23 Set BER – Cycling in Berlin, through art and history

An unforgettable group bike holiday in Berlin. We’ll cycle in the German city’s bicycle lane and we’ll discover what’s left of the Wall and historical buildings and neighborhoods.

Ever since the fall of the Wall, Berlin has been an ever-changing city fully embodying the spirit of a trendy Europe. Accompanied by a new group of friends, discover the city’s historical landmarks like the Checkpoint Charlie, the Holocaust Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the East Side Gallery, to name a few. Modern buildings and luxurious streets are juxtaposed with ruins and sites that have witnessed events that shaped the world’s history. Berlin is a city of surprises and contradiction, with neon lights that light up squares and domes, get carried away by the city’s young and lively attitude.

PROGRAM

MONDAY: we arrive in Berlin in the afternoon and we settle down in the hotel, already feeling the holiday mood. We meet in the lobby for the introduction to the guide and the delivery of the equipment needed. Dinner in the hotel, followed by our first night out in the city!

TUESDAY: after breakfast, we’re going to get our bikes and we’ll have our first tour through history, starting from the East Side Gallery, which is extremely close to our hotel. To get there, we pass through Oberbaum Brücke, which introduces us to Berlin’s urban development, as it used to be the customs entrance to the wall of the old city. We carry on towards Alexander Platz, or, as the Berliners like to call it, Alex. This square showcases the city’s most recent history, as well as signs from other eras. Following the Marienkirche, we explore Museum Island to then end up in Unter den Linden. The elegant lime trees street will take us from Friedrichstrasse to the most famous crossing point, Checkpoint Charlie, where a picture is mandatory! We finally cycle through the places of the Topography of Terrors: the Luftwaffe Palace, where the Chancellery was located, the famous Bunker, the Jewish Memorial, and the Brandenburg Gate. We go back to the hotel for dinner and the rest of the night. Distance: 11 km by bike

WEDNESDAY: in our second day by bike, we move towards the north. Passing through the Karl Marx Allee, we reach the exclusive Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, also known as the Moms neighbourhood because of the many families that decide to settle down here. We stop by Kultur Brauerei, a 19th-century brewery that was completely redeveloped into an events space. We then slide off in front of Mauer Park, where we’d suggest coming back on a Sunday when it’s busy and full of people! Going down the Bernauer Strasse, we stop in front of the Wall Memorial to visit an intact piece of the structure that split the city in two for over 30 years. A little further on, we are back in the city center. Here we can find the Reichstag and the Hauptbahnhof, followed by the Soviet War Memorial, the first soviet cemetery built after the Berlin war, the Siegessäule and the Potsdamer Platz. We take a short break in a Biergarten, where we need to try a delicious Apfelschorle. Our historical tour finishes at the Gedächtniskirche, a memorial to peace and reconciliation. Distance: 26 km by bike

THURSDAY: today we move from the center to a greener area, cycling to the Ostbahnhof to catch a train that will get us to Wannsee. Here, we begin our outing around the lake, with a stop at Minoux villa, where “final solution” was conceived, during the Wannsee conference. We’ll also visit the museum of the villa where we can witness testimonials of the Holocaust. Along the lake, we arrive in the Potsdam city center, crossing the Bridge of Spies (yes, the one from the movie!). We climb up to the Cecilienhof Castle, walking across its beautiful park to later go back down to Alexandrowka, a typical Russian dacha, where we can taste one of its homegrown biological apples. After a lunch break in the Potsdam city center, we hop back on our bike towards Sans Souci Park: under Frederick the Great, this castle became the Prussian Versailles. We take a nice stroll in the park and then we cycle to the Tea House and the Neues Palais, to then take the train back to Berlin from Sanssouci Bahnof station, built at the request of Wilhelm II. Tip for the night: the Einstein café or the Hackesche Höfe. Distance: 27 km by bike

FRIDAY: free day. You can’t miss the Mitte neighbourhood, Berlin’s trendy and dynamic hotspot, Hackerscher Markt, Oranienburger Strasse, the Synagogue and the art galleries. Reichstag is a must-see, entry is free but be prepared for the queue…Another suggestion is the Cruise over the Spree, departing from the Berlin Cathedral. It’s summertime and there’s plenty to do! From musical bands in the Zoo park, jazz clubs where you can get a bite, to vegetarian restaurants and literary cafes.

SATURDAY: this is our last full day in the city and as real tourists do, we dedicate ourselves to shopping or relaxing: we can pop by the Winterfelder Platz market next to our hotel. Later, we can have a brunch at Friedrichshain and take a peek at the Flohmarkt flea market or a beer in one of the many strandbar, the summer riverside kiosks/stands with beach chairs and umbrellas. In the afternoon, we take a stroll in the Jewish quarter, an area full of history that becomes very busy and full of people going shopping in the boutiques. Lastly, we stop in the historical Clärchens Ballhaus, where we can drink a Hefe weissbier with a slice of pizza. Last warm night in Berlin. Distance: 4 km on foot
SUNDAY: we say goodbye to the group after breakfast, but for those who will leave the city later we have a suggestion: Mauer Park in Prenzlauer Berg is the Sunday hotspot for Berliners, especially in the summer.

INFO

Holiday code: BER19
Where:  Germany – Berlin
Accommodation: Hotel Plus Berlin, located in a colorful university neighbourhood, full of cafes, restaurants, and buzzing nightlife. Greatly connected: three lines and metro stations are easily reachable on foot; the hotel is equipped with pool and sauna. Discover the hotel
Individual price: €620
Bike rental: €50 for 3 days
Single room charge: €180
Includes: accommodation in 3-star hotel, double/triple rooms, half board, guide/interpreter, guided tours, health insurance, tourist materials, luggage
Does not include: journey, drinks, Friday dinner, city tax when required, anything not listed in the “Includes” section.
Guide: one of Jonas’ own will accompany and coordinate the group during the entirety of the trip and its guided tours. The guide knows the local language and area and will go the extra mile to ensure an unforgettable holiday.
The holiday is also suitable for: vegetarians