The capital of Germany and one of the largest cities in the world, Berlin has much to offer to a tourist. Holiday tours through Europe are not complete without a stop to Germany’s capital. The 10 following sites are some of the best attractions in the city.
1. Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is perhaps Berlin’s most iconic attraction. Erected in 1961 by East Germany, the Berlin Wall divided the city between West and East Germany until 1989. The Wall has been mostly destroyed, but the Eastern side of the wall is covered in graffiti that is worth a look.
2. Holocaust Memorial
Built in 2005, the Holocaust Memorial is a beautiful, yet sobering reminder of Nazi atrocities. Also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Memorial is a 4.7 acre site that is lined with 2,711 concrete slabs that are all the same length, but are of varying heights. The way the concrete slabs, or stelae, are aligned is symbolic of an “ordered system that has lost touch with all human reason.”
3. The Berlin Zoological Garden
The Berlin Zoo is one of the world’s oldest and largest zoos. Covering nearly 85 acres of city space, the Zoological Garden hosts 1,571 different species of animals and contains approximately 18,000 animals. The Berlin Zoo is one of Europe’s top tourist attractions, bringing in around three million visitors annually.
4. Reichstag
Construction of one of Europe’s most recognizable buildings, the Reichstag, finished in 1894. It housed the German parliament for many years, up until it was ruined by a fire in 1933 and then it was renovated in 1999 by the renowned architect Norman Foster. It once again hosts the German Parliament. The dome of the Reichstag building is a must-see for tourists, it provides a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
5. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is another beautiful historic building in Berlin. One block south of the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia in 1791, to be built as a symbol of peace.
6. Museum Island
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Museum Island is a beautiful piece of land on the Spree River that contains five internationally prominent museums, and is a focal point of most Holiday tours.
7. Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral is arguably the most beautiful out of a number of impressive churches in Berlin. It is located in Coelln, a beautiful historical neighborhood, near Museum Island.
8. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is perhaps the most famous of several crossing points on the old Berlin Wall. It once played host to a tense stand-off between U.S. and Soviet tanks in 1961.
9. Humboldt Universitaet
Humboldt Universitaet is a prominent university in Berlin with a very beautiful campus. Humboldt is the alma mater of some of history’s most important figures, such as Albert Einstein and Karl Marx.
10. Berliner Fernsehturm
The fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe, the Berlin Fernsehturm is a 368-meter high television tower in the center of Berlin. The view from the observation deck, 204 meters in the air, is breathtaking.
