Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
closed Sun-Mon, Auguststrasse 26, tel. 030/280-6605, www.eigen-art.com ) . The other gal-
lery area is in western Berlin, along Fasanenstrasse.
Pub Crawls
Various companies offer pub crawls to some of Berlin's fun watering holes. The (unrelated)
binge-drinking death of a 16-year-old in Berlin a few years ago reinforced the tours' strict
18-year-old minimum age limit. Pub crawls depart around 20:15, cost €12, generally vis-
it four bars and two clubs, and provide a great way to drink it up with new friends from
around the world while getting a peek at Berlin's bar scene...or at least how its bars look
when invaded by 50 loud tourists. You could take a pub crawl offered by Insider Tour or
Sandeman's New Europe Berlin (see contact info on here and here ), or look around town
for fliers from other companies.
Sleeping in Berlin
When in Berlin, I used to sleep in the former West, on or near Savignyplatz—and I still list
good options there. But these days, the focus of Berlin is in the East, and I've recommended
places in the colorful Prenzlauer Berg district. Berliners say that this sort of homey, homo-
genous neighborhood is in the heart of the Kiez (literally “gravel”).
Berlin is packed and hotel prices go up on holidays, including Green Week in mid-Janu-
ary, Easter weekend, the first weekend in May, Ascension weekend in May, German Unity
Day (Oct 3), Christmas, and New Year's. Keep in mind that many hotels have limited staff
after 20:00, so if you're planning to arrive after that, let the hotel know in advance.
In Eastern Berlin
Prenzlauer Berg
If you want to sleep in the former East Berlin, set your sights on the colorful and fun Pren-
zlauer Berg district. After decades of neglect, this corner of eastern Berlin has quickly come
back to life. Gentrification has brought Prenzlauer Berg great hotels, tasty ethnic and Ger-
man eateries (see “Eating in Berlin,” later), and a happening nightlife scene. Think of all the
graffiti as just some people's way of saying they care. The huge and impersonal concrete
buildings are enlivened with a street fair of fun little shops and eateries.
This loosely defined area is about 1.5 miles north of Alexanderplatz, roughly between
Kollwitzplatz and Helmholtzplatz, and to the west, along Kastanienallee (known affection-
atelyas“CastingAlley”foritsgenerousshareofbeautifulpeople).TheclosestU-Bahnstops
are U-2: Senefelderplatz at the south end of the neighborhood, U-8: Rosenthaler Platz in the
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