What to See and Do in the German Capital

Berlin is Germany’s capital and largest city in area and population. It is both a city and one of Germany’s 16 states (Bundesländer). Home to about 3.4 million residents (4.4 million in the Berlin/Brandenburg metro area), Berlin has a history of upheaval and rebirth like no other European capital city. Most recently, following 40 years as a divided city (28 of them with the Wall), Berlin has been undergoing yet another major transformation since German reunification in 1990.

Berlin Highlights

Getting Around
Berlin is spread out across a vast area of some 344 square miles (892 sq km). Although the city has an excellent public transit system, it can take an hour or more to go from one end of Berlin to another. It is best to divide and conquer by concentrating on certain zones or districts. (See below.)

Green Berlin
As you travel around the city, you may be surprised by how green Berlin is — as in parks, forest, and other green zones. About 40 percent of the city’s total area is Grünfläche (“green space”) and water (rivers, lakes, canals). Two rivers, the Havel and the Spree (pron. shpray) flow through Berlin. In addition, two major canals, the Teltowkanal and the Landwehrkanal, help Berlin function as a port while offering scenic and recreational opportunities.

The German capital often feels more like a series of villages or towns than a huge metropolis. Yet, here you will find one of Europe’s most sophisticated, cosmopolitan cities — vibrant with art, history, and night-life. After so many years of isolation as a land island in the middle of East Germany, Berlin is now making up for lost time.

More on The German Way Public Transport in Germany BVG: Getting around Berlin via S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, and tram

Bargain Berlin
The cost of food and lodging in Berlin is usually lower than in other European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome. It’s also easy and inexpensive to get around using Berlin’s excellent BVG public transportation network of buses, street cars, S-Bahn (local rail) and U-Bahn (metro). The BVG website (EN/DE) is also very helpful, with maps and schedules.

Flying to or from Berlin: BER
Berlin’s new airport is named the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (IATA code: BER). The new BER air terminal opened on 31 October 2020, replacing Berlin’s two former airports, Tegel (TXL) and Schönefeld (SXF). After years of delays and a failed grand opening in 2012, Berlin finally has a world-class airport with two terminals. Of course, the Covid pandemic that soon followed BER’s opening impacted air travel in Berlin and around the globe, but Berlin continues to add more international direct flights. (For the full BER story, see this German Way blog post: A Tale of Two Airports: From TXL to BER.) BER is linked to central Berlin by rail (S-Bahn and Regio lines), bus, taxi/Uber, and highways. For the latest airport and flight information, see the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) website (in English or German).

Brief Berlin History: Cölln

Among most European and German cities, Berlin is a youngster. The city only had 29,000 residents in 1700 (with one in five being of French origin). By 1850 the population of the Prussian capital had risen to only 428,000, at a time when Paris had 1.5 million and London 2.7 million residents. The noted German scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) preferred Paris, and complained about what a backwater Berlin was at the time.

Although Berlin and Cölln, the two tiny settlements that would later become Berlin, existed earlier, the first documented mention of Cölln is dated in the year 1237. Located roughly near today’s Museuminsel (Museum Island) in the center of Berlin, the two towns on each side of the Spree merged in 1307 to become Berlin-Cölln and later just plain Berlin (1432). After 1701, as the royal capital of Brandenburg-Prussia, Berlin gradually grew to become a major political, financial, and cultural center. In 1660, nearby Potsdam had been chosen as the site for a royal hunting residence. In 1745, Frederick the Great (Friedrich der Große, 1712-1786) had a new Rococo-style summer palace built there. Completed in 1747, today Sanssouci Palace and its surrounding park are a major tourist attraction.

With the construction of railways and canals in the 19th century, Berlin’s importance as an industrial and financial center grew. (To be continued…)

What to See in Berlin and Potsdam

Berlin has a lot to offer its visitors — so much in fact that it is best to plan ahead and focus on what you really want to see and experience in the German capital. Whether you have just a day or several weeks, “Berlin ist eine Reise wert!” (“Berlin is worth a trip!”)

Selected Berlin Attractions (Grouped by district)

Also see: Berlin at a Glance

Mitte | Between Tiergarten Park and Alexanderplatz

Der Tiergarten
Literally, the “animal garden,” Berlin’s “Central Park” lies like a huge green patch right in the middle of the city. The park began as a hunting ground for Brandenburg’s royals. Landscaped as a park in 1830, Tiergarten Park is a nice place to stroll, relax and take a break from sightseeing. The park lends its name to the surrounding Tiergarten (TEER-gahr-ten) district of Berlin. There are several notable attractions in or near the park, including the Siegessäule (victory column) that offers a nice view of the city (if you’re willing to climb stairs; no elevater) and the Soviet War Memorial (located in what was the British Zone; the Soviet memorial in Treptower Park is bigger).

The Brandenburg Gate
The number one icon and landmark of Berlin is das Brandenburger Tor. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans for King Friedrich Wilhelm II and completed in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate and the Quadriga horse-and-chariot sculpture atop it have shared the fate of the city it stands in — in good times and bad. Napoleon took the Quadriga to Paris after his 1806 defeat of the Prussians, but it was returned in 1814 after Prussian forces marched into Paris. Badly scarred, the Gate survived the Second World War, only to be cut off by the Berlin Wall in 1961. Now open again, the oft restored Brandenburg Gate stands at the historic Pariser Platz site next to the brand new US Embassy that opened in July 2008.
Also see: Berlin Wall Timeline (1945-2011)

The Reichstag
It is difficult to find a more historic building in Berlin than the German parliament — or one that better reflects today’s Germany. Originally completed in 1894, the Reichstag building was damaged by fire in 1933 and almost destroyed in World War II. Because of the division of Germany and Berlin, it did not become the seat of government for the German Bundestag until 1999. In 1993 Sir Norman Foster was commissioned to design a complete renovation that included a new glass dome, a modern version of the original cupola. Before construction began, the building became a huge art project by being wrapped in fabric by Christo. Since its opening in 1999, the Reichstag dome and its panoramic views of the city have been one of Berlin’s top attractions. Admission is free, but you have to make advance reservations (open 8:00 a.m.-midnight, last entry at 10:00 p.m.). Sometimes it is possible to get in the next group on site if there are places available. Check at the entry point. (See photos.) More…

Unter den Linden
The Berlin avenue known as “under the linden trees” stretches between the Brandenburg Gate to the west and Museum Island and the Spree River to the east. Along the way, besides shops, hotels and cafés, you can see (going west): the Schlossbrücke (Palace Bridge, see photo below), the Deutsches Historisches Museum (allow time for this excellent history museum), the Neue Wache (memorial to victims of facism), Humboldt University, the Bebelplatz square (site of 1933 Nazi book-burning memorial), the famous Hotel Adlon, and the new American Embassy near the Brandenburg Gate. The area around the intersection of Unter den Linden and Friedrichstraße is becoming Berlin’s new eastern shopping area.

Holocaust Memorial
Opened to the public in May 2005, Berlin’s Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas is a collection of 2,711 stelae that covers an entire city block along Behrenstraße, behind the US Embassy just south of the Brandenburg Gate. Don’t miss the easy-to-overlook underground information center and exhibit. (See the photo below.)

WEB > Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (official site, English, German, and other languages)

Gendarmenmarkt
Over the centuries, Berlin has had a lot of French influences, and here you can see some tangible evidence. The Gendarmenmarkt square is only a few blocks south of Unter den Linden. At the square’s northern end (bordered by Französische Straße, French Street) stands the Französischer Dom (French Dome church, not a cathedral, despite the German word Dom), still in use today. In the same building is the Hugenottenmuseum (Huguenot Museum) which documents the arrival of the French Huguenot refugees in Berlin in the 17th century and their impact on the city. On the opposite side of the square is the Deutscher Dom (German Dome church). Between the two stands the Konzerthaus concert hall.
WEB > Französischer Dom (in English)

Museuminsel

Museum Island lies at the eastern end of Unter den Linden (see above) and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. On this aptly named island in the Spree, you will find five of Berlin’s top museums. Most of the planned major museum complex renovations, designed to unify the complex with the new James-Simon-Galerie entry pavilion, have been completed, but a key part of the complex, the Pergamon Museum, is now closed indefinitely.

On 22 October 2023 the Pergamon Museum was shut down for extensive renovations. The entire Pergamon, including its namesake Greek altar, the Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way from Babylon, and the Museum of Islamic Art, will remain closed to visitors for over three years. The Pergamon first opened 93 years ago (as of its 2023 closing). Time, WWII damage, and neglect during the succeeding GDR years have all taken a toll, requiring a major project to ensure the museum is ready for the 21st century. A special Pergamon 360°-Panorama Exhibition, opened during an earlier partial restoration, now fills in for the closed museum.

