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Historical Berlin City, Germany

Berlin is a German city is overflowing with history, monuments and arts culture. It is a buzzing city with much to see, explore and shop at every corner. Berlin is a city with a different kind of past history, shrouded in war and destruction. We get to visit solemn places like Hitler’s SS HQ, Concentration camps, great museums and city shopping in one of the most affordable European cities. Let’s check out the city!

On the Berlin museum island! Lets explore the German city of Berlin
On the Berlin museum island! Lets explore the German city of Berlin!

History and Monuments of Berlin

First, let’s start on the history aspects of the German city. Berlin is an administrative city and the central point of several historical points in Human history. Also, the most controversial events being Germany’s involvement of World War Two (WW2) and the fall of the Berlin wall.

Berlin Victory Column monument at the center of Tiergarten City Park
Berlin Victory Column monument at the center of Tiergarten City Park.

Furthermore, infrastructure you see in Berlin is mostly new. Also, most are at most 50 years as the city was completely flatted by allied aerial bombing during WW2.

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Gate from far
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Monument base
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Angle at top

Moreover, the Brandenburg Gate is the city’s most iconic structure. It is a restored 18th-century gate & landmark with 12 Doric columns topped by a classical goddess statue. Also, the gate used to have vehicle traffic running through it. Today, it is open to foot traffic.

Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of freedom at Pariser Platz square
Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of freedom at Pariser Platz square.

Leading from the gate is the Victory Column, a 67m-high gilded column. It commemorates the Prussian victory in the Second Schleswig War. Additionally, Monuments and memorials dot throughout the whole city. Also, it reminds of the present of the war crimes committed and lessons learnt never to happen again.

360 degree Panorama of Brandenburg Gate

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Furthermore, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) Pariser Platz is a popular spot for groups and walking tours gathering. Also, I would strongly recommend the Sandemans walking tours conducted by volunteers. Interestingly, there is also a Starbucks coffee store beside the gate for good measure.

360 degree Panorama of Tiergarten City Park and Brandenburg Gate.

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Moreover, not too far off the Brandenburg Gate is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. Also, it is also known as the Holocaust Memorial. The memorial is relatively new, being completed on December 2004.

Holocaust memorial off Brandenburg Gate at Berlin Pariser Platz
Holocaust memorial off Brandenburg Gate at Berlin Pariser Platz.

Additionally, the vast memorial grounds comprises of several tall black rectangular cubes designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold. Also, in a nearby and inconspicuous residential neighborhood and playground in Gertrud-Kolmar-Str is the site of Hilter’s WW2 Bunker and final command centre.

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Berlin subway
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Hitler bunker
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Quiet neighborhood

Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie

Moreover, the Berlin Wall is a notable post WW2 historical (Cold war) event which split the city between East Berlin’s Communist Party and West-controlled West Berlin till the city reunification on November 1989.

A section of the Berlin wall in downtown Berlin
A section of the Berlin wall in downtown Berlin.

Additionally, the Berlin Wall Memorial and Topography of Terror/Gestapdo museum (HQ of Gestapo & SS) sits on the historic site with much of the Berlin wall preserved running from Bernauer Strasse to this stretch.

The interior of the Topography of terror exhibition
The interior of the Topography of terror exhibition.

Also, the museum is tucked inconspicuously and blended into an administrative building. The large open compound which the museum sits on covers stories of a divided city, human loses, espionage and the victims of communist tyranny told through the various galleries.

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Galleries
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Outdoor display
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Closeup

Additionally, the wall is instantly recognisable by the graffiti patterns on one side of the wall. Interestingly, parts of the Berlin wall are removed and displayed in Museums around the world, like the Newseum in Washington DC. Also, you can purchase a small souvenir piece of the Berlin wall from various giftshops all around town. They do also come in magnets or keychains.

Checkpoint charlie a spot representing the separation of East and West during the Cold war
Checkpoint Charlie, a spot representing the separation of East and West during the Cold war.

Moreover, related to the Berlin wall is the American Checkpoint Charlie. Today, the preserved checkpoint which operated from 1947–1991 is left in its old former glory as more of a tourist museum attraction (€12.50 per entry) with staff dressed in era-accurate uniforms. You are also good for just photos on this iconic street.

Berlin City Shopping and Transport

Beyond the solemnness, Berlin is a buzzing city, especially in the city center. Also, Berlin is one of the most affordable European cities to shop and dine. Also, I would put shopping in Berlin ahead of even the City of London for value.

Alexander Platz Shopping district
Alexander Platz Shopping district.

Orientating yourself to the city. If you are coming from Scandinavian counties like Helsinki, Norway or Switzerland, Berlin is relatively more affordable city with average food and shopping prices a third of Scandinavia. Also, it does allows you to stretch your dollar more.

Downtown Berlin with the Berliner Fernsehturm TV tower and transport Trams plying the city
Downtown Berlin with the Berliner Fernsehturm TV tower and transport Trams plying the city.
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Alexanderplatz Saturn
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Steets
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Humboldt-Universität

Furthermore, a great meeting and shopping spot would be Potsdamer Platz and Alexander Platz public squares. Also, Alexendra Platz is home to a number of shopping street. Notable find here includes a Primark for bargain fast retail clothing, and an impressively huge Saturn electronics store for all your digital leisure needs.

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Vast spaces
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Going through
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Overview

360 Panorama of Berlin City Alexendra platz

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Additionally, if you are a hobbyist, nice finds are small independent hobby shops scattered about the city. Also, they typically sell vehicle, military, construction plastic model kits, and model train sets which are a popular item here as well.

