Best things to do in Berlin
Berlin is one of my favourite cities. It takes around 4 days to visit Berlin. First of all, it is important to mention that one of its main attractions is the «Wall», where you can understand what happened during the Soviet period. In the Eastern part you can see many graffities that represent the feelings of its population. Taking a photograph at Checkpoint Charlie (or «Control C»;), which was the most famous crossing between East and West Berlin, during the Cold War, is a must!
The «Brandenburg Gate» is the meeting point for most tourists in the city: an 18th century triumphal arch and one of the most famous places in Germany.
The famous «Pubcrowl», is a tour where you go to bars during one night, meet new people and drink beer.
If you’re interested in World War II, there are several places to visit:
- The Jewish Museum and Fasanenstrasse, synagogue where the famous «Crustal Night» took place in 1938.
- The Memorial of the Jews of Europe remembers the people who died during the Holocaust.
- Sachsenhausen, a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, used mainly for political prisoners from 1936 until the end of the Third Reich in May 1945, is today a tourist attraction. It is open as a museum. It can be reached by bus as it is close to Berlin.
- Potsdam, where Stalin, Churchill and Truman agreed how to organise Germany after the end of the war
Regarding food, the famous German sausage called «wurst», is something you should try during your stay in Berlin. There are over 1500 different types of wurst made in Germany.
The Topography of Terror is an open-air history museum in Berlin. It is located in the same place where the Gestapo, the SS and the Main Reich Security Office were located during the Nazi era.
A perfect plan is to visit the Berlin Zoo: ideal for families. . . Did you know that it is the most popular zoo in Europe and the oldest zoo in Germany? It opened in 1841.
One thing I recommend is renting a bicycle. Berlin has a large bicycle circuit: this route includes the Reichstag, Tiergarten, to Brandenburg, Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror.
If you like music, Berlin is an excellent place to enjoy classical music: it offers a wide variety of presentations in churches, auditoriums and palaces. The Fernsehturm, with its 368 meters, was built in 1960. From its terrace, you have a panoramic view of Berlin.
During December, Berlin hosts famous Christmas markets: approximately 80 markets where you can buy souvenirs and food for New Year. Berlin’s metro, known as U-Bahn, is a good means of transport to get around: you can travel easily as it has nine lines and 173 stations.
To conclude, I consider Berlin to be a city where you can’t get bored and if you like history, it’s THE place in Germany.
Berlin wall
