Every year, more than twelve million people visit Berlin. They are mainly drawn by the numerous sights that Germany’s capital has to offer. If you’re in the mood for a sightseeing tour, here’s an overview for you.
This way, you’ll know which places in Berlin you absolutely must visit when staying at EastSeven Hostel Berlin.
The top sights of Berlin
Every child in Germany knows some of Berlin’s landmarks. The Brandenburg Gate is definitely one of them, and Alexanderplatz with the TV Tower probably is too. But did you know that Berlin has a cathedral? And do the East Side Gallery and the Topography of Terror ring a bell?
Thanks to our tips on the top 10 Berlin sights, you’ll be perfectly prepared for your sightseeing in Berlin.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is the landmark of Berlin. It is located at the edge of Pariser Platz in the Mitte district. It was built from 1789 to 1793, based on plans 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 sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow.
Originally, the Brandenburg Gate was one of 18 city gates in Berlin. Today, it is the only one of its kind left in the capital. It was damaged during World War II but was restored by 1958.
In total, the Brandenburg Gate consists of twelve columns. There is a wall between each pair of columns. The gate is 20.3 meters high; including the Quadriga, it rises to around 26 meters.
From the Brandenburg Gate, you have a great view of another Berlin landmark: the Victory Column (Siegessäule), located at the Großer Stern. The two famous structures are connected by the Straße des 17. Juni.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/wahrzeichen-berlin-deutschland-monument-18576930/
Alexanderplatz
You’ll also find Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte. It’s impossible to miss because it’s home to another Berlin landmark: the TV Tower (Fernsehturm). The 368-meter-high building significantly shapes the capital’s skyline.
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 viewing points in Germany. There is also a revolving restaurant inside the tower sphere.
But the TV Tower isn’t the only sight Alexanderplatz has to offer. The heritage-listed Alexanderhaus and Berolinahaus buildings are also well worth a look, as are the Fountain of Friendship between Peoples 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 (Neptunbrunnen) is located in the park by the TV Tower, it isn’t technically part of the Alexanderplatz sights. However, it’s not a long walk from the square to the fountain—you’ll 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 brought to its current location.
The fountain is one of the largest of its kind in the capital. It consists of five sculptures showing the sea god Neptune and four women. The latter symbolize the four largest rivers of Prussia: the Rhine, the Vistula, the Oder, and the Elbe.
At its highest point, the fountain measures around ten meters, and its diameter is 18 meters.
In the immediate vicinity of the Neptune Fountain, you’ll also find two other Berlin sights: the Red City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) and St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche).
Berlin Wall
As is well known, Berlin was also divided during the time of German division. From 1961 to 1989, a wall ran right through the middle of the city. It was around 156 kilometers long.
In the course of the “Wende” (the peaceful revolution), the Berlin Wall was opened on November 9, 1989. Over the following years, more and more of the wall was destroyed. Today, only four sections can still be found 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 Topography of Terror site, around 200 meters long
- Liesenstraße, around 15 meters long
Another important place related to the Berlin Wall is the Wall Museum (Mauermuseum). It is located at the most famous former border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie. The museum traces the fates of various people who attempted 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 worth a visit for more than just the section of the Berlin Wall. It is a documentation center that deals with Nazi terror in Germany.
Where the Topography of Terror stands today, the headquarters of the SD and SS as well as Heinrich Himmler’s office were previously located. An audio tour leads through the remaining basement vaults of the buildings.
There, you’ll find media stations that provide information about Nazi terror and encourage reflection and discussion.
Holocaust Memorial
Equally important for coming to terms with the darkest chapter of recent German history is the Holocaust Memorial, located south of the Brandenburg Gate. Its official name is the “Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.”
The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete stelae of varying heights. The tallest stelae rise 4.7 meters out of the ground, while the lowest are at ground level.
The architect Peter Eisenman, who designed the memorial, left it to viewers to explore its meaning. Many compare the field of countless concrete blocks to a cemetery.
The stories, photos, and videos are quite intense, but if you want to learn about the Holocaust, you should definitely visit 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 on Mühlenstraße in the Friedrichshain district. It features more than 100 artworks painted on the longest surviving stretch 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 a perfect spot 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 Vrubel. It is also known as the “Fraternal Kiss” because it shows the world-famous kiss between Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev that took place in East Berlin in October 1979.
Also well-known is the motif “Test the Best” by Birgit Kinder, which shows a Trabant car breaking through the wall. If you’re looking for free things to see 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 (Museumsinsel) is an island in the Spree River that is home to five major museums:
- Altes Museum
- Neues Museum
- Pergamon Museum
- Alte Nationalgalerie
- Bode Museum
One of the most famous exhibits on display 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 of 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’ll also find the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) on Museum Island. The giant Neo-Renaissance building that graces the Berlin skyline is hard to miss. It was built from 1894 to 1905 and is one of the largest Protestant churches in Germany.
The structure was heavily destroyed in World War II and rebuilt starting in 1975. Its impressive architecture consists of a nearly 100-meter-high dome, four towers, and a golden cross. The oldest of the three bells hanging in the cathedral is the Osterburg bell, cast in 1532.
To see the inside of the Berlin Cathedral, you have to pay an entrance fee. Therefore, it is not one of the free Berlin sights.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/brown-und-blue-dome-gebaude-3484001/
Reichstag Building
The Reichstag building was constructed between 1884 and 1894. It initially served as the seat of the Reichstag of the German Empire, and later for the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic. Since 1999, the German Bundestag has been based in the Reichstag.
The building’s architecture is primarily characterized by its striking dome. It is made of glass, is located above the plenary hall, and is accessible to visitors.
It is possible to book tours of the Reichstag building. There are even opportunities to attend Bundestag debates.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/der-reichstag-in-berlin-754943/
Tempelhofer Feld
Spend your summer days at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport 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 point for locals and tourists and an ideal place for sports in the park in Berlin, featuring a six-kilometer cycling, skating, and jogging path, a 2.5-hectare barbecue area, a large dog run, and a huge picnic area for all visitors.
Our Berlin sights map
We’ve put together a city map for you. There you’ll find more places worth seeing that you shouldn’t 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 that often lead to long queues.
TV Tower – Germany’s tallest building with a viewing platform and revolving restaurant is one of the best viewpoints in Berlin and offers a breathtaking view over the city.
Given the many sights in Berlin, it’s 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.
Our sightseeing tour can be downloaded for free here: https://goo.gl/maps/f1kfav9cHgk9he5w5?g_st=ac