Berlin: 21 Sights and Travel Tips

Berlin is a city of momentous history, distinctive architecture and neighbourhoods with different atmospheres. In a single visit, you can explore the area around the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, see Museum Island, relax in the Tiergarten and head to the livelier streets of Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg in the evening.

To enjoy the city without rushing, I would recommend setting aside at least 2 to 3 days. If you want to save time, book tickets for some attractions, such as the Bundestag, in advance. It is also worth looking into public transport tickets. 

If I had to sum up Berlin, I would say it is a city with a completely random mix of historic buildings standing beside modern ones that bear no relation whatsoever to their surroundings, parks and monuments, all surrounded by unbelievable traffic (I really will be happy to avoid driving in Berlin again). There are places here that are beautiful... and then there are others you would rather give a wide berth while holding your nose.

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s best-known landmark and a symbol of the city’s reunification, standing at the end of Unter den Linden. The neoclassical gate, with twelve columns and a four-horse chariot carrying the goddess of victory on top, is impressive from both sides, but is best appreciated from the spacious Pariser Platz. Nearby, you will also find the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial and the American, French and British embassies. Expect plenty of visitors during the day, so come early in the morning for photos with fewer people around.

Unter den Linden Boulevard

Unter den Linden is one of the main historic boulevards in central Berlin, running from the Brandenburg Gate towards Museum Island. It is well suited to a walk, with the Humboldt Forum, the Berlin State Opera, the Neue Wache and other important buildings along the way.

The Reichstag and Its Glass Dome

The Reichstag is the seat of Germany’s federal parliament and one of Berlin’s most interesting buildings, thanks to its combination of a historic façade and a modern glass dome. The photograph shows the monumental frontage with the inscription “To the German People” and German flags. The building stands beside the Spree near the Brandenburg Gate and is a natural stop on a walk through the government district.

The Reichstag’s glass dome offers views into the parliamentary chamber and over Berlin’s rooftops and streets. Inside, a spiral walkway climbs around a central cone that channels daylight into the building. You need to check visiting arrangements in advance and book if required under the Bundestag’s current rules. The dome may be temporarily closed for security, maintenance or weather-related reasons. A lift takes you from the Bundestag floor to the dome.

You will find a link to the Bundestag at the end of the article.

Holocaust Memorial

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe consists of 2,711 concrete stelae spread across a site near the Brandenburg Gate. Between the individual blocks, the ground gradually slopes down and visitors lose sight of the surrounding city. This change in scale and orientation is an important part of the impact of the memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. A visit does not require a lengthy explanation, but it does call for quiet and considerate behaviour.

Berlin Cathedral

Berlin Cathedral is a distinctive Protestant cathedral on the banks of the Spree and one of Museum Island’s landmarks. The Baroque-inspired building stands out for its large copper dome, four corner towers and richly decorated façade. From the riverbank, you can clearly see how it relates to the river and the surrounding museums. On a walk through the centre, you can combine it with a visit to the Pergamon Museum, the Altes Museum or the Humboldt Forum.

The front view shows how imposing Berlin Cathedral looks above the busy Am Lustgarten street. In front of the entrance is an open space with views towards Museum Island and the former royal palace. If you are planning to go inside, check the current visiting arrangements and whether access to the viewing platform is available, as conditions may change.

Museum Island

Berlin’s Museum Island (Museumsinsel) is one of Europe’s most important cultural sites and deservedly holds UNESCO World Heritage status. This unique museum complex on the River Spree, right in the heart of the German capital, attracts lovers of history, art and architecture from around the world. Its five world-famous museums—including the Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum—house icons of the ancient world such as the bust of Queen Nefertiti and the Ishtar Gate. If you are planning a visit to Berlin, Museum Island is an essential stop for an unforgettable cultural experience.

Konzerthaus Berlin on Gendarmenmarkt

Konzerthaus Berlin is a concert hall on Gendarmenmarkt, one of the most distinctive neoclassical squares in the city centre. The building stands between the French Cathedral and the German Cathedral, with the Schiller Monument in front of its steps. The photograph shows the main façade with Corinthian columns, sculptural decoration and colourful banners. Gendarmenmarkt is interesting even without attending a concert, bringing together architecture, history and urban public space in a compact area.

The Old Library in Berlin (Alte Bibliothek)

The Alte Bibliothek (Old Library), known to locals simply as the “Kommode” (chest of drawers), is one of the most beautiful Baroque landmarks on the famous Unter den Linden boulevard. Commissioned in the 18th century by the Prussian king Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great, the building is now a landmark of the historic Bebelplatz square. Its historic rooms currently house the Faculty of Law at Humboldt University. 

Alexanderplatz and the World Clock

Alexanderplatz is one of the busiest squares in eastern Berlin, and the World Clock is one of its best-known landmarks. The metal structure displays time zones and is surrounded by a circular ring bearing the names of cities. In the background of the photograph, you can see city buildings, tram stops and the distinctive television tower.

Red Town Hall

The Rotes Rathaus, or Red Town Hall, is the seat of Berlin’s mayor and city administration. The red-brick Renaissance Revival building stands near Alexanderplatz, and its tower is clearly visible from the surrounding streets. In front of the town hall is an open square with planting and benches, from which you can appreciate the regular composition of the long façade. The town hall makes an interesting stop on the way between Alexanderplatz, St Mary’s Church and Museum Island.

St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church is a historic church in central Berlin whose red brickwork and tall tower stand out among the more modern buildings near Alexanderplatz. It is one of Berlin’s oldest church buildings, and its surroundings now form an open urban space with a water feature and greenery. The photograph clearly shows the church’s late Gothic appearance, steep roof and the contrast between the historic structure and the newer buildings in the background.

