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Browsing Berlin
Abenteuerspielplatz Marie
This Prenzlauer Berg adventure playground's main attraction is hut building. Campfires are also regularly lit for the kids to barbecue on. A small surcharge includes extra activities such as felt design, weaving and woodcarving.
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Acud
One of the last buildings in the area not to have been completely restored, the Acud possesses a real sense of history. A lonesome building standing on a plot of land which was almost completely reduced to rubble during the War, the home of the Acud Society houses a cinema, gallery, pub and the 'Lizard Lounge' dance club. The AEG Turbinenhalle
The AEG Turbine Hall - a turbine production factory built in 1909 for the German electronic giant "AEG" - is deemed to be one of the most revolutionary architectural constructions of the early twentieth century. With its visible steel supports and enormous glass windows, the factory celebrates its function as an industrial workplace rather than hiding behind a mock neo-baroque facade.
The huge steel building was designed by architect Peter Behrens (1868-1940), who is credited as being the forefather of modern industrial design. Behrens designed numerous other classic buildings, but the AEG Turbine Hall is regarded as his most important work. Behrens worked on the design of the building together with other influential turn-of-the-century architects such as Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, designer of the
Alexander Ochs Gallery
Come, take a peek into the world of some intriguing Chinese artists. Alexander Ochs, an expert on contemporary Asian art, has set up this venue to throw light on these interesting works, thus bringing China closer to Europe. The gallery is now one of the most prominent addresses in world, and has participated in some international art fairs as well. Several government institutions, museums and private galleries are now affiliated with it. A branch has also openeed up in Beijing.
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Alexanderplatz
The original Alexanderplatz (affectionately known as 'Alex' by Berliners) was completely flattened during the War. Its present day appearance is a prime example of East German town planning: a huge, windswept pedestrian area surrounded by featureless 1960s high-rises. But those who are familiar with Alexanderplatz from Alfred Döblin's novel of the same name will find that none of the hustle and bustle of the square has disappeared. Alexanderplatz is still very much a commuters' thoroughfare and is regarded by locals as the true centre of Berlin.
Named after Russian Tsar Alexander I who visited the Prussian capital in 1805, Alexanderplatz was at the centre of the mass-demonstrations which brought the Berlin Wall tumbling down in November 1989. Massive redevelopment has now begun under the direction of architect Hans Kohlhoff, but no completion date has been set. The main attraction of the square is the 365m-high
Alliierten-Museum
It wasn't just food that the Allies airlifted into Berlin during the 1948/49 Russian blockade. Huge amounts of coal, petrol and even cars were flown in to help keep the strategically important Western outpost of Berlin intact. One of these huge four-engine planes now stands in front of the former Outpost Cinema along with a few pieces of the Wall and a French train carriage.
The Museum of the Allies recounts the fascinating history of Berlin from the end of the War to the fall of the Wall in 1989. The story is told from the perspective of the three Allies (USA, Britain and France) who occupied Berlin during these years. This moving story of peacemaking and confrontation, of hope and despair is well worth a visit. More »
Alt-Tegel
Although it can't compete with the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the Greenwich Promenade in Alt Tegel is a pleasant place to relax and get away from the stress of city life. Stretching along the shores of Lake Tegeler See and with a good selection of restaurants in the town centre, Alt Tegel has the atmosphere of a seaside resort. One of the most interesting parts of the area is the old port which also the starting point for boat trips to Alte Bibliothek
Formerly the royal library, this elegant baroque building on Alte Nationalgalerie
The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) rises up over Museum Island like an ancient Greek temple. The imposing, neoclassical edifice was designed and built by architect F.A. Stüler between 1866-76 and contains an extensive collection of works by both German and international artists from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can admire masterpieces by French impressionists such as Cézanne, Manet and Renoir, the surreal works of Van Gogh and Münch, and sculptures by the likes of Schadow and Rodin.
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Alter Fritz
Located near Alter Garnisonsfriedhof
Berlin's oldest cemetery was re-landscaped and turned into a park many years ago. But here and there, iron crosses and tombstones arise from the lawn between the small gravel walkways, the branches of old oak trees hanging overhead. The faint sound of traffic encroaches only slightly over the high cemetery walls. In the late 19th century, authorities ordered that all cemeteries in the city centre be closed due to fears about hygiene. Yet military commanders successfully prevented the closing down of this particular cemetery, which is home to generations of Prussian officers. The Alter Garnisonsfriedhof remained in use until the end of WW II and was re-landscaped in the 1950s. A small exhibition in the building near the entrance documents the history of the cemetery.
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Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof
If you expected the graves of the Brothers Grimm to remind you of their fairytales, you'll be deeply disappointed. Instead of romantic reminisences, you will discover protestant simplicity, the tombstones of the four-member family blackened with time. Situated on the top of a hill, the graveyard is nevertheless a pleasant oasis sealed off from the hustle and bustle of the city.
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Altes Museum
Nineteenth century architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel provided Berlin with many of its greatest buildings, including the magnificent Altstadt Spandau
Situated to the west of Berlin, the ancient town of Spandau has long since been engulfed by its larger neighbour. Spared during the war, the historic town centre situated around Reformation Square and St. Nicholas Church is one of greater Berlin's most beautiful spots. As it is closed to traffic, visitors can wander undisturbed though the narrow lanes and admire the small, bourgeois town houses. Old Spandau is particularly romantic in the winter months when visitors can browse around the Christmas Market, accompanied by the sound of trumpet concerts performed on top of St. Nicholas church.
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American Church in Berlin
This church was originally constructed in 1763 during the reign of Friedrich the Great. Home to the American Church in Berlin (part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) since 1969, services are held in English and are based upon the Lutheran Book of Worship.
Sunday Services: 9.30am: Sunday school for children aged 3-16 in the Paulus Gemeindehaus (Teltower Damm 4-8). 9.30am: Instruction for adults in the Dorfkirche. 11.00 am: Worship in the Dorfkirche, followed by coffee. More »
Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek
Located in the heart of Kreuzberg, the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek library is a large lending library with a broad selection of national and international newspapers and magazines. Several rooms (almost the entire basement area) are devoted to children, with computers, video games, comics and fish tanks.
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Anhalter Bahnhof
The ruins of this railway station, once Berlin's largest, and one of the biggest in Europe, would seem to be a reminder of war damage this city sustained. In fact, the building was only partially destroyed during WWII, but it was decided not to rebuild it, and instead the remnants were blown up. Nowadays the sad façade is the only reminder of this station's former grandeur.
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Anti-Kriegs-Museum
A quiet side-street lined with Victorian houses in the working-class district of Wedding is home to the tiny Anti-War Museum. A broad collection of rusty steel helmets, modern land mines, old photos, and an original air raid shelter bear witness to the major catastrophes of the twentieth century. Yet the museum, established in the 1920s, also has another fascinating story to tell -- its own. Several adjacent rooms are used for temporary exhibitions which deal with topics relevant to the museum.
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Aquarium
Noses pressed against the panes of the huge glass tanks, groups of wide-eyed children stare and shriek at the sharks and giant eels which swim silently by, oblivious to all the fuss around them. The aquarium is fantastic for adults and children alike, making the mysteries of the underwater world come alive before your very eyes. With piranhas, sea horses and tropical fish of all colours, shapes and sizes, the aquarium boasts all you have ever dreamed of, plus some unexpected surprises. There is even more to see in the reptile house upstairs. Motionless crocodiles size you up through unblinking eyes, snakes slither along the grass and the creepy crawlies in the insect section will make your skin turn cold.
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Arboretum
These five-acre English gardens were designed by Johann Gustav Heinrich Meyer, a student of master landscape architect Lenne, designer of the Archenhold-Sternwarte
The observatory was founded in 1896, in the heyday of astronomy. Its major claim to fame is having the largest telescope in the world, a 21 metre mammoth built by Friedrich Simon Archenhold, after whom the observatory is named. In 1915, Albert Einstein gave his first public lecture on the theory of relativity here. The museum encompasses two permanent exhibitions on the history and instruments of astronomy. A stargazer's paradise - may the force be with you! Admission costs around EUR3.
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Ars Vitalis
The shopping mall which used to connect Hauptstrasse and Akazienstrasse was never a success and was transformed several years ago into a health and fitness centre. Made up of Ars Vitalis fitness club, Linea fitness studio for women, Chudy's hairdressers and Alessandro's beauty shop, the facilities also include a gym, an indoor pool, a sauna, solarium, restaurant and bar. All the above facilities are included in the basic entry ticket. Extras such as aqua gym, yoga and various massages cost an additional fee.
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Ballsaal des Hotel Esplanade
The Sony Centre on The original building was moved, at great expense, 100 metres across Potsdamer Platz to the plot of land owned by Sony, and has now been incorporated into the Sony Centre. Visitors can once again admire its splendour, albeit from behind glass walls.
P.S. Cinema lovers may be interested to know that the final sequence of Wim Wender's classic film about Berlin, Wings of Desire, was shot here. More »
Bauhaus-Archiv
This distinctive, modernist building was purpose-designed by legendary architect Walter Gropius to house the Bauhaus Archive. The archive exhibits a historic collection of works incorporating all aspects of the influential Bauhaus school of design (1919-1933). A reading library offers access to a comprehensive collection of documents. Special exhibitions of contemporary design and architecture are also regular features. If you need a rest, you can take a break in the cafe or browse the museum shop which sells replicas of original Bauhaus designs (e.g. salt-shakers or lamps).
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Bebelplatz
Friedrich II liked his architecture to mirror his political programme: Bebelplatz was designed to be a meeting place for science, art and political power. An academy, an opera house and a royal palace were planned, yet only the Berliner Dom
Built as late as 1905, this cathedral originally served as the private chapel for the Prussian royal family. Designed by Julius Raschdorff in the Italian renaissance style popular at the time, its impressive dome is strikingly similar to St Peter's in Rome. Inside, it boasts a stunning altar and royal box designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, the Berliner Dom remained a ruin until restoration work finally began in 1973. The crypt is of particular interest, housing the graves of over 90 members of the Hohenzollern royal family. Admission EUR2.50.
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Berliner Gruselkabinett
It's eerie enough just walking down the damp and gloomy tunnels of the World War II bunker near Berliner Mauer
Anyone visiting Berlin today would find it hard to imagine that this vibrant and cosmopolitan city was until only recently divided: through its heart ran a wall made of concrete and barbed wire, patrolled by armed guards and protected by a heavily mined death-strip. Erected on 13 August 1961 to halt the outflow of disaffected East German workers, the Wall broke up families and friendships, divided Germany and split Europe in two for nearly three decades. Over 200 people died in (often ingenious) escape attempts.
No one will forget the night of 9 November 1989 when the Wall came crashing down. A peaceful revolution put paid to the bankrupt East German regime and Berliners from East and West met in their hundreds of thousands to dance on top of the Wall and celebrate the end of division. In the months following its fall, the Wall was bulldozed to the ground and the land where it stood auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Not much of the original Wall is left today, with only one or two sections saved as a permanent reminder of the past. The longest and most impressive stretch can be seen at the
Berliner Mauer Dokumentationszentrum
If you're looking for remnants of the What you see here is, in fact, a reconstruction of the original Wall. Two walls run parallel to one another down the street, and in the middle, a strip of no man's land. This serves as a potent reminder of what many Germans regard as a symbol of totalitarian evil. The museum itself documents the history of the Wall in a series of moving and disturbing photographs.
Admission: free More »
Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum
The dentist's chair in the entrance hall barely prepares you for what is about to come. The centrepiece of the museum is a fine collection of human limbs preserved in glass jars filled with formalin. Other objects on display range from deformed embryos, Siamese twins and a human Cyclops to a wonderful selection of pickled organs disfigured by terrible disease. Medical students and sadists may admire the swollen intestines and squalid tumours; 'normal' visitors may leave clutching their stomachs! Children under 16 are not allowed to enter the museum. Admission:EUR 2.50
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Berliner Rathaus
The 'Red City Hall' is how Berliners refer to their town hall. Seat of the Mayor and the Senate since reunification in 1990, the building was also home to East Berlin's local government in the GDR era, although the name actually stems from the reddish colour of its walls rather than from the political leanings of its politicians! Built in 1861-69 by H. F. Waesemann, the design reflects a strong Tuscan influence. Two years after building work was completed, Germany was unified by Kaiser Wilhelm I. Consequently, Berlin became the capital of Germany and its new city hall the supreme administrative building.
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Berliner Stadtmauer
Berlin is famous for its Berlinische Galerie
Though founded as a private institution in 1975, the newly public Berlinische Galerie moved to a new home in October 2004, a significant change for the young museum, and one which has contributed to its "new" feel. The gallery is a combination of national gallery and city museum, and its exhibitions focus on the city of Berlin and its role in an international community.
Covering the years since 1870 and on, there are a number of interesting themes to learn about and explore in the museum: secessionists, Dadaism, Russians in Berlin, Berlin under the Nazis, the metropolis, and so on. It is home to a history of the city in art, sure to please historians and art-lovers alike. The museum also has movies, music, lectures and other academic resources to attract visitors, and an art school, the “Atelier Bunter Jakob,” with fun activities for everyone, from child to adult.
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Bierpinsel
Steglitz's Restaurant Tower - known as Bierpinsel - is strangely reminiscent of the bridge of an aircraft carrier, rising up from the city motorway which connects with Schlossstraße, one of Western Berlin's busiest shopping streets. Built in 1972-76 by the same architects that constructed the futuristic Blindenmuseum
In most museums it is absolutely prohibited to touch anything. In Berlin's Museum for the Blind it is exactly the opposite. Visitors are actively encouraged to touch, to feel, to understand how those who cannot see come to terms with today's image-dominated world. The exhibition focuses on how education for the blind has changed over the years and what sort of work blind people are particularly good at. Visitors can also experiment with reading and writing Braille.
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Blockhaus Nikolskoe
The log cabin close to The building was turned into a restaurant after the war, but burned down in 1984. The cabin was immediately reconstructed and is now a popular destination for day-trippers. More »
Bodemuseum
Situated on Museum Island, the Bode Museum features a wide collection of Byzantine Art. Originally conceived as a 'Museum for the Christian World', the building now houses several smaller collections. The Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum
This large, sedate park in the south-west of Berlin provides the perfect respite to a hard day's slog through the hectic inner-city. One can admire the English gardens and a collection of flora from all over Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It is also worth taking a look inside one or two of the huge tropical greenhouses. Visitors shouldn't miss the unique Botanical Museum at the entrance.
