Birds-eye view

of Berlin

CTR August 17

Welcome to Berlin!
A big, urban metropolis, yet
cool, laid back and multicul-
tural, Berlin has something to
offer everyone with its mix of
iconic sites, rich culture, amazing
food, nightlife and outdoor fun.
Of course, the citys rich history
cannot be ignored. Berlin has ex-
perienced more in the last centu-
ry than most - it staged a revolu-
tion, was headquarters by fascists,
bombed during World War II, di-
vided into East and West and final-
ly reunited at the turn of the 20th
century. Remnants of its turbulent
past can be found at every corner.
You can walk along the Berlin Wall,
stand in the room where the Final
Solution was planned or on a pre- We have produced this guide with
vious death strip, and of course, you in mind. Inside you will find
visit one of the many world class reviews of Berlins main hotspots
from Brandenburg Tor to Checkpoint Charlie, to a host of cafs, restau-
rants, museums, markets and other great outdoor activities. There is
truly something for everyone in this vibrant city, whether you are the art
lover, foodie, history buff, or night owl just to name a few. We do hope
you have a hawk of a time exploring some of these amazing places!
Birdy Badges
Introduction
Fancy Bird Culture Bird
museums. On the cultural front,
Berlin truly came into its own in
its post-unification years. It now
has a vibrant art scene as seen
throughout its streets as well as a Early Bird Outdoors Bird
growing fashion network. It is also
an increasingly growing hub for
innovative start-ups who find no
limit to creativity in the city. Not to
mention the notorious party scene
which runs practically 24/7; from
Edu Bird Shopping Bird
small basement clubs to techno
temples, there can be found some-
thing for every taste and budget.
Likewise, you can find moments
of calm in one of the many green
areas of the city, whether that
Night Bird Tourist Bird
be in a park or by the Spree river.
Foodie Bird Budget Bird

Berlin today is regarded as a
cultural hub, celebrated for its
unique club scene and community
of artists that live and work in the
city. However this is not a new
phenomenon. During the 1920s,
as a result of American loans, the
Weimar Republic Germanys
newly established democratic
system - rejoiced in a period
of prosperity. Much like today,
Berlin became an epicentre of art,
culture, film and nightlife, which
you can learn about today at the
Museum Fr Film und Fernsehen.
From hosting the developments in
new art movements such as Dada,
The New Objectivity and Bauhaus
to becoming a playground for the
new liberal attitudes embodied
History
by the sexually emancipated
New Women Germany began
to rebuild itself after the horrors
and economic obliteration it had
experienced at the hands of the
First World War. The centre of
Berlins Roaring Twenties was
Kurfstendamm. A street once
populated by the Romanisches
Caf and the Caf des Westens -
popular haunts of contemporary
poets, writers and intellectuals
is now an up market shopping
district that you can still visit today.
But these Golden Years couldnt
last. In one of the most infamous
quotations of the period, Foreign
Minister of the Weimar Republic
Gustav Stresemann declared
that Germany was dancing on a
volcano. This volcano erupted in
1929, when the Wall Street Crash
hit America, causing the USA to
call in all its foreign loans and
therefore plunge Germany into
economic depression. Economic
uncertainty combined with a wide
spread dissatisfaction with new
found democracy and Germanys
harsh treatment by the allies post
WW1 caused a rise in extremist
attitudes on both the left and the
right. This climate of discontent
provided the perfect conditions
for the right wing Nazi party to
rise to power through democratic
means. Where they only received
2.6% of the vote in 1928, they
achieved a majority of almost
40% in 1933, resulting in their
leader, Adolf Hitlers, appointment
as the Chancellor of Germany.
Hitlers democratic ruling of
Germany was short lived, as after
a fire in the Reichstag in February
1933 - supposedly started by a
communist Hitler demanded the
ability to enact laws without the
involvement of the Reichstag (the
German parliamentary building).
Thus begun the Nazi regime and
rule of terror, which you can
learn about in detail at Berlins
Topographie des Terrors museum.
