Historic places in Berlin

Historic places in Berlin

1. SeeTreptow-Köpenick

   Altstadt Köpenick

   The old town of Köpenick is surrounded by water. Especially noteworthy are the Köpenick Palace which houses a museum of applied art and the Neogothic town hall.

2. SeeMitte

   Aquarium

   The largest aquarium in Germany with over 9000 animals that are presented on three storeys in a historic building. Aquarium Berlin is found on the premises of the Zoo, but can also be visited separately. One of the best places on a rainy day with children.

   Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow·Adult €15.50, student €10.50, family ticket €41

3. SeeMitte

   Berlin Wall Memorial

   Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer

   The memorial site stretches along the full 1.5-km length of Bernauer Straße. The listing marker points to the visitor centre. Various monuments can be found along the entire length of the street, documenting nearby escape attempts and tunnels; captions are in German and English. The documentation centre across the street on Bernauer Straße/Ackerstraße is excellent (although most of the documentation is in German). The viewing platform next to the documentation centre gives you a tiny hint of the true scale of the Wall and how terrifying the "no man's land" between the two sections of walls must have been. The monument (that you can see from the platform) is a complete section of 4th generation wall - both inside and outside sections, and you can peer through from the east side to see the remains of the electric fence and anti-tank devices in the death strip. It really helps you understand what an incredible feat it was to get from one side to the other -- and why so many died doing it. The memorial site is often missed by tourists but an absolute must for anyone interested in this part of the city's history. It's a memorial to those who died crossing, so you won't, fortunately, get the tackiness of the Checkpoint Charlie area; instead you will be left with a haunting feeling of what life with the wall may have been really like. Bernauer Straße is a street with a great deal of Wall history: it came to tragic prominence on August 13, 1961 when East German authorities closed the border and the street (with houses in the East but the street in the West). Border guards walled the doors and windows shut to keep Easterners from escaping by jumping out the window while Westerners (including police and fire brigades who brought life nets to help catch refugees) looked on in horror. The first recorded Wall-related death - the notorious Peter Fechter case (he bled to death in the "no-man's-land" with both sides unwilling or unable to help him) - was here, as was one of the fam

   Memorial grounds daily 08:00–22:00. Visitor Centre and Documentation Centre: Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, Mon closed·Free; guided tour €3.50

4. SeeMitte

   Berliner Dom

   Berlin Cathedral

   The city's Protestant cathedral and the burial place of the Prussian kings. You can climb to the top and get a view of the city.

   Mon-Sat 09:00–20:00, Sun and holidays 12:00–20:00·€7, concessions €5

5. DrinkEast

   Bistro am Schloßpark

   This Biergarten is simple, but friendly and a convenient place to have a beer and a currywurst after visiting the castle.

   Mon-Fri 07:30-19:00

6. SeeCity West

   Charlottenburg Palace

   Schloss Charlottenburg

   One of the oldest buildings in Charlottenburg and actually the reason for the whole city to be built.

   Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:30; Nov-Mar: Tue-Sun 10:00-16:30·€10, reduced €7

7. SeeMitte

   Deutsches Historisches Museum

   German Historical Museum

   German historical museum covering everything from pre-history up to the present day. One can spend many, many hours here! The building from 1695/1730 was the Zeughaus (Arsenal) until 1876.

   10:00–18:00·€8, concession €4, under-18s free

8. SeeMitte

   Französischer Dom

   French Cathedral

   The French cathedral houses the Hugenottenmuseum. It represents the ongoing influence on Berlin by the Huguenots who emigrated from France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Crown Prince Friedrich William encouraged them to settle here because most of them were skilled workers or otherwise useful to the kingdom. One memorable artwork, in room nine of the museum, pictures Crown Princess Dorothea exclaiming "But he's a refugee!" upon being presented a very valuable set of jewels by Pierre Fromery. The generally agreed-upon view of refugees as poor, without resources let alone diamonds, was blown apart by the talented French Protestants forced to leave their country due to religion. One of the most notable effects of having such a large French population was their influence on the infamous Berlin dialect. Berlinerisch words such as Kinkerlitzchen (from French "quincaillerie" - kitchen equipment) and Muckefuck (from French "mocca faux" - artificial coffee, though that etymology is not universally accepted) are unique to the area. The Französischen Dom (cathedral) itself was built to resemble the main church of the Huguenots in Charenton, France, destroyed in 1688. It has housed the museum since 1929. Closed till 2019

   Tue–Sun 12:00–17:00·€2

9. DoMitte

   Friedrichstadt-Palast

   Europe's Show Palace

   Berlin's biggest show with over 100 artists on the biggest theater stage in the world.

