Travel On

Famous for its festivals, contemporary architecture, nightlife, history and literature, Berlin has always been popular among the tourists. Being the capital city of Germany, Berlin is the countries largest city with an estimated population of 3.4 million. Berlin’s urban landscape and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for international film productions and is home to world-renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums. There are several ways to get around Berlin – on foot, by car, by bus, by bicycle, or you can even rent to boat to move around the 197 kilometers of waterways, and each method of transport will offer different surprises along the way.

Berlin’s most famous landmark, over 200 years old, the Brandenburg Gate is today a national symbol of unity of Berlin and Germany. It is a magnificent structure created by Johann Gottfried Schadow, the mastermind who also designed the four-horsed chariot at the top of the gate - Quadriga. The goddess of peace Victoria was placed on the chariot as a bringer of peace. During the World War II, Brandenburg Gate and Quadriga was once severely damaged during the World War II and was restored in 1956.

Museums and art galleries are a common sight around Berlin as there are more than 170 museums which offer everything from the ancient to the ultra modern. There is a spot in Berlin where they call it ‘Museum Island’ where you find almost all the museums in Berlin there. One of the many museums in the Berlin is the Pergamon Museum. Pergamom Museum is visited by more than 800 thousand visitors a year and is Berlin’s prime museum with its bizarre and outstanding collections: the Antiquity Collection, the Museum of the Near East and the Museum of Islamic Art. Another must-see museum is the Charlottenburg Palace, which is the summer residence of the Prussian kings. The golden gallery to east wing was once the official residence of Friedrich the Great.

The Berlin Wall, a symbol of Cold War between two divided nations, used to serve as a border between East and West Berlin is now nothing but a memory of the past. The two halves of Berlin, being separated by the Wall for several decades, have in fact been unified. However, Berlin authorities have been working hard on trying to preserve the sections of the wall and have managed to identify several meters of inner and outer wall, as well as three guard towers in the middle of the city.

Last but not least, the Hohenzollern Royal Palace is a tourist spot not to be missed in Berlin. Situated between the two arms of the River Spree, the palace was badly destroyed during the World War II; the remains of this monumental structure were blown up and cleared away. Only a few basement walls, unearthed some years ago, remain. Reconstruction of the palace took place in November 2003 for use as a cultural centre known as Humboldt Forum.

Above are just few of the many interesting sites at Berlin that makes Berlin a must-visit location of many tourists during the holidays. There will never be a dull moment in Berlin, even though you are not an art-lover – the beauty of the structures will keep you mesmerized.