Political opponents, along with
communities of Jews, gypsies and
homosexuals were persecuted in
Hitlers quest for an Aryan race.
There are various memorials
around the city commemorating
these atrocities, including The
Memorial to the Murdered Jews
of Europe and The Memorial to
Homosexuals Persecuted under
Nazism. Racial purity and
Eugenics were not Hitlers sole
preoccupation, as he also enacted
a quest for reestablishment of
German glory and hence European
domination. This quest led to
the beginning of WW2. The city
of Berlin was the setting for the
climactic point of the Second World
War The Battle of Berlin 1945
in which Soviet soldiers stormed
the city, resulting in Nazi defeat,
Hitlers suicide and thus the fall
of Germanys fascist dictatorship.
History has always produced some
bizarre events, none more so than
when an entire city was divided into
two by a physical wall for nearly 30
years. After the Second World War,
the whole of Germany was divided
up between the victors; the United
States, United Kingdom, France,
and Soviet Union. However when
it came to practice, a problem
quickly arose. What would happen
to Berlin, the capital of the country
that happened to be inside the
communist East Germany? A
solution was quickly devised to
divide Berlin as well between the
four powers. This in turn caused
a mass exodus from east to west;
some reports state that by 1961
nearly 3 million people fled the GDR
(German Democratic Republic). To
combat this, a wall was erected
almost instantaneously during
the night of 13th August 1961,
even though the leader of the
GDR, Walter Ulbricht, explicitly
stated that there would be no
such measure in place. But when
do politicians ever go back on their
word? This action, which occurred
with no warning, divided friends,
families and loved ones, causing
people on both sides to lose their
jobs and livelihoods if trapped on
the wrong side. Two completely
different worlds co-existed side
by side, mere feet away from
each other; communism and
capitalism, east and west, the
mentality of them and us. Even
though it completely encircled
West Berlin, the objective was to
limit the East Berliners to their
sector. Their only points of contact
were limited to small number of
checkpoints, the most famous
one being Checkpoint Charlie.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall on 9th
November 1989 marked the end of
the Cold War, and by 1990 the two
halves of Germany become one
once more, reuniting with Berlin.
Moving into the 21st century,
Berlin is now regarded as a global Survival Guide
city, a diverse and multicultural
place that appeals to many young
In a bustling, fast-paced city like Berlin, its wise to get to grips with the
people. Although the physical wall way things work as soon as possible to avoid being caught out in any un-
no longer is in place, the scars of
fortunate situations. This Survival Guide contains a few pieces of essen-
that time remain, including the tial information to make your stay in the city as stress-free as possible!
double-bricked line that runs
through the city unmindful of Cycle Lanes - Nearly all Berlin pavements include a cycle lane, although
whether it cuts through the road their red paving is only subtly different from the pedestrian path and
or pavement. Also take some time are easy to miss. Make sure to be aware of them as cycling is popular in
to look around, some walls of the Berlin and cyclists are unlikely to stop or make way for you.
older buildings have small bullet Supermarkets - When looking for essentials in Berlin, Rewe and Aldi
holes, and on the pavement, supermarkets are located in various places across the city and offer all
a number of bricks have been kinds of food and drink at reasonable prices. Rewe is open until 10pm,
replaced with bronze plaques but be aware that supermarkets do not open on Sundays. Rewe also of-
with names of Jews killed during fers a loyalty card with which you can earn points and discounts on your
the Holocaust. All of these serve shopping.
as a visual reminder of the time
Medicine - If you need any medical supplies the Apoteke is the only
when our world was an entirely
place to go as medicine is not sold in any other shops. There are many
different place not too long ago.
Apotekes all over the city which are easy to find from their bold red A
signs.
If you need to visit a doctor or hospital while you are here you need to
bring your EHIC card, passport and debit/credit card.
