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| wattie187 |
 Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:47 pm |
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 531
Location: Belfast
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Heading to Germany for the first time in August and looking for some recommendations of things to see and do as well as some decent bars.
Heading to Berlin first for a few days, then moving onto Cologne and finally down the Rhine towards Frankfurt.
Cheers |
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| Invictus |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 2:40 pm |
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Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 8323
Location: Into The Void Records
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In Berlin go to the museum island and check out the various museums there, particularly the Pergamon Museum. Some fascinating ancient history in there. The eastern side of the city has much more life to it than the west I've always found. Even if some of the grim remnants of the DDR are still there, the place has a much better buzz and atmosphere. The area off Warschauerstrasse (like Gruenebergerstrass, Boxenhagerstrasse) has some really nice restaurants and cafes that are dirt cheap. Also Paule's Metal Eck (nice little Metal bar) is on the corner of Simon-Dach-Strasse and Krossenerstrasse. Though I've never actually gone and done it myself, there are supposed to be tours of some of the cities bunkers. The Brandenburg gate and Reichstag are worth having a nose around too. Just on the western side of the Brandenburg gate is a Soviet war memorial that is pretty interesting. A somewhat foreboding figure leans over with his hand pushing downwards, which symbolises the 'putting down' of Nazi Germany. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_War_Memorial_(Tiergarten)
Treptower Park, which is a massive Soviet war memorial just on the outskirts of Berlin is also well worth checking out. The two Soviet flag designs are made from marble from the Reich Chancellery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treptower_Park
If you get the chance, go see the Externsteine. They're a good it away from Berlin but a must see! More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externsteine
Just some stuff to keep you ticking over anyway. |
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| Shunyata |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 2:58 pm |
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Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 1435
Location: Let's get fucked up
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If you're hosteling it rather than hoteling it stay around Boxenhagerstrasse for sure (in the Friedrichshain area). It's probably the cheapest place to eat etc due to being working class/punk and from there you can easily walk to Ostkreuz or Warschauerstrasse U-bahn and get trains to all over Berlin (Ostkreuz is also one of the easiest places to get to the Airports from, and is one S9 stop from Treptower).
Most of the historical places are located in the Tiegarten (and pretty much everything in the Mitte borough). But you can walk to just about anywhere there from Alexanderplatz, and use the Berliner Fernsehturm as a navigational guide to get back to the station.
To be honest for bars, just drop in anywhere in Freidrichschain. Wikingerbar, Paulie's Metal Ecke are close by. Blackland may be worth checking out, but is pretty far removed from everywhere else (pretty much need to get the S-Bahn or walk for 30-40min). |
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| Padre Pio |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:15 pm |
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Joined: 25 May 2007
Posts: 6796
Location: The great omnipotent goat sits on the pentagram
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I second the above recommendations.
Potsdam (home of the German royal palace) is a worthwhile (if rather genteel) daytrip from Berlin.
If you have any interest whatsoever in football, then go to a Bundesliga game.
I thought Cologne was a bit of a kip to be honest, but they have very good bars there and a type of beer distinctive to the city. So spend your time there boozing. |
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| Dark Stranger |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:30 pm |
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 14839
Location: Holding a fiery stride
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| The Dom Cathedral in Cologne is breathtaking. |
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| wattie187 |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:31 pm |
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 531
Location: Belfast
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Cheers, all sounds good.
We are going to Cologne for the Cologne Bierborse, so all sorted there regarding something to drink. |
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| StandupPaul |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:04 pm |
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 2114
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
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Those bus tours in Berlin are pretty handy - you can jump off where ever you want and then get back on the next one.
Great if the heat is like it was last year and you don't fancy walking too much between things to see!
Otherwise, I agree with everything that's been mentioned. Berlin is a top city.
Paul. |
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| Skanmar |
| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:22 pm |
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Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 837
Location: Drifting Off To Nowhere
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If you want to do something different you could head to Phantasialand while you're in Cologne (it's just a short trip away, town of Bruhl). A very fun themepark with some really good rides.
http://www.phantasialand.de/en/home |
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| say10 |
| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:56 am |
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Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 1217
Location: Dublin
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I would recommend the museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Very impressive - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie_Museum Can be a bit crowded, though.
The rock bar to check out in Frankfurt would be the Speak Easy. Check online for their programme. Also, sit down in one of the Ebbelwoi (Apfelwein - Cider) pubs, its the local drink. Quite different from the sweet Cider you get here. Order it with a "Handkääs mit Musik" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handk%C3%A4se
Darragh mentioned the Externsteine. Nice place, but too far off your route. Unless you want to visit the Osnabrueck/Bielefeld area. If you do so, check out Kalkriese as well (an outdoor museum and archaeiological site where the Varus battle/Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place: Hermann (Arminius) der Cherusker beating the shit out of the Romans). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Teutoburg_Forest
Note of caution re Cologne: Yes, the beer glasses are indeed so small. In the right places you'll get a new beer automatically once you've finished your glass. Put the beer mat on top if you had enough.
Usually plenty of gigs in all three places... |
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| adrian666 |
| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:19 am |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 56
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The Halford bar in berlin is a cool bar, and the owner is like a halford clone, even the head tattoo! Lots of judas priest and rock in general signed stuff on the walls etc and the beers piss cheaap too
http://www.halford-berlin.de/ |
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| wattie187 |
| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:24 am |
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 531
Location: Belfast
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Cheers lads, many thanks.
Lots of great info and advice, much appreciated. |
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| StandupPaul |
| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:34 am |
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 2114
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
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adrian666 wrote: The Halford bar in berlin is a cool bar, and the owner is like a halford clone, even the head tattoo! Lots of judas priest and rock in general signed stuff on the walls etc and the beers piss cheaap too
http://www.halford-berlin.de/
The hassle we had trying to find that place after Maiden last year...priceless!
May have had something to do with drinking all day too mind...
Paul. |
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| adrian666 |
| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:19 pm |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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| ha, that was my 1st time in it the day of the iron maiden gig last year, maiden tribute that night and the accept signing the next day before their gig. yeah we had serious hassle finding the bastard too, seems it moves quite alot, and its moved again since and really downsized! |
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| Shunyata |
| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:21 pm |
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Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 1435
Location: Let's get fucked up
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| It's moved 3 times in the last 4 years and got progressively shittier each time sadly. That said, if you've never been you're not to know that, and it is worth seeing at least the once. Even if it's just to see that poor statue that's been subjected to Paddy's arse and Liam's cock over the years. |
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| kev,em yeah |
| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:28 pm |
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Joined: 29 Oct 2005
Posts: 473
Location: Dublin
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| To echo previous comments, absolutely make a point of going to the museums in Berlin - they're breathtaking. |
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