Berlin, Germany. A city full of history. A city tainted by its past, but also a city renewed. I was pleasantly surprised to find Berlin so historically driven, extremely well laid out, and clean. Read on for my top 10 historical things to see in Berlin!
Quick note: these are ordered to help you visit Berlin as efficiently as possible. Feel free to add or remove places as you see fit. For ease of transversing Berlin, I would highly recommend visiting the BVG website and downloading their app. This will make trip planning and ticket purchasing easier.
If you’re interested in learning more about each place, scroll to the bottom for quick links!
1. Olympiastadion Berlin
Although it’s the furthest attraction from the Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the Olympiastadion Berlin is a great place to start. This is because the stadium provides a glimpse into the history of Berlin. If you’re a fan of sports, you’ll appreciate the significance Olympiastadion is to football and the city of Berlin. Originally built in 1934 for the 1936 Olympics, the stadium has undergone several renovations. Today, it is one of the most modern facilities in the world despite its structural age. The stadium has paid tours as well as a self guided audio tour. I would budget at least an hour to walk in and around the stadium. For more information and an online booking system, check out the Olympiastadion website.
The Olympiastadion is accessible via the Olympiastadion station and the U Olympia-Stadion station.
2. Victory Column (Siegessäule)
Heading toward the center of Berlin, you will pass the Victory Column, or Siegessäule in German. The Prussians built this monument to commemorate their victory in the 1864 Second Schleswig War and eventually the reunification of all of Prussia in 1871. On the top of the Victory Column there is a viewing platform that is accessible via a paid ticket (€5). It offers views of Berlin, especially the Brandenburg Gate which sits about 1.4 miles to the east. The Victory Column also rests roughly in the middle of the Tiergarten, Berlin’s oldest and largest park. Time permitting, I would recommend walking through the park on the way to the next stop, the Brandenburg Gate.
The Victory Column is about equidistant from the Tiergarten and Bellevue stations as well as the U Hansaplatz station.
If you’re interested in World War II history like me, make a quick stop at the Soviet War Memorial Tiergarten. Between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate, it’s a quick stop along your walk. The Memorial is a monument built by the Soviet’s to commemorate the lives lost during the Battle of Berlin.
3. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the oldest monuments in Berlin. Prussian King Fredrick II William built the Brandenburg Gate in 1791 after he suppressed a Dutch popular unrest. More recently, the Brandenburg Gate has played an important role in modern history. Serving as the dividing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, Ronald Reagan gave his famous “Tear Down this Wall” speech here in 1987. The Brandenburg Gate has since been a sign for peace and unity in Berlin and is often illuminated in the colors of other nations following tragic events. One of the top 10 things to see in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate is a must see for any visitor of the city.
The Brandenburg Gate is serviced by the Brandenburger Tor station.
4. Reichstag Building
Walking about 1/4 mile to the northwest of the Brandenburg Gate, you’ll find the Reichstag Building. Completed in 1894, this building is home to the Bundestag, or the lower house of Germany’s parliament. The Reichstag Building housed the Bundestag until the Soviets severely damaged it during the Battle of Berlin. It fell into disuse until it was partially refurbished in the 1960’s. The Germans made it usable again after reunification in 1990. Any member of the public can tour the Reichstag Building and even make their way to the domed top of the building. Advanced registration is required at this link! From here, you’ll have excellent views to see Berlin from!
The Reichstag Building is easily accessible via the Bundestag station.
5. Berlin Wall Memorial
Moving on to the heavier history of Berlin. Much of the remaining Berlin Wall is preserved and now serves as a memorial to those who perished trying to flee East Berlin. The 60 meter long section of wall is exactly as it was when the Wall fell in 1989. Along the wall are displays of those who were killed trying to flee East Berlin as well as the process the Communist government of the German Democratic Republic went through to seal off West Berlin from the rest of Germany.
What really struck me was learning how many Westerners came to believe the wall protected them from communism as opposed to trapping innocent Berliners in the East. The duality of the wall and its construction can be seen in the memorial itself. The memorial is free to enter and provides a 3-story tower for you to climb and see what life would have been like for those looking down on the wall and accompanying guard towers decades ago.
If you’re following along my route, from the Reichstag Building it’s best to walk back through the Brandenburg Gate to the Brandenburger Tor station to take the S1/S2 toward the Berlin Wall Memorial. The closest stop is the Berlin Nordbahnhof. From Berlin Nordbahnhof it’s roughly 500 meters to the memorial building, passing many of the walls monuments.