Recycling - Plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans can often be returned Useful Phrases
to supermarkets in the city to be recycled in exchange for a partial re-
Hello Hallo
fund, ranging from 8-15 cents for glass and 15-25 for plastic. Look for a
symbol showing a bottle and an arrow or the words mehrwegflasche Good morning/Good night Guten Morgen/Gute Nacht
and pfandflasche to see if your bottle is returnable. There is also an Goodbye/Bye Auf Wiedersehen/Tschuss
unofficial recycling system in the city, with people leaving their empty Please Bitte
bottles underneath the orange bins in the streets in order for others to Thank you/Thanks Danke shoen/Danke
earn money from collecting and returning them.
Cheers Prost
Clubs/night life - Nightclubs are a huge part of Berlin culture, although Please Bitte
some are more exclusive and there are a few rules to abide by to in-
Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch?
crease your chances of getting in. Wearing dark coloured, casual cloth-
ing, approaching the venue in small groups, behaving quietly and know- How much is this? Wieviel kostet das?
ing the names of artists or DJs are all ways to ensure your entry to bigger Where is..? Wo ist...?
clubs such as Tresor and Berghain. Also, be aware that most clubs favour May I have...? Darf ich... haben?
techno music! Do you take credit cards? Akzeptieren Sie Kreditkarten?
Its also worth noting that drinking in the streets and public places is Can I have a receipt? Kann ich eine Quittung bekommen?
legal, and fairly common, in Berlin. Entrance/Exit Eingang/Ausgang
Public Toilets - There are not a great number of public toilets in the city, Toilet Toiletten
and those that are available usually cost around 0.50 to use, so keep- Passport Reisepass
ing small change on you can be very useful. However, most museums, Food/Water Das Essen/Die Wasser
galleries and restaurants have toilets which can be used free of charge
when you are visiting. Train Der Zug/Die Bahn

Credit Cards - A lot of cafes, restaurants and bars around the city do
not accept credit cards, meaning that withdrawing money from a cash Emergency numbers - Police: 110, Fire brigade: 112 (also call the fire
machine is much easier. Some stations also do not accept card payments brigade for severe medical emergencies)
for travel tickets. Also, if you are keen to keep track of your expenses,
remember to ask for a receipt as not all places will offer them otherwise.
Boroughs of Berlin - The city is divided into a number of boroughs, all
of which have different things to offer. Kreuzberg is known as the most
popular area for young people with lots of cheap bars, restaurants and
the best nightlife. Mitte is the most central area where most of the fa-
mous landmarks and tourist sights are located. There is also Charlotten-
burg, Tempelhof, Neukolln, Lichtenberg, Pankow, Treptow and Spandau,
all which offer different sights, places to eat and experiences.
 Berlin Welcome Pass
The Berlin Welcome Card includes public transport in the ticket price,
along with discounted entry to attractions. Starting at 21.90 for 48
hours this works out more expensive than two separate day tickets.
However as the pass does include discounted entry to a number of at-
tractions it may work out a worthwhile investment for some. It is worth
checking out the website for more information in order to establish if
this pass is the most effective way to travel for yourself. This can be done
at https://www.berlin-welcomecard.de/en
It is not necessary to show your travel ticket every time you board a
form of public transport, and it often isnt even required before board-
ing a bus, and definitely not if entering from the middle doors. Despite

Transport working on an honour system, there are random ticket checks by inspec-
tors dressed in plain clothes. If caught ticketless you will be charged 60,
and no exception will be made for foreign tourists. In order to avoid this
Public Transport charge you must also validate your ticket after purchase. This can be
done through boxes placed on platforms or on buses or trams them-
Berlin has an extensive transport system, designed to effectively allow selves, these boxes will electronically stamp your ticket and this vali-
you to travel across the city across the day and night. Multi-use tickets dates it.
