Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
So…
I could write an article about all the things there are to see & do in Berlin…but, haven’t thousands done this already?
So…
Here are three things I noticed during a recent visit to Berlin, which MAY assist you during your own visit…
POPULARITY
It seems whatever the season, Berlin will always attract many visitors to join its already bustling population.
I assumed that by visiting in November, it would be quieter…
But no, not Berlin.
Quite often – mostly between 4pm & 6pm – my time spent on trains was spent standing-up; On the buses, I would squeeze to get on & off the bus.
Personally, I found it best to avoid public transport between 3pm-6pm, and, the best times for travelling on public transport were mid morning to mid afternoon, and, in the evenings and at night.
Popularity also applies to sightseeing as well: Almost all the attractions will attract huge crowds during the day, sometimes adding disappointment to your picture-taking (especially in autumn/winter, when grey skies already depress the backdrop of your pictures)…
In the winter, Berlin is better photographed at night.
Not only will your pictures appear more outstanding (due to the magnificent lighting of the buildings), but the sensible people from those crowds will be somewhere indoors & warm…
Giving you a crowd-free experience at the attraction!
PAYMENTS
A Romanian friend gave me this tip…
And, it’s something that’s quite noticeable, once you know about it.
For some reason, many restaurants/bars/cafes in Berlin do NOT accept card payments.
This was a little surprising, as Berlin has such a modern transportation system, and is also one of the most popular cities in the world…
As expected, larger corporations (such as supermarkets, retail stores, Starbucks, McDonald’s, etc) DO take card payments…but, if you’re looking to explore smaller local establishments, then make sure you’ve some notes & coins in your pocket…
The day after I arrived, I had to withdraw over €100 from an ATM…so, if you’re heading to Berlin, make sure you top-up on currency before you arrive!
LAUNDRY
If your hostel or hotel doesn’t provide a laundry service, finding a laundrette in Berlin isn’t as easy as it would appear to be.
I went from laundry service to laundry service, each one telling me that they either charge by the weight (or per item) OR that the clothes would take a couple of days to be cleaned (or both!)…
All I wanted was an immediate self-service laundrette!
Fortunately, a cashier pointed me in the direction of Waschsalon, near the Rosenthaler Platz U-station.
It cost only €5.00 for the wash (including washing powder & detergent), and only €2.80 for the dry (because the dry costs .70₵ for every 10mins).
What’s also helpful is that this laundrette adjoins a cafe, so the owner is there to assist with your laundry, and can serve you coffee & food, too!
This self-service laundrette was a great little find, and seems mostly popular with students and young professionals…
…while the cafe seems to attract mostly locals.
Heading to Berlin soon? Why not consider a Berlin Welcome Card (read all about it here: http://thetraveltab.co.uk/berlin-welcome-card/)
You can also find out more about Berlin in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!