Berlin Travel Guide

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most charged symbols in all of Germany. Built in 1791 to commemorate peace, Brandenburg served as a triumphal arch for Napoleon, a Nazi party icon, and part of the Berlin Wall. In 1987 when President Reagan made his famous proclamation of ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’, he did so in front of the Brandenburg Gate. The gate is also very easy on the eye, a neoclassical masterpiece of symmetry and balance. Based on the entry to the ancient Athenian Acropolis, Brandenburg is topped by a group of four triumphant horses pulling a cart. Even today, when visiting Brandenburg, you can feel the immense history in the air.

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The Berlin Wall remains one of the city’s most prominent, ominous icons. After WWII, Berlin divided between Soviet Russia in the East and the Allied Powers in the West. Many East Germans fled to West Berlin to escape the rising communist German Democratic Republic. To prevent this, the socialists began constructing a wall in 1961 intending to keep their citizens in, and capitalism out. For nearly 30 years, the wall was the site of tension, division, and murder. Hundreds of people were killed trying to flee from East to West, until 1989 when the Soviet Union crumbled. Today, parts of the wall are preserved, complete with political graffiti and even bullet holes. Seeing the Berlin Wall up close is a remarkable chance to inspect a horrifying piece of 20th-century history.

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One of the last residences of the German Monarchy, the ostentatious Charlottenburg Palace speaks to a bygone age, the 18th century. Brandenburg Germany was unified with Prussia, and King Friedrich I reigned over Berlin. Originally intended as a country house for the future Queen Sophie Charlotte, Charlottenburg is decorated in the swirling, luxe style of the age, a combination of Rococo and Italian Baroque. Everything in the palace seems to be brushed with gold. Among other explicit riches, the palace exhibits royal porcelain, silver, and even the crown jewels. As you tour the rooms, the opulent interiors have an almost dizzying effect. A retreat from the inner city, Charlottenburg will show you a whole new shade of Berlin.

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In the middle of the Spree River and at the heart of Berlin’s city center lies one of the world’s most unique and impressive collection of museums. Known as Berlin’s Museum Island, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to five extraordinary museums and an absolute must for any Berlin itinerary. Among them is the well-known Pergamon Museum, boasting a spectacular collection of art and architecture from the ancient and classical eras. Other sites in the area include the Berlin cathedral (Berliner Dom) and the City Palace, still under reconstruction. The nearby Gendarmenmarkt is Berlin’s prettiest square and the site of its most famous Christmas Market.

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Checkpoint C was the main access point for non-Germans entering East Berlin during the Cold War. Nicknamed ‘Checkpoint Charlie’, some of the worst Cold War tensions played out on this site. In 1961, East German and American tanks faced off over the checkpoint, each armed with munitions. As the Cold War progressed, it became one of the most surveilled spaces in Berlin. The Eagle Cafe, right next to the checkpoint, was filled with officials, soldiers, and spies peering over into East Berlin. Made famous by Cold War movies like Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, the once moody, clandestine atmosphere of the checkpoint is now a popular attraction. A replica border post marks the spot, and you can snap photos with people dressed in Cold War-era military uniforms. These days a replica border post now marks the spot, often with people dressed in Cold War-era military uniforms with whom you can take a picture with for a few euros. Nearby, the Jewish Museum explores the fascinating history of Germany’s Jewish heritage in a strikingly modern building.

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The Reichstag building battled for survival through the darkest of 20th Century Germany. Completed in 1894, it saw out the last of Imperial Germany, and in 1933, four weeks after Adolph Hitler became Chancellor, the building was set aflame in a mysterious act of arson. Burned to ruins, the Reichstag was not even rebuilt before World War II struck. Damaged by air raids and captured by the Red Army, the Reichstag became as beleaguered as the state of German democracy. The dilapidated Reichstag miraculously reopened in 1990, for an emotional reunification of a full German parliament. In 1999 the building was fully repaired, with the addition of a triumphant glass dome. Now open to visitors, you can climb inside the dome, and survey the now peaceful and thriving Berlin.

