What to do in Berlin?

[shivvy]

I am planning a 5 day break in Berlin in early January and am wondering what are the not-to-miss experiences in Berlin.
As well as the normal tourist activities, I like visiting museums and galleries etc, am interested in local markets, and like good food.
I will be looking up the tourist websites to see what is recommended but I was wondering if anyone could give their own opinions or suggestions of interesting things to do or see?
Also, if you have any recommendations on anywhere special/different for accommodation I would be very interested.
Thanks.

[jno]

if you like antiquities, the Pergamon museum on Museum island is amazing - whole vast chunks of classical properties (looted, I suppose, but impressive anyway)

[tyrepill]

Visit the Reichstag and have great views of the city from the Dome designed by Norman Foster.Visit the Holocaust memorial near the Brandenburg Gate.

[JK2]

Vist Charlottenburg Castle

http://www.visitberlin.de/cgi-bin/sehenswertes .pl?id=13357&sprache=english

Also worth a visit is the Synagogue destroyed on the infamous Kristallnacht in 1938 - now rebuilt - & the New Jewish Museum for the history of the Jews in Germany

http://gogermany.about.com/b/2007/09/03/german ys-biggest-synagogue-and-the-berlin-jewish-mus eum-respecting-judaism-in-berlin.htm

[LuBlu]

We went to an old PoW camp. It was really interesting and I'm not sure if Germany/Berlin advertise it's existence.

We took a train on about a 30-45 min journey out of Berlin (I think) and then a local bus.

It's called Sachsenhausen, it was really interesting, if a bit eery. As we got off the bus outside of the camp an old guy asked if we'd like to be shown around. For a Euro each (there was 4 of us) he took us round and explained the whole thing to us. He had had family who'd been in the camp and told us the facts with compassion and interest, it was so hot 90 deg+ and he was in his 80's, he was amazing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachsenhausen_con centration_camp

Go to Savignyplatz S-Bahn station, not loads there, but it is a really good & nice 'local' area. Nice restaurants and bars with a local buzz. We went to a pizza restaurant/bar just by the train station where we were served a HUGE pizza. Was honestly big enough to serve 10, each slice was about 12 inches+ long!!! A great experience, not one you get everywhere. But there are loads of other bars too, plus the famous trendy homeware store/centre, which is an interesting place to look around if you are into that type of thing.

In all Berlin is a fab city, I loved it. I spent 2 weeks there last year during the World Cup. Fab place, lovely people, great buzz. Enjoy yourself!

[LuBlu]

Meant to say;

we stayed in Corbusierhaus, near the Olympic staduim (not central, but the transport links are excellent). It's a residential block, but innovative in it's thinking for the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbusier

Somewhere different to the standard hotel...

[EmilWang]

Before taking off, make sure you list all your destinations so that you won't miss anything. There are a lot of must see places in Berlin, go to Museumsinsel or Museum Island and East side gallery since you love these places.
http://travel.usnews.com/Berlin_Germany/Things_To_Do/
http://www.berlin.sweet-home.co.il