Unique, hip and endlessly enjoyable, 21st Century Berlin is a cultural phenomenon that attracts people from across the globe for its music scene, nightlife and fashion. Some head here for events and conferences too, or just to drink in the sights and learn more about modern European history.
Even if Berlin’s hip side or heritage doesn’t hugely appeal, there’s plenty more about this unique place to keep you entertained.
Take a walk on the Wall side
From August 1961 until 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall split the city - and country - into East and West. While the decision to 'tear down that wall' was made some thirty years ago, traces and reminders of the controversial partition remain to this day. And with them are found insights into some rather compelling political history.
Walking the remains of the Berlin Wall really helps gain an understanding as to many elements of the Cold War and what helped shape modern Berlin. There's the Berlin Wall Memorial, which can be found on the Bernauer Strasse, an intimidating-looking ex-Stasi prison, the compelling East Side Gallery, the touching Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial, and the lush Mauerpark.
For anyone inclined towards slightly more vigorous exercise, the Berlin Wall Cycle Route offers a brilliant way to follow the Wall by bicycle. The route covers over 160 kilometres, all along the former border around and through Berlin. Although, of course, you don’t have to cycle the entire route...
Become a culture vulture for the day
For those in search of a little enlightenment, Museum Island, or Museumsinsel as it's known locally, