Destination Attractions Things to do in Berlin

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Berlin is a city thats constantly reinventing itself. In the 1920s and 30s it was known for its rather decadent and bohemian reputation. In the 60s it was familiar from countless spy films and novels set in the city at the height of the cold war. Today, Berlin has transformed itself into not only the capital of a recently unified Germany, but also one of the most modern, exciting and progressive cities in Europe. Much of the city center has been described as a vast construction site C Berlin is home to some of the most dynamic modern architecture in Europe today. Berlin has revitalized some of its more historic neighborhoods too - some of the older districts that were virtually leveled in World War II are now lively areas of expensive apartments, bars and shops. One of the oldest areas of the city known as the Nikolai quarter best captures the citys desire to reinvent itself after the war; this picturesque neighborhood is still illuminated by gas lanterns.

Of course, Berlin will always be famous for its wall, even though the wall was ceremoniously demolished in 1989. There are still surviving sections of it here and there throughout the city, often marked with flowers, makeshift graves or graffiti. You can still walk the length of where the wall originally stood, from one side of the city to the other. There is even a smaller more modern version of the wall that has been constructed by the government as a permanent memorial. You can buy pieces of the Berlin wall all over the city, but be warned C the chances of them being genuine are remote. There are other reminders of Berlins divided past C the most famous border crossing point between what was West and East Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie is now a small but fascinating museum. The exhibits highlight some of the imaginative ways people tried to cross the wall, including hot air balloons, tunneling and tiny compartments hollowed out of cars. You can still see the famous sign that stated You are leaving the American Sector.

There are inescapable reminders of the role that Berlin played in the last World War all over the city; one of the most familiar landmarks in Berlin is the blackened shell of the Kaiser Wilhelm church which has been left standing as a permanent reminder to the futility of war. You can also see Spandau castle, where Hitlers surviving Deputy, Rudolf Hess was imprisoned for over 40 years, as well as the Brandenburg Gate, a huge triumphal arch under which the Nazis marched. Berlins most famous street, the Unter den Linden runs from the Brandenburg Gate C which originally stood between West and East Berlin - to the River Spree. At one time, this wide avenue resounded to parading Prussian soldiers, nowadays it is more likely to be frequented by shoppers.

As befitting Germanys dynamic capital, Berlin has some of the best museums in Europe. Several of the citys museums are concentrated on an island in the river Spree, named appropriately, Museum Island. The Pergamon museum, so-called because of the ancient culture known as the Pergamons, contains art and exhibits from civilizations ranging from Egyptian to Greek. The museum also has the longest stone frieze anywhere, outside of the Parthenon in Athens. For something a little bit more unusual, Berlin also has a small museum devoted to hairdressing.

For such a large sprawling city, Berlin is surprisingly green. Berlins famous park, the Tiergarten (animal garden) was once a royal forest stocked with boar and other animals to be hunted. As in many other parts of the city, there are reminders of World War II here C all the trees in the park were cut down in 1945 by Berliners to use as fuel. Most of the trees there today were replanted after the war, along with the gardens. Apart from its many popular walking trails, the park is home to the Berlin zoo and an aquarium. Close to the park is the Charlottenburg Palace, one of Europes largest and most spectacular Royal homes. The house was built by the wife of Freidrich I, and almost completely destroyed in the war C what you see today has been painstakingly rebuilt. The palace contains several museums as well as beautiful furnishings, paintings and tapestries.

Berlin still has the kind of nightlife that you associate with the city C the rather risqu cabaret acts, although today these are mostly for the tourists. Look beyond this and you will find one of the best cities in Europe for live jazz, opera and movies. One of the most pleasant ways to spend an evening however, is simply to relax with a drink and a pastry at one of Berlins many cafes.