Berlin Top Attractions for First-Time Visitors

At 26 meters tall, the Brandenburg Gate is the most famous historic landmark in the city and the only surviving city gate in Berlin. This Neoclassical gate was built in the late 1700 and marks the entrance to Unter den Linden. What makes it so special, you ask? The gate was a central place of protest during the division of Germany and a place of the huge celebration in 1989 when the Berlin Wall fe...

Located on the eastern side of Tiergarten and just a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial is a somber tribute to the Jewish people who died in WW2. You will have a chance to see 2,711 dark slabs across nearly 20,000 square meters of uneven grounds. At the base of the memorial, there is an underground information center that offers personal stories of people who were affecte...

The largest and most impressive church in the city, Berlin Cathedral was built in the 20th century to show the imperial power of the country. This neo- Renaissance Cathedral is well-known for its giant organ that is still used for religious services. Apart from touring the interior, visitors can also climb to the top of the cathedral and enjoy panoramic city views. Berlin Cathedral is recognized ...

Checkpoint Charlie was the best-known border crossing of the Berlin Wall. Expect to see a replica of a U.S. Army guardhouse at the crossing that was once used by foreigners and members of the Allied forces. If you wish to know more about the history of the Berlin Wall, make sure to pay a visit to this former border spot. Checkpoint Charlie is recognized in Hoptale's First-Time Visitor Guides as o...

Home of the German Parliament since 1999, the Reichstag is an important Berlin landmark with a few historical scars. A great deal of damage to the building was caused by air rides in 1945 and a devastating fire in 1933. Nowadays, you can admire the beauty of the glass dome at the top of the building and enjoy tours with free English audio guides. Its roof terrace is also open to the general public...

A 1.3 km long section of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery is one of the world's longest open-air galleries. This outdoor gallery is located between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. It showcases some of the city's most respected street art painted by 118 artists from 21 countries. Art lovers will instantly fall in love with this site. East Side Gallery is recognized in Hoptale's First-Time Visi...

Arguably Berlin's most beautiful square, Gendarmenmarkt dates back to the 17th century. Why is it important? It was home to some of the most important historic buildings that were destroyed in World Word II. However, several landmarks like the Konzerthaus, the Franzosischer Dom (French Cathedral), and the Neue Kirche (German Cathedral) dominate this amazing square. During the winter, the entire sq...

Berlin Wall Memorial is a memorial to all the men, women, and children who died while trying to get across the Berlin wall. Not to be missed is the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum where you will find exhibits telling the story of refugees who passed through Berlin. Other attractions include the Gunter Litfin Memorial and the Monument in Memory of the Divided City and the Victims of Communist Tyr...

Back in the 1920's, Potsdamer Platz was the busiest square in all of Europe. However, it was destroyed in WW2 and divided by the Berlin Wall. After the wall went down, the square was transformed into a modern plaza packed with shopping centers, cinemas, hotels, and restaurants. If you are a fan of Dali, there is also a special exhibition dedicated to the artist at Potsdamer Platz. Potsdamer Platz...

One of the UNESCO world heritage sites, Museum Island in Berlin is every art- lover's dream destination. It comprises 5 world-renowned museums including the Pergamonmuseum, the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Neues Museum (New Museum), the Bode Museum, and the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery). Museum Island is recognized in Hoptale's First-Time Visitor Guides as one of the top things to...

Located in Berlin's largest park Tiergarten, Zoo Berlin (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is Germany's oldest Zoo and also the most visited zoo in the whole Europe continent. Families with kids can look forward to seeing pandas, gorillas, African penguins, giraffes, elephants, and more than 1,300 other animal species. The zoo also includes an aquarium which houses sharks and varieties of marine life. ...

A traffic junction in Berlin's Mitte district, Alexanderplatz is one of the city's busiest and most visited modern squares. This massive public square is also known as Alex by the locals and its main attraction is the world-famous Berlin Fernsehturm that dominates the Berlin skyline. For panoramic views, visit the top of the tower. Shopaholics visiting Alexanderplatz will be pleased to hear that t...

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a Protestant church affiliated with the Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia, a regional body of the Evangelical Church in Germany. It is located in Berlin on the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz. The original church on the site was built in the 1890s. It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943. The pres...

Located just a short drive from the center of Berlin, Charlottenburg Palace is the city's oldest and largest Prussian estate. In addition to the interiors with its 50-meter-high central dome, and Baroque and Rococo decor where you will find furnishings and paintings, there is a picturesque palace garden inspired by the famous gardens at Versailles. Charlottenburg Palace is recognized in Hoptale's...