(such as daily or weekly passes) cover the price for the full variety of
public transport forms available across Berlin. This is particularly useful Weekday Run Weekend Run
as due to the sheer vastness of the city and its divisional history, do not Hours Times Hours Times
be surprised if you have to change transport on several occasions on U-Bahn Berlins 4am-1am Day- 5 Night- 10 24 Hours
your route. Underground Sys- Minutes Minutes
Ticket Prices tem with six differ-
ent lines ranging
One Way Ticket - 2.80 from U1 to U9.
Short Distance Ticket (Valid for up to three stops on the U or S Bahn) - 1.70
S-Bahn Mostly 4.30am- Ranging 24 Hours Day -
Day Ticket - 7 consists of above 1.30am from 5-20 Same as
Seven Day Ticket - 30 ground trains. The minutes weekdays
S41 and S42 run in Night - 30
Groups up to five people can make use of the group day pass costing
a ring around the minutes
19.90, this will reduce the cost of each individual ticket considerably.
city centre.
Please be aware that ticket prices may increase as you travel further
afield than the city centre, to areas such as Potsdam or Schnefeld Air-
port.
 Weekday Run Times Week- Run
Hours end Times
Hours
Tram Mostly 24 Hours Day- At least 24 Hours Same as
present in former every 10 on week-
East Berlin, trams minutes day
extend the route
networks of the
U-Bahn. Tramlines
are marked with Accomodation
an M followed
by the tramline Berlin is bursting with great places to stay, with district areas suited to
number. every type of traveller. Expect to pay more to be located in the historic
Bus Mostly cover 24 Hours Varies 24 Hours Same as centre Mitte, but if you are only here for a limited time you might feel it
routes not cov- depend- on Week- is worth the extra pennies. It is also the place for luxury living if you are
ered by alterna- ing on bus. day. looking to splash out. Those looking for cheaper fun hostels look to the
tive public trans- Metrobuses areas of Kreuzberg and Freidrichshain both have a lively young scene
port. Bus stops are run every 10 with lots of good bars and some of the best cheap eats in the city. The
highlighted with a minutes. hostels start at 10 ranging up to 35 many will be loud with bars in-
yellow and green side so read some reviews to get your perfect atmosphere. Couchsurfing
H. On weekday is also common in Berlin which can be a great option for those on a tight
nights nightbuses budget and looking to experience what its like living in the city. Howev-
replace the U- er, take note that you should meet the host person for a coffee first and
Bahn and are have a back-up plan if they are not as anticipated It is also likely that
signified by an larger groups will not be welcomed and they may give you a limit of a
N in front of the few nights to stay. Bring a token gift from your country to keep it friendly.
number. Here are a couple of reviews of our favourite hostels:
Easterner Hostel
The perfect spot for the holidaymaker after a quiet night, the Easterner is
a small, intimate hostel located in the Mitte district of Berlin, a short walk
from many essential sightseeing spots. Despite being on the small side,
the rooms are clean and comfortable, with either a handful of bunkbeds
or a queen size mattress. Its not a party hostel, and only really caters for
small groups, but is ideal for solo travellers and couples. Like all good hos-
tels, theres a fully equipped communal kitchen this one even boasts
BIOS Chloe is a 21 year old English Liter-
ature graduate from the University
of York, calling Britains oldest re-
free tea, coffee, and sugar and a common room where you can so- corded town of Colchester home.
cialise with your fellow guests. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, laun- She enjoys film, makeup artistry,
dry, and hot water. These all sound like small things, but when so many and pretending to ge the works
budget hostels manage to fall below the mark its good to be safe in the she sees in front of her in art gal-
knowledge that these creature comforts are readily available. Guests are leries. Her favourite spot in Berlin
invited to take a free guided walking tour of Berlin, which departs from is the Shakespeare & Sons lit caf.
outside the front door at around 10am tips are of course appreciated. Her favourite bird is a goldfinch.
Location: Novalisstrasse 14, Mitte.
