Berlin, Germany — Attractions
Brandenburg Gate
The impressive and symbolic Brandenburg Gate that lay forlorn for so long in the no man's land behind the Berlin Wall, is now once again renovated and accessible, along with the newly reconstructed Pariser Platz that links the gate to the beautiful Unter den Linden Boulevard. The gate is Berlin's only remaining city gate, built of sandstone between 1788 and 1791 with 12 Doric columns according to a design by C.G. Langhans. Six columns support a 36-foot (11m) transverse beam, similar to the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. The massive gate is topped with a stunning statue of the Goddess of Victory facing east towards the city center (this was added in 1794). The gate is closed to traffic, as is the adjacent Pariser Platz, a gracious square that was once surrounded with beautiful buildings sadly destroyed in the Second World War. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall new buildings have been built, however, to designs closely following those of the originals.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie
The infamous border crossing point in the wall dividing West and East Berlin has now become a shrine to the wall's memory with the addition of a museum, Haus am Checkpoint Charlie. For nearly 30 years, between 1961 and 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in the Friedrichstrasse was the only crossing point between East and West Berlin. While the original metal shed is now on display at the Allied Museum, the soldier's post can be visited, and tourists can be photographed under the border sign.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Friedrichstraße 43-45
- Phone Number
- (030) 253 725-0
- Website
- www.mauermuseum.de
- Hours
- Daily 9am to 10pm; documentary films are screened throughout the day, with showings of the historically significant feature films 'Mit dem Wind nach Westen' daily every two hours and 'Mein Kampf' daily at 7.30pm
- Admission
- EUR12.50 (adults), EUR5.50 (under 10s)
Eastside Gallery
The remains of the infamous Berlin Wall have now become the largest open-air art gallery in the world. The longest section of the wall, which has been preserved, stretches from Ostbahnhof station to the Oberbaumbrucke, and has been given over to graffiti artists from around the world. A total of 118 artists from 21 countries have exerted their skills on the 4,318-foot (1,316m) long section of the wall, and this collection has become a Berlin landmark and a tourist attraction. Best known paintings are Dimitri Vrubel's Brotherly Kissand Gunther Shaefer's Fatherland. The gallery is billed as an international memorial for freedom.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Mühlenstraße
- Website
- www.eastsidegallery.com
- Admission
- Free
Jewish Museum
Since opening in 2001, the Jewish Museum in Lindenstrasse has already gained an international reputation for its significant architecture and unique exhibitions that bring history alive. The bulk of the museum is housed in a windowless and doorless steel-clad, silver building, designed by Daniel Libeskind, sited alongside the yellow Baroque edifice of the Berlin Museum. Visitors enter the Jewish Museum through the Berlin Museum to explore the exhibition rooms, which are clustered around a main axis void, designed to signify the empty and invisible aspects of Jewish history.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Lindenstraße 9-14
- Phone Number
- (0)30 2599 3300
- Email Address
- info@jmberlin.de
- Website
- www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de
- Transport
- U1, U6 to Hallesches Tor or U6 to Kochstraße
- Hours
- Monday 10am to 10pm, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm
- Admission
- EUR5 (adults), children under six free; concessions available
Hamburger Bahnhof
One of the most popular art galleries in Berlin is housed in a former train station. The historic Hamburger Bahnhof, built in 1846 at the Tiergarten, was badly damaged during the Second World War, but has been restored and reopened, with some modern elements added to the architecture, as an exhibition venue for an extensive contemporary art collection. The former station now offers 107,639 square feet (10,000 sq meters) of space filled with works by the likes of Andy Warhol, Josephy Beuys and Roy Lichtenstein. The basis of the exhibition is the Marx private collection, but there are changing exhibitions and good examples of the Italian Transavanguardia and minimalist art on show too.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Invalidenstraße 50- 51
- Phone Number
- (0)30 397834-11
- Email Address
- hbf@smb.spk-berlin.de
- Website
- www.hamburgerbahnhof.de
- Transport
- U6 to Zinnowitzer St.; tram M6, M8 or 12; S3, S5, S7, S9, S75 to Hauptbahnhof
- Hours
- Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm; Saturday 11am to 8pm; Sunday 11am to 6pm. Guided tours are conducted on Sundays at 4pm
- Admission
- EUR8; children under 16 free. Concessions available. Free admission Thursdays 2pm to 4pm
Potsdamer Platz
This vibrant square is the heart and soul of the 'New Berlin', which has emerged since the fall of the wall in 1989. The original square was once one of the busiest junctions in Europe with a major train station sited on it. However after damage during the Second World War and being cut through by the divisive wall, it became a decayed wasteland. Since the fall of the wall, however, a building boom has been taking place around the Potsdamer Platz, which now boasts an exciting mix of restaurants, shopping centers, hotels, a casino, theaters and cinemas that draws both Berliners and tourists seeking good food and recreation. Focus of the square is the 22-story Debis Haus, designed by Renzo Piano, featuring an atrium with cathedral-like dimensions, and its neighboring Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, a shopping mall with an Imax cinema. The Sony Center is the most recent addition, consisting of seven buildings around a light-flooded arena, which also houses Berlin's popular Film Museum. The Kollhoff building features a panorama platform, reached by Europe's fastest express elevator, which offers views of the city.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Website
- www.potsdamerplatz.de
- Hours
- The panorama platform is usually open daily, 10am to 8pm.
