Are you looking for a cheap and central accommodation in Berlin? Then read this post because we are going to recommend you a great hotel that will make you feel like you are at home, or better yet as if you had a house in the heart of Berlin. The hotel we are talking about is the Gat Point Charlie.
Where is the Gat Point Charlie Hotel? For the curious you will like to know that it is located in what were the headquarters of the Stasi secret police of the former East Germany. Regarding its location, it is close to Check Point Charlie, one of the top things to see in Berlin and therefore super central. In just 10 minutes you are at Potsdamer Platz! And you have a subway and bus stop almost at the door.
What are the rooms like at the Gat Point Charlie? The hotel has single, double, triple and junior suites. All are decorated in a modern and minimalist style, the bed is very comfortable and all have private bathrooms, everything is brand new!
What is the hotel like? The reception staff is very attentive and they speak Spanish! This is appreciated for those of us who are not exactly bilingual. The hotel has a bar area where you can have a snack or even a cocktail, they even have happy hour!
What about breakfast? And here we come to one of our favorite points of any hotel, we love to have a hearty breakfast to kick around the city! The breakfast at Gat Point Charlie is super complete, with cold dishes such as cold meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and also hot dishes with eggs, bacon or sausage. For those with a sweet tooth there is a wide variety of breads, jams, juices, pastries and even homemade cakes!
I’m sure we have already convinced you to stay at this hotel (you can book your room by clicking https://reservations.hotelgatpointcharlie.com/gat_charlie/en) but if you are not planning to visit Berlin at the moment and you fancy another destination, that’s ok! They have another great hotel in the center of Lisbon, the Hotel Gat Point Rossio.
The
Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm) is probably the most recognisable icon in the
city’s skyline. Berliners nicknamed it the Alex Tower and it receives more than
a million visitors annually.
Today,
it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the German capital, standing
out from the rest of the buildings with its large steel dome and its skyward
pointing antenna.
It
is located in the central Mitte district and is just a stone’s throw from
Alexanderplatz.
It was built during the times of the GDR, and nowadays the best thing to do is to enjoy its panoramic terrace, with one of the best views of the city while you visit the bar and restaurant.
The Reichstag dome
The main advantage of going up to the Reichstag dome, (the
German parliament building) is that it is free, and the main disadvantage is
that you have to book in advance, and considering the fast changing weather in
a city like Berlin, it can be a bit tricky to schedule your visit on a clear
day to appreciate the views and take good pictures.
However, since it’s free, there’s nothing to lose by booking
in advance and going up to have a look at the government district and the
centre of Berlin.
If you haven’t been able to book in advance, don’t worry:
you can sign up for the tour on the day if there are still places available,
otherwise you can always wait at least two hours or two days later. Your
booking will only be accepted if it is for the same day or the following day at
the latest.
-The dome is open daily from 08:00-00:00 hours and can be accessed every 15 minutes (the last entrance is at 22:00 hours).
The Kolhoff Tower (Panoramapunkt)
This building of curious architecture, located on Potsdamer
Platz, stands on one of the places where we used to find the division of the
famous wall. If you look up, you will see that the perimeter of the old wall is
marked with pebbles.
The main interest of the Kolhoff Tower, apart from the
building itself, is that on the 24th and 25th floors it houses Panoramapunkt,
an open observation deck that offers the best panoramic view of the centre of
Berlin. It has a café and a small exhibition that reviews the history of the
reconstruction of the area.
Since this terrace was inaugurated in 1999, the
Panoramapunkt has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Berlin,
and no wonder: from its viewpoint we can see the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin
Cathedral, the television tower, the Reichstag… a complete panoramic view of
the most significant buildings in the German capital from a building that
boasts the best sunset in Berlin.
– The observation deck is open daily from 10:00-20:00 and
costs €6 (€8 if you don’t want to wait in line), making the Kolhoff Tower a
cheap alternative to the TV Tower (and just as good).
The Weltballoon
Operated by the company Air Service Berlin, this helium
balloon is attached to the ground by a steel cable and rises to a height of 150
metres for a breathtaking view of Berlin.
