![]() The galleries are frequented by the trendsetters that take over the city at night. Make sure you're rested after your day of tourism, because Berlin doesn't sleep. Take in the art scene and maybe even buy one of the affordable pieces - this isn't Paris, after all. On any given night - weekdays included - you can visit dozens of hip but welcoming art, dance and literary openings. Nowhere is this vibrant attitude more alive than in the Kreuzberg and Neukoelln neighborhoods.Ī quick search at will show a current calendar of exhibits around town, centered in Kreuzberg and Neukoelln. The cheap rents resulting from a surplus of available apartments in the wake of reunification have drawn artists to Berlin for decades, and the tradition continues today. During your stay in town you'll be best off with a multiday ticket that will allow you to ride the train anywhere around the enormous city.Īfter the sun sets, move on from the museums and historical attractions to what makes Berlin a destination for young artists from across Europe and the world. The U-Bahn subway system in the city is excellent, simple and extensive. And to rest your legs, pop into a coffee house or even skip ahead using public transport. Pose for photos with faux-Russian Soldiers, navigate the crowds and relish in the playful commercialism that dominates what was once the location of a tense political standoff.ĭuring this long walk, fuel yourself with currywurst, a snack common around Germany but invented and done best in Berlin. Army and rich with both knickknack souvenirs of the communist era and a chilling pictorial history of life under the Iron Curtain. Walking further south, you'll reach Checkpoint Charlie, a border crossing formerly guarded by the U.S. If you head south, you'll find the recently finished Jewish memorial. Just to the north of this imposing arch sits the current government headquarters of the country, the Bundestag. Kennedy's famous speech where he declared "Ich bin ein Berliner," and served as the symbolic dividing point of the former East and West Germany. You'll pass the awe-inspiring museum island, which boasts the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the personal art collections of Prussian kings.Īfter that, walk the promenade of Unter den Linden toward the city's best-known (and most crowded) landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, a monument to the Prussian Empire. You'll cross some of Berlin's many bridges - the crossings over the River Spree and the many canals give the city more bridges than Venice. From the ever-visible TV tower, walk south to what used to be democratic West Berlin. Start at bustling Alexanderplatz, the center of former communist East Berlin. Its true beauty lies in the sprawling complexity of its dozens of interlocking neighborhoods.īut any visit would be incomplete without a visit to the Mitte neighborhood, with the densest gathering of must-see attractions. Since it was divided prior to Germany's reunification in 1990, there is not one nuclear market square or landmark church to check off your tourist list. ![]() Unlike most European cities, Berlin is famous for not having a center. Don't let your time here elapse without at least a visit (or two) to mighty Berlin. However, it's remarkably affordable, and unlike the cutesy, gingerbread tourist locations elsewhere in Germany, it's a pulsating, feverish storm of youthful energy, creative expression and late-night revelry. It's mainland Europe's biggest city, and is intricately rich with history, art and culture. ![]() You drive hours to a low-fare airport, elbow your way onto a plane and sunburn at a high-fare beachfront resort.īefore you know it, your time in Germany is drawing to a close and you've never seen the country's capital - Berlin. You take a noisy, crowded train home from one of southern Germany's trademark adult-beverage festivals. You wait in line to see the storybook castles. You're in Germany for just a few years, and at first your possibilities for travel seem endless. Army) VIEW ORIGINALīERLIN - It's easy to fall into the trap. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. 1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S.
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