For a city, there's a lot of green space in Berlin, if you know where to look. If you want to build your sightseeing around lunch in the sunshine, here are some ideas for combining history with picturesque settings:
1. Potsdam.The very obvious one is the magnificent Park Sanssouci, the grand retreat built for Frederick the Great in 1744. An easy day trip, as it takes about 45 minutes on the train, and then a short bus ride to the gate, however, if you have the luxury of time, I'd try to overnight there as the little town itself is enchanting, and delightful to potter around. Either bring a picnic to have on the massive grounds of the palace or enjoy one of the outdoor restaurants nearby.
2. Judisches Museum
This museum covers a history of German Jews, including their achievements both before and after the war. The building itself is an interesting architectural design, and houses artistic installations and monuments as well as historic information. The garden, however, has tables for either cafe dining or picnics, and it's a lovely peaceful setting.
If you've been shopping around the Hackescher Markt, or finished on Museum Island, take a stroll up Rosenthaler Strasse (or take the U. to Rosenthaler Pl) and head to the Volkspark am Weinberg. Amid the greenery is Cafe Nola, a swiss cafe popular with locals. The perfect spot for a beer on the terrace.
I can not recommend this place enough. It is hidden away at the end of the Tiergarten, and the perfect location to spend an afternoon in the sunshine, boating or enjoying a leisurely lunch at the outdoor tables.
Practicalities:
Potsdam http://www.potsdam-tourism.com/
Judisches Museum http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/homepage-EN.php
Further Reading:
Travel Tips for Berlin http://holidazeandhellidaze.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/travel-tips-in-berlin.html
Cafe Nola http://www.weekendnotes.com/nolas-am-weinberg/
Cafe Am Neuen See http://www.weekendnotes.com/cafe-am-neuen-see/
Das Stue http://www.weekendnotes.com/das-stue/
Linking up with #TravelTuesday
Great ideas for what to see in Berlin. I've only been on a quick trip, and your post shows me there is a lot more to see!
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to visit Potsdam, but I hear it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust stunning, but the village is really charming too.
DeleteI visited Berlin 20 years ago and remember finding it such an interesting city, I particularly enjoyed visiting he Check Point Charlie museum.
ReplyDeleteThe closest I've been to Berlin is Frankfurt and that was just a stopover! I'm keen to explore more of Germany. You're images from Judisches Museum, are they faces? We visited the Holocaust museum in Los Angeles recently which I found very confronting (but had to visit - knowledge is power and helps us not to forget and repeat).
ReplyDeleteyes faces. Some people walked on them but I wasn't comfortable with that. This museum covers not just the Holocaust but the whole history - so it's positive as well as confronting.
DeleteI was in Berlin three years ago but didn't get to visit any of these interesting sites because we were there only for a day. I wish I could have seen the Judisches Museum. Sounds very interesting. Thank you for joining #TheWeeklyPostcard this week-end
ReplyDeleteSadly, I haven't been to Berlin, so I haven't visited these places (yet!). The charming little village of Potsdam looks very appealing.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to Berlin and walk and walk, and then rest in these green spaces
ReplyDeleteBerlin is one of our favorite cities ever, especially in the summer and with kids. We would walk the entire city for days on end. Such a fabulous place!!
ReplyDelete(As a side.. I had problems with your sidebar not allowing me to scroll down. I had to use the down arrow. Maybe just my computer, but it would be nice if there was a way to get it to move off the scroll bar!)
Not sure what to do about that, as it works my end....just normally. But I often can't comment on other people's posts (same people, for no reason I can work out) so maybe it's one of those glitches....
DeleteGreat post! I always love the outdoors and seeing nature, so what a wonderful list of places to see when I go to Berlin. I'll have to write these down and make sure I check it out!
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing some greenery in the midst of urban cities. Never been to Berlin, but Germany is one country I've been dying to visit for the past almost 10 years. Because I'm a fan of German soccer. Yay World Cup 2014! Haha...
ReplyDeleteBerlin knows how to keep things green! Lovely post, and your photos are stunning, but I think they should be bigger so they can really shine!
ReplyDeleteBerlin is so beautiful in the warm season with all it's parks. Just awesome! We've to go again and take the picnic basket with. #greyworldnomads #CityTripping
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea for a trip to Berlin - I remember it being such a buzzing city, it's lovely to have the occasional green space to relax in. #citytripping
ReplyDeleteLovely! I've never been to Germany!
ReplyDelete#practicalmondays
You've brought back some wonderful memories of our visit to this great city, Lydia!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at the Travel Tuesday meme.