OH Berlin

Berlin is incredibly rich in history, and there is no better way to experience this than by experiencing some of the innumerable monuments and museums, all paying testament to its multi-faceted and compelling history. However, for an authentic, living, and unchanged look into Berlin’s intriguing past, look no further than Europe’s largest historical monument: Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport.

The airport itself is over 90 years old, with the original building being erected in the 1920’s. However, during the 1930’s the building was completely overhauled and turned into an incredibly modern facility (by pre-war standards), exemplifying the technical superiority of the Nazi regime. Following this, during WWII Tempelhof became an armaments production base for the Nazi war effort – utilising forced labour from the nearby concentration camps. Finally, (and most memorably) Tempelhof became the center-piece in the world famous Berlin Airlift, with cargo planes landing every 90 seconds loaded with essential goods for the people of West Berlin.

Therefore, Tempelhof is an incredibly interesting facility with a multi-faceted history that is sure to appeal to all budding historians. What’s more, Tempelhofer Freiheit, the body in charge of the preservation and restoration of the former airport now offer tours of the grounds. We recently took a special tour and the result was simply fascinating.

Find out about our experience, and why you should take a tour too over on the Oh-Berlin blog.

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Berlin’s Olympic Stadium is a 74,000 seater domed stadium home to dozens of international sports competitions, concerts, exhibitions and events. However, it’s history hasn’t always been one of international acceptance and encouragement.

Built for the 1936 Olympic Games, the stadium was commissioned by the Nazi’s, and the construction was heavily watched over by Hitler himself. In fact, you can still see the grey, spartan-style Nazi influences on the exterior architecture, which is reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome.

Following the Olympic Games the stadium has become an important footnote in post WWII history, being only minutely damaged during the air strikes. Once Berlin was taken by the allies the British moved into the grounds and made the headquarters of their operations in the city. On the May Field (Maifield) just behind the main stadium, each year tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians would gather to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday.

Fast forward to the present and the stadium is now a vibrant hive of international prestige. Berlin based football team Hertha Berlin have made it home, as well as games from two separate Fifa World Cup competitions being held here throughout the years. (In fact, it was in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium that Zinedine Zidane delivered his famous head-butt in the 2006 Fifa World Cup final). Renowned international music acts have also played here, ranging from AC:DC, Madonna and the Rolling Stones, with Depeche Mode and Bon Jovi set to return in 2013.

Experiencing this iconic landmark is an important part of any trip to Berlin and it’s sheer size means planning is advised.

To read the whole article, visit the Oh-Berlin blog where we give you more information about tours and sightseeing options, as well as further information and interesting fact’s about Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

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Less than 30 years ago the Berlin Wall stood as a symbol of oppression and imprisonment not only in Berlin, but for the world over. More than 150km of fortified concrete separated east from west; freedom from oppression; liberty from tyranny.

Now, however, after all these years, and with very little of the original Berlin Wall still remaining in the city, it has become arguably Berlin’s most popular tourist attraction.

Where do you begin, though, with something so vast, politically, historically and, of course, literally?

We have broken the Berlin Wall down into 5 straight-forward and easy to follow recommendations to ensure you experience the wall as intimately and as completely as possible. Staring with the East Side Gallery

This 1.3km long mural against oppression stands tall as a shining example to progress, decorated in over 100 original art-works, personally painted first shortly after the wall fell, then redone again 20 years later to freshen up the images.

The Berlin Wall Memorial is another top suggestion, chronicling life behind the wall and documenting dozens of intrepid escape attempts. Also witness the only remaining section of original wall with the preserved grounds behind it, exactly as they would have been during the GDR. Giving visitors a unique look at living during the Wall era, the Berlin Wall Memorial comes highly recommended, especially for those on short trips.

If your visiting for longer and are looking for more of our suggestions, you can read the full The Berlin Wall – The 5 Best Ways to Experience the Legacy article at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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Big city life can be very stressful, just ask your average London, New York or Paris resident. One of the great things about touching down in Berlin, if you do come from a stress inducing city, is that your stress levels automatically drop considerably.

But even given the typically laid back charm of Berlin, being able to relax and be pampered a little is always a bonus. So why not take a rest from the city and recharge your batteries at Sri Dhanvantari – Centre for Ayurveda and Wellness in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg.

Ayurveda, literally translated, means “knowledge of life,” and is the oldest medical science on record. Its practices were first put down in writing more than 5000 years ago. The massages with warm scented oils, for instance, are often used to relax and rejuvenate the body. All massages are conducted in private rooms on heated loungers. Afterwards, you can also indulge in an Ayurvedic steam bath.

You can choose from a number of massages and spa treatments and the best thing is that Oh-Berlin.com is offering 15% off all listed treatments and massages. For further info and full article on Sri Dhanvantari check out the Oh-Berlin blog.

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The district of Nikolaiviertel is the oldest part of Berlin and has conserved all the features and characteristics of a city dating back to 1237.

It really is like stepping back in time walking around the area and evokes a similar experience to that of walking around the Old Town square in Prague.

Some of the oldest and most interesting buildings in Berlin are located in Nikolaivierte. Many have been converted into museums. For instance Nikolaikirche is the oldest church in the city with natural stone foundations, although it has undergone several alterations over the centuries.

Other interesting places of interest in the area include:

  The Knoblauchhaus is located in the only surviving 18th Century house in Berlin’s centre and belongs to the city museum (Stadtmuseum) offering special events and free entry.

  The Ephraim-Palais is a palace that has been converted into a museum, with three floors of exhibitions covering the history of art and culture in Berlin. The architecture is quite simply amazing!

  Zille Museum houses the art of Heinrich Zille, an observer in Berlin. His works were created in quill and on camera, recreating the atmosphere of Berlin in the XIX century.

  Hanfmuseum (Hemp Museum) reproduces ancient cultivation, including the use of fibres for textiles and medicinal products.

Read the full guide to Nikolaiviertel article with tips on shopping and restaurants at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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Ah everyone loves something for free and Berlin has quite a bit you can take advantage of.

If you are keen on art then head for Auguststrasse where a host of commercial galleries await your visit all year round.

Come the last week of April and there is the fantastic ´Gallery Weekend´ in Berlin. An annual event that sees around 50 leading galleries open their doors to the public for three days and three nights. At many of the openings the artists will be around to have a chat and you can typically enjoy a glass (or two) of wine and sometimes even snacks.

There is also a wealth of free entry museums in Berlin to suit every interest and timescale. Make sure you don’t miss out on these gems ranging from the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, located on the former site of Sachsenhausen concentration camp, now open to the public as a museum and memorial to the er… Sugar Museum, a museum dedicated to sugar!

A number of companies offer free tours around the city including Sandeman and Alternative Berlin tours where you can see street art, squats and alternative Berlin.

You can read the full Berlin for Free article at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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The days of Berlin being a “well-kept secret,” when it comes to true shopping pleasure and indulgence, are most definitely behind us. Berlin is now known as a shopper’s paradise, much-loved by young designers and trendsetters alike. The city is more or less an inexhaustible treasure chest, as long as you know where to look.

If you are looking for shopping centres and department stores we have a general overview of Berlin’s shopping opportunities, along with a few tips.

If you prefer seeking out vintage or second shops then you are going to enjoy seeking out what Berlin has to offer. To set you on your merry vintage shopping way we have a few suggestions of places you might want to check out. Vintage Berlin – Six of the best vintage shops

The regular Sunday Mauerpark flea market is very popular and a good place to pick up an unusual, original or just interesting item or two.

Finally, if you are looking for convenience and luxury all rolled into one handy emporium then look no further than the KaDeWe department store ´the Harrods of Berlin´.

So happy shopping in Berlin, don´t forget you can see more articles about Berlin at the Oh-Berlin blog and also catch us on Facebook and Twitter.

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It´s the Berlin Marathon this weekend and a chance to see 40,000 runners pounding the Berlin roads. Professionals and amateurs taking part in what is still a stiff test of endurance and a source of accomplishment for many participants. There is always a fantastic buzz around the city and about the race. Spectators get behind all the participants supporting them with choruses of cheers and goodwill. The crowd are also kept amused and entertained by street and live music performers.

The Berlin course and conditions are said to be one of the best for runners and a reason why so many world records have been set there than anywhere else. The current world record was set by Kenya´s Patrick Makau Musyoki who achieved his world record breaking time of 2:03:38 in last year´s 2011 Berlin Marathon.

The sun is forecast to make an appearance on Saturday so if you are in Berlin why not get down around the Brandenburg Gate and watch the spectacle and festivities and give the runners some encouragement.

You can see the full Berlin Marathon 2012 – The marathon party on the fastest course in the world article at the Oh-Berlin blog.

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Ever wondered what everyday life would be like living in the old German Democratic Republic? Were there really spies everywhere? Did everyone own a “Trabbi” and enjoy a spot of naked beach volleyball?

Oh-Berlin was very curious to find out so we wandered down to the DDR Museum on the Spreepromenade to find out for ourselves.

First thing we found out at the DDR museum is that the museum is not for the lazy as it requires a fair bit of interaction. The interactive aspect means that you are encouraged to open draws and cupboards, pick up telephones or sit in Trabants.

The permanent exhibition covers pretty much every aspect of life living in the GDR.

Interesting or unusual things we found out about life in the GDR were that you could actually get medals given to you at work for doing a good job or how children were actually taught how to properly throw a hand grenade using a wooden replica.

We also found out that Trabants could take up to 14 years to deliver, there were in fact quite a few spies walking around with cameras in their briefcases and yes nudity was indeed highly cherished.

See our review and pics of the DDR Museum.

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