Tourist Attractions in Berlin

Most cities only have one center, but Berlin has two. Although East and West Berlin have successfully interwoven to form a more-or-less homogeneous city, city planners are still trying to cope with the "problem" of two centers.

Brandenburg Gate

For those in Berlin for the first time, a stroll down Unter den Linden, Berlin's most prestigious boulevard, is a must. Begin at the Brandenburg Gate, situated on Pariser Platz, which was once the border of East and West Berlin. Today Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of German reunification. This broad, tree-lined avenue contains many of Berlin's historic landmarks, including the Max Liebermann Haus. Near the Reichstag, home of the German government, and the Brandenburg Gate, lies a huge field of concrete blocks. The Holocaust Memorial, formally known as the Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe, provides information about the Jews who were under the wrath of Nazi forces. For an in-depth look into 2000 years of Jewish history, pay a visit to the Jewish Museum. Also, nearby on niederkirchnerstraße is the Topographie des Terrors, which features an exhibition recounting the history of Nazi crimes. Restaurants are mostly located inside the hotels in this area, yet plenty of food stands provide visitors with refreshments and snacks.

Friedrichstraße

Friedrichstraße was the focal point of Berlin's thriving nightlife during the "Golden Twenties," but now has become filled with ritzy shopping malls like Galeries Lafayette. Behind the Friedrichstadt-Passagen is Gendarmenmarkt, one of Berlin's most beautiful squares, featuring the graceful Deutscher Dom and Französischer Dom. Visit the popular Haus am Checkpoint Charlie to learn about the history of the Cold War. In addition, nearby is the site of the Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall), the former symbol of a divided Europe that endured four decades of uncompromising and unrelenting politics of the Cold War era. Beginning at the former border-crossing on Friedrichstraße, the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) conjures up memories of tearful goodbyes as Berlin's divided families bode farewell after an all-too-brief visit. Along Ebertstraße, red stripes on the road mark the route of the Wall that many would prefer to forget. To see the longest and most famous stretch of Wall, you'll need to take the S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof. This 1.3-kilometer (3/4 mile) long stretch of Wall was painted by artists from all over the world in 1990 and has now been turned into an open-air exhibition known as the East Side Gallery.