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Berlin Neighborhoods
Berlin is one of the largest cities in Europe (about nine times the size of Paris), so traversing this gigantic metropolis in a limited period of time can seem daunting. Attractions are spread out along the old political boundaries of east and west Berlin, with most of the popular sights on the city's east side.
Accessible via the Klosterstraße, Brandenburger Tor and Potsdame Platz U-Bahn stops.
Perhaps the most central of Berlin's districts, Berlin Mitte contains some of the most famous German landmarks; it was a pivotal locale for several of the 20th-century's most important – and, oftentimes, most devastating – global events. Covering a large swath of the city, the Mitte district can be broken down into several smaller neighborhoods.
Several attractions, such as the Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten and the shopping street, Friedrichstraße, hover near the Unter den Linden, Berlin's main boulevard. Just south of the Brandenburg Gate is the famous Potsdamer Platz public square, perhaps the most commercial evidence of Berlin's post-Cold War development. Here you'll find the Sony Center, one of the largest buildings in Berlin and home to several offices, museums, restaurants and a movie theater. Also, south of the Brandenburg Gate is one of the more arresting sites in Berlin Mitte: the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a 4.7-acre site in the middle of the city.
Just north of Unter den Linden is the famous Reichstag (Parliament Building), the imposing renaissance-style government building constructed as a parliamentary house in the late 19th century. East of Unter den Linden is the famously recognizable Fernsehturm, a 1,200-foot TV tower in Alexanderplatz that some have lovingly dubbed Telespargel (television asparagus).
Berlin Mitte also holds many of Berlin's best museums, many of which are located on Museumsinsel, an island on the Spree River. One such museum is the Bode Museum, which has a majestic and historical architecture from when it opened in 1883. Travelers should take note that Pergamonmuseum will be closed beginning in October 2023 for renovations, and won’t re-open again until spring 2027, according to the museum’s website.
Friedrichshain is accessible via the Weberwiese, Frankfurter Tor and Warschauer Straße U-Bahn stops; Kreuzberg is accessible via the U-Bahnhof Prinzenstraße and U-Bahnhof Hallesches Tor U-Bahn stops.
East of Mitte, the Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg boroughs offer many more iconic sites of World War II and the Cold War. In Kreuzberg, you'll find Checkpoint Charlie, the former border gate that marked the American sector of Berlin after World War II. Checkpoint Charlie remains a significant tourist spot today, as well as the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (Checkpoint Charlie Museum), dedicated to chronicling the events that happened around the checkpoint, including many Berliners' attempts to reach the American zone from the east. Also, in Kreuzberg is the Topography of Terror museum, a collection of photographic and textual evidence of Gestapo and Nazi brutality mounted on the walls of former government buildings.
Some of Berlin's most eclectic elements are housed here, too, including the city's thriving LGBTQ+ scene, artists and even Little Istanbul, a community of Turkish immigrants who comprise some of Berlin's vast immigrant population. For nightlife in these neighborhoods, check out Friedrichshain's Boxhagener Platz, a small park adjacent to several popular bars and restaurants.
Accessible via the Sophie-Charlotte-Platz, the U-Bahnhof Richard-Wagner-Platz and Kurfürstendamm U-Bahn stops.
Southeast of Tiergarten in the borough of Charlottenburg, you'll find the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the famous church turned anti-war memorial after it was bombed by the British in 1943. Only the spire and entrance hall remains, but a new house of worship was built alongside it in 1961; together the two churches are yet another stark reminder of Berlin's violent history.
Here, you'll also find the Schloss Charlottenburg, one of the largest and oldest palaces in the area. Yet another famous architectural landmark is the Olympiastadion, a Nazi-era stadium that played host to the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
Accessible via the Pankow U-Bahn stop.
For a glimpse at the rapidly gentrifying Berlin, head to this district in the northeast. Filled with Bohemian cafes and nightclubs that welcome revelers throughout the night, Pankow is frequented by students and local artists. Travelers especially recommend Kastanienallee and Oderberger Strasse, which locals refer to as “Prenzlauer Berg” – two streets with small boutiques and cafes perfect for people-watching.
Safety
In general, pickpocketing tends to be a Berlin tourist's main safety concern. Watch out for pickpockets on public transportation, especially during rush hour and at major tourist attractions. Berlin’s tourism website advises travelers to also be aware of fake police officers who will try to steal cash or credit cards. Also, visitors should be aware that prostitution is legal in Germany, and a percentage of Berlin's sex workers are victims of human trafficking.
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