Posts by author Hilary Bown
How much will that bag cost? Check out our chart below. Photo: Pixabay
It can be hard to track down exact information about the luggage limitations on low-cost carriers. They do their absolute best to hide it deep in the bowels of their websites. But knowledge is power (and more often than not, serious money), fellow travelers! Here, for your edification, are the luggage rules and prices (as » Read more
Cruising through Mitte. La Citta Vita
There is something incomparable about seeing a city from the water. Though no city may ever top Amsterdam in this respect, Berlin’s regular cruises – traveling along the Spree and its canals throughout the city – provide visitors with an unparalleled view of many central sights. City Tour There are numerous boat companies plying the » Read more
Get lost in the maze of the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, but don't forget to visit the free exhibit. Photo: Heather Cowper
Although its official title is the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe”, the massive field of gray stelae located a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate or Potsdamer Platz is commonly known as the “Holocaust memorial”. Architect Peter Eisenman’s 2,711 concrete pillars were installed over a period of two years, and the memorial opened » Read more
Berlin's Lange Nacht der Museen lets you see museums in a different light. Photo: Thomas Quine
It all began in 1997 with the very first Lange Nacht (long night) for Berlin‘s museums. The idea is a simple one: nearly 100 museums, archives, memorials and the like team up with one communal ticket for one night, throwing the doors open until the wee hours of the morning and offering visitors the opportunity » Read more
The Miniatur Wunderland looks so much fun, you'll wish you were an inch tall. Photo: FouPic
It’s a rare but awesome occurrence when you discover something as an adult that pulls you back into a childlike state of awe, curiosity and wonder. If you’re alone, you wish you had another set of eyes to share the experience with, pointing out this and dragging over to that—someone else to bear witness to » Read more
Take the S-Bahn 30 minutes to the sandy, clean and popular beaches of the Wannsee. Photo: Steffen Zahn
As there are just a handful of days every summer when Berlin’s temperatures surpass the 30° C / 85° F mark, air conditioning is virtually non-existent. If you’re not content to sweat it out like the locals, you have two options: dark and cool (movies and museum visits), or sunny and wet. Thankfully, a large » Read more
Germany's "Rail & Fly" program allows you to cheaply add destinations to your trip. Photo: TeaMEister
Saving money on plane tickets and German rail travel simultaneously sounds almost too good to be true, but Deutsche Bahn’s Rail & Fly program is an excellent way to do both. Savvy travelers may use the opportunity to spend one day visiting a different German city before heading on to their intended destination. Here’s a » Read more
Schloss Charlottenburg cuts an imposing figure in the neighborhood. Photo: Rolf Dietrich Brecher
Picasso may have been from Spain and spent most of his life in France, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some of his best works in Germany. With the recently renovated and expanded Museum Berggruen reopening, there are a number of great modernist museums in the Charlottenburg neighborhood of Berlin. Thanks to these collections, there » Read more
Disembarking a Ryanair flight at Paris Beauvais, which is not to be confused with Charles de Gaulle. Photo: Phil-It
Are cheap flights in Europe an illusion? For many travelers who are used to flying major carriers, one’s first experience with a low-cost carrier may be eye-opening, in both good and bad ways. First, the good — yes, you really can book flights regularly for less than €30 each way, if you pay attention to » Read more
"Museum Island" is home to several world-class museums, including the Pergamon Museum, above. Photo: Tom Meyers
Berlin is a museum-lover’s dream—it even has its own island dedicated to these institutions of art, history and culture. But while museum-hopping makes for a fun and educational itinerary while in the city, steep admission prices can make it a costly one as well. Luckily there are ways you can save on admission and keep » Read more
Berlin's ice-cream scene is cool year-round. Photo: Maria Eklind
It may be just starting to warm up, but that doesn’t stop Berliners from regularly indulging in a few scoops of German gelato. Italian ice creams followed Germany’s first guest workers from their homes in Italy and today “gelaterias” exist in even the smallest towns across the country. While they may never meet the selection » Read more
Drugstores in Berlin, such as "dm," stock their shelves with soy milk and other special dietary products. Photo: Iwan Gabovitch.
Toothpaste or body lotion confiscated at airport security? Blisters the size of quarters from hiking around town in new sandals? Forgot to pack sunscreen or feminine hygiene products? No worries—Germany’s discount drugstore chains have this and much more covered. Ask for the nearest “Rossmann” or “dm” (day-em) store. In Germany, there’s one in practically every » Read more
Bring your own bags to Aldi, one of Germany's most popular grocery stores. Photo: Mr. iMaax
Not all grocery stores in Berlin (and Germany, for that matter) are equal. Germans are well-known for their thrifty nature, which combined with the country’s market power has resulted in some of the lowest food prices on the continent. Germany is well-acquainted with discount grocery stores, and is in fact the birthplace of the Aldi » Read more
Ostpaket sells East German goods for those with a case of "Ostalgie." Photo: Ostpaket
The television tower, or Fernsehturm, at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz was one of the proud symbols of the former East Germany. Then it is perhaps fitting that its shadow falls upon a store specializing in products from the GDR. Ostpaket, located across Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse from the train station in the Berlin-Carré shopping center, sells a combination of popular » Read more
Think you've tried every themed restaurant out there? Klo offers a toilet motif that will make some flush with embarrassment. Photo: Roboppy
Though Berlin has now collected more Michelin stars than any other German city, its most special dining experiences may not lie within the hallowed, star-covered kitchens of the capital, but rather its unique and sometimes kitschy offerings. Here a selection of Berlin’s weird but memorable food options. Sauvage Neukölln (Reuterkiez, U8-Hermannplatz) Dinner only, closed Mondays. » Read more
Brunch at Datscha. Photo: Grisha Levit
Though Paris and Vienna may have Berlin beat for cafe culture, there is one thing this Teutonic neighbor does better – and that is Sunday brunch! After a late night out in Berlin’s club scene, the city sleeps in, then rises around 11 or noon and settles in at a favorite restaurant with a large » Read more
Prime outdoor seating at Gottlob in Schöneberg. Photo: Ya Po Guille
There are numerous addresses in Berlin where hotel desk clerks and even local friends may send you to find dinner – streets littered on both sides with any number of restaurants and bars to please the whims of nearly any crowd seeking chow. Here you’ll find yourself in good company with hundreds of other hungry » Read more
You must now register in advance to visit Berlin's Reichstag.
Things have changed a bit since our last post on visiting Berlin’s Reichstag. Here’s an update: What hasn’t changed: The building is as historically and culturally significant as ever. It still affords some of the best free views of the city. You will have to queue and go through security to get inside. The dome » Read more
Pisa's Duomo is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor.
Your tour of Europe is likely to take in at least a few iconic sights. There are, however, few guidebooks which tell you that next to the tower or castle you traveled half a world to see is a sight that’s equally (or more) worth your time and money to visit. Here a few suggestions » Read more
Bearpit Karaoke returns! Everybody dance now. Photo: sfreimark
Don’t let it be said that the people have no voice. After numerous press reports (including our own from May 22nd) on the negative developments for the popular Sunday open-air Bearpit Karaoke event in Berlin’s Mauerpark, Pankow’s elected officials took note and changed their tune. Karaoke fans and stars will now be guaranteed their Sunday » Read more
Berlin's Fernsehturm, or TV Tower, offers incredible birds-eye views. Photo: T. Meyers
On my first trip to Europe I was young, full of energy and not yet “churched out” (if you’ve visited Europe a few times, I’m certain you understand this phenomena). I’d approach each house of worship with the same gusto, taking in the stained glass, altar and vaulted ceilings before promptly paying my nominal fee to climb the » Read more
What crowd? Bearpit Karaoke in Berlin has become perhaps too popular. Photo: Julia
Sunday Karaoke in Berlin’s Mauerpark has become somewhat of a weekend institution. Major newspapers worldwide have written articles about the “Bearpit Karaoke” phenomenon. Tourists have given it their TripAdvisor seal of approval. YouTube explodes with Bearpit Karaoke videos. Even Flickr groups have been created, all dedicated to spreading the word, sound, and image of something » Read more
Relaxing with the locals in Berlin's Tiergarten. Photo: Ya Po Guille
Most Cheapos know that when in doubt while traveling, it never hurts to take a cue from the locals. One of the finest ways that Europeans spend their time on weekends is with a visit to a nearby park. While each park has a different culture, no matter where you are, you’ll likely find musical » Read more