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Known as the “Florence of the Elbe River” Dresden is one of the unexpected delights of any German itinerary. The long-time royal residence for the Kings of Saxony, in the 18th century Dresden was transformed into an architectural jewel. One of Dresden’s riverbanks is even called the Brühlsche Terrasse or the ‘balcony of Europe’. Due to its compact size and close location, Dresden makes for an ideal day trip away from Berlin. As you wander its streets past the grand baroque Zwinger Palace and stunning Albertinum art museum, it’s hard to believe you’re in the same century you left in Berlin. If you have the opportunity to stop in Dresden at Christmastime, don’t skip it. The Dresden Christmas markets are the most well-known in Europe.

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Potsdam is an easily traveled 24 kilometers southwest of Berlin, a fact Berliners take ready advantage of, using the city as their weekend getaway. In the 1700s, Potsdam became the full-time residence of the Kings of Prussia. The city was developed with the principles of the Enlightenment age in mind. As you wander the town, you’ll see neoclassical buildings resting in harmony with their surrounding landscapes. Potsdam is nothing if not cultured. Highlights of Potsdam include the Sanssouci Summer Palace, the fabulous Neues Palace, and the Old Town Hall. However, even if you just spend the day lounging in the sun in the royal gardens, Potsdam is bound to have an impact on you.

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The UNESCO-protected biosphere of the Spreewald is a majestic swampland southeast of Berlin. An enchanting and magical landscape, the Spreewald is riddled with canals, perfect for outdoor activities such as kayaking, biking, and punting (think gondoliers). As you explore the Spreewald waterways, you’ll see old wooden houses dotted around the forest. The Spreewald is home to thousands of traditional Slavic people who settled here when the area still fell under Bohemian rule in the middle ages. The main town of Spreewald is Lübbenau, where a museum elaborates on the history of the area. Pickles are a specialty and no trip to the Spreewald would be complete without sampling the local Spreewald Gherkins.

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The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is preserved as a reminder of the evils of Nazism. Sachsenhausen was established in 1936 and primarily used to hold, torture, and kill political prisoners. 200,000 people passed through Sachsenhausen and over 105,000 of them were killed, including children and elderly people. Disturbingly, Sachsenhausen was the ‘training camp’ for other concentration camps. The SS refined their genocide techniques at Sachsenhausen. After WWII ended, the Soviets inherited Sachsenhausen. It remained a camp, and Nazi prisoners were held there. Today, Sachsenhausen is a memorial and museum and makes for a sobering, eye-opening visit. Although it reviews a distressing part of German history, seeing Sachsenhausen is very educative. Trained guides and audio tours provide in-depth information, and the memorial spaces reflect on the nature of Nazi crimes.

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On January 20th, 1942, high-ranking members of the SS, the government administration, and the Nazi Party met to discuss the “final solution of the Jewish question” in the Villa Minoux on the shores of Greater Wannsee lake. The Villa is now a museum which explores this immoral, shameful moment. One of the most disconcerting aspects of a visit to Villa Minoux is the tranquil, lush house and its surrounds. After you view the museum, take a ferry over to Peacock Island, a retreat built for King Frederik William II and his mistress. Or, take a dip in the lido at Strandbad Beach. A day in Wannsee is a reminder that evil can still reside amidst beauty and pleasure.

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A tropical paradise built inside a former airship hangar, Tropical Islands is like nowhere else on earth. Dive into a lagoon or tropical ocean, explore the lush rainforest dotted with rare plants, or simply relax and unwind at one of the saunas. As you immerse yourself in the 26C/76F air, it’s hard to believe you’re still in Germany. A fun day out for the family, or simply an escape from busy Berlin, a day spent at Tropical Islands will rejuvenate you. This is the place to go when you need a ‘vacation from your vacation.’

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