Berlin City Guide
Berlin is the capital of Germany and was divided by the Berlin Wall between the French, Americans, British and Soviets from 1945 to 1989. The reunited Berlin has a lively and continually changing nightlife, fascinating museums, modern architecture, restaurants serving international cuisine, and hundreds of tempting shops and boutiques.
Berlin is 8 hours from Brussels by train.
What to do and see in and around Berlin
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate stands right at the centre of Berlin, and was integrated into the Berlin Wall which divided the city into East and West. Brandenburg Gate was built in 1791, commissioned by Wilhelm II to represent peace. Visitors can enter the Room of Silence in one of the guardhouses to contemplate Germany's past.
Reichstag
The Reichstag was built in the late 19th century as the parliament building for the German Parliament. In 1933 the Reichstag caught fire, which led to the rise of the Nazi party to power. After the fall of the Berlin Wall the Reichstag was renovated, Sir Norman Foster designed a huge glass dome for the top of the building, and the Reichstag is again home to the German Parliament. For views across Berlin take the lift to the dome on top of the Reichstag.
Berlin Zoo
Berlin Zoo-Aquarium is in the Tiergarten area of Berlin. The zoo was founded in 1844 and is Germany's oldest zoo, currently home to over 13000 animals, including giant pandas, hippos, giraffes, monkeys and many other species. The aviary includes over 550 species of birds. The aquarium attached to the zoo includes over 9000 fish, reptiles and insects, don't miss the hippos swimming!
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous of the Berlin checkpoints marking the boundary between East and West Berlin along the Berlin Wall. The Checkpoint was closed in 1990, and is now home to the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie which traces the history of the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.
Gemäldegalerie
The Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery) contains European art from the 13th to the 18th century. The gallery contains 72 rooms with over 1000 works by artists including Vermeer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Hieronymus Bosch, and Raphael. There is a Rembrandt Room in the gallery which contains 16 paintings by the artist.
Tiergarten
The Tiergarten is the largest green space in Berlin, and the park was originally laid out in the 1830s. The Tiergarten includes over 23km of walkways, a playground, a beer garden, and Berlin Zoo. Relax in one of the cafés overlooking the lake, or visit one of the exhibitions at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt at the centre of Tiergarten.
KulturForum
The KulturForum is also known as the Tiergarten Complex, and is the art centre of Berlin. Included in the complex is the Gemäldegalerie (see above), and the Neue Nationalgalerie which contains mostly German modern art from the 20th century to the present day. The Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) includes European art and craft works. The Staatsbibliothek library is one of the biggest libraries in Europe - containing over 10 million books.
Alexanderplatz TV Tower
The Alexanderplatz TV Tower is one of the landmarks of new Berlin. The tower was designed by Hermann Henselmann and built in the 1960s. There is a revolving restaurant and a viewing platform within the Tower. The viewing platform is 203 metres up the tower, and offers views over the whole of the city.
Kurfürstendamm
The Kurfürstendamm (or Ku'damm) is in West Berlin, close to Zoo Station. Ku'damm is a 3.5km street, lined with shops, boutiques, cafés, cinemas and bars. The most famous monument on the Ku'damm is the remains of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church which was bombed by the British in 1943.
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is the heart of new Berlin. Potsdamer Platz was destroyed in World War II, divided by the Berlin Wall, but since the fall of the Wall it has been redeveloped. Potsdamer Platz is now a showcase for Berlin's modern architecture, including shopping centres, cinemas, cafés, bars, the Stella Musical Theatre and a casino.
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