The downside? It’s the most expensive viewpoint in Berlin,
costing around €19.90 per adult and €6.90 for children between the ages of 3
and 10.
If you decide to visit it you have to choose the right day
to go up, as the views are very good as long as the sky is clear.
There are rises every 15 minutes, and it operates every day
from 10:00-22:00 hours (between April and October) and from 11:00-18:00 hours
(between November and March).
It is located next to Checkpoint Charlie, at Zimmerstraße
95-100, so you can take advantage of your visit and try to find our Hotel Gat
Point Charlie. In the rooms at the back you can see the balloon as it rises.
Kreuzberg Hill in Victoriapark
The highest hill in Berlin (over 65 metres high), it is
clear that Kreuzberg Hill offers one of the best views. It is located in the
Victoriapark, (a park located in the heart of Kreuzberg, a very trendy
neighbourhood in recent times).
Once at the top you have to walk up to the highest part and
you can admire the views of the Kreuzberg district and the centre of Berlin,
and even catch a glimpse of the old Templehof airport, which has been converted
into a park open to the public (and quite curious, as you can imagine). A
romantic spot from which to watch the sunset over Berlin is a real pleasure.
-To get there, take the metro to Mehringdamm (lines U6 and U7) and walk about 10 minutes to the park entrance, which, of course, is free.
Teufelsberg. Devil’s Hill
Our last viewpoint takes us to the outskirts of Berlin…
and we assure you that, if you like to get away from the typical tourist sites,
this tower, almost 50 metres high, will not leave you indifferent.
It is a former spy station used by the American secret
services for eavesdropping during the Cold War, and abandoned after the fall of
the Berlin Wall. It is not surprising that David Lynch himself (yes, the film
director and creator of Twin Peaks) noticed this place, which he tried to turn
into a kind of esoteric university (something that was obviously not allowed by
the Berlin City Council).
Before becoming a spy stronghold, the site was once a training
centre for Nazi soldiers, which the Americans covered with tons of rubble at
the end of World War II to build this tower on the promontory, which stands 115
metres above the outskirts of Berlin and is not only a great view of the city
but an attraction in its own right.
Today, Teufelsberg is home to graffiti artists, street art
photographers and the occasional tourist with an explorer’s soul who comes here
to see what is undoubtedly one of the strangest, most ghostly and fascinating
places in Berlin.
European Park Day is celebrated on 24 May every year. Its aim is to protect natural areas. We have chosen the eight most beautiful parks in Germany for you. Black Forest National Park The forests of the Black Forest are dense and dark. Since the beginning of May 2014, this area in the south-west of Germany has been a fully-fledged national park. Rare bird species such as the capercaillie find refuge in the dense forests of spruce and beech, while its marshes are home to the endangered European common viper. Jasmund National Park The Baltic island of Rügen is known for its cliffs. The German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich made them a monument in his well-known work “White Cliffs on Rügen”. Add to that the island’s centuries-old beech forests and you have the perfect setting. Müritz National Park The Müritz National Park protects part of the Mecklenburg Lake District. In the water-rich landscape, it is possible to see virgin forests and to observe birds such as ospreys on its more than 100 lakes. Much of the park can be explored by boat or canoe. Hainich National Park “Jungle in the middle of Germany”. This is how the Hainich National Park in Thuringia is also known. In its forests, visitors can observe wild cats or travel through the treetops on specially constructed hiking trails. he forests of the Black Forest. Since the beginning of May 2014, this area in the southwest of Germany has been a fully-fledged national park. In the dense forests of spruce and beech, rare bird species such as the capercaillie find refuge here, while its marshes are home to the endangered European common viper. West Pomeranian Lagoon National Park Also called ‘Baltic Sea Lagoons’, the islands that make up the park are islands or peninsulas separated from the Baltic Sea. The marshes and waters of the National Park are an important resting place for different types of migratory birds. For example, cranes, which arrive in their thousands every autumn on their way south.
