Berlin - Germany

It's a little intimidating writing an article about Berlin because a lot has been written and a lot more has been documented over the years. Historically, it's been quite a conflicted city. You must be aware of the Berlin Wall that passed through this city, splitting it up and separating its inhabitants. It was a period of great turbulence & hardships and even today, the Berliners have unpleasant memories of those times.

If you ever go to Berlin (and I absolutely recommend you do), you will get to experience facets of life as it was then but also get to experience a city which has moved on and worked successfully on rebuilding its image.
Berlin has now metamorphosed into a creative and technology hub for young professionals. It's engineering and science colleges like TU Berlin, Humboldt University and Max Planck still attract the best of the best.
Overall, Berlin's got a vibe that attracts global international talent and in many parts of the city, you will get to see and experience that. There are hip clubs and bars that attract the young & trendy. There are new-age cafes and restaurants serving exotic cuisines that are a far cry from the German staple fare. Yes, you will still get to relish your doener kebabs and bratwurst, so no need to press the panic button yet.
The new Berlin has warmly welcomed change and it's now a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines. There's enough to impress the picky eaters and the health conscious kinds too. I am not going too focus too much on the food and the options you get in this article. And as you keep reading, you will realize why.

Moving on to the sightseeing options now, you are in for a real treat. And believe me, you really need to get fit and active before you start walking on these streets. They are huge (like the ones you see in Rome) and the various places of interest are spread out. Of course, you don't have to worry about distances because Berlin's transport system is one of the best in the world. Having said that, you can't just take a tram/metro/bus around all the time. The idea of visiting a city like this is to walk (short distances if not long) and feel its pulse. So, as always wear good sports shoes, comfortable clothing and a cap (if in summer) during the day. Leave the trendy wear for the nights at the clubs and restaurants.
A good way to save money would be to get a sightseeing pass which allows you entry to most places. You can get that at the tourist office. There are several dotted around the city but the main one is close to the Brandenburg Gate.

 Brandenburg Gate was built in the 18th century on the orders of the Prussian King, Fredrick William II. This gate marks the entry to the Unter den Linden (boulevard of Lidia/Linden trees) which leads directly to the Berlin City Palace. Brandenburg Gate is grand and impressive and I would recommend a visit at night when it's all lit up.

Of course, no visit to Berlin is complete without a visit to the Parliament building - Reichstag ( my cover picture). As an architecture and design enthusiast, I was particularly happy to see the gorgeous glass dome built by  Norman Foster. It offers a 360 degree view of the city. Please note - you need to reserve in advance to go here, specially in summers.

One of my favourite places is the Cathedral Church. A good example of Baroque architecture, this church is majestic as you approach it and every bit as impressive when you enter it. Its pipe organ, originally built by the acclaimed pipe organ builder, Wilhelm Sauer was fully restored during a restoration project.

 I was extremely disturbed when I went to the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich several years back and that feeling of helplessness was back when I went to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This memorial has concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field. These slabs vary in height. There is also an underground Ort der Information that holds the name of all the Jewish Holocaust Victims. This memorial is at walking distance from the Brandenburg Gate.

My favourite place to hang out in Berlin is Gendarmenmarkt. It's a square with the Berlin Concert hall and the German (Deutscher) & French churches surrounding it. In the centre of the square is a statue of poet Friedrich  Schiller. This place hosts a vibrant and beautiful Christmas market every year and in the lanes surrounding this square, you will find boutique shops and trendy cafes where you can grab a bite if you get hungry.

 Yet another place that has historical relevance is Checkpoint Charlie. This was the border checkpoint between the west and east. It was only with proper permits and documentation, that goods and people (after being thoroughly checked) were allowed to pass through. Today, they have  maintained a checkpoint where you can stand and pose with the "soldiers" for a photo. It is always crowded though so time your visit either early in the day or later.

Don't forget to look at the Fernsehturm (TV tower). It's 368 meters high, so a little hard to miss it specially if you go to Alexanderplatz. There is a cafe up there along with a viewing platform.  There are always queues to access the viewing platform. The cafe rotates once every thirty minutes and most people go there to be a part of the adventure and to soak in the views. The views, needless to say, are absolutely stunning. Words can't do justice to what you feel being there and taking it all in. Try and be there at dusk and come and thank me later :)

Alexanderplatz itself is a thriving busy commercial area with several cool looking, uber-chic offices, restaurants and cafes.

