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Berlin
Book a hotel in central Berlin
Want to spend a few nights in a budget hotel in central Berlin? Book your room at B&B Berlin-Potsdamer Platz Hotel to soak up the city's atmosphere without breaking the bank. Our centrally located hotel can serve as your base as you explore the heart of Berlin, with quick and easy access to all its must-see sights. And you'll have plenty to choose from: there are more than 150 museums in Germany's capital, not to mention the legendary trendy bars and underground clubs.
A weekend in Berlin: the musts
With its unique buzz, cultural attractions and busy nightlife, Berlin has lots of appeal. No wonder ten million people visit it every year. Tourists rub shoulders with 3.5 million Berliners in an area covering some 340 square miles (i.e. nine times the size of Paris), making it the second biggest city in Europe behind London. People come to see the historical sites and spend time in what is now Europe's coolest destination.
Berlin's museums
No trip to the cultural haven of Berlin would be complete without visits to the following museums:
- Pergamon Museum: over a million people visit this archaeological museum every year, making it Berlin's most popular.
- Daniel Libeskind's innovative and thought-provoking Jewish Museum presents two millennia of German-Jewish history.There are special exhibitions as well as the extensive permanent collection. Fascinating!
- Hamburger Bahnhof: a former train station is now Berlin's contemporary art showcase, exhibiting works by leading artists past and present.
- German Historical Museum: this baroque-style building has some 8,000 exhibits retracing Germany's history
- Visit the DDR Museum to find out more about everyday life in the former East Germany.
Shopping in Berlin
Shopping addicts will love Berlin. For department stores, B&B recommends KaDeWe (standing for Kaufhaus des Westens): it's continental Europe's biggest and located near the Tiergarten and Kurfürstendamm. Set aside a few hours as it has over 60,000 sq. m and seven floors of luxury boutiques!
For a more unusual shopping experience, head to Mitte, where young people fill their wardrobes. There are two streets worth checking out: Alte Schönhauser Strasse and Mulackstrasse. Here the stores are human-sized with a cosy feel. Want to shop in Berlin on a budget? Stop by the flea market on Straße des 17. Juni to pick up something unique without an eyewatering price tag. It's the perfect place to find gifts and souvenirs of your time in Germany.
What to eat in the organic capital
Berlin is a city with affordable restaurants. You can eat well for just a few euros. And there's a huge selection. Vegetarians and vegans will be spoilt for choice as veggie restaurants have been springing up everywhere recently. But carnivores don't have to worry: the incredible variety means that there's something for everyone. If you want to try traditional Berlin specialities, order smoked pork chops, herring, eggs in green sauce or ham hock.
Where to stay: our budget hotel with parking in Berlin
Our two-star B&B Berlin-Potsdamer Platz Hotel with parking is located in central Berlin so you can see the city's cult sites without wasting time in public transport. After a long day sightseeing and/or a hard night partying, you will love our comfortable modern guestrooms. Book a budget hotel in Berlin with B&B and you can sleep soundly on a Bultex mattress with quality bedding. And after a good night's sleep, an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast will be waiting. Sweet or savoury, there's something to suit all tastes. With your energy levels restored, you're ready to hit Berlin's famous streets!
History and urbanism
Berlin became the capital of the German Empire when it was founded in 1871. It was capital of the Weimar Republic from 1918 to 1933 and of the Third Reich from 1933 to 1945. Between 1949 and 1990, the city was seen as a symbol of Germany's division: both the country and city were separated in two. Germany was reunified on 3 October 1990 but Berlin still has traces of its unique and painful past.
Stroll
After the fall of the wall, many places were closed down, including Tempelhof Airport and old industrial areas. These sites have been redeveloped to add to the green spaces across Berlin, which has green city status. It also took the opportunity to create a huge network of cycle lanes. During your stay, you can stretch your legs in no fewer than 6,400 hectares of gardens and parks open to the public. That's a ratio of 26 sq. m per inhabitant: not bad for a major European capital!
Hop on a bike and set out to explore Berlin's main lakes: the Wannsee, Tegeler and Müggelsee. All three nature reserves are popular with Berliners, who love to relax and unwind on the outskirts of the city.
If you want to stay central, head to the 210 hectares (yes, really!) of the Tiergarten park, which is a stone's throw from the historic heart of Berlin. You will be very close to the Parliament, Chancellery and Brandenburg Gate.
Heritage
Berlin's long and tumultuous history has made its mark on the city's cultural landscape. The Museum Island is one example. Located in the Cölln district, it's the home of five prestigious museums and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its museums are open daily, much to the delight of tourists spending a few days in the German capital.
The Pergamon Museum is packed with archaeological treasures.
The Bode Museum has a large collection of sculptures and Byzantine art.
The Neues Museum ("New Museum") has Prehistory and Early History collections, with exhibits from Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire.
The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) shows Neoclassical, Romantic, Biedermeier, Impressionist and early Modernist artwork.
The Altes Museum (Museum of the Ancient World) has a collection of classical antiquities and treasures such as ancient sculptures.
Berlin's Modernism Housing Estates are important parts of its heritage. The six subsidized housing estates built between 1913 and 1934 are found in areas on the outskirts of the city. They've had a major influence on 21st-century architecture. They're must-sees, as is Sanssouci Palace a few miles from Berlin.
Festivities
Seen by many as the best party city in Europe, Berlin has a fantastic range of pubs and clubs. It's a leading party destination, attracting young people who are out for a good time. The music scene is cutting edge. Musicians and artists have made it their playground: electronica, hip-hop, funk, rock… There's something for all tastes. In fact, Berlin is the ultimate underground city! To check it out, head to Wedding, the north of Mitte or Lichtenberg. Couples looking for something a bit less lively should stick to Charlottenburg and Prenzlauer Berg, which are lower key but just as interesting with innovative venues.
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