Berlin, Germany is one of my favorite places to visit in Europe. Here are the top 5 places you should add to your must see list when visiting Berlin.
The Reichstag
Reichstag is home to Germany's Parliament and the reunification ceremony between East and West Germany. At the top is the famous domed glass. Just a note: The dome and roof terrace can be visited free of charge and provides great view of not only the city of Berlin, but if you look down you can see the politicians in action. To visit, register online in advanced. Pro tip: take a guided tour. The weekdays are typically less crowded than going during the work day. While in the dome, you can enjoy something to eat the Käfer Dachgarten Restaurant. The building itself was modeled after Memorial Hall in Philadelphia and was built between 1884 to 1894. You can easily get here from the Hauptbahnhof rail station. During the 1964 remodel, they left the graffiti left by Soviet soldiers, when they sieged the Reichstag in 1945 and did not patch the bullet holes as reminder of the World Wars.
The Brandenburg Gate Brandenburg Gate is the main symbol of reunification between East and West Germany. When the cities was divided it was located in West Berlin and inaccessible to all citizens. Approximately 100,000 people gathered here for the Brandenburg Gate’s official reopening on December 22, 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Branderburg Gate is the first stop for any visitor to Berlin. It was finished being built in 1971 and was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. At the top of the Gate site the Quadriga statue. An interesting fast is that this statue was stolen by Napoleon and sent to Paris for a period before being returned back to Germany.
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was created as a physical barrier between East and West Germany. The wall itself was constructed August 1961 directly in front of the East Berlin houses. Families and friend were separated once the wall was created with dramatic differences in living conditions in the two areas. The Berlin Wall Memories is an open air exhibition. Here you can see a watch tower, parts of the wall, and learn more about the history through audio and pictures.
The Berlin TV Tower
The Berlin TV Tower is located on Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte. Much to travelers delight, the Berlin TV tower is the tallest publicly accessible building in Europe. It comes in at 368 meters and offers 360 degree views of Berlin. Just like the Reichstag, get tickets in advanced are required. This year a new restaurant will be opening up, The New Sphere by Tim Raue. Back in 1979 it was declared a monument by the GDR about 10 years of its construction completion. Today however it is known as one of the main symbols of Germany itself.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
In the middle of Berlin you will find a very important memorial that every local and international traveler should visit - the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The memorial is close to the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial is 19,000 square meters and can be entered at all times from all side. There are 2711 concrete slabs varying heights. The ground is sloped and almost wave like. The ground is uneven and will feel different depending on where you stand. This way you feel uneasy and to reflect on the all the innocent Jewish lives that were lost.
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