The district of Mitte encompasses the city’s centre, a fashionable and artistic area that is perfectly walkable. In its past, Mitte used to be part of East Berlin, and you can still see the remnants of that bygone era in grand architectural masterpieces like the Brandenburg Gate. From the Gate, take a stroll down leafy Unter den Linden – meaning “under the linden trees” – to the impressive Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) and the State Opera House.
After the fall of the Berlin wall, the area of Mitte around Auguststrasse began to attract artists from all around the world. The streets and houses of Mitte became well known for clubs and illicit bars. With the passing of time, new developers came into town and changed the former flavour of the area. However, Mitte is still a top destination for those who enjoy an exciting, artistic community.
One of the main attractions of Mitte is being able to stroll through the streets during “Rundgang”. Every few months during Rundgang, all the galleries open simultaneously and visitors can enjoy strolling from gallery to gallery while enjoying a glass or two of wine. From interesting museums, to fine dining and dancing until dawn, Berlin Mitte is the number one spot for artistic types to rub elbows and mingle.
While in Mitte, why not visit Museum Island? Here is where some of the most interesting displays of paintings, sculptures and historical artefacts are collected in a row of buildings on the same street. Visitors can walk from museum to museum viewing some of the world’s most prized and rare of collections.
Some of the museums located on Museum Island include:
1. The Bode Museum, which houses the old masters like Rembrandt, Raphael and Bruegel. The Bode also holds treasures of Byzantine art.
2. The Pergamon Museum houses ancient art from the Classical Antiquities Collection. Here, visitors can see clay tablets from the ancient middle eastern city of Uruk.
3. The Neues Museum contains exhibits from pre-historical Europe and ancient Egyptian artifacts like papyrus, jewelry and the bust of Nefertiti.
For family fun that the children are sure to enjoy, Berlin Zoo is a must-see destination. Come and visit the most famous and beloved of all polar bears, the adorable Knut. Knut is a celebrity and is popular all over the world. The Berlin Zoo also offers educational programs and other interesting animal exhibits that guarantee a fun-filled day for the entire family.
Mitte comes alive at night and has many exciting clubs and bars. Nightlife is alive and well here. Anyone who loves to dance and party the night away will love Berlin Mitte at night. As a matter of fact, dancing until dawn is perfectly normal here. There are more than enough dance floors and great music for any partygoer. After the dancing ends, there is always good food just around the corner.
Delicious food can be found everywhere in the Berlin Mitte area. As a melting pot of other countries and cuisines, the food and restaurant varieties are endless. Berlin dining offers local specialties and international cuisine as well. Visitors coming here can find a great variety of dining experiences from conservative, traditional food to the newest mix of bold flavors in Currywurst and sausage stands.
There is no doubt that Berlin Mitte has a lot to offer any visitor. Fine dining, culture, world-class museums; famous polar bears and an eclectic artistic community make Berlin Mitte one of the most popular destinations in Germany.
