5 Things to do in Berlin

As historic cities go, Berlin is one which top’s the list. A troubled past and a promising future have seen the city expand around its ancient cultural sites. With so much to see and do in this lively capital city, most tourists need more than a single day to get a taste and see it all. Here’s our top 5 things to do in the city of Berlin - 

1 – The Berlin Wall

Although almost entirely removed following the reunification, there are some sections of the wall that still remain standing, preserved as both a tourist attraction and a reminder of the horrors of war.

Back when the wall stood in its entirety, its purpose was to divide Berlin, and its occupants, between the Communist east and the political west side. When it was complete it ran for 87 miles through the city. Inside the East German side a second wall was built, creating a deserted space of land between the two that eventually earned itself the nickname ‘Death Strip’. Anyone who attempted a crossing over the wall was shot by stationed guards.

2 – Checkpoint Charlie

During the period of the Berlin Wall, crossing points were built into the 87-mile-long structure to allow those few who were allowed to pass through; an access route to a whole other world. One of these points, and arguably the most famous, was Checkpoint Charlie.

3 – Jewish Museum

The plight of the Jews in Nazi Germany is a story that’s been told around the world for decades since World War II ended, but nowhere is it more poignantly portrayed than in this remarkable museum. Located on Lindenstrasse 9-14, the museum documents two thousand years of Jewish history in the city, but particularly focuses on the changing face of German-Jewish relations during the war. It has been extensively renovated and expanded over the years, with a large part of it only accessible via a twisting, turning underground tunnel that leads into what is now known as the Holocaust Tower.

4 – Reichstag

The Reichstag building is arguably the epicenter of history for this remarkable city. Opened in 1894, it was the location for the German parliament, also called Reichstag, until it was all but completely destroyed by fire in 1933. 

5 – Brandenburg Gate

Once a city gate, when the boundaries of the city were much smaller, this 18^th century neoclassical structure is one of the most iconic landmarks in Germany. It was originally built as a symbol of peace by King William II of Prussia, but it then ironically suffered extensive damage during World War II.

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