BERLIN - a complete guide to the Wild Wild East

A couple of weeks ago, I took you on a smooth ride across Berlin, Germany's exciting capital, by bus #100. We started at the Alexanderplatz in the east and went westwards all the way to the former main train station Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten.

At the East Side Gallery, on this picture by street artist and wall painter Birgit Kinder you can see a Trabant - aka Trabi - one of two types of cars that were manufactured in the former GDR and everyone in the west made fun of. The Trabi is crashing through a wall - guess which one - and its license plate reads Nov 9, 89 - the date the gates to the west were open and the wall - and finally the GDR - came down. 

In today's post, let's discover what you get to see and experience when you turn east at the Alexanderplatz - and walk right into the heart of the ex-capital of the former GDR - the German Democratic Republic.

You'll see: It's the Wild Wild East!

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POTSDAM - how Frederick made a small town great

Potsdam, located about 40 km / 25 miles South-West of Germany's capital, is often considered Berlin's suburb. As a matter of fact, it can be reached by regional or urban train in more or less half an hour. Potsdam has barely 175,000 inhabitants but is still the most densely populated city of the federal country Brandenburg - and also its capital.

Sanssouci Palace is Potsdam's highlight, no matter what.

All this might make it sound like a cute, drowsy hamlet, but you'll be amazed to see it's rich heritage - and how Frederick made this small town great.

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BERLIN guide: get the most for less on bus number 100

(Updated July 2018)

Who needs an expensive hop on hop off-bus when you get to see Berlin's most important sights and sites right from the city bus number 100. Buy a cheap Welcome Card that allows you to explore Germany's capital on your own and get the most for less.

Pariser Platz on the Eastern side of the Brandenburger Tor - where the gate used to divide East and West Germany.
Today it's the busiest touristy spot in all Berlin.

Talking 'bout getting the most: If you actually get off at every attraction that I am introducing, you won't be able to do the tour, that in one go actually doesn't take much longer than half an hour, in one day - the Museum of German History alone is worth a visit of a couple of hours. But take it as a golden thread and follow the route in legs depending on how many days you have and what's most interesting for you.

By the way - you'll get important general info on visiting Berlin at the end of this post, so just scroll down.

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The GalleryWeekend - and other themed weekends in Berlin

Yes, it's true: Berlin, Germany's capital city, is always worth a visit: The history and the stories, the Prussian traditions and the worldly scenes - hardly any other German city has such a variety of must-sees, must-visits - in brief: must-experience to offer to its visitors.

An additional, charming aspect of the GalleryWeekend are the cozy corners under blooming trees in the courtyards.  

Are you still waiting for the special occasion to finally go - or to come back again?

Well, Berlin makes a point by offering a row of special themed weeks, weekends, and 'long nights' - like the exciting GalleryWeekend that I just attended. The variety is huge so that everybody will find something he's enthusiastic about. Check it out in this post....and go pack your weekender!


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