Aerial view of Berlin skyline with famous TV tower and Spree river in beautiful evening light at sunset, Germany.
Aerial view of Berlin skyline with famous TV tower and Spree river in beautiful evening light at sunset, Germany.

A city with a thousand facets and endless stories to tell, Berlin is both a bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis and a historical and classical city. One trip is never enough to see all its treasures! Bustling and yet elegant, old yet trendy, Berlin is now a symbol of tolerance and equality, a cultural hub and the perfect destination for party people. Even though the city seems to be light years away from its tumultuous and brutal 20th-century, the scars of the past are still visible in some of its most famous attractions, like the Berlin Wall and Berlin Palace. 

Historical attractions are just as popular as the local dining and nightlife scenes, and the plethora of events and festivals make sure the city never sleeps. Berlin is diverse and open-minded, relaxed and intriguing, but always in a hurry to be one step ahead. It’s hard to find the right words to describe the city’s atmosphere because Berlin finds it so easy to be the right fit for anyone. 

Brandenburg gate at night, Berlin, Germany at fall
Brandenburg gate at night, Berlin, Germany at fall

Historical Berlin

The city’s labyrinthine history will take you thousands of years back in time and bring you into the present through its fabulous museums. Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the middle of the River Spree and houses some of the best museums in the world. The island’s five museums are dedicated to archaeology and art. If you can only visit one or two museums, make sure you stop at the Altes Museum and the Pergamon Museum that will reward your curiosity with fantastic artifacts dating back to the Greek, Roman, and Etruscan and Egyptian times.

Add to your itinerary a trip to the Scholss Charlottenburg, a palace built in 1699 currently housing impressive museums, and make sure to stop at the infamous Berlin Wall. Only a few sections of the wall are still standing today, but their presence is enough to paint a picture of the Cold War. Visit the East Side Gallery to admire inspiring artwork that symbolizes hope. Learn more about the Cold War at the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Checkpoint Charlie was once the monitoring tower that supervised the area around the Berlin Wall. The tower has been long demolished, but you’ll find an interesting museum dedicated to the era of the Third Reich and the Cold War.

Berlin Cathedral with a bridge over Spree river in Autumn
Berlin Cathedral with a bridge over Spree river in Autumn

The DDR Museum is also worth a visit, especially if you’re curious to understand how people lived in former East Germany (DDR). The museum focuses on everyday life in the DDR, displaying communist cars, a socialist living room, and fun interactive games. Continue your historical tour of Berlin with a visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The experience can be heartbreaking and disturbing, but so is the truth behind these pages of history. 

There’s no talking about historical attractions in Berlin without mentioning the worldwide famous Brandenburg Gate, a triumphal arch dating back to 1791 and a symbol of the city. The gate awaits in one of the best-preserved historical areas of Berlin. The Unter den Linden Boulevard is lined with treasures, such as the German State Opera, New Guardhouse, and the German Historical Museum. Don’t leave Berlin without a walk through the glass dome of the Reichstag, the meeting place of the German parliament and a lovely destination to admire beautiful views of the city.

Everyday life in Berlin with bikers and pedestrians moving around
Everyday life in Berlin with bikers and pedestrians moving around

Contemporary Berlin

Berlin of the hip and trendy delights with fabulous culinary experiences, a crazy nightlife, and fun activities to do. The food is diverse and colorful in Berlin, cuisines from all over the world meeting here to create one of the most diverse dining scenes in Europe. From Indian and Thai to Israeli and Turkish, all the cuisines of the world are represented and embraced by locals and tourists alike. Regardless of your favorite food, try the pretzels – salted, with cheese or any other type, eat a currywurst – pork sausage seasoned with a curry ketchup sauce, taste the Leberkäse Semmel – the German version of bologna sausage, and don’t say no to a Schnitzel sandwich…unless you’re vegetarian or vegan. 

Image of Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin, during dramatic sunset.
Image of Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin, during dramatic sunset.

Posh nightclubs, cool pubs, and underground bars await for party animals of all ages from late at night till dawn. This is your chance to dance in the greatest nightclub in the world, the Berghain, where you can listen to the best techno music in the world while attending parties that last from Saturday night until Monday morning…if you can get in! Add to your night of fun some dancing in the world’s smallest disco too, a phone booth discotheque on the RAW site, where you’ll find everything you need for a disco night – from a disco ball to strobe lights and a smoke machine.

Berlin Cathedral. Berliner Dom. Berlin, Germany
Berlin Cathedral. Berliner Dom. Berlin, Germany

Book an underground tour of the city if you want to admire its architecture from below and learn more about the underground life of Berliners during World War II. For a chance to capture superb views of the city, scale to the top of the Berlin TV Tower. The platform offers impressive panoramic views of Berlin and is a lovely setting to have lunch or dinner and taste international cuisine specialties. Are you planning an elegant night out? Book a ticket for a ballet, opera or theater performance at the Konzert Haus. Want to admire Berlin from the water? Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise along the River Spree! Eager to try the local beer? Book a 3-hour Berlin Beer Tour to discover the secrets of Germany’s brewing industry while sipping a few pints along the way. You can also opt for a food tour, a Segway tour, a bike tour or a nightlife tour of Berlin! The city abounds in fun and unique experiences and has a tour for everyone.

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