The Brandenburg Gate, the city’s most well-known monument, is the only surviving gate of Berlin’s original 14. Built between 1788 and 1791 based on the Propylaeum of Athens, the Brandenburg Gate was exclusively reserved for the German emperors to pass through. It suffered significant damage during the Second World War and was restored in 1957. A symbol of the division of the two Germanys until 1989, it has now become a symbol of the reunification. Unter den Linden, the most famous of Berlin’s boulevards, starts from in front of the gate, beyond the Pariser Platz.
Address:
Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin
More information:
http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/brandenburger-tor/index.en.php?lang=en
The Marienkirche, built in 1270, is one of the city’s rare remaining buildings from the Middle Ages. It houses a superb fresco representing the Dance of Death, painted around 1485 and representing all sections of the Berlin population dancing with death, reminding the viewer of the vanities of this world and the identical fate that awaits us all. Concerts using the church’s 18th-century organs are an unmissable event for lovers of organ music. The church also played its part in the fall of the communist regime. It was one of the first centres of discussion for the citizens, as churches were the only places in the GDR where people could find freedom of expression.
Address:
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 8, 10178 Berlin
More information:
http://www.marienkirche-berlin.de/
Berlin’s new synagogue, built in the 19th century, has recently been returned to its former glory, after becoming dilapidated during the Third Reich. Its golden dome shines above Oranienburger Straße, in an area to which the Jewish community is gradually returning. Don’t miss the permanent exhibition inside this religious building showing relics from the old synagogue, as well as documentation about the community before and during the Third Reich, and a memorial in the garden.
Address:
Oranienburger Straße 29-31, 10117 Berlin
More information:
http://www.centrumjudaicum.de/en/
An obligatory stop for anyone with an interest in the history of the Wall and the Cold War. The museum – which is right next door to the famous Checkpoint Charlie, the only crossing point between the East and the West – tells the story of the construction of the Wall and of course the ingenious escape attempts which punctuated its existence, with related source documents on display.
Address:
Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 Berlin
More information:
http://www.mauer-museum.com/
Berlin Zoo is the oldest zoo in Germany and one of the richest in the world: 1400 animal species live there – each one with its own cage and garden. You can see okapis, pygmy hippopotami, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, gorillas, giraffes and many other types of animals, birds and reptiles. Visit the adjacent aquarium at the same time, which is home to a large range of marine life, from a selection of exotic fish to lemon sharks and long-toothed crocodiles. In addition, the insectarium on the third floor houses praying mantises and poisonous snakes. All in all, quite a collection!
Address:
Budapester Straße 32, 10787 Berlin
More information:
http://www.zoo-berlin.de/
The museum of art as a social phenomenon has its origins in the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. The five museums on Museum Island in Berlin, built between 1824 and 1930, are the result of a visionary project and demonstrate the developments in museum design over the course of this century. Each museum has been designed with its collections in mind. These important collections span 6000 years of works of art from all over the world and trace the development of civilisation. It’s also worth visiting Museum Island for its urban and architectural value, which was added to UNESCO's world heritage list in 1999.
Address:
Bodestraße 1, 10178 Berlin
More information:
http://www.museumsinsel-berlin.de/
The Hackersche Höfe in Berlin, just a stone’s throw from the S-Bahn station Hackersche Markt, are a listed collection of eight interconnected restored courtyards. They are accessible through their main entrance at 40 Rosenthalerstrasse. The quarter, also known as Scheunenviertel, is one of Berlin’s entertainment districts and is as popular with locals as it is with tourists. Revellers have been enjoying the area’s numerous clubs since the 1990s.
Address:
Hackescher Markt, 10178 Berlin
More information:
http://www.hackesche-hoefe.com/
Built in the late 1960s, when the Cold War was at its most critical point, the 365m-high television tower was intended to be a symbol of the dynamism and modernity of the communist regime. However, it was in fact the West Germans who invented it and the Swedish who built it, a fact that wasn't easy to digest for the regime at the time. Go on up for a tour of its top, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee together with a panoramic view of the city.
Address:
Alexanderplatz, Berlin
More information:
http://www.tv-turm.de/en/
