Sightseeing in Berlin is a must with its history, beautiful architecture, and art scene. And since I am traveling on a budget, I didn’t go inside every monument and museum, but I still got to see everything and appreciate the history of Berlin and Germany as a whole. I also walked everywhere so I spent a grand total of $0 while sightseeing! Below are some of the sites I recommend seeing:
Reichstag Building
This gorgeous building houses the German Parliament. It has a glass dome that you can go up and it overlooks the city of Berlin. You have to make a reservation to go up to the dome and unfortunately there was no availability the day I was there, so sorry, but I have no idea if it is worth going up there or not. I’m assuming it’s pretty awesome.
Berlin Wall- East Side Gallery
There are many places where you can see the Berlin Wall, but you HAVE to go to the east side gallery. The wall is covered in graffiti and paintings from all different artists. The wall has a dark past, yet has turned in to a piece of art on the east side. This is my personal favorite out of things to see in Berlin.
Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial is a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. There are 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern that you can walk through. There is also an underground part of the memorial that has the names of ~3 million Holocaust victims. It is sad to think about that time in our history, but the memorial is a peaceful place to remember those lost during the Holocaust.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous crossing point between East and West Germany. It was also the location of the American and Soviet tank confrontation. Along with seeing the checkpoint, you can walk through Berlin’s open-air museum that tells stories of people attempting to escape from East Berlin.
Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral is a very impressive church with its amazing architecture and design. Both the exterior and interior of this church are worth seeing if you get a chance.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate was once a symbol of a divided city, but is now a symbol of unity.
Topography of Terror
This exhibition is at the site where the headquarters of the Secret State Police were located. Here you learn about the Nazi reign of terror. This exhibition is also free if you are traveling on a budget.
Hitler’s Bunker
You can’t go in the bunker, but you can visit the parking lot that is now on top of where Hitler’s bunker is. You know you are at the right parking lot as there are typically walking tours standing in groups in various spots. There is also an informative sign related to Hitler’s bunker. Pretty anticlimactic in my opinion.
