Things to Do in Berlin City Center

Multicultural, modern, unique... there are thousands of adjectives for discovering Berlin and none of them manage to capture its uniqueness. Its most important attractions are concentrated in the city centre and this article sets out to reveal one of the most interesting routes. Read on and discover the stages!

Completely destroyed during the Second World War, the Reichstag was rebuilt in several phases. After the reunification of the country, it once again became the centre of German political life and its vault was again erected, this time in glass and steel. According to the intentions of the architect - the famous Norman Foster - it symbolises the transparency of the German democratic system. It can be visited by booking a ticket in advance.

Not far from the Parliament is another symbol of the city: the Brandenburg Gate. It is another symbol of German unity after the fall of the Berlin Wall and one of the best examples of German classicism. During the Cold War it was located on the east side and remained there until 22 December 1989. On this date, 100,000 people gathered at its feet to celebrate the official opening of the monument and a few days later they celebrated the first New Year together.

If you visit Berlin in summer I recommend a walk to the nearby Tiergarten, the city's green lung. It is criss-crossed by several tree-lined paths and dotted with meadows and forests. To enjoy a local beer, head to the Café am Neuen See, a restaurant and biergarten surrounded by nature. If temperatures permit, in winter you can skate on the park's small lakes.

No trip to the German capital would be complete without a walk at the foot of the Berlin Wall. Between 1961 and 1989, this stone snake divided the city until it was torn down by the people of Berlin themselves. Today, the part that survived the Cold War is located on Mühlenstrasse, on the banks of the river Spree. Here you will see the famous East Side Gallery, the longest open-air art gallery in the world. Its most famous murals are Bruderkuß (the famous kiss between Honecker and Brezhnev), Test the Best (a Trabant car breaking the wall) and Der Mauerspringer, the 'wall jumper'.

Checkpoint Charlie is located at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße. You'll recognise it by the American flags, pictures of two soldiers holding up a mast and a hut partly covered by sandbags. During the Cold War, the wall passed here and the atmosphere was tense. In October 1961, Russian and American tanks clashed at this very spot. For about 16 hours, the world was on the brink of World War III.

Fans of spy films and the world divided by the Iron Curtain should not miss the Mauermuseum, a museum opened in 1962. Its collection brings together the most bizarre objects used to enter the western zone. It includes a hot-air balloon, motorised kites, a double-bottomed car and a mini-submarine powered by a motorbike engine (Friedrichstraße 43).

Alexanderplatz is the largest square in Berlin. It is named after Tsar Alexander I who visited the Kingdom of Prussia in 1805. During the Cold War it was on the Soviet side and its buildings were intended to rival those in the West. When you're there, you'll notice the Hotel Stadt Berlin (now the Park Inn Hotel), the Haus der Lehrers (headquarters of the German Democratic Republic's teachers' commission) and the Travel House.

Another important and not-to-be-missed landmark is Potsdamer Platz, the old heart of Berlin. After reunification this was a desolate space that was revolutionised by architects Renzo Piano and Christoph Kohlbecker. Their project "repaired" the urban fabric of Berlin and today it is one of the most vibrant areas of the city.

When you think of Berlin, the first image that comes to mind is that of a modern city. However, the German capital is the custodian of a district with low houses, small streets and traditional biergartens. It was the original core of the city and an important commercial hub of the region. From the Middle Ages until the Second World War, Nikolaiviertel was full of taverns, shops and craftsmen's workshops.

Completely destroyed by bombing, the district was rebuilt in the 1980s. The redevelopment brought the Berlin of yesteryear back to life and today it is one of the most sought-after areas of the city. Below is a brief list of the main attractions:

• Ephraim-Palais, an 18th century rococo palace. The façade was so beautiful that it was renamed "the most beautiful corner of Berlin". Today it houses a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the German capital (Poststraße 16).
• Nikolaikirche, the symbol of the district. It was built in the 13th century in the late Gothic style and was unfortunately badly damaged during the Second World War. Thanks to the efforts of the Berliners it still dominates the skyline of the city centre (Nikolaikirchplatz).
• Brauhaus Georgbraeu, a traditional brewery known for its craft brews. Here you can enjoy regional German dishes with a Pale Ale - Berlin Mitte Original (Spreeufer 4).
• Knoblauch House, the former residence of the Knoblauch family. The restored rooms on the first floor will take you back in time (Poststraße 23).
• Antiknik, an antique shop a short walk from Alexanderplatz (Spandauer Str. 29).
• If you're in Berlin at Christmas time, you can stroll among the stalls at the Christmas market. Take the opportunity to have a feuerzangenbowle, an alcoholic drink similar to mulled wine.

