Berlin Travel Guide - Attractions

The Berliner Dom: is a Protestant church which dates from 1905, but the site dates back many centuries. It was the place of worship for the royal Hohenzollern dynasty, who witnessed four incarnations of the church’s structure. The climb up to the dome's rim follows broad staircases, landings, and side exhibit rooms, and the views from the rim make the visit worthwhile.

The Brandenburger Tor: is Berlin's signature monument and one of 14 gates designed by Carl Langhans in the late 18th century. Nike, the goddess of victory, drives the chariot perched at the top of the gate and German armies traditionally began their parades from this monument.

Gedachtniskirche: is also known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and one of the major historical attractions in the western part of the city. Its damaged condition has been maintained as a reminder of the events leading to the destruction caused by Allied bombing of WWII. Next door is a modern chapel and tower, which were completed in 1961.

The Gendarmenmarkt: comprises twin, early 18th-century cathedrals now housing museums and the early 19th-century Konzerthaus. The square takes it name from the mid-18th century, when military regiments were stationed here.

Nikolaiviertel: contains what remains of the medieval heart of Berlin. There is an abundance of small shops, mostly dealing in toys and souvenirs for tourists as well as a number of restaurants offering old-fashioned Berlin atmosphere and cuisine. Also in the area are other historic buildings dating from the 18th century.

Potsdamer Platz: was at one time the heart of a thriving metropolis, which was subsequently heavily damaged during WWII war and suffered further during the construction of the Berlin wall. In the mid-1990s, after years of construction, new skyscrapers emerged adding a cosmopolitan and sharp new edge to the area. Potsdamer Platz’s most stunning architectural attraction and popular public space is the Sony Centre, featuring an enormous atrium and tent-like roof.

After the wall came down, the renowned artist Christo wrapped the building in cloth. It did not serve as parliament again until the government of a re-united Germany returned to Berlin in 1999. It was renovated by Sir Norman Foster and is likely one of the most visited public buildings in the world.