Welcome to this new blog post! Here I will show you some sights in the center of Berlin. If you are planning a spontaneous trip to the capital of Germany but are short on time, this post is just right for you.
A short trip to Berlin
This year I went on a business trip to Berlin. Besides business matters, I only had a few hours a day to see some of the sights. Nevertheless, I made good use of the time and saw a lot of the city center.
Berlin – a city with a lot of history
Berlin is a unique city. It is both historically and culturally rich. Berlin has a lot to offer and unfortunately I had far too little time to see everything. Still, I had the opportunity to see the most famous sights with my own eyes and to get my own impression of the city. In the following I would like to share my impressions and some recommended sights with you.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is a famous monument from the 18th century. There used to be 18 city gates in Berlin, today only this one remains. It is the most visited landmark in Berlin and the national symbol of Germany.
If you want to avoid large groups of tourists, you should come in the early morning or late evening. I can especially recommend visiting the Brandenburg Gate during the golden hour. At sunset you can take great photos of the gate with the setting sun in the background.
Reichstag building
Not far from the Brandenburger Gate is the Reichstag building. It is one of the most visited parliament buildings in the world. The Reichstag building also has a large glass dome. It is still an important political building and very impressive. You can book tours, preferably online to avoid long waiting times.
Next to the Reichstag building there is a large park (the Tiergarten) and some other attractions are also nearby.
Museum Island
As the name suggests, there are several museums and other historical buildings on this island in the middle of the city. Among others, you can find there the Berlin Palace, the Old Museum, the Old National Gallery and the Pergamon Museum. Some short bridges lead to the island from all sides. The Museum Island is not very large so you can easily explore it on foot. Nevertheless, you can spend many hours in the museums and galleries and learn more about the history and culture of Berlin – and Germany in general. This is a great highlight, especially for those who are interested in history.
Berlin Cathedral
This fascinating building from the 19th century is also located on the Museum Island. The cathedral is magnificently designed and impressed me the most. The artistic design of the cathedral is a real eye-catcher.
In terms of area, it is the largest Protestant church in Germany. Events are regularly held in the building. The cathedral was damaged in the Second World War, but has since been rebuilt true to its original form. The basement of the cathedral serves as a burial place for kings.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is also one of the most visited sights in Berlin. It was a military checkpoint during the time of the division of Germany. There is not much left of the former border crossing. The small wooden barracks is a replica. A few meters away is a wall where you can read more about the history of the border. Behind the wall is an inner courtyard with a small museum, which has specific opening times. You can also find some souvenir shops, where you can buy, for example, remains of the Berlin Wall. Checkpoint Charlie is a very interesting place in the city center that is worth a visit.
The Berlin Television Tower
At 368 meters high, the Berlin TV Tower is the tallest building in the city. It is located next to Alexanderplatz. The tower looks impressive from below, but I highly recommend going up. Entry is not particularly expensive and you have a unique view of Berlin from above. You can walk all the way around and have a view in all directions. There are boards under the viewing windows where the most famous sights are marked. If you want to see the city from above without stress, you can plan on spending about half an hour on the tower. There is also a souvenir shop below.
Useful tips
Berlin has a very well-developed public transport network. You can get anywhere in the city center quickly by tram or subway. You can buy tickets online or via apps. A 24-hour ticket is recommended if you plan to use public transport a lot the next day.
If you are looking for restaurants, you should visit the Georgenstraße. It is located next to the Friedrichstraße. It has been expanded under the train line and there are now a few restaurants located. I can especially recommend the „Swing Kitchen“.
Also important: always have a plan B. Not just in terms of the weather, but also if you are planning train journeys where you have to change trains frequently. Unfortunately, delays and train cancellations are actually a common occurence in Germany.
Map
As a little additional overview, I have made a map with some sights that I can highly recommend if you only have a limited time in Berlin. Feel free to take a look:
If you are interested in receiving regular notifications when a new blog post is online, subscribe to the newsletter.
Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!
Zsofia
Alpinia Travel 
Hinterlasse einen Kommentar