INTRODUCTION TO Berlin

With is combination of glamour and grit, Berlin is sure to impress anyone with a desire of exploring its cutting-edge architecture, colourful culture, intense nightlife and iconic history. All those big names like Karl Marx, Albert Einstein, David Bowie (and even Adolf Hitler), have been shaped by Berlin’s textured history. Although known for being a big multicultural metropolis, Berlin has its own unique charm. Whether you are searching for the perfect action-packed stag or a boozy hen night abroad, Berlin is the city that truly never sleeps!

BERLIN BY DAY

UNEARTH AWESOME ATTRACTIONS

Reichstag Building

Berlin oozes history. Whether you studied it at school or not, there is plenty of time to get up-to-date with the infamous Reichstag building. As the seat of the German Parliament, this is the most famous landmark and tourist attraction in Berlin. However, if you are not too interested in the buildings past, why not take a trip up to the dome and explore the roof terrace? Its fantastic views are not to be missed!

Website: www.bundestag.de
Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 30 227-0 
Opening times: Mon-Sun (8am-12am)

Berlin Wall Memorial

This is perhaps one of the most iconic spots in Berlin and is famous for its colourful history. At the memorial itself you can learn about the history of the division and the victims of Communist tyranny, and so is the perfect tourist attraction for all you history buffs out there.

Website: www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de 
Address: Bernauer Str. 111, 13355 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 304 679 866 66 / info@stiftung-berliner-mauer.de
Opening times: Mon-Sun (8am-10pm)

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The church, now only partly standing, is known as being one of the most iconic landmarks in western Berlin. Initially the church was built to honour Kaiser Wilhelm I, but was badly damaged in a bomb raid during the Second World War. As it stands today, the church acts as a reminder of World War II and as a memorial to when Kaiser’s ruled Germany. This is the perfect tourist spot for those with a love for history or even architecture.

Website: www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de
Address: Breitscheidplatz, 10789, Berlin, Zum Stadtplan
Contact: +49 302 185 023 / fuehrungen@gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de
Opening times: Mon-Sun (9am-7pm)

Friedrichstadt-Palast

This revue is the ultimate place to visit if you are looking for a fun night. Hosting hundreds of shows each year, including Berlin’s famous 'THE ONE Grand Show', there is always something entertaining lined up. With fantastic costumes created by star designer Jean Paul Gaultier, you'd be a fool to miss out (especially at prices as little as 19.80€!) Bring your friends and have some fun; see fantastic dancers and drink some delicious wine… This beats any theatre experience in Britain! 

Website: www.palast.berlin
Address: Friedrichstraße 107, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 302 326 2327 / feedback@palast.berlin
Opening times: Mon (10am-6:30pm) Tue-Sun (10am-10pm)

EAT 'TIL YOUR HEARTS CONTENT

Burgermeister
Burgermeister may just be one of the more interesting burger joint you'll encounter in your life. With is fantastic location and flexible opening times,this restaurant is a popular spot for Berliners, so you'll get to experience all walks of life here. 

Website: www.burger-meister.de
Address: Oberbaumstraße 8, 10997 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 302 388 3840 / contact@burger-meister.de
Opening times: Sun-Thu (11am-3am) Fri-Sat (11am-4am) 

Restaurant Bieberbau
For those of you looking for a relatively quiet place to eat, the restaurant Bieberbau is a great place to enjoy some decent grub in the evening. You may have to call up beforehand to book a reservation as there are certainly no walk-in customers. With a vast selection of classic meals and combinations with some smart additions, you can guarantee that you’ll have the full Berlin dining experience.

Website: www.bieberbau-berlin.de
Address: Durlacher Str. 15, 10715 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 308 532 390
Opening times: Tue-Sat (6pm-12am) 

Rausch Schokoladenhaus
Website: www.rausche.de
Address: Charlottenstraße 60, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 800 030 1918
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-8pm) Sun (11am-8pm)

Restaurant Schnitzelei
Website: www.schnitzelei.de
Address: Röntgenstraße 7, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 303 470 2777
Opening times: Mon-Fri (4pm-12am) Sat-Sun (12pm-12am)

Ristorante Essenza
Located in the Kollhoff Tower, this Italian restaurant is the best of its kind. Choose between being pampered with excellent service at lunchtime or in the evening with fantastic, light Italian cuisine. Before or after trying out some of the delicious dishes, why not enjoy a city panorama at 100 metres height from where you’ll have a stunning view of Postdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.