   Tickets: €16.90-104.90

10. SeeEast Central

    German Museum of Technology

    Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

    Huge technical museum, on a former railroad depot, featuring from ancient water and wind mills to computer pioneer Konrad Zuse's inventions, a collection of old to new vehicles of all types -bicycles, boats, trains, etc - and the interactive Spectrum science center with various hands-on experiments. There's an actual C-17 "Candy Bomber" airplane hanging on its façade. The railroad and aeronautical sections are hard to beat.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:30; Sat Sun 10:00-18:00·€8, €4 Concession

11. SeeCity West

    Grunewaldturm

    Grunewald Tower

    Historic observation tower in the forest near the big Havel River.

12. SeeMitte

    Hanfmuseum

    Hemp Museum

    It is the only hemp museum in Germany; you can see the history of hemp, the culture and use of it. You can see hemp grow. There is a cafe downstairs, with an open WiFi access. Everything going on here is legal - including the hemp growing under artificial light (a low THC strain grown with a special permit) - but they do not refrain from political commentary on the legal situation of cannabis in their exhibits.

    Tue–Fri 10:00–20:00, Sat Sun 12:00–20:00, Mon closed·€4.50, concession €3

13. BuyEast Central

    Historischer Weichnatsmarkt Friedrichshain

    An atmospheric Christmas market with a charming medieval theme.

    Mon-Fri 15:00-20:00

14. SeeSteglitz-Zehlendorf

    Jagdschloss Grunewald

    Grunewald Hunting Lodge

    Built in 1542. An impressive traditional country estate with stately architecture, it is an enclave of untouched regional cultural history and architectonic epochs. The 80-hectare mixed forest also provides a wide network of paths for walking and rambling.

    Nov-Mar: Sat Sun holidays 10:00-16:00; Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

15. SeeCity West

    Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

    Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

    Also known as "der hohle Zahn" (the Hollow Tooth), this church in Breitscheidplatz is a memorial to Kaiser Wilhelm, and one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. Thick walls and plain decor mark it as neo-Romanesque, but with what's left of the Gedächtniskirche, it's tough to distinguish it as any one style. Allied bombing left only one tower standing on 22 November 1943, but a new location for worship designed by Egon Eiermann was completed in December 1961 (it's the octagonal structure with blue stained glass windows). There is a small memorial museum beneath the tower filled with artifacts from the original church, which was built from 1891-95 to architect Franz Schwechten's specifications. Controversy arose after the war over the various options presented by the half-ruined cathedral - should it be torn down completely and rebuilt? Or should the destroyed sections be left standing as a memorial? The four major sections of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (central space, foyer, new tower and chapel) surround the ruined tower of the old church bridge and show the time gap between old and new. Mosaics and other remnants from the old church serve as a monument against war.

16. DoTreptow-Köpenick

    Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide

    Wuhlheide Kindl Stage

    The Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide is a cultural heritage site and of Berlin's largest and most popular open-air stages for rock, pop and electronic concerts in the shape of an ancient amphitheater.

17. SeeMitte

    Kulturforum

    A collection of most important and architecturally impressive cultural institutions, including many museums and galleries, that was built in West Berlin next to the wall separating it from the Berlin historic centre, which remained in the East along with the original cultural institutions of Berlin.

18. SeeMitte

    Kunstgewerbemuseum

    Museum of Decorative Arts

    The oldest museum of its kind in Germany which, despite great losses during the World War II, still possesses one of the world's primary collections of European applied art. There are two sections to the collection: one located at the Kulturforum in Tiergarten, the other at Köpenick Palace.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 11:00-18:00

19. DrinkTreptow-Köpenick

    Köpenick Palace Cafe

    Both inside and outside are beautiful places to have a glass of wine or beer or a cup of coffee with a whipped cream cake. Also have menus for lunch and dinner.

    Nov-Mar: Thu-Sun 10:00-18:00; Oct-Apr: Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00; May-Sep: Tue-Sun 10:00-23:00·€4 for drinks

20. SeeMitte

    Leipziger Platz

    The octagonal square right east of Potsdamer Platz was recreated to resemble its pre-war layout, but the buildings are modern rather than historic replicas and much taller than their counterparts from before the war. There is a diverse mix of uses among the buildings, which include the Embassy of Canada.