Four of the five museums on the island are still currently interconnected: the Bode, the Neues Museum (where Nefertiti is on display!), the Alte Nationalgalerie, and the Altes Museum. As noted above, the Pergamon is closed, but the new James-Simon-Galerie entry remains open.
WEB > All Berlin Museums at a Glance – SMB
WEB > Master Plan Museuminsel (English)

Also see this GW blog post: Berlin’s Quirky and Unusual Museums. Not all of the German capital’s museums are devoted to art, archaeology or science. Some feature cars, spies, a WWII bunker, gas lanterns, lipstick, and more.

Humboldt Forum
The nearby Humboldt Forum at the Berlin Palace is also worth a visit. Located on the former site of the East German Palace of the Republic, the Humboldt Forum is a controversial modern/classic-mix recreation of another former building, the Berlin Palace that was damaged in WWII and torn down. Besides its interior exhibitions, the Forum’s rooftop terrace affords visitors wonderful views of the Spree River, Museum Island, the TV tower, the Berlin Cathedral, and much more.

Alexanderplatz

The “Alex,” as Berliners call this square, is the former center of East Berlin. For a while after the Wall came down, the future of this historical urban area was uncertain. But two decades after the Wende (reunification), Alexanderplatz is thriving. New, modern shopping malls (Alexa), cinemas, restaurants, and other businesses have sprung up all around the TV tower and the train station. Alexanderplatz is also a major transit hub for the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, and tram.

Fernsehturm
If nothing else, you can use the giant Alexanderplatz TV tower as a reliable guide to find your way around eastern Berlin. Built as an icon of socialism in 1969, the 1,200 ft (368 m) tall concrete structure features an observation deck and a revolving restaurant, each offering great views of the city. Another East Berlin landmark can be found not far from the TV tower on the other side of the S-Bahn station. The large revolving World Time Clock (Weltzeituhr) will tell you the current time in various cities around the globe.

Rotes Rathaus
Each of Berlin’s 12 districts (Bezirke) has its own city hall (Bezirksamt/Rathaus), but the main city hall is only a few steps away from the TV tower. Completed in 1869, the “Red City Hall” is named for the red bricks of its walls. Badly damaged during the war, das Rote Rathaus was rebuilt and served as the East Berlin city hall, while the Schöneberg city hall (where JFK gave his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech) housed the West Berlin government offices. From 2001 to 2014, Berlin’s proudly gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit (SPD), had his office in the Rotes Rathaus. Today that office is occupied by Michael Müller (SPD), whose official title is “Regierender Bürgermeister” (“ruling mayor”). Since Berlin is both a city and a state, Berlin’s mayor serves as both the state governor and the city’s mayor.

The next sightseeing zone in Part 2 is the area around Berlin’s upscale shopping avenue, the Kurfürstendamm in former West Berlin. But there is much more to this area than shopping.

Next | Berlin City Guide – Part 2

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Berlin at a Glance
• Berlin Museums – A brief guide to some of Berlin’s 200+ museums
• Berlin City Guide – Part 2
• Public Transport in Germany – Getting around locally via S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, and tram
• The East Side Gallery in Berlin (The Berlin Wall)
• Boulevard der Stars – Berlin’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• The Berlinale – The Berlin International Film Festival
• Potsdam and Sanssouci, near Berlin – both historic and scenic.
• City Guides: Germany – More cities
• Hotels and B&Bs
• Driving in Europe – Tips for driving in Germany and Europe
• Air Travel – Flying to, from or in Germany
• Rail Travel in Germany
• Travel and Tourism – Travel-related information for Germany, Austria, Switzerland
• Notable People – Bios of notable people from the German-speaking world

ON THE WEB

• Berlin.de – English – The Berlin.de site in English – official site
• BVG – English – Berlin’s public transportation agency (maps, schedules, tickets)
• Berlin Airports – Arrivals/departures, info, etc.
• Boulevard der Stars – The official Boulevard of Stars website (in German)
• Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin – The official Marlene Dietrich website is unfortunately showing its age; the last newsletter was in May 2015. Three rooms of the Filmmuseum Berlin are devoted to Marlene Dietrich. If you look closely you find more Marlene related items in other parts of the Museum at Potsdamer Straße 2 10785 Berlin, U- or S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz.

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