Sights to See
The following is a curated list of sights that all travellers should have the chance to visit while in Berlin…
Reichstag
The Reichstag is an iconic building in Berlin with a storied history. Originally built in 1894 as home to the German Imperial Diet, the Neo-Baroque building was severely damaged by arson in 1933, then bombed during World War II. With the reunification of Germany in 1990, the building was chosen as the home of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and a ten year restoration project overseen by architect Norman Foster was undertaken. Opening in 1999, with the addition of the famous glass dome, the Reichstag is now the home to German parliament as well as a popular tourist destination. Visitors can climb the spiral ramp up into the dome and enjoy spectacular views of Berlin while listening to a free audio guide explain the history of the building, the parliament and the surrounding area. There is also a popular rooftop restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Entrance to the dome is free but you need to register online for an entrance time.
Brandenburg Gate
Originally built in 1791 as one of 18 gates situated around Berlin, the Neoclassical gate, inspired by the Acropolis in Athens, is a symbol of Berlin. Standing at 26 metres tall, the ornate sandstone structure is topped by a sculpture of the goddess of victory piloting a chariot. Due to its location between East and West during the Cold War, the Gate became a symbol of division and was a home to protests. Since reunification in 1990, the Gate has been adopted as a symbol of peace and unity. Found in the charming Pariser Platz in the heart of Mitte, the Brandenburg Gate is well worth a visit during your time in Berlin.
Museum Island
Museumsinsel, or Museum Island, is a UNESCO listed island in the Spree River in the centre of Berlin, home to five world-class museums: Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie. Each museum covers a different aspect of over 6000 years of history and while you don’t need to visit all five during your time in Berlin, we recommend visiting at least 1-2 of these spectacular museums. Read on below to tempt your artistic senses.
The best value option for entrance into the following museums is to buy a 3-day Berlin Museum Pass for €29, which grants you entry into all Museum Island museums as well as many others in the city.
The Altes Museum (Old Museum) is housed in a striking Neoclassical building, built in 1830, and is home to the main Collection of Classical Antiquities. The collection includes art from the 10th to 1st century BCE of ancient Greece, including sculpture, vases and jewellery. It also features art and archaeology of the Roman Empire and Etruscans. The museum is also home to a selection of the Münzkabinett (Numismatic Collection) coin collection, showcasing over 1300 coins from the 7th century BCE up to 3rd century CE.
The Neues Museum (New Museum) was originally opened in 1855 but suffered extensive damage during WWII. Reopening in 2009 after extensive rebuilding, the museum is home to collections from the Egyptian Museum, Papyrus Museum and Museum of Pre and Early History. The Egyptian collection features art and artefacts from over 4 millennia of Egyptian and Nubian cultures, the highlight being the stunning bust of Nefertiti. The rest of the museum features thousands of artefacts chronicling history from the Stone Age up to the Middle Ages.
The Bode Museum was originally opened in 1904 as a museum devoted to the Renaissance. During WWII the museum sustained extensive damage and it underwent a series of renovations throughout the second half of the 20th century. Reopening with a new purpose in 2006, the museum is now home to the collection from the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Sculpture Collection, as well as the Münzkabinett (Numismatic Collection). Artefacts include sculpture, ivory carvings, mosaic icons, sarcophagi, paintings as well as over 4000 coins and medals from 7th century BCE to present day.
The Pergamon Museum is home to three collections: The Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Museum of Islamic Art. The Pergamon Museum’s collection of archaeological artefacts is world famous, making it the most popular museum in Berlin and Germany as a whole. The museum is home to brilliant reconstructions of enormous ancient archaeological structures including: the Pergamon Alter, the Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way from Babylon. If you only visit one museum while you are in Berlin, make it the Pergamon Museum.
The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) was opened in 1876 as a national gallery to showcase paintings, sculptures and sketches. Today the collection includes a world-class selection of Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and Modernist artworks.
East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is an open air art gallery, featuring 101 murals painted onto the longest remaining section (1316 metres) of the Berlin Wall. Running along the east bank of the River Spree, along Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, the murals were painted by local and international artists in 1990. The gallery features many iconic images, including the famous kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker, and today serves as a monument to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Holocaust Memorial (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe)
In a prominent central Berlin position, a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate, you will find the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The memorial, spread over 19,000 square metres, consists of 2711 concrete blocks said to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Visitors are encouraged to wander throughout the memorial, where each of the concrete blocks varies in height. The ground of the huge space undulates, forming corridors where at times you can feel a sense of unease or confinement. It is a unique and controversial memorial but well worth a visit. There is an underground visitors centre below where you can learn more about the memorial and its purpose.