Michalina is 22 and studies Logis-
Prices: 20-60, based on average rate for a standard room. tics of Media at the University of
Wombats City Hostel Warsaw, and comes from a place
which was once the Free City of
Located in the centre of Berlin, only a ten minute walk from Alexan-
Danzig. She likes to indulge in Net-
derplatz station, Wombats City Hostel is a great choice of accom-
flix and sleep, and is happiest in
modation for those looking for a fun, lively stay in the city. It is close
Berlin when shes found a cheap
to a number of popular sights and many of the best night life spots
place to get a drink. Her favourite
and is popular among young partygoers from all over the world.
bird is a swallow.
The hostel provides good value for money, although its popularity
and central location make it slightly more expensive than other hos- Katie is 21 and studies Classics
tels in the area and may not suit those on the tightest budgets. It has at the University of Bristol. She
a range of rooms, from shared dorms with bunkbeds to double rooms comes from Dorset, home of the
with balconies, as well as large shared kitchens, all of which are clean, rare bittern bird, which chooses to
light and spacious. It also offers more than the standard hostel, with make its home in Weymouth due
womBar, a rooftop terrace bar, which opens until 2am and has a daily to the reed beds they can nest in.
Happy Hour, providing a great place to drink, socialise and take in views She likes travelling, reading, and
of the city. There is also a courtyard seating area on the ground floor. cooking, particularly when one or
It also offers all the amenities necessary for a comfortable stay, including all is being done in Mauerpark on
free internet access and a buffet breakfast, costing 4.50, and is a non- a sunny Sunday afternoon. Her fa-
smoking establishment. The staff are multi-lingual and very helpful, and vourite bird is a toucan.
there is even the chance to rent bikes from the reception to explore the city.
Location: Alte Schonhauserstr. 2, D-10119
Shahreen is 21 years old, and sort
of comes from all over. A global
Prices: 25 - 79 (Based on average rates for a standard room) citizen with her roots in India and
Iran, two cultures filled with colour
and celebration, she has recently
graduated with a degree in English
and Politics from the University
of York. She enjoys travelling, art,
music, and learning about new cul-
tures, and has recently struck up a
love affair with a mysterious suitor
named Mr. Alexander Platz. Her
favourite bird is a Luzon Bleeding-
Heart.
Danielle is 20 years old, and at-
tends the University of Nottingham
where she studies English Lan-
guage and Literature. She comes
from Romford, but tells everybody
shes from London. She enjoys
travelling, reading, and cycling,
and loves taking a dip in Badeschiff
on a warm evening. Her favourite
bird is a blue tit.
Jenny is 21 and comes from Man-
chester, a city famed for its sport-
ing culture. She studies Sociology
at the University of Leeds, and has
spent a year of this abroad at the
University of Montreal. She likes
Netflix, sleep, and food, especially
if that food comes from the Thurs-
day food market at Markthalle
Neun. Her favourite bird is a pen-
guin.
Emily is 21 and recently graduat-
ed with a degree in Contemporary
Dance from Trinity Laban Conser-
vatoire of Music and Dance. She
comes from Worcester, home of
the famed Worcestershire sauce,
and likes to look round art galler-
ies, read about the Roaring Twen-
ties, and consider the metaphori-
cal dehumanising nature of city
metropoli. Her favourite thing to
do in Berlin is peruse the New Ob-
jectivity section in the Berlinische
Gallery. Her favourite bird is a
Phoenix, which is not a real bird.
Steph is a 23 year old graduate
of the University of Nottingham,
with a degree in Modern Lan-
guage Studies. She loves spending
time at the Markthalle Neun food
market, but dont try to tempt her
with strawberries and cream she
comes from Wimbledon, where
the tennis causes horrendous traf-
fic for two weeks of the year. She
enjoys film and television, hiking
and cooking. Her favourite bird is
a heron.
Frances is 19, and studies PPE
at the London School of Econom-
ics. She comes from Manchester,
and enjoys piano, badminton,
and travelling. Her favourite spot
in Berlin is the Tempelhof Park,
where she likes to cycle up and
down the abandoned runways or
find a nice spot to read a book. Her
favourite bird is a penguin.