Tour report
Between the Government District, Alexanderplatz and a Festival Night
We arrived in Berlin on Friday evening and checked into our hotel. There was not much time left that first day, but we still headed out to Köpenick. Around the palace and the Old Town, we experienced a quieter side of the capital and gained a first impression of Berlin’s sheer size and diversity. After breakfast on Saturday, we took the S-Bahn and U-Bahn towards Brandenburg Gate. The city’s international character was already apparent during the journeys and at the various stations. At the same time, we did not always feel entirely safe while travelling around. From Brandenburg Gate, we continued to the Reichstag, the Chancellery and through the government district. Here, contemporary politics, public administration and Berlin’s historical significance sit side by side. We then made our way to Checkpoint Charlie before continuing along Unter den Linden. The embassies of various countries once again underlined the city’s international role. Almost by chance, we also passed the North Korean Embassy, which appeared deserted to us. From the city centre, we walked on into eastern Berlin as far as Alexanderplatz. Over coffee and cake, we watched the ever-changing bustle and took time to absorb our many impressions. For us, Berlin remained a city of light and shade: interesting, historic and international, but not necessarily somewhere we immediately felt at home. In the evening, the mood changed completely. We attended the Gestört aber GeiL festival at Parkbühne Wuhlheide. The exuberant atmosphere and the many friendly encounters made the evening a special moment of the weekend. Afterwards, public transport quickly took us back to the hotel. On Sunday morning, we began our journey home—with plenty of photos, a wide range of impressions and a firm plan to return for the festival the following year.
Moment
„Berlin revealed itself to us as a city of contrasts—historic, international and demanding, yet wonderfully exuberant that evening in Wuhlheide.“
Route
The route.
On Friday evening, our first excursion by public transport took us to Köpenick, its palace and the Old Town. The main city tour began after breakfast on Saturday with the journey to Brandenburg Gate. From there, we continued on foot to the Reichstag, the Chancellery and through the government district. Other stops included Checkpoint Charlie, Unter den Linden with its various embassies, and finally Alexanderplatz. In the evening, we travelled by public transport to Parkbühne Wuhlheide and returned to the hotel after the festival.
Personal note
What we remember most are the contrasts of this weekend: quieter Köpenick on Friday, the political and historic landmarks on Saturday, and the crowds at Alexanderplatz. Coffee and cake provided a welcome break, but the most memorable moment was the evening in Wuhlheide. The open atmosphere and the encounters we had there made our visit to Berlin particularly special.
Tour participants