- Admission
- Panorama platform: EUR6.50; concessions available
Legoland Discovery Center
The Legoland Discovery Center is the first indoor Legoland in the world and provides an interactive journey through a land of color, creativity, learning and play. There is a fun factory, where real Lego bricks are made, a 4-D cinema show, opportunities for visitors to make their own creations, Miniland Berlin, a themed ride and much more all under one roof.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Sony Center, 4 Potsdamer Platz
- Phone Number
- (0)30 30 1040-10
- Website
- www.legolanddiscoverycenter.de
- Transport
- Bus M41 to Potsdamer Platz, or M48, 200, 357 to Varian-Fry-Str. U-Bahn U2, S1, S2, S25, RE3, RE4, RE5 to Potsdamer Platz station
- Hours
- Daily 10am to 5pm; closed 25 December
- Admission
- EUR15.95 (adults), EUR12.95 (children 3-11); concessions available. Discounted tickets available via the website.
The Story of Berlin
One of Berlin's most popular attractions, this unusual exhibition recounts the history of the German capital city from its foundation until the fall of the Wall. The Story of Berlin is divided into 25 themed rooms and pays attention to the feelings, thoughts and living conditions of common Berliners. One of its main attractions is the nuclear bunker that was built during the Cold War in the 1970s. Guided tours are available every hour.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Kurfürstendamm 207-208
- Phone Number
- (0)30 887 20 100
- Website
- www.story-of-berlin.de
- Transport
- Subway to Uhlandstrasse or Kurfürstendamm, S-Bahn to Savignyplatz or Zoologischer Garten, or bus to Uhlandstrasse
- Hours
- Daily 10am to 8pm. Last guided tour at 6pm
- Admission
- EUR10 (adults), EUR5 (children aged 6-13). Other concessions available
Gendarmenmarkt
Said to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Gendarmenmarkt is certainly one of Berlin's most impressive squares that was created as a market place in the 17th century. During World War II most of the buildings were destroyed, but have since been returned to their former glory. The square is dominated by the beautiful Konzerthaus (concert house), which is home to the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, as well as the twin churches of Deutscher Dom and Franzosischer Dom, the identical German and French Cathedrals. Gendarmenmarkt is also host to Berlin's best Christmas market and various concerts. Surrounding the plaza are a number of cafes and restaurants.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Transport
- Bus N6 or U-bahn U2 and U6
Charlottenburg Palace
Schloss Charlottenburg is the largest palace in Berlin, an 18th-century baroque structure that was originally constructed as the summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Elector Frederick III who became the first Prussian king. The splendid interiors are festooned with art masterpieces, while the surrounding gardens contain a mausoleum, pavilion and the Belvedere, which houses the porcelain museum.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Spandauer Damm 10-22
- Phone Number
- (0)3 319 694 200
- Website
- www.spsg.de
- Transport
- U2 or bus 309 to Sophie-Charlotte-Platz
- Hours
- 10am to 6pm (April to October) and 10am to 5pm (November to March); closed Mondays
- Admission
- Old palace: EUR10; new wing: EUR6 including audio guide. Photo permission is EUR3.
Berliner Dom
The Berlin Cathedral was built between 1895 and 1905 and is a magnificent basilica that stands on the site of several earlier structures. Inside, the crypt contains over 80 sarcophagi of Prussian royals, while other areas of interest are the pulpit, the organ, and the stained glass windows. Visitors can climb the dome, which is decorated with intricate mosaics.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Am Lustgarten, Museum Island
- Phone Number
- (0)30 20269 119
- Website
- www.berlinerdom.de
- Transport
- S-bahn and U-bahn to Alexanderplatz; bus 100, 157 or 348; tram 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15 or 53
- Hours
- Guided tours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 8pm
- Admission
- EUR5, or EUR8 with audio guide; concessions available
Pergamon Museum
This huge museum has three main departments, the Antiquity Collection, Islamic Art Museum and the Middle East Museum, that house parts of reconstructed monumental buildings transported from original excavation sites from ancient lands. The Antiquity Collection contains the Pergamon Altar from the second century BC, as well as the Market Gate of Miletus from Roman antiquity. The main attraction in the Islamic Art Museum is the Mshatta façade originating from a Jordanian desert palace, while the Middle East Museum boasts the Ishtar Gare and the Procession Way of Babylon, as well as the throne room façade of Nebuchadnezzar II.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Am Kupfergraben 5, Museum Island
- Phone Number
- (0)30 2090 5577
- Website
- www.smb.spk-berlin.de
- Transport
- U-Bahn and S-Bahn to Friedrichstrasse; tram M1, M4, M5, M6, or 12; bus 100, 200 or 147
- Hours
- Daily 10am to 6pm, until 10pm on Thursday.
