It is almost 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and this world class city has plenty of notable sights and delights in the wake of reunification. A great way to get a feel for the diversity of Berlin is to jump aboard one of the bus tours available. This offers the opportunity to learn about the history of Berlin’s main attractions and visit a few of the most popular.
Berlin has become the capital city again after the reunification of Germany in 1990, and is built around the River Spree. Berlin has undergone immense changes over the last century – destruction, division, rebuilding and modernisation – all making for an exciting and unique blend of old and new. Much of Berlin has either been rebuilt or restored in recent years and this allows visitors the chance to see examples of truly innovative German architecture, from the centuries-old to the futuristic.
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most photographed attractions in Berlin and is instantly recognisable. The iconic structure is over 200 years old and represents classical Prussian architecture, contrasting greatly with the Soviets’ statement Fernsehturm (television tower) which was finished in 1969 and can be seen from anywhere in the city. Potsdamer Platz was a hub for Berlin’s transport system before World War II, but was ‘no mans land’ between the two sides of the wall during the Cold War. Modern buildings from international enterprises have swept this into modernity, attracting visitors to the impressive Sony Center’s tent-like roof which houses a film museum, Imax theatre and restaurants. In West Berlin and away from the tourist mile, one of the most impressive features is the spectacular Schloss Charlottenburg. This is the city’s largest palace that has become renowned for its intricate and extremely detailed late 17th-century architecture, and its calm gardens perfect for a relaxing stroll.
Berlin’s variety of architectural styles lends to tasteful renovations and new builds. Across the city the demand for accommodation for visitors has soared and some of Europe’s most stylish Boutique hotels are to be found here. Forget about the conventional stuffy German stereotypes, Berlin is the ultimate place for all hip pleasure seekers. Amongst the most popular hotels are the Bleibtreu Hotel, Ku Damn 101 Hotel and the Hotel Q! Loved by designers and celebrities alike. These are all located on the beloved shopping boulevard Kurfürstendamm, where shoppers, art lovers and families alike will find plenty of entertainment.
The compelling “Story of Berlin” exhibition found on Kurfürstendamm leads visitors through an interactive history of Berlin right up to the current day. Installations include some of the original segments of the Berlin Wall and the opportunity to view an original nuclear bomb shelter that dates back to the 1970s. Consider taking a short day trip from your hotel out to Oranienburg where you can visit the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial.
Many tourist attractions in Berlin offer their observation points and allow you to view this beautiful city from high above the ground, with the Soviet landscape and blocks of flats stretching out into the east, and leafier western districts to the west. The highest points in the city include the Kollhoff Tower on Potsdamer Platz, the Europa Center at the Zoologischer Garten and, of course, the Fersehturm, the tallest structure the city has to offer. Here visitors can dine in a revolving restaurant – fun for kids and adults alike.
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