A weekend in Berlin
Experience the metropolis on the river Spree with all of its facets. Whether a short break, night life, shopping trip, cultural tour, romantic days, a business stay or family break: let us show you the best parts of Berlin off the beaten track. Come with us on a stroll through Berlin. Here you will discover which areas of the city should be on your list of sights to visit.
The Hackesche Market
From our relexa hotel Stuttgarter Hof, we suggest that you take the S-Bahn from the "Anhalter Bahnhof" to "Hackescher Markt". Experience here artistic flair and exuberant life. The Hackescher Market offers a perfect base for a trip into the past of the city. They form the largest enclosed court yard area of Germany and are under monument protection. The balanced mix of commercial, retail, hospitality, art, culture and living is so unique that both Berlin residents and tourists feel at home right here.
There is much to see, as well as many restaurants and pubs; some cosy, some modern, from hip to extravagant. Just sit there, relax and watch people go by. Get everything here. The Hackescher Market is an interesting address for shopping: many small boutiques sell fancy shoes, designer fashion and jewellery.
The Heckmann - Hoefe
The Heckmann court yards, leading from the Oranienburger Strasse (next to Number 22) to August Strasse. The court yard's name goes back to the owner of the machinery factory Heckmann, who's heirs restored the court yards in the 90ies back to this beautiful state. Here you will find cosy cafes and pubs, and relaxation and this right in the centre of Berlin. Take the S-Bahn train to the station "Oranienburger Strasse".
The Museum Island in Berlin
Very close to the romantic Friedrich bridge, which is usually called by the Berlin resident's pedestrian bridge, you will find the Museum Island in Berlin. The Old National Gallery, the Bode Museum and the Cathedral are the stars here. And because here are many tourists you can find everything here, all what you would (not) like to have: a lot of musicians, hat seller etc. From this bridge you have a wonderful view especially on summer evenings.
Night life and club scene in Berlin
Out in the town - even after sunset. Experience the rich and famous club scene in Berlin. Our special tip is at the Hackescher Market: Sophie Club, which is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Discover over two floors the cosy atmosphere and the Berlin party-air. On Fridays is always a little bit more packed, as it is ladies night, where they get free admission.
The Prenzlauer Berg - Buecherwald, water tower and other impressions
You wake up on Saturday morning, slept fantastic and you are, thanks to the really rich relexa breakfast buffet, full of energy . Our tour takes you first to the Kollwitz square in Prenzlauer Berg. Take the S -Bahn from the "Anhalter Bahnhof" direction Alexanderplatz. Next with the underground to Pankow and then walk to the S-Bahn Schoenhauser Allee, from there to Kollwitz square. Here you can find on Saturdays, next to the popular organic market, a lovely hidden gem - the Buecherwald (forest of books). Five thick old tree trunks in the Sredzki/Ecke Kollwitzstrasse have something unique among the Gruenderzeit ambience. Inside the trees are small compartments with transparent plastic doors...and in there ... books.
If you already here in the forest of books and the Sredzkistrasse, follow the way towards Rykestrasse, and you could stop, for example, in the "Schankwirtschaft Seeblick" (lake pub, Rykestrasse 14). Nowhere a lake, but from here you have a great view of the symbol of Prenzlauer Berg: the water tower, which was completed in 1877.
From the "forest of books" you could also go via Kollwitzstrasse towards the TV tower and right by the Kollwitz square stop in the pub "Gugelhof" (Knaackstrasse 37) and enjoy French cuisine. More cosy is the Café Chagall ( Kollwitzstrasse 2), a Russian cafe, where there is always a great atmosphere, especially when the food is accompanied by live music. Now you have eaten well, watched multicultural activities and experienced the feeling of being right in the middle of the capital.
Lets go to Friedrichshain - experience history at first hand
Now you can top this journey with a visit to Friedrichshain. To do this, we suggest taking the S-Bahn M10 from Prenzlauer Allee and get off Warschauer Strasse, cross over to the Karl -Marx -Allee. The former flagship boulevard was with the "Stalin Allee" a prestige project of the GDR. It represents a unique architecture that you should not miss.
The neighbourhood around the Boxhagen square is not as "chic" as the Kollwitz square, but it is more colourful and avant garde. Here you can discover something on every corner, pub after pub, everywhere table and chairs outside, many boutiques and small shops that sell imaginative or exceptional rarities, and some still have the old " East German design". Let yourself drift, it is never too late. And with a bit of luck you can enjoy a great sunset, this time from the Modersohn Bridge. Not only couples meet here for the "sunset spectacle".
At sunset the bridge is always populated with people who gather here to enjoy this romantic atmosphere. Some bring a bottle of wine. Only if you have experienced it, you know why the Berlin residents love this place. From here you can catch an underground train directly to the hotel.
And at the relexa hotel Berlin is a comfortable room waiting for you ... and you are in Berlin. Here the nights are short. Enjoy your stay.
