M L TRAVEL
FROM LIVERPOOL TO BERLIN : THE PERFECT CITY BREAK
By Nicky Rigby Smith & Si Hall
With the recent launch of the new Lufthansa service from Liverpool John Lennon Airport ( LJLA ) to Frankfurt , which now connects our city to the world , we couldn ' t wait to try out the service and pay a little visit to Berlin .
Day 1 : We arrived at LJLA for our 8.45am flight to the Frankfurt hub . With no delays or queues ( unlike other airports ), it took us less than 30 minutes to check in , get through security and to the lounge - so plenty of time for a cheeky vino ( if you were so inclined ) in the Kissing Gate before boarding .
We flew in one of Lufthansa fleet ' s new super sleek Cityline jets ( zero turbulence and zero inertia - quite something and arrived at Frankfurt on time for our connection to Berlin . With some time to spare , we had to try a Frankfurter in Frankfurt and check out the vast array of shops . The connection was easy and seamless . 60 minutes later we landed in Berlin and were welcomed by hot sunny weather ( 30 o C ).
Our hotel was the NH Collection Berlin Mitte at Checkpoint Charlie ( this is the phonetic alphabet - Alfa , Bravo , Charlie , etc , so you don ' t need to ask who Charlie was ). It was in the ideal location , close to all of the main visitor attractions , bars and restaurants .
For dinner , we took a short walk to the renowned Berliner Republik which was sat alongside the river Spree , serving traditional German food such as the legendary Currywurst and Pork Knuckles ! The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed taking in the stunning views while supping on steins of beer !
Day 2 : After a comfortable nights sleep and breakfast , we were up early as we ' d booked a historical tour of Berlin . We met our guide near Checkpoint Charlie and embarked on our 4 hour walking tour visiting the Brandenburg Gate , Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe , Fuhrerbunker ( Hitler ' s hidden bunker which is now a small car park ), Potsdamer Platz , Gendarmenmarkt Berlin ,
St . Hedwig ' s Catholic Cathedral Berlin and the legendary Hansa studios where some of the coolest albums have been recorded by David Bowie ' s Low / Heroes , Iggy Pop ' s Lust For Life , Snow Patrol , REM , Manic Street Preachers , Pet Shop Boys and of course the brilliant U2 album Achtung Baby , check out the track Zoo Station . After the tour , we had a lunch at the Blockhouse before our Berlin TV Tower visit . Not dissimilar to our own Radio City Tower .
For our evening meal , we had to check out the famous street food Thursdays at Markthalle Neun ( Market Hall Nine ). Lively and contemporary , Kreuzberg in a nutshell is where you can shop , eat , drink , sit and meet with the locals . There was a wide range of food on offer from all corners of Europe . Definitely worth a visit .
Day 3 : Sadly it was our time to return home . Our return journey was just as easy and we landed back into LJLA by early afternoon .
Berlin is cool for a city break . Ticking all the boxes , the buzzing metropolis boasting a killer nightlife scene ( including the coolest and hardest to gain entry nightclub on the planet ... Berghain ), interesting local food , rich history , world famous beer and some of the most remarkable sights and museums in the world . With LJLA right on our doorstep , our journey was totally stress free .
Lufthansa now operates four weekly services from Liverpool to Frankfurt , where passengers can then connect to hundreds of destinations across the globe . Flights from Liverpool to Frankfurt take one hour and 40 minutes . After arriving in Germany ' s finance capital , passengers are able to connect to around 300 destinations across Europe , Asia , the Middle East , Africa and the Americas from the same terminal without the hassle of Heathrow . Well done LJLA , this is ideal .
A visit to LA and Singapore is definitely on the cards . Book flights at Lufthansa . com
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