Berlin is a city of contrast. It has modern architecture, but also ancient Baroque palaces. There is entertainment for everybody available, from zoos to orchestra. Naturally, the city is full of history relating to the Second World War, such as the Berlin Wall. Let’s take a look at some of the amazing things you can do in Berlin.
Six of the best places to visit in Berlin
Grunewald
Grunewald is a forested area in Berlin, just outside Charlottenburg. It is very easy to reach and perfect for a little picnic. If you get tired of the business of the city, this is the place to go to relax. On a nice day, you could even pop in some of the lakes in the park. Interestingly, the allied forces constructed a hill there just after the war, using rubble from the destroyed city. You can take a guided tour to the top of it as well.
Museum Island
Museum Island is just towards the end of Unter den Linden. It is placed on the UNSECO World Heritage list and holds five museums. The Neues Museum is where you can see the famous bust of Nefertiti. The Pergamon Museum is one of the most impressive archaeological museums in the world.
Mauer Park
People in Berlin love to have green spaces and Mauer Park is one of the best ones. Best of all, it holds a huge flea market, open every Sunday. Sunday is definitely the day to go, with a 3pm mass karaoke event on the top of the hill. Do beware that this is not about quality singing, but rather about fun!
Looking at the DDR
The DDR Museum is a sight not to be missed, taking you back to the old days of Soviet occupation of East Berlin. It is a fully interactive museum, meaning you can pretend to be someone who lived through these times, or even to be a Stasi officer. You can rent an old Trabant car and drive through the streets of the city itself.
The Jewish History
Many people forget that Berlin has an important Jewish history. However, the Judisches Museum can show you just how big of a role they played in the city, both before and after the war. The interior of the museum is based on a Jewish star, and the effect is like nothing you have ever seen before. For more Jewish history, you should also take a night time walk through the Jewish Memorial. This memorial includes 2,711 blocks, arranged across a real housing block, commemorating all the Jews that were taken and murdered during the war. This is an emotive journey, so bring tissues.
The Berlin Wall
No trip to Berlin is complete without seeing the remnants of the Berlin Wall, brought down in 1990. You can see Checkpoint Charley, which was the border in those days. The East Side Gallery is dedicated to the art that adorned the wall, which is mainly graffiti. It is controversial, as some have suggested the original graffiti should be replaced with more modern pieces of art.
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Berlin is a big city, so you may want to look into holiday car hire at Schoenefeld Airport Berlin to make your transport easier and to be able to see more of all there is to do. Simply driving through what used to be the East and contrasting it with what used to be the West is an experience that will stay with you forever.
