Berlin that seduces, excites and surprises
- Maya del Aire
- Dec 9, 2018
- 11 min read
Updated: Feb 3, 2019
This is day five and six of your nine days vacation itinerary. If you choose to follow this itinerary on your vacation, you will explore three regions, Bavaria, Saxony and Brandenburg, in Germany which include eight different spots. The itinerary includes all relevant information that you need to have a smooth vacation, so just get ready and follow my lead.
What does this 2 day itinerary include?
Berlin is home to more than 170 museums and galleries. It is quite overwhelming and it comes pretty hard when you have to choose which one you would like to visit. My itinerary covers all periods of German history, including Renaissance and Impressionism period (mid 18th - 19th century), followed by the Nazi regime (Topography museum 1933-1945), and period of German Democratic Republic (DDR 1945-1990), with an addition of ancient civilizations history (Pergamom). Berlin also has many beautiful parks and gardens, and this is why I have also included your lunch break recommendations, with beautiful view of nature.
Points of interest:
Day 1
East Side gallery
DDR Museum
Berliner Dom
State Park
Pergamom
Alte Nationalgalerie
Day 2
Berlin Parliament, Rathaus,
Gendarmenmarkt
Unter den Linden
Brandenburg Gate
Reichtag
Checkpoint Charlie
Topography Museum 1933- 1945
Click below to check out the rest of your ultimate Germany itinerary
Day 5 & 6 Berlin that seduces, excites and surprises
Itinerary
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East Side Gallery
09:30 -10:30
Start your day with The East Side Gallery. It is located on the most significant remaining part of the Berlin Wall. It is over a km long and can be found spread out along the Spree River’s banks, as the world’s longest open air gallery. After the Berlin Wall came down, 118 artists traveled from 21 countries to participate in creating the East Side Gallery by each adding their own unique painting. More than 100 works of art can be found there, among them the famous “Kiss of death,” with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev giving the East Germany President Erich Honecker a passionate kiss on the lips. This mural was actually made based on the real photograph that depicted something very usual among social leaders. The funny caption in German and Russian says “God help me to survive this deadly love affair!,” which is supposed to be an observation made by Brezhnev about Honecker.
Tips and tricks***
Be aware that this is not the best area of Berlin to visit, although the wall is something that is a must. The train station Berlin Ostkreuz can be full with junkies and doesn’t really feel safe. Just watch your stuff and head to your way.
Opening hours: 24/7
Admission: Free
#eastsidegallery #visitberlin #berlinwall #openairmuseumberlin #kissofdeath #spreeriver #mustknowberlin
DDR Museum
11:10-12:10 30 minutes by train from East Side gallery
The DDR Museum in Berlin is one of the most visited Berlin museums. Founded in 2005, the DDR Museum actually opened on July 15, 2006. The museum’s focus is the everyday life in GDR (German Democratic Republic) which officially existed from 1949-1990, and is a place where visitors can get a glimpse into what life was like in those times. Also, this Museum teaches you about the border defenses used at the Berlin wall and crimes that were considered as threat to the state security. DDR museum holds more than 200 000 objects, and as such it is very interactive and a diverse museum.
Opening hours: Monday- Sunday 10:00-20:00, Saturday 10:00-22:00
Admission: online €5.50, on the spot €9.80
Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Tips and tricks***
Book your tickets ahead online, and avoid queuing. You don’t have to get the VIP ticket; the regular ticket is just fine.
You may opt for an informational guided tour for an additional fee, however I believe that even without it, you will enjoy the visit and discover a lot.
***For info about discount tickets, and passes that you can use to visit these two and many other attractions please click here.
#ddr-museum #museumberlin #gdr #visitberlin
Berliner Dom - Berlin Cathedral
12:15-12:45 200 m, 3 minutes walking from DDR Museum
Built between 1894 and 1905, the Berliner Dom is located on Museum Island and serves as a baroque Cathedral. It is Berlin’s biggest Protestant Church and it also functions as part of the dynasty of Prussian Hohenzollern. In the past, it has served as a link between German Protestantism and Hohenzollern.
This church is known for its Dome ceiling that is decorated using eight mosaics. Between 1975 and 1982, it was rebuilt to include spires and a simplified cupola. The Berliner Dom contains more than 90 tombs and sarcophagus of Hohenzollern family including those of Prussian Kings. They include Sophie Charlotte and Frederick I, and these tombs are covered in lead and gold plated tin.
The Dome has an organ that contains more than 7000 pipes. It is known as a masterpiece and is among Germany’s largest. Visiting the Dome requires climbing up to 270 steps to get to its viewing gallery, however don’t get discouraged as the view that you will have from the top will be overwhelming.
Tips and tricks***
There are many readings and concerts held at the Dome, check the web page bellow for more info.
Opening hours may change due to individual events
On Sundays at 10:00, and Saturdays and Sundays at 18:00 there is a service.
Admission: €4, and it includes audio guide in numerous languages
Address: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
More info: https://www.berlinerdom.de/
Lunch with a view of Berliner Dom
13:00-14:00 500 m, 5 min walk away from DDR museum
I would suggest a lunch or a beer break here which you can enjoy the view of the Berliner Dom from State park. I would suggest Olla Grill & Orient Lounge, Palladium or any other in that line of restaurants that will satisfy your taste and also prepare you for more exploring.
Working hours: 12:00- 00:00 daily
Address: Stadt Bögen 154-155, 10178, Germany
https://olla-orientlounge.jimdo.com/
Museum Island
14:00-17:00 450 m, 12 min walk from the restaurant
Museum Island is an outstanding ensemble of 5 museums, with 6000 of history. It was elevated to UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999, and it is the largest cultural investment.
Pergamom, Bode, Alte National galerie, Neues and Altes Museum. You may choose to visit all or some of them, according to your interests. Do your homework before visiting them, and make sure you book your tickets ahead online. During the summer, in Germany there is a big reconstruction going on, so be aware that some sites or collections in galleries/museums may be temporarily closed at that time. These museums have extensive collections; therefore, it would probably take almost a whole day to visit all of them.
Must read before visiting Museum Island
Plan your visit in holiday time (June-August)
I have planned to visit only Pergamom and National Gallery as it was something that I was interested. Pergamom is the most visited museum, therefore bear in mind, that during holiday times, it is wise to buy a TIMED ticket. We waited in line for 1.20 hrs, because we had just the regular ticket. Pergamom and National Gallery would both take more than an hour each. With your ticket there will be an audio guide provided, use it.
Pergamom museum has three quite impressive collections which were result of Berlin Museum excavations: Architecture of Antiquity, Art of Islamic cultures, and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures. This museum has gained its fame due to the reconstruction of many prestigious pieces of architecture. Some of the things that contributed to this were the Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate and the Pergamon Altar (which is currently closed August 2018).
Tips and tricks***
If you had a chance to visit countries like Greece, Italy, and Arabic countries, Pergamom museum might not be the best choice for you, because you have probably had a chance to see most of this art work in original. There are plenty of other museums, so do your search and add any other of more than 170 options.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00, Thursday 10:00-20:00
Admission fee: €12 ( If you visit both , Pergamom and Alte Nationalgalerie, your combined Museum island for all exhibitions, for one day, ticket should be €18, which you can book online or buy it at on the spot, recommended online)
Address: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany
More info: https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/pergamonmuseum/home.html
***For info about discount tickets, and passes that you can use to visit these two and many other attractions please click here.
#museumisland #pergamommuseum #altenationalgalerie #nationalgalleryberlin #artgermany #culturegermany #smbmuseum #berlinmuseums #museumislandberlin #unescoheritagemuseumisland
Just across the street, there is Alte Nationalgalerie. This gallery also consists of three exhibitions: Classicist Sculpture, Idealism-Realism-Impressionism. The Old National Gallery, holds some impressive paintings such as landscape portraits painted by Jakob Philipp Hackert and portraits painted by Anton Graff. Visitors to the museum will be able to view portraits done by Gottlieb Schick and Philipp Otto Runge as well as some Impressionist paintings by artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Note that two of the museum’s rooms are dedicate to jewels from the Romanticism period.
Tips and tricks***
Every Saturday and Sunday the museum features various events. Check the website before visiting to see if there is anything, you want to attend.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-18.00, Thursday 10.00-20.00, closed on Mondays
Admission: €12
Address: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany
*** For info about discount tickets, and passes that you can use to visit these two and many other attractions please click here.
Day 2 Berlin
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Reichstag
10:00-11:00
Start your day with a tour in the Reichstag building, the German Parliament. .
Your tour will take 20 minutes, and it will introduce you to the most important fact of the Parliament building.
The building was first constructed in 1894. Originally, the Reichstag building consisted of four wings, two indoor courtyards and a chamber. After the fire in the building in 1933, its original hall was completely destroyed and had to be demolished, as the building’s dome. The building was restored only in 1961 to become the meeting site for the parliamentary committee.
Tips and tricks***
For the tour, you must register in advance at the Visitors’ Service near the Reichstag Building, next to the Berlin Pavilion on the south side of Scheidemannstraße. You may also do that online, via laptop or any other device other than your phone. You must register in advance online, but NOT via YOUR phone.
Try registering one week in advance in busy holiday time (June-August)
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00-00:00
Admission: Free
Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
More info: https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/registration/245686
#reichtagberlin #parliamenthouseberlin #parliamentcommittee #reichtagberlinvisit #howtovisitreichtag
Brandenburg Gate
11:00-11:10 500 m, 6 minutes walk via Simsonweg, from Reichtag
The Brandenburger Tor also known as the Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's most visited attractions and one that once symbolized the divided city of Berlin for many years. The gate served as the main entrance to the city of Berlin when it was first built while much later, before the two parts were united, visitors would come to Brandenburg Gate to climb to its observation tower simply to see the other side of Berlin.
The famous sculpture that that stands at the gate represents the Goddess of Victory. The sculpture was held in captivity in France, as one of Napoleonic trophies. Propylaea, which was the gateway that led to the Acropolis an Athens, was the inspiration for the design of the gate, while the decorations represent Greek mythology.
