Sight-seeing
Famous sites
With its historical backgrounds and as the center of German politics, Berlin has many famous sites you can visit in your spare time.
- Brandenburger Tor - Brandenburg Gate
The neo-classical monument was build 1788–1791 according to designs by Carl Gotthard Langhans and the Quadriga by Johan Gottfried Schadow was placed on top of it in 1793. The building eventually became a symbol of the Division of Germany 1961–1989 and, with the end of the German separation, the symbol of the reunited Nation.
Lieu: Pariser Platz (map) - Reichstagsgebäude (Deutscher Bundestag) - Reichstag Building (German Parliament)
The building first was completed in 1894 following German national unity. In 1999 the building, completely renewed by Sir Norman Foster, became again the seat of the federal German Parliament, following the German national reunification.
Visitor Entrance: Platz der Republik 1 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 8:00–23:00 (roof terrace and dome)
Admission: free (registration required in advance) - Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas - Holocaust Memorial
The monument dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Nazi genocide includes an Information Center located on the south-eastern side of the memorial grounds. Also visit the Memorial to the Homosexuals Persecuted under the National Socialist Regime across the street at the Tiergarten.
Visitor Center: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1 (map)
Opening hours: tue–sun 10:00–19:00 (Information Center)
Admission: free
- Gendarmenmarkt
The 18th century square with the Konzerthaus by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and the two cathedrals still show some of the grandeur of the neo-classical epoch
Lieu: Gendarmenmarkt (map) - St. Nikolai (Mitte) - St. Nicholas' Church
The oldest church in Berlin, built between 1220 and 1230, today is used also for a permanent exhibition about the history of Berlin. The area around the church is famous for its restored medieval buildings (even tough these are in some cases only recent imitations).
Visitor Entrance: Nikolaikirchplatz 1 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 5.00, reduced EUR 3.00 - Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer - Berlin Wall (Memorial and Educational Site)
The site at Bernauer Straße combines a stretch of the former Berlin Wall, the Reconciliation Chapel, and, across the road, a Documentation Center
Visitor Entrance: Bernauer Straße 111 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 9:30–19:00 (Visitor Center)
Admission: free - Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche - Memorial Church
The Memorial Church is not only a landmark for the city-center west, but also an anti-war memorial
Visitor Entrance: Breitscheidplatz (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 9:00–19:00 (sightseeing and guided tours are not permitted during services or concerts)
Admission: free
- Zoologischer Garten - Berlin Zoo
With its unique location at the city-center west, the Zoo is the home to 13,700 animals and 1,400 species
Visitor entrance: Hardenbergplatz 8 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 9:00–17:00
Admission: EUR 13.00, reduced EUR 6.50
- Olympiastadiongelände - Site of the Olympic Stadium
Build for the 1936 Olympic Games in typical Fascist monumental style and completely renovated for the 2006 football world cup, the site today is both, a memorial and a place for sport events
Visitor Center Olympic Bell Tower: Am Glockenturm (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 9:00–19:00
Admission: EUR 7.00, reduced EUR 5.00 - Schloss Sanssouci (Potsdam) - Sanssouci Palace (Prussian Castles and Gardens Trust)
The Palace and its verdant gardens and terraced vineyards were the summer residence of Friedrich the Great
Visitor entrance: Sanssouci, Maulbeerallee, Potsdam (map)
Opening hours: tue–sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 12.00, reduced EUR 8,00
Museums
Berlin's unique cultural heritage today is conserved and presented in over 170 museums and galleries, amongst them jewels like the Museum Island, the Bauhaus building, or the Jewish Museum.
