Berlin and Amsterdam

[König]

I'm off to Berlin and Amsterdam for a week at the beginning of September with 6 other mates, does anybody on here have any advice on where to go/what to see?

I know some smart arse will tell me to Google it but i'd rather hear from people who have been and know where to go and what to do.

Also, what are the prices like? I read that Berlin was actually quite reasonable for booze and food, but I imagine Amsterdam is pretty expensive?

[kerry red]

Went to Amsterdam a while ago.

Great place - easy to walk around.

Excuse the spelling but the Rijks museum is worth a look as is the Heineken site.

Personally, would give the Ann Franks House a miss.

Brown cafes are a must if you fancy a legal spliff

The Red Light district is OK if you just want to window shop (or better still, sample)

Took a barge trip on the canal but we had people pissing off the bridges and lumping beer cans onto the roof!!

Ajax may be at home!

May be mixing this up with somewhere else but went to the Salvadore Dali exhibition which was absolutely fantastic - but it may have been a touring exhibition and not permanent

Found a brilliant Indonesian restaurant near the centre - impossible to eat it all. There is also a very good jazz club, Barhouse or something like that - if jazz is your bag

[Nemo]

Berlin is a fantastic city, reasonable (not Eastern European, but better than Britain) prices for beer and  food and a really good atmosphere to the place. Lots to do cheaply/for free and the tourist spots are all pretty close together which is a plus.

[König]

Cheers folks.

Nemo did you experience the nightlife? I read that there isn't really a central 'party' area, but there are lots of decent places spread out over the city? I'm looking forward to seeing the sites in Berlin too, though I may be doing it alone as the rest of my friends said they were going to spend the daytime sleeping off their hangovers, seems a bit of a waste to me 

[Barry Scott]

Cheers folks.

Nemo did you experience the nightlife? I read that there isn't really a central 'party' area, but there are lots of decent places spread out over the city? I'm looking forward to seeing the sites in Berlin too, though I may be doing it alone as the rest of my friends said they were going to spend the daytime sleeping off their hangovers, seems a bit of a waste to me 

Find a place called Cafe Zapata for a night with a difference. There's a lot of bars in the area, but this place is a former block of flats and is nuts. It looks like a squat, but it's just an absolutely mental club that plays loads of different types of music in loads of different rooms and has live bands outside. The area is called Tacheles and don't be put off by the looks!

[Gethimout]

Went to Berlin for a long weekend last year! Mainly on the piss but went to see the Reichstag as it was free if you booked in advance.

Also went to a place on the river called Bardeschiff. We used it to chill out and cure our hangovers. Basically has 2 saunas, ice cold swimming pool, relax area and bar. Best thing about it - everyone is naked and there is a lot of boob and muff about! (i think this for the winter months only though)

The nightlife is pretty nuts. Some of the bars are open until 6 or 7 in the morning so pace yourself.

[LucienSanchez]

I'm going to Berlin for new year - looking forward to it.

[THE FLASH]

Dunno about Berlin but I worked for a Dutch company so have been many times....you are in fir a treat.

The old sailor is my favourite bar in red light area.

Try la vie en Rose bar.....two bars one to put your drinks on and one for the dancers....topless with a starkers young lady doing cocktails......beware as you do have to have a full drink on you. Easily my favourite bar but tucked away so look it up so you know how to get there.

I did like Anne franks house myself and enjoyed the fat Americans complaining about the access.....how unthoughtful of Anne Frank not to think about tubby yanks and stair cases.

If you want to try something more different than try the candy club in the suburbs but don't turn up all at once as you won't get it......you will see things that will make your eyes itch!

[dporter]

Loads to see in Berlin and it'll take you a good few days to see it all. Visiting the Reichstag is a must, Checkpoint Charlie museum is interesting, Brandenburg Tor, Kaiser Wilhem church and the Olympic Stadium are just a few of the historic places to see. Try and get a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Fernsehturm in Alexander Platz, amazing views over the city!

It's really easy getting around on either the U bahn, trams or buses just make sure you validate your travel pass before you travel else the transport police will pull you!

Zoo area of Berlin is, to me, like any other city really but if you head east to Alexander Platz and beyond you'll get a feel of what it was like before the wall came down as in areas nothing appears to have changed.

[Hitchinred]

Would recommend booking a walking tour of Berlin. On a boozy trip we had some time to kill before flying home and despite initial moaning by some of the party, everyone agreed it was fantastic.

[Peter Gibbons]

The best thing you can do when you get to Amsterdam is take a walk in any direction and don't stop anywhere until you've gone at least a mile - the quality or the bars/cafes/restaurants goes up as you walk and the prices go down.  Amsterdam is an amazing city but the bit in the middle is too busy, too dirty, and a bit intimidating at night.  On the rare occasion you meet someone that didn't like Amsterdam, you can bet they made the mistake of not leaving the centre.

[THE FLASH]

Just be friendly to drug pushers....just smile and say no thanks....you will be fine...

AND don't do business with Dutch whores.....they will rip you off....stick to the foreign ones....


My mate said....