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Berlin
Oh, Berlin. The capital city of Germany and heart of some of the most important events in European history. A city where diversity is a key component of what makes Berlin, Berlin. Here you will see historical buildings side by side with modern architecture as the past and present live harmoniously.
But don’t be fooled. Berlin isn’t only beautiful architecture. There is an ever-present looming darkness that can only be explained as a feeling of saddened remembrance. Throughout Berlin, there are many memorials dedicated to the victims of the murderous racism that took place during WW2 along with much more dark history.
Berlin is a city where you can definitely spend more than 24 hours taking in all the diversity, history and charm the city has to offer, but unfortunately, we only had 24 hours in Berlin.
Berlin we are coming back for you!
To elevate your experience, we highly recommend joining a group or private tour to get the most out of your time in Berlin! You can find some of the most top-rated tours here.
What to do?
Take a Tour with Berliner Unterwelten
Address: Brunnenstraße 105, 13355 Berlin
Berliner Unterwelten offers four different underground tours to choose from that will intrigue anyone interested in the darker aspects of Berlin’s deep-rooted history.
We chose the “Dark Worlds” tour. The tour offered an insider’s look into one of the only remaining WW2 bunkers as it was left after the war. During the tour, you will learn what life may have been like for the average Berlin resident in a time when Berlin was one of the main targets for allied bombings during WW2.
As you travel through the maze-like tunnels twisting, turning, upstairs and downstairs your tour guide will provide you with the details necessary to gain a better understanding of how a bunker operated.
Well-educated and passionate tour guides make it possible to visualize what life may have been like during this time in history. We were surprised to find out that there were very strict rules and regulations when it came to life in the bunkers. Whatever you do, do NOT lean on the walls! If you are wondering why, take the tour! It’s worth it!
Had we more time, we would have done all the tours! It was fascinating and at a price point that will fit any traveler’s budget, it is a must do when in Berlin!
Admission Cost: 15€
Pro Tip: Order your tickets here as soon as you know you are going to Berlin. These tours are very popular and sell out very quickly!
Deutscher Bundestag / Reichstag Building
Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
I’m going to be honest, The German Federal Parliament does not interest me one single bit, but I’ll tell you what does- Seeing amazing architecture, beautiful views and learning a bit of local history.
At the very tip top of the Deutscher Bundestag is a giant dome located on the Reichstag Building. Here you can take in breathtaking views of the city while listening to an audio guide that explains everything you are seeing in your view! As you walk, you will slowly climb up a spiral walkway to continue your 360 view of Berlin! Once you reach the top, you can slip outside for more amazing views!
Admission Cost: Free
Pro Tip: Even though it is free of charge to visit the Reichstag dome you must still register here before visiting. Do not arrive more than 30 minutes prior to your tour as you will not be allowed in.
East Side Gallery
Address: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin
Once a heavily guarded concrete barrier separating East Berlin from West Berlin, now turned into the longest open-air art gallery in the world!
At 1.3km long this is the longest continuous section left of the Berlin wall. Immediately when the Berlin wall came down, 118 artists from 21 different countries began painting the East Side Gallery. This is a great place to snap some photos and take in all the hidden (and not so hidden) meanings behind each beautiful work of art.
Admission Cost: Free
Checkpoint Charlie
Address: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 Berlin
One accidental trigger pull and Checkpoint Charlie could have easily been the starting point for WW3. After a 16-hour standoff between the US army and Soviet tanks, President John F. Kennedy contacted Soviet leader Nikita Khrushceve and convinced him to withdraw his tanks.
Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War and is now a popular tourist site while visiting Berlin.
Admission Cost: Free
Memorial of the Murdered Jews
Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe is a place of remembrance and commemoration for the up to 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The monument is called “Field of Stelae” by American architect, Peter Eisenman.
The memorial consists of 2,711 grey concrete slabs of different heights placed over a 19,000 square meter area.
The large concrete slabs were designed to evoke an uneasy, confusing and lost in time atmosphere as such the many murdered Jews may have felt. The entire display is to represent an allegedly ordered system that lost touch with human reason.
As you walk further into the memorial the large grey concrete pillars begin to grow taller and taller with each step until you are completely consumed.
Many visitors describe the feeling of walking through the monument as isolating which is triggered by the massive concrete blocks that hide all sounds and sights outside of the monument.
The president of Germany’s parliament the Bundestag, described the piece as a place where people can grasp “what loneliness, powerlessness and despair mean.”
Admission Cost: Free
Information Center under the Field of Stelae
Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
Under this memorial display is a place of information which you will see and read about many Jewish victims.
Themed rooms such as the Room of Dimensions, the Room of Families, the Room of Names, and the Room of Sites deal with the fates of individuals with photographs, diaries and farewell letters. Short biographies take the victims out of their anonymity. Historical photographs and film footage show the sites of persecution and extermination.
Admission Cost: Free
Brandenburger Tor
Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin
A once separated East and West Berlin, the Brandenburger Tor was once a symbol of division. Today, Brandenburger Tor is a symbol of reunification and is Berlin’s only standing historical gate.
When visiting the Brandenburger Tor, if you look to the left, you will see an old guard shack turned into a small temple. There you will see a statue of the Roman god, Mars, The god of war. It’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and offers excellent insights into the city’s history.
Admission Cost: Free
Flak Tower Humboldthain
Address: Hochstraße 5, 13357 Berlin
The word Flak is an abbreviation for the German word Fliegerabwehrkanone, which translates to “aircraft defense cannon.”
In 1940 the construction of many flak towers were built by personal order of Adolf Hitler. These giant towers were built on top air-raid shelters and were equipped with anti-aircraft guns for defense.
These giant concrete structures served a dual purpose. Below served as a shelter during active bomb raids and above served to defend against Allied aerial attacks.
Admission Cost: Free
Pro Tip: Today through Berliner Unterwelten you can get an inside look at life inside during an active air-raid. Otherwise, it is free to roam the property outside and no appointment or scheduled time is necessary. The very top of the Flak Tower offers spectacular views North Berlin.
Watchtower
Address: Erna-Berger-Straße, 10117 Berlin
Berlin is a playground for all history lovers and this watchtower is no exception. This is an original GDR watchtower of the BT6 type. The GDR soldiers once used this tower to watch over the inner German border. This is the last preserved original watchtower in Berlin.
Admission Cost: There is no visitor center at the tower and little information is available on tickets. It is best to schedule a tour with a local guide here.
Today this watchtower serves as an observation tower offering panorama views. Via two iron ladders on the inside, you can make your way to the top and have a look through small window hatches and peer out into what used to be the former border area in the middle of Berlin.
Berlin Wall Monument
Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 1, 10117 Berlin
From families with children to adults and school groups, the Berlin Wall Monument offers many different engaging education opportunities for any age group. The Berlin Wall Foundation has cultivated many different methods throughout the Berlin Wall Monument to help visitors engage with the historical sites and exhibitions to learn more about Berlin’s history.
Admission Cost: There are many different prices and tour options and exhibits. It is best to see your potions and schedule your guided tours here.
Where to Eat?
Visiting Berlin and don’t know what to eat? You are sure to find something in the large bar and restaurant district of Friedrichshain. If you are looking for more of a chill vibe, there is a super cute makeshift beach area near Checkpoint Charlie that serves as a type of outdoor food court called Charlie’s Beach.
Where to Stay?
Need help planning your trip to Berlin? Not only am I a travel blogger, but I am also an independent travel advisor specializing in German travel! Click here to get in contact with me. I look forward to helping you plan an amazing trip to Berlin!
