Localized riots in Berlin!!!

Wonder if anybody could shed some light on this, i will be travelling to Berlin next april on a stag do (the dreaded %26#39;S%26#39; word i%26#39;m afraid but we%26#39;re a group of very friendly chaps in the mid30%26#39;s-mid50%26#39;s.)

Anyways i was perusing a website last night for information and came across a little review, it mentioned annual localized riots which take place every year against the government. The story then went on to advise people not to cruise the streets after 8pm unless really necessary or it could be a little dangerous. One of the areas advised to avoid was Kreuzberg, now unfortunately we are staying in Triestgarten (sp) and our journey each night will include travelling through this area.

Obviously this has me worried now and i%26#39;m hoping we can find somewhere safe to enjoy ourselves in a safe environment. Please could somebody put my mind at rest or confirm my worst suspicions.

Thanks in advance.

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Is this the 1st May disturbances you%26#39;ve read about? Can%26#39;t think of anything else. We were in Berlin over May Day weekend this year and it didn%26#39;t affect our stay at all.

Tiergarten, if that%26#39;s what you meant, is quite a way from Kreuzberg, on the other side of the centre so it%26#39;s not actually likely you wd go through Kreuzberg unless you chose to specifically, not central Kreuzberg at least (Checkpoint Chalie and Topography of Terror are just in Kreuzberg by borough boundary, as is Jewish Museum).

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Thanks for the reply Lynda, yes that%26#39;s the same disturbances i was talking about. Thanks for correcting my geography as well, i thought i would have to travel through Kreuzberg to get to Alexanderplatz etc; (and yes i did mean Tiergarten).

Does that mean Friedrichschain and Prenzlaurberg are out of the question? These were 2 other places it was advised to avoid.

Many thanks again.

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You really don%26#39;t need to pass through (at least that part of) Kreuzberg to get anywhere important from Tiergarten. Yes, there might be disturbances in Friedrichshain and Prenzlauerberg as well, but then again, as long as you keep out of the thick of things, mind your own business, are not a cop and don%26#39;t have a nice car parked there, you probably don%26#39;t need to worry.

Large parts of Berlin see the worst of it on TV and the average tourist shouldn%26#39;t be affected by it.

If in doubt, try to see what%26#39;s going on before you leave your hotel on the actual day and maybe ask the person at the front desk about it.

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If you%26#39;re going to be here in April, there%26#39;s nothing to be concerned about. The disturbances take place ONLY on Walpurgis night (last night of April) and May 1st. And as others have said, only in Kreuzberg and then only in a specific neighbourhood there. There was some unrest in Prenzlauer Berg years ago, but it%26#39;s quiet in recent years.

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Janity and bill2p, thanks for taking the time to reply. As long as it%26#39;s nothing too widespread it seems as if we should be ok. Bill, i%26#39;m in Berlin from the 29th of April until the 2nd of May. Fingers crossed.

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Don%26#39;t worry about it. Just steer clear of Kreuzberg from Kottbusser Tor to Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn stations in the evening and you%26#39;ll be fine. Oh, and maybe avoid the Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg on Walpurgis Night.

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Cheers Bill, will take all advice on board. Much appreciated.