This is one of those grand European architectural locations. Once you get anywhere near this area,…read morewhat you will find are great cathedrals, beautiful buildings, and a very large square. The center point of this area is the large square. My suggestion is that you go and stand in the center of it, look around, and study its true uniqueness. What you will experience is one of the best places to view the grandeur of historic Berlin. Around this very large square, what you will find, (occasionally), is that they will have marketplaces. These marketplaces are usually seasonally orientated. Meaning, if it's Christmas season, you will find a great selection of Christmas orientated items. The main reason you come here is not so much simply to go shopping or dining, of which there are a lot of places to check out around the surrounding area, but to go inside some of the structures, and truly bask in the architectural glory of the statues, the way the buildings were constructed, and all of that kind of stuff. This isn't really a highly-touristy Berlin location. Which, is a good thing. Meaning, you can come here and really bask in a historic Berlin, which is deeply rooted in history. It will provide you with the true flavor and culture of Berlin. Overall, I would suggest that you do go here. You just need to know what to expect. There's not necessarily a lot to do, unless you truly appreciate the finer elements of architecture. But, it's a great place to visit.

One visits Gendarmenmarkt to take in the local flavor. There are beautiful buildings and sculptures…read moreto view and appreciate. People come here to hang out with their families and loved ones. I especially enjoyed looking at the expressions on the faces of the sculptures within the gates of the church. The artist truly captures a feeling. I walked here from the hotel I was staying at and enjoyed lunch in the immediate vicinity. It is a place to visit when in Berlin.

Beautiful and the biggest church in Berlin located on the museum island. It is very massive both…read moreoutside and inside...you have to pay for entrance and you can climb to the top to see 360 degree view of Berlin, worth it but it's 267 steps each way..no bathroom so go before climbing. Somehow I was there and there was a mass in German an I stayed 1/2 way and it was lovely. I'm not a church person but do appreciate the service. The building, the decor, the history itself is worth to check it out for sure. There are plenty of crypts within the church so you can check them outs along with shop and café upon exiting.

This domed cathedral is the largest in Germany and as we see it today is one of many versions of…read morethis place of worship starting from the mid-15th century. Commissioned by Wilhelm II in 1888 the cathedral broke ground in 1894 over same location as a prior church building demolished the prior year to make room for this new and improved iteration. The design of this monumental structure incorporates details from Italian Renaissance and Baroque styles, notably ornamental mosaics, gold features and trimmings, and the layout of the building with its soaring dome and nave. Construction was completed in 1905, but after major damages during WWII was restored starting 1975 and only completed in 1993. Today it serves as functioning church parish for a German Protestant denomination. Visitors can access the following areas in the building: Preaching Church, Baptismal and Marriage Chapel and Panoramic View via 270 stairs. The crypt below the cathedral is a main attraction though closed for renovation until the end of 2025 or early 2026. Regular musical concerts are held here and programming can be found on their website. Normal visiting hours are Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9am-5pm and Sun: 12-5pm. Check in advance for holiday hours. Tickets are €10 for adults, €7 with the Berlin Welcome Card, €7.50 reduced (students, disabled, see their website for full list). A single adult can bring up to 3 children in the ticket price. Prices go toward church upkeep which their website lists as €15K per day. Purchases can be made in person or line by credit card only, cash not accepted. Tickets for concerts can be booked at the box office without fee, or by phone or email with fee to mail the tickets.

