Berlin, Germany

I. Itinerary

It was my first solo trip. Also, my first CouchSurfing experience happened in Berlin. I spent there almost 4 days and had enough time to enjoy the city not only outside but in different museums and I even visited Reichstag.

1. Alexanderplatz

If you expect to see the attributes of ancient Europe on the central square, then your expectations will not come true. Today Alexanderplatz, named after the visit of the Russian emperor Alexander I (1805), is a typically modern square. The 20th century almost completely changed the historical site, increasing its size by 4 times. The vast space impresses with its size and scale of grandiose structures. Today, Alexanderplatz symbolizes the economic power and cultural prosperity of the German capital. Alexanderplatz is a favorite meeting place for Berliners, a solid transport interchange and a popular tourist attraction.

2. Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin TV tower)

The unique high-rise building, erected back in socialist Germany, has not lost its futuristic symbolism even today. The Berlin TV Tower (height 368 m) still looks like an object of architectural modernism. The result of the collective labor justified the expense - a masterpiece of high-rise construction is still a popular tourist attraction. At a height of 200 meters, there is a huge metal ball with a diameter of 32 meters. Several entrances to the tower let hundreds of tourists pass every day, ascending in swift silent elevators to the observation deck in almost seconds. It is located inside the ball at an altitude of 204 m, where there is a charming panorama of the city. There is also a wonderful restaurant with national German cuisine. However, the prices there are too high for us, so, let’s skip this part.

3. St. Mary's Church

Among the modern buildings on the Alexanderplatz, there is the "island" of antiquity - the Church of St. Mary. Its Baroque-Gothic appearance is a reminder of the historical past. It captivates with its authenticity. Built in the 13th century of bright red brick in the Brandenburg Gothic style, the church has undergone changes in architecture. After a fire in the 17th century that damaged the tower, it was restored and decorated with baroque elements. And in the 18th century, the tower got a neo-Gothic look. The Church of St. Mary remained the only old building on the square. The temple has become a kind of museum where you can see the true atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

4. Fountain Neptune

Not far from the TV tower, there is a masterpiece of fountain architecture of the 19th century - the Neptune Fountain. It belongs to the main attractions and serves as a symbol of the rebirth not only of Berlin, but of the whole of Germany. Like many architectural monuments of the city, the fountain-monument was significantly damaged during the bombing of 1945. Unique cast sculptures were restored to their original form, and the monument was installed in a new location - next to Alexanderplatz. The fountain is impressive in its dimensions.

5. Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall)

The unusually bright and beautiful building of the Red Town Hall strikes the imagination with its strict and at the same time pompous architecture. In its external appearance, 2 styles were mixed - Renaissance and Neo-Gothic, which gave the building a majestic look. Today, almost all official meetings and business meetings are held in the Column and Armorial Halls of the Red Town Hall.

6. St. Nicholas' Church

The oldest church (beginning of the 13th century) adorns the historical quarter of the city with the same name. It was erected near the crossing of the river. Later it was rebuilt, giving the appearance of a gothic hall church with a richly decorated altar and a tower at the top. In 1938, the historical and religious-architectural monument became state property. Despite the brutal bombardments of 1945, the powerful walls of the sanctuary withstood, but the church stood in a dilapidated form for a long time. Now a branch of the Brandenburg Museum with artifacts from the 13th-14th centuries is organized here.

7. Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

On the museum island, there is the famous Berlin Cathedral - the largest Protestant church in Germany. The baroque appearance of the Protestant church, bright and lush, is devoid of traditional asceticism. After the end of the war, the cathedral had been reconstructed for many years. As a result, it has decreased in height by 6m, but still impresses with its irresistible beauty. An observation deck is located in the central dome, where tourists often go. The organ of the famous master Sauer is installed in the hall.

8. Museumsinsel (Museum Island)

It’s a huge island with a lot of different islands. Even though I’ve been there for almost 4 days, I did not have enough time to visit them. You will find there the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Neues Museum (New Museum), the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), the Bode Museum, the Pergamon Museum, the Humboldt Forum. Personally, I did not visit any of them, but I visited the Pergamon Museum: Panorama. It’s not on the island but nearby.

9. Unter den Linden

It is impossible not to notice the beauty of Unter den Linden. The street, which is 1,390 meters long, got its name from the lindens that grow along the alley (Unter den Linden - under the lindens). Unter den Linden has buildings of different eras and architecture, the Embassy of the Russian Federation, the US Embassy, the UN Office, the French Embassy, Paris Square, Madame Tussauds, the Historical Museum, the Equestrian Statue of Frederick the Great, the Berlin State Opera, the Berlin Cathedral, Crown Princes Palace, Lustgarten Park and much more. To be honest, I added this point because we were told about this street in German classes at my first university, where I studied the German language. It was nice to see this street in real life.

10. Bebelplatz

Bebelplatz became famous after the tragic events in 1933, when about 20 thousand books were burned, which were considered "anti-German". Today, in this very place, you can observe a monument dedicated to fatal actions - a glass window that goes deep into the ground, where there are empty bookshelves. In addition to the monument on Bebelplatz, there are a library and the Humboldt University, the German State Opera, St. Hedwig's Cathedral.

