Top Things To See In Berlin

There are a lot of cool things to see in Berlin. Of course, many are historical, but this city has such a cool vibe, you have fun while learning it’s tragic history. Here is my list of the top things to see in Berlin.

I stayed in Mitte, which in means ‘center’ in German. Mitte is the central borough and where most of the historical sites are. It was part of both East and West Berlin when the Berlin Wall was up.

Top Things To See In Berlin

Topography of Terror Museum

Not only is this a great museum, it sits on the site that once housed the SS (Secret State Police), Gestapo, and Reich Security main office, making it even more meaningful. It is free and a highly recommended overview of the Nazi regime.  

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Over 2,700 grey, unmarked, cement slabs commemorate the 6-7 million Jews murdered during the holocaust. 

The memorial blocks start out short, but as you move toward the center, they become taller and the walkway drops down, leaving you feeling the enormity of the many, many deaths. A well thought out memorial in terms of the experience.

There is also a museum underground with history and personal stories. This is also free. Expect to spend 2-3 hours wandering the memorial and visiting the museum.

Adolph Hitler’s Suicide Bunker

This is virtually unmarked with only a small sign by the road. This was done intentionally, so as to not glorify the location.

The bunker where Adolph Hitler hid and committed suicide is somewhere in the dirt in front of these buildings/cars. The bunkers were filled in so nothing is left.

My thought during the tour was that maybe he escaped and did not really kill himself, but they say they found a jawbone that his dentist identified as Hitler’s.

Checkpoint Charlie

This site is less a place a learning and more of a tourist trap. It is manned by museum employees dressed as US servicemen. It’s tacky, but a welcome spot of levity after some of the more serious sites, so worth a stop.

Checkpoint Charlie was of the more popular Berlin Wall checkpoints used by diplomats and non-Germans. It became an icon of the Cold War, signifying the division between democracy and communism. At one point, US and Soviet tanks faced each other here (1961). 

You pay 4€ for a very bad photo!

John F Kennedy gave a speech near here in 1963, giving hope to the 400,000 wildly cheering people there. This excerpt from his speech is one of the most famous parts.

“Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was civis romanus sum, [“I am a Roman citizen”]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is, “Ich bin ein Berliner!”…All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, “I am a Berliner!”.

John F Kennedy

Brandenburg Gate

Another one of the top things to see in Berlin is Brandenburg gate. The gate has been used throughout history for major political events. Most notably, the celebration of freedom by thousands here on November 9, 1989, when the Berlin wall fell.

Built in the late 17th century to promote peace, it was commissioned by the Prussian King Frederick William II.

This monument was under heavy scaffolding when I was there, but still impressive. Especially at night.

President Ronald Reagan spoke here in 1987. The most famous line from his speach was: 

“…come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

Ronald Reagan

Although his speech helped in the effort to remove the Wall, it did not open for 2 more years.

Bundestag

You can register to visit the German federal parliament (similar to the House of Representatives in the US). 

The Bundestag elects the chancellor (prime minister), who is the head of government, while the German people vote for those in the Bundestag. The visit is free, but often fills up weeks in advance, so book early. The restaurant is noted to be very good, but I did not have a chance to try it.

The clear, contemporary dome represents the reunification of Germany. You can look down from the dome and see parliament in session.

The Bundestag was built in 1949 on the former site of the Reichstag (1894-1933), which was damaged by fire one month after Adolph Hitler was sworn as chancellor and later demolished during the war.

The Reichstag fire was important in history as the next day, Hitler requested and was granted the Reichstag Fire Decree. This decree suspended many civil liberties and allowed Nazi germany to arrest communist citizens, anyone opposed to the Nazi regime, or deemed undesirable, as well as suppressing/burning opposing publications. It set the stage for the establishment of a one-party Nazi state.

The TV Tower

The TV Tower is a major landmark and visible from all over the city. I read it is not worth the ride to the top, so opted not to go up. You can also eat dinner at the top in a revolving restaurant. I just used it as a navigation point as I walked the city. 

Georg Elser Monument

Many people tried to assasinate Hitler. Georg Elser was one of them and a monument was built for him. He was a carpenter and tried to  kill Hitler in 1936. He detonated a bomb that missed him by 13 minutes, as Hitler left a speech early to catch a train due to bad weather.

Museuminsel (Museum Island)

An UNESCO world heritage area, this island has 5 museums of art and ancient history. it’s definitely one of the top things to see in Berlin. It sits along the Spree River, where cruise tours are also offered. The Berlin Cathedral is also there and parks to relax and enjoy the views.

There are several ferry companies offering rides along the canal for a small fee. It’s a great way to see some of the sites while enjoying local beer.

You also learn interesting facts. For example, this bridge spanning Spree River is one of only two bridges that survived WWII in Berlin. Today, there are between 1,000-2,000, depending on how you count, on the 180 kms of waterways in Berlin.

Berlin Wall – East Side Gallery

The largest section of the wall still standing is known as the East Side Gallery. It’s a bit farther out than the other sites, but worth it. It is the largest open-air gallery in the world with over 1,300 meters of wall (.8 mile).

I wandered this area on an appropriately cold, rainy day to see the mural tributes by over 100 artists from around the world. As I write this I realize my photo makes it look sunny, but I was soaked from a long walk in intermittent rain.

One of the most well known paintings is The Kiss, by Dmitri Wrubel. It’s based on a photo taken of a fraternal kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German President Erich Honecker in 1979. The slogan says, “My God Help me to Survive this Deadly Love”.

Berlin Buddy Bears

The Buddy Bear has been the unofficial ambassador of Berlin since 2001. 

Developed by Klaus and Eva Herlitz in cooperation with sculptor Roman Strobi to bring art to the streets.

Most Buddy Bears on the street have been commissioned by companies, but there is a United Buddy Bear exhibit that travels the world to promote tolerance under the motto, “we have to get to know one another better, it makes us understand one another better, trust each other more, and live together more peacefully.”

More than 140 countries acknowledged by the the United Nations are represented by more than 140, 2 meter bears to promote “tolerance, international understanding and the great concept of different nations and cultures living in peace and harmony.”  

Summary

If you’ve enjoyed my list of the top things to see in Berlin, or have a comment, please make a note below.