Must See Berlin

Must See Berlin 

The German Bundestag now sits in the former Reichstag Building - from 1961 - 1989 it was located  inside East Berlin.

No visit to Berlin is complete without a visit to the Brandenberg Gate. The beautiful structure stands on the Pariser Platz near the Reichstag Building. It dates from 1790 and is situated just feet from where the Berlin Wall once stood.  Built in the 1790's the gate stands in front of the Pariser Platz just metres from the Brandenberg Gate. Close by the Hollocaust Memorial site is a chilling reminder of Berlin's traumatic past.

Only one building remains intact from the remnants  of the Third Reaich, the former Luftwffe HQ is now a government tax office. A museum stands on the site of the SS and Gestapo HQ a tribute to the millions who perished.

Hallocaust Memorial

Brandenberg Gate

Victory Column 

Multi coloured Trabants a tourist attraction 

Wall Art

  

360 degree view of Berlin from top of Reichstag Building Dome

Of course Berlin is not only famous for its history which is both fascinating and bloody, but in recent times the Berlin Wall dominated the city in more ways than one.

The carving up of Germany after the war, meant the emergence of two distinct cultures. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Berlin where in 1989 when the Wall was torn down, the two cultures have merged to form an unusual and unique style all of its own.

The city is considered one of the cheapest city in Germany to live and while rents may be quite high - the price of food and entertainment is great value. The number and variation of restaurants is excellent and a search for a coffee shop never seems to take more that two minutes! Try the delicious Gluhwein (mulled wine) and Currywurst  (curried sausage) to warm up when the weather gets chilly.

Many of the city's sites are free to visit, for example the Hollocaust Memorial to the Murdered Jews of  Europe and the Reichstag Building. Advance reservation is recommended and well worth checking out - book  here at Reichstag Building.

There are also Free Walking Tours which are a wonderful way of finding out the city's history and places of interest - just give the guide a well earned  tip when you finish.

Would I go back? Definitely!