Berlin city trip: vibrant city on the Spree

Vacation in Berlin at charming PrivateCityHotels.

Berlin is a European capital every traveler needs to visit at least once. Breathe in the flair of this once divided city and its vibrant arts, culture, festival, and culinary scene, where awesome experiences and great events await you every year.

Berlin is divided into twelve districts, with a total of more than 3.5 million residents. Thanks to its modern streetcar and subway networks, the different sections of the city are conveniently linked. Bicycling is also a favorite pastime and, thanks to the bike rental stations in the city, is another attractive way for visitors to discover the sights of the town.

Museum highlights in the city’s historic center

The historic heart of the German capital beats in the Berlin-Mitte area. The Spree river flows through it – the largest river in this metropolis criss-crossed by a network of rivers and channels. Some of the most famous museums in Berlin are located downtown, such as the Pergamon museum, the Bode museum, and the Alte Nationalgalerie on Museum Island. Just a few minutes’ walk from downtown, visitors to the GDR museum in the city’s former eastern section can immerse themselves in a piece of living everyday GDR culture. The Zoologische Garten in the Tiergarten area forms quite the contrast, providing a green oasis of relaxation in a vibrant city metropolis.

Berlin tourist attractions

A stroll through Berlin-Mitte will lead visitors past some of the most famous structures in Berlin: the Brandenburg Gate, the TV tower (the highest structure in Germany at 368 meters), the Berlin Cathedral, and the New Synagogue. Famous squares like Alexanderplatz, with its unique GDR world clock, the Gendarmenmarkt, and Potsdamer Platz are also must-sees. The Reichstag building offers unmatched architectural interest, expertly walking the line between tradition and modern architecture. Originally constructed in a Classical style, today the monumental building sports a central glass dome which is seen a symbol of openness and of the future.

The traces of a once divided city

Although the city is now united, the past is still palpable in many areas of Berlin. A 1.3 kilometer long piece of the former Berlin Wall has been transformed into a colorful open air gallery – the East Side Gallery – by various artists. The “Berliner Mauer” memorial was created around another original piece of the wall; besides the monument itself, the memorial also includes outdoor exhibits, the “Fenster des Gedenkens” (Window of Remembrance), and the “Kapelle der Versöhnung (Chapel of Reconciliation). Checkpoint Charlie, the former border crossing on Friedrichstraße, also draws many tourists for its historic military significance. Not far from the Checkpoint, a moving exhibit in the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) reminds visitors that it once housed a terminal building for travelers moving from East to West Berlin.

Excursions near Berlin

There are several excellent destinations for a short excursion in the areas around Berlin. See the historic city of Potsdam, for instance, and visit its picturesque historic downtown and Sanssouci Castle, or discover Berlin from the water when you take a boat ride down the Spree.

Vacation at PrivateCityHotels. Berlin

For your city trip to Berlin, choose a hotel with a central location from which you can easily reach the most important sights of the city, like one of our first-class PrivateCityHotels. Berlin.
Book your vacation in Berlin in one of our PrivateCityHotels. of your choice, orselect one of our hotels in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland.
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