Places to Visit in Berlin - Exploring the Grey City of Germany

While the nickname “The Gray City” may initially confuse people into thinking of gloom and despair. Berlin is anything but. In fact, it has risen from the gloom, from the ashes and the aftermath of the Second World War and the Cold War. Berlin’s shine lies in the way it proudly carries the weight of history. Its uncharacterised baroque and neoclassic buildings, war ruins and post-war architectural style blend seamlessly with the glass and steel structures like the Reichstag, Jüdisches Museum, and the vibrant street art that was part of the Punk Movement in the 1980s.

Berlin, at present, has become a travellers' favourite when you are visiting Europe.

Berlin has inspired many travellers. With several centuries-old histories packed inside grand museums, parklands, palaces, meadows and forests and historical landmarks like the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Hamburger Bahnhof, The Victory Column, Holocaust Memorial and such. There are countless places to visit and double the things to do in Berlin.

Places to Visit in Berlin

• Schloss Charlottenburg Palace
• Gemäldegalerie Art Museum
• Stasi Prison
• Potsdamer Platz
• Jüdisches Museum/ Jewish Museum
• Grosser Tiergarten
• Volkspark Friedrichshain
• Rebuilt Reichstag
• Museum Island

Schloss Charlottenburg

Charlottenburg Palace is one of the largest and oldest palace complexes in Berlin. Originally commissioned by Elector Frederick III to be built as a summer residence for his wife Sophie Charlotte. The palace is a highlight in every tour package to Germany and is among the most popular sites to see in Berlin. Located in the west part of Berlin with its palace park, baroque gardens that invite you to take long walks, a theatre, orangery, a museum exhibiting an impressive display of precious collections of the Prussian crown jewels, top class art collections, imperial insignias, precious items and personal effects.

Gemäldegalerie Art Museum

Gemäldegalerie is home to countless paintings from the old masters of art. It is one of the first places to visit in Berlin if you are an appreciator of art and culture. Works like Amor Vincit Omnia by Caravaggio, Terranuova Madonna by Raphael, Giotto’s The Death of Virgin, Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and many other astonishing works of art from the gallery of German and Italian painters dating back to the 13th century. The museum is divided into outdoor and indoor galleries. The outdoor gallery displays several abstract sculptures and is designed to keep the past alive. The indoor gallery has two buildings connected by an underground passage. The 72 galleries are grouped around a central hall, described as a meditation hall occasionally displaying a sculpture or two.

Stasi Prison

Despite what the name suggests, Stasi Prison is a museum cum memorial site closely linked to the history of Germany since 1945. Also called the Hohenschönhausen Memorial, it was one of the main political prisons of the formal Stasi till the late 19th century. Throughout the years, the prison has been a place of political persecution and imprisonment under the Soviet Secret Services. The prison has been a witness to the true extent of terror and cruelty. And while Stasi Prison may not be the most-frequented tourist place in Berlin, Germany, it offers a front-seat view into its history. Besides, the history buffs absolutely love the place. A permanent exhibit displays photographs, objects and a free audio guide to offer a glimpse behind the walls, the everyday life of prison guards and officers who worked here.

Potsdamer Platz

A popular public square and plaza, Potsdamer Platz is one of the top tourist spots in Berlin. The plaza has a unique history. First established as an important place of trade and cultural and commercial activity, the plaza was turned into an empty wasteland during the Allied bombing in the Second World War. Completely destroyed and deprived of activity, the plaza remained completely desolate until 1990 when it was reestablished to its former glory. Today, Potsdamer Platz is the top shopping district and home to several prominent businesses including Daimler City, the Sony Centre, the Beisheim Centre, and Panoramapunkt. When planning a tour to Germany, visiting the Potsdamer is a popular site to visit in Berlin.

Jüdisches Museum

Jüdisches is the largest Jewish museum in Europe. Built on 3,500 square meters of areas, the museum is a chronicle of the trials and tribulations of Jewish people. Exhibiting post-war Germany, the museum showcases the results of the Holocaust, exile and immigration, paying ode to those who were wronged, and those who were forced to leave Berlin. Some of the original artworks in the museum date back to the 1940s and act as a library of historical events. The museum is an architectural marvel with zig-zag buildings with titanium zinc facades, underground axes, a dramatic entry void and angled walls. Jüdisches is one of the most beautiful places to see in Berlin.

Grosser Tiergarten

Tiergarten is the green lung of the city and one of the largest parks in the world. What once was a hunting ground for the royals, has now become a public park for the masses. Located close to the city centre and several tourist sites including the Potsdamer Platz, Tiergarten is one of the perfect places to visit in Berlin. Popular among tourists because of its green cover, the park provides the perfect opportunity to jog around, indulge in a round of skating or cycling with the locals or take a picnic at a particular sunny spot.

Volkspark Friedrichshain

This park is located about a 15-minute ride away from Tiergarten and is one of the oldest public parks. Built in 1848, Volkspark Friedrichshain is one of the most peaceful tourist sites in Berlin and offers a peaceful solace from the bustling streets of Berlin just outside its gates. The park has several imaginative and theme-based playgrounds, a couple of lawns, an outdoor cinema, sports facilities, the enchanting 1913 Märchenbrunnen fountain and twin “mountains” which are basically wartime debris placed here since the late 1940s. The park is a favourite among history and nature lovers and general tourists who come to admire the sculptures scattered throughout.

Rebuilt Reichstag

Among the tourist sites to visit in Berlin, the Rebuilt Reichstag is often considered at the top. One of the most famous landmarks, the building lies at the northern end of the Ebertstrasse and near the banks of the Spree River. The dome-styled structure, neo-renaissance and a combination of modern construction and design offer it an unexceptional beauty. The building is home to the German Bundestag, the country's federal parliament. The building also features a museum of German history, an observation platform that offers a bird’s-eye view of the city, a light sculpture and much more.

Museum Island

The Berlin Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of five museums built in the 1820s and the 1930s - the Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Bode Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, and the Pergamon Museum. Each museum is designed to offer an organic connection to the artefacts. A popular among history and art lovers, Museum Island is one of those places to visit in Berlin that leaves you hanging on every breath.

From the Berlin Cathedral to Martin-Gropius-Bau, Konzerthaus Berlin, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and Karl-Marx-Allee, there are several other places that contribute a lot to the unique character of the Berlin city. Its rich diversity, complex history, the post-war urban landscape and the architectural style that came before and after.

With Veena World, you get to dive deep into the core of every place and have a transformative experience. And with these tourist sites in Berlin calling out to the wandering in you, it will only be a short time before you are ready to book another trip to the city. Doubt us? Book from our affordable Berlin tour packages and know for yourself. After all, as the locals say, anything is possible in Berlin!