Hi there, travel family! Just wanted to drop y’all a note to make sure you are well equipped for your next trip to Berlin! It’s freezing cold in New York so I’m just daydreaming about another European Summer. This post can act as your guide or checklist for your trip so make sure you add these locations to your itinerary. Before delving in, if you’re interested in figuring out where to stay, check out my post on the Provocateur hotel. Berlin is such a historical city and all the sites I reference here are tied to that rich and emotional history.
ONE – BRANDENBURG GATE
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most iconic landmarks. It is Berlin’s only surviving historical gate and is now considered a symbol of the re-unified Germany, following the fall of the Berlin wall. It was built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel, which used to be the capital of the Margiavate of Brandenburg. The best time to visit is first thing in the morning. There’ll be far fewer people and you can get really iconic shots at the gate.
TWO – BERLIN CATHEDRAL
Another iconic architectural marvel, the Berlin Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in Europe and an absolute must-visit when you’re in Berlin. The outstanding dome is the cathedral’s most recognizable feature, and the church itself features some unique architectural features both inside and outside. During the Second World War, the Berlin Cathedral was severely damaged. A liquid fire bomb turned the main nave and the Hohenzollern crypt into ruins. The reconstruction of the church started 30 years later, during GDR times. The exterior work was completed in 1983, the interior work was finished in 2002 with the ceremonial unveiling of the eighth and last dome mosaic.
THREE – BERLIN WALL
For any student of history, this is a must-see! The remnants of the Berlin Wall exhibit a long and rough history of a once-separated Berlin between East and West. One thing I highly recommend seeing is the East Side Gallery, which is the longest surviving part of the Berlin Wall. There you can see messages from folks who were on the other side dreaming about unification. It really is quite something. Several artists were also engaged to further decorate the wall, and it’s now an incredible open-air gallery. Bring some tissue — this one is a tearjerker.
FOUR -ABGEORDNETENHAUS BERLIN
The Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin (House of Deputies) is the state parliament of Berlin, Germany. The Abgeordnetenhaus was established by the new constitution of West Berlin in 1951. It replaced the former city legislature called Stadtverordnetenversammlung (city deputies assembly), established by the Prussian Reforms in 1808 and re-established by Allied-initiated state elections of 1946. You learn a lot about the history of the Germany’s government here. Another great stop for history buffs.
FIVE – HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
Finally, I’d recommend visiting the Holocaust Memorial. This was probably the most emotional part of the trip — seeing all the concrete slabs meant to represent victims of the holocaust. The memorial consists of a 200,000 square foot site covered with 2,711 concrete slabs, arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field. The thing that really stuck with me was how Germany wears its history on its sleeve, openly teaching its citizens its dark history with the objective of never repeating it again. It was a lot and extremely moving.
There you have it! Five places you absolutely visit in Berlin. Keep exploring the blog for more exciting and cool content.
