Things to do in Berlin
A one day itinerary to Berlin's must see attractions
Berlin is known for its vibrant nightlife, numerous museums and other places of historic interest. If you are visiting for the first time and don’t have much time to spend on the countless tourist attractions, you will have to concentrate on the city’s main impressions and spend the day on foot in the historical centre of Mitte.Alexanderplatz
Start off your day at Alexanderplatz and visit the Fernsehturm TV Tower - offering spectacular views of the city. Admire the Marienkirche - a small church which looks a bit out of place among all the modern buildings at Alexanderplatz. It is one of the oldest churches left in the historical centre and boasts the highest church tower in Berlin.
Berliner Dom
Walk down Karl-Liebknecht-Straße to Unter den Linden - a boulevard featuring numerous renowned buildings of architectural interest. Carry on until you get to the magnificent Berliner Cathedral - the biggest and most impressive church in Berlin built at the turn of the century (19th/20th) as an expression of imperial power.
The Lustgarden and Museum Island
Stroll through the beautiful Pleasure Gardens towards Museum Island - best known for the vast Pergamon-Museum which houses an extensive collection of ancient Greek, Middle-Eastern and Islamic art and architecture. Other museums worth visiting are the Altes Museum with the Egyptian and the antique collection, the Alte Nationalgalerie with mainly German paintings of the 19th century, and the Bode-Museum with its fantastically presented sculpture collection and Byzantine art.
Friedrichstraße and Checkpoint Charlie
Friedrichstraße offers chic stores and shopping malls like Galeries Lafayette and Quartier 205. The most famous of all memorials to the division of Germany is also located on this street - namely Checkpoint Charlie. Close by you’ll find boxoffberlin - a small but very interesting place full of extraordinary souvenirs and unique gifts made by local designers. You can have lunch in the café here, or rather pick up a traditional German currywurst on the street if you don’t feel like sitting down.
Gendarmenmarkt
Just off Friedrichstraße you should stop to admire one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Created at the end of the 17th century as a market place the square is surrounded by three landmark buildings - the Französischer Dom, Deutscher Dom and the Konzerthaus. In the center of the square there’s a statue of famous German poet Friedrich Schiller.
Brandenburger Tor
Make your way back up to Unter den Linden and head for Berlin’s most famous landmark - the only surviving Berlin city gate and a potent symbol of the city. The gate was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans in 1791 and intended to resemble the Acropolis in Athens. The Brandenburg Gate today symbolises reunification after dividing East and West Berlin for decades.
Dinner and Dancing
The restaurants in and around Mitte’s Hackeschen Höfe offer great hospitality and delicious food – both traditional and international cuisine. This is an ideal starting place for a taste of Berlin’s famous nightlife - there are more than a thousand excellent clubs and bars to explore throughout the city.