What are the best daytime and nighttime districts in Berlin?

10 people going to Berlin in July: What to see?

• I'm organizing a trip to Berlin for about 10 people in their mid-twenties in July. What should we not miss? We are about 10 Danes in our mid-twenties who are going to Berlin from July 9th to July 16th. We are going to stay with friends scattered around Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain. We are less interested in the big tourist sites and more into anything quirky or different. So what should we see? I've been to Berlin several times before so I have an idea of some of the things but I'm still very much interested in suggestions for - museums, galleries, etc. - restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs (esp. not too expensive restaurants where 10 people actually have a chance of getting a table!) - places where we can rent bicycles for cheap - non-touristy non-obvious sites we should go see - any concerts or other events we should go to (most of us like indie rock and electronic stuff) - any other good advice you have for 10 young people traveling to Berlin for a week in July I have read the previous Berlin travel questions. Answers that take the size of our group and dates we are going to be in Berlin into account are especially appreciated. Thanks!

• Answer:

  General advice would be stay in Mitte and stick around Hackersher Markt. Be careful to avoid Oranienburger Strasse (despite what most guidebooks say, its just too obvious) and instead focus on Rosenthaler Strasse. My favourite cocktail bar is http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2776407-cibo_matto_berlin-i which has very long cocktail list and they are never less than splendid. Also, try and find out when the happy hour is (6-8pm if memory serves me correctrly) where all cocktails are half price. There's also an excellent italian menu. Over the road and in one of the courtyards (or 'hofs') is the inexpensive but brilliant http://www.panasia.de/ , which is both a fantastic pun, and Berlin's artsier take on Wagamama. Further up the street is http://www.berlin-life.com/drink/pubs_cafes_details/94-Delicious_Donuts which used to be very, very trendy as a late night bar (but not really a club as such). There are also many excellent shops on this street, including the famous British miliner http://www.fionabennett.com/ and the entrance to http://www.hackescherhof.gs-domain.de/ and Berlin's best kebab shop just over the road. I highly recommend exploration of the Hackersher Hofs and the nearby, avante-garde architecture of the the hof on Sofienstraße. These are best seen after sunset as many are beautifully enriched with bright neon lights. There you go, just one corner of a very impressive city ... http://www.luise-berlin.com/ would be my choice of hotel. And you can rent bikes from a place in the shopping precinct of Fredrichstrasse Bahnhof. For culutre, its difficult to know where to start. Maybe the Pergamon Museum, where sites the fabulous Gate of Ishtar, which once stood in the ancient city of Babylon. Its intact and so beutifully colourful. Ah, you will have a great time.