Berlin in one day step by step

The most prestigious of Berlin's thoroughfares is Unter den Linden which stretches from Pariser Platz to Schlossplatz in the heart of former East Berlin. Bebelplatz. Bebelplatz is dominated by the curiously-shaped Dome of St. Hedwig's Cathedral, which was designed along the lines of the Pantheon in Rome. Set in the middle of the square is a memorial to the Nazi 'book-burning' campaign. On the opposite side of Unter den Linden is the Staatsbibliothek (Prussian State Library), the flagship of all Berlin libraries.




Next to the State Library, the marble statues of the Humboldt brothers Wilhelm and Alexander are at the entrance to Humboldt University. Many scientists including Albert Einstein, Rudolf Virchow, Fichte, Hegel, and Heinrich Heine have studied within these walls.

Further on down Unter den Linden we come to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden (National Opera House).

Back on the left side of Unter den Linden is Schinkel's Neue Wache, the official war memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Next to the Neue Wache you see the Zeughaus (Old Armoury), the best example of baroque architecture in the whole of northern Germany and houses the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German History Museum).

Not far from the Reichstag stands the Brandenburger Tor, Berlin's greatest landmark. Once situated right on the Berlin Wall, it now represents the city's reunification. On the east side of the Gate lies Pariser Platz.

The Reichstag, is the new seat of government. The building with its roof garden and dome is open to the general public and offers an impressive view out over the Tiergarten, Berlin's main park. IF you have the patience, you can wait to go up the Dom.

Nearby is the Friedrichstraße and within walking distance the site of the Checkpoint Charlie the border-crossing point for the Allied Forces between East and West Berlin.

The Potsdamer Platz has a fascinating variety of high-rise buildings. The Potsdamer Platz Arcades contain more than 120 shops and is one of the city's most popular shopping venues. At the -1 floor you can find two supermarkets to buy water and food cheaplly. Impressive is the Sony Center with its glass dome design housing a film museum. In front of it is the glass tower of the Deutsche Bahn (German Railway Company).

The Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), whose frontal view faces onto the Lustgarten, dates from the turn of the 19th Century. Until its demolition in 1950, the Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace) stood on the Schlossplatz; the East German government replaced it with the Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic) and the former Staatsratsgebäude (Council of State Building of the GDR). The Palast der Republik is now being demolished and a reconstruction of the Stadtschloss is planned. Following the River Spree we come to the Schlossbrücke (Palace Bridge) crosses the River Spree. Through the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden) we can see the Alte Museum (Old Museum) – one of the five buildings that make up the Museumsinsel (Museum Island).


The Berliner Rathaus (City Hall) is located nearby and is known as the Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall) because of its red brick façade.

The Kurfürstendamm is just a stone's throw from the Zoo. This is Berlin's big shopping mile.

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is a memorial to the war. At this point the Kurfürstendamm ends and Tauentzienstraße begins.

If you have time, we suggest various ideas to get a better view of Berlin:

• Visit the Pergamon Museum
• Go shopping at the Kurfürstendamm or Friedrichstraße
• Spend some time to go up the Berlin Fernsehturm and enjoy the view
• Visit the Tiergarten and have a relaxing walk in this amazing park

You may as well want to see our information about major Berlin monuments and sights or an overview of the Berlin public transport system and ways to get from the aiports to the city.

Back to our Berlin articles collection.