Beautiful Berlin

The Hilton Berlin hotel... 

As we are 'Hilton Honors' members, we often stay at Hilton branded hotels. I have to say the  Hilton Berlin was one of the best. It was reasonably priced for a city centre hotel...and I do mean centre! Nearby landmarks such as Gendarmenmarkt is literally outside the front door Reichstag Building 0.8 miles and Museum Island just 0.6 miles away. Many of the ‘big sights’ are within walking distance of this hotel. We spent most of the time walking the streets, taking in the sites rather than using the underground, however there are lots of underground stops nearby if you are not keen on walking or have more limited time to explore the wonderful city of Berlin. This makes Hilton Berlin a wonderful place to stay when visiting this city. 

We had booked a room with executive lounge access. This gave us access to the executive lounge located on the ground floor, for evening complimentary drinks and buffet. The wine and beer selection on offer were lovely with a beautiful dry white Riesling wine. If you are more inclined to drink beer, spirits or just want a soft drink there is a vast selection for everyone. As we had dinner reservations, we only had cheese and cracker before we left but the hot and cold selections looked amazing and proved immensely popular.  

Breakfast was served in the main dining room on the first floor with views looking over Deutscher Dom... amazing! The self-serve breakfast buffet offers a wide selection of pastries, cold meat, and cheese selection, a cooked breakfast, and my favourite...a freshly cooked omelette station. Breakfast can be accompanied with self-made Bloody Mary's or Prosecco...if you wish but, the coffee hits the spot first thing in the morning. 

I can't emphasise enough how beautiful the view out of the restaurant window is... Deutscher Dom, Konzerthaus Berlin and Französischer Dom ( I would recommend climbing the tower of the last cathedral, the views are amazing) 

The Hilton Berlin is really that central! 

The ‘big sights’ 

We like to walk and explore. This way, we see all the main sightseeing attractions but discover unexpected gems along the way. I would recommend doing a bit of research before you leave and putting together a walking tour. I find making your own ‘walking tour’ on google maps particularly useful. You can then send this to your phone and follow it set by step, so you do not get lost...I always leave room for a detour as we invariably see something we want to explore down a side street.

This city has so many attractions, it’s hard to know where to start. The Mitte district is home to many of Berlin's most famous sights.  

When we arrived in Berlin we got off the train at Alexanderplatz station. Also known as the "Alex", is one of the most visited and most famous squares in Berlin. It is not only the location of the famous and widely visible TV Tower, the square itself has also repeatedly been the scene of historical events. 

The TV tower is a striking structure with its base located on Alexander Platz. The tallest building in Germany can be seen from anywhere is the centre of Berlin and is particularly striking when lit up at night. The spherical observation deck of the tower offers a wide panoramic view of the city. 

The world clock is a photo opportunity for any tourist finding themselves in this area. Also close to the 'Alex’ is the Red City Hall which gets its name from its striking facade made entirely of red bricks. The building is the official residence of the Governing Mayor and the Berlin Senate. 

A short stroll from the ‘Alex’ and you will find yourself on Museum Island. At least five museums are located on the world-famous Museum Island on the Spree River. The complete ensemble of historical buildings is a World Heritage Site. 

One of my favourite buildings was Berlin Cathedral. Located opposite the City Palace with its eye-catching dome. Again a popular photo opportunity for tourists made this a crowded area but worth stopping and taking in its beauty as the river flows past.

Continuing over the river you can't miss the Reichstag building. Many momentous events in German history are associated with the Reichstag building. Today, the German government operates from here. Tourist can tour the building taking in the views from the roof terrace and the dome. 

As you then stroll down Under der Linden looking at all the amazing architecture along the way, you will eventually come across the most iconic landmark in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate. For decades, this monument was in a restricted zone directly on the border between the GDR and the Federal German Republic. After the reunification, it became the most important symbol of the unity of Berlin and Germany. It really is beautiful, but you will need to dodge the tourists if you want to take a photo...it's a free for all! 

A day trip took us Charlottenburg and its beautiful palace. A short journey on the subway (28 minutes) and you reach this amazing building filled with history and artifacts that tell her story. The magnificent ball room has all the grandeur you would expect from a palace.  

Food and Drink 

When we visit new places, we like to sample their local delicacies. In berlin this was Currywurst which has been a German institution in Berlin since 1949 when it was introduced by Herta Heuwer.  She was given some ketchup, curry powder and Worcestershire sauce by soldiers who had brought it over from the UK.  Berliners had been used to limited post-war rations, so the tasty spicy sauce Herta created, poured over Bratwursts tasted amazing. Herta sold her Currywurst from food stands to construction workers working on rebuilding Berlin after WW2. When we got off the train station at Alexanderplatz we went in search of the infamous Currywurst, We found a lovely spot for lunch at ALEX Berlin am Alex. I have to say I was a little sceptical as bratwurst is not my favourite food but it had to be done. The Bratwurst with the Curry/ketchup inspired sauce and chips was quite delicious. My husband loved it so much he had it twice during our trip.  

We found a fantastic bar and restaurant round the corner from our hotel. The ERDINGER am Gendarmenmarkt, a typical German brewhouse.  On their menu I stumbled across the Flammkuchen which is translated as ‘tarte flambee’ The Alsace regional ‘pizza’ is a must. The Alsace region has gone back and forth on which country it is in between Germany and France. As a result, it is influenced from both by language and ingredients. The dough has no rising agent therefore is crispy and almost pastry like. The Flammkuchen is a flatbread with a sour cream base instead of tomato topped with bacon and onion that is light and tasty snack. It may seem like only a few ingredients, but they are transformed into an utterly delicious dish you will instantly love...and want again!