- Admission
- EUR10 (adults), free for children under 16
Tiergarten
The world's largest inner-city park, and housing both the parliamentary and governmental institutions, Tiergarten combines the attractions of the Berlin's largest park with its zoo. The residence of the German President and the Carillon are also located in the park. Tiergarten is also a great place for families to enjoy and relax under the shade of a tree with a picnic, or throw a frisbee. And when the little ones get bored of that, head off to the Berlin Zoo for the afternoon.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
Museum fuer Naturkunde (Nature Museum)
Boasting over 30 million objects throughout its geological, palaeontological and zoological collections, the Museum fuer Naturkunde is the biggest of its kind in Germany and one of the five largest in the world. Children of all ages will enjoy discovering the dinosaurs and learning while they wander around the exhibition halls, which take up a massive 6,600 square meters (71,000 square feet).
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Invalidenstr. 43
- Phone Number
- (0)30 209 38591
- Email Address
- info@mfn-berlin.de
- Website
- www.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de
- Hours
- Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am 6pm; Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays 10am to 6pm. Last admission 30 minutes before the museum closes. Closed Monday
- Admission
- EUR5 (adults); EUR3 (children); Concessions available
Domaene Dahlem
This open-air museum is a must for lovers of farmyard animals. Children will love visiting this working farm and learning while enjoying playing with piglets and kids, (of the baby goat variety). On Saturdays the farm features an organic market and parents can even relax in the beer garden sipping on a pint of their favorite brew while the children run around or take a tractor ride.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Königin-Luise-Straße 49
- Phone Number
- (0)30 666 3000
- Email Address
- kontakt@domaene-dahlem.de
- Website
- www.domaene-dahlem.de
- Hours
- The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Closed Tuesdays
- Admission
- Museum: EUR3 (adults); EUR1.50 (children)
Berlin Zoo-Aquarium
Children and families love nothing more than trips to the zoo or the aquarium and Berlin's stunning Zoo-Aquarium combines both! It offers visitors the opportunity to marvel at some spectacular animals, and with largest number of species of its kind and an immense biodiversity, this building provides terrariums and aquariums for over 9,000 animals of almost 800 species, such as Blacktip Reef sharks, tuataras, Solomon Island skink, and electric eels. In the zoo, children will love the magical animals, such as polar bears, camels and lions.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- 32 Budapester Street
- Phone Number
- (0)30 254 010
- Website
- www.aquarium-berlin.de
- Hours
- Open daily from 9am to 6pm
- Admission
- Aquarium: EUR12 (adults); EUR6 (children). Zoo and Aquarium: EUR18 (adults); EUR9 (children). Concessions available
Grips-Theater
The renowned and respected Grips-Theater is a fantastic place to take the kids while on vacation in Berlin. Children will enjoy the spectacular shows and dancing and entertainment.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Altonaerstrasse 22
- Phone Number
- (0)30 397 474 77
- Website
- www.grips-theater.de
- Hours
- Most shows start at 7:30pm, but there are some matinees from time to time. Theater closes from late June mid-August
- Admission
- EUR4 - EUR18, depending on the show.
Allied Museum
Occupying an abandoned movie theater, the Allied Museum is located on the former U.S. Army Europe's Berlin Brigade headquarters, and houses exhibits and displays detailing the history of the Allied forces in Germany in World War II and up until 1994. The museum's collections include military memorabilia, weapons, photos and other artifacts including the original Checkpoint Charlie shed.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Clayallee 135 - Outpost
- Zip Code
- 14195
- Phone Number
- +49 / (0)30 / 81 81 99 -0
- Email Address
- info@AlliiertenMuseum.de
- Website
- www.alliiertenmuseum.de
- Transport
- S-Bahn: S 1 to Zehlendorf, then take Bus No. 115 (direction U-Güntzelstr.) or No. X83 to AlliiertenMuseum. U-Bahn: U 3 to Oskar-Helene-Heim. Bus: No. 115 or No. X83 to AlliiertenMuseum.
- Hours
- Daily 10am to 6pm, closed Wednesdays
- Admission
- Free
Reichstag
The Reichstag is one of Berlin's most famous buildings. The seat of Germany's parliament since 1894, the building has had a volatile history, being damaged in World War II, wrapped in a sheet by conceptual artist Christo in 1995, and being massively reconstructed in the late 1990s. The reconstruction saw the building gutted, leaving only the facade, and the addition of a glass-domed atrium that provides panoramic views of Berlin.
- Region/City Name
- Berlin
- Address
- Platz der Republik 1
- Zip Code
- 10557
- Phone Number
- 030 22 73 21 52
- Hours
- Daily 8am to midnight
- Admission
- Free