21. SeeMitte

    Marienkirche

    St. Mary's Church

    Gothic church, the second oldest (built in late 13th century) of the historical centre of Berlin. It's the highest church tower of Berlin (about 90 m), but seems rather small beneath the gigantic TV tower. The church tower was built in the late 18th century by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the architect of the Brandenburg Gate.

22. SeeEast Central

    Martin-Gropius-Bau

    It was a museum of applied arts and a listed historical monument since 1966, and it is now a well-known Berlin exhibition hall.

    Wed-Mon 10:00-21:00·Around €10, varies between exhibits. Free for ages 16 and under

23. SeeEast Central

    Meistersaal

    Hansa-Studios by the wall

    Though the area has changed a lot, the building with the Meistersaal, an old music hall from the 1900s, has persisted. Later converted into sound studios, music history was written here with David Bowie ("Heroes"), Iggy Pop, and U2 amongst the groups who recorded here at the "Studio by the wall". Guided tours available occasionally.

24. SeeReinickendorf and Spandau

    Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr – Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow

    Military History Museum; RAF Gatow

    At a former Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield, RAF Gatow. The museum's focus is on military history, particularly the history of the Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr, with a collection of more than 200,000 items, including 155 aeroplanes, 5,000 uniforms and 30,000 books. There are also displays (including aeroplanes) on the history of the airfield when it was used by the RAF. Aircraft include reproductions of Otto Lilienthal's gliders, of World War I planes such as the Fokker E.III, and World War II planes such as the Bf 109 and Me-262, as well as at least one aircraft of every type ever to serve in the air forces of East and West Germany. Most of those postwar aircraft are stored outside on the tarmac and runways, however, and many are in bad condition. There are long term restoration projects, including a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. RAF Gatow is notable as the "missing third airport" of West Berlin. Each sector used to have its own airport; the French sector had Tegel, the American sector had Tempelhof and the British had Gatow. However, RAF Gatow never saw much traffic of any kind, was more kept as a political statement than for transportation value, and thus was shut down after reunification. Tempelhof, after having been shut down for civilian traffic from 1975 to 1981, closed for all flights in 2008, while Tegel shut down in November 2020.

25. SeeCity West

    Moabit Prison Historical Park

    Geschichtspark Ehemaliges Zellengefängnis Moabit

    A former prison built around 1850 with a haunting history until after the end of World War II (around 1955). During WWII it was used by the Nazis for oppression, torture and murder of political opponents. Nowadays it is a public park serving as a memorial.

    Summer: daily until 21:00; winter: daily until 18:00

26. SeeEast

    Museum Karlshorst

    German-Russian Museum

    In this house the surrender of Germany was signed on May 9th, 1945, ending WWII in Europe. This museum describes the history of the war between Germany and the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1945 and the GDR/German-Russian relationship ever since. Historic rooms, permanent exhibition and special exhibits.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·free

27. SeeMitte

    Museum für Kommunikation

    Museum for Communication

    The former Imperial General Post Office, now Museum for telecommunication and post with many interesting historical objects.

    Tue 09:00–20:00, Wed–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat Sun 10:00–18:00·€4, concession €2, under-18s free

28. SeeMitte

    Museum für Naturkunde

    natural history museum

    More than 30 million objects in the scientific collection and a fascinating exhibition in one of the most significant institutions of its kind in the world. Some parts still under construction.

    Tue–Fri 09:30–18:00, Sat Sun 10:00–18:00·€5, concession €3

29. SeeMitte

    Neue Wache

    New Guardhouse

    Erected in 1818 to a classically-inspired design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel as a guardhouse for the imperial palace, since 1993 this compact building has housed a small, but extremely powerful war cenotaph, the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany, continuing its use under East German rule as the primary "Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism". The interior of the Doric column-fronted building is intentionally empty, but for a small but moving sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz depicting a mother cradling a dead child. The statue is positioned beneath a round hole in the ceiling, exposing the figures to the rain and snow.

30. BuyEast Central

    Nüx Siebdruckwaren

    Friedrichshain is full of screenprinted t-shirt stores, but Nüx stands out with their high-quality natural-history-museum designs such as owls, fish, and foxes.

    Mon-Sat 12:00-19:00

31. SeeTempelhof and Neukölln

    Police Historical Collection

    Polizeihistorische Sammlung

    Official website (in German). A museum of Berlin's different police forces through the ages, displaying historic uniforms, weapons, and specialist equipment such as cameras. Completing the collection are a photo archive and around 50 police vehicles, which are only viewable on certain 'open doors' days.

