Berlin city trip
September 21, 2012 
I have been in Berlin a couple of years ago with ‘the girls’. I liked it very much, far more then I thought I would, so I convinced my husband that he needed to see Berlin too and that I wanted to go once more, so a couple of weeks ago we went on a city trip to Berlin.
Berlin is a fascinating city with loads of history. Although Berlin's history is a black page in our history books, it is good to visit; important to know and learn from. Apart from history, Berlin is very trendy at the moment and the place to be for artists. This shows in all the fantastic street art to be seen in Berlin. I guess this also has to do with the fact that the eastern part of Berlin still has a lot of eastern European architecture and these buildings have a lot of big blank walls screaming to be painted.
We find it best to explore a city by doing a guided tour on the first day. After that, one knows where all the interesting places are, so the next days one can go back to interesting places and explore them further. Friends had advised us to take the guided tour on bike. Now, unlike all the Dutch, I am not really very fond of long bike rides. But the weather was nice, too nice to sit in a bus, Berlin is flat, the traffic is okay for bikes and all the sightseeing venues are quite close to one another. So we decided to give it a try and headed to the bike tour meeting point first thing in the morning. It turned out all the bike guides were English speaking, in fact one was Irish, two were American and one was an Australian. It started in the morning, round about 11 with some instructions about the bikes and the traffic. The bikes were really comfortable, with big saddles and fat tires. After that we were divided into 4 groups of about 10 to 15 people. In the group a volunteer was asked to help. Her job was to stay at the back of the group to make sure no one got lost. And off we went. It was wonderful. Each stop was only a five minute bike ride away from the previous one. Each stop we'd step from the bike, have time to take pictures while the guide told us what we were seeing, including the history lesson. The guide would point out the museums and tell what's inside, the entry fee and whether he thought it was worth visiting. After a couple of stops the guide took us through Tiergarten, Berlin's park. On the other end of the park we sat down for a lovely lunch and after that the tour continued. We were back at 4 o’clock having had a wonderful day and with all the information we needed to decide how to spent the next couple of days.
I highly recommend visiting Berlin. It is a fascinating city with friendly people.
Reader Comments (18)
I always have been very curious about Berlin and judging by your nice visit, it definitely makes me want to go and see it. I love the building you chose for your post, Petra. Very modern and quite different
Thank you. At least in part because of my family heritage (my father was a German Jew) I have never wanted to go to Berlin, or indeed to Germany. Your comment that despite its black history it was important to know and to learn from struck home. I will have to give it thought. And it is always a good thing for me to drag my prejudices out into the light and look at them.
What a wonderful way to see a city!! I've heard that Berlin is an up and coming city - full of creative energy and life. Thank-you for bringing me the city thru your eyes!!!
Your vibrant photo brings me right there. My son has lived in Berlin for 7 years now and I love visiting him there. The youthful energy of the place and the multi cultural artistic community have been a haven for so many musicians in particular. Never done it on a bike though, but now I most definitely will! Thank you:~)
thank you for taking me back to berlin! our family went a decade ago, and we were totally impressed with the art scene and how hip east berlin was. the history is felt on every corner, but for us, the visit felt like a triumph in a way that is hard to explain.
it is always a joy to start a day with a travel post from a v&v adventuress!
I'm amazed at the artwork on this building! Thank you for giving us a view of the city from your perspective.
What a fun way to tour a city - on a bike! I love that idea. And, it sounds as if the riding was moderate enough for most any age person. I think it would be fun to hear the places you choose to re-visit and explore a little longer.
What fascinating art on the building! That was a fun photo to view.
Needless to say, Petra, that I love Berlin. My mom was a real Berliner - she grew up there in the 20's and 30's - and we often went there when it was a divided city. I have always loved Berlin, but now, that it is no longer divided, it is like a new city with much of its old charm. However, people are so much friendlier now that they are no longer trapped within a "walled" city. Potsdamer Platz has got back its life and the gloom that hung over the city for 28 years has gone. It truly is a great destination to visit.
THE perfect way to experience a new city! Now Berlin is on my list!
I visited Berlin several years ago, Petra, and would love to go back. I have a feeling it would feel very different to me today, having lived in the Netherlands now for almost 3 years. It is definitely a city FULL of history...and mixed emotions for all, I'm quite sure. I'm glad you had the chance to go back with your husband. Thanks for the travel guide!
What a helpful guide to a fascinating city - thank you! My son is stationed in Germany for 3 years and I plan to visit for an extended period in 2013 - so will keep this post as a reference.
What a delightful way to spend the day! The bike tour & bikes, with big saddles and fat tires, could make it alot more fun!
I've been in Houston so long now it just astonishes me to think of a city where each attraction is a five minute bike ride from the next! I certainly experienced that when I was in England, France and Germany so many years ago, but memory fades, and the "spread out life" has become the norm for me.
I love the thought of exploring with a small group, and getting such honest and personal responses from the guides. I can only imagine the sense of freedom there - and certainly hope that the economic troubles hovering over so many countries won't adversely affect all the new growth springing up.
hi petra, i went to berlin a few years ago and really loved the city - it was november, so cold and rather bleak, but i walked and walked, covered huge areas on foot (and sometimes by bus). definitely somewhere i would go back to...the city historical tour was amazing.
That sounds like a wonderful way to see a city... up close and personal!
Berlin has been on my wish list for a while. The way you have written about it makes me want to go even more.
I was in Berlin back in 1974. I actually don't remember much but it sounds very different than what I remember. I love the painting on the building you photographed. There are more and more building murals where I live and I do think they add so much to a city.
Petra, thank you for this! I visited Berlin right after the wall came down and would love to go back. When I do, I'll be sure to take the bicycle tour!
And I believe the art is East Berlin culture breaking free from the suppression of communism and now have a wonderful new found freedom to express themselves. I have a piece of the wall, there was graffiti all over it. I keep it as symbol of freedom and a reminder that I am never to let my guard down when it comes to protecting that freedom. Thank you for this today!