Visiting Berlin alone: 5 places to see and visit
Contents
Cape on Berlin, a symbolic city, rich in history, dynamic and multicultural.
What to do? What to see? What to visit? This article will try to answer all these questions so that you can have the best stay, whether you are alone or with others.
Berlin is a city that is reinventing itself without breaking with its past; the architecture, the marks present on certain buildings and many places show the events, especially the dark ones, of the past. These historic buildings are mixed with modern architectural buildings and neighborhoods reflecting the dynamism and resilience of the city. A dynamism highlighted by its past contrasted by the current presence of many tech players (Spotify, Soundcloud, Universal, and Tesla more recently).
Following my short stay there and among all the attractions, activities and visits I could realize, I decided to share with you 5 spots to see and visit alone – as it was my case – or with others. This selection is made up of museums, galleries and attractions; you can use the order of presentation to create your own tour, if these spots inspire you.
My stay lasted 5 days, even if in reality I could enjoy the city only 4 days. My first observation? The days went by – much – too fast. Was it that there was too much to do? Or was I too ambitious for the length of my stay? Anyway, there was, in my opinion, so much to do, at least, I wanted to see, visit, test and taste so many things that a few extra days would not have been too much.
In fact, on my return trip, my Uber driver shared my observation. According to him, in order to enjoy Berlin you should plan 7 to 10 days and come preferably in summer (in order to have more favorable temperatures). He also shared with me some good neighborhoods – described as “arty“, dynamic – where to stay next time; namely Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Neukölln, Nollendorfplatz or Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
A dedicated article should be published in the future.
Transportation
As someone who has to travel a lot, I thought it would be interesting to digress for a moment about public transportation (and attraction discounts). Just like my previous trip to Amsterdam I had bought a tourist map (also known as a city card) which accompanied me throughout this stay.
I opted for the WelcomeCard All Inclusive; the word “all inclusive” is important because in this case it means that public transportation to the ABC areas is included.
I had purchased the card before I arrived in Berlin and picked it up in the store once I got there directly from the airport (I was flying in). Please note that there are many other collection points. The card is activated as soon as it is used, which is quite interesting; for my part, I activated it the day after I bought it, using it to take public transport.
You should also know that there are different cards, with more or less things, for longer or shorter periods, with higher or lower prices; it all depends on your needs, the time you will spend in Berlin, what you want to do and your resources. For my part, I needed a card that included access to transportation, museums, galleries and main attractions; the card being quite rich, I couldn’t do everything, but no doubt I was able to make it worthwhile during my stay! If you’re planning a lot of travel and activities, take a look at it, you could save time, effort and money!
I explained in my previous article the process I had and the questions I asked myself to choose my tourist card; I’ll give you the link here.
The TV Tower
📍 Address: Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin, Germany
The TV Tower or Fernsehturm of Berlin. Although it was not my starting point, I found it interesting to place it first because its geographical location allows access to it and to the next spot without too much worry. Indeed, many public transports (buses – the 100, 200, 300 – as well as the subway) are stopping. Located on the east side, in the district of Alexanderplatz, the television tower dates from the 20th century and stands at 368m.
Once there you can go up, thanks to the elevators (don’t worry) to 203m and access a panoramic view of the city; you can even gain a few meters (207m) by going to the restaurant. In addition to the panoramic view, as you walk around the sphere, you will be able to consult different explanatory panels of the buildings located “at your feet” and elsewhere in the city; several languages are available including English, French, Spanish and German.
About the tower. Built by the Germans in the eastern part, the tower was meant to be a symbol of engineering mastery and technology, a symbol of greatness, but also an unmistakable symbol (as it could be seen from anywhere in the city) of the Germans. However, it turned out that when the tower was observed on a sunny day, it reflected a symbol similar to a cross.
The Germans in the eastern part of the country then wondered how they could remedy this situation; several attempts (including repainting the sphere) were made, to no avail. In the end, it was a message that it was not a cross, but a plus (+) symbolic of the greatness and skills mobilized by East Germans to build the TV tower that was broadcast in the media.
The story caused a lot of hilarious reactions among West Germans and resulted in the episode being named “The Pope’s revenge”.
Museum Island
The Museum Island is only a few steps away from the TV Tower. Composed of 5 museums, the island is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO; on the 5, I was able to visit 2 of them during my stay including the new museum (Neues Museum) and the Pergamon museum(Pergamonmuseum) while passing quickly by the James Simon gallery. I will have to visit three museums, namely the Altes Museum (Altes Museum), the Bode Museum (Bode Museum) and the former national gallery (
Alter Nationalgalerie).
