Around Berlin

One girl and four guys here we go to Berlin! We get there by train from Wroclaw. I think we have spent like 35€ per way. Well, it wasn't the cheapest journey but it was the first time we were travelling from Poland to somewhere and we just wanted to go on a trip. So we just decided and in 5 days we were "on road to Berlin":

One of the most surprising cities I have been. No expectations. Nothing! Actually neither photos from Berlin I had seen before. And it was just amazing. In the half of the days more 3 Erasmus friends joined us also and It was incredible.

The Berlin's metro system is one of the best and most effective that I know from my travels. It is very helpful to have Berlin's subway way in your hand before arriving, with any doubt. It is important to get to know a little more about the underground network to not get lost and loose your time when you arrive in the city of Berlin.

Berlin is the capital of Germany and is undoubtedly a great travel destination. A great city, Berlin is full of history, palaces, monuments, museums, and there is always something to do for all kinds of travellers.

Berlin is the capital of Germany and is one of the sixteen states in this country. Here, the population is about 3. 5 million people. The town itself is fairly quiet, not the so chaotic city, full of cars and noise.

Some special points

Berlin by bike

“ You just have to do it”

I really loved it. It was amazing go around Berlin with 2 friends by bike. The best way to look around the city. In Alexanderplatz, you can hire bikes and the staff there are very friendly. The sun shining and enjoying that moment on your bike is just the best thing you can do!

Victory Column (Siegessäule)

Am Grossen Stern, Berlim, Alemanha

“It's beautiful at night”

At night it's amazing. The light's effects turn it very special.

St. Christopher's Berlin Hostel

Very very easy to find because it is just in the front of the subway station. The service is very good and the staff are friendly. The room was very clean. I spent two nights and I never waited to have a shower or to go to the bathroom. The breakfast is quite good for the price.

At night you can spend a nice time in the hostel. There are a bar and the most of the drinks are cheap. There are a lot of young people there.

What I didn't like: here's some computers to use but you have to pay to go on the internet. The hostel has wi-fi but the connection to the mobile phone was not very good.

Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)

The Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin and like almost every building was severely damaged during the Second World War. Now totally restored, it's one of the biggest symbols of the city like the TV Tower and the Brandenburg Gate.

(Tv Tower)

(Brandenburg Gate)

The palace was built between 1695-1713 by Frederick the Great. Originally it was the summer residence of the monarch and especially his wife Sophie Charlotte.

Charlottenburg is one of the most visited attractions. The way to arrive here is very easy and it's easily accessible. By subway it is located 10 minutes walking from the train station Westend.

Compared with other european castles of the same decade, it is not the most amazing one but anyway is very nice and a good reason to go check it out. In the summer, the castle gardens are amazing. The places you should not miss inside the castle are the porcelain room (with about 2700 Chinese porcelain objects from the sixteenth century) and the Chapel with a huge crown being kept by the Prussian eagle.

(Photo source)

The museum loses some interest when you realize that the majority of objects and rooms had been rebuilt after the Second World War because all of the original ones were totally destroyed. They basically collected all objects that from other castles that were completely destroyed in the war and put them here, in this museum. From this castle not even a bed, for example, survived.

The audio guide is included in admission (no offer in Portuguese). Besides explaining the two floors of the palace, tells a lot about the life of Queen Sophie-Charlotte, who gave his name to the Palace after her death.

When you are going to buy the entrance think about how much time you want spend there because there are several types of tickets and attractions.

In addition to the main palace, you can also see the expansion made by Frederick William III, the mausoleum of King Frederick Guilheme, the belvedere and the new Pavilion designed by Schinkel. Each of these attractions charge a separate entrance. However you can also buy one ticket that allows you to visit all of that palaces, cause they are managed by the same group, SPSG (Stiftung und Preussiche Schlösser GärtenBerlin-Brandenburg), with the exception of the palace of Sanssouci.

In my opinion, if you buy all of them, the worst thing that can happen is that's it's just interesting. The main entrance of this most famous palace costs 10€. However, for just 2€ more, you can buy the ticket for all of the other palaces and castles around Berlin and you have one full day to see them.

Particularlly, Potsdam, is an amazing one, the famous Sanssouci palace.

Useful Information:

Opening hours:

• Palace Charlotenburg - Tuesday to Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00
• The New part - Wednesday to Monday
• The Belvedere - Tuesday to Sunday
• The Mausoleum - Tuesday to Sunday

Price:

• Ticket only to Charlottenburg Palace - € 10 (student under 30 years)
• Ticket to all the palaces of the state of Brandenburg (not Sanssouci) - € 12

Photo gallery