Berlin
Travel article for Berlin
Age:
31-35
Travel time:
in February 12
Top 5 Berlin Attractions
Berlin is a sprawling city, but luckily it is easy to get around and several of the main Berlin attractions are within walking distance to each other. We’ve rounded up the top 5 – but note that this
list omits museums. The museum scene is a big part the German capital, so check out our other article Top 5 Berlin Museums for a detailed roundup.
Brandenburg Gate
This monument is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city and undoubtedly one of the most famous of all Berlin attractions. Prior to 1989, it was most frequently photographed as the soaring monument sitting behind the wall, dividing East from West Berlin. It was also the scene of some of the most memorable images from 1989, when throngs of people climbed atop the wall, celebrating the fall of the wall. It’s pillars- inspired by the acropolis in Greece – sit at the end of Unter den Linden, one of the capitals most famous, wide streets. www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/brandenburger-tor
The Berlin Wall
Although the bulk of the Berlin wall was torn down long ago, there are still remnants left to see, so this is one of the Berlin attractions that does not exist in one place. And there are a number of ways to get a sense of how significant the wall was in Berlin. You can visit the East Side Gallery, a stretch of the wall along the river, visit the Berlin Wall Documentation centre or see the most famous checkpoint called Checkpoint Charlie. There is also a well-marked bike trail that runs along the former path of the wall. You can do it on your own of take an organized bike tour. http://www.berlin.de/mauer/index.en.html
Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust memorial is hard to describe. It is a sea of grey concrete slabs of pillars that cover roughly one city block. You can walk between the pillars, and the sensation is eerie and disturbing, which is precisely what the architect, peter Eisenman, wanted. Below-underground-is a center which lists all names of the known Holocaust victims. www.stiftung-denkmal.de
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
This historic church, damaged in World War II, is another significant landmark among all of our favorite Berlin attractions. The church was left in its damaged state as a memorial to the war, but next door a modern adjacent was built. The two together are a significant site. The modern church is covered is striking, illuminated blue glass www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de
The Reichstag
The seat of the German Parliament is one of the most famous Berlin attractions due to its striking building. Its original 1894 structure was remodeled in the 1990s by renowned architect Sir Norman Foster – a brilliant glass cupola now sits atop the building. www.bundestag.de
Brandenburg Gate
This monument is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city and undoubtedly one of the most famous of all Berlin attractions. Prior to 1989, it was most frequently photographed as the soaring monument sitting behind the wall, dividing East from West Berlin. It was also the scene of some of the most memorable images from 1989, when throngs of people climbed atop the wall, celebrating the fall of the wall. It’s pillars- inspired by the acropolis in Greece – sit at the end of Unter den Linden, one of the capitals most famous, wide streets. www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/brandenburger-tor
The Berlin Wall
Although the bulk of the Berlin wall was torn down long ago, there are still remnants left to see, so this is one of the Berlin attractions that does not exist in one place. And there are a number of ways to get a sense of how significant the wall was in Berlin. You can visit the East Side Gallery, a stretch of the wall along the river, visit the Berlin Wall Documentation centre or see the most famous checkpoint called Checkpoint Charlie. There is also a well-marked bike trail that runs along the former path of the wall. You can do it on your own of take an organized bike tour. http://www.berlin.de/mauer/index.en.html
Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust memorial is hard to describe. It is a sea of grey concrete slabs of pillars that cover roughly one city block. You can walk between the pillars, and the sensation is eerie and disturbing, which is precisely what the architect, peter Eisenman, wanted. Below-underground-is a center which lists all names of the known Holocaust victims. www.stiftung-denkmal.de
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
This historic church, damaged in World War II, is another significant landmark among all of our favorite Berlin attractions. The church was left in its damaged state as a memorial to the war, but next door a modern adjacent was built. The two together are a significant site. The modern church is covered is striking, illuminated blue glass www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de
The Reichstag
The seat of the German Parliament is one of the most famous Berlin attractions due to its striking building. Its original 1894 structure was remodeled in the 1990s by renowned architect Sir Norman Foster – a brilliant glass cupola now sits atop the building. www.bundestag.de
