Things to see in Berlin – 10 classics not to be missed in Berlin
Berlin is one of Europe’s most vibrant and diverse capitals. It has an exciting cultural and art scene, and a vibrant nightlife. Not least, Berlin is a perfect city to feel the wingspan of history through a walk on the city streets. Here we have listed Berlin’s classic sights that you simply cannot miss when visiting Berlin.
Our list of attractions in Berlin
Most of these attractions are easily accessible on foot.
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 to separate East and West Berlin. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 at the end of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall can be seen in several places in the city, and in some streets the location of the wall has been marked by inserting paving stones into the asphalt. In some places, a part of the old wall remains, including a small section at Potzdamer Platz. The longest preserved section of the Berlin Wall can be found near the Ostbahnhof railway station in the Friedrichshain district. There is 1.3 kilometers of the old wall preserved here and it is known as the East Side Gallery. The entire wall has been decorated with graffiti created by over 100 artists. This has become one of Berlin’s most popular attractions. The image is one of the East Side Gallery’s most famous and shows Brezhnev and Honecker, then leaders of the Soviet Union and East Germany.
Did you know that you can take a night train all the way from Stockholm via Linköping, Malmö and Copenhagen to Berlin? Read more about our night train to Berlin.
Fernsehturm / TV Tower in Berlin
The TV Tower is a perfect place to visit to get a great view of Berlin. At 368 meters high, it is the tallest tower in Berlin. The tower was originally built as a TV and radio tower in the 60’s and is still running today, today it is also a very popular attraction that is said to have over 1 million visitors per year. There can be a long queue during the high season, so be prepared to wait. A “Fast view ticket” for adults costs just over 20€. If you really want to soak up the beautiful view of Berlin, you can enjoy a meal in the tower’s restaurant, which is located at a height of just over 200 meters. We recommend that you pr-order your tickets.
An alternative to the TV tower, which sometimes has very long queues, is the Panorama Punkt at Potsdamer Platz. It also offers the fastest elevator in Europe.
Brandenburg Gate
One of Berlin’s oldest and most classic landmarks, the Brandenburg Gate is today one of Germany’s most visited sights. It was built in the 18th century and has survived two world wars. During the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate was a symbol that separated West from East. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of a reunited Germany.
Checkpoint Charlie
Within walking distance of the Brandenburg Gate you will find Checkpoint Charlie. This is one of the old passages between East and West. There is a realistic model of the post rebuilt as a memorial and tourist attraction. Adjacent to Checkpoint Charlie is the Berlin Wall Museum.
Unter den Linden
Unter den Linden is one of Berlin’s great parade streets. At one end you will find the German Historical Museum and at the other end the Brandenburg Gate. If you continue through the Brandenburg Gate, you will find the Tiergarten and the next famous street, Strasse des 17 Juni. The fine lime trees along the road have been cut down at times, but now stand in four beautiful rows for visitors to view. Along the street there are many nice cafés, restaurants and shops.
The Holocaust Memorial
When at the Brandenburg Gate, a visit to the Holocaust Memorial is a must. The Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe or Holocaust Memorial is a memorial in the center of Berlin. It was inaugurated in 2005 in memory of all the Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The monument consists of 2711 concrete columns of varying heights, with narrow paths between the columns. The idea is for the visitor to walk through the narrow aisles and experience a sense of confinement and vulnerability.
Potsdamer Platz
The square is located in old East Berlin in the Mitte district, during the Cold War the area was divided into East and West. Part of the wall is still preserved here. Since the fall of the wall, a modern center has been created here with tall skyscrapers that include offices and a shopping mall.
Reichstag building in Berlin
The Reichstag building in Berlin is a popular attraction. This is largely due to the spectacular dome that visitors can climb up to. There is also a roof terrace. Visiting the Reichstag and the dome is free of charge, but pre-registration is required, which you can do on the Reichstag’s website.
Berlin’s parks
Tiergarten is the name of the huge park located in the center of Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate and many other attractions. Originally created as a hunting ground, today it is one of Berlin’s parks where Berliners and tourists like to relax in the shade of the park’s trees, barbecue or enjoy English tea in the English Garden. The park is also home to the famous Strasse des 17. juni, which runs through the park to the Brandenburger Tor.
A bit south of Berlin you will find Tempelhofer Feld, which until 2008 was an airport. Today it is a large park area for recreation and relaxation. Thanks to the large asphalt surfaces, the park is a perfect place for cycling, skateboarding and more.
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church)
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is located in what used to be West Berlin. The church was originally built in the late 19th century. During World War II, the church was destroyed in one of the many bombing raids on the city. Even today, the ruins remain after the bombing, and next to the ruins is a new church that was rebuilt after the end of World War II.
Berlin Central Station
For those traveling by train to Berlin, you’ll get to visit another spectacular sight. Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Berlin’s central station. This magnificent building is one of Germany’s busiest train stations with over 300,000 passengers a day. The building is the largest junction-type station building in Europe, with intersecting railway lines at different levels.
