36 Hours in Berlin: Where to Stay, What to See, and How to Survive All that Beer!
Last month, I spent about 36 hours in Berlin and, although short, was able to take in a few sites and enjoy a stunning stay at the Ritz-Carlton Berlin. Since I have been to the city a few times, I took the time to go off the beaten path a bit and have some new experiences as well as time to spend in the beautiful hotel. If you are planning a trip to Berlin, let’s chat and put together an itinerary that works for you.
Where to Stay
For this trip, I chose to stay at Ritz-Carlton Berlin at Potsdamer Platz in the city center. The location is convenient to many visitor sites like Sony Center, Tiergarten, the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate. My room was spacious and wonderfully appointed with a bathroom that screamed, “take a bubble bath!” I was on Club Level which I recommend to all of my clients when staying at a Ritz-Carlton. With Club Level reservations in Berlin, you receive a ton of amenities like:
Continuous culinary offerings daily
Complimentary wine, beer and a variety of other alcoholic beverages
24-hour “grab and go” station for soft drinks and coffee
24-hour Business Center
A dedicated concierge staff on hand to personalize your stay
Exclusive rooms and suites on the 10th floor
Personalized service
I also took the time to check out the spa and pool area which were lovely. A few pics:
What to See
There is so much to see in Berlin, it is hard to give recommendations. I tell clients to concentrate on the aspects that are important to them - history, art, etc. Berlin is also a good city to do a Hop-On, Hop-Off or private tour to get an overview of the sites. Here are my recommendations for what I feel are a nice “preview” of the wonderful city of Berlin:
Street Art Tour
I love street art tours and have done them in a variety of cities. They are always different based on what artists have been at work recently - even from one day to another. Not only is the art interesting, but the guides usually have an interesting perspective of the city and they take you off the beaten-tourist path. Here is one I have done and liked.
East Side Gallery
East Side Gallery is 1.3km long section of the Berlin Wall located near the center of Berlin. Not only is it interesting and a great place for photos, there are a ton of great places to eat or grab a drink nearby with cool spots near the river.
Museum Island
This collection of 5 museums are among some of the most famous of Berlin and a great place to spend a day. If touring museums is not your thing, it is still a beautiful place to walk around and experience.
Holocaust Memorial
Located very close to the Ritz-Carlton, I always take a few moments to visit this memorial. it is a visually powerful remembrance and there is an info center located on the grounds. Even if you just take a few moments to walk through, I recommend adding this to your Berlin trip.
Alexanderplatz
This area is often the jumping off point for the Street Art Tour so you can check it out before or after this if you do it. It is a shopping center but also home to interesting art-projects, restaurants, and the famous Fernsehturm. It is a great place to people-watch but does get busy as one of Berlin’s big tourist centers.
Want to go?
This is a quick look at Berlin and there are so many adventures to be had in this city - culinary, LGBT, etc. I have spent a lot of time here and can help you plan a specific adventure - let me know what you want to do! Also, you can receive special perks at Ritz-Carlton by booking through me including:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full) **
When reserving an Executive Suite, Bellvue Suite or Grand Suite in lieu of the 85 Euro F&B guests receive 100 Euro Food and Beverage Credit per guest and stay
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability