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Berlin

Berlin

State

Brandenburg

Country

Germany

Continent

Europe

Size

892 KM2

Population

3,600,000

Spending Budget

$141 - $839

Famous For

  • The Berlin Wall
  • The Brandenburg Gate
  • The Rebuilt Reichstag
  • Museum Island

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • February
  • May
  • August
  • September
  • November
  • December

History

Berlin lies in northeastern Germany, east of the River Elbe, that once constituted, together with the River (Saxon or Thuringian) Saale (from their confluence at Barby onwards), the eastern border of the Frankish Realm. The earliest evidence of settlements in the area of today's Berlin are remnants of a house foundation dated to 1174, found in excavations in Berlin Mitte, and a wooden beam dated from approximately 1192. 1237 is considered the founding date of the city. The Thirty Years' War between 1618 and 1648 devastated Berlin. One-third of its houses were damaged or destroyed, and the city lost half of its population. The city lies at the heart of the North German Plain, athwart an east-west commercial and geographic axis that helped make it the capital of the kingdom of Prussia and then, from 1871, of a unified Germany. Berlin’s former glory ended in 1945, but the city survived the destruction of World War II. It was rebuilt and came to show amazing economic and cultural growth. Germany’s division after the war put Berlin entirely within the territory of the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany). The city itself echoed the national partition—East Berlin being the capital of East Germany and West Berlin a Land (state) of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, or West Germany). West Berlin’s isolation was later reinforced by the concrete barrier erected in 1961 and known as the Berlin Wall. Its status as an enclave made Berlin a continuous focus of confrontation between the Eastern and Western powers as well as a symbol of Western lifestyle for 45 years. The fall of the East German communist regime—and the accompanying opening of the wall—in late 1989 unexpectedly raised the prospect for Berlin’s reinstatement as the all-German capital. That status was restored in 1990 under the terms of the unification treaty, and subsequently, Berlin has designated a state, one of the 16 constituting Germany. These developments heralded the city’s return to its historic position of prominence in European culture and commerce.

Present Day

In 1989, with the end of the Cold War and pressure from the East German population, the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November and was subsequently mostly demolished. Today, the East Side Gallery preserves a large portion of the wall. On 3 October 1990, the two parts of Germany were reunified as the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin again became a reunified city. It is an incredible European city is an eclectic mix of architectural beauty, rich culture, amazing art and fabulous nightlife. It is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Europe. One of the oldest cities in human civilization, the city has witnessed the way the entire continent has developed over some time. This is a city of huge historical and political significance; Berlin attracts people from all over the world for its historical sites and incredible architecture from various ages and points in time. More than 100 museums are brimming with painting masterpieces and historical artefacts, the city has culture and art running through its veins. This wonderful city is also considered as a heaven for foodies with great street food and restaurants serving world cuisine, while few cities in Europe can beat the range of beer varieties you’ll find here. Along with its awe-struck monuments including the iconic Berlin Wall, the city is a shopaholic’s dream destination with vibrant flea markets, designer boutiques, and quirky stores spread across the city. Berlin and the other neighboring cities help to delve deep into the ever-unforgettable European history. It is quite an enthralling experience to touch and feel the sites that have been the witness to many a rise and fall of empires, the bustling cities that bear the painful memorials of many innocent lives and incredible architectural structures of the yesteryears that have been preserved to this day.

Future

There is a tendency of influx into the country due to its varied scopes, to discover its rich history, plentiful parties or simply political safety, the future of the city could go in many directions. There are plans for areas of Berlin and Brandenburg to grow within their borders. Keeping sustainability in mind, the cities would then be connected not only through motorways but also public transportation networks to increase mobility between these internally expanding areas. In addition to growing from within, there are plans that the city expands around new railway lines. One of the reasons for Berlin’s unique population patterns, compared to the rest of Europe, is that unemployment has declined from 18% to 10% over the last decade. The city’s economy has outperformed the rest of Germany. Berlin tends to reuse old buildings: factories transform into clubs, Tempelhof is now a park, even Badeschiff was once a massive shipping container, for proper utilization of each re-usable material. This trend will likely continue in the coming years, the winning proposal also plans to for “densification and special optimization”—this means reviving the spaces already available to them. Berlin is the centre of the country’s creative industries, with more than 24,000 companies and 170,000 employees working in this field. Activities such as the performing arts, music, software programming, and design generate 20% of the city’s GDP. People and companies come to the city to benefit from good education opportunities, cheaper housing and office space, and a creative and uninhibited atmosphere.
Must Visit Places ------------

Museum Island

This place is located between the River Spree and the Kupfergraben in a 400-meter-long canal, Spree Island is better known as Museum Island (Museumsinsel), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many of the city's oldest and most important museums, including the Old Museum (Altes Museum), built in 1830 to house the Crown Jewels and other royal treasures. The New Museum (Neues Museum),was destroyed during WWII, and was rebuilt and opened again in 2009 as the home of extensive collections from the Egyptian Museum, the Papyrus Collection, and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.

Berlin Wall Memorial

The Berlin Wall originated in 1961 when East Germany sealed off that half of the city to prevent citizens from fleeing to West Germany. By the time it was torn down in 1989, the four-meter-high wall extended 155 kilometers, dissected 55 streets, and possessed 293 observation towers and 57 bunkers. Today, only small stretches of this graffiti-covered travesty remain, including a 1.4-kilometer stretch preserved as part of the Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer), a chilling reminder of the animosity that once divided Europe. Highlights of a visit include the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum, with its exhibits relating to the one-and-a-half million people who passed through Berlin as refugees; the Günter Litfin Memorial, a former watchtower now set up as a memorial, which pays tribute to the first civilian killed trying to cross from east to west; the Monument in Memory of the Divided City and the Victims of Communist Tyranny; the Window of Remembrance; and a Visitor Center, with views over the remains of the wall.

The Reichstag

A highlight of this magnificent reconstruction is the replacement dome, the Kuppel, made of glass and offering superb views of the surrounding city, especially at night from the Rooftop Restaurant. The Reichstag (Reichstagsgebäude) was originally completed in 1894 where the Neo-Renaissance palace served as the home of the German Empire's Imperial Diet until it burned in 1933. It was not used again until after the reunification of Germany, at which point it underwent a 10-year reconstruction and finally became the home of the German Parliament in 1999.

The Brandenburg Gate

During the Cold War, its physical and symbolic position as a blocked gate along the Berlin Wall made it a frequent site for demonstrations by West Berliners, and it is famous for being the backdrop of US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 entreaty to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall. It was also the scene of a poignant gesture when German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russia's Mikhail Gorbachev, and Poland's Lech Walesa walked through the gate in 1999 to commemorate the tearing down of the Berlin Wall 20 years earlier. Berlin's one of most famous historic landmark is the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), once a symbol of a divided nation and now a symbol of unity and peace. This Neoclassical gate was commissioned by King Frederick Wilhelm II in 1788, and its design was inspired by the Propylaea in Athens' Acropolis. The sandstone monument is 26 meters tall, standing in the Mitte district's Pariser Platz, just a block from the Reichstag building.

Berliner Fernsehturm: Berlin's Television Tower

Originally constructed to mark the prowess of communism (it's located in the former East Berlin district), the landmark can be picked out from pretty much every corner of the city, making it more significant as a symbol of the city's reunification in the 1980s. Despite celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020, the 368-meter-tall Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin Television Tower) has lost none of its appeal to visitors to the city. Since opening in 1970, Europe's third-tallest freestanding structure has attracted over 60 million visitors, most of them drawn for the spectacular views over Germany's capital.

Jewish Museum Berlin

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Jewish Museum Berlin's (Jüdisches Museum Berlin's) distinctive zinc-paneled exterior makes it one of Berlin's most striking landmarks. Exhibits include artwork, religious objects, and 24,000 photographs that have been preserved and recovered. Especially poignant is The Memory Void, where you'll find an installation called "Shalekhet," or "Fallen Leaves," a collection of some 10,000 iron faces spread across the ground. Sobering, to say the least. The museum is also home to an extensive library and archives at the Academy of the Jewish Museum Berlin, where there are frequent educational programs. Museum galleries include sections dedicated to Hanukkah, anti-semitism, Middle East conflict, the history and culture of Jerusalem, and the life of Munich rabbi Leo Baerwald.

German Museum of Technology

There are plenty of vehicles and aircraft on display, including a number of preserved steam engines dating back as far as 1843. Other highlights include riding in a vintage 1930s train from the museum to its locomotive depot on the weekends. The must-see German Museum of Technology (Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin) was established in 1983 to showcase and celebrate Germany's industrial and technological prowess. There are plenty of fun things to see in this popular museum, including taking in displays related to the Industrial Revolution, getting some hands-on experience in a reconstructed workshop, as well as a fascinating look at the vehicles that evolved alongside this rise in mechanization.

Berlin Cathedral Church

Located on Museum Island next to the Lustgarten, the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) is one of the complex's most imposing buildings thanks to its 75-meter-high dome. Built in the New Baroque style, the building is the largest church in Berlin and is divided into three main sections: the Memorial Church, the Baptismal and Nuptial Church, and the Parish Church. After decades of painstaking work to repair war damage, the church has been returned to its former glory, and highlights of a visit include the Imperial Staircase, decorated with bronze cornices and 13 tempera paintings by Berlin landscape painter Albert Hertel in 1905, and the Imperial Gallery with its splendid views of Berlin.

Saxon Switzerland and National Park

Now that you have experienced the tranquillity of nature as well as the beautiful rustic life, a trip to a national park is all you need. If that is so, head towards the Saxon Switzerland National park. It is still one of Germany’s best-kept secrets which are hidden from the tourists’ masses. The biggest landmark of the otherwise dense forest is the Bastei Bridge which is crafted with limestone peaks. And, oh the views you get to see from the bridge! Simply breath-taking.

Berlin Zoological Gardens

Berlin Zoological Gardens (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is the oldest zoo in Germany and remains one of Berlin's most popular attractions, welcoming 3.5 million guests each year. Established in 1844 and completely rebuilt after WWII, the zoo has earned a reputation for its many successful breeding programs and is known for providing authentic habitats for the animals. The zoo is home to nearly 20,000 animals big and small, from Arctic wolves to zebras. Famous residents include a pair of giant pandas, two species of giraffe, and a flock of diminutive African penguins.