See and Do in Berlin
Monstrous museums and glamorous galleries abound, and for those expats who prefer to simply sit back and relax, sidewalk cafés, bistros, restaurants and coffee shops crowd around the wide avenues and narrow side streets.Even kids can capitalise on fun times with a trip to the Legoland Discovery Centre or one of the city's two zoos.
For those that prefer a more potent dose of Berlin's famous counter culture scene, the Eastside Gallery displays the work of 118 graffiti artists from around the world and is made from the remains of the Berlin Wall.
Regardless of what you ultimately decide to see and do, the Berlin Welcome Card offers discounts on most of Berlin's major attractions, as well as free travel on public transport within the city for one adult and up to three children aged 6-13. The SchauLUST Museen Berlin ticket is also a great bargain to bag; it's valid for three consecutive days and allows free entry to over 50 museums.
Expats can purchase both cards from tourist information centres or railway centres.
Recommended sightseeing in Berlin
Brandenburg Gate
This massive sandstone gate was once inaccessible and unusable, abandoned in the "no man's land" behind the Berlin Wall. These days it has been renovated and is once more a testament to some of the beautiful architecture found in the German capital.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was the notorious border crossing marking the division between East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years. Now no longer functional, a museum has been constructed as a testament to the many brave attempts to go over, under or across the wall unnoticed by authorities. While the original metal shed is now on display elsewhere, the soldier's post can be visited, and tourists can be photographed under the border sign.
www.mauermuseum.de
Tel: (030) 253 725-0
Eastside Gallery
What's left of the infamous Berlin Wall has been transformed into the largest open-air alternative art gallery in the world. Graffiti artists have gone wild, and showcased their skill and daring on the longest section of the wall, which stretches from Ostbahnhof station to the Oberbaumbrucke. The collection has since become a tourist attraction and is recognized as a memorial to freedom.
www.eastsidegallery.com
Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum opened in 2001 and has already gained international acclaim for its unique exhibition space and dynamic architecture. Visitors enter the Jewish Museum through the Berlin Museum to explore the exhibition rooms, which are clustered around a main axis void, designed to signify the empty and invisible aspects of Jewish history.
www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de
Tel: (0)30 2599 3300
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz was originally one of the busiest junctions in Europe, but damage done during the Second World War left the vibrant square in a state of decay. Now years later, large scale efforts have been made to revitalise the wasted space and today the square once more boasts an eclectic mix of restaurants, cafés, cinemas, shopping centres, and theatres. Expats, locals and tourists alike will find something to enjoy; whether it's the Sony Centre, the Imax Cinema or even Berlin's popular Film Museum.
www.potsdamerplatz.de
Reichstag
The Reichstag has been the seat of German parliament since 1894, and is undoubtedly one of Berlin's most famous buildings. Damaged in the carnage of World War II, the structure was famously wrapped in white fabric in the late 1990s by the famous conceptual artist Christo.
Tel: 030 22 73 21 52
Charlottenburg Palace
Schloss Charlottenburg was built in the baroque style in 18th century Berlin. The structure is the largest palace in Berlin and was constructed as a summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Elector Frederick III, the Prussian king of past.
www.spsg.de
Tel: (0)3 319 694-0