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Brandenburger Tor
Germany's most recognisable symbol is not as large as many visitors expect, yet its history is rich and fascinating. Built in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was modelled on the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The Quadriga statue on top of the Gate - designed by sculptor Gottfried Schadow - represents Victoria, the Goddess of Peace, riding a four-horse chariot. This was one of Berlin's original 14 city gates, yet the only remaining evidence of the other gates are the names of underground stations such as Breitscheidplatz
Breitscheidplatz is the true heart of Western Berlin. The ruin of the Plans are afoot to transform the square into a sculpture of light. Visitors will then be plunged into a haze of blue light, but thankfully only after dark. More »
Britzer Garten
Home to the German Horticultural Show in 1985, Britzer Gardens has now been turned into an attractive park with beautiful lawns and atmospheric lakes. Families with children flock here during the summer, as the park has great children's facilities including several playgrounds, a miniature railway and organised events at the weekend. There are also several snack bars and restaurants which sell refreshments.
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Bröhan-Museum
This museum houses the priceless collection of Jugendstil and art deco ceramics and furniture once owned by German industrialist Karl Bröhan. The exhibition also includes industrial design paintings from the twenties and thirties as well as contemporary works by local artists. The museum is a good alternative to the larger collections (the Brücke-Museum
This small museum is worth the trek out of the city centre. It houses the works of the Brücke Group, considered to be Germany's pioneers in Expressionism. The group was founded in Dresden in 1905, but later moved to Berlin. The permanent exhibition includes works by all the members of the group - Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emile Nolde, Otto Müller, Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Max Pechstein. Nazi repression in the 1930's lead to the destruction of many of the group's works - but what has survived is fascinating. Admission EUR4.
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Bucher Forst
Bucher Forst is a forest in the northernmost part of Berlin, ideal for long, relaxing walks. Forty per cent of the 435 hectar forest is coniferous, sixty percent deciduous. There are also two fish farms where carp are bred. The forest is dotted with tables and benches for picnics.
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Buddhist Center Berlin
The Buddhist Centre Berlin follows the teachings of the Karma Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. Using the Diamond Way method which relies heavily on meditation, practitioners aim to experience the spiritual clarity of mind known as Buddha Nature, resulting in Mahamudra - a feeling of compassion and joyful fearlessness.
Programme (in German): 7.15pm Mon: Dharma Evening - teachings, seminars and discussions 8.30pm Mon: Meditation & explanation of the 16th Karmapa 8pm Thu: Brief introduction to Diamond Way Buddhism 8.30pm Thu: Meditation & explantion of the 16th Karmapa More »
Café Kranzler
Not much is left of the original Café Kranzler. Founded some 175 years ago, Café Kranzler swiftly gained the reputation of being one of the city's finest cafés and went on to become a major tourist attraction in its own right. But the café has now fallen victim to the massive redevelopment programme which has been changing the face of Berlin since the fall of the Wall. While the new location offers splendid views over Berlin's most prestigious shopping street, the decor is devoid of charm.
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Carillon
This is not necessarily a sight to see, but rather a sound to hear. When Berlin celebrated its 750th anniversary in 1987, the city gave itself a special present. If you're in the Carrousel
This building is proud to be Germany's biggest theatre for children and teenagers, having been established in 1950 as Theater der Freundschaft (Theatre of Friendship) in the former GDR. It has today successfully made its way into the FRG, and in 1991 it even acted as host, together with its rival from the West, the Grips-Theater, of the First German Meeting of Theatres for Children and Teenagers. As befits a theatre financed by the German government, performances are educational here, as teaching through theatre is a big issue. Tickets cost from EUR6.
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Chamissoplatz
If you're looking for peace and quiet before heading out for the night, Chamissoplatz is the area to visit. This town square is located next to Bergmannstraße, where a more lively and eccentric crowd lingers. Chamissoplatz is an area of Berlin that managed to remain intact during the war, so it's possible to see how Berlin looked and how people before the city was reconstructed after several attacks. There are a few restaurants to dine in, a playground and park to rest in, and a peaceful atmosphere to relax in.
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Checkpoint Charlie
The ultimate symbol of the Cold War which divided Europe and the world for four decades, the Contemporary Fine Arts
The Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery (previously known as Bruno Brunnet Fine Arts) has occupied a studio in the Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin
Located in the headquarters of the Deutsche Bank on Deutscher Dom
Together with its twin, the Admission: free More »
Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin
Berlin's Technical Museum is fantastic for kids and adults alike. The attractions include a solar energy station, a windmill and several historic trains and planes. The vast museum grounds also contain an historic brewery, a replica TV studio and thrilling exhibitions about air, space, sea and road travel, textile production and printing. The main children's attraction is the multi-storey Spektrum building, where kids can take part in hands-on experiments in physics, electronics, optical science and music. The museum also hosts fascinating temporary exhibitions.
Admission: EUR 2.50; concessions EUR 1 More »
Deutsches-Russisches Museum
On the evening from May 8th to May 9th, 1945, German generals signed the unconditional surrender of Germany in the dining room of their officer's club. The club subsequently served as the Berlin headquarters for the Soviet military. The capitulation room is well preserved and the rest of the building has become a museum about the German invasion of Russia in 1941 and the Russian occupation of Berlin and East Germany.
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Domäne Dahlem
The well-to-do district of Dahlem is not the place you would expect to find a farm. But Domane Dahlem is not a normal farm, but an open-air museum open to the public. It displays many historical and contemporary items associated with agriculture. The farm has crop-fields, cows, pigs, horses and hens as well as artisans' workshops, an agriculture museum and a farm shop. The real highlights, however, are the regular market festivals with home-grown food and music. Kids can ride on a four horse coach or on the trailer of a tractor. Please check website for festival dates. Festival: EUR 1; children EUR 0.50
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Dorfkirche Alt-Marienfelde
Centuries ago, the village of Marienfelde was idyllically situated in the middle of rural Brandenburg. The nearby city of Berlin has long since gobbled up this little village, but with its cobble-stone streets, 19th century street lamps and imposing bourgeois villas, Marienfelde is still one of the prettiest places in the region.
The centrepiece of the village is the Romanesque church, one of Berlin's oldest churches and one of the few remaining medieval buildings in the area. Erected in 1220, villagers used to flock here to escape marauding bands of robbers. Nowadays, Berliners flock here to flee the fumes and the chaos of the inner city. The nearby
East Side Gallery
When you think of Berlin, the first word likely to spring to mind is Wall. But over a decade after being torn down by angry East Germans, there is not much of the The longest section of the Wall to be spared (1.3km) runs parallel to the
The East Side Gallery is a must for first-time visitors to the city. The barren wasteland which surrounds the Wall is oddly fitting and gives you a good idea of how the Wall, surrounded by a 10 metre-wide, heavily mined death strip, would have appeared several decades ago.
Yet the current condition of the gallery gives cause for concern. Many of the paintings have been disfigured by souvenir-hunters keen to take a chunk of Wall home with them, while the weather has taken its toll on the rest.
Admission: free More »
Elisabethkirche
Behind an old, rusty fence lies one of the city's most atmospheric ruins. Constructed two centuries ago by Berlin's most influential architect, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, all that remains of Elisabethkirche today is the church's skeleton. Wind whistles through the window frames and plaster peels off the brick walls. For more than half a century after its destruction in the War, nobody seemed interested in restoring the neoclassical masterpiece - presumably due to lack of funds. However, there are now plans to transform the building into a major art gallery. Until then, 'ruin enthusiasts' can enjoy the phantom of a church.
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Erholungspark Marzahn
The Marzahn recreation park is situated in Berlin's north-east. Besides two large ponds, a Chinese garden and a number of playgrounds, the park has several animal compounds where donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens are kept. If you are lucky, you may also get to see some of the wild deer, hare, partridges, pheasants and snakes which live in the park's wilderness area. Special events such as concerts, theatre and 'playshops' are organised in the summer. Easter weekend is also a treat, with traditional 'egg hunts' for the kids.
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Ernst-Reuter-Platz
Named after the mayor of West Berlin in the 1950s, Ernst-Reuter-Platz is a public square in the middle of the city. In spring and summer time, this is a place to rest your feet on the grass while walking from one side of the city to the other. You can even dip your toes in the water fountain to help you cool off. The square was built in 1902, but remodeled in the 1950s in the style of modernism. You can expect a large open space surrounded by skyscrapers, traffic noise, and the bustling vibe from the city, but it's place to take a short rest nonetheless.
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Erotikmuseum
The world's most comprehensive museum of erotica contains centuries-worth of erotic objects exhibited over three floors. These include paintings, vases, ceramics, S&M equipment and cult objects such as Balinese demons or Chinese ivory carvings. A separate section is dedicated to the work of Berlin's famous 'sexologist' Magnus Hirschfeld, who founded Germany's first gay association in the early twentieth century. The museum shop is a good place to find interesting gifts (but not necessarily for your mother-in-law!).
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Europa-Center
The Europa-Center was, at one time, the largest shopping center in Berlin. Built in the 1960s, the mall was supposed to offer citizens of Berlin a safe place to visit, shop, dine, and relax while the outside world remained in chaos. After undergoing a recent remodel, the Europa-Center has added five movie theaters and several art exhibits, like the Lotus Fountain, the Set Theory Clock, and The Obelisk of Light. If your feet need a rest after walking through the variety of shops, check out the live music playing in the restaurants and by the fountain.
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Fernsehturm
Located on FEZ Wuhlheide
FEZ Wuhlheide was given top marks in the 1999 campaign 'Kinder testen Berlin' ('children test Berlin'). The FEZ is a large park with woods, lakes, wildlife enclosures, swimming pools, playgrounds, a market garden, BMX track, skateboard pipes and sports fields. Older children can drive a train through the park and check the tickets themselves. A covered area offers exhibitions and other events. The only disadvantage is it's long way from the city centre.
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Filmmuseum
What is cinema but shadows and illusions? Entering a small room with low ceilings, visitors gasp in awe as walls of mirrors transform the room into a seemingly endless hall. Film fans then wind their way along a narrow path, past huge screens with images of stars from the silent era into the universe of German film. Berlin's brightest star is undoubtedly Marlene Dietrich and the show seems to revolves around her, with countless scenes from the classic Blue Angel and from her days as a Hollywood diva. What then follows is darkness. The Third Reich's contribution to film is artistically presented in a series of austere metal drawers which line the walls. Post-war cinema is unjustly neglected and confined to just one small room with a handfull of stars. Recently opened in the spanking new Sony Centre, the Berlin Film Museum recounts the history of German film using the help of hundreds of enormous screens and projections. Objects vanish in the flood of images and sound, and explanations are sparse. At the very least, it whets your appetite to go to the cinema again. And what luck! A high-speed lift will take you straight to the Filmmuseum Potsdam
The Film Museum is often overlooked due to the pulling power of Filmpark Babelsberg
Babelsberg Film Studios in Fliegendes Theater Berlin
The "Flying Theatre" has adopted a novel approach to puppet theatre. Instead of hiding behind a curtain, the cast are on stage - so you can observe how they make the puppets move. This allows a different sort of interaction between the puppet master and the audience.
Founded in 1978, the "Flying Theatre" performs for adults as well as children. The performances are accompanied by music, sound and lighting and deal with themes such as social conflict and racism as well as more light-hearted topics.
A night out at the "Flying Theatre" is a magical experience not to be missed. More »
Fort Hahneberg
Fort Hahneberg, a 19th century fortress constructed to defend the cities of Berlin and Spandau, lies on the western edge of present-day Berlin. Used as barracks during the early 20th century, the fort fell into disrepair during the years of German division because it was situated in a strip of no man's land right by the Berlin Wall. Nowadays the fort is a home to several rare species of bats. Every weekend from April to October, visitors can take a guided tour through the fort's underground tunnels and vaults.
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Fraenkelufer
Kreuzberg has two different faces. During the 1970s, innumerable run-down 19th century buildings around Hallesches Tor and Französische Friedrichstadtkirche
Even Berliners would be surprised to know that the Nowadays, the building is home to the French Reformed Church of Berlin and Brandenburg, whose roots lie with the French protestant Huguenots who fled to Prussia in the early 18th century. Services are performed in both German and French and there are regular organ concerts. More »
Französischer Dom
The Franzosischer Dom (French cathedral) is an imposing structure which stands on Französischer Friedhof
Contrary to other big cities, Berlin does not have one big, city cemetery, but several smaller graveyards, scattered all over the city. The Französischer Friedhof is a particularly special place, as many of the graves originate from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is also the resting place of the great German writer Theodor Fontane (1819-1898), author of such classics as Effi Briest and Walks Through the Mark Brandenburg. His French-sounding name reflects his ancestry from the Huguenots, French protestants who were persecuted in their homeland and fled en masse to Berlin in the 16th century. And as this cemetery bares the name French Cemetery, you'll find plenty of similar names scattered everywhere.
Fontane's grave lies opposite the resting place of the inventor of stenography. And if you look closely, you may well come across other famous names... More »
Freie Universität Berlin
Founded by free-thinking members of East Berlin's Friedrichstraße
Friedrichstraße is Berlin's answer to the Champs Elysées, Oxford Street or Fifth Avenue, a vibrant melting pot where history, culture, entertainment and fashion meet. Before the fall of the Wall, the southern section of Friedrichstraße was located in the West, and the northern part in the East. Beginning at Historically, the area around Stadtmitte underground station used to be Berlin's premier shopping district. The crossroads at
Galerie argus fotokunst
Marienstraße isn't normally associated with art galleries. Yet with its run-down and graffiti-strewn turn of the century houses, the street is almost a gallery in itself. This small gallery of photographic art resides in one of these classic old buildings. The rickety old stairs that lead up to the gallery are made of wood, and the wooden floorboards creak as you walk over them. The whitewashed walls make the perfect backdrop for an innovative collection of black and white photographic art.
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Galerie Gebauer
Busy Torstraße in eastern Berlin is hardly a top address, yet Galerie Gebauer is one of the many modern art galleries to have moved there in recent years. The flight of stairs leading to the gallery, with patterned tiles and old wooden banisters, dates back almost a century and still conveys much of Berlin's pre-war charm. The gallery itself is painted in neutral white. Three large rooms with high ceilings provide plenty of space for you to wander around and admire the art works on display. Fortunately, this refuge of modern art is well away from the noisy main road.
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Galerie Georg Nothelfer
'Tachism, German informal, scriptural and gestural painting', is how the gallery describes its collection. If you don't know what they are on about, try to imagine the styles of Klee, Kandinsky, Braque and Toulouse-Lautrec, and you'll then have some idea of what's on display. Featured artists include Edouardo Chillida, Antoni Tàpies, Cy Twombly, Ouhi Cha, Jan Voss, Adochi, Max Neumann and Arnulf Rainer, as well as pieces by Christo and Henri Michaux.