6. Checkpoint Charlie
Heading back into the center of Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie is the most infamous point along the Berlin Wall. Best known for the events of the Berlin Crisis of 1961 when a US diplomat by the name of Allan Lightner tried to enter East Berlin to attend an opera show. He refused to allow East German border guards to examine his travel documents because the US only recognized the Soviet’s right to enforce border controls. A standoff of 10 Soviet and 10 American tanks ensued a mere 100 yards apart on either side of Checkpoint Charlie, an event that could have easily spiraled out of control. Today, Checkpoint Charlie demonstrates how delicate the balance was between East and West and how we are all fortunate cooler heads prevailed.
Checkpoint Charlie is closest to the KochstraĂźe station. From the Berlin Wall Memorial, head to the U Naturkundemuseum station to take the U6 to KochstraĂźe.
7. Topography of Terror
Built on the former home of the SS Reich’s main Security apparatus, the Topography of Terror monument demonstrates how the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler was able to seize power in Germany and orchestra the darkest days of human history. The outside portion of the exhibit runs below part of the Berlin Wall. An inside portion allows you to learn more about how the SS and Hitler conducted their atrocious actions leading up to and during the war. This is certainly not a place for the faint of heart and can take considerable time to read and process everything.
The Topography of Terror monument is located only 350 meters from Checkpoint Charlie along NiederkirchnerstraĂźe, so I would highly recommend visiting both places of interest back-to-back. You can access the Topography of Terror via the Berlin Potsdamer Platz Bahnhof or Anhalter stations, the S+U Potsdamer Platz station or from the KochstraĂźe station.
While you’re in the area, and on the way to the next place on this list, check out Potsdamer Platz for a quick bite to eat or a nice panoramic view of Berlin from atop Kollhoff Tower (€9 entrance fee).
8. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Another difficult memorial in Berlin is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Built from 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights on a sloped surface, this memorial invites you to wonder its alleys and rows, allowing you the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the Holocaust in your own way. Accompanying these concrete slabs is an underground center that provides information on victims and locations from the Holocaust. For anybody interested in learning about the Holocaust, this is a must see in Berlin.
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is roughly 1km north of the Topography of Terror monument and 350m south of the Brandenburg Gate. This could have fit in several places on this list, but I felt it most appropriate to do toward the end of the day, especially as the sun sets behind the memorial for an even more impactful effect of these events.
The closest station to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is the Brandenburger Tor station.
9. Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral is home to the most important protestant church in Berlin. The first Berlin Cathedral, demolished in 1893, was originally part of the Berlin Palace dating back to the 15th century. Empreror Wilhelm II of Germany ordered the current structure to be was completed in 1905. Wilhelm II wanted a church that would rival that of Saint Peter’s in Rome and Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, thus the Berlin Cathedral was born. Ironically, Wilhelm II would not be laid to rest in the cathedral, rather exiled to the Netherlands until his death.
The Berlin Cathedral can be accessed via a number of stations, the closest of which is Hackescher Markt but also the U Rotes Rathaus station. The Berlin Alexanderplatz Bahnhof is also not too far and provides access to the final place on this list, the Berliner Fernsehturm.
As a side note, the Berlin Cathedral rests on what is known as Museum Island, home to five major museums of German history; the Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum and the Peragmon Museum.
10. Berliner Fernsehturm
The Berliner Fernsehturm provides an excellent opportunity to see the entire city of Berlin, allowing you to recap all the sites you’ve visited during your time in the city. Or, a great first stopping point to scope out the sights of Berlin. Either way, the Berliner Fernsehturm is a must see to get a great panoramic view of Berlin. The top of the Berliner Fersehtrum is not cheap to get to, be prepared to pay €25/person for access to the top! The view is definitely worth it though! Alexanderplatz is also a good area to walk around and grab a bite to eat if you’re hungry!
The Berliner Fernsehturm is accessible via the the Berlin Alexanderplatz Bahnhof station.
Top 10 Historical Things to see in Berlin:
- Olympiastadion Berlin
- Victory Column
- Brandenburg Gate
- Reichstag Building
- Berlin Wall Memorial
- Checkpoint Charlie
- Topography of Terror
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
- Berlin Cathedral
- Berliner Fernsehturm
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