Berlin has always been one of Europe’s most remarkable cities. A renowned centre of culture in the early modern period, it gained a reputation for militarism and fascism in the early twentieth century, and stood as a symbol of Cold War division from the end of the war until the 1990s.
Today the city again enjoys a reputation for the arts, but its complex history has not been forgotten. In fact, Berlin is a perfect example of the tensions and divisions of memory, with restorations of key landmarks wrestling with what to remember and how. Read on for a guide to some of the German capital’s most interesting sights – and how to see them in a single day!
East Side Gallery
How far is it? Around 30 minutes by car from Tegel airport
How long do I need? Aim to spend around 35 minutes here
Start your tour at the East Side Gallery, a conserved urban art project centred on the Berlin Wall. After the wall came down at the end of the Cold War, Berlin’s artists began using its remaining portions in their work. The graffiti you see here today is the work of 118 artists, and beginning your day trip here is a great way to get started thinking about how modern-day Berliners think about their history.
Alexanderplatz
How far is it? 10 minutes by car, or around 15 minutes on the metro
How long do I need? No more than an hour
A short journey from the gallery takes you to Alexanderplatz, a major transport hub and an important market and meeting place. There’s always a lot to see and do here, and the postwar architecture gives a good sense of modern Berlin’s personality.
Fernesehturm
How far is it? Less than 5 minutes’ walk
How long do I need? Up to an hour – more if you stop for lunch
One of present-day Alexanderplatz’s most notable landmarks is this 368-metre tall television tower. Located almost exactly in the centre of the city, you’re guaranteed the best views in town from the viewing gallery at 203 metres. What’s more, if you want to spend a little longer taking in the sights, the revolving restaurant at 207 metres offers unforgettable dining ambience. If you’re ahead of schedule, it’s a truly great place for a lunch break.
Museum Island
How far is it? 15 minutes’ walk
How long do I need? 25 minutes
Come back to ground level and maybe walk off that lunch on the scenic journey to the next stop on our tour: this fascinating little island in the Spree River. Home to the old city of Cölln, Museum Island is a wonderful, well-preserved reminder of an older Germany.
Berlin Cathedral
How far is it? 10 minutes on foot
How long do I need? Less than an hour – approx. 50 minutes
What would a great European city be without a cathedral? Berlin’s got a first-class one in this majestic, ornate, imposing nineteenth-century wonder. Once you’re done marvelling at the exterior, go inside to find even more treasures, from royal tombs to a gigantic, 7,000-pipe organ.
Reichstag Building
How far is it? 10 minutes by car
How long do I need? 45 minutes
Originally built between 1884 and 1894, this building housed Germany’s national parliament from its completion to its destruction in 1933 by fire. Its neo-Renaissance beauty was restored between 1961 and 1964 as a conservation exercise, but it wasn’t put into use again until 1999. Today it houses the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament. It also offers 360˚ city views from its gigantic glass dome.
Brandenburg Gate
How far is it? Just 5 minutes’ walk
How long do I need? Half an hour
The Brandenburg Gate has been a key symbol in German history since its construction in the eighteenth century. Napoleon’s forces rode through it in the 1800s, but it was turned into a symbol of Prussian triumph after their defeat of Napoleon and occupation of Paris. The Nazis, predictably, began using it as a party symbol after taking power, but it astonishingly remained standing after the war’s end, and was appropriated by Soviet liberators after a joint Allied reconstruction effort. Communist, and then East German, flags flew from the gate until the end of the Cold War, and it was blocked off by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989.
It is now fully restored in all its glory, complete with classical imagery, and stands as a symbol of German reunion, renewal and peace.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
How far is it? 10 minutes on foot
How long do I need? 40 minutes and up
One of the most disturbing, distressing, horrifying chapters in human history is solemnly remembered at this elegant memorial. 2,711 columns make it up, arranged almost as a maze. An underground exhibition room is also available for viewing. The artefacts here speak for themselves.
Potsdamer Platz
How far is it? 15 minutes’ walk
How long do I need? 50 minutes
Another site destroyed in 1945, as the Allies fought the Nazis to the bitter end, Potsdamer Platz was also restored after the war and reinvigorated after unification. It’s now one of the city’s best hubs for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Checkpoint Charlie
How far is it? 15 minutes on foot
How long do I need? Less than an hour – around 50 minutes
The final stop on your tour, Checkpoint Charlie was the world-famous crossing between East and West Berlin for the years that the wall was up. Its white security guard house has been replicated in countless films, including Tom Hanks’ recent Bridge of Spies. Today, it’s part of the larger Allied Museum, preserved as part of a monument to the West’s efforts to promote and preserve freedom and democracy in the country.
How to Get to Berlin
As Berlin is very popular for short breaks, the London airports offer flights pretty much every day of the week. Tegel airport, in old West Berlin, is the best destination to fly into, and you can book a Shuttle Direct transfer to make the half-hour journey into the city.
About Shuttle Direct
Europe and North Africa’s most highly regarded airport transfer operator, Shuttle Direct provides a friendly, fast, affordable service, with knowledgeable and reliable drivers to get you where you need to go with a smile.