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Galerie im Körnerpark
When this green oasis in built-up Neukölln was created 100 years ago, no one could guess that it would one day be ruined by the noise of aircraft overhead. The building of Galerie Kienzle & Gmeiner GmbH
The gallery writes in its brochure: "The city is internationally known for representing a critical art concept, which for example, the Berlin Biennale stands for. However, the exhibitions and events seem to be less important than the place that is putting them on. With a few exceptions, the spectrum represented by galleries does not overlap with what is really happening in the art scene".
This is highly reflective of the state of art in Berlin today. Kienzle & Gmeiner deal with "communication between past and present" on the one hand, and the "realities of an art gallery" on the other hand. More »
Galerie Leo.Coppi
Located in a pavilion at the far end of the Hackesche Höfe complex in the centre of eastern Berlin, Galerie Leo.Coppi is home to exhibitions of figurative and expressive art, paintings, sculpture and graphics by local artists. The friendly proprietor will be glad to provide you with further information about the artists.
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Galerie Maschenmode
Art isn't meant to be easy, and it's not easy to get into this gallery either. The only way of finding out what is on show is to take a look at the website. And you can't just turn up when you feel like it. Visits used to be by appointment only, but the gallery now has regular, if not particularly lengthy opening hours. Maschenmode is one of the new trend-setting galleries in Mitte. It isn't located on the main strip around Galerie Max Hetzler
Previously situated in West Berlin, the gallery has since moved to the eastern part of the city, close to where the Wall used to be. One of the oldest and largest galleries in town, Max Hetzler exhibits high-quality works by well-established contemporary artists. Some of the names on show are Darren Almond, Larry Clark, Jeff Koons, Albert Oehlen, Thomas Struth, Sarah Morris, Georg Herold, Martin Kippenberger and Jean-Marc Bustamante.
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Galerie Parterre
Prenzlauer Berg's residents did everything they could to save the historic gas works on Danziger Straße. Yet the socialist city authorities were hell-bent on building even more grey tower-blocks and knocked down the industrial landmark in the early eighties. Only the former administration centre with its yellow brick facade and wooden balconies was left untouched. Now a cultural centre, Galerie Parterre occupies the ground floor of the building and exhibits works by contemporary artists. The building is also home to Galerie Wieland
"This gallery is one of the latest additions to Berlin's arts scene. The first exhibition included an installation entitled The loss of the centre - referring to the neglect of craftsmanship in modern-day Germany as well as to the negative changes taking place in the central Berlin district known as Mitte. Other early exhibitions included unusual works using a variety of artistic techniques, including a puppet show and light show."
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Galerie Wohnmaschine
Wohnmaschine (meaning "living machine" is a gallery in artist Friedrich Look's own home. Since opening in 1988, Look has worked intensively with young artists from Berlin and elsewhere. Between 1995 and 1997, he put on a series of thematic exhibitions, one of which can be viewed at http://www.plueshow.de/bild-malerei/ The gallery normally exhibits works which refer to the context of art and deal with photography and space as well as individual and collective roles (eg. in exhibitions such as Architecture and the Modern Mask, 1998).
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Gedenkstaette Deutscher Widerstand Museum
During World War II, this complex was the headquarters of the German Army's High Command. Scores of its officers were involved in the July 20th, 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. Three plotters, including Claus von Stauffenberg, who planted the unsuccessful bomb, were executed in the command's courtyard the same night. Today the museum documents not only this story, but that of other resisters of the Nazi regime, including artists, clergymen, and people distinguished by their moral fiber.
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Gedenkstätte Plötzensee
Surrounded by blossoming trees and peaceful lakes, Plötzensee seems a pleasant place on first appearances. Yet Plötzensee prison was the scene of some of the most monstrous crimes in the Third Reich. Over 2,500 political prisoners were executed here in 1933-45, including the members of the July 1944 bomb plot to assassinate Hitler (see Gedenkstätte deutscher Widerstand). Hitler ordered that the plotters be hanged with chicken wire so that they would be slowly strangled rather than dying quickly of a broken neck. He then watched films of the executions at his home in the evening. Of all Berlin's memorials to Nazi crimes, Plötzensee is perhaps the most horrific and the most chilling. The main building is still used as a prison for young offenders, but the execution chamber has been turned into a museum.
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Gemäldegalerie
Beginning in the glass-roofed central courtyard, visitors can move at will through every epoch of art from the medieval era to the 18th century. Each section is divided from the others by different coloured partitions, yet there are also views which allow visitors to see the relationship between works from different eras. This museum in the Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt is considered by many to be Berlin's prettiest square. Flanked by the twin churches Georg-Kolbe-Museum
This museum is located in the former home of Georg Kolbe, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest sculptors of the early twentieth century. His works draw heavily on the natural human form, while later sculptures were influenced by Nazi ideology. The museum contains over 200 sculptures and 1,500 sketches, as well as his original sculpting equipment, furniture and other personal effects. Admission: EUR 3
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Glienicker Brücke
For decades it bridged the River Havel without ever really connecting one side with the other. This was where West Berlin ended and East Germany started, the inpenetrable Iron Curtain drawn through the middle of the bridge. During the Cold War, this was the place where spies were exchanged on foggy November mornings. Then suddenly, ten years ago, this majestic construction underwent a sudden changed of image - becoming one of the most potent symbols of reunification: A bridge that connected and unified. Situated between Berlin and Glockenturm des Olympiastadions
Although just 77m high, the Görlitzer Park
Once the site of one of Berlin's main railway stations, the whole area was reduced to rubble during the War and remained that way until being transformed into a park during the 1980s. The eighties weren't known for their beautiful landscape gardens, as is clear from this example, but Görlitzer Park is full of life and is a popular weekend retreat for Kreuzberg's multi-ethnic community, when it becomes a football field, a dance floor, a picnic spot and meeting place for families and friends.
The only architectural feature worthy of mention is the Pamukkal Turkish fountain. Built in 1998, the fountain has recently been turned off due to technical problems. Typical! More »
Gotisches Haus
Built in the mid-fifteenth century, the Gothic House is one of historic Admission: free More »
Großer Wannsee
Take a day to rejuvenate from a busy vacation while soaking up rays from the sun on the shoreline of the Großer Wannsee, the great lake of western Berlin. Relax on the beach while the waves lap over your feet and your kids swim in the water. If you're looking for more adventure, rent a sail boat or sign up for one of the two hour boat cruises that take you on a tour around the lake. Your kids can take a ride on the slide over the water, or grab an ice cream cone at one of the shops on the promenade while you spend time people watching, as this place gets busy when the sun comes out!
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Gründerzeitmuseum
The Gründerzeitmuseum, located deep in Eastern Berlin, is a veritable treasure trove of exquisite items from the period of enormous industrial expansion in Germany, known as the Gründerzeit (late 19th to early 20th century). Those on the trail of Berlin's Golden Twenties, as portrayed in the classic film Cabaret, will find what they are looking for here. There is also an exhibition about the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Admission costs EUR3.
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Grunewald
As well as being the largest forest within city limits, Grunewald is also an up-market residential area full of beautiful villas built by merchants, scientists and artists who flocked to this leafy district in the mid 19th century. Exclusive Koenigsallee, for example, is home to numerous plush lodgings, including the home of Walther Rathenau, the Weimar Republic's Minister of Foreign Affairs who was assassinated by right-wing radicals in 1922.
Nowadays, Berliners flock to Grunewald to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Perfect for a long, relaxing walk or an energetic bike ride, the forest is rich in wildlife, home to wild boar, deer, foxes and a stunning variety of birdlife.
In the summertime, thousands of Berliners head for the water at
Architectural highlights tucked away in the forest include the 15th century
GSW-Hochhaus
During the planning phase of the 21 storey GSW Tower in Kochstraße, Berlin's old newspaper quarter, critics joked about the "GSW banana". Despite its strange crooked shape, the building has now won over many of its critics. Standing in front of the building, visitors are awed by the shiny, slightly transparent and subtly curved building which towers high into the Berlin sky.
The most prominent characteristic of this 1999 architectural highlight, designed by the Anglo-German team of Mathias Sauerbruch and Louisa Hutton, are the multi-coloured sun blinds on its concave Western front. In the afternoon sun, the whole building is transformed into an orgy of pink, apricot and mauve. An optical delight! More »
Gutshaus Steglitz
In 1800, long before the days of high-rise tower blocks and motorways, a high ranking Prussian official erected a small palace for himself in Steglitz, a small town in the countryside far away from Berlin. In the middle of the 19th century, the neoclassical masterpiece passed to Field Marshal Wrangel, and became known as Wrangelschlösschen (Wrangel's Palace). Recently renovated, the palace now contains facilities for cultural events and art exhibitions.
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Gutshof Gussow
Located just 40km from Berlin, the village of Gussow is a popular day trip destination for families. You can hire rowing boats, pedal boats and motorboats on the lake, or if you prefer, you can simply sit in the secluded café on the shore. The Gutshof Gussow show farm should be of particular interest for children, with its cows, sheep, goats, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs. Groups can explore the area in a horse-drawn coach. A children's play area has swings, slides and a half-buried tractor-tyre. There is also a snack bar.
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Gutspark Marienfelde
Small yet phenomenally elegant, Alt-Marienfelde's manor house was redesigned in the mid-19th century according to the fashion of the day. The modernisation of the medieval house included the building of an "English garden" with fountains, statues, gravel walkways and long stretches of lawn. The garden has now been turned into a beautiful public park and is a popular destination for day-trippers. Most people combine a visit to the park with a walk around the historic village and Hackescher Markt
In the early 19th century, Hackescher Markt was still a muddy swamp situated outside Berlin's city gates. Yet as the industrial revolution gained hold, new businesses and booming industries set up shop here, bringing wealth and prosperity to the whole area. Prominent examples of companies which started out in Hackescher Markt include Aschinger Brewery and Wertheim department store.
Hackescher Markt's main claim to fame is, however, its S-Bahn station. Constructed at the height of the railway boom in the late 19th century, with a red-tiled facade, mosaics and rounded windows, this is one of Berlin's most attractive stations. Originally known as 'Bahnhof Börse' (Stock Exchange Station) because of its proximity to the Berlin Stock Exchange, the square in front of the station was renamed 'Marx-Engels-Platz' by party apparatchiks during the socialist era.
Nowadays, the station is used primarily by visitors to the nearby Hackesche Höfe complex, a labyrinth of courtyards brimming with cafés, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. A cinema,
Hamburger Bahnhof
This museum was founded in 1996, and has a rich and varied collection. Intended to present modern art in all its forms, from paintings and sculpture to installations, music, and performances, it began as a state-run exhibition space for famous German collectors. As a result, its most famous exhibitions are tied directly to some of these selfsame men, including the Erich Marx collection, the Joseph Beuys Media Archive, and the sometimes controversial Flick Collection, comprising more than 2500 pieces. The museum is easily the most important museum of modern and contemporary art in the city, and well worth the visit.
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Hanf Museum
Allegedly the largest hemp museum in the world, the Hanfmuseum documents the cultivation of hemp from centuries past to the present day. The uses of hemp are vast - from medicine and agriculture to textiles and industry - and the museum provides a fascinating insight into the legal (and not so legal) uses of the multitalented plant. There is also an interesting section on the uses of hemp in other cultures. Museum offers English guides/translations. Admission costs EUR3.
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Hans Wurst Nachfahren
This puppet theatre was only founded in 1993, but it has already gained a place in the hearts of its pint-sized audience. There are puppets of all kinds, including hand puppets, marionettes and Japanese bunraku puppets. The programme features classic fairy tales, home-grown pieces and several plays in English and French. Admission costs from EUR3.50 to EUR11 and concessions are available. See Web site for current programme and more information.
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Hansaviertel
During the Cold War, competition between East and West Berlin was intense and extended into all fields. When East Berlin authorities transformed The area to the north of the
Hasenheide
A broad park located between the districts of Kreuzberg, Neukölln and Tempelhof, Hasenheide offers a host of attractions for all the family: Wildlife enclosures, rose gardens, children's playgrounds, a mini-golf course and an open-air cinema. Several lawns, separated from one another by long lines of trees, are perfect for a summer picnic, kite flying or a game of football with the locals.
The park is particularly popular with the Turkish community who meet here at weekends for lavish barbecues, as well as with groups of musicians jamming under the birches. Unfortunately, the southern part of the park is also popular with drug dealers, although they'll leave you alone if you don't show any interest. More »
Haus am Kleistpark
Just a single palm tree reminds you of the building's past. Haus am Kleistpark used to house the museum attached to the nearby botanical gardens at Haus am Lützowplatz
From the abstract sculpture which stands outside the building to the futuristic steel stairway which leads up to the entrance - you can tell that this is an arty place. The oldest building in the area left standing after the War, Haus am Lützowplatz is a mixture of apartment house and city villa. It has generously sized rooms with high ceilings and polished wooden floor boards which are perfect for exhibitions. The nearby bars and cafés (eg. Haus am Waldsee
Situated on the banks of Waldsee lake in Zehlendorf, Haus am Waldsee is a villa in the style of an English country house. As well as organising exhibitions of well-known 20th century and contemporary artists, the gallery concentrates on themes and contemporary issues, with a particular emphasis being placed on Eastern European art.
There is also a reference library, a café with internet access and an open-air stage used for theatre and film presentations.
Guided tours: 4pm every Sunday. More »
Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Built in 1957 as the American pavillion for the International Exhibition of Construction and Design, the building fondly known by Berliners as the "pregnant oyster" (because of its curiously-shaped roof) is today home to the House of World Cultures. The building was used as a congress centre for many years, yet when the roof collapsed in 1980, its future was more than uncertain. Eventually, however, it was rebuilt for Berlin's 750th anniversary celebrations and today serves as a centre for ethnic art and culture with regular exhibitions, concerts, congresses and theatre performances.
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Haus des Lehrers
Although plans are afoot to radically redesign Erected in 1964, the building represented a break with the monumental architecture of the Stalin era (see
Hausvogteiplatz
This triangular shaped square used to be part of the medieval city ramparts, which is where its unusual shape comes from. During the heady days of the 1920s - when Berlin led the world in fashion and design - Hausvogteiplatz was an internationally renowned centre of haute couture. As much of the fashion business was run by Jews, this was soon put an end to by the Nazis after they seized power in 1933. Much of the square was destroyed in the War, yet what has survived has been carefully restored. Today, Hausvogteiplatz is home to various television companies.
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Helmholtzplatz
Home to countless lounge bars, sushi bars and tapas bars, Helmholtzplatz is the latest addition to Prenzlauer Berg's booming nightlife scene. Once occupied by drunkards and other down-and-outs, the square has recently been cleaned up and relandscaped, making it a pleasant place to come during the day, and not just at night. The neighbours still dream of the peaceful past, but their protests drown in the laughter of the young people sitting on the terrace, drinking caipirinha and guzzling down olives.
