etc. I am also totally down with any well-done historic walking tours. I've read all the MeFi questions pertaining to Berlin, and have bookmarked all the general "traveling in Berlin things to do" stuff.

Questions:
1. How much does Berlin close down between December 24-26? This will likely be right in the middle of my trip. I am totally OK with spending 1-2 days taking it easy at the hostel and reading some good books, but wouldn't want to miss out on more of the city life than that. I've heard that Germans "do Christmas" on the 24th, so will it be impossible to find places to eat on the 24th? Will I be limited to sad donner kebab shops? Does the public transportation shut down, or go to limited hours?

2. Has anyone stayed at any of the following hostels: St Christopher's, Heart of Gold, Pfefferbett, or baxpax downtown? These seem to fit my criteria for the dates I plan to be there (roughly 22-29), availability of private rooms, and things like a bar on site. Any other hostel recommendations?

3. What can I do Christmas-wise on the 24th/25th? I've seen a couple schedules for Christmas markets that appear to be open those days, and some concerts/operas. I'm not religious at all, but I think it'd be fun to attend any midnight Christmas eve services.

4. I'm very comfortable here in the States going into a bar by myself (as a mid-20s lady) and ordering a beer and hanging out with a magazine, but is this considered weird in Germany? If so, are there any lady-friendly places to do it?

5. How cold will it be at that time of year?

Danke schön, Metafilter!

Handy und Internet

Yiggs — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:45:15 -0800

Moving to Berlin from San Francisco in October, and I'd like some advice for finding both a cell phone plan and a broadband service for my apartment. I've been able to find pieces of valuable information in previous posts, but nothing exactly answered my questions.

1. Handy: I'd like a plan that is fairly inexpensive for local calls and texting. The data plan is not too important, as I will mostly be using it for calls/texts, and for international calls I will use Skype on my computer. I'm currently considering blau.de (recommended by naturalog here), but am open to other suggestions. What would be a reliable, relatively cheap phone (perhaps €100-200?) that would work best with a plan like blau.de? Would it be cheaper to buy a phone here in the US, or wait until I am in Germany?

2. Internet: What is the best service for wireless broadband access in an apartment? Again, I'd prefer it be relatively inexpensive. It doesn't have to be extremely fast (streaming video is probably the most bandwidth-intense activity), but I'd pay extra to avoid a bandwidth cap (if those are common.) From what I've read this somewhat depends on the apartment building itself (which I'm still in the process of nailing down), but I would appreciate any general advice/recommendations.

What are some good movies about Berlin?

chasing — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:28:35 -0800

What are some good movies about Berlin? I'll be spending a month in Berlin this summer with the girlfriend. Help us get in the mood!

Bonus points: We'll be traveling in Italy for a week, as well.

Introduce me via books to great modern cities

Kirn — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:23:23 -0800

Which books (fiction or non-fiction) gives a stranger the best impression of what it's genuinely like to live in New York, London, Berlin and Tokyo in modern times? Any suggestions of books which serve as introductions to other great cities are also welcomed!

Performing in Deutschland?

Artifice_Eternity — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:03:42 -0800

I'm an American, planning to visit Germany for the first time in a few months; I'll be there for about a week, mostly in Berlin. I'm a musician (I do electronic pop -- I had a track on MeFiComp!), and I know my music has at least a handful of fans in Germany. So I'm thinking about trying to book myself a gig. I'm fairly confident that I can find a place to play, and transport my gear over there. What I haven't been able to figure out from my internet research is the legal side of things. Do I need to get a special visa if I'm going to do a paid performance? What about an unpaid performance? Will customs give me a hard time if I show up with music gear and no paperwork to explain what I plan to do with it? If so, how would I go about getting the necessary permit(s)?