OH Berlin

If you live in Berlin for any matter of time you come to realise that the saying that ´there is always something happening´ is very true.

Any given week there are a host of events on weekdays and even more at the weekend. It results in the situation that you have to sometimes make a difficult choice of what event to attend when you have a number of options that you like.

For those visiting Berlin it´s possible to time your trip to the city to coincide with an event you would really like to attend.

For instance come early February film fans can experience the city´s big annual movie festival, Berlinale.

The Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is Berlin´s biggest and best street carnival. If you have not been yet it is definitely worth planning your trip to catch this fabulous four day event. It’s a lot more relaxed than other big city carnival´s but just as enjoyable.

The Classic Open Air event takes place in the first week of July. The beautiful  Gendarmenmarkt, the city´s most beautiful and elegant square, is the venue for four days of great open air concerts.

If you happen to be in Berlin around mid October you´ll be in for a real treat as the city´s famous landmarks and public spaces are gorgeously lit up as part of the Festival of Lights.

You can see the full Top Ten Berlin Events 2013 article at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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This year Berlin moved ahead of Rome to be the third leading tourist destination in Europe.  Some local cynics say that this is partly due to the excellent exploits of the city´s marketing men but surely hype can only go so far?

As those who have been lucky enough to spend time in Berlin know the city is pretty fantastic.  The term ´once bitten eternally smitten´ seems very apt for most people experiencing Berlin. Where you may visit other places and have a genuine affection after, it can be a case of ´been there done that´ and ´thanks for the memories´. But Berlin seems to be able to lure people back eager to rekindle the good times they had in the city.

In terms of tourist attractions there is no shortage ranging from historical places of interest such as Checkpoint Charlie or Brandenburg Gate to modern innovative architecture such as the Reichstag dome and the sky scrappers at Potsdamer Platz.

Berlin is known for its thriving arts and cultural scene. One of the most visited free arty destinations for visitors is to check out the East Side Gallery.  The outdoor gallery consists of paintings from over a hundred artists on a long stretch of the original Berlin Wall.

You can see the full Berlin´s Top 10 Tourist Attractions – At a Glance at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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So you grabbed a little min-break or weekend in Berlin but what to see and do?

Obviously Berlin has a lot of rich history and there are plenty of major sights and attractions, but if you wanted to see a slightly alternative Berlin, away from the must do and sees on the checklist, we have a few suggestions for you.

You will notice lots of street art and graffiti in Berlin and Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are good places to see some eye-catching examples.  Like the huge astronaut on the side of a building on Mariannenstraße or other grand scale and slightly provocative street art like “brothers”on Curvystraße.

If you happen to be in Berlin on a Tuesday or Friday you should really take in the Turkish Market along the Maybachufer. The market is also in the Kreuzberg area which has a large Turkish community and is also home to students and artists. Over the last few years the area has become one of the liveliest places in the city.

Berlin offers a wide selection of international cuisine in places around the city but if you are looking for something a little unusual and delicious the Massai African Restaurant in the Prenzlauer Berg district will fit the bill. A chance to try such typically rare meats such as ostrich, wildebeest, zebra in fun and appealing surroundings.

Read our specially designed itinerary for a slightly alternative weekend in Berlin at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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December always feel a little special in Berlin. The Christmas markets everywhere, indulging in the warming and spirit enhancing properties of Glühwein and the festive lights on most streets.

Berlin is also an excellent place for Christmas shopping. You have all your favourite well known stores and brands plus the up-and-coming designers and great vintage stores. A visit to the impressive KaDeWe, “the Harrods of Berlin” and the largest department store in Europe is a must. And no visit to Berlin is complete without checking out at least one of the excellent flea markets such as Mauerpark.

If you are thinking of coming over to do your Christmas shopping in Berlin or even staying over for Christmas or New Year you should really consider renting an apartment. Staying in your own holiday apartment is very affordable and gives you so much freedom, perfect for staying with friends or family. You will have lots of space for your shopping bags and you can even cook an authentic German Christmas dinner.

Read the full Christmas in Berlin – Accommodation, shopping and Christmas markets article at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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Over a million people will choose to celebrate New Year´s Eve in Berlin this year. Many will head for around the Brandenburg Gate for the biggest open-air New Year´s Eve party in the world. Berlin being Berlin there will also be countless parties and events throughout the city to celebrate well into the early hours.

The 1920s, ah, that golden period for style, beauty, elegance and a little decadence thrown in for good measure.  Bohème Sauvage will be having their 1920s style theme party this New Year´s eve at the Wintergarten. A chance to get glammed up, do the Charlestown, drink a bit of the green fairy and even hit the poker tables.

If you are looking for a big clubbing night Kulturbrauerei will be hosting one humungous party; and with 15 different dance floors there is bound to music for everyone to get their groove on.

A nice meal is a great way to start your New Year´s celebration and Nocti Vagus Dunkelrestaurant are offering their special Silvestre dinner. Dine in the dark watching a show and music. The event finishes at 11pm so perfect timing to get the partying starting properly.

The more discerning reveller wanting a more refined cultural experience can enjoy a concert and fine dining in the Orangerie at Charlottenburg Palace.

See the full article ´Berlin New Year 2013 – The best parties and the perfect accommodation´ at the Oh-Berlin Blog

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Delays to the official opening of Berlin´s shiny new Brandenburg airport means that many flights will be re-scheduled back to Schönefeld Airport. Schönefeld has seen considerable increases over the last few years as budget airlines such as Easy Jet and German Wings have brought in more visitors to the city.

Chances are if you flying budget to Berlin you will come through Schönefeld. The airport is situated outside the centre of the city so if you are looking for advice on how to get from the airport to your Berlin destination we have a handy article which gives you all the important info you need about the options available.

There are a growing amount of ways of getting from Schönefeld aiport these days depending your budget and requirements. If you are looking for ease and comfort then the Airport Express train will get you to different centrally located points in Berlin in a straightforward and efficient manner.

Alternative ways of getting to your desired location in Berlin include airport transports by public transport buses, the airport express bus or by using the S-Bahn which is the suburban and city railway network.

Read the full article on the Oh-Berlin blog.

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