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Helmut Newton Stiftung
Berliner Helmut Newton, a photographer with a rich history in fashion and with numerous commendations and awards from all over Europe, donated thousands of his photographs to his hometown. The Helmut Newton Foundation was legally established in 2003, but was not open to the public until shortly after his death in 2004.
Newton's photos (and his wife June's) are visible on the ground and first floors of the building that the foundation shares with the Museum of Photography. The museum's main exhibition galleries are on the second floor, and its changing exhibits, together with Newton's work, make this a must-see museum for anyone with an interest in photography. More »
Hertha BSC
With a wealth of tradition, phenomenal popular support and one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the country, Hertha BSC can justifiably claim to be Berlin's premier football club. Founded in 1892, Hertha's fortunes have risen and fallen with the city which it calls its home. After drifting in and out of the Bundesliga (Germany's premier division) for much of the 1970s and 1980s, the fall of the Berlin Wall proved to be a turning point for the club. Sensing that the new German capital needed a top-flight football team, private investors pumped millions of Euro into the ailing club during the 1990s. And this is now beginning to bear fruit. Hertha achieved promotion to the Bundesliga in 1997 and now have a team capable of competing with Europe's best. Major signings have brought the crowds pouring into the Hochbahnhof Schlesisches Tor
Elevated high above ground level in a lively part of Kreuzberg, Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn station is one of the most attractive stations in the city. Bestowed with beautiful Romanesque arches and towering stone columns, wooden bay windows and riveted iron beams - this 100 year old construction unifies Gothic, Renaissance and industrial elements.
Situated at the end of the line in West Berlin, this used to be the place where the West ended and the East began. Yet nowadays, the trains continue eastward over the
Holocaust Memorial
Sixty years after World War II, the city of Berlin unveiled its monument to the Jewish victims of the crimes of the Third Reich. An international symbol of German atrocities, this controversial Holocaust memorial, located next to the Brandenburger Tor and near the buried remains of Hitler's undergeround bunker, was more than 15 years in the making. Designed by U.S. architect Peter Eisenman, the memorial's grid of 2,711 gray concrete slabs covers a vast area in the heart of Berlin. The slabs, or stelae, stand at varied heights of up to 15 feet, creating the sense of a stark concrete forest, through which visitors can wander on uneven cobblestone pathways. The memorial has sparked fierce discussion and controversy. Critcs argue that the abstract design and the failure to acknowledge the Third Reich's other, non-Jewish victims might alienate visitors to the multi-million dollar project. Regardless, this memorial definitely deserves a visit. An underground visitor center (Ort der Information) offers background information, admission is free of charge.
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House of the Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was the place where the genocide perpetrated by the Nazis on the Jews came to a horrific end. The 'final solution', meant deporting European Jews to the East to be murdered. The memorial has three sections: a permanent exhibition, the Educational Department that organises one-day workshops and seminars, and the Joseph Wulf Library that contains extensive information on the Nazi regime and the plight of the Jewish people. Catch the exhibition before it closes from Ocotber 2005 to January 2006.
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Hugenottenmuseum
In the late eighteenth century, about 20,000 protestants fled France after the nullification of the Edict of Nantes (which tolerated the Huguenots). An edict of 1685 invited them to settle in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg. The Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
The Humboldt University is the oldest of Berlin's three universities. Originally planned as a palace for King Friedrich II, the king eventually decided give the building to his brother Prince Heinrich and to move into his beloved ifa-Galerie Berlin
The IFA (Institute for Foreign Relations) is a private association which aims to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between nations. Besides other activities (seminars, publications and a library), the organisaton runs three galleries, one of which is in Berlin. The gallery exhibits works from the fields of performing arts, photography, architecture and visual arts. Recent examples of exhibitions include Brasilia (an example of meticulous urban planning) and New Tendencies in Rumanian Art.
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Insulaner
Quite close to the border between three districts, Schöneberg, Steglitz and Tempelhof, the Insulaner leisure park rests on a hill. At the top there is an observatory, and lower down a minigolf course. Children meet here whenever it snows to go sledging. In spring and autumn this is a good place for flying kites, and in summer, visitors usually just lie back and relax, or have a picnic. There is a play area just next to the main entrance to the park.
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Internationales Congress Centrum
The International Congress Centre (ICC) - Berlin's largest events venue - opened in the same year that Star Wars first appeared on the silver screen. And funnily enough, the ICC looks amazingly similar to some of the spaceships shown in the seventies science-fiction classic. Berliners like to compare it to many things and the building is also fondly (or less fondly) known as 'Noah's Ark' or 'Battleship Charlottenburg'. More beast than beauty, it is the perfect match for its immediate environment: a tangle of concrete bridges, tunnels, motorways and railway tracks.
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Internationales Design-Zentrum
A stylish modern-day business district in Berlin's East End, Oberbaum City is Berlin's equivalent of the London Docklands - a new city quarter where freshly renovated factories and warehouses intermingle with modern glass and steel skyscrapers.
One of the first major institutions to move here in the 1990's was the International Design Centre (IDZ) which opened its new headquarters in a futuristic skyscraper extending out of an old factory building. Established in 1968, IDZ promotes the study of industrial design and organises conferences, lectures and exhibitions. Sometimes, however, the exhibitions only document design without analysing it thoroughly.
Admission: free More »
Islamischer oder Türkischer Friedhof
The Islamic cemetery on Columbiadamm was officially opened in 1866 by the German Emperor. Yet the oldest graves date back to the 17th century and commemorate ambassadors and high ranking officials from the Ottoman Empire. These were moved here at a later date. The cemetery, situated close to Istituto Italiano di Cultura
The Italian Cultural Centre organises regular exhibitions in collaboration with other German and Italian cultural institutions. Since moving from Mussolini's villa in Tiergarten to a new building on Askanischer Platz, the Centre now has much more space for exhibitions. The building, erected near Jagdschloss Grunewald
The hunting lodge of Electoral Prince Joachim II was designed and built by royal architect Caspar Theiss in 1540. Hidden away in the dense Jahn-Denkmal Hasenheide
If you enter Heading further up the hill, you'll come across a memorial to Jahn. It's slightly neglected, but nonetheless interesting. Dozens of marble slates surround the pedestal - these are greetings from Jahn's followers from all over the world - from Rio de Janeiro and Massachusetts, as well as from tiny little German villages which no one has ever heard of.
Don't miss the park after visiting the memorial! More »
Jüdischer Friedhof an der Schönhauser Allee
At the beginning of the 19th century, Berlin was still encircled by a medieval city wall. All cemeteries were situated in front of the city gates, as too was the Jewish cemetery. Established in 1827, it was located directly in front of Schönhauser Gate (nowadays Although the Nazis themselves did not completely destroy the cemetery, it was heavily damaged by fighting on the ground and an allied bomb, whose crater was converted into a mass grave during World War II.
The cemetery contains the graves of a number of well-known people including Bismarck's Minister of Finance Gerson von Bleichröder, composer Giacomo Meyerbeer, painter Max Liebermann and publisher Ullstein. Small stones are placed on the graves as a mark of respect. All the graves here are numbered, just like they are in all Jewish cemeteries, and if you look hard, you'll still be able to find grave no. 1!
Please make sure to cover your head when visiting the cemetery. More »
Jüdischer Friedhof Weißensee
With sand-coloured tombstones stretching as far as the eye can see, the world's biggest Jewish cemetery is reminiscent of a stony desert. Europe's biggest Jewish cemetery in Weißensee is more like a forest. Ancient trees, bent by age, tower over the ivy-covered tombstones. On the tombstones lie pebbles, placed there as a sign of respect by friends and relatives. Founded in 1880, the cemetery has a tinge of romance and would almost be an enjoyable place were it not for memories of Germany's horrific past. There is a tomb for the ninety torah scrolls destroyed by the Nazis in 1938 and a special memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
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Jüdisches Gemeindehaus
It was Heinz Galinski who brought life back to the Jewish Community Centre in the years preceding reunification. Located on Fasanenstraße in Charlottenburg, the building stands on the site of the synagogue destroyed by the Nazis in the 1930s. Only the portal survived Nazi terror and it is now integrated in the facade of the new building. The Community Centre hosts cultural events and includes a kosher restaurant and a library with 60,000 books.
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Jüdisches Museum
Located on the Lindenstraße, the Jewish Museum documents the history of Judaism and is a treat to all fans of architecture. The museum was designed by Daniel Liebeskind and is considered to be a masterpiece of modern architecture. The interior is made up of coarse concrete, which evokes a disconcerting and raw feeling. It has no straight corners, recalling the twisted contours of a horrific explosion. The structure of the building also creates a disturbing atmosphere, making one's impression of the realities of the Holocaust even stronger.
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Jungfernbrücke
The original Jungfernbrücke - built in 1798 - used to be Berlin's oldest bridge, but worries about safety meant that the Dutch-style drawbridge has had to be completely reconstructed. Spanning over an arm of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
Built in the late 19th century in honour of Kaiser Wilhelm I, this once magnificent church was gutted by fire after a British air-raid in November 1943. The only parts left standing were the nave and half a spire. Nowadays, the spireless ruin and the modern chapel next door provide the city with more than just a famous landmark - they are also a poignant symbol of the senselessness of war. The 'Stalingrad Madonna' in the futuristic blue-glass chapel next to the ruin is worth a visit, as is the exhibition documenting the history of the church on Karl-Marx-Allee
After the War, both the Eastern and Western sectors of Berlin began a massive reconstruction programme to repair the damage inflicted by war. In 1959, East Berlin's mayor, Friedrich Ebert, laid the foundation stone for a flagship building project - a monumental boulevard called Stalinallee. The street, named after the great Russian dictator, was to contain spacious apartments for workers, as well as a tourist hotel and an enormous cinema, known today as the Stalinallee immediately gained notoriety as the scene of a bloody revolt on 17th June 1953, when builders and construction workers demonstrated against the government. The rebellion was quashed with tanks and resulted in enormous loss of life.
Renamed Karl-Marx-Allee after Stalin's death in 1961, the boulevard is just as impressive today as the day it was completed. Lined with monumental eight-storey buildings in the wedding cake style popular at the time, it is also extremely broad - for a reason. The street needed to be wide enough to hold thousands of goose-stepping soldiers, tanks and other military vehicles for East Germany's annual May Day parade. More »
Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum
Just like the next-door Literaturhaus, Kathe Kollwitz Museum is located in a picturesque 19th century villa. But the works of the radical German artist (1867-1945), which deal with subjects such as misery, war and death, stand in breathtaking contrast to the cheerful and sunny exhibition rooms. As well as charcoal drawings, woodcuts and posters, an enormous collection of Kollwitz's sculptures is on display. Larger works are exhibited in the courtyard outside. A small gate leads to the Literaturhaus next door. Admission: EUR 4
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Kaufhaus des Westens
Paradise is on the sixth floor of KaDeWe department store. At least for gourmets it is. This is not necessarily a place where people come to stock up on their weekly groceries, but more to marvel at the sumptuous mountains of food on display. Here you will see Japanese tourists photographing cheese counters, businessmen drooling over wine racks and housewives studying fish displays as if they were admiring works of art in a museum.
Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Kaufhaus des Westens was regarded as the West's shop window in the East. The store took on a political role and was seen as a flagship of western culture. It remains one of the most important tourist attractions in western Berlin. More »
KdB Blumen & Galerie
Flowers are beautiful and so is art. So what could be better than a mixture of the two? The walls are decorated in pop art colours and filled with modern works of art which set off the flower arrangements so well that it seems a pity to buy them. All flower arrangements are lined up along the walls and sorted according to their predominant colour.
This simple elegance and attention to detail is a prime example of the changes taking place in the area around
Kinderbauernhof
Inside the alternative factory Ufa-Fabrik e.V., in the heart of Berlin Tempelhof, there is a children's farm, open all week except Mondays. The farm keeps ponies, wild pigs, ducks, geese and hens, two ferrets, rabbits and guinea pigs, and also has a pond and a play area for children, as well as fruit trees. There is also a cafe and a health food shop.
Opening times: 10am-5pm (in summer 6pm) Tue-Fri; midday-3pm Sat, Sun & holidays. More »
Kinderbauernhof am Mauerplatz
The concept behind Berlin's Children's Farm is to give city-dwelling kids the opportunity to get to know more animals than just dogs, cats and rats.
Built in 1981 by volunteers on a deserted site next to the Berlin Wall, the farm recently won a legal battle against property developers interested in the now priceless location in downtown Berlin. Groups of school children come here regularly to feed and tend for the donkeys, pigs, ducks and rabbits. There is also an "ecological garden" run by students of Berlin's Technical University. More »
Kinderbauernhof Pinke-Panke
Romantic Kinderbauernhof Pinke-Panke is in a park landscape, bordered by the small river Panke and in the district of Pankow. At set times, usually around 4pm, children can feed the pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and other birds, and the donkey. Potatoes are often baked on a campfire, and other specialities are cooked in the farm's own clay oven. A favourite attraction is the farm's broken down goods wagon.
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Kinderspielplatz Lohmühleninsel
Lohmühleninsel is a small island situated between the Landwehr Canal and the River Spree. Years ago, the island was a heavily mined death trap, situated as it was in no man's land between Kreuzberg in the West and Treptow in the East. Nowadays the landmines are gone. In their place the local council has planted trees and shrubs and created a wonderful children's playground with swings, see-saws, roundabouts, sand pits and climbing frames. Although the park lies on the edge of a neighbourhood with a reputation for being rough and dirty, the playground is clean, safe and idyllic.
Even the bridge across the river has been designed with kids in mind. Port-holes have been built into the bridge at children's eye level, giving the little ones great views over the river. The playground is divided into two sections. One section is for toddlers while the other contains an adventure playground for older kids. More »
Kleistpark
Until about 100 years ago, Kleistpark was the location of Berlin's botanical gardens. However, when the suburb of Schöneberg became part of the city itself, the gardens were moved further out to the district of Dahlem. The remaining area was turned into a park and the baroque colonnades which now form the entrance were moved here from their former home at Knoblauchhaus
The Knoblauchhaus is the oldest surviving house in Kollwitzplatz
This rectangular, leafy square in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg is surrounded by pristinely restored buildings and busy cafés. Named after a famous left-wing, anti-war artist (see Konzerthaus
Home to the Berlin Symphony and National Symphony Orchestras, the Konzerthaus on Kottbusser Tor
What is the link between the Hanging Gardens and the Orient Express? And where does Berlin fit in? Well, 'Orient Express' is the name Berliners give to the U1 subway line which crosses Kreuzberg, home to about 200,000 Turkish immigrants; and in the 1970s, city architects wanted to build a Hanging Garden at Kottbusser Tor, Berlin's 'gateway to the Orient'. But dreams and visions don't necessarily become reality. What was actually built was a concrete jungle whose dreariness is only offset by the oriental flair visible on the streets around Kottbusser Tor.