Because of the architecture of its buildings, Museum Island is a kind of first exhibition. It’s a mix of old, new and different styles. The experience is visual and plural (especially from a stylistic point of view). If you are interested in history, and more specifically in the history of ancient times, then the Museum Island is for you.
The new museum (Neues Museum) bears this name because it was built second to the old museum (Altes Museum). Like many, I consider this spot a must-see because it is where the bust of Nefertiti is located (on the second floor, in a room dedicated to her). When you enter the room, you may be, like me, amazed, impressed and captivated by her beauty, by the colors and features that underline her expression, her personality and her rank, and by the perfect conservation of the bust. In addition to this attraction, the museum houses many other pieces on the Egypt of the pharaohs and collections tracing the history of Man through time and continents.
The museum is one of the many places damaged by the war, some columns still show marks of past clashes. The current architecture is like a patchwork because it mixes old and new elements (such as stone), all in a neoclassical tone (especially the columns). This association is due to a decision taken after the reunification. At the time, the renovation and restoration project for the new museum (Neues Museum) raised many questions. Did the museum need to be refurbished? Or with a more pure, beautiful and brilliant design? Or was the museum to be redone identically? (faithful to the old design). Finally, as you may have guessed, it was decided that the dark episodes of the past would not be hidden, but that they would be an integral part of the project; the old, the forgotten would be intertwined with the new. The new architecture is as much a symbol of the duty of remembrance as it is a hand extended to the future.
Good to know, it is possible to reach the other museums, for example to reach the Pergamon museum from the new museum, by being guided by the indications because yes the museums are connected by corridors!
The Pergamon Museum, another interesting spot. It is there that the gate of Ishtar (of Babylon) considered as one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world is located. The gate allowed access to the city and was central to the religious celebrations. The latter, made of blue glazed bricks, was built on the initiative of Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) to show his power and honor the gods. Ishtar was there goddess of love, fertility and war; she watched over Babylon with Adad and Marduk, respectively God of the storm represented in the form of a bull and supreme divinity of Babylon represented in the form of a dragon. In addition to this, the Pergamon Museum houses a wide variety of other pieces and collections on the Near East and Islamic art.
As mentioned above, I had purchased a city card that included access and discounts to museums, attractions, activities, public transportation and more; the island’s museums were among the museums included in the card. This approach has saved me money and time (it can act as a ticket cutter).
If you are interested in the attractions presented and those to follow, consider organizing yourself beforehand by comparing the purchase options (individual tickets? grouped tickets for the island’s museums? or tourist card?) and by reserving slots for the different attractions directly online. Be aware that there are different tourist maps, more or less complete, which can include and combine more or less things depending on your needs (museums, attractions, public transport, cycling, etc.). Booking your slots online will avoid unpleasant surprises, avoid queuing, allow you to better organize yourself (more flexibility) and to learn about the temporary and permanent exhibitions. Please note that work is currently underway in various museums, so you may not be able to access certain rooms during your visit.
Moreover, the collections of the various museums are numerous and rich, think of spacing your visits so as to be able to benefit fully from them, even if it means seeing too much. Personally, I allowed myself 3.5 hours per museum; the extra time allowed me to take pictures and breaks for food.
Bonus - The mother holding her dead son, autodafé of the books
📍 Address: Unter den Linden 4, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Turn right past the old museum (Alte Museum) and walk along Unter den Linden; after a few minutes you will come across a memorial to the victims of war and tyranny. Inside the memorial, in the center, is a sculpture by Kathe Kollwitz of a mother figure holding her dead son in her arms. Kathe Kollwitz was a German sculptor, printmaker and draughts woman who lived most of her life in Berlin.
Leave the memorial, continue along Unter den Linden and cross at the traffic lights. You will come across two things; the prestigious Humboldt University, notably attended by Karl Marx, and a memorial plaque in memory of a fateful event (auto-da-fé) in May 1933 during which a number, so far still unclear, of books by German intellectual figures were burned by Nazi partisans. Other auto-da-fés were carried out simultaneously in other cities. Inscribed on the plaque is a quote from the German poet Heinrich Heine saying “This was only a prelude, only where books are burned, men are also eventually burned”; the quote is from his play “Almansor” (1820).
Just a few steps from the memorial you will see a window overlooking a library, in the basement, whose rows are empty. Through this installation, the artist Micha Ullman wanted to highlight the disappearance and therefore the absence of burned books.
Berlin Wall & Checkpoint Charlie
📍 Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
To reach this spot on foot will require a little time but it is quite feasible, I did it (and I survived)!
This wall, symbol of the division of the city, separated families, lovers, colleagues and many others in a rather brutal and sudden way.
