Day Trips in Berlin

»Berlin: open city« sets the stage for a nascent »New Berlin« by presenting ten suggested routes. These routes were deliberately selected for their wealth of themes; it is the aim of each route and of all of them collectively to show the diversity of the city and the people who live in it and with it. The variety of architectural styles, squares and city districts, ranging from the realisation of an entirely new urban centre from scratch to the restoration of neglected historical buildings. Planning was based on the latest technology in the field of ecological building and the buildings which have been constructed are intended to satisfy the requirements of sustainable urban planning for the 21st century. But visible scars also remain for the time being. Far from being complete, the development of Berlin will continue to progress towards a future which can only be seen in outline at present. Certainly not a task to be completed in ten years, rather one which will take a number of generations.

The »New Berlin« also remains a city of contradictions: sophisticated innovative architecture of the 21st century interspersed with buildings of no significance, socially deprived areas bordering luxury shopping streets, ugly roadways in close proximity to inviting parks, seemingly derelict areas suddenly giving way to districts full of vital, urban life - a fascinating juxtaposition concealing nothing and, instead, revealing the specific character of the metropolis of Berlin.

A juxtaposition which makes the city what it is, gives it a distinctive character. And it is this intricate jumble itself which can provide the breeding-ground for creativity, innovation and unconventional ways of life.

During 1999 and 2000 the projects dating from the last ten years to restore or convert buildings and construct new ones will be marked and briefly explained by means of special signs along the routes. A route map is posted at the starting point of each route - close to an underground or S-Bahn (city railway) station. Signs relating to the individual building ensembles have been installed along the way and provide explanatory information in the form of ground plans and brief descriptions. In addition, there are signs on individual buildings and structures. However, this guide does much more than marking points of interest in the city. It not only provides further information on the individual buildings included in the routes, but also draws attention to places of historical significance which lie along these routes. In this way, the routes through the »New Berlin« are also a brief outline of the history of the city.

The following sections provide some nice ideas for walking tours.

Private tours of Berlin, Potsdam & Dresden

* tour-the-east offers extraordinary, customized, private tours of Berlin (Jewish Life - Past & Present, Third Reich, Cold War, Berlin Wall), Potsdam (Palaces, Parks and the hidden places) Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen or Ravensbruck (near Berlin), Dresden and East Germany from an insider's perspective
* For Baltic or North Sea cruise passengers they pick you up personally (and not just a driver or driver-guide) in Warnemunde (Rostock) or Hamburg port for a private tour to Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg or the beautiful countryside in northern Germany
* This more..

World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	+49 (0)30 4703 4747
url:	www.tour-the-east.com
address:	Berlin
email:	mail@tour-the-east.com

Galopprennbahn Hoppegarten (Hopegarten Racecourse)

The beating of hooves and the fun of betting in the countryside just outside Berlin. Berlin’s racecourse with its own stad farm and a long tradition. A good tip for earning money. S 5 Hoppegarten, Apr-Oct, admission: 5DM

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Goetheallee 1, Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 38930

The surroundings of the Spree Island (ca. 8,6 km)

From Alexanderplatz to Jannowitzbrigde: Route 6 takes in the medieval and Baroque old city of Berlin and Luisenstadt, which dates from the 19th century. It passes the »Rotes Rathaus«, today the seat of the government of Berlin and the Stadthaus, a prestigious building which was once the seat of the former Berlin City Parliament. The route passes the Nikolaiviertel district to come to the oldest parts of the city at Molkenmarkt and Spittelmarkt.

Route 6 begins at Alexanderplatz. It was once a cattle market outside the gates to the old town; from the 19th century on it more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

From the »Octagon« to the »Rondelle« (ca. 5 km)

From Leipziger Platz to Hallesches Tor: Route 4 covers the part of Berlin that used to be the old town of Friedrichstadt, which was created during a period of Baroque-style urban expansion during the 17th century under the Elector Friedrich III, who gave his name to the town. The area is bounded by the ingenious application of three ideas of the time on spatial division - the square, in the shape of Pariser Platz, the octagon, formed by Leipziger Platz, and the circle, at Mehringplatz (formerly Belle-Alliance-Platz) - which arose when the city was extended in 1732. Leipziger more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

bikecity

Basic bikes for good value: 10DM (red 5DM). The rental stations are at:

Waldenserstr. 2-4, Tiergarten, +49 (0)30 - 39739145

Alexanderplatz, Mitte, +49 (0)30 - 0177-2102383

Am Zoo (Hardenbergplatz), +49 (0)30 - 0177-2102384

Pohlstr. 89, Tiergarten, +49 (0)30 - 26550182

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Tiergarten, Hardenbergplatz and Pohlstrasse

Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt (Berlin History Workshop)

Research projects focusing on the history of everyday life and culture. The Workshop also offers historical guided tours by boat. U Eisenacher Str. Open: Mo-Fr 3pm -6pm, Cost: 24DM, children 12DM

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Goltzstr. 49, Schöneberg
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 2154450

Stern und Kreis Schiffahrt GmbH Berlin

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Puschkinallee 16-17, Treptow
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 5363600

Berlin Mitte - the new centre (ca. 7,3 km)

From Pariser Platz to Friedrichstrasse: Route 5 traverses the area where the »New Berlin« is taking shape. From Potsdamer and Leipziger Platz to Pariser Platz, it takes us along that magnificent, wide boulevard Unter den Linden and then up and down Friedrichstrasse as far as Schlossplatz and the Lustgarten. In the process, we shall encounter the new centres of political power and the culture of the past, Berlin's splendid new shopping street as well as centres of science and religion. The route provides an excellent panorama of all that has been planned, excavated and realised more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

Things are changing in the east (ca. 7,3 km)

From Karl-Marx-Allee to Rummelsburger Bucht: Route 9 passes through the eastern inner city districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg and Treptow in the south-east of the city. It takes in traditional industrial areas of Berlin and in many places reveals the dramatic changes which the city is undergoing at the end of the industrial age. At the same time, the enormous development potential in Berlin is also apparent.