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Kronprinzenpalais
Connected to the Krumme Lanke
Situated in leafy Kulturbrauerei
The old Schultheiss brewery stretches out over a whole block close to trendy Kulturforum
Post-war urban planners loathed the gloomy, densely populated inner-city ghettos - relics of 19th-century poverty - which were until recently prevalent in most major European cities. They dreamt of open spaces and expansive city centres. With this goal in mind, architects began work in 1960 to construct a modern art and cultural centre in the heart of West Berlin. Scharoun's futuristic Philharmonie, Mies van der Rohe's Kunst-und Kulturhaus Knorre
Even the German Emperor was said to have put on his dancing shoes and practiced his quick-step in the Knorr dancehall. Back then, Knorrpromenade was a bourgeois outpost in the middle of Berlin's working class ghetto. At night-time, the street was shut by iron gates and protected from robbers by nightwatchmen.
A century later, Knolle is still highly fashionable. The dancehall has been turned into a cultural centre with a theatre, cabaret and concert hall. The lobby is used as art gallery and the restaurant still exudes the rustical charm of yesteryear with iron stools, coats of arms and medieval wall-hangings. More »
Kunst-Werke - Institute for Contemporary Art
Kunst-Werke, founded in the 1990's in a former margarine factory, functions as an intermediary between contemporary art and the public. Renovated in 1999, it has an area of 2,000 square meters and is spread over five floors. It does not have its own collection or any permanent exhibition. Instead, what you get to see are interesting exhibits, film screenings and musical performances; several workshops are also conducted. The venue also houses a café, which serves as an ideal spot for a short break. KW is also closely associated with the PS1-MoMA in New York.
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Kunstbibliothek
With a collection of over 350,000 books, the Kunstbibliothek is one of Germany's largest libraries devoted solely to art. The library also contains a broad collection of prints, photographs and posters, as well as putting on temporary exhibitions.
The library is well organised and well catalogued. Yet those wanting to borrow books will be disappointed - this is a reading library only. The reading rooms are pleasantly quiet and are perfect for study and research. A café and two museums (
Opening hours:
Exhibitions: 10am-6pm Tue-Fri 11am-6pm Sat&Sun
Reading room: 2pm-8pm Mon 9am-8pm Tue-Fri
Study room: 2pm-8pm Mon 9am-4pm Tue-Fri More »
Kunstgewerbemuseum
Founded in 1868 as a museum for modern design, the Museum of Applied Art didn't restrict itself to contemporary design for very long. In 1874 the Lüneberg silver collection was added, and in 1875, 7,000 items from the Royal Art Collection were brought here. The collection was divided up after the War, with some of it being moved to Schloß Köpenick and the rest to the present museum in the The museum houses a broad collection of European arts and crafts from the early medieval period to the present day. The exhibition includes furniture, costumes, porcelain, crystal, jewellery and metal work. Temporary exhibitions are occasionally organised. More »
Kunsthof
Once upon a time there was a backyard, grey and run-down. The paint was peeling off the walls, the buildings still littered with shrapnel marks from the War. In the basement was a simple bar where artists met to discuss life's injustices. That was then. But nowadays, this is the Kunsthof, a perfectly renovated arts and crafts centre. The walls have been rebuilt with sandstone, the window frames are painted in mint green. The courtyard is dotted with modern sculptures and fashionable boutiques selling Gucci and Versace. How times change.
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Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm dates back to the 16th century when Electoral Prince Joachim II constructed a path connecting his palace on Landwehrkanal
The Landwehrkanal was completed in 1850 after five years of construction. Designed by master landscape architect Lenné (also responsible for the The canal is the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Winding through the city, it is lined with trees and parks, and a cycle path follows its route. There are plenty of pleasant cafés along the way (particularly at Paul-Licke-Ufer) where you can stop for refreshments. More »
Luftschutzbunker Gesundbrunnen
The huge bunker which you'll see sticking out of a mountain of rubble in Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr
Gatow airport in the far west of the city used to be a Royal Air Force base before German reunification. British aircraft landed here with essential supplies during the Berlin Airlift of 1947/8. After Allied forces left Berlin in the 1990s, the German Air Force took over the base and promptly turned it into an aviation museum. Over 60 aircraft are on exhibit as well as uniforms and equipment covering a hundred years of German aviation. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum organises special exhibitions on topics related to military history.
Admission: free More »
Lustgarten
Situated on the banks of the Marienkirche
The ancient Marienkirche, built of rough stone and crowned by a copper green steeple, was first mentioned in chronicles from the year 1294. As such, it contrasts starkly with its surroundings - a series of spartan socialist monoliths towered over by the futuristic Märkisches Ausstellungs- und Freizeitzentrum
Located in the countryside 16km northwest of the city, the Märkisches Ausstellungs- und Freizeitzentrum is an agricultural centre spread over a 30-hectare site. It includes a zoo, several animal enclosures, a dairy, orchard, market garden, and much, much more. Special events like festivals, tournaments, exhibitions and concerts are organised throughout the year. If you fancy making a weekend of it, there are plenty of hotels and B & Bs in the area, as too are several riding schools which offer coach rides through the countryside.
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Märkisches Museum
The building itself is worthy of being in a museum. Ludwig Hoffmann was the architect responsible for constructing the Markisches Museum in 1899-1908, and succeeded in creating an absolutely new kind of museum. This is no place for boring dust-covered relics. Instead, the visitor is presented with an intriguing mixture of objects which cover the history of architecture in Berlin and Germany. Glancing through the windows at the park and the romantic courtyard, the guest may feel far away from modern-day Berlin. Built in red brick with Gothic and Renaissance allusions, the museum is perfect for those wanting a taste of those darkly romantic German castles described in fairytale books. Admission: EUR 4. The small park behind the museum contains a bear cage where visitors can admire Berlin's symbol in real life.
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Mauerpark
This one kilometre long strip of no man's land between the West Berlin district of Wedding and East Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg was turned into a park after the fall of the Wall. The park is hardly pretty, yet it is full of atmosphere and embued with history.
Situated on a slope which rises up to the Ludwig Jahn Sports Stadium, the park is crowned at its peak by a graffiti-strewn concrete wall. Modern art installations are dotted around the park - typical Berlin pieces made of metal and concrete. The view to the west is dominated by grey high-rise buildings, to the east by the threatening
Max-Liebermann-Haus
The original structure on this site, an impressive neo-classical townhouse, belonged to Max Liebermann, the impressionist painter. Liebermann died in 1935, and his home was destroyed during the War. The current building, designed by Josef Paul Kleihues, was built in 1996, and houses art exhibitions organized by the privately run Brandenburg Gate Foundation (Stiftung Brandenburger Tor).
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Mehringplatz
There wasn't much left of Mehringplatz after the War - just a baroque band stand and an old victory column. City planners saw their chance and in the sixties, Mehringplatz became an architectural test-run for urban planners keen to create a modern, futuristic city. The result: Concrete housing blocks arranged in circles around concrete pedestrian areas. Great. Just compare this to the lovingly restored historic quarter around nearby Mexikoplatz
All over Berlin, you'll see nostalgic picture postcards showing how beautiful the city looked a century ago - before being bombed to bits during the Second World War. Mexicoplatz is a living reminder of how pretty this 750 year-old city used to be. The square is adorned with dozens of graceful buildings, erected between 1905-10 in the "country house style" that was all the rage at the time. The main attraction is one of Berlin's most attractive Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings, the entrance hall of the S-Bahn station, which survived the War virtually unscathed.
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Mies van der Rohe Haus
This small and unassuming house on the shores of Lake Obersee is the last building designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe before his emigration to the USA. After the War it was used by the Soviet army as a garage and later as a wash-house. In 1977, East Berlin authorities declared it a historic monument. In 1998, the artist Günter Uecker installed an exhibition depicting the changes undergone by the house over the years. Besides this permanent exhibition, the museum also shows temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
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Mori-Ogai-Gedenkstätte
There are some sights in the city that many Berliners have never even heard of - and the Mori Ogai Museum is one of them. Japanese tourists, however, flock in droves to see the house that the famous Japanese scientist, writer and poet Mori Ogai lived in during his stay in Europe.
Ogai worked in the field of bacteriology with the great German scientist Robert Koch and later wrote novels and short stories about his experiences in Europe. He was also the first person to translate Goethe's "Faust" into Japanese. The museum contains original furniture, a library and a conference room which is regularly used for exhibitions of Japanese art.
Admission: free More »
Moschee Brienner Straße
Berlin was a multicultural city long before the Doner Kebab took over the mantle as Berlin's favourite fast food snack. Built in 1927 to cater to the city's growing Islamic community, this mosque - located in the well-to-do district of Wilmersdorf - is a picturesque example of classic Arabic design, surrounded by sober Prussian villas. The mosque caters predominantly to Berlin's large Turkish community.
Services: 1.30pm Fri More »
Müggelturm
In the late 19th century, district authorities erected a tower on top of the hill overlooking The tower is popular with day-trippers and the café/restaurant on the ground floor still exudes that inimitable East German flair. More »
Museum Berggruen
Situated opposite Charlottenburg Palace, this museum of modern art is named for Heinz Berggruen, one of Europe's most renowned art collectors. His collection was acquired in the year 2000 and is now one of the five National Galleries.
Modern art is definitely the focus of the museum, which is not surprising since Berggruen was friends with many of the influential painters represented in the gallery. The heart of the collection is composed of more than 100 works by Picasso that span the length of his career.
Klee is also well represented, with more than 60 pieces. Works by Matisse, the sculptor Giacometti, and various other pieces from around the world round out the collection. Any serious fan of modern art should not miss this amazing collection or the classic building (built in the 1850s) in which it's contained. More »
Museum Europäischer Kulturen
The existence of this museum parallel to the Museum of Ethnology marks the continuation of the age-old European tradition of separating us (Germans/Europeans) from them (foreigners). The Museum of European Cultures explores the similarities and differences as well as the interconnections between European cultures, placing a significant emphasis on the use of symbols. The museum was conceived as part of the wider scheme of European integration, and was designed in co-operation with other European nations.
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Museum für Islamische Kunst
The Museum of Islamic Art is located in the Museum für Kindheit und Jugend
Times change and so do names. The museum formerly known as the School Museum is now dedicated to the more general theme of Childhood and Youth. There are plenty of objects on display, but the museum is lacking in space. Since the fall of the Wall, the museum has been provisionally located on the third floor of a rather ugly school building. Authorities are on the look-out for new premises, yet money is lacking. The small museum is mostly visited by enthusiastic groups of school children, who can try out old feather pens and wax writing slates, and admire the collection of 150 years-worth of children's paraphernalia. Admission: EUR 2
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Museum für Naturkunde
The Museum for Natural History is the largest and most important museum of its kind in Germany. The extensive collection provides a totally new perspective on the world of nature, the earth as a planetological and biological environment as well as the process of evolution. The museum was founded in 1810 and has since acquired a collection of over 20 million items. Everything about the earth is exhibited here - from minerals to meterorites. The highlight of the museum for both kids and so-called "grown-ups" is without doubt the dinosaur hall. Admission costs EUR3.50; concessions EUR2.
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Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst
The Museum of East Asian Art is divided into three different sections for China, Japan and Korea. Each section displays a wide selection of arts, crafts and archaelogical discoveries dating back to the early Stone Age. The treasures on view include ancient bronzes, early ceramics, jade works from ancient China, wood cuts (mainly from Japan) as well as a Japanese tea room built by Japanese carpenters. The video room and computer terminals are open to the public.
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Museum für Post und Kommunikation
Vistiors entering the museum are greeted by a friendly robot, which sets the tone for the whole visit. The rather dry-sounding Post Office and Communications Museum is in fact an impressive demonstration of the high-tech world of modern communications. While the history of communication is also dealt with, the emphasis is very firmly placed on the future. The "treasure trove" in the basement is full of surprises. Well worth a visit.
Admission: free More »
Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte
The Museum of Prehistory and Early History presents a comparison of occidental and oriental cultures from the beginning of human activity through to the medieval period. The collection is impressively broad and contains two major highlights - The awe-inspiring Collection of Trojan Antiquities, donated to the city by explorer Heinrich Schliemann (credited with discovering the ancient city of Troy) and Caucasus Collection, the largest collection of ancient metallic and ceramic objects outside the former Soviet Union. Both of these geographical areas are reckoned to be the cradle of humanity, yet both are difficult to define as either 'occident' or 'orient'. A thought-provoking collection.
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Museumsdorf Düppel
Museumsdorf D?lt;/i>, in the south of Berlin, has reconstructed a medieval village complete with thatched cottages, store houses, paddocks and stalls for farm animals such as pigs, oxen, sheep and goats. Smiths, potters, cobblers and weavers can also be found here, working with ancient tools and centuries-old techniques. Museumsdorf Duppel is open from the end of March until the beginning of October. Admission: EUR 1.50; children EUR 0.75
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Musikinstrumentenmuseum
From toy pianos and pocket violins to a mighty Wurlitzer organ - the Museum of Musical Instruments boasts a broad collection of classical and modern instruments and documents the history and traditions of European music.
Inside, however, there is nothing but silence. Just hundreds of intricately decorated cembalos, tiny flutes and lots of strange, long-forgotten instruments, all longing to be played. The late afternoon and evening is the time for music, with concerts taking place on a frequent basis. The Wurlitzer organ is brought to life every Saturday at midday. In fact, the whole museum was actually built around the organ, which you can inspect through the built-in windows in its body. More »
Neptunbrunnen
Strolling through the windswept square between the Neue Nationalgalerie
The distinctive rectangular structure of the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery) was designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1968. The museum houses a wide collection covering most of the 20th century's most significant movements. Included are works by Expressionists like the Brücke Group (see Neue Synagoge
This imposing building, with its striking golden dome, is one of Berlin's most instantly recognisable landmarks. Designed by architect Eduard Knoblauch in 1859, the synagogue was the centre of Jewish life in Berlin until the the night of 9th November 1938 (Kristallnacht), when it was attacked by Nazi stormtroopers. After an Allied air raid in 1943, the synagogue lay in ruins for around 40 years after the end of the war. It was then restored and reopened as a museum of Jewish culture on the fiftieth anniversary of Kristallnacht, in 1988. Admission costs EUR2.50; concessions EUR1.50.
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Neue Wache
Built in 1818, the Neue Wache on On the outside, this is one of the city's most outstanding examples of classical architecture. Yet the inside is bare, bar a lonesome a statue by Käthe Kollwitz of a mother holding her dead son. A moving symbol of the grief and tragedy of war. More »
NGBK - Neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst e.V.
The NGBK is a non-profit association founded in 1969, whose work focuses on subjects such as fascism and feminism as well as the function of art in modern society. Their work has slowly shifted from theoretical discourse to subjects dealing with the "irritations of everyday life". They also maintain two permanent work groups: The Photographic Workshop and the Realism Studio. The latter exhibits works by contemporary artists dealing with social issues.
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Nikolaiviertel
The Nikolaiviertel not only lies in the very heart of Berlin, it is the place where it all began. The first mention of Berlin in documents from 1251 referred to two settlements - Berlin and Cölln - situated opposite each other on the banks of the Destroyed during the War, many of the historic buildings were reconstructed for Berlin's 750th anniversary celebrations in 1987. Many are faithful reconstructions of the original buildings, while others are cheap concrete replicas - a sign that the East German government was slowly running out of cash. The baroque
Nollendorfplatz
When darkness closes in over Nollendorfplatz, life really gets going. In the 1930s, Nollendorfplatz was a centre of diversion and culture, home to artists and writers, with an almost Parisian flair. People came from far and wide to visit the popular Nordische Botschaften
Denmark, Finland, Island, Norway and Sweden joined forces in the late 1990s to build a brand-new "Scandinavian Embassy" in Berlin's Oberbaumbrücke
The buses are not the only double-deckers in Berlin. There is also a double-decker bridge, the Oberbaumbrücke, which spans the Ökowerk
The Ökowerk nature preservation centre has grown up around a historic waterworks dating from the 19th century. In the grounds, which look directly onto the Teufelssee, there are chickens, goats and ponds for frogs. There are beehives and demonstrations of how to grow herbs and create 'living fences'. Nesting boxes have also been set up, and in the evenings after the centre has closed, bats fly out of the 'bat bunkers'. Sheds and a large bread oven have been constructed out of clay and straw, and there is a snack bar. In addition, there is a number of special events such as guided tours, seasonal festivals, plant markets and seminars, although these take place mainly from spring through to autumn.
By car: drive to the end of the Teufelsseechaussee directly in front of the grounds. More »
Olympiastadion (FIFA World Cup)
Built by the Nazis for the 1936 Olympic Games, the Olympic Stadium conjures up memories of fanatical crowds of swastika-waving Germans and Afro-American Jesse Owens sprinting and leaping to four gold medals. Designed to impress the world, this monumental stadium is one of Berlin's best examples of Nazi architecture and aesthetics. The grounds are still dotted with sculptures of muscular young Aryans and bronzes of soaring eagles and it is easy to appreciate how this could inspire the crowds.
Whatever people may think of the stadium and its past, there is no doubting its atmosphere and it is well worth visiting the Olympic complex, which includes the
Although it was built to last 1,000 years, the stadium was found to have major structural problems and is currently being refurbished in preparation to host the 2006 World Cup finals. More »
Opernpalais / Operncafé
Situated next-door to the Oranienburger Straße
It begins with a ruin and ends with a ritzy entertainment complex: Oranienburger Straße stretches for just over a mile between the makeshift Tacheles cultural centre near Friedrichstraße and the fashionable Hackesche Höfe on Rosenthaler Straße. Between the two, almost every building is home to a bar, café, restaurant or club. And if you look skywards, you will see the beautiful golden dome of the Palais am Festungsgraben
Designed and built in 1751-52 by architect Christian Feldmann, a banqueting hall with high, painted ceilings and marble columns was added to the baroque palace as an afterthought in 1863. The Society for German-Soviet Friendship resided here during the socialist GDR era.
Nowadays, the Palais am Festungsgraben is an important cultural centre. The Theater im Palais on the second floor has daily performances and the banqueting room (Marmorsaal) may be rented for balls, parties, concerts or conferences. The Möwe restaurant organises cultural and culinary evenings every Monday. The palace also houses a pleasant tea room. More »
Panorama auf dem Daimler-Chrysler-Hochhaus
It takes a mere twenty seconds in Europe's fastest lift to get to the top of the Daimler-Chrysler Building on Paracelsus-Bad
High up in the north of Berlin, Paracelsus Bad offers not only a 25m-long heated pool and a sauna in Roman & Russian style, you will also find a large choice of fitness classes like aqua gym and other kinds of water gymnastics. There are separate times alloted for men, women and pregnant women - call for details.
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Pariser Platz
The pristine flower-beds and gushing fountains which fill historic Pariser Platz lend a touch of rural elegance to the urban jungle. Once known as "the Emperor's reception room", Pariser Platz has been the first stop on visitors' itineries since the 18th century. Located at the end of Berlin's grandiose boulevard, Parochialkirche
As the legend goes, the pealing of the Parochialkirche bells used to be so magical that the stone lions inside the church often roared in tune. Yet tragically, the famous belltower was destroyed in a wartime bombing raid and the ensuing fire left the rest of the church gutted. Because East German authorities lacked the funds to restore the baroque church, it was left as a ruin and turned into a furniture warehouse.
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Paul-und-Paula-Ufer
This lovely spot on the banks of the The view over to the other side of the bank clearly shows the changing face of Berlin: The Stralau peninsula, once upon a time an industrial sweat shop, is now being converted into a "riverside residential district". Très chic. More »
Pergamon-Museum
One of the best places in the world to see art from the Ancient Near East is the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The museum has fourteen rooms that showcase various collections from the Middle East, including the Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate used in the inner city center of Babylon in 575 B.C. Visitors can also view artifacts from the era of King Nebuchadnezzar II, as well as some of the earliest examples of writing in the world, believed to be from the fourth millennium. Before leaving the museum, visit the Vorderasiatisches Museum (Middle East Museum), located in the basement of the Pergamon Museum. Here, you can view the world's largest collection of Southwest Asian art. The collections range from the sixth millennium through the year 732, at the end of the Muslim Conquest. Both museums reveal incredible examples of architecture, sculptures, and reliefs from ancient Middle Eastern times.
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Pfaueninsel
Friedrich Wilhelm II had a soft spot for romantic castles nestling peacefully in the middle of the forest. In 1784, he commissioned a small castle to be built on this tiny, forested island on the River Havel, in the 'ruin-style' that was the fashion of the day among Europe's ruling classes. This is where he came to escape hectic court life and to liase with his mistress Countess Lichtenau. Three decades later landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné (designer of the Nowadays, tourists and day-trippers flock here to stroll around the beautiful gardens, inhabited by flocks of peacocks and dotted with ruins. A wonderful mix of romantic Prussian architecture and nature, Pfaueninsel ('Peacock Island') can only be reached by ferry from Nikolskoer Weg. It is a protected national environment, so there are no roads and smoking and cycling are forbidden. But picnicking is not - so bring a picnic hamper along if you fancy a summertime treat! The castle houses a small museum.
Admission: Ferry to island: EUR 1 Castle museum: EUR 2; concessions EUR 1 More »
Planetarium am Insulaner / Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte
The Planetarium am Insulaner lies between the districts of Schlerg and Steglitz, at the edge of a park. It was built in 1947, but has been updated with the latest technology. It is a few minutes' walk up the hill to reach the planetarium and the observatory. There are various shows and displays, some with a cultural theme. The telephone number above reaches a recorded message service giving information on the programme for the current month. Admission: EUR 4
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Postfuhramt
The richly decorated orange brick facade and the octagonal dome look like a Renaissance church or a prince's castle - but this beautiful building in Erected in 1875, the former post office is now used as a venue for exhibitions and lectures. While the facade has been restored to its former glory, the interior has been left untouched. But this somehow adds to the unique flair of this wonderful old building. More »
Potsdam
Only half an hour S-Bahn ride from Berlin, the magnificent baroque city of Potsdam is a magnet for day-trippers and a must for visitors with time on their hands. Located to the south-west of Berlin, Potsdam was founded in 993 and became the seat of the Prussian royal family in the 18th century. It is now the capital of the state of Brandenburg.
The grandiose baroque palace and landscape gardens of
Potsdam is also known for its film industry, in particular the
Potsdamer Platz
After the fall of the Wall in 1989, Potsdamer Platz turned from a deserted wasteland into Europe's biggest building site as urban planners worked to create an ultra-modern city centre in the middle of a reunited Berlin. The only remnants of old Potsdamer Platz are the historic Haus Huth and the majestic Hotel Esplanade ballroom, which has been cleverly incorporated into the Privatsynagoge
This synagogue is one of the few elements of Jewish history to remain in the suburb of Rosenthal and is used as a place of worship by the Beth Zion congregation. The synagogue was built in 1910 and can hold up to 500 people.
The interior of the synagogue was destroyed during the Fascist pogroms of 1938 and was used as a warehouse during the war years. The socialist East German era saw the synagogue taken over by a cosmetic manufacturer. Returned to the Jewish community after reunification, there is an inscription in Hebrew above the entrance which reads "this is the door that the just will pass through". More »
Prüss&Ochs Galerie
In 1997, after five years of organising exhibitions for Chinese artists in Europe and China, the Asian art fanatics Prüss and Ochs founded Asian Fine Arts Berlin. The owners organise their exhibitions according to the themes. The gallery displays works by over 70 artists from China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India and Indonesia. Some of the artists are residents of Europe or the USA, and there are several famous people who display their work here.
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Puppentheater-Museum Berlin
One of only four puppet museums in the country, this glass-roofed former sculptor's studio in Karl-Marx-Strasse contains over 300 different puppets. The puppets come in all shapes and sizes and from all over the world. Many puppets represent fairytale figures such as princes, devils or dragons. Come here and you'll be transported into another world! Admission: EUR 2,50
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Raab Galerie
The Raab Gallery opened a decade before the fall of the Berlin Wall, close to the border crossing at Heinrich-Heine Straße. The group of young artists who exhibited here in gallery's formative years (the Moritzplatzbewegung) were inspired by the vicinity to the Wall. Others were influenced by the Holocaust or by the student movement of the 1960's.
The gallery exhibits works by world-famous artists (eg. Francis Bacon, Jim Dine, Michael Tracy) as well as complete "unknowns". Worth a look in! More »
Rathaus Schöneberg
Schöneberg's best-known landmark was erected in 1911-14. The imposing city hall played a pivotal role in post-war politics, housing West Berlin's government between 1949-90. In 1950, the United States donated a copy of the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to the city, to celebrate the end of the Soviet blockade. This bell still hangs in the city hall's tower.
Yet Rathaus Schöneberg is best-known as the place where JFK proclaimed in front of 1.4 million Berliners "Ich bin ein Berliner." Meant to mean "I am a Berliner," his words actually translate as "I am a doughnut!" But it's the thought that counts, and Kennedy was (and still is) revered as a hero by the people of Berlin. After his assasination in 1963, the square in front of the city hall was renamed John F. Kennedy Platz. More »
Rehberge
Located in the northern districts of Wedding and Reinickendorf, this large city park boasts broad lawns, pretty ponds, well-equipped children's playgrounds and wildlife enclosures with wild boars, deer, sheep, goats, hens and geese. A perfect spot for a summertime picnic, there's plenty to do for all the family. The Rehberge is an ideal place for flying kites, and also contains a miniature toboggan run which is open in the winter months.
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Reichstag
The imposing Reichstag reflects Germany's past, present and future like no other building. It was constructed in 1884-94 as the parliament for Bismarck's German Empire and has seen decades of German history. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 work began to return the building to its original purpose with a glass dome added by British architect Sir Norman Foster. Visitors can now climb up to the dome and there is a panorama terrace, a photographic exhibition recounting the Reichstag's turbulent history and a rooftop restaurant.
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Renate
Sponsored by the district's Bureau for Cultural Affairs (Kulturamt Mitte), the legendary comic library has reopened in a new location. From Nick Knatterton to the Japanese Manga originals, this place stocks them all. Get your hands on your favorite comics in German, Italian, Spanish, French and other languages. You'll find historical comics, fanzines, magazines, art periodicals, comics for adults and for children, and underground comics here. Enjoy reading the book in the background of good music while seated in a pretty setting. The knowledgeable staff will help you with your queries. You can also borrow books for a monthly fee of EUR2.
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Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
No other square in Berlin has changed its name quite as often as Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. And that's saying something, because each new political regime in the German capital has traditionally set about renaming streets and squares after its own particular heroes.
Previously known as Bülowplatz, East German authorities renamed the square in the fifties after their favourite national hero, Rosa Luxemburg. The central point of interest on the square is the Volksbühne am Rosa Luxemburg Platz theatre, one of the liveliest and creative stages in Berlin. Equally popular is Babylon cinema, an independent cinema with a long tradition. More »
Ruine der Franziskaner-Klosterkirche
While plans are afoot to reconstruct the ruin of Schinkel's classic Originally constructed in 1260, the church used to be Berlin's most impressive Gothic building before being bombed to pieces during the Second World War. The stunning red brick arches and columns have no roof, no knave, no tower, no spire. They stand alone on a deserted plot of land which is currently used for open-air art exhibitions and theatrical performances. More »
Ruine der Künste
This is the black sheep of the family. Located in up-market Dahlem and surrounded by beautifully restored 19th century villas, the Ruine der Künste doesn't quite fit in. Instead of a pristine white facade, this particular villa has a peeling, reddish-brown facade dotted with shrapnel marks and bullet holes from the War. Only the wonderful garden can compete with the other palacial residences in this élite Berlin district. The Ruin of Arts - as it is called in German - is an interesting alternative to the art galleries in Mitte. The leafy green, upper middle class neighbourhood may not be as hip as Mitte, but the art is just as eye-catching.
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Sammlung Daimler-Chrysler
Huth House is the only historic building left on The fourth floor of Huth House contains the private collection of the US-German motor giant Daimler-Chrysler, including modern art works by the likes of Warhol, Kippenberger and Wesely. Don't get put off if you arrive and the main door is locked. Just ring the bell to get in.
Admission: free More »
Sammlung Hoffmann
The most interesting places are often the most difficult to find. A typical example is the Hoffman Art Collection, situated on the third floor of the building in the second courtyard in Sanssouci
Designed by architect Knobelsdorff along the lines of Versailles, Sanssouci is one of Europe's finest royal palaces and a must for any visitor. Built as a summer residence for Friedrich II, the king was so pleased with the result that he deserted his Berlin palace (Located on the outskirts of the city of
Admission: Palace and buildings: EUR 1-5 Park: free More »
Savignyplatz
Named after King Friedrich Wilhelm IV's Minister of Justice, Friedrich Karl von Savigny (1779-1861), this nostalgic, cobble-stoned square oozes old-world charm. Antique fans will enjoy rummaging through the antique shops, but the square and its adjacent streets are best known for being home to some of Berlin's most popular restaurants and cafés. Scheunenviertel
Known as the Scheuenviertel ("Barn Quarter") because of the barns that were built here to store hay in the 17th century, the area around Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz used to be the centre of the so-called "Eastern Jewish" community. Destroyed by stormtroopers during the Nazi era, few of the original buildings were left standing and the whole area fell into disrepair in the post-war years. Recently revamped and refurbished, the streets around Steinstraße, Mulakstraße and Gormanstraße are now home to numerous restaurants, cafés and bars providing sustenance to hungry and thirsty tourists.
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Schinkel-Museum
Friedrichwerdersche Church was built in 1830 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the architect who provided Berlin with some of its greatest neo-classical buildings including the Schinkels Bauakademie
A red brick tower -- part of Karl Friedrich Schinkel's Academy that stood here between 1836-1962, but which was pulled down to make space for the East German Foreign Ministry -- is now being reconstructed on the same spot where it stood 150 years ago. Ironically, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, the old East German Foreign Office became superfluous to requirements and was itself destroyed. How quickly times change.
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Schlachtensee
Situated on the edge of Grunewald forest, Schlachtensee is one of Berlin's most idyllic lakes. Within easy reach of the city centre (20 minutes train ride), the lake has crystal clear water which is perfect for swimming. The lawns and woodlands which surround the lake are wonderful for relaxing or having a picnic. An outdoor restaurant and snack bar offer a choice of refreshments, and there is also boat hire. A great place to spend a hot summer weekend!
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Schloss Bellevue
It's easy to understand why the German President was the first member of the government to officially move to Berlin after reunification. His residence is delightful, the beautiful baroque Bellevue Palace, situated on the banks of the The huge lawn behind the palace has been the venue of many a happy garden party, and - judging from the noise on certain Saturday evenings - it still is. Erected in 1785, Bellevue has been the symbolic residence of West German Presidents since 1959, even when Bonn was still the official capital of West Germany.
The modern building to the south of the palace houses the President's staff and is referred to by Berliners as the "presidential egg" because of its peculiar oval shape. More »
Schloss Cecilienhof
Situated in the lovely Neuer Garten in While extremely pleasant, Cecilienhof would be unremarkable were it not for its unique place in history. For it was here, in the heart of the humiliated Third Reich, that the four victorious Allied powers met in July and August 1945 to determine the future of Europe. The negotiations culminated in the signature of the Potsdam Agreement which demilitarised Germany and divided the country into different sectors, a precursor of Germany's later division into East and West.
Visitors can now view the delegates' chambers and the conference room - complete with an enormous round table made in Moscow especially for the event - where Stalin, Churchill, Truman & co haggled over the demarcation of post-war Europe. More »
Schloss Charlottenburg
Schloss Charlottenburg palace offers visitors a glimpse at life and culture in the late 17th century. Built with an Italian Baroque influence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Friedrich the third, the palace now functions as an archeology museum and gallery for one of the largest collections of French paintings in the world. After experiencing severe damage from World War Two, the palace and grounds have been restored and now are a popular place to relax and picnic for locals and visitors alike. The gardens, located just outside the palace, were constructed in 1788 in a French style that is still evident today. The gardens feature the Belvedere Teahouse, also built in 1788, and a mausoleum for Queen Louise, wife of Friedrich Wilhelm the third. If you desire a break from a busy tourist schedule, a visit to Schloss Charlottenburg is a must.
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Schloss Friedrichsfelde
This isn't one of Berlin's famous royal castles, but a splendid sight and well worthy of a visit in its own right. Built by a Dutch aristocrat in 1695, the ownership of the castle changed hands countless times over the centuries, as aristocratic families fell in and then out of favour with the ruling Prussian princes. Each time it changed hands, the palace was remodelled according to the fashion of the day. The last change was made by East German architects. Inside the palace, guests can admire the ornately decorated rooms graced with paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Lush and undulating gardens surround the palace.
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Schloßstraße
The first section of Schloßstraße is characterised by beautiful bourgeois houses with turrets and ornate gable roofs. Yet it is the section between the Shoppers will find here all that they could dream of - ritzy department stores, small family-run shops, fashion boutiques, supermarkets, banks, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema, Titania Palast. Schloßstraße has two or three U-Bahn stations, the most interesting of which is Schloßstraße station itself, a prime example of garish seventies architecture. More »
Schöneberger Dorfkirche
Just a century and a half ago, Schöneberg was a tiny little village located just outside Berlin's city gates. You can still find the old, sepia-coloured picture postcards which depict this idyllic rural setting - complete with rolling green fields and a baroque church.
Long since swallowed up by the big city, Schöneberg has now become one of Berlin's 23 districts and is today crowned by a modern
Schwartzsche Villa
Miles away from the museums and galleries of the city centre, the area around A new addition to the cultural scene is the Schwartzsche Villa. Although the building itself is old (erected 1895) and was previously used for administrative purposes, it was recently transformed into an arts centre and now functions as a venue for theatre performances, concerts and exhibitions. The villa is situated amidst beautiful parkland and contains a small café. More »
Schwules Museum
Opened in 1985, this museum is still one of a kind. Housed over three floors, it displays homosexual life in all its diversity. The museum itself is located on the ground floor. The first and second floors house the archives and library which boast a wide variety of books, magazines, photos and videos. All materials can be borrowed. Admission: EUR3.58; concessions EUR2.05.
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Shell-Haus
The Shell building rises high into the Berlin sky from the banks of the Siegessäule
Familiar to many from Wim Wenders' 1987 film "Wings of Desire," the view from the top of the 69 metre-high Victory Column is well worth the 285-step climb! Built in 1873 to commemorate Prussian military victories against Denmark, Austria and France, the Victory Column originally stood in front of the Reichstag, but was moved to its current location in the middle of the Simon-Dach-Straße
Friedrichshain's answer to Mitte's singuhr-Hörgalerie in der Parochialkirche
The magnificent Baroque The church has been the venue for the singuhr-hörgalerie "gallery of sound" ever since a group of young musicians took the place over in 1996. Sensual sounds now reverberate around the ruins at night-time, sounds which transcend the borders of tradtional music and bring the old church back to life. To date, 21 different pieces have been performed to great popular acclaim. More »
Sony-Center
The dancing fountains and the superb cupola made of large triangular sails sublimely poised in midair above the central plaza attract thousands of tourists to Sophie-Gips-Höfe
Berlin is famous for its courtyards. Virtually every pre-war house in the city is built around a central courtyard. Some buildings (particularly in the Eastern districts) have up to three or four. Many of these Hinterhöfe have been renovated in recent years and are now filled with bars and cafés, shops and galleries.
A fine example is the Sophie-Gips-Höfe complex, situated in the historic quarter between
Sophienstraße
In 1987, both East and West Berlin undertook extensive projects to pep up the city for its 750th anniversary celebrations. Besides the reconstruction of the nearby Sowjetisches Ehrenmal im Treptower Park
This imposing communist monument was built in memory of the 20,000 Soviet soldiers who died during the battle for Berlin in 1945. It took 1,200 workers over three years to build (1946-9) and is constructed from the granite which had been previously ordered by the Nazis for their own victory monuments. Located in leafy Sowjetisches Ehrenmal Tiergarten
Not a tree was left standing in the Actually situated in the Western military sector during the Cold War, many a baffled tourist has stood beneath the Soviet memorial, worried as to how he unwittingly got into the enemy sector. More »
Spandauer Forst
Spandau forest is located between Berlin and Potsdam, just north of the Spandau suburbs. Over 1,000 hectares in size, the forest contains several children's playgrounds, picnic areas and a number of nature reserves which are full of interesting flora and fauna. Of all Berlin's forests, Spandau has the largest number of animal species, including 75 per cent of all Berlin's bird life.
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Spiegelwand
Erected in 1994, this memorial commemorates all the Jews who were deported from the district of Steglitz to the concentration camps in Eastern Europe between 1942-45. The list contains the names, addresses and dates of birth of some 1,723 Jews, few of whom ever saw their homes again. The names are written on a mirror, which reflects the comings and goings on the street outside. The point made here seems to be that life goes on, but that there should be no forgetting.
The synagogue next to the monument was destroyed by Allied bombs during the War, but has since been rebuilt. More »
Sportpalast
The Sport Palace - a famous 1930s sports arena used for cycling races and boxing fights - gained notoriety when Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels called for "total war" here in 1939. Although it survived the bombing raids of World War II, the Sportpalast was eventually knocked down in the 1970s to make way for an enormous council housing block known by locals as the Welfare Palace. Interestingly, the tower block incorporates an enormous Second World War air-raid shelter in its lower floors, as the shelter proved completely impossible to knock down. The shelter was also used as the backdrop for film director Wim Wenders' cult movie Wings of Desire.
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Spree
Many of the city's most important buildings and historical sights are situated on the banks of the River Spree. Examples include the 13th century Broad paths along the Spree make it ideal for a peaceful stroll, best of all through parks like the
However, the river is at its most attractive in the Spreewald, a beautiful biosphere reserve 50 miles south-east of Berlin. It is here that the river splits into hundreds of canals and streams, surrounded by rainforest. An extremely popular day-trip destination, the Spreewald is also home to Germany's minority Sorbian community, well-known for their colourful costumes and lively festivals. Information on the Spreewald can be obtained from the Spreewald Fremdenverkehrsverein (Tel +49 35 423668). More »
St. Peter & Paul auf Nikolskoe
The Church of St.Peter and St.Paul is one of King Friedrich Wilhelm III originally ordered his architect to design a Russian-style church, but the fashion-conscious architect stubbornly insisted on constructing a neo-Roman building with a distinct Mediterreanean touch - the current flavour of the day. Only the belltower with its golden onion dome displays any allusions to Russia. The interior is decorated with Byzantine frescos, a rarity in Germany. Nowadays the church holds frequent organ concerts during the summer months. More »
St.-Annen-Friedhof
This small, tranquil and leafy cemetery is the resting place of a number of personalities who have had a great influence on the development of modern Germany. Those buried here include Helmut Gollwitzer, an important Lutheran theologian; Edwin Redslob, founder of the The most visited grave here, however, is that of the charismatic leader of the 1967/8 student revolt, Rudi Dutschke. Dutschke died in 1979, ten years after an assasination attempt which had left him crippled. More »
St.-Hedwigs-Kathedrale
Berlin boasts a total of four cathedrals: Three protestant cathedrals and the catholic St.Hedwig´s Cathedral on St. Hedwig's Cathedral, with its eye-catching copper-green dome, was based upon the design of the Roman Pantheon. Destroyed during World War II, it was completely rebuilt between 1952 and 1963. The building is dedicated to wartime Bishop Bernhard Lichtenberg, who spoke out against the Nazi regime and paid for it with his life. More »
St.-Matthäi-Kirche
Simple, yet exotic and full of life, the orange-hued St.Matthew's church was built in 1845 by August Stoerbaute whose design was obviously inspired by early Christian and Byzantine churches. Seriously damaged during the War, the exterior of the church has since been fully restored. The interior remains bare, yet it is still worth going inside as the church tower offers a wonderful panorama over Berlin's rooftops and the nearby St.-Thomas-Kirche
When this late-classicist period building was completed in 1869, the protestant community of St.Thomas was one of the world's largest Christian communities with over 150,000 members. Today, the community consists of just 2,000.
The church was constructed in the form of a Latin cross, with a 56 metre-high dome and two imposing towers. The interior, however, is relatively plain and barely worthy of mention if it were not for one particular detail: The "Shroud of Kreuzberg", which was created by the community's children and adults in 1989. The legendary riots which take place near here on 1st May every year are also depicted. More »
Stadtbad Lankwitz
Stadtbad Lankwitz has made a name for itself among Berliners as a pleasant alternative to the better-known blub swimming baths. Prices here are very reasonable, the atmosphere is friendly and the pool is lit by lots of natural light which streams through the large French windows. There are six different pools: A standard 25m pool, a pool for non-swimmers, a paddling pool, a fun pool and two whirlpools. Apart from starting blocks you'll find 1 m and 3 m spring boards as well as a large slide (60 meters) and a smaller slide designed for kids. The children's pool is heated to 32° C, offering super conditions for the little ones to splash around in. The feel-good atmosphere is rounded off by the numerous plants and chaise-longues where you can relax and take it easy. And if all that swimming, sliding and diving has made you hungry, there's a bistro where you can fortify yourself with refreshments.
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Stadtbad Mitte / Russisch-Römisches Dampfbad
If you want to sweat alongside young and hip Berliners, this sauna is the place to go. With its very reasonable prices, it attracts a lot of students. It features both a hot sauna and steam bath, a diving pool and lounging chairs. The lack of an outdoor terrace and other resting facilities is partly compensated for by the beautiful art nouveau interior designed by famous German artist Max Pechstein. By the way: in German saunas people sit naked - you should bring two big towels, a bathrobe and bathing slippers.
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Stadtbad Neukölln
When Neukolln municipal swimming bath was opened in 1914, it was hailed as one of Europe's most beautiful bathing houses. A relict of a more glamorous epoch, the neo-classical interior design seems slightly out of place in the modern, working-class district of Neukolln. Indeed, the sober facade of the bathing house does not entirely prepare you for what you will find inside. Corinthian columns, bronze gargoyles and multi-coloured mosaics make for a sensual swimming experience, similar to bathing in a traditional Roman bath. During the winter months the baths are also home to Pepito the parrot, who spends the cold season here, moving to Wannsee beach during the warmer summer months. The only disadvantage is that this is not a place for serious swimmers. The two pools are just 20 and 25 metres long and are often full of school children and pensioners. The Stadtbad Schöneberg
Not far from Stadtbad Wilmersdorf
Stadtbad Wilmersdorf is a simple but pleasant swimming pool. The complex includes a standard 25m pool with six lanes (one of which is reserved for sports swimmers), 1m and 3m spring boards, a pool for non-swimmers, a tanning studio and sauna.
If you like it permissive, you should come on Monday evenings (7pm-11pm) when it's nudists' time!
There is also a bistro offering typical Berlin refreshments such as beer and currywurst sausage to replace all the calories you've just burned. More »
Stadtpark Steglitz
Stadtpark Steglitz is located close to the Teltow Canal and the district of Lankwitz. This scenic, peaceful park contains several duck ponds, fountains and children's playgrounds, where an old steam roller is the main attraction. Perfect for a relaxing stroll or afternoon out with the kids, a mini-golf course, kiosk and restaurant complete the park's list of attractions.
