Berlin

“alternative and eccentric”

Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz

Going back to the 12th Century, Berlin is rich in history, especially during WWII and the Cold War.

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The place to be

Oberbaumbrücke
Oberbaumbrücke
Berlin

The name Berlin has its roots in the language of West Slavic inhabitants of the area of today’s Berlin and comes from the word berl meaning swamp.

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Hi! My name is…

Bear
Bear
Buddy Bears

Since the “Ber” at the beginning sounds like the German word Bär (“bear”), this animal appears in the city’s coat of arms and all around the city as Buddy Bears, painted, life-size fiberglass bear sculptures.

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Bärlin

Brandenburger Tor
Brandenburger Tor
Brandenburger Tor

This is not just a prominent landmark in Berlin but the symbol of Germany, representing its reunification. It was constructed where a former city gate once stood, designating the beginning of the route leading from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel. On top of the gate is a sculpture of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, on a chariot drawn by four horses. This quadriga was taken by Napoleon to Paris after the 1806 Prussian defeat and restored to Berlin after Napoleon’s defeat in 1814.

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A symbol of unity

Brandenburger Tor
Brandenburger Tor
Pariser Platz

Brandenburger Tor is located at Pariser Platz. The name commemorates the victory in the Battle of Paris during the War of the Sixth Coallition which forced Napoleon to abdicate and go into exile.

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More than a symbol

Hotel Adlon
Hotel Adlon
Hotel Adlon

Next to Brandenburg Gate is one of the most luxurious hotels in Germany. Notable guests include Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson, among many more.

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Lux

Old and New
Old and New
Marienkirche / Fernsehturm

Built in the 13th Century, St. Mary’s Church was one of the few large churches that could still be used in Berlin after WWII. The TV-Tower, on the other hand, was built in 1969 by the government of East Germany and was a symbol of Communist power. Today it is a symbol of reunified Berlin. It is the tallest structure in Germany and, at the time it was built, was the 4th tallest in the world.

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Something old, something new

Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche

Built in the 1890s, this church was severely destroyed in 1943 during WWII by allied bombings.

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Hauntingly beautiful

Prussia
Prussia
Prussia

Prussia was a German state that became a great power in Europe during the 18th and 19th century. It became the leader of the German Empire when the German states united in 1871. Its national colors were black and white with the black eagle as part of its coat of arms.

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Preußen

Dom scars
Dom scars
Berliner Dom

Partially destroyed by the allied bombings, the facade stills bears the bullet holes from the Battle of Berlin at the end of WWII.

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The scars of war

Berliner Dom
Berliner Dom
Berliner Dom

The cathedral’s original interior was restored by 2002. Visitors are allowed to go up to the dome.

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The dome

Berliner Schloss
Berliner Schloss
Berliner Schloss

Formerly the main residence of the House of Hohenzollern from 1443 and expanded in 1713, it was damaged during WWII, and demolished by the East German authorities in 1950. In the 1970s, the East German Palace of the Republic was built in its location only to be also demolished after German reunification and the Berlin Palace was reconstructed beginning in 2013 and completed in 2020.

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The Palace

Humboldt Forum
Humboldt Forum
Humboldt Forum

Located inside the Berliner Schloss, the Humboldt Forum houses a collection of ethnological items from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. There’s currently much debate about the acquisition of these items, many which were stolen. Do you think they should be returned to their original location?

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The world

Mohrenstraße
Mohrenstraße
Mohrenstraße

In the pre-colonial period from the 16th to the early 18th century, the German word Mohr (moor) was frequently used to refer to people with dark skin. In light of present re-examinations of European colonial history, a change of name has been suggested. Sometimes, bypassers will draw two dots on top of the letter “o”, changing its name and meaning to Möhrenstraße, literally “Carrot Street.”

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Colonialism

Bunker
Bunker
Just an ordinary parking lot

Or is it? Below this perfectly normal looking parking lot lies the bunker where Hitler hid during his last days and committed suicide. Apart from a small sign, there’s nothing to mark this place. This was done intentionally, as a way of anti-commemorating this site.

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Nothing to see here

Jewish Memorial
Jewish Memorial
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Germany is very open about the atrocities committed during WWII and this is one of its most iconic memorials. Commemorating the approximately 6 million Jews that were killed during the Holocaust with 2711 concrete stelae, you can fully immerse in this memorial where feelings of uncertainty, darkness, and drowning can be experienced.

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6 million

Ampelmann
Ampelmann
Ampelmann

This little guy was the green light for pedestrian traffic lights in former East Germany. He was so popular, that even after reunification he can still be found in many street crossings and even has his own official merch store.

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The little green man

West und Ost
West und Ost
West und Ost

Present-day Berlin is a relatively new city since it was separated into east and west and only reunified in 1990.

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Two Berlins

Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie

This is the world famous Checkpoint Charlie. It was the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. If you don’t know which side of Berlin you’re standing on, take a look at McDonald’s. It’s located on what was the American sector.