For this third spot, we find ourselves at the (remains of the) Berlin Wall; it is an open air spot accessible for free. Once there, take the stairs (to go down); you are at the bottom. From there, you can consult a series of explanatory panels, from the wall, presented in chronological order. Going up the stairs, just behind is the Topography of Terror, where you can access a permanent exhibition on the history of the institutions of terror and the crimes perpetrated by them.
About the Berlin Wall. In reality the wall was composed of two parts, two walls with a space in between called by the Berliners “death strip“. This space was not empty, in fact, it was composed of different devices, cables, a multitude of observation towers where guards took turns at regular intervals night and day. Moreover, the ground was covered with sand; the reason? the sand allowed to reveal traces, marks that people left while trying to pass (this section) the wall. The death strip and other types of attempts to get through the wall claimed many victims; the Stasi destroyed a large number of documents, so it is difficult at present to know the exact number of victims.
In addition, there are other places in the city where wall fragments can be observed. One of these places is the east side gallery. An open-air gallery where you can find a fragment of the wall painted by artists in the 1990s. The representations are evocative of ideas such as peace and hope.
Now direction the next spot, on your way there you can stop at checkpoint Charlie. At that time, only people (such as journalists, diplomats and non-Germans) with a one-day pass could pass through the checkpoint and enter the eastern part of Berlin for one day. In addition to the visa, you also had to exchange your currency or you would not be able to make any transactions on the other side of the border.
There is also a museum with private collections and exhibitions about the history of the Berlin Wall.
Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Reichstag Palace
📍 Addresses: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
For this spot, go to the Brandenburg Gate but just before, because it is on the way, you can stop at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This is the largest group of victims (about 6 million people) murdered by the Nazis. In addition to this memorial, there are other memorials honoring other groups of victims (homosexuals, gypsies, Roma, political figures).
The memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe, erected in 2005 by the American architect Peter Eisenman, is composed of 2,711 concrete blocks.
An abstract construction to which the architect has not communicated any specific meaning and which, at its inauguration, raised a great number of questions because the public expected to find more evocative elements such as dates or names. Instead, the architect invited the public to come to the site to discover and walk through the memorial because he wanted them to live the experience and think about the meaning that could be attributed to it. A little later, the German state created a place, just below the memorial, accessible free of charge, where more information about the latter is available (photos, personal stories, a whole room where the names of the victims are written).
📍 Addresses: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
After crossing the memorial, walk for a few minutes until you reach the Brandenburg Gate. The Brandenburg Gate is a must-see and impressive spot due to its size, architectural style (neoclassical) and historical past. Today, more than ever, the door is a symbol; a symbol of reunification, a symbol of the connection of the past with the present. Just as it is also a central place for different events and celebrations (demonstration, pride, soccer cup, etc.).
📍 Addresses: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
If you wish to continue your tour, the Reichstag Palace is not far away. There you can admire a neoclassical building and, if you have a reservation, visit the Reichstag dome. If you are interested in visiting the dome, I invite you to book in advance for several reasons. The first is that reservations are mandatory, the second is that the place is very popular, especially on weekends, so it’s best to take some steps to secure a seat. When you make your reservation, you can also book an audio guide to accompany you on your visit to the dome.
Neue nationalgalerie
📍 Address: Potsdamer Str. 50, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Last but not least, the new national gallery (or Neue Nationalgalerie)! Unquestionably one of my favorite spots.
Let’s start with the place; it is splendid! The materials used, which are iron for the 8 columns and granite for the foundations, give the gallery a refined, imposing and timeless look. In addition, the use and proportion of materials creates a certain harmony between the interior and exterior. The gallery is considered one of the major works of Western architecture of the twentieth century and is the work of the famous architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. Most recently, renovations (2015 – 2021) were completed by architect David Chipperfield.
At this spot, you can observe a series of modern and contemporary collections. During my visit I could observe the exhibition The Art Of Society 1900 – 1945.
After this visit, while walking around I came across this building whose shape is somewhat singular. It is a 1931 creation of the architect Emil Fahrenkamp called “Shell House”. This building was inspired by nature, and more precisely by water, and has a shape similar to that of a wave; this approach is called “organic architecture”.
And here you are, you have reached the end of this selection of spots, which can also be described as a circuit! To go further I suggest you to check out my second article on Berlin, in this one I share different places to shop and eat.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article! I hope it will inspire you and help you prepare your stay in Berlin. If this is the case, or if you have an anecdote, additional information to contribute or if you simply want to share your experience of Berlin or your feelings, the comment section opposite is available. I will read them with the same attention that you have mobilized to read this article.
By the way, if you enjoyed it, don’t hesitate to share the article, a little support is always welcome!