Berlin is one of the most visited cities in Europe. With almost 3.7 million inhabitants, Germany's capital is also the country's largest city and, after London, the second largest in the European Union. A captivating and cosmopolitan capital in the heart of Europe.
A vibrant metropolis steeped in history and culture
The economic crisis of 1929 and the rise to power of the Nazis put a sudden end to the glittering 1920s, with its flourishing film industry and legendary nightlife, which also inspired the musical "Cabaret". At the end of the Second World War, Berlin was a city in ruins, without an intellectual and cultural elite, occupied by the four Allied powers, divided into two parts by a wall which, until its fall in 1989, was not only an insurmountable border, but also the ultimate symbol of the "Iron Curtain" and the Cold War, i.e. the separation of Europe and the whole planet into two opposing ideologies. Since German reunification on 3 October 1990, Berlin has seen an incredible renewal. The metropolis on the banks of the Spree River is constantly reinventing itself and attracting more and more visitors and new inhabitants from all over the world. Attractive, growing in every respect, and more popular than ever, it is very popular among young creative people, those who have remained young in spirit, as well as history and culture lovers. In the meantime, many research centres and start-ups have set up alongside universities and colleges. And also as a place and city of cinema, Berlin has once again become one of the leading addresses, not only thanks to the Berlinale.
In the footsteps of 20th century European history
The move of the Deutscher Bundestag (the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany) and most of the ministries from Bonn to Berlin at the end of the 1990s marked the beginning of a new political era. Berlin is the German capital, but also the seat of government, and therefore the political centre of the country. The historic Reichstag building is surrounded by an impressive complex of modern buildings. This new district called Regierungsviertel (government district) is a good starting point for a city tour and one of the city's major tourist attractions, to be discovered on foot or by boat. Unforgettable and unavoidable: a visit (free of charge!) to the large glass dome and the terrace on the roof of the Reichstag, only possible by prior reservation
Monuments and memorials that are highly symbolic
From the Brandenburg Gate opens a magnificent axis that leads east to Unter den Linden Boulevard and west to the Victory Column (which has a small platform under the Golden Angel with one of the most beautiful views of Berlin) and the Tiergarten, Berlin's green lung and one of the most famous of Berlin's many parks. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is one step away. It is difficult, if not impossible, to describe the emotions that capture the visitor who visits this field of 2,711 stelae scattered over 19,000 m2 and the strangeness of this place. You have to go there to (better) understand. The same is true of the Jewish Museum in the Kreuzberg district, another place not to be missed for those interested in the life and terrible fate of Berlin's Jews during the Holocaust. Anyone interested in the Cold War and the history of the Wall should not miss a stop at the Check-point Charlie Wall Museum, a former checkpoint between the American and Russian sectors. About 3 km further north is the Berlin Wall Memorial, a memorial centre for the division in the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR, located on the former border strip of Bernauer Straße, where the last section of the wall, in its entirety and entire width, is also located. Even further north, spring is shaping up every year in the most beautiful way possible. The former border strip near Bornholmer Straße is bordered by cherry trees. When they are in bloom, this part of Berlin turns into a pink tunnel. A real botanical paradise!
One of the greenest cities in Europe....
... at least in terms of the number of parks, gardens and forests. In total, there are 2,500 parks and public gardens (13% of Berlin's surface area), including 23 parks with an area of more than 50 hectares. Wooded areas make up 18% of Berlin's total area. Don't miss: the Prussian castles and gardens of Berlin and Brandenburg, such as Charlottenburg Castle (in the same district) opposite the Bröhan (Art Nouveau and Art Deco), Berggrün (Masters of Modern Art) and Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection (Surrealism) museums.
Or the castle of Sans-Souci (in Potsdam), the two castles of Glienicke on the banks of the Havel and Lake Glienicke, and the Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) with its castle, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Among the other sites classified by UNESCO are the Cities of Modernism, comprising six housing complexes, built between 1913 and 1934 and spread throughout the city, as well as Museum Island in the city centre, an extraordinary complex of five museums: the Pergamon Museum, the Bode Museum, the New Museum, the Old National Gallery and the Old Museum.
Not to be missed if you are a fan of photography, cinema and the media: the Helmut Newton Photography/Foundation, Film and Television and Communication Museums in Berlin. In total, Berlin has 175 museums, more than 140 theatres and around 300 cinemas. There is therefore an exceptionally rich cultural offer.
Have fun and relax
On the banks of the Spree, opposite Museum Island, is the Strandbar Mitte. This outdoor café-bar opens its doors on sunny days. There are 600 seats, pizzas, and tango parties. A friendly atmosphere not to be missed! Another must-see place in Berlin: Clärchen's Ballhaus. It's a little trip back in time when you enter the old 1913 dance hall to attend a class, for dinner or to celebrate. As soon as the weather permits, you can sit on the terrace and in the open-air breweries (Biergarten). If you like to sit by the water, Berlin offers you many options. Classics include the Club der Visionäre and Freischwimmer bar restaurants in Kreuzberg or Café am Neuen See in Tiergarten. For those who prefer a panoramic view, an aperitif at the Monkey Bar is a must. This bar is located next to the zoo on the tenth floor of the design hotel 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. Lovers of craft beers will find what they are looking for at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Berlin, a huge space dedicated entirely to beer and culinary delights.
A gastronomic diversity that seeks its equal
As far as the gastronomic scene is concerned, there is everything from street food to haute cuisine, from regional specialities to international dishes. One of Berlin's specialities is Currywurst, a sausage with curry sauce. It can be found at several addresses, including Curry 36, a popular kiosk in Kreuzberg. The long queue, however, is not the one that takes you to the famous wurst, but to the city's most famous vegetarian kebab right next door. By the way, there are more kebab kiosks in Berlin than in Istanbul. In total, there are 4,650 restaurants and about 1,090 cafés, bars and clubs. So it's easy to have fun and really impossible to get bored in Berlin!
Smart info
When? When? To enjoy Berlin in all its splendour, the best time is from April to October.
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