Berlin is a metropolis, which speaks for itself. It is one of the German federal states as well as the capital of Germany, and it has appr. 3,5 million residents.

Berlin was mentioned first in a written source in the 13th century. The city became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417-1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and the Third Reich (1933–1945).  After World War II, Berlin was divided and East Berlin was the capital of East Germany, while West Berlin became a West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall. After the German reunificiation in 1990, Berlin became the legitimate capital of all Germany once again.

Significant areas

– Mitte. Old historical center and the core of former East Berlin. This area has several significant tourist attractions: Unter den Linden, Museumsinsel, and the Brandenburg Gate as well as numerous pubs,  fancy restaurants and galleries.

– North. The Zitadelle Spandau can be found in this district as well as the Reinickendorf area with its beautiful old architecture. The Pankow district is one of the best-preserved areas of older Berlin.

– East Central. There are decent vegetarian restaurants and a lot of comfy pubs in Friedrichshain. EC is associated with artists,  counterculture and Turkish immigrants. The Kreuzberg district has interesting museums.

What to do and see in Berlin

East Side Gallery

This art memorial of freedom in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district consists the preserved section of the Berlin Wall, the “Hinterland Mauer”, which closed the border to West Berlin.  It is 1,3 kilometres long and shows 105 paintings by artists from all over the world. The works of art were originally painted in 1990, but some of them have been somewhat restored afterwards. It is possibly the largest and longest-lasting open air gallery in the world and a definite must-see.

Museumsinsel

The Museuminsel is one of the most important attractions in Mitte. This museum district, located on the northern half of an island in the Spree River, is one of the top cultural sites of Berlin. It consists of five museums, all part of the Berlin State Museum complex:

– The Pergamon Museum

– The Altes Museum

– The Neues Museum

– The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery)

– The Bode Museum

The museum district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Berlin City Pass holders have free entry to all museums.

Checkpoint Charlie

During the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie was the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin. After the reunification of Berlins and Germany it became a popular tourism spot.  It is situated in the Dahlem neighbourhood and is today part of the Allied Museum.

Tiergarten

Tiergarten, located in Mitte in a district sharing its name, is Berlin’s largest park. It is a 342 hectare area for strolling and picnics. The Berlin Zoo can be found in the, and there is also a large playground in the southeastern corner, near Potsdamer Platz.

DDR Museum

This museum, situated at Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 1, depicts facilities and normal life in the socialist East Germany (DDR) between 1949-1990. The museum is located in the former governmental district of DDR, and the exhibition contains e.g. a preserved Trabant car, original cinema newsreels, and a reconstructed Stasi interrogation room.

Shopping

• The Flea market at Mauerpark, arranged every Sunday, is a good place to find souvenirs, especially DDR-made stuff (medals, street signs etc.). Kurfürstendamm (Ku’Damm) and its extension Tauentzienstraße are popular shopping streets with flagship stores of many international brands. The KaDeWe department store at Wittenbergplatz is allegedly the largest in Central Europe and has an excellent food department.
• Friedrichstraße is a shopping street in the former East Berlin. The Galeria Kaufhof department store at Alexanderplatz is also worth a visit.

Recreation

• Wannsee, in the western part of the city, is a great bathing area during the summer, just like the Müggelsee in the south east. The Berlin Expert tours are the most splendid ways for sighsteeing.

Photos: With the CC licence / Steve Collis, Mark Ahsmann, Nikanos, Miguel Hermoso Cuesta, Denis Apel, Eisenacher~commonswiki, Lokilech