Berlin’s new old centre is the epicentre of a rapid dynamic and a building boom that soon took hold of the city after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This dynamic gradually erases the traces of the former division by the wall and the devastation of the Second World War that was still visible for many decades.
Those who know where to look can still see some of these ruins. You can also compare old shots with the modern face of the city turning this long walk into an unforgettable lesson on this German capital – Berlin’s history tour.
The starting point of this Berlin Highlights tour is in the new government district and the Reichstag building, which was the focus of many central events and reflects the ups and downs of German history in the 20th century, particularly the Third Reich like no other.
The following route includes the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the rebuilt Pariser Platz with the Hotel Adlon, the overwhelming Holocaust memorial and the site of Hitler’s bunker where he committed suicide.
Next on this guided tour we pass former Nazi ministries and a preserved section of the famous Wall to the Topography of Terror memorial and then along the former death strip on the wall to Checkpoint Charlie on Friedrichstrasse, which was the best known crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War.
Not far from this famous boulevard is the Gendarmenmarkt, the “most beautiful square in Berlin”, where the German and French cathedral flank the concert hall.
Via Bebelplatz with the memorial for the burning of books and past the exemplary restored State Opera and the Humboldt University, you can finally reach the museum island opposite the reconstructed Prussian Palace on the Unter den Linden promenade, which is rich in sights.
Of course, this tour can also be combined with others and tailored to your interests.
