Berlin
Travel Advice for Seniors: Berlin
Germany…the land of Oktoberfest and the Black Forest! My husband and I had traveled through Germany in the early 1990’s on a backpacking summer through Europe. Mom and I arrived in 2016 on a small group, twelve-day tour through Germany. I found it to be much the same only with some new crowd controls in place at some of the major tourist sights.
Berlin is the best place to begin your tour of Germany. So much history, good food, good people and sights to see! Note that some of the sights noted below are not on a formal tour, but that Mom and I had arranged separately.
We arrived in Berlin a few days early to get our bearings, tackle jet lag and see some of the sights that we would not be visiting on the main small group tour. A favorite trick that we use often. Most small group tours will allow you to do a pre-or post-extension as included, and many will allow you to book your own flights and/or get your own transport from the airport if you arrive early. Most will also share the hotel you will be staying at so you can book the extra time directly. Also, a note on flights…I always like to book through Frankfurt when flying through Germany for a selfish reason…they have a very large selection of German beers at the duty free that you can’t get in the States. Great gift for my husband who stayed home to pet-sit!
Back to Berlin. So much to see. Where to start? We started at the Pergammon Museum on Museum Island which features unique architecture from periods past. Highlights include the Ishtar Gate and The Pergammon Altar, Market Gate of Miletus and the Aleppo Room. While there are other museums to choose from that also have great collections, we will see some of them on the tour so opted for this lesser traveled museum to start. Also note that this museum is currently closed for renovation, to open in 2027.
After a relaxing stay at the Abba Berlin Hotel and breakfast under our belts, we began our first full day in Berlin. Gemaldegalere has one of the largest collections of Rembrandts in the world and is home to a huge selection of artists from 13th century to present. Don’t miss the Raphael Madonnas, pieces by Vermeer and Carraveggio and the collection of artworks from 18th century painters. Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours here immersing yourself in some of the greatest artwork in the world.
We also visited the Tiergarten a huge park in the middle of Berlin on our way to visit the
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche ruins, which have been left in place as a memorial for peace and reconciliation. The ruins are in the Kurfürstendamm part of Berlin which is also home to some of the most expensive designer shopping in town.
We chose to go to Schloss Charlottenburg for the afternoon, a celebration of rococo architecture and home to several Prussian kings and German Emperors. Highlights include the State Rooms and the Golden Gallery Ballroom. Also, take time to visit the beautiful gardens.
The second full day we joined the tour for a drive down Unter den Lindon Boulevard passing the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag. We made a stop at the East Side Gallery which is a memorial open-air gallery on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. We also stopped by the Holocaust memorial.
The afternoon allowed us free time on Museum Island in the afternoon. The Altes Museum followed by the Neues Museum were calling us. The Neues Museum includes Egyptian and Etruscan archaeological objects, including the “must see” bust of Queen Neferteri. The Altes Museum features Greek sculptures and objects from classical antiquity.
For the Museums on Museum Island, it is actually best now to book online for a morning time slot. Allow about two hours or more each to experience them properly.
This visit only touched surface of all there is to see and do in Berlin. Do not be afraid to use the subway or U-Bahn. It’s easy, clean and safe. And by all means, grab some brats and beer!
We do love going to Germany, especially close to holiday season. I collect Christmas décor and Germany is home to many Christmas shops that operate year-round, Smokers, Nutcrackers, Pyramids, all well-made and from Germany. This is not to mention the holiday sweeties that appear closer to holiday time including gingerbread and stollen. Fair warning…the shops are not inexpensive and are usually crowded with tourists. However, I have found the products to be well-made and worth the price if you are collecting or just buying a souvenir. Lustig Weinachten!
Where we stayed: Abba Berlin Hotel. Now closed.
How we got there: Flight from the US to Berlin. This was part of a ten-day small group tour through Germany with a side trip to Czech Republic.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sights, newer hotels, transportation in most major cities are accessible. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
