Top five attractions in Berlin
Germany's capital offers everything from history to nightlife
Berlin offers so much to see and do that narrowing down the list can be challenging. Here are five of the best things to do and see while in the German capital.
With a population of about 3.4 million, a dramatic history and interesting culture, Berlin is a must-see when it comes to visiting Western Europe. Here are five of the must-sees in the capital of Germany, which is home to more than 150 museums plus hundreds of tourists sites and more.
1. Fat Tire Bike Tour: OK, so this might be seen as cheating as the Fat Tire Bike Tour introduces participants to a number of sites in Berlin including Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. Yes, you’re essentially on a bike for four hours (more or less depending on which tour you hop on), but there’s a beer garden involved and the bikes are so comfy and the area so flat, you don’t need to be training for Tour de Force to enjoy it.
2. Unsicht Bar: If you’ve never been to a “blind restaurant,” dinner at the Unsicht Bar in Berlin is a must. The food is fantastic, but it’s all about the atmosphere. Diners spend the evening in complete darkness, waited on by blind waiters.
3. Museum madness: Whatever your pleasure, from art to history, torture to religion, you’ll find a museum that suits your interests. Museum Island is home to a number of museums including the overwhelming Pergamonmuseum, which has a vast collection of Islamic, ancient Greek and ancient Middle Eastern art and architecture.
4. Nightlife: Berlin is a booming, youthful city with a nightlife to match. A local guided us to the amazing Adagio disco, which seemed to be something out of a movie set to my traveling companion and me. We showed up around 1 a.m. and found hundreds of dancers surrounded by huge bars. Dancing until about 5, we finally decided we’d better get back to our hotel - I think we were the first to leave - if we were going to do any site seeing in the “morning.”
5. Berlin Wall and Berlin Wall Museum: A preserved portion of the wall is preserved as a gallery near Oberbaumbrucke. Alternatively, check out a section of the wall near the Martin Gropius Bau museum. Most tours include at least part of the wall and you can buy “authentic” pieces of the wall at souvenir shops around the city. The Berlin Wall Museum is a memorial to those killed while trying to cross the wall. The museum continues to be controversial as it states it is a monument to the victims of the “communist reign of violence.”
Keep in mind the sheer size of Berlin. Public transportation is great, but there is so much to see and so much terrain to cover, a plan is a necessity to make the most of your time.