Shopping square at Alexendra platz, a transport hub with many shops and eateries
Shopping square at Alexendra platz, a transport hub with many shops and eateries.
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Cathedral cafe
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Alexander Platz
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Primark shops

Moreover, off Potsdamer Platz is Gendarmenmarkt square in Berlin and the site of an architectural ensemble including the Berlin concert hall and a collection of French and German Churches. Also, the public square is lined with impressive architecture, hosting an annual markets during summer and during Christmas with an ice rink in December.

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Shopping district
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Saturn stores
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Italian pasta

360 degree Panorama of Gendarmenmarkt square

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Additionally, notable church at the Gendarmenmarkt square would be the  Neue Kirche New Church, it was completed on April 1708, and was rebuilt from 1977 to 1988, restoring it after it was almost destroyed in WW2.

Neue Kirche New Church at Gendarmenmarkt square
Neue Kirche New Church at Gendarmenmarkt square.
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Interior
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Konzerthaus Kammerorchester
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Neue Kirche

Getting Around Berlin

Additionally getting around Berlin is a breeze using city public transport. The city has an excellent metro network known as the urban rail (S-Bahn) and metro (U-Bahn). The U-Bahn, known as the Untergrundbahn (underground railway) are the city’s conventional rapid transit systems that run mostly underground. Also, the S-Bahn or Stadtschnellbahn (city rapid railway) are commuter rail services, that run underground in the city center.

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City trams
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Berlin subway
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Trains

Moreover, I feel, attractions in the city is explored using public transport and foot. That’s where you can really feel the soul of Berlin city. It allows you to meet people from all over the world, while keeping travel costs really low. On top of that, local buses compliment the rail service. Also, the buses are clean modern and huge double decker buses which plys the city and also allows you to visit more remote areas on the outskirts of the city not served by the train network, Like the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany.

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Over head trams
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Ticketing machine
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Onboard

Also, Berlin city is well connected to local main European transport rail hubs and the airport. You can take an easy Airport transfers (Service S9 and S45. S9) to station Ostkreuz and change to S-Bahn lines S3, S5, S7 or S75 to Berlin Ostbahnhof central station. Alternatively, you can also take the direct RE7 and RB14 Airport Express train service.

Berlin City museums and museum island

Moreover, Berlin is also home to a number of world-class museums, notably the German Technology museum at Trebbiner Street. Also, it showcases German technology at its best. Notably, German engineering and technologies are arguably one of the best in the world. So if this floats your boat are just a fan of engineering, it is a must-visit.

Museum island pano

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Furthermore, if this fancies you, I would recommend visiting the German Museum of Technology. Museum tickets costs and affordable €6 per adult. Also, entry is typically combined with free tickets with Berlin Museum of Natural History (Museum für Naturkunde).

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Museum island
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Altes Museum
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Berlin Cathedral

Additionally, if Art museums and Roman sculptures are your fancy, the Berlin Museum Island is home to the Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum and Altes Museum. Also, the Berlin Cathedral resides here too. Lastly, towering nearby from Museum island is the Fernsehturm Berlin (TV Tower). Also, the Berliner Fernsehturm tower offers an observation deck allowing you to catch panoramic views of the city.

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Berliner Fernsehturm Tower
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Tower fountain
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St. Mary’s Church

Berlin City zoo

Furthermore, the Berlin zoo is a city zoo and green space great to spend a day out. Entry to the Berlin Zoo cost €13 per adult for a day entry ticket. There is enough sights to spend a an afternoon here.

Welcome to the Berlin zoo located west of the city by Tiergarten City Park
Welcome to the Berlin zoo located west of the city by Tiergarten City Park.
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Elephant
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Seals
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Enclosures

Moreover, on top of zoo animal staples like elephants, giraffes and rhinos (the African big five). Also, you can find a huge range of European animals including European otters and white arctic wolves.

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Gallery
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Penguin
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Swan

Additionally, the zoo also has a pretty nice theming with modern buildings and facilities good for families and an educational day out.

Arctic Wolves in the Berlin Zoo
Arctic Wolves in the Berlin Zoo.

Also, the zoo is located 3km from the city center near industrial district and is conveniently accessible via U and S-Bahns to the Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station.

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Flamingo
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Polar bear
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Gallery

Berlin Green spaces

Wrapping up, the city is also home to a number of green spaces like the Reichstag Building and gardens, Charlottenburg palace, and the Grunewald forest on the western side which you can do as days trips from the city center.

Tiergarten City Park monuments
Tiergarten City Park monuments.
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Tiergarten map
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Victory
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House of World Cultures

Moreover, the Grober Tiergarten Berlin where the Victory Column resides is an inner city park with bridges, paths and several statues and monuments connecting the it to Brandenburg Gate. The park is one of the large green spaces with statues to explore at each corner.

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Reichstagskuppel Dome
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Dome
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German Historical Museum

Additionally, wrapping up in the city is the Berlin Palace which can visit. The former Royal Palace was originally built in the 15th century, this stately royal & imperial palace offers exhibits & tours within. Also, the Humboldt Forum, a museum which resides in the palace grounds hosts the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art.

Berlin City Olympic stadium (Olympiastadion)

Additionally, do give the Berlin Olympic stadium (Olympiastadion stadium) a visit too. It is situated on the outskirts of the Berlin city served by the U Olympia-Stadion U-bahn trains. Also, for an €8 per adult entrance fee, you can enter the stadium, walk and explore the various interiors, have a seat on the benches in the massive Olympiastadion stadium.

All in all, thanks for joining me on my journeys exploring Berlin through historical monuments sites, and world-class museums. You are good to check out Berlin city, Germany for about 3 days and 3 nights. Whether, its soaking up the atmosphere at Brandenburg Gate, Alexendra Platz and Potsdamer Platz public squares or visiting of Berlin Sights and monuments in town. Definitely a German European city to city in its own right, a melting pot of culture, rich history and natural beauty.

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