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What to see and do in Berlin?
The best places to get to know the German capital.
The capital of Germany is one of the main cities in Europe and the entire world.
It stands out for its streets full of history, modern architecture and old buildings, all of which come together in one of the most important political, commercial and cultural centers of the entire European continent.
If the cities of Rome, Athens or Paris were the seat of great cultures and civilizations that defined different eras of humanity; Berlin fulfills the same role in the last two centuries of history.
All this can be verified by visiting some of its most emblematic places, which we will see below.
The most iconic places to see in Berlin
1. Brandenburg Gate
When the Berlin Wall fell and the city needed a symbol to reunify the city, the Brandenburg Gate became the icon of reunification.
The Brandenburg Gate was located on the border of West and East Germany, and since its founding, it is one of the most important monuments in Germany.
This iconic monument was built in 1791, and is an example of the Greek influence on neoclassical architecture; thanks to its columns ornamented with reliefs from Roman mythology, and its majestic 5-meter bronze statue representing the Goddess of Victory.
2. The Reichstag, or German Parliament
The Reichstag is one of the most important political symbols in Germany, where great historical events that defined national and continental politics happened (and still do).
The foundation of the Reichstag was in 1894, however, during the years leading up to World War II, 1933, and then when the war was about to end; the building suffered major attacks.
At the end of the war it was in ruins, but in 1960 they began its reconstruction, obtaining its current appearance in 1990.
If you want to know the inside of the German Parliament, you can book your guided tour, which is also free; having the possibility to climb the impressive dome, from where you can see some of the best views of the entire city.
4. The Nikolai Neighborhood
Despite the fact that the city of Berlin has avant-garde spaces of current architecture, the neighborhood of Nikolai or Nikolaiviertel, has alleys and buildings that will transport you to medieval times, being this neighborhood, one of the main attractions of the city of Berlin.
During medieval times, the Nikolaiviertel was an important commercial area, where artisans, vendors, money changers, among others, met in these streets to conduct their business.
By 1200, the Church of San Nicolás was built, which today continues to attract several tourists a year.
When Berlin was in the years before World War II, the Nikolai neighborhood was full of taverns, small shops, craft workshops; which were destroyed at the end of the war.
In the 80s of the 20th century, to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the imposing city of Berlin, Günter Sthan was commissioned to rebuild this beautiful Berlin space, which today attracts thousands of tourists who move to the Middle Ages walking through its streets.
5. Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz Square is one of the most interesting points to visit in the city of Berlin, since it brings together in one place, many important monuments, as well as being an important historical place.
It was here that the protests that brought down the Berlin Wall began.
Walking through this square, you can see one of the essential places to see in Berlin, the enormous 368-meter-high structure, known as the Communications Tower, also called the Television Tower.
By climbing this tower, you will be able to enjoy the best panoramic views of the city of Berlin.
Another of the important attractions of this square is the Fountain of Friendship between People, which has 17 basins, which distribute the water from its highest point located six meters high.
This fountain has a beautiful lighting system, and on hot days it serves to cool off.
The Clock of the Hours of the World is another of its main attractions, where you can see what time it is, in various cities around the planet.
6. The Museum Island
Berlin is an important European cultural center, its offer in theater, music of all kinds, intertwines with the great art exhibitions that can be visited in its museums.
The epicenter where the main cultural centers of the city are located, is the Museum Island, which is considered by UNESCO, a World Heritage Site, and you can see art, historical and archaeological exhibitions.
The most popular of these museums is that of Pergamum, where archaeological collections will be observed, such as: the Ishtar Gate, the Code of Hammurabi, the bust of Nefertiti, the Dome of the Alhambra in Granada, or the Altar of Pergamon that gives the museum its name.
The other museums that can be visited are:
The New Museum, highlighting its collection of Egyptian art and archaeological remains from prehistory.
The Old National Art Gallery, where you will see several important paintings.
The Bode Museum, with its impressive collection of Byzantine art and sculpture.
The Ancient Museum, where the main character is classical Greek culture.
7. The Berlin Cathedral
Very close to the Museum Island, is the Berliner Dom, or the Berlin Cathedral, which is the most important religious temple in the German capital.
It was completed in 1905 by order of William II, who demolished the old Baroque cathedral that was there, to erect this imposing building that sought to contrast with the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican.
The cathedral is used by the Evangelical Church in Germany, and stands out on the outside for the imposing green dome; and inside, by the marble and yellow onyx altar.
This important German cathedral is the resting place of several iconic figures of the Hohenzóllem royal family, who ruled the German territories for several centuries.
8. The Berlin Wall
The end of the Second World War would not totally mean the end of hostilities in the world; on the contrary, the world was divided into two different camps, the city of Berlin being the border between both poles, the capitalist western side, and the socialist eastern side.
On the night of November 9, 1989, Berliners tore down much of the wall, thus ending one of the most difficult periods in contemporary German history, where a good number of people risked their lives trying to cross to the western side.
Today a part of about a kilometer of the old Berlin Wall can be visited, where you will appreciate the works of Berlin street art, since the entire surface of the wall is stamped with emblematic graffiti or messages of peace.
This area is known as the East Side Gallery, and it is one of the most important displays of street art in Berlin.
These are some of the most important locations that you must visit if you decide to take a trip through the beautiful city of Berlin.