Another day in Berlin and another museum reminding us all about World War II and the Holocaust…read more It's free, but you have to wait to get in. They let you in in staggered blocks. If you see a long line, just get on it. It moves quickly. Much of the staff is multilingual, too. I saw the young people working the ropes talking to people from all over Europe in their own languages. Outside there is a staggeringly large monument of large grey slabs. Some are leaning, and I'm not sure if it is intentional or due to disrepair and the elements. What I do know is it is a kind of maze which people seem to mainly use to play hide and seek or do parkour on, even though it's a museum dedicated to the Jews murdered in Europe. Kind of sad to witness. Inside is a large multi room museum documenting personal stories with various types of exhibits of the people rounded up, killed, or the few who survived. There are readings of testimonials of survivors of the camps that you can listen to on phones in the wall. It's very depressing but oh so important. And considering how much antisemitism there is in the world today and how trendy it is, it was somewhat moving to see so many people who wanted to come in and get educated on the horrors the Jews went through in World War II Germany. A really important part of history well told. Check it out and then you can walk over and see a bunch of tourist stuff like Brandenberg Gate and the Reichstag. You'll probably need a drink, but it is definitely worth checking out. Especially if you have a teenager and especially if you are Jewish yourself.

A powerful site that you can feel the chill running down your spine. Was here on a raining morning…read moreand it was just a site. No names no words but just that...just wow!

Free admission. Located in the old SS headquarters. Sections of the original Berlin Wall is here…read moreand you learn the history of the building and the horrific things that occurred during this time frame. This is a sad but educational museum. The hanging displays outside will take a good 2 hours to read and digest. Make sure to find the start and work your way forward, I started at the wrong end. Then after you finish outside go inside the museum to learn more. If you don't like to read, audio tours are available. I learned a lot about Siemens and VW involvement during this era. Shocking! Bathrooms: downstairs and very clean Facility: very clean We came in the winter, it was very cold so dress appropriately.

This is one of several museums in Berlin focusing on the history leading up to, during and post the…read moreHolocaust, World War II, the Nazi atrocities committed against Jews, minorities, LGBTQ and disabled peoples. The museum is located on land that used to be a former gestapo headquarters, along a long section of the Berlin Wall still standing in the city center, now outfitted with exhibits related to the museum as well. The interior of the museum consists of a chronological installation of the rise of Nazism, the both a subversive and swift movement that resulted in mass persecution, incarceration and annihilation of millions of people. They took a lot of care to include photos, images of documents, charts and diagrams of different elements of the Nazi movement, the main perpetrators of atrocities, while also highlighting the lives of those affected, suffering, and killed. The atmosphere inside was somber, though in a way hopeful--if you visit a location like this, (hopefully) you came to respect and learn, be saddened and moved by the past, and be compelled to stand for never again allowing this to happen.* It's terrific that this museum is open 10-8pm daily, and is free of charge. It shows commitment to being accessible and sharing this important story. Audio guides available in different languages. Almost all the displays were in both German and English. Bathrooms available downstairs, there is a library and education center downstairs as well. *I hope this also moves people to take a look at what's going on in the world thru different lenses and perspectives, as there are currently many injustices and oppressive practices less publicized by or more quickly cycled out of the American media. I hope this also prompts individuals to ask whether their own beliefs and actions could result in causing prejudice, hatred or mistreatment toward others not like themselves, and be more accepting of others.

The Sony Center is an architectural wonder…read more It is located only a few yards from the former Berliner Mauer and Potsdamer Platz. There are lots of food options and they even have a Legoland Museum/Store. We came here on our first evening in der Hauptstadt. Sitting back, enjoying our meal and Berliner Brau, while watching the light show above us. Simply the best

The Sony Center was right next to our hotel so we stopped for a drink and some shopping. There is…read morean adorable bookstore inside that I highly recommend. The architecture is beautiful to see even if you don't stop for food or shopping.

Is this a must stop on your vacation? No. But this seems to be a good part of town with the hotels,…read moremall, and stores in the area. We just so happen to be at a chain hotel in the area and this was our daily stomping ground for 7 day, 6 nights. You will find some pieces of the Berlin Wall on the line marking where The Wall was. There is a major metro stop which was great for getting to everything on our bucket list. They happen to have an Easter Market in the Plaza while we were visiting.