    Mon-Wed 09:00-15:00·€2, concessions €1

32. SeeMitte

    Regierungsviertel/Spreebogen

    The area to the north of Tiergarten, along the bow of the river Spree (Spreebogen), is home to the German federal institutions such as the parliament (Bundestag, in the historic Reichstag building) and the federal government, as well as the new central train station (Hauptbahnhof) across the river.

33. SeeMitte

    Reichstagsgebäude

    Reichstag building

    This imposing building houses the Federal German Parliament or "Bundestag" and was completed in 1894 to meet the need of the newly-unified German Empire of the Kaisers for a larger parliamentary building. The Reichstag was intended to resemble a Renaissance palace, and its architect, Paul Wallot, dedicated the building to the German people. The massive inscription in front still reads: "Dem Deutschen Volke" - 'For the German people'. The Nazi leader Adolf Hitler exploited the fire which gutted the Reichstag building in 1933 by blaming the Communists for the arson and for attempted revolution. There is good evidence to suggest, however, that his followers were actually responsible and that this was a manufactured crisis. The iconic photo symbolizing the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany shows a Soviet soldier planting the Soviet flag on top of the building and there are to this day graffiti left by Soviet soldiers on some walls of the Reichstag which were deliberately preserved by the new Germany as a memento of the war. It's perhaps the only national parliament to have traces left by a foreign army deliberately preserved. When German reunification became a reality, the new republic was proclaimed here at midnight on 2 October 1990. The Reichstag building is well-known in the art world thanks to Paris-based Bulgarian artist Christo's mammoth 'Wrapped Reichstag' project in 1995. The entire building was swathed in silver cloth for two weeks that summer. The Reichstag has undergone considerable restoration and alteration, including the addition of a spectacular glass dome designed by the British architect Norman Foster completed in 1999. You can visit the Reichstag building proper and even listen to a parliamentary debate but you need to book on their website sometimes weeks or even months in advance. Fortunately its much easier to visit the glass dome. You can reserve a visiting time and date on their website or in the small building across Scheidmannstrasse, except dur

    Open now · closes midnight tomorrow·Free

34. SeeMitte

    Schloss Bellevue

    Bellevue Palace

    Official residence of the (largely ceremonial) President of Germany since 1994. Only Roman Herzog (president 1994-1999) actually lived here, his successors have preferred a quiet apartment on the outskirts of Berlin, but this is where the president will usually host guests and do public events. Guided tours are possible, but plan to book up to nine months ahead and be prepared for having to reschedule if the president decides to hold an event on short notice which preempts tours.

    Free

35. SeeTreptow-Köpenick

    Schloss Köpenick

    Köpenick Palace

    The charming Baroque water palace of the Hohenzollern electors surrounded by the Dahme river and an English garden.

36. SeeReinickendorf and Spandau

    Schloss Tegel

    A remarkable medium-sized classical castle by the famous K.F. Schinkel built 1820 to 1824, also called "Humboldtschlösschen", because Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt (and their family) lived here once. Still privately owned.

    Guided tours Mondays from May to Sept

37. SeeEast

    Schloss and Schlosspark Biesdorf

    A small castle in late classical style. It was built 1868 by Martin Gropius (uncle of the Bauhaus-founder and other architects, the von Siemens family changed the castle a bit around 1900 and they enlarged the dimensions of the park, which is today renovated and nice to wander around when the sun is shining. Located within a few minutes' walking distance from Biesdorf station (take the S5 from the city centre) or Elsterwerdaer Platz station (U5).

38. SeeSteglitz-Zehlendorf

    Schloss und Schlosspark Glienicke

    Glienicke Palace, Casino and Garden

    This castle is one of Berlin's oldest castles and where Prince Carl used to reside. Be sure to check out Glienicke Bridge, the bridge that became renowned for the exchange of Western and Eastern secret agents. You can also visit Glienicke Park.

    Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun; Mar Nov-Dec: Sat Sun holidays·Single €6, reduced €5, family €12

39. DoCity West

    Schlossgarten Charlottenburg

    inside the Charlottenburg Palace

    The green areas of the park are free, so you can go there to have a walk even if you are not interested in the palace. It covers a large area and you can get in from the entrance just near the "New Pavillon" (Neuer Pavillon a.k.a. Schinkelpavillon) placed on the right of Luisenplatz.

40. EatTreptow-Köpenick

    Schmetterlingshorst

    This history of this cozy pub for hikers, sportsmen and day-trippers at Langer See and its butterfly collection can be traced back to the year 1898.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-19:00

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0).