11. Gendarmenmarkt

Gendarmenmarkt (or the Gendarme Market) is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Berlin. The square owes its beauty to the landmarks that are located on its territory: the French Cathedral, the German Cathedral, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the monument to Schiller. If you come to Berlin in winter, you will be able to see one of the most grandiose Christmas markets in all of Europe on Gendarmenmarkt Square.

12. Reichstag

In the very heart of Berlin, there is a monumental, majestic building that survived the victorious procession of triumph and the inglorious defeat of fascism. The architectural and historical monument is a significant symbol not only of Berlin, but of the whole of Germany. For 10 years, a grandiose building was erected, intended for a meeting of the German parliament - the Reichstag, now the Bundestag. The monumental beauty of the Reichstag after a major restoration again fascinates and delights tourists who actively visit the German Parliament. An attractive factor is the presence of a glass dome at the top, in which an observation deck is located (height 40 m). In the center of the unusual structure rests an impressive cone with 30 rows of mirrors that reflect sunlight into the parliamentary hall. In our shoestring trip, I think it will be important to mention that the entrance here is absolutely free. But you need to register in advance.

13. Brandenburg Gate

The famous landmark is the Brandenburg Gate - an example of ancient Greek style architecture. They were built as a connecting element of 2 parts of the city. However, a turn of history made it a symbol of the separation of Berlin and the state (1961), when the Berlin Wall was erected. At the top, there is a classic quadriga with four horses, controlled by the goddess Victoria. During the invasion of Napoleon, the quadriga was taken to Paris as a war trophy (1806) and returned after 8 years.

14. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

A block from the pompous Brandenburg Gate, there is a huge field of grass and lined with gray concrete blocks. On the edge, they are low and scattered, but gradually increase in height and form endless rows with narrow passages. There are no inscriptions anywhere, but an alarming and oppressive aura is felt. Tourists often come here, although the Holocaust Memorial is a sad place, inexplicably awakening in people a sense of endless and senseless tragedy. This is the task set by the author of the project, Peter Eiseman.

15. Potsdamer Platz (Potsdam Square)

Potsdamer Platz is the embodiment of the rapidly developing modernity. More recently, this place was a wasteland left after the destruction of the Wall. For 20 years, the cultural and economic center of the German capital was formed on it. Many trade establishments, art institutions, modern office buildings of the 21st century adorn the neighborhoods surrounding the square.

16. Sony Center

One of the most visited objects of Potsdamer Platz is the Sony Center. This is a complex of buildings built according to the most modern Japanese technologies. For 2 years (1996-98), 7 buildings were built, then for 2 years a huge glass dome was mounted above them. The opening of the center, which took place in 2000, was attended by 2.5 thousand well-known politicians, public and cultural figures. Everyone was shocked by the scale and originality of modern buildings. Sony Center is an oval square with 7 glass and steel buildings located around it. The roof-dome, which unites all the buildings with a tent, symbolizes Fujiyama, sacred to the Japanese. It looks especially irresistible in the evening, illuminated by multi-colored lights that change every 21 seconds.

17. Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie is a unique museum that exists only in Germany, opened on the site of a checkpoint that regulates communications between West and East Germany, divided in 1961. Museum displays show archival documents, photos, objects, devices illustrating a 28-year history confrontation. The photo shows pictures of watchtowers, bunkers, signaling devices. Documents tell of numerous defectors, of which 1.5 thousand people died.

18. Topography of Terror

Topography of Terror is one of the most visited memorial centers in Berlin. On the territory of the "Topography of Terror" center from 1933 to 1945, the headquarters of the National Socialist terror organizations were located: the secret state police "Gestapo" with its own prison, the imperial department of the SS, the security service of the SS, and during the Second World War, also the main department of imperial security.

19. East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery Berlin is an original open-air art gallery in Berlin, located directly on a fragment of the Berlin Wall, the length of which is more than 1300 meters. At the end of November 1989, Manfred Butzmann, a citizen of the GDR, painted hares on a wall in the Potsdamer Platz area, on the east side, over which someone wrote: "Die Schande Mauer muss fallen!" (“The wall of shame must fall!”). This act was perceived by the police of the GDR as hostile to the state and the picture was painted. However, the process could no longer be stopped. The Council of Ministers of the GDR decided to invite artists to work specially on wall paintings, paints and brushes were provided free of charge. Since January 1990, 118 artists from 21 countries have painted over 1,316 meters of the Berlin Wall on the east side. The East Side Gallery is considered the longest art gallery in the world.

II. Tips and features

Most cafes (of Asian, Turkish food) don’t accept credit card payments. So, take some cash with you.

Also, if you intend to visit the museum, most of them provide the student discount. Don’t forget to mention you are a student and provide your student ID. Entrance and excursion to the Reichstag is absolutely free. To get it, you just need to register in advance on their website and wait till the acceptance of your request.

I did not mention it above but if you have time, visit DDR Museum. It’s very interactive (that is you can touch everything and move). It is a big demonstration of the life in DDR.