Potsdamer Platz is one of those places you can't miss simply because it's in a fairly central…read morearea--if you are into cultural and artistic activities such as museums, memorials, concerts, shopping (like how I threw shopping in there ;) you'll probably catch transportation close by. You'll likely stumble upon this plaza if you're visiting and your hotel is near, or if you're walking between attractions, or simply commuting and transferring between different trains. It's maintained its role as a transit hub since the mid-1800s, when it was the location for a long distance train station. After WWI, Europe's first traffic light was installed at this intersection. The square was destroyed in WWII and subsequently became an area for black market activities where the purviews of the foreign powers coalesced, and further became a demarcation between East and West Berlin when the wall went up in 1961. The area was devoid of infrastructure development until the 1990's once the wall came down, followed by major corporations moving in, and new buildings and highrises going up expeditiously to accommodate the needs for commercialization. While I didn't see anything exciting happening in the area when I was there, other reviews mention a Christmas market and other holiday, performance and community events being staged here. Surrounding the square are a number of retailers including the Mall of Berlin, some restaurants, and a lot of office buildings.

Touring the Reichstag was one of the greatest highlights of my international travels to date. There…read morewas just something about being in the building that so much history took place in. We were blessed to have a personal guide who was alive during the division of Berlin and who had family members who were separated the entire time of the division of the city and country and who witnessed her father and uncle at last reunited after the fall of the wall. Going through various aspects of the building and hearing stories is chill inducing. But the highlight of the building is the amazing rooftop and its incredible dome. From this roof you can see throughout all of Berlin and imagine the sites and historic events that took place. Then the dome itself is an architectural marvel just inviting you to climb to the top on the spiral ramps that lead up and somehow also lead down without ever crossing. Reservations are needed in advance and passports are required to enter. While all of the "wall" sites are a must when visiting Berlin, this building is the icing on the cake and a must see.

Ah, the Reichstag. This building has seen a lot since it was finished being built in 1894. The…read moreGerman Empire, the Weimar Republic, the rise of Naziism and Adolf Hitler and now, a reunified Germany. Architecturally, this building suffered severe damage by fire, and then by bombing in WW2. It was finally restored and updated in the 1950's. A visit to Berlin is not complete, IMO, without a visit here. There are a few different tours offered, but if you don't speak German, there are 2: one to see where parliament convenes (only when it is NOT in session), followed by a visit to the dome, and just the dome. All must be booked ahead of time. We took just the dome tour which will take you into the dome atop the building. Besides the magnificent views of the city and the Spree river, the dome contains an exhibition which tells the story of the building from its origins to the present day, along with parliamentary history. There is a spiral walkway that goes to the top of the dome and allows for 360 degree views of the city all the way up and down. You can pretty much stay there as long as you want, but 2 hours seems average, with reading all the information and taking photos. Just behind the building and to the right are the Brandenburg Gate, and the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. In front of it and slightly to the left is the Berlin Zoo and Bellevue Castle, just to give you an idea of what is in the area. To register and for more information: https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/tours 81/2025

I visited during January so it was a little bit cooler than I liked, but Still had a great time…read moreseeing all the history As a European and being well traveled, I was aware of the pickpocket issue. It's simple don't bring anything flashy keep your phone in your front pocket. I don't even carry a purse when I travel We stayed at Adlon Hotel so the walk was short I am looking forward to a visit in the warmer months.

The Brandenburg gate is a must see when visiting Berlin. Lots of history, and it's an icon of the…read morecity. Look for hidden gems near the gate, such as the plaque to Ronald Reagan speech and the Caller sculpture, calling out to the east German side. Even in the off-season and the dead of winter beware of scammers near the Brandenburg gate. The scammers will ask for a signature and pretend to be collecting donations for a charitable cause. These are not bona fide charities, these are scammers working the tourists.

This venue is free, and very interesting. The architecture is beautiful and there is a huge…read morecircular stairway in the center. There is a lot of material about the history of government and democracy in Germany. Interesting pictures and movies of parliamentary presentations including by Hitler.