Route 9 starts at the Weberwiese high-rise, which was built in 1951, marking the beginning of the National Reconstruction Programme in East Berlin. Stalinallee, more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

pluspunkt e.V.

A wide variety of city tours and tours on Berlin’s criminal history or horror stories and ghosts: the beautiful spy Mata Hari, the daring safe-breakers Franz and Erich Sass, or the swindler Otto Witte who was crowned king of Albania. S Südende

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Steglitzer Damm 105, Steglitz
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 7744081

art-berlin

The best guided tours on art, culture and architecture. Topics include: night-time adventures in neighbourhoods and in the arts; the Reichstag; the vanished border; a walk along the Wall; on the track of JEWISH LIFE. S Oranienburger Str. Office Mo-Fr 9am -5pm

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Heckmann Höfe, Oranienburger Str. 32, Mitte
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 28096390

Gablinger Berlin Tours

Gablinger Berlin Tours offer tours in Berlin and the region - Sachsenhausen, Potsdam and even Dresden. The Berlin Tours can start from the Waremuende (Rostock) Port. Guiding both groups and individual private tours in several languages (including Hebrew language tours and English language tours in Berlin), and in several themes including:
* General Introduction tour in Berlin
* Jewish Berlin Tour
* Tour to Potsdam
* Cold War Tour
* Kreuzberg Tour
* Tours in Museums, e.g. The Jewish Museum, The Kennedy Museum

World66 rating:	[rate it]
url:	www.gablinger.com
address:	Berlin
email:	nadavgablinger@yahoo.co.uk

The government and parliament district. (ca. 8,4 km)

In and around the government district: Route 1 follows the transformation of Berlin into the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. It takes us through the new government and parliament district and through the three very different districts of Moabit, Tiergarten and Mitte. As we follow the tour, we pass through approximately 400 years of city history.

Moabit, on the northern side of the Spreebogen (a deep curve traced by the River Spree), is among the oldest districts outside the historical city. For a long time, the character of the district was shaped by the more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

Berlin courtyards and the »city of stone« (ca. 7,3 km)

In and around the Hackesche Höfe: Route 2 begins at Hackescher Markt, Berlin's bustling new pleasure centre, taking us through the oldest surviving residential area and centre of craft enterprises and into the heart of the densely built-up 19th century »city of stone«.

Spandauer Vorstadt in the north of the vast S-Bahn (city railway) network is bordered by Friedrichstrasse in the west, Torstrasse in the north and Prenzlauer Allee in the east. Its name is a geographical reference to the town of Spandau to the west of Berlin. Most of the old street network has been more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

StattReisen Berlin e.V.

A large selection of guided tours on foot, by bike or on public transport. Topics include: the government in the new German capital, the Olympic Stadium and its Nazi past, the "cosmopolitan city" of Kreuzberg, graffiti and "The Children from Zoo Station". U Leopoldplatz, U Seestr. Office: 10am -4pm

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Malplaquetstr. 5, Wedding
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 4553028

Berlin-Erkundungen (Berlin Explorations)

S Frohnau

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Calandrellistr. 19, Steglitz
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 32703783

Velotaxi

Breathe in a, bit of Berlin air - without polluting the enviroment with stinking exhaust fumes! Rickshaw bicycle taxis have become quite a fimiliar sight in Berlin’s streets and are especially popular in summer. U Senefelderplatz, Apr-Oct 1pm -8pm, Cost: 2-15DM, depending on the length of the route.

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Saarbrücker Str. 20-21, Prezlauer Berg
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 44358990

Kulturbüro Berlin

Guided tours specialising in art, culture and architecture. On the track of Marlene Dietrich and tours on a very wide variety of literary themes. U+S Schönhauser Allee

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Griefenhagener Str. 60, Prenzlauer Berg
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 4440936

Between myth and future (ca. 6,6 km)

Potsdamer Platz and the surrounding area: Route 3 takes in three phases of the more recent history of urban design and development in Berlin. It b, egins at the principal event of the nineties in Berlin, the development of Potsdamer Platz following the opening of the Berlin Wall. From there, it goes back in time to the Cultural Forum, which documents the urban design ideals of the '50s and '60s, namely the idea of an open-plan city, the »urban landscape«. Following this excursion into the past, it once again touches on the '90s in the vicinity of Potsdamer Platz and then moves more..

type:	general
World66 rating:	[rate it]

Fahrradstation Rikscha Service

Explore Mitte district in a bicycle rickshaw - you can decide whether to hire a driver or to drive yourself. U Weinmeisterstr., S Hackescherstr, Mo-Fr 10am -7pm, Sa 10am -4pm, Cost: 12 hours 150DM, 1hr. With driver 90DM + driver’s fee for coming and going

type:	Tour Operators
World66 rating:	[rate it]
address:	Rosenthaler Str. 40-41
tel:	+49 (0)30 - 28384848

show numbers 1-20 21

Hot Hotel Deals

Where World66 helps you find the best deals on Berlin Hotels

Destinations in Berlin