Berlin has become one of the most popular city destinations for young and old – yet I never managed to make it there before the summer of 2016. Berlin is a city that pulses a vibe of looking forward despite a tumultuous and often painful past. The universities and the variety of museums and memorials make the city a hot spot for visitors who want to soak up history and learn from the past, but also enjoy a modern metropolis.
Berlin Wall Memorial
You can’t go to Berlin for the first time without visiting the remains of the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall Memorial is interesting to visit since it has different learning stations, that tell the stories of families separated by the Wall; tragic and successful escape attempts, and the details of when and how the Berlin Wall was built. Upon the viewing platform of the Berlin Wall Documentation Center you can see the remains of the Wall stretching down Bernauer Straße.
East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is a 1316 meter long portion of the wall that has been prominently painted by artists from all over the world. It’s the longest open air gallery in the world and features paintings that have become famous images in pop culture. We heard so much about East Gallery and when in Berlin it’s definitely something you should see, but my friend and I didn’t really get what all the fuss is about.
Alexanderplatz, Berliner Fernsehturm & Berliner Dom
Alexanderplatz is a central located square and traffic junction in Berlin’s Mitte district. The square was named after Alexander I, Tsar of Russia, in honor to his visit to Berlin in 1805. It’s is the site were many landmarks are located. The most prominent one being, the Berliner Fernsehturm or TV Tower. With it’s 365m height it’s the tallest building in Berlin. Its steel sphere contains a visitor platform from where you have a 360° view upon the German capital. From there it’s a five minute walk to the Berliner Dom, Berlin’s largest church and one of the major sights in the city’s centre.
Unter der Linden
Unter der Linden is Berlin’s most famous boulevard, going all the way from the Brandenburg gate to the Schlossbrucke Bridge. On this boulevard there are many significant buildings such as the Berlin State Opera, the Neue Wache Memorial, the Altes Palace and many others. At the end of the Unter der Linden is Hotel Adlon.
Gendarmenmarkt
With it’s beautiful buildings and cozy cafes, the Gendarmenmarkt really is Berlin’s most charming square. It’s best known for the architectural trio composed of the German and French cathedrals and Schinkel’s Konzerthaus.
Reichstag
The Reichstag houses Germany’s Parliament, and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Berlin. Partly destroyed as a result of an arson attack in 1933, it fell into disrepair and although it was made safe in the 1960’s, no attempt was made to restore it until the reunification of Germany in 1990. Following completion in 1999, it once again became the site when the German Parliament meets. The restored building also boasts a glass dome which provides 360 degree views of the surrounds and looks down on the parliament floor below.
Brandenburger Tor
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most important monuments. It used to be a symbol of Berlin and German division during the Cold War. People used to climb onto an observation platform in order to get a glimpse of the world behind the Iron Curtain. Today the Brandenburg Gate is a national symbol for peace and unity. Although the place is very touristy, it’s a must see. No tourist can leave Berlin without having seen this symbolic place.
Memorial to the murdered Jews
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe or Holocaust Memorial remembers the six million Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust. The monument is located on the former location of the Berlin Wall, where the “death strip” once divided the city. The monument is composed of 2711 rectangular concrete blocks, laid out in a grid formation. The sincere memorial includes an underground information centre with a lot of documentation from private collections.
Potsdamer Platz & Sony Centre
The Potsdamer Platz is the hub for culture and architecture in modern-day Berlin. The most impressive building at this square is the Sony Centre. At night it’s really nice to have a drink in one the numerous bars and enjoy the expressive lightshow.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous crossing point between former East and West Germany. The place is full of history. If you are looking for an interesting Instagram-moment, you can take pictures with some US “soldiers”.
DDR Museum
At the DDR museum history really comes to live! Visitors are given a first-hand introduction to the daily life in the first Socialist state on German soil. The museum was really informative, as it’s hard for our generation to imagine how people actually lived in the DDR. When you buy your ticket online you get presented a time slot, which at first we thought was a good thing. Unfortunately for us, there were still so many people visiting the museum at the same time, that it’ s been difficult to experience everything to the fullest. So that was kind of disappointing for us.
I heard so many positive reactions about Berlin, prior to our visit, that my expectations were quite high. But for some reason Berlin didn’t really do it for me. The historical sites were very interesting, and it’s been nice to experience them myself instead of reading about it. I was really surprised by the fact, that you can still ‘feel and see’ the difference between East & West Berlin so strongly nowadays. Pretty sure, Berlin has much more to offer, but after 3 days filled with history lessons, we also wanted to do some shopping and enjoy the wellness facilities at our amazing hotel. No idea where to stay during your trip to Berlin, check out my post ZZZZZZZ… in Berlin for some inspiration.
Practical information Berlin
- The Airport Express trains take you from Berlin Shönefeld Airport to Alexanderplatz in 45 minutes.
- Currency: Euro (€)