Arts & Crafts
- Bode-Museum - Bode Museum (National Museums Prussian Cultural Heritage)
Today home of the Sculpture Collection, the Numismatic Collection, and works from the Gemäldegalerie - Old Master Paintings
Visitor Entrance: Am Kupfergraben 1 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00, thu 10:00–22:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 4.00
- Pergamonmuseum - Pergamon Museum (National Museums Prussian Cultural Heritage)
The Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate of Miletus, and the Ishtar Gate including the Processional Way of Babylon and the Mshatta Façade made the Pergamonmuseum world-famous
Visitor Entrance: Am Kupfergraben 5 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00, thu 10:00–21:00
Admission: EUR 13.00, reduced EUR 6.50
- Gemäldegalerie - Picture Gallery Old Master Paintings (National Museums Prussian Cultural Heritage)
One of the major European galleries offering a comprehensive overview of European painting from the 13th to the 18th century
Visitor Entrance: Matthäikirchplatz (map)
Opening hours: tue–sun 10:00–18:00, thu 10:00–22:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 4.00
- Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum of Contemporary Art (National Museums Prussian Cultural Heritage)
A permanent exhibition space dedicated to the work of Joseph Beuys special exhibitions
Visitor Entrance: Invalidenstraße 50-51 (map)
Opening hours: tue–sun 10:00–18:00, sat 10:00–20:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 4.00
- Berlinische Galerie - Berlin Gallery (Berlin State Museum)
The Gallery is focused on Modern Art from Berlin, including Fine Art, Photography and Architecture
Visitor Entrance: Alte Jakobstraße 124-128 (map)
Opening hours: wed–mon 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 5.00
- Martin-Gropius-Bau - Martin Gropius Building (Berliner Festspiele)
Home to some of the best international traveling exhibitions of art and photography
Visitor Entrance: Niederkirchnerstraße 7 (map)
Opening hours: wed–mon 10:00–19:00
Admission: prices vary
Science & Society
- Deutsches Historisches Museum - National Historical Museum
2000 years of German history, placed in a European context
Visitor Entrance: Unter den Linden 2 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 4.00
- Jüdisches Museum - Jewish Museum Berlin
The permanent historical exhibition invites visitors to journey through two millennia of German-Jewish history
Visitor Entrance: Lindenstraße 9-14 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–20:00, mon 10:00–22:00
Admission: EUR 5.00, reduced EUR 2.50
- Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz - House of the Wannsee Conference (Memorial and Educational Site)
In this house, in January 1942, representatives of the SS, the NSDAP, and various ministries met to discuss the planned murder of the European Jews
Visitor Entrance: Am Großen Wannsee 56-58 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: free
- Topographie des Terrors - Topography of Terror (Memorial and Educational Site)
The site was the location of the most important institutions of the Nazi terror apparatus, including SS and Gestapo
Visitor Entrance: Niederkirchnerstraße 8 (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–20:00
Admission: free
- Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen - Hohenschönhausen Memorial (Memorial and Educational Site)
The former prison of the Stasi, GDR’s secret police, is a reminder of the fate of those who fell victim to political persecution in the former East Germany
Visitor Entrance: Genslerstraße 66 (map)
Opening hours: mon–fri 11:00–15:00, sat-sun 10:00–16:00, guided tour in English daily at 14.30
Admission: EUR 5.00, reduced EUR 2.50
- Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin - Museum of Technology
The developments in transport, communication and energy technologies are presented in a total of 14 sections. Don't miss the space dedicated to Konrad Zuse and the world's first computer, Z1.
Visitor Entrance: Trebbiner Straße 9 (map)
Opening hours: tue–fri 9:00–17:30, sat-sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 6.00, reduced EUR 3.50
- Museum für Naturkunde - Museum of Natural History
Home of more than 30 million objects in the scientific collection and a fascinating exhibition, with its star, a 12m tall brachiosaurus
Visitor Entrance: Invalidenstraße 43 (map)
Opening hours: tue–fri 9:30–18:00, sat-sun 10:00–18:00
Admission: EUR 6.00, reduced EUR 3.50
- Computerspielemuseum - Museum of Video Games
Home of over 300 exhibits, including rare originals, playable classics, and art works from the game-art sector
Visitor Entrance: Karl-Marx-Allee 93a (map)
Opening hours: mon–sun 10:00–18:00, thursday 10:00–22:00
Admission: EUR 8.00, reduced EUR 4.00
Tours
Less costly and more demotic than the usual tourist-trap tours offered almost everywhere: a trip in the BVG bus line 100! All the cult for no extra charges (you only need your usual BVG ticket). This bus takes you to almost all the attractions between the Zoo in the city-center west and the Alexanderplatz in the city-center east.
No responsibility is taken for the correctness of the information on this page. For more information, please refer to the official website of Berlin.