Places You Must See During Your Berlin Vacation

Whether you like history, culture, nightlife, or all of the above, Berlin is a great place for your vacation. The extensive transportation network makes it easy to get around this sprawling metropolis. You have various options when it comes to visiting places of interest. Among these is The Reichstag or Parliamentary Building. It is one of the most symbolic buildings in Berlin. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Parliament until 1933 when it was destroyed by a fire started by the Nazis. Between the years 1994 and 1999 the building was reconstructed and extended by the architect Norman Forster. Since then, this building has once again become the seat of the German Bundestag or federal government. Its staggering new dome makes it is one of the city's biggest attractions that you can visit during your vacation in Berlin.

Another interesting place to visit is the Brandenburg Tor. It is a triumphal arch and another symbol of Berlin. It is located on the Pariser Platz and was build in the 18th century. It was the most beautiful among the 18 gates of Berlin, and the only one that survived until today. During the years of the Communist government the gate was incorporated into the Berlin Wall and was included in East Germany. When the wall fell in 1989 the gate became a symbol of reunification. The Brandenburg Gate is composed out of twelve Greek style columns, six on each side, and a 6 meter high sculpture on top of the gate that is called the Quadriga. It was build in 1794 as a symbol of peace, and consists of a horse-drawn chariot being driven by the winged goddess of victory.

The Berlin Wall is also a well known place of interest. It was part of the inner German border for 28 years, since August 13th 1961 until November 9th 1989. The Wall theoretically divided Berlin in two parts but practically it surrounded West Berlin. There are some pieces of the wall that still exist today but the main attraction is Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was one of the main gateways for crossing between the two halves of Berlin during the Cold War. The naming of the checkpoints was based on the phonetic alphabet, and because this was the third checkpoint it was given the name „C“-Charlie. This checkpoint is now a symbol of the Cold War and also a symbol of freedom for the East Germans. There is no checkpoint today but in the same place where the real once stood, there is a replica of the original booth, together with a copy of the sign that used to mark the border crossing.

Some other interesting places in Berlin are: the Berliner Dom, Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, the Berliner Gemäldegalerie, the Museum Island and Potsdamer Platz. Between visiting all these you can also keep an eye on the modern architecture with the latest state of the art skyscrapers, the large zoo and many art and history museums.

No place on earth can be compare to Berlin when it comes to nightlife. Berlin has a variety of clubs, bars, pubs, starting with pubs in abandoned ruins and ending with funky beach bars. From the clubbing point of view Berlin really offers a large number of choices especially in the techno department, where the city is recognised as a trend setter around the world. Watergate and Tresor are two big names that revellers won't miss. Berghain and Panorama Bar are also two legendary places. In Berlin you have the option to end the day or perhaps start the next one, early in the morning, directly into a club.

You can have a great vacation in Berlin whether you are interested in culture, history or you just want to have a unique clubbing experience.

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