Going on a trip... need suggestions

[bigtwinky]

I'm looking into a 16 day trip in Europe going to Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. (and for those of you on my FB, no bringing this up please... long story).

I'm headed with a friend who also does photography, but not as into urban and stuff like I am, so we agreed that it is not just a photo trip, but having a few days here and there for photography is cool.
So.... anyone ever been to either of these cities? Any tips as to what to shoot?
Any general travel tips for the cities? Anything in between that we should see?

Note that we are travelling on the cheap, staying in youth hostels (I aint that young, but she is haha) and just looking at having a fun time.

Thanks all ya'all.

 

[mishele]

Amsterdam Red Light District...enough said.

 

[bigtwinky]

Already on the list, as well as some smoke shops

 

[mishele]

Sooooo jealous!!

 

[LaFoto]

In Berlin you can visit the Government buildings (modern architecture - Reichstags-building not so, mind), Brandenburg Gate and the Avenue Unter den Linden. You can walk up Friedrichstraße, past the famous station where the trains from West Berlin stopped for West Berliners wanting to get into East Berlin. The building where they had to pass through to get through border control is meant to become a memorial site of sorts, don't know if they've finished getting that done?

More modern architecture is to be found in Potsdamer Platz (you're in the wrong area for that when you are in Friedrichstraße, mind!), as that place was a "desert" when Berlin was still divided, but has been built up again after the reunification.

From Alexanderplatz you can walk into Nikolai-Viertel, which is a cosy area within the city, with some nice gastronomy (some of which kept the interior design of former GDR). To get there, you'll get past the Red Town Hall building (if I remember right).

Gendarmenmarkt is also interesting - when I came there last, they had the Christmas Market on, so I did not see too much of the square. Interesting churches around there.

The Museum Island is famous, too. As is the Berlin Cathedral close by (Berliner Dom).

All three locations offer photo opportunities galore!

 

[bigtwinky]

Thanks for the hints LaFoto, much appreciated!

 

[Denon]

I love Berlin! A interesting place is "Topographie de Terror" where the secret state police, the SS and the Reich Security Main office had their headquarters during "The Third Reich" and today there is a documentation center(free of charge). And outside is a piece of the Berlin Wall. It's a nice photo opportunity as well as see some German history.

Otherwise is quite nice to just walk around in the former East Berlin and see new buildning beside old remains.

Have a nice trip!

 

[bigtwinky]

Thanks Denon!

 

[LaFoto]

By the way: when are you going to be here? I'm only at about 3 hours away from Berlin...

 

[bigtwinky]

The tickets are booked from April 26 to May 12. We are hitting Prague and then Berlin and then Amsterdam. Not sure on the exact dates in Berlin, should be May 1st to May 6th or so.
We are definately there on May 5th as a local Montreal band is actually playing in Berlin that day so we are checking them out. But thats as exact as I can get right now

 

[MiFleur]

Bon voyage!

Would like to make that trip!