Visiting Berlin for the ITB Berlin

Do you have some spare time during the ITB Berlin? Then checkout our food tips and sightseeing options…

The ITB Berlin is the biggest International Travel show in the world. From March 7th thousands of merchants, tour operators, sellers, re-sellers, visitors and good vibes hitting the capital to display their products. It is the largest of ITB events held at Messe Berlin, which was formerly the largest conference centre in the world when built in 70s. A notable feature is the largely untouched and unchanged nature of the once grandeur conference & events centre.

If you are a visitor to Berlin over the ITB Berlin period whether it is for business or pleasure, we can recommend a few great places to see, eat and walk with your time off:

Eat Berlin

The Berlin culinary scene is built on multiculturalism and is also one of those cities disconnected to the country, metaphorically speaking of course. As such the food in Berlin is diverse and you are not only left the choice of Schnitzel, Pork Knuckle and Currywurst (these classics will still be included in our list):

• Kanstrasse: with the ITB being held out West at the Berlin Messe you are well-placed to take a visit the best streets for Asian food in Berlin, specifically Korean and Japanese. Selig restaurant is one of the best for Sichuan Chinese, everything is cooked in chilli and the dishes are the it is the closest we’ve come to the Sichuan Hunan Provence since visiting some years back. Next on the list is the bustling Lo Men’s Noodle House. This Taiwanese eatery is everything people love about travelling in Asia, great smells, quality noodle soups, tasty dumplings (made to order with a 15minute wait), fasting moving, simple seating and yes, cheap prices – this is a must on your Berlin food list. Other highly recommended suggestion are Ugakawa, handmade udon noodles by a 70 year Japanese chef who only cuts enough for 20 portions per day, call ahead if you wish to slurp the goodness.

Lo Men’s Noodle House Berlin

• Currywurst: the best Currywurst in Berlin is found in both the former East and former West Berlin. The East holds the famous Konnopke’s Imbiss. The West is the well-documented Curry 36, which was the former name of the neighbourhood during the times of the Berlin Wall. If you choose to dabble in Berlin’s world famous street food, we highly recommended visiting one of these two Currywurst hotspots, as the quality of the sausage, the sauce and crispiness of the skin are second-to-none. If you are feeding for more in-depth information on the famous sausage, jump onto one of our Fork & Tour Food Tour experiences.
• Quality German Eats: For the best Pork Knuckle you would be wise to book a table at the traditional Zur Haxe. It is off-the-beaten-track and not on the tourist, making this sizzling crunchy Pork Knuckle surrounded by typical Deutsch paraphernalia all the worthwhile. By far the best schnitzel in Berlin is Alt-Wien (Old Vienna). Sit in a traditional Viennese restaurant in one of Berlin’s wealthy and chic streets Hufelandstrasse in Prenzlauer Berg. All the rage is for the Wiener, this beautifully crafted crumbed sensation trickles over the sides of your plate. Peak underneath to find crunchy fried potatoes cooked in bacon and chives. Winner! But it doesn’t end here; Alt-Wien serves-up an amazing handmade traditional Austrian dessert called Kaiserschmarrn. Get it and taste the sensation.

 

Alt-Wien Berlin

• 6 x Tastings Berlin Food Tour – Don’t have the time to research and find Berlin’s best food stops, then how about booking onto our Classics & Trends Food Tour. Or if you are planning to be here on a Thursday evening, we would highly recommend our Evening Gastronomy Food Tour.

Berlin Sightseeing

Berlin is a fantastic city to visit the main sights. If there is 2-3 hours to spare between the ITB Berlin, check of the Highlights of Berlin (embedded map route link Google Maps):

• Brandenburg Gate

The famous gate is awe-inspiring and despite being seen on postcards and on the screen, there is nothing quite seeing it in real and walking through Berlin’s most well known site.

• The Reichstag

Right next door to Brandenburg Gate is the famous Berlin Reichstag. Etched into history as the site that eventually brought Hitler into power, this historical building is a must when in Berlin. To walk around the impressive glass dome, tickets must be booked in advance.

• Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe

Only a 2-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate is Peter Eisenman ‘s impressive memorial. Walk through the 19,000m² site covered with 2,711 concrete slabs and don’t be surprised to feel distorted and lost as the path dips & rises. The design of Eiseman’s memorial definitely links to the confused and lost feeling of being in a camp. Underneath the memorial there is information centre detailing handwritten horrific stories from people in the camps. Although heart-wrenching, it is one of the most well documented centres in the world, so well worth the visit.

• Hitler’s Bunker

The sight was blown apart by the Soviets at the end of the War and East Berlin built housing over the spot of Hitler’s Bunker. But it nonetheless an absolute thought provoking sight to visit in Berlin. It is only 2-minute walk from the memorial.

• Checkpoint Charlie

A little further afield approximately 20minutes walk from Hitler’s Bunker is the famous Berlin Wall border point at Checkpoint Charlie. Get a photo with one of the American or Soviet Guards and re-live the Heinz Meixner’s escape from East to West Berlin with his East Berlin lover and her mother in his chic Corvette.

• Other Berlin tourist sights near-by:
  • Museum Island
  • Berliner Dome
  • TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
  • Tiergarten

Checkpoint Charlie Berlin

For any other handy hints & tips of the best spots in Berlin your stay for the ITB Berlin, visit us at our website. Or feel free to shoot us over an email at info@forkandwalktoursberlin with the Subject ITB Berlin Blog.

If you would like to meet us at the ITB Berlin, drop us a line.

Have a tasty stay!

The team @ Fork & Walk