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Check it out

Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie
Charlie

Many believe that the American soldier in the picture was on duty at the gate during the night the wall fell, but he wasn’t. He played tuba for the departing troops and was not stationed at Checkpoint Charlie that night. His picture was selected just because. And no, his name was not Charlie (it was Jeff.)

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Charlie who?

Checkpoint Charlie Sign
Checkpoint Charlie Sign
Checkpoint Charlie Sign

Checkpoint Charlie takes its name from the NATO phonetic alphabet: Checkpoint A (Alpha) near Helmstedt, Checkpoint B (Bravo) near Dreilinden, and Checkpoint C (Charlie) at Friedrichstraße. This sign is a replica, the real one is at the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie.

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The sign

Mauer
Mauer
Berliner Mauer

The place where the Berlin Wall stood is marked in several places. In case you’re curious about which side of Berlin you’re standing in, if you read the text the right way, you’re in former West Berlin, if you read it upside down, then you’re in former East Berlin.

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Helpful trick

Bundestag
Bundestag
Reichstag

The building of the German parliament, also known as the Bundestag was finished in 1894 in Neo-Renaissance style. It was an important target during WWII due to its symbolism.

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Lawful

Bundestag Glass
Bundestag Glass
Bundestag

Visitors are allowed in the rooftop of the parliament building and take part of guided tours, but demand is high so better book in advance.

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Let’s be crystal clear

Goldelse
Goldelse
Siegessäule

Known as “Goldelse” by Berliners, the Victory Column was completed on 1873 and commemorates the Prussian victory in the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War.

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Golden

Siegessäule
Siegessäule
Siegessäule

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Views

Bierpinsel
Bierpinsel
Bierpinsel

Built in 1976 in pop-art architectural style, its name refers to its intended gastronomical use (Bier) and its brush (Pinsel) shape. It’s currently under renovation and will reopen on 2025.

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Pop

Klunkerkranich
Klunkerkranich
Klunkerkranich

So what about Berlin’s night life? There’s a great variety of options from bars, to clubs, from restaurants, to cafés. Klunkerkranich is a great rooftop bar in Neukölln for watching the sunset with some drinks.

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Time for fun

Tempelhof
Tempelhof
Tempelhofer Feld

Another great option for sunset lovers. This field is located at the site of the former Tempelhof Airport, one of the world’s oldest operating commercial airports. It’s also well-known for being part of the Berlin Airlift (Berliner Luftbrücke) between 1948 and 1949 during the Cold War, when West Berlin was blocked and food and supplies could only be delivered by air.

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Chilling

Cafe Cinema
Cafe Cinema
Café Cinema

The oldest café in Hackescher Markt, and one of the coolest in all of Berlin!

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Cinematic

Berghain
Berghain
Berghain

Founded in 2004 and located in a former heating plant, Berghain is considered the world capital of techno and the most exclusive techno club in Berlin. Its name is a portmanteau of the district names Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain.

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Rave

KitKat
KitKat
Clubs

The queue for Berghain can go up to 8 hours. For other clubs in Berlin it’s usually about 2-3 hours.

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Lange Warteschlange

Berghain Panorama
Berghain Panorama
Berghain Panorama

If you’re not up for the (extremely) long queue and the (severely) strict door policy, the Panorama bar is an alternative.

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Blau

Party
Party
Filmkunstbar Fitzcarraldo

Ever been to a bar with a huge DVD collection and where film events also take place? And this is just one of the many alternative bars in Berlin. It’s not all about techno.

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I bet you look good on the dance floor

Lido
Lido
Lido

This is the place for indie and pop parties.

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Lido

MacLaren’s
MacLaren’s
MacLaren’s Pub

Themed around HIMYM, you can find all sorts of objects related to the show such as a yellow umbrella, the Bro Code, an intervention banner, and even a Canadian flag.

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Legendary

Tanzfläche
Tanzfläche
Tanzfläche Monbijoupark

Everyday of summer there’s an open dance floor next to the River Spree for salsa, bachata, tango, and swing.

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Dance the night away

Vinyls
Vinyls
Sound Metaphors

For the nostalgic music lovers, Berlin offers a variety of record stores with new and used vinyls.

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Play that record

Coretex Records
Coretex Records
Coretex Records

This record store offers hardcore, punk, and alternative vinyls.

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Go hard

Kulturhaus
Kulturhaus
Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus

Whether you’re looking for old and new artists, this place has an extensive variety on new vinyls. It’s also a great place for books (both in German and English.)

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Schallplatten

Vintage
Vintage
Vintage Stores

The districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain offer a large selection of these shops.

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That’s so vintage

Mauerpark
Mauerpark
Mauerpark

Every Sunday Mauerpark is filled with tents full of records, clothes, jewelry, and food for the flea market. Live music and karaoke are also part of the experience.

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Hipster

Boxhagener Platz
Boxhagener Platz
Boxhagener Platz

Whether in the summer or winter, Flohmärkte are a great plan for Sundays.

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Boxi

RAW
RAW
RAW-Gelände

The most alternative flea market in Berlin.

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RAW

RAW 2
RAW 2
RAW-Gelände

You can even pick out your (very) “official” (and guaranteed to work) Berghain starter pack.

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Get it

Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz

Once the most bustling traffic intersection in Europe, it was destroyed during WWII, and remained abandoned during the Cold War with the Berlin Wall running right through it. Today it is filled with modern buildings.

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Past, present, and future

Mitsune
Mitsune
Mitsune

Other activities include the Kultur Sommer Festival with live music of all genres. Here pictured is Mitsune, a Berlin-based group that makes Japanese music.

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Kultur Sommer Festival

SO36
SO36
SO36

There’s also rock in Berlin. SO36 is an iconic punk venue.

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Rock that

Dark Matter
Dark Matter
Dark Matter

Mesmerizing lights and sounds will capture your senses in a mix of real and digital worlds in this exhibition.

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Mesmerize me

Tensor
Tensor
Tensor

A temporary exhibition in Dark Matter that mixes lights, techno, and fashion in the Sommerlights event.

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Lights

Museum
Museum
Museum Island

Museum Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

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Museum time

Altes Museum
Altes Museum
Altes Museum

With around 170 museums, Berlin has more museums than rainy days per year (approximately 106). The Altes Museum is home to the antique collection of Greek and Roman artwork.

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Let’s go back in time

Neues Museum
Neues Museum
Neues Museum

Among the highlights in the “New Museum” are the bust of Nefertiti, known as an international icon of beauty, representing the concept of beauty in Ancient Egypt, and the Berliner Goldhut, a calendar in the shape of a hat made out of gold from ca. 900 BC.

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Nu

Pergamon
Pergamon
Pergamon

Originally located in ancient Babylon, these vibrant glazed bricks were shipped in fractured pieces to Berlin, where they were put together like pieces of a giant puzzle to remake the Ishtar Gate.

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Puzzle

Gemäldegalerie
Gemäldegalerie
Gemäldegalerie

This museum houses European paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

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Classics

Neue Nationalgalerie
Neue Nationalgalerie
Neue Nationalgalerie

A must-see for modern art lovers, it includes works of Cubism, Expressionism, Bauhaus, and Surrealism.

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That’s modern

König Galerie
König Galerie
König Galerie

Art exhibition with contemporary art.

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Is that even art?

East Side Galery
East Side Galery
East Side Galery

This open-air gallery on a portion of over 1 km of what remains of the Berlin Wall was originally painted in 1990 and repainted in 2009. The most famous graffiti painting is Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben (My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love) showing the fraternal kiss between two socialist leaders.

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The fraternal kiss

Graffiti
Graffiti
Kreuzberg

Berlin is well-known for its street art and graffiti, especially in the district of Kreuzberg. Painted in 2007 by Ash, Astronaut Cosmonaut is one of the most famous murals. Graffiti by Paradox (left-hand side) and 1UP can also be found on this wall and around the city.

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It’s art

Kinemathek
Kinemathek
Deutsche Kinemathek

One of the coolest museums in Berlin, the Kinemathek shows the history of filmmaking in Germany.

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4D

Museum für Fotografie
Museum für Fotografie
Museum für Fotografie

Revolving around the works of the famous photographers Helmut and June Newton.

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Black and white

Fotografiska
Fotografiska
Fotografiska

The contemporary photography of Fotografiska can be found in New York, Stockholm, Tallinn and Berlin.

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Photography

Fotografiska 2
Fotografiska 2
Fotografiska

The current exhibition displays different views on the topic of nudity.

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50 shades of human

Technikmuseum
Technikmuseum
Technikmuseum

War planes from WWII, ships, air balloons, and trains, sugar, fabric, and everything related to science and technology.

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Tech

Futurium
Futurium
Futurium

How will we live in the future? How do we want to live? Find out at Futurium.

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The future is now

Opera
Opera
Deutsche Oper

Why have one opera house when you can have three? You can enjoy opera at the Deutsche Oper, the Staatsoper unter den Linden, and the Komische Oper.

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Opera

TV Tower
TV Tower
TV Tower

The perfect view.

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Orange and blue

Sunset
Sunset
Mitte

The beautiful view from the Berliner Dom during sunset in Berlin.

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The golden hour

Alexander Platz
Alexander Platz
Alexander Platz

Berlin is a city that reinvents itself throughout history every time in a different way.

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Dusk

Jäger
Jäger
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg

Art.

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Jäger

Späti
Späti
Späti

Shor for Spätverkauf, Spätis are open until late and are the perfect place for buying a late-night drink or snack.

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It’s getting late

Festival of Lights
Festival of Lights
Festival of Lights

Every year between September and October, the Festival of Lights transforms Berlin’s landmarks into colorful artworks through illuminations and projections.

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Lights

Weihnachtsmarkt
Weihnachtsmarkt
Weihnachtsmarkt

Berlin has a variety of Christmas markets. Medieval-themed in RAW-Gelände, with an open-air ice-skating rink in front of the Rotes Rathaus, classic in Gendarmenmarkt, and many more.

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Spin that wheel

Scheunenviertel
Scheunenviertel
Scheunenviertel

Berlin.

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Stop and go

Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt

I could go on about Berlin for hours and hours, but for now it’s a wrap.

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Tschüssi