Berlin, Germany’s capital city and the largest city in the European Union fascinates visitors while welcoming them with open arms. In the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, Berlin has reinvented itself as an international city with diverse cultures and architectural styles. In Berlin, you will find a wide variety of sights you must see on your first visit, with a large percentage of them making it into Germany’s 100 best tourist attractions.
Let’s explore the best places to travel in Berlin that make your tour memorable.
Top 10 tourist attractions in Berlin, Germany:
Here are the top 10 popular historic tourist attractions in Berlin you should visit during your tour to Berlin.
- 1- Brandenburg Gate
- 2- Reichstag
- 3- Holocaust Memorial
- 4- East Side Gallery
- 5- Museum Island
- 6- Check Point Charlie
- 7- Memorial Church
- 8- Charlottenburg Palace and Park
- 9- Potsdamer Platz
- 10 -Gendarmenmarkt
1- Brandenburg Gate:
Brandenburg Gate, the old city gate, was built in 1971 and is Berlin’s most famous tourist attraction. In the past, it represented a divided nation and is now a symbol of peace and unity. It was severely damaged during World War II and had undergone extensive renovations in the early 2000s.
A gate marks the entrance to Unter den Linden and is located in Berlin’s western part. On the east of the gate, you will find the Pariser Square. Aside from its historical significance, it is also well known as the site of Ronald Reagan’s 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall.
A nighttime visit to Brandenburg Gate is an unforgettable experience and one of Berlin’s best tourist spots.
Location: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
2- Reichstag:
The Reichstag is located near the Brandenburg Gate. It is considered the home of the German Parliament. Significant damage to Reichstag occurred during the air raids in 1945 and fire in 1933. German reunification in 1990 led to the reconstruction of the Reichstag after years of neglect since World War II.
This magnificent reconstruction has an impressive replacement dome as its highlight. Visitors can enjoy a splendid city view at night from the Rooftop Restaurant’s glass walls. Try to register yourself in advance to enter because of its high demand.
Location: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
3- Holocaust Memorial:
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, provides a simple yet powerful tribute to the Jewish people in memory of those who died due to Hitler’s extermination plan. It is located centrally just beside Brandenburg Gate.
The 2,711 slabs were laid out in a wave-like pattern over 205,000 square feet. As you move deeper into the memorial, these slabs descend deeper, creating an unsettling and isolated feeling.
Visitors are free to move in any way. Located beneath the memorial, an underground information center provides information and personal stories of Holocaust survivors.
Location: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
4- East Side Gallery:
The East Side Gallery in Berlin is approximately 1.3 kilometers long and is the largest open gallery in the world. The East Side Gallery is a well-known gallery that showcases a collection of murals and works of art painted on the remaining section of the Berlin Wall.
A portion of the Berlin Wall, which had divided East and West Berlin during the Cold War, was preserved as a symbol of German reunification and the end of the Cold War. More than 100 paintings by artists from around the globe are included, each expressing a different idea or form of artistic expression about the themes of freedom, togetherness, and optimism.
Berlin’s gallery has become an essential cultural and historical monument that attracts visitors and art enthusiasts.
Location: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin, Germany
5- Museum Island:
The Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of Berlin, Germany. Museum Island is located between the Spree River and Kupfergraben. The 5 world-class museums in the center of Berlin are situated on Museum Island.
The Altes Museum (Old Museum):
- This museum has an extensive collection of classical antiquities, including Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts.
The Neues Museum (New Museum):
- It is well known for its remarkable Egyptian and Prehistoric collections, including the bust of Queen Nefertiti.
The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery):
- A collection of paintings and sculptures from the Romantic, Impressionist, and Biedermeier eras can be found in this museum, which specializes in 19th-century European art.
The Bode Museum:
- The Bode Museum is well known for its sculptures, Byzantine artwork, and an exceptional numismatic collection. It displays works of art and artifacts from numerous cultures of previous centuries.
The Pergamonmuseum (Pergamon Museum):
- The Pergamon Museum, known for its excellent archaeological collections, is arguably the most well-known building on Museum Island.
- The Pergamon Altar, the Ishtar Gate, and the Market Gate of Miletus are among the restored ancient architectural landmarks.
Location: Bodestraße 10178, Berlin, Germany.
6- Check Point Charlie:
Checkpoint Charlie is one of the famous border crossings between East and West Berlin, resonating with the emotional and historical significance. It is one of the best tourist places in Berlin to visit. The Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie details the Berlin Wall and is worth visiting.
It consists of numerous displays and artifacts tracing the history of human rights and exhibits concerning the history of Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall.
Location: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin, Germany
7- Memorial Church:
The Memorial Church was built between 1891 and 1895 by Kaiser Wilhelm. The church was heavily destroyed after an Allied bomb hit it during World War II. Only the church’s collapsed west tower was still standing.
A new church of four buildings was built around the ruins of the old church in 1961. The neo-Romanesque old church it surrounds is a fascinating contrast to the concrete and glass building. The preserved west tower houses some of the original mosaics and photographs of the original church.
Location: Breitscheidplatz, 10789 Berlin, Germany
8- Charlottenburg Palace and Park:
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Germany and is found in the western district of Berlin. The palace was built in the 17th century. The palace, constructed in the Baroque style and features lovely gardens and outdoor statues, is now accessible to the general public.
You can tour the Frederick the Great suites to witness the lavish rococo style, renovated rooms, and collections of porcelain, crown jewels, and royal silver.
Location: Spandauer Damm 20-24, 14059 Berlin, Germany
9- Potsdamer Platz:
Potsdamer Platz is well known for its vibrant urban life and modern agriculture and is a prominent public square and entertainment district in the heart of Berlin, Germany. The square was heavily destroyed after the war and rebuilt into a modern plaza with a landmark tower and shopping mall. This thriving area of Berlin offers shopping, entertainment, and art.
The area is viewed as a symbolic reunification of Berlin’s two halves, bringing its citizens together in an entirely new city area. The Platz is surrounded by sleek, contemporary business buildings and a replica of Germany’s first traffic signal standing in the center.
Location: Potsdamer Platz, 10785 Berlin, Germany
10 -Gendarmenmarkt:
A significant public space in Berlin, the Gendarmenmarkt, has existed since the 17th century. Several significant landmarks still stand in the Gendarmenmarkt, even though World War II destroyed many ancient structures.
You may see the Deutscher Dom and the Französischer Dom, or French Cathedral, constructed by the Huguenots in the early eighteenth century, by going to the Gendarmenmarkt. The exquisitely restored Konzerthaus, where the Berlin Orchestra performs, is also located on the Gendarmenmarkt. The square’s Christmas markets are a popular wintertime attraction.
Location: Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Germany, 10117