Saxon Switzerland National Park The rock formations in this park have been a favourite destination for climbers for 150 years. Some of the peaks are reached by stairs, making them easily accessible to visitors. From the heights it is possible to appreciate a wonderful panorama of cliffs, ravines and forests. A real dream. Berchtesgaden National Park This is the only German national park in the Alps. Located in southeastern Bavaria, this protected area is marked by the crevasses that characterise its steep rocks, but also offers green meadows and lakes. Marmots, eagles and chamois are native to this area. Black Forest National Park The forests of the Black Forest are dense and dark. Since the beginning of May 2014, this area in the south-west of Germany has been a fully-fledged national park. Rare bird species such as the capercaillie find refuge in the dense forests of spruce and beech, while its marshes are home to the endangered European common viper.
There is plenty of
contrast in our selection of alternative neighbourhoods in Berlin that are well
worth discovering: some have a revolutionary punk past, while others are
defined by their Art Nouveau architecture from the early 20th century. What
makes them all interesting is the way they have capitalized on their history
and adapted to become modern communities with plenty to offer.
Friedrichshain
@shellfish
Traditionally the epicentre of alternative culture in the German capital, this area is famous for the riots that took place here after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989. The buildings that were once occupied by activist squatters have now been converted into elegant boutiques and coffee shops. However, the neighbourhood’s revolutionary vibe can still be found in places such as the RAW complex, a collection of artistic spaces and events venues with an industrial flair.
Kreuzberg
@artejulia
Kreuzberg was the heart of West Berlin punk with squats such as Kopi and SO36, which are still standing today. While the neighbourhood still has a slightly non-conformist feel, it is very much part of the hipster scene. The indoor Markthalle Neun offers food from around the world on Street Food Thursdays.
At first sight, this looks like a bohemian neighbourhood that has rigorously preserved its historic buildings. When you dig deeper, you learn that behind the Art Nouveau façade lies Berlin’s tech centre, packed with startups and bars that accept bitcoin as payment. The Admiral Bridge is the perfect spot for a picnic.
Treptow
@stewi
This neighbourhood is
a green paradise thanks to its numerous parks, including Planterwald and Treptower Park.
If you take a stroll down streets like Lohmühlenstraße, you are likely to come
across new-age nomadic workers bent over their laptops in hipster coffee shops.
At night, the indoor Treptow Arena hosts concerts and parties, making it the
hottest venue in East Berlin.
Berlin is a
trendsetting city. When the brunch boom hit a few years ago, eateries here quickly
found a way to offer a new type of customer‒ “those who brunch” ‒extensive options for high quality, healthy and locally-sourced food.
Kopps
@koppsberlin
According to The New York Times and CNN, this is one of the best vegan
restaurants in the world. According to us, it’s a place where whatever you
order, it’s bound to be delicious!
Brunch served: Saturday
09:30-16:00 and Sunday 09:00-16:00.
Located on
Tempelhofer Ufer in the Kreuzberg district, Hallesches Haus is an eye-opening
event space with a modern, industrial vibe that serves locally-sourced organic
cuisine.
Brunch
served: Saturday
10:00-18:00. Enjoy a cup of local roasted coffee, too.
Isla Coffee Berlin
@Islacoffeeberlin
This city oasis
with a zen vibe set in the midst of a sometimes hectic Hermannstraße in
Neukölln features a minimalist decor, locally-produced furniture and an
abundance of plants. The brunches they serve at this “island” of calm are based
on a no-waste philosophy: leftover milk foam is used as ricotta to make their
bread pudding.
Brunch served:
Weekends,
10:00-16:00.
Fine Bagels
@finebagels
This bakery produces traditional New York bagels in the heart of the
Friedrichshain district. Perfect for enjoying lunch after browsing the
extensive collection of English books at the Shakespeare and Sons bookstore,
where it is located.
Open: Monday to Sunday
08:00-20:00.
Brammibal’s Donuts
@Brammibalsdonuts
Accompany
these marvellous, homemade vegan doughnuts with a great cup of coffee after
devouring a freshly toasted bagel. When it comes to brunch, anything goes. Open: Monday to Saturday 10:00-20:00. Sunday