Guide to visit Berlin city and its Museums
By: Ines Das Neves
Tags: Europe, Travel, Germany, Museums, Berlin

What should I visit in Berlin? Which are the most famous tourist attractions? Throughout this page, I will introduce to Berlin and help you plan your visit, whether it is a weekend break, Europe´s trip or just travelling from the comfort of your sofa. Do not miss Berlin’s rich cultural life!

Berlin’s Museum Island especially got my attention when I was planning this trip, this is an incredible opportunity to enjoy a gathering of five world-renowned museums. But above all, the character of the city of water stands out. Berlin has been formatted by the rivers Spree and Haver. And therefore shaped by its bridges and channels. Most visited bridges according to Tripadvisor are Oberbaumbrucke, Schlossbrucke, Moltkebrucke, Lutherbrucke, Jungfernbrucke, Friedrichbrucke and Monbijoubrucke.

I recommend you do not leave the city without visiting Postdam. Apart from the Sanssouci Palace of Frederick the Great, Potsdam has the Cecilienhof Palace, built by the Hohenzollerns (mix of different architectural styles). In this palace, the powers gained from the Second World War divided Europe. Interesting also the recognition made of the work of translators and interpreters.

And also in Potsdam and Berlin, the famous “bridge of spies”. Although there are metro stops where more prisoners were exchanged, Glienicker Bruecke is the most reproduced image of Berlin, the city of many bridges, and that even before the Spielberg film. The bridge connects Potsdam with Lake Wannsee with the wealthy bankers and industrialists’ neighborhood of rest, with stately villas and beach in Summer.

Glienicker Bruecke © Wolf

Berlin is big, it has a long history, urban planning has gradually been absorbing nearby towns such as Koepenick, Spandau and many more to turn them into districts. And for this reason, it does not have an urban center as defined as other European capitals. (Several friends of mine have complained about the difficulty of orientation for that reason).

Berlin is an aquatic city, with rivers and canals. Berliners boast that their “waterways” are connected to the five seas. That is why I would recommend if there are time and desire, a visit to Spandau.

Spandau has a beautiful citadel built by Italian engineers. Concerts and events are organized in Summer.

© 2019 — NÜRNBERGLUFTBILD

Near the citadel, you can see the operation of a lock. Navigable channels for the transport of goods.

Regarding films about Berlin, I should mention “The sky over Berlin” or “Wings of Desire” (Der Himmel über Berlin) by Wim Wenders. It develops before the Berlin metamorphosis. 1987 masterpiece of the moment, the stupendously accomplished city symphony, rises to poetry, surveys a walled city, looks upon its humans, within their dreams, descends to the circus and the bar-room and the fleeting refractions of winding thought. Bruno Ganz, an angel, falls in love with a trapeze artist (Wenders then-inamorata Solveig Dommartin) and decides he would rather be human, forsaking immortality for two beating hearts.” (New City Film)

“The sky over Berlin” by Wim Wenders ©New City Film

How is Berlin?

Capital and largest city of Germany both in size and number of inhabitants with 3,769,495 in the city and metropolitan: 6,144,600

Located in the state of Brandenburg

Place of artistic styles invention and home for 440 art galleries

and home for Leadership in science and research

Cosmopolitan and affordable

Center of the roaring Twenties , watch Babylon Berlin TV Series

, watch Babylon Berlin TV Series Fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 left the city with polycentric organization, City West of West Berlin and Alexanderplatz was the center of East Berlin formerly separated by this wall built up by the Soviet Union to control this sector. You can read more about Berlin´s history here

in 1989 left the city with polycentric organization, City West of West Berlin and Alexanderplatz was the center of East Berlin formerly separated by this wall built up by the Soviet Union to control this sector. You can read more about Berlin´s history here A place for beer lovers and wild nightlife

lovers and wild Famous modern landmarks

Spree river festivals and open-air cinemas

Flea Markets, for example, the one next to Tiergarten S-Bahn station at the weekends.

With oceanic climate and very cold winds during Winter, most people choose to travel to Berlin during late Spring or Summer. And unless you want as I did to take advantage of low season cheaper prices in transport and accommodation, and visit Christmas Markets, a wide offer of Museums, Exhibitions, or Events at any other season.

I am sharing my personal experience in Berlin in January 2012. Part of a trip to various European cities.

Berlin: a dynamic city where fun and culture is guaranteed

Map of Berlin

Getting here:

Interrail: Berlin Night Train from Sweden or Poland

Trains in Germany: Deutsch Bahn

By road or plane

Flixbus

Museumsinsel

One Island — Five Museums — One Ticket

Berlin’s Museum Island got my attention, this is an incredible opportunity to enjoy a gathering of five world-renowned museums. Apart from the bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti, you can visit the ancient Pergamon Altar and the great Ishtar Gate. In 1999, the Museum Island complex was registered as UNESCO World Heritage.

Free admission for visitors under 18 years. Regular admission is 18€, reduced 9€.

This island is located in the Spree river, in the Berlin Mitte area.

The five museums on Museum Island are: