Visiting Berlin? – The Top 10 essential Sights

If you’re heading to Berlin to participate in the Berlin Marathon, there is probably more to do while you are in our city – even if you are single-mindedly fully focused on your running. Needless to say, the coolest city in the World (source: diligent and thorough research by ourselves) has many sights to see, some of which you will encounter along the marathon route.

Sightseeing may not be at the top of your agenda on race day, but perhaps before or at least after your big day! To help you get the most out of your trip, here’s our shortlist of essential sights in Berlin:

• Brandenburg Gate – the most famous sight of Berlin and surely is on every visitor’s list of things to see
• Berlin Wall – best to be seen at East Side Gallery (painted by artists after the fall of the Wall), Bernauer Strasse (one of the points where the official destruction of the Wall started), Bornholmer Strasse, Niederkirchner Strasse and „Checkpoint Charlie“
• Reichstag/Regierungsviertel – seat of the German Parliament and located close to the Brandenburg Gate; great vistapoint thanks to its glass dome open for visitors; the surrounding area are ministries etc. and the seat of Mrs. Merkel (Kanzleramt)
• Fernsehturm (TV tower)/Alexanderplatz – one of the most crowded squares in Berlin, locals call it ‚Alex‘. Formerly, being the centre of East Berlin, and during the communist years was used as a showcase of socialist architecture, incl. the TV tower, also called Telespargel (toothpick?) by locals
• Potsdamer Platz – emerged from no man’s land to a modern (tourist) hotspot containing shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and cinemas and vibrant business distric, with the impressive Sony Centre in its centre
• Berlin Zoo and Aquarium – a must when you come with your kids; one of the largest zoos in Europe including the aquarium (in the improbable case of bad weather) at the marathon weekend – don’t miss a selfie in front of the Elephant Gate
• The Domes (Berliner/French/German) – French and German Dome flanking the Konzerthaus on Berlin’s prettiest square, the Gendarmenmarkt; in walking distance is the Berlin Dome – take a stroll and explore more nice spots
• Museum Island – a unique ensemble of museum buildings, including the Old Museum (Altes Museum), the New Museum, the Pergamon Museum (with famous altar) and the Bode Museum
• Charlottenburg Castle – wonderful garden that invites many for some training runs in ancient pomp
• Jewish Museum – not only a museum that one must visit, but also an architectural highlight designed by architect Daniel Libeskind

Agreed, these are the sights that are listed in any travel guide, but hey, there is a reason for this: they are really worth it!  So, get it going, tick the list off and in between check out one of the Top 10 Pasta oder Rice Restaurants.

Image: (c) Marko Tolle