There are several ways to get around Germany's capital: on foot, by bus, by bicycle or by underground. However, there is only one way to feel like a true Berliner, and that is to travel around the city in a Trabant. This famous car made its debut in 1957 and was considered the East German answer to the Volkswagen Beetle. Unlike its Western counterpart, it had a plastic body and reached a top speed of 105 km/h.

Although its performance and appearance were light years ahead of European or American cars, the Trabant has become a symbol of West Germany and its front end even appears on the Berlin Wall. A short distance from Checkpoint Charlie, a company has collected dozens of Trabants and organises guided tours that reveal the history and anecdotes of East Berlin. It's a highly recommended experience that allows you to get behind the wheel of an old Soviet car. For more information, check out their official website.

In the centre of the city, the river Spree splits into two branches, creating an island. Originally home to the city of Cölln - an ancestor of Berlin's Old Berlin - its fate changed radically in the 19th century when Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV decided to dedicate this area to the study of the arts and sciences. Today, Museum Island is home to five cultural institutions:

• Pergamon Museum, a paradise for lovers of the Middle East. It is divided into three parts: the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of Near Eastern Antiquities and the Museum of Islamic Art. The museum is currently closed for renovation, although one of the temporary collections is open to visitors.
• Bode, best known for its collection of numismatics and Byzantine art and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 18th century (Am Kupfergraben).
• Altes Museum, a journey into the past that will not disappoint. Its walls house the largest Etruscan collection in the world, as well as papyri from ancient Egypt, vases, jewellery, sarcophagi and the famous bust of Nefertiti (Am Lustgarten 1).
• Neues Museum, the new museum. When you walk through the door you will see three rooms: the Egyptian and Papyrus Museum Collection, the Museum of Prehistory and Protohistory, and the Collection of Antiquities (Bodestraße 1-3).
• Former National Gallery. Masterpieces include the equestrian statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the statues of the Infantas Louise and Frederick of Prussia and the oil on canvas "En été" (In Summer) by Renoir (Bodestraße 1-3).

For more info on opening hours, prices and other details, I recommend you read the post about the best museums in Berlin. It will help you to plan your ideal day.

The Berlin Cathedral is located on Museum Island and its great dome stands out among the other roofs of the city. Indeed, from its dome you can enjoy an incomparable panoramic view. I recommend you climb the 270 steps to enjoy a marvellous view of the Mitte district, the television tower, the river and the Nikolaiviertel district.

Its origins date back to the 15th century, although the present church dates back to the early 19th century. At that time, the Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel transformed the court church into the neoclassical building we see today. The Cathedral is open to the public daily from 9:00 to 20:00; admission costs around €7 and guided tours are organised. If you want to visit at your own pace, you can hire an audio guide.

The Holocaust Memorial is located a short distance from the Brandenburg Gate, in an area that was once the no-man's land between the two sides of the Wall. The Memorial consists of a field of stelae with 2,711 concrete blocks. Each stele has a different height and inclination because each victim of Nazi barbarism was different. The architect Peter Eisenman designed a monument that gives an idea of order and rationality and yet it is very easy to get confused. If you walk through the blocks you will understand.

In Germany, schnitzels are a real institution. It is the local version of Milanese and is prepared by breading a slice of meat (beef or pork) with wheat flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Traditionally served with a side of potato salad called kartoffelsalat, how can you resist a crispy crust encasing juicy pork?

If you travel to Berlin in October - when the Oktoberfest is celebrated - this meal is almost a must. A good pork chop in breadcrumbs is the perfect accompaniment to a pint of beer. In the Jewish quarter, I recommend booking a table at Schnitzelei. The restaurant uses local ingredients and has some highly recommended vegan options. It is located near the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery (Chausseestraße 8).