The reunited city of Berlin is Germany’s capital city and is famous for its numerous magnificent cultural and historic attractions. Whether you are looking for thrills and excitement or wish to research on history or art, Berlin has it all for you. There is no dearth of attractions here and all this has made Berlin one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. But not only the fantastic sightseeing opportunities have made Berlin so popular, its club scene, beautiful lakes and gardens, shops and cafés and most of all the openness of the ‘Berliner’ have played an important role in this development.
One of the city’s greatest attractions is the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), a great example of magnificent architecture, inspired by the entrance to ‘Acropolis’ in Athens. The former city gate is now the entrance to the splendid tree-lined avenue ‘Unter den Linden’, where you can find several important embassies, the Crown Prince’s Palace, the Humboldt University, as well as the Komische Oper, the Historical Museum and the State Opera. Berlin’s most beautiful square, the neoclassical Gendarmenmarkt is bordered by two similarly built cathedrals, the French and the German Cathedral, as well as the Schauspielhaus, which stands between them. Another magnificent building is the Schloss Charlottenburg, a beautifully restored palace surrounded by stunning gardens. For a fantastic view of Berlin, visit the observation deck on the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), which is Europe’s second tallest structure. Other sights of interest include the Reichstag, which is the seat of the German Parliament, as well as the well-known Alexanderplatz and the impressive Hackesche Höfe, which is a complex of eight beautifully restored courtyards and several equally magnificent old buildings. Potsdamer Platz is one of the busiest squares in Europe, boasting many shops, bars cafés and photo opportunities.
Berlin has a high quantity of excellent museums, many of which are located on Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Other very interesting museums include the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin (German Museum of Technology Berlin), as well as the Gemäldegalerie, Neue Nationalgalerie and Alte Nationalgalerie, where one can marvel at masterpieces of Caspar David Friedrich, Claude Monet, Manet and Renoir.
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