#brandenburggate #brandenburggateberlin #goddesofvictoryberlin #historyberlin #historywalkberlin #brandenburgertorberlin
Unter den Linden
11:10-11:45
Unter den Linden is Berlin’s main thoroughfare going all the way from East Berlin to the West side. It was named by the Linden trees planted all along the long avenue. This boulevard stretches from Pariser Platz’s Brandenburger Gate all the way to the Museum Island’s Schlossbruke. Since the 19th century, the Unter den Linden had been known as one of Berlin’s most popular streets with many shops, restaurants and cafes that you can enjoy. There are several historical buildings located here including the Humboldt University, the Zeugh, Germany’s historical museum and the National Memorial to the Victims of War.
Gendarmenmarkt
11:45-12:45 350 m, 4 minutes walk from Unter den Linden
Just before reaching the Museum Island, turn right into Charlottenstrasse and walk until the Gendarmenmarkt. You can make a coffee or a lunch break at Agustiner am Gendarmenmarkt (4 stars on tripadviser), or any other restaurants around there, while enjoying the view of one of the most beautiful squares of Europe. It is surrounded by three beautiful landmarks - the Konzerthaus, the Franzosischer Dom and the Deutscher Dom. In the center of the square, you may admire a sculpture of the German poet Freidrich Schiller. Beautiful Konzerthaus was built in 1821 by the famous Berlin architect named Karl-Freidrich Schinkel on top of the ruins that were the National Theater, which was burned down in 1817. The building had some reconstructions done, after which has become into the concert hall for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. If you have time and you love classic music, take a chance and book the ticket for a concert.
Konzerthaus also offers tours of 20 min which are free of charge and there is no need for booking
For more extensive tour, of 75 min on Saturdays at 13:00
Opening hours: March- October 11:00-18:00
Admission: €3
More info https://www.konzerthaus.de/en/
More info about the restaurant http://www.augustiner-braeu-berlin.de/
#Gendarmenmarkt #agustineramgendarmenmarkt #konzerthausberlin #berlinsymphonyorchestra #FranzosischerDom #DeutscherDom #nationaltheatreberlin
Checkpoint Charlie
12:55 -13:15 800 m, 10 minutes walk from Gendarmenmarkt
Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous crossing point at the Berlin’s Wall from East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It began in 1962 as a display that took up two-and-a-half rooms. The museum is trying to promote human rights for all people around the world, which is one of the reasons why museum’s newest exhibit addresses the history of the promotion of human rights from the 1800's until now.
e also heard that you can get a fake stamp in your passport.
I have spent 20 minutes here, just taking photos, but you may also visit a museum.
Opening hours: 09:00-22:00
Admission: €14.50
Address: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Tours with audio guide are available for groups of up to 30 people and it lasts for an hour.
More about it http://mauermuseum.de/en/index.html
*** For info about discount tickets, and passes that you can use to visit these two and many other attractions please click here.
Topography of Terror
13:15-15:15 400 m, 5 minutes walk from Checkpoint Charlie, via Zimmerstrasse
This is a Nazi forced Labor documentation center that has been visited by more than 1.3 million people. This is a free admission museum, with powerful exhibition of an extensive record of Nazi terror in Germany and wider. Big boards are supplemented with video, audio tracks, and pictures which adds to the already, very provoking and sad stories displayed. Outside of the museum, there are remnants of the Wall and Gestapo interrogation rooms. Visit requires a lot of standing and reading, and it would probably require around 2 hours.
Tips and tricks***
The foundation offers free guided tours for individual visitors through the permanent exhibition only on Sundays. The tour lasts one hour, groups are limited to 17 participants, and visitors are required to come to the venue half an hour before the tour starts: Sundays at 14:00 : tours in German Sundays at 15:30: tours in English
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 20:00
Admission: Free
Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin, Germany
More about it https://www.topographie.de/en/exhibitions/
#topographie.de #topographyofterror #berlinhistory #nziregime #nazihistory #adolphhitler #freemuseum #museumsofberlin
Lunch break in Tiergarten
15:40-17:00 3.2 km, 25 minutes walking from Topography of Terror
This park is enormous, and beautified with buildings, castles, statues, zoo, nudist. The closest entrance might be only 10 minutes away from Topography museum, however the place that I would recommend you to choose for your break is the Café am Neuen See. This is a (nudist free :) ) beer garden, located inside the Tiegarten itself next to the Neuer See, (New lake) close to the Lutzowplazt , with very delicious and affordable food.
Tiergarten is Berlin’s oldest public park and is quite large as a park within a big city such as Berlin. It’s a good place to spend some time there while taking a break from history lessons. Brandenburg electors originally used Tiergarten as a place to hunt and it was not open to the public until the Prussian King Friederich decided to open it for every person that wanted to visit. Some of the monuments that you may find by walking through the park are Victory column, a golden haired goddess statue, also the observation deck at the top of the column that provides breathtaking views of the park and the areas surrounding it.
Cafe am Nauen See
Working hours: 16:00-00:00
Address: Lichtensteinallee 2, 10787 Berlin, Germany
http://www.cafeamneuensee.de/
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