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Stadtschloss Berlin
An intense debate has been going on for years as to whether the Royal Palace should be reconstructed, and now it finally will be. There are plans to make a hotel out of the Palace, with shops and a business center. Built in 1451, the magnificent palace was the residence of the Prussian royal family for centuries. Badly damaged during the War, the East German administration demolished the building in the 1950s, not because the structural damage was irreparable, but because the palace was a much-maligned symbol of 'imperialism'. The space created was used for the East German equivalent of Red Square, known as Schloßplatz, which is dominated by the The only part of the palace which survived demolition is the famous portal from which Karl Liebknecht proclaimed a Free Socialist Republic in 1918. The portal was moved a few hundred metres and integrated into the Staastsratsgebäude (see photo). Otherwise, visitors can see the foundations, recently unearthed by archaeologists, but they are a poor reminder of what once was. More »
Stasi-Ausstellung
The notorious East German security police, the Stasi, used to secretly collect the "smells" of undesired people so as to be able to track them down with sniffer dogs later. Fantasy? Fiction? Not in the slightest. Big Brother is watching you! The lengths that the Stasi went to to control all aspects of life in East Germany were never too great. While some exhibits make you laugh, others are truly horrifying. And although not spectacular, the exhibition will give you an insight into another unhappy chapter of German history.
Admission: free More »
Stiftung Starke
Königsallee winds its way through one of Berlin's most exclusive districts, past villas with Porsches parked outside, past golf courses and private parks, past small lakes and through the idyllic Story of Berlin
The Story of Berlin is just what it sounds like: the history of Berlin, from the first certified reference in 1237, through industrialization, the roaring 20s, a World War, and on up to the modern era. Two special attractions are the Berlin Wall exhibit, and a tour of a radiation-proof bunker built in the '70s in response to Cold War worries.
The museum offers interesting multimedia exhibits for the adults, and the kids can follow "Little Bear" and his friends to find interesting exhibits designed just for them. With such a wide range of history covered, there's sure to be something to fascinate and educate the intelligent visitor. More »
Strandbad Müggelsee
Built in the early '30s near Rahnsdorf, this is not Berlin's most central swimming pool, but an excursion to Müggelsee, the largest lake in the close vicinity of the German capital, is very worthwhile. Lean back in wicker beach chairs and watch the distant boats pass by, while children build their sandcastles and youngsters play volleyball.
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Strandbad Plötzensee
Located in the north of Berlin, between the districts of Wedding and Charlottenburg, Plotzensee is a popular summer hang-out. With lovely sandy beaches and long lawns to relax on, it's a hit with adults and kids alike. Deck chairs can be rented, there are children's playgrounds, a cafe, and a section of the beach is reserved for nudists.
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Strandbad Tegeler See
Tegeler See is a large lake located in the north of the city. The beach boasts wonderful white sand, long lawns for sunbathing and facilities for ball games in the summer. Kids have the choice of three water slides to shoot down, and there is a great playground located in a shady area. Nudists can get their kit off on a specially reserved part of the beach. All in all, a perfect place for a bit of summer fun!
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Synagoge am Kottbusser Tor
The huge orthodox synagogue on Fraenkelufer used to be the centre of orthodox Jewish life in Berlin. While liberal Jews frequented the Although completely destroyed during a wartime bombing raid, neither the bombs nor the Gestapo succeeded in putting an end to Jewish life on Fraenkelufer. Nowadays, there is a community centre and a smaller synagogue in an adjacent building. On the bank of the canal, one of the most beautiful spots in Berlin, a commemorative plaque recounts the synagogue's turbulent history. More »
Tegeler Forst
Although not as well known as Grunewald Forest in Berlin's south west, Tegel Forest in the north west of the city is equally attractive. With its hills, lakes, nature reserves and children's playgrounds, Tegel forest has much to offer. If you come at the right time of year, you can even pick berries and wild mushrooms here.
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Tempelhofer Flughafen
The destruction of many of Berlin's buildings during the War did not bother Hitler's architects. They wanted to transform the face of the capital in any case. One of the great projects that bears testimony to their megalomanic plans is Tempelhof Airport, built in the years 1936-1941. The brown stone building is over one kilometre long, and is one of the longest buildings in Europe. It was here that American cargo planes landed with food for starving West Berliners in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49. During the Cold War, it was an important US airforce base and remained Berlin's main airport until the opening of Tegel Airport in 1975. Nowadays, however, it is merely a minor airport concentrating on domestic and business traffic. Rumours of closure have circulated for years, but its location close to the new headquarters of the German government could yet save it.
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Teufelsberg
Rising 115 metres over Teufelsberg has now become a popular destination for adults and children out flying their kites or model aircraft. As it is extremely steep in places, Teufelsberg is also fantastic for sledging down in the winter. There is a car park in nearby Teufelsseechaussee. More »
Teufelssee
The small but attractive Teufelssee lies in the heart of leafy If you are coming by car, park at the end of Teufelsseechaussee, and walk for a few minutes along the path until you reach the lake. More »
Therme im Stadtbad Neukölln
The glorious Tiergarten Park
Stretching from the Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde
Opened in 1955, the Tierpark has less animals than the better-known Zoologische Garten in Charlottenburg, even though it is considerably larger. It covers 160 hectares and is notable for its beautifully landscaped park, not surprising given its location in the grounds of Friedrichsfelde Palace. Highlights are the elephant enclosure, the animals of prey, the tropical atrium and the bear enclosure. Snack bars, restaurants and play areas are all on site.
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Topographie des Terrors
Not much is left of the Gestapo's former headquarters in Wilhelmstrabe. Severely damaged by wartime bombing raids, the remaining buildings were torn down shortly after the end of the War. The Allied authorities wanted all traces of Germany's evil past to be destroyed as swiftly as possible. Excavations in the early 1980's brought the foundations to light - a long wall covered with pale white tiles - and a makeshift museum was immediately established on the wasteland close to Hitler's bunker. The Topography of Terror stands beside the Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Memorial (still in the planning phase) as one of Berlin's most important memorials to the darkest chapter of German history. Admission is free.
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Tränenpalast
Those who spent hours waiting in the gloomy East German customs clearance office at Treptower Park
Treptower Park was designed in 1880 and is nowadays split in two by the Puschkinallee which runs through its centre. One side of the park contains the imposing Treptowers
Three huge, human-like sculptures rise out of the water, and behind them loom four even huger buildings. Situated on the banks of the The main building is the headquarters of the collossal German insurance company, Allianz, and is home to its fantastic collection of modern art. Open to visitors once a month, art lovers can admire the works of twentieth century masters at heady heights and with fantastic views over the city. Occasionally, a light show turns the complex into an amazing festival of light. More »
U-Bahn-Linie 4
It's nothing particularly special to spend a few minutes watching ducks swim around a lake. But this is definitely slightly different if you're watching them from inside an underground station, as you can in U-Bahn-Museum
The U-Bahn Museum is relatively small when you compare it to the city's vast Unité d'habitation
French architect Le Corbusier became famous in Marseille and Nantes for his unique multi-coloured tower blocks. His only work in Berlin was built for the 1957 International Exhibition of Construction and is situated just a few blocks away from the Unter den Linden
Berlin's grandest boulevard stretches east-west for just over a mile between Schlossplatz and the Urban Dialogues: Laden-Kette
The Urban Dialogues Association is a charitable organisation which helps integrate the socially disadvantaged and the socially excluded into normal society. One of their most innovative projects has been to turn abandoned shops in poorer, run-down areas into cultural and artistic centres. A number of disused premises near Verborgenes Museum
Charlottenburg is a cultivated neighbourhood, a place to go shopping for antiques, books and fine wine. Yet the impressive turn-of-the-century bourgeois houses also hide the occasional treasure. House number 70, for example. Concealed in the backyard is a small photo gallery whose exhibitions don't always reflect the perfect world outside, but whose relevance to society as well as art cannot be denied. Who says that art always has to be beautiful?
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Viaux
What happens when fashion and photography come together? Color, style, angle, design and more - all creatively encapsulated in a single shot! Leggy models from the fashion world captured on stills by top-notch photographers grab your attention. Temporary exhibitions featuring different artists are held on a regular basis. The gallery is housed within a structure that could pass off as an architectural delight. What an interesting place to spend time admiring beauty!
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Viktoriapark
Located in the heart of multi-culti, anti-establishment Kreuzberg, Viktoriapark is a magnet for the local community in the warm summer months: Guitar-wielding, dope-smoking hippies jam under the trees, groups of young Turks kick a ball about on the lawn, sporty forty-somethings jog past a gaggle of young mothers nattering intently as they propel their prams along the path... this is one of the best places in Berlin for a spot of people-watching.
Rising in the middle of the park is a steep hill, crowned on top by a neo-classical Cross designed by Schinkel to commemorate the Napoleonic Wars. And it is from this cross that Kreuzberg (literally, "Cross Hill") gets its name. Views from the top are awesome on a clear day, as too is the 60 metre waterfall which gushes tumultuously down the hill.
The park is also home to one of the city's most popular beer gardens -
Villa von der Heydt
A century ago, Berlin's high society used to meet in the Vitra Design Museum
The little-known southern German town of Weil am Rhein has one major attraction - the Design Museum sponsored by the furniture manufacturer Vitra. Art and design lovers from all over the world voyage to the small town on the Swiss-German border to admire the selection of designer chairs. Yet the wonderful museum designed by architect Frank O.Gehry is itself worthy of a visit. The museum has an affiliate in a huge building near Volkspark Friedrichshain
Volkspark Friedrichshain is perfect for relaxing after work or for chilling out at the weekend. The park has attractive grounds, a number of lakes, ponds and fountains as well as several different children's playgrounds. The Märchenbrunnen is the park's most original element, with fountains designed as fairytale characters.
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Volkspark Glienicke
All things English (except the food) have always been very fashionable in Germany. Testimony to this is the 19th century Glienicke Park near Volkspark Humboldthain
Situated in the northern district of Wedding, Volkspark Humboldthain is a popular weekend hang-out. Yet you can hardly tell where the park begins and where it ends. Tall trees surround long stretches of lawn. A steep hill rises in the middle. The hill - made of wartime rubble - is the park's main attraction. Several paths wind up to the top, where breathless visitors are rewarded with fantastic views over the city. The park also contains other attractions: An outdoor swimming pool, a Baroque garden and a wartime Volkspark Jungfernheide
This lovely park is situated in the northern part of Charlottenburg. A magnet for sun-lovers and young families at weekends, the park contains a wildlife enclosure, several play areas and an adventure playground. An open-air swimming pool and open-air theatre (host to various events on summer weekends) round off the attractions of this popular recreation area.
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Volkspark Schöneberg (Rudolph-Wilde-Park)
A long, narrow ribbon of green between the built-up districts of Schöneberg and Wilmersdorf, Volkspark Schöneberg is a haven for sun-lovers in the summer, and for sledgers and ice skaters who flock to the frozen-up ponds and lakes in the winter months. A large children's play area is located in the north-western corner of the park near the Rundfunkhaus.
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VW-Automobilforum
Car manufacturer Volkswagen chose a top location for its flagship automobile museum in the new capital. Located on the corner of The VW-Forum also contains informative sections about security and environmental protection as well as multimedia games and displays. The museum, however, has only met with limited public interest. The Käfer restaurant, for example, recently moved out of the building due to lack of demand. More »
Wasserturm
Fifty metres from Kollwitzplatz you'll see the old water tower, built in 1877, and its thin brother, built in 1856. In Berlin they are nicknamed Thick Hermann and Thin Hermann. Thick Hermann only became redundant in 1952, and remains inhabited to this day; the flats in the tower were designed for the water tower workers and their families. A red flag has flown on Thin Hermann since 1990, and reminds passers-by of the flag hoisted in 1933 as a mark of protest against Fascist terror. The square which surrounds the tower is a much quieter alternative to neighbouring Kollwitzplatz.
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Wildpark Schorfheide
Located some 40 kilometres north of Berlin, the 130,000-hectare Schorfheide wildlife park contains a large biosphere reserve and enclosures containing rare and endangered species such as wolves, elk, aurochs and otters. There is also a 'hands-on' zoo, a play area and a restaurant. The park can be reached by train (Groß Schönebeck) or by car along the Bundesstraße 109.
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Wilhelmstraße
Quai d´Orsay? Downing Street? Everyone knows them. But Wilhelmstraße? Never heard of it! Yet until 1945, this was the epicentre of Germany, the location of all major ministries and political institutions.
The most notorious address is 78 Wilhelmstraße, Hitler´s Chancellery. It was here that the Führer drew up his plans for world domination and it was here that he commited suicide in the final days of the War. Nowadays, nothing is left of the Chancellery nor of the other ministries which were razed to the ground by American bombs and Soviet artillery. The only remnant of the Nazi period is Goering´s Luftwaffe headquarters - now home to the Ministry of Finance (pictured). Some of the buildings bear small plaques to inform visitors of what took place here. An interesting development is the new British Embassy whose creative and colourful facade doesn't quite fit in with the grey monoliths surrounding it. More »
Willy-Brandt-Haus
Named after the former German Chancellor and Mayor of Berlin, Willy Brandt, the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was one of the first important buildings to be erected in reunified Berlin. Located on Entering the building, you are greeted with a bronze sculpture of the great man himself. A glass-roofed atrium is used for exhibitions and provides the building with plenty of daylight. Besides housing innumerable offices, Willy Brandt House contains several book shops, a bistro and an SPD fan shop offering party political memorabilia like social democratic bicycles and left-wing handkerchiefs. More »
Zeiss-Großplanetarium
Opened in 1987, the gigantic Zeiss Planetarium is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe. Its computerised projector is encased in a huge silver sphere with a diameter of 23m. The programme changes regularly and includes explanations of the latest discoveries, special exhibitions and regular shows for children.
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Zeughaus
The Zeughaus began life as a military arsenal - and an impressive arsenal it is too. More like a palace than an arms depot, the magnificent baroque building, located opposite the former Zitadelle Spandau
There are very few medieval buildings left in Berlin, and this fortress is one of the rare survivors. Designed in 1562 by Italian architect Francesco Chiaramella de Gandino in the style of a French fortress, construction was finally completed 34 years later by Count Rochus zu Lynar. Today, the Kommandantenhaus (Commander's House) has been converted into a Museum of Local History (Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau). Art exhibitions are also organised within the fortress. Admission costs from EUR1.
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Zoologischer Garten Berlin
Located next to Founded in 1844 by Prussian King William IV, the Zoologischer Garten is Germany's oldest zoo. With 13,000 animals and 1,400 different species, the zoo is also one of the world's most populous. The nearby
Opening hours: 9am-5pm (1 Mar-25 Mar) 9am-6.30pm (26 Mar-24 Sep) 9am-6pm (25 Sep-29 Oct) 9am-5pm (30 Oct-28 Feb)
Admission: EUR 7; concessions EUR 5.80; children 3-15 years EUR 3.50 More »
Zucker-Museum
The Sugar Museum in Wedding is the world's oldest museum devoted to the sweet, sticky substance. The museum is divided into 11 sections in which the visitor can learn all about the cultivation of sugar beet and sugar cane, as well as the production and processing of sugar and other by-products. In times gone by, for example, sugar was so expensive that it was only sold by chemists. The museum also contains a collection of over 1,800 sugar pots, as well as stamps and old sugar advertisements.
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