Website: www.ristorante-essenza.de
Address: Kollhoff Tower, Potsdamer Platz 1, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Contact: +49 302 579 6856 / info@ristorante-essenza.de
Opening times: Mon-Fri (11am-12am) Sat (12pm-12am) Sun (5pm-12am)

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

Alexa Centre

For those of you looking for a more convenient place to shop during your time in Berlin, the Alexa Centre shopping mall is a great place to visit. Its size allows for hundreds of people to shop around at their leisure, so you can guarantee that you’ll make some new friends along the way. If after all the shopping you start to feel peckish, there is a fantastic food court that serves a good selection of snacks and drinks.

Website: www.alexacentre.com
Address: At Alexanderplatz Grunerstraße, 20, 10179 Berlin
Contact: +49 302 693 401 21 / customercarealexa@sonaesierra.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-9pm)

Kurfürstendamm (KaDeWe)

Fancy spending some cash on one of the most famous streets in the old centre of West Berlin? Then head down to the Kurfürstendamm shopping centre. There are some excellent shopping facilities available for anyone and everyone, with the typical stores that you can find anywhere in Europe, and also some hidden gems. You can enjoy both ends of the shopping spectrum between high-street and designer brands.

Website: www.kadewe.de
Address: Kauhaus des Westens, Tauentzienstr. 21-24, 10789, Berlin
Contact: +49 302 1210 / service@kadewe.de
Opening times: Mon-Thu (10am-8pm) Fri (10am-9pm) Sat (9:30am-8pm)

Mall of Berlin

This shopping centre is fairly new compared to the likes of the Alexa Centre and KaDeWe, so you are certain to be in for a treat as you wonder from floor to floor. All of the stores are upscale, with a mix of some fantastic affordable stores. It is clean and well organised (since it is new) and can easily be accessed by Berlin’s public transport systems. The Mall of Berlin also boasts an amazing food court, with a great variety of delicious grub. 

Website: www.mallofberlin.de
Address: Leipziger Platz 12, 10117, Berlin
Contact: +49 302 062 1770 / mallofberlin@hghi.de
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-9pm)

Friedrichstrasse

If you are not so keen on shopping around in one of Berlin’s gigantic malls, Friedrichstrasse is the perfect alternative. Instead of being boxed in a large building, you can wonder along the greatest shopping street in Germany. From upscale clothing stores to brilliant bookshops, there is something for even the quietest of people. It offers a great, lively atmosphere during the day, but is rather quiet at night, allowing you to explore in peace.

Website: www.friedrichstrasse.de
Contact: +49 302 309 650 / giehne@berlin-mitte.com

Berlin bY NIGHT

SAMPLE THE LOCAL WATERING HOLES

Barbie Deinhoff’s

Barbie Deinhoff’s is a fantastic bar in Berlin, home to some of Germany’s greatest cocktails. With a good selection of drinks at very reasonable prices, this bar is a popular hangout particularly for those who are out late at night. Its eccentric design and unique music add to the list of reasons as to why the bar is so popular, especially on a summer evening.

Website: www.barbiedeinhoff.de
Address: Schlesische Strasse 16, Kreuzberg
Contact: +49 306 953 1053 / info@barbiedeinhoff.de
Opening times: Tue-Thu (6pm-4am) Fri-Sat (6pm-5am)

Prater Garten

You don’t have to love beer to love Berlin, but it helps a lot! Everyone knows that Berlin is renowned for its beer, and what better way to second that than by visiting of its most visited beer gardens. With fantastic beer on tap and from bottles, you can be sure to get the full German experience. To go alongside your booze, the Prater Garten also offers some great German bar food including various types of Wurst, jacket potatoes, soup and pretzels.

Website: www.pratergarten.de
Address: Kastanienallee 7-9, Prenzlauer Berg
Contact: +49 304 485 688
Opening times: April-Sept, Daily from 12pm

Die Weinerei

Calling all wine drinkers! If you have a taste for the finer things in life, take a trip to Die Weinerei, where you can sample and get to know some of the best wines in Berlin. Here you can try home-brewed wines from their very own vineyard stumps or you can taste some of their many international wines. Once you have met the greatest wines, you can settle down in their café and wine bar for a few drinks and snacks; vital for keeping those energy levels up.

Website: www.weinerei.com
Address: Veteranenstrasse 14, Mitte
Contact: +49 304 406 983 / info@weinerei.com
Opening times: Mon-Fri (1pm-8pm) Sat (11am-8pm)

Bei Schlawinchen

Some have named it the best bar in Berlin. You should come and see for yourself! There is no denying that this is a rough and ready sort of place. As it is open 24 hours a day, it is always full to the brim with locals and tourists alike. Its astounding interior includes all varieties of unique statues and ornaments; sure to blow your mind as you enter for the first time. If you are looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere, good variety of drinks and friendly service, Bei Schlawinchen is the place for you.

Address: Schönleinstrasse 34, 10967, Kreuzberg
Contact: +49 306 932 015
Opening times: Open 24 hours

DANCE UNTIL DAWN

Berghain & Panorama Bar

As one of the most famous clubs in the world, Berghain is a popular club for all lovers of Techno and a great atmosphere. As you enter, you’d better prepare yourself to dance for hours on end, inside this abandoned power plant. Separated by a set of stairs, you’ll also find the Panorama Bar where you’ll be treated to some of the greatest house music in Berlin.

Website: www.berghain.de
Address: Am Wriezener Bahnof 10243 Berlin Friedrichshain
Contact: +49 302 936 0210 / support@berghain.de

Salon zur Wilden Renate

Berlin is known for being a country to provide unique experiences, and that is true even when it comes down to nights out. Have you ever dreamed about clubbing in a circus? Then this is the place for you! The atmosphere here is completely wild and nothing like any other club in Berlin. Boasting a huge outdoor area and many dancefloors, there is plenty of space for you to party into the early hours of the morning. The drinks are pretty cheap too!

Website: www.renate.cc
Address: Alt-Stralau 70 10245 Berlin
Contact: +49 302 504 1426 / info@renate.cc
Opening times: Thu (12am-6am) Fri-Sun (Open 24 hours)

Watergate

This nightclub is the place to be if you are a lover of all things music. As a hotspot for people who are looking to experience a great night with premier DJs, Watergate is the ideal place to be on a Saturday night. With music including house, break-beat and drum and bass, there is something for everyone to enjoy. For the guys out there, there are plenty of hot girls around to flirt with. If music is what matters to you, you will definitely feel like you belong at the Watergate club.

Website: www.water-gate.de
Address: Falckensteinstr. 49 10997 Berlin Kreuzberg
Contact: +49 306 128 60394 / info@water-gate.de

Tresor

This is perhaps the biggest and most respected techno club in Berlin. Similar to most of the nightclubs, it too is an abandoned power plant. Its size and nature is enough to impress everyone who visits, providing the ultimate nightclub experience. The perfect spot for a Friday or Saturday night out, at the Tresor club you can meet some great people and rave the night away.

Website: www.tresorberlin.com
Address: Kopenicker Strasse 70 10179 Berlin Mitte
Contact: +49 306 953 7731 / club@tresorberlin.com

CHECK OUT THESE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Christmas Garden Berlin

Christmas is the time that Berlin’s Botanical Garden transforms into a winter wonderland with illuminations, magic wood sculptures and light statues. Inspired by London’s magnificent “Christmas in Kew”, this mile-long tour displays over a million light spots, colourful illuminations and Christmas-themed figures all over the grounds.

Dates: 17^th November 2016 – 1^st January 2017

Berlin Fashion Week

For all you fashion buffs out there, Berlin Fashion Week is the perfect place to gather some inspiration for any outfit. Urban streetwear, plus size and eco fashion shows are just some of the focal points of Berlin Fashion Week; watch the city as it turns into an international platform for fashion where buyers, journalists and fashion enthusiasts alike can search for those new trends.

Dates: 17^th – 19^th January 2017

Berlinale – International Film Festival

For all those movie buffs out there, Berlin’s International Film Festival is the greatest event which takes place at the start on the new year. It is the city’s most glamourous event, showing more than 400 films throughout its duration. As one of the most prestigious events in the international film industry’s calendar, this event attracts the elite of the film industry as well as the largest audience of any film festival in the world! 

Dates: 9^th – 19^th February 2017

LAST NIGHT OF FREEDOM

berliN HEN & STAG WEEKENDS

You don’t have to love beer to love Berlin, but boy does it help! With a renowned reputation as one of the most free-spirited and liberal cities in the world, this is the place where the parties never stop. There is no avoiding being sucked into the history of this magnificent city, so why not take a guided trip around some of its most iconic sites like the remains of the Berlin Wall or the infamous Reichstag building? After feeding your brains you’ll no doubt need to feed your stomachs! You’ll be sure to find countless food stalls lining the streets, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Berlin is the perfect play for all you funky, edgy, urban hens and stags that love modern style and proper hardcore fun! Of course you will see other hens and stags littering the city on beer bikes or in Trabants, so you’ll be in great company as you conquer the streets.

With direct flights from London Gatwick, you’ll be living the Berlin life in just 2 hours! The prices alone are absurdly cheap so you needn’t worry about not having enough cash to splash on your big weekend. A quick traveller’s tip – if you book in advance you’ll make some huge savings! You can get return flights from Bristol, Luton and Manchester for as little as £50 (of fly with EasyJet from Stansted for around £45.)

When you arrive, you’ll definitely want to check out the sights. Although they are fairly far from each other, public transport is the way to go. Being German, the transport is always on time (unlike in the UK!) The city is also bicycle friendly too.

Although an entirely new country, you won’t find it difficult to meet new people and make some new friends. The locals are welcoming and speak excellent English. For all you hens out there, why not visit the local spa for a pampering session, or perhaps you’d prefer to have a tour through one of Berlin’s massive shopping malls? If you stags fancy hitting the beers early, why not book a tour of the biggest beer halls in Germany? You’ll get to see how the booze is made as well as sampling the best lagers in town! With pints as cheap as £2, you can keep the drinks flowing all night long.

packages available

Not sure of where to start with planning your hen and stag weekend activities? Then why not book one of our packages? We offer a variety of different packages that are unique and tailored to suit your hen or stag party.

Shooting Package

This fiery weekend will include a 2 night stay in a 3* hotel in the centre of Berlin, with minibus transport to and from the airport. Unique to this package, you will get to take the trigger of an Ak-47. Each of you will be guided by a fully-qualified instructor and have 20 bullets to shoot each. This is unlike any game you have ever played – this is the real deal! To bring your hen or stag party to a close, you will have a 5 hour guided tour of all the greatest bars and pubs throughout Berlin, not forgetting a nightclub and lap dance club entry with a free private show for the stag, along with a free second drink. 

Prices start from £175.

Karting Package

Particularly for those who prefer to let loose on the track, this package includes a 2 night stay in a hotel in the centre of Berlin, with minibus transport to and from the airport. Specific to the Karting Package, you and the lads will get to experience the thrill of a lifetime with indoor go-karting. There will be 3 x 8 minute races with a 5 minute warm up lap to get those tires burning. All equipment and safety procedures are provided by a fully-qualified instructor. Similar to the other Berlin packages, you will end your hen or stag weekend with a 5 hour pub crawl, including a beer at each of the bars in the city, and nightclub and lap dance club entry with a free private show for the stag, and a second drink for free.

Prices start from £159.

Other packages

- Budget Package (From £114)
- Basic Package (From £129)
- Paintball Package (From £159)
- Beer Bike Package (From £165)
- Beer Hall Tour Package (From £145)
- Wellness and Sightseeing Package (From £139)
- River Cruise & Sights Package (From £115)

So what are you waiting for? Don't delay! Now is the perfect time to visit this extraordinary city, with so much to do and so much to see. For more travel tips and inspirations for your hen or stag weekend, visit our website today or call 0800 210 0643. Bis Bald!