I enjoyed walking into the Nikolai Quartier. It shows a different side of Berlin and I recommend that you visit this a little after mid-day.

Rotes Rathaus or Red Town Hall got its name because of its facade (it has been built using red bricks). It's an impressive building to look at from the outside. Given that there are so many more places to cover, I would recommend leaving this for later if you do get extra time.

The Pergamon Museum situated on the Museum Island and its construction took over 20 years. This is one of the largest museums in the country and its collection is diverse and large. Please book in advance if you wish to go here. And be prepared to spend an entire day taking in everything it has to offer.

The Charlottenburg Palace is situated in the Charlottenburg District. You need to take the metro to reach here if you are living in Berlin Mitte. In fact, I would recommend that you base yourself in Berlin Mitte because it's really convenient for sightseeing. In fact, if you are fit enough you can walk to some of the places I have mentioned above. Coming back to the Charlottenburg Palace, it was built somewhere at the end of the 17th Century and then expanded over the 18th century. The style inside is very much baroque and rococo. There is a large garden and wooded area behind where we did go as well. Over all, if you wish to cover the palace and the gardens, you need the better half of a day.
I loved the gardens. It reminded me of the Versailles (France) gardens. Personally I am a nature lover, so I am partial. We reached here at 10 am and there was already a queue forming.

Berlin Victory Column was originally planned  to commemorate the Prussian Victory in the Danish- Prussian War. However, by the time it was built and inaugurated in 1873, Prussia had also defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War and Austria and its German allies in the Austro- Prussian war. These later victories inspired the addition of a Bronze Sculpture of Victoria. It was designed by sculptor Friedrich Drake. The German name for this statue is, "Goldelse".

Kurfuerstendamm is the hep and happening area of Berlin. Filled with huge stores, cafes and restaurants, this place is sure to fill your belly and satisfy your shopping impulses but do watch those wallets because all the high-end brands are based here and it's kind of easy to lose focus when you see such an eclectic mix of  good looking clothing. I do have a few favourites here that I have been patronizing over the years. Let me know if you find good deals when you visit.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church  is located on the Kurfuerstendamm. It stands as a reminder of the destruction of war. It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943. Over the years, it was restored but the damaged spire of the church has been retained.

I loved my visit to the Berlin Zoo. This zoo is huge and takes the entire day. There is also an aquarium which is stunning so don't forget to visit it. I will not hesitate to head back here, if I return to Berlin.

Tiergarten is a bit like Central Park in New York. This is where the Berliners hang out after work and on the weekends. Living in Holland, we enjoy greenery and were happy to walk through this green zone.

The impressive and grand Bellevue Palace is located in the Tiergarten district and is the German president's official residence. It is located on the banks of the Spree River and was designed by architect Philip Boumann as a summer residence for Prince Augustus of Prussia in 1786. The palace is surrounded by a huge landscaped garden and park. Naturally one cannot visit the Palace but it's always nice to stand and admire its architecture from outside.

My partner who is more familiar with Berlin and its history than I am (he did study there many years ago) took me to see the Memorial of the Fallen Soldier. This Soviet War Memorial was built to honour the 7000 Soviet soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Berlin in 1945. It serves as a grim reminder of war and its after-effects. Memorials like these make me appreciate the freedom we enjoy and how important it is to live each day passionately and productively.

Potsdamer Platz is where you will find all the cool-looking commercial buildings. I was particularly impressed with the Sony Center. This re-development has only been possible after Germany's reunification.  Potsdammer Platz is named after Potsdam, a city that is approximately 25 kms away from Berlin. This platz was totally destroyed during the 2nd world war and left ignored because the Berlin wall passed through this location.

To see and understand what it was to have a wall, you must visit the Berlin Wall Memorial where you will see sections of the wall. In fact, not just here but in many parts of the city you will see sections of the wall ( the picture above is from Potsdamer Platz)
We also went to what was the former east side to see and understand the history better. Here are some pictures of that -

Berlin is truly a fascinating city with plenty to see and do (now you can understand why I didn't focus on the food in this article) and you should ideally plan on staying here for 5 days to cover everything that I have listed out. If you are looking at a more leisurely pace to discover this city, then please consider a week's stay so that you are not rushed.

I enjoyed writing this article and I sure hope you enjoyed reading it. Do leave a comment or send me a message if you have any questions or just want to say a "Hi!". You can keep up with my travel adventures by following my travel instagram handle @aajisthaali
Danke Schoen!