French Cathedral

The Französischer Dom, or French Cathedral, is a distinctive building on Gendarmenmarkt with a circular colonnade and a dome above its main tower. Historically linked to Berlin’s French Reformed community, it forms a unique architectural ensemble on the square together with the Konzerthaus and the German Cathedral. The photograph shows the monumental staircase, tympanum and viewing tower. Check the exact visiting arrangements for the different parts in advance.

Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden

Staatsoper Unter den Linden is one of Berlin’s most important opera venues, standing on the boulevard of the same name in the historic centre. The neoclassical building has a frontage with a row of tall columns, a triangular pediment and a distinctive light-coloured façade. Check the official website for the programme, tickets and any available tours.

Checkpoint Charlie and Friedrichstraße

Checkpoint Charlie (also known as Checkpoint C) was the most famous border crossing in divided Berlin during the Cold War. It connected the American and Soviet sectors and was used primarily by foreigners, diplomats and members of the Allied armed forces. It became a symbol of tension between East and West—it was here in October 1961 that American and Soviet tanks with larger-calibre guns faced each other just a few metres apart, bringing the world to the brink of another global conflict. Today, this iconic booth is a popular tourist spot and a lasting reminder of the turbulent history of the Iron Curtain.

A Remnant of the Berlin Wall

A freestanding fragment of the Berlin Wall with a colourful painted design is a reminder that the legacy of the divided city is not confined to a single place.

You will find several of these remnants in Berlin. Links to some of them are at the end of the article.

Berlin Zoo

Berlin Zoo is one of the best-known zoos in the German capital and a good stop for families and visitors who want to see animals right in the city centre. The zoo is near Zoologischer Garten station, and a visit can be combined with Kurfürstendamm or the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

You can also see pandas at Berlin Zoo. The panda is one of the animals visitors often associate with Zoo Berlin. Before you go, check the zoo’s opening arrangements, tickets and any photography rules.

The zoo also hosts various shows and demonstrations for visitors, such as the sea lion feeding in the photo above. I recommend setting aside a full day for the zoo if you do not want to rush.

St Hedwig’s Cathedral

St Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin (Sankt-Hedwigs-Kathedrale) offers a fascinating combination of neoclassical architecture and modern liturgical design. This circular rotunda on Bebelplatz is the main Catholic place of worship in Berlin. Following a recent extensive renovation, it has a striking, unique interior with the altar positioned right in the centre of the space, creating a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for visitors from around the world. If you are planning a visit to Berlin, St Hedwig’s Cathedral is one of the important historical and architectural landmarks you should not miss.

Tiergarten and the Soviet War Memorial

The Soviet War Memorial in Berlin’s Tiergarten is a monumental commemorative site with a colonnade, a central column and a prominent statue of a soldier. It is located in the extensive park between the Brandenburg Gate and Charlottenburg. Red flowerbeds and a broad staircase create a formal composition that contrasts with the Tiergarten’s usual quiet paths. The site should be regarded primarily as a war memorial, not merely as a viewpoint or an ornamental park.

The photo above shows one of the T-34 tanks that form part of the memorial.

A Historic Courtyard in Berlin

The Berlin State Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin), often nicknamed Stabi, is one of Europe’s largest and most important research libraries. Its story and architecture are inseparably linked to Berlin’s modern history—the library has two iconic main buildings. The first is on the historic Unter den Linden boulevard, a grand, monumental building with a restored modern reading room. The second, in the Kulturforum cultural district at Potsdamer Platz, is a masterpiece of organic modernism designed by architect Hans Scharoun in the 1960s. Today, the library holds more than 12 million printed volumes and priceless treasures of the world’s cultural heritage, including autograph manuscripts of musical works by J. S. Bach and L. van Beethoven, as well as an original manuscript of the Song of the Nibelungs.

What to Try in Berlin

• Crusty Slices – Crusty Slices in Berlin, which you will find linked at the end of the article, sells triangular pastries like these. You can choose between sweet and savoury versions. If you buy a sweet one, one per person will be enough, as they are really filling.
• Currywurst – a quick Berlin dish worth trying at a street stall or a traditional snack bar. Choose a place based on your current location and reviews, for example on Google Maps.

Ideas for More Things to Do in Berlin

• Berlin Hop-on Hop-off Tours: Bus tours of Berlin with commentary https://www.getyourguide.com/cs-cz/berlin-l17/hop-on-hop-off-vylety-tc9/
• A Cruise on the Spree – offers a different perspective on Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, the government district and the modern riverfront: https://getyourguide.stay22.com/macdomsro/vBrtnO4NxE 
• East Side Gallery – a long surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall along the Spree, with paintings by international artists.
• Charlottenburg Palace – a Baroque palace and gardens in western Berlin, offering a different kind of sightseeing from the historic centre.

• Crusty Slices: https://crusty-slices.com, https://maps.app.goo.gl/ArhA9j2p9m6MLN1C7 
• Zoo Berlin: https://www.zoo-berlin.de
• Reichstag: https://www.bundestag.de/besuche/architektur/reichstag, https://maps.app.goo.gl/MANw3EzAEo15cYSJ9 
• East Side Gallery: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lt66DdQqNTzNhtKp9 
• Charlottenburg Palace: https://www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/schloss-charlottenburg-altes-schloss,  https://maps.app.goo.gl/ndwMhdKeJNieibDv7 
• Sections of the Berlin Wall: 
  • Fragment of the Berlin Wall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tNBcKNz6DbjoVaji9 
  • Section of the Berlin Wall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vSLo8QssUKVJXBRA9 
  • Berliner Bauer Mural (2nd artwork by Thierry Noir): https://maps.app.goo.gl/vSfWpnuBBY1S6AYp6