More than twelve million people visit Berlin every year. They are mainly attracted by the numerous sights that the capital of Germany has to offer. If you also fancy a sightseeing tour, you can get an overview here. So you know which places in Berlin you absolutely must visit when you stay at EastSeven Hostel Berlin.
The top sights of Berlin
Every child in Germany knows some of Berlin’s sights. The Brandenburg Gate is definitely one of them, as is probably Alexanderplatz with its TV tower.But did you know that Berlin has a cathedral?And do the East Side Gallery and the Topography of Terror mean anything to you?Thanks to our tips on the top 10 sights in Berlin, you’ll be well prepared for your sightseeing in Berlin.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s landmark. It is located on the edge of Pariser Platz in the Mitte district.
It was built between 1789 and 1793, the plans were drawn up by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans.The iconic quadriga, the sculpture of the goddess of victory Victoria on a chariot drawn by four horses, was created by the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow.Originally, the Brandenburg Gate was one of 18 city gates in Berlin. It is now the only one of its kind in the capital. It was damaged during the Second World War, but was restored by 1958. In total, the Brandenburg Gate consists of twelve columns. There is a wall between each pair of pillars. The gate is 20.3 meters high, including the quadriga it rises to a height of around 26 meters. From the Brandenburg Gate you have a very good view of another of Berlin’s sights: the Victory Column, which is located on the Great Star. The two famous buildings are connected by the Straße des 17.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/wahrzeichen-berlin-deutschland-monument-18576930/
Alexanderplatz
You will also find Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte. You can’t miss it because it is home to another Berlin landmark: the television tower.
The 368-metre-high building dominates the skyline of the capital. If you want to see Berlin from above, a visit to the sphere is a must.At 203 meters, it is one of the highest vantage points in Germany.There is also a revolving restaurant in the tower sphere. But the TV tower is not the only attraction that Alexanderplatz has to offer. The listed buildings Alexanderhaus and Berolinahaus are also well worth a look, as are the Fountain of Friendship between Nations and the World Time Clock.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/denkmal-vor-dem-zug-220777/
Neptune Fountain
Although the Neptune Fountain is located in the park by the television tower, it is not one of the sights of Alexanderplatz. However, it is not far from the square to the fountain.
You can be there in five minutes. The Neptune Fountain was built between 1888 and 1891 and originally stood on Schlossplatz on Museum Island. When the Berlin Palace was demolished in 1951, the fountain was removed and moved to its current location.The fountain is one of the largest installations of its kind in the capital.It consists of five sculptures depicting the sea god Neptune and four women. The latter symbolize the four largest rivers in Prussia, namely the Rhine, the Vistula, the Oder and the Elbe. At its highest point, the fountain measures around ten meters and has a diameter of 18 meters. Incidentally, there are two other Berlin sights in the immediate vicinity of the Neptune Fountain: the Rotes Rathaus and St. Mary’s Church.
Berlin Wall
It is well known that Berlin was also divided at the time of the division of Germany. From 1961 to 1989, a wall ran through the middle of the city.
It was around 156 kilometers long. The Berlin Wall was opened on November 9, 1989 in the course of the fall of communism. Over the following years, the Wall was increasingly destroyed. Today, only four sections remain in the city:
- Mühlenstraße, part of the East Side Gallery, around 1,300 meters long
- Bernauer Strasse, part of the Berlin Wall Memorial, around 200 meters long
- Niederkirchnerstraße, next to the site of the Topography of Terror, around 200 meters long
- Liesenstraße, around 15 meters long
Another important place in connection with the Berlin Wall is the Wall Museum. It is located at the most famous former border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie. The museum traces the fate of various people who tried to escape over the Berlin Wall.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/kunst-mauer-wand-kussen-20330458/
Topography of Terror
The Topography of Terror is not only worth a visit because of the section of the Berlin Wall. It is a documentation center that deals with National Socialist terror in Germany. Where the Topography of Terror is located today used to be the headquarters of the SD and SS as well as the headquarters of Heinrich Himmler. An audio tour guides visitors through the still existing cellar vaults of the buildings. There are media stations that provide information about the terror of the Nazis and encourage reflection and discussion.
Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial, located south of the Brandenburg Gate, is just as important for coming to terms with the darkest chapter of recent German history. Its official name is the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe”. The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete stelae of varying heights. The highest stelae protrude 4.7 meters from the ground, while the lowest are at ground level. Architect Peter Eisenman, who designed the memorial, left it up to the viewer to fathom the meaning. Many viewers compare the field of countless concrete blocks to a cemetery. The stories, photos and videos are pretty intense, but if you want to learn about the Holocaust, you should definitely check out the memorial.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/schwarz-und-weiss-schwarzweiss-stadt-gebaude-14545556/
East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is an open-air gallery in Mühlenstraße in the Friedrichshain district. It contains more than 100 works of art that were used to create the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. The paintings document a time of change and are intended to convey a sense of hope for better times and a free future for all people. The gallery is the perfect place to go if you want to explore the urban art scene in Berlin. One of the most famous motifs is the work “My God help me to survive this deadly love” by Dmitri Wrubel. It is also known as the “Brotherly Kiss” because it depicts the world-famous kiss between Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev that took place in East Berlin in October 1979. Another well-known motif is “Test the Best” by Birgit Kinder, which shows a Trabant breaking through the Wall. If you are looking for free sights in Berlin, the East Side Gallery is highly recommended.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/frau-berlin-deutschland-strassenkunst-12996469/
Museum Island
Museum Island is an island in the River Spree on which five important museums are located, namely
- Altes Museum
- New Museum
- Pergamon Museum
- Old National Gallery
- Bode Museum
One of the most famous exhibits to be seen in one of these museums is the bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. It is located in the Neues Museum. Also worth seeing are the reconstructions of the Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate of Miletus and the Ishtar Gate in Babylon, which can be admired in the Pergamon Museum.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/stadt-wasser-wolken-gebaude-26843051/
Berlin Cathedral
You will also find Berlin Cathedral on Museum Island. The gigantic neo-Renaissance building, which adorns the Berlin skyline, is hard to miss. It was built between 1894 and 1905 and is one of the largest Protestant churches in Germany. The building was badly destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt from 1975. Its imposing architecture consists of a dome almost 100 meters high, four towers and a golden cross. The oldest of the three bells hanging in the cathedral is the Osterburg bell, which was cast in 1532. You have to pay an entrance fee to see the inside of Berlin Cathedral. It is therefore not one of Berlin’s free sights.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/brown-und-blue-dome-gebaude-3484001/
Reichstag building
The Reichstag building was built between 1884 and 1894. It initially served as the seat of the Reichstag of the German Empire and later also the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic. The German Bundestag has had its seat in the Reichstag since 1999. The architecture of the building is characterized above all by its striking dome. It is made of glass, is located above the plenary chamber and is accessible. It is possible to book tours of the Reichstag building. There are even tours of Bundestag debates on offer.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/der-reichstag-in-berlin-754943/
Tempelhof Field
Spend your summer days at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport that has been converted into a park. Built in the early 1920s, Tempelhof Airport was in operation for over 80 years until the city of Berlin converted the site into a public park in 2008. Today, the site is a popular meeting place for locals and tourists and an ideal place for sports in the park in Berlin with a six-kilometer cycle, skating and jogging path, a 2.5-hectare barbecue area, a large dog meadow and a large picnic area for all visitors.
Our sights in Berlin – map
We have put together a city map for you. There you will find other places worth seeing that you should not miss:
Checkpoint Charlie – one of the most famous border crossings between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, today a symbol of division and reunification.
Urban Nation – a museum for contemporary urban art with impressive works by street artists from all over the world.
Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebab – Berlin’s most famous kebab stand, known for its delicious vegetable kebabs, which often lead to long queues.
TV Tower – Germany’s tallest building with a viewing platform and revolving restaurant is one of Berlin’s most beautiful vantage points and offers a breathtaking view over the city.
Given Berlin’s many sights, it is anything but easy to see the city in just a few days. So take as much time as you need. We at EastSeven Hostel look forward to your visit and are happy to provide you with insider tips.
You can download our free sightseeing tour here: https://goo.gl/maps/f1kfav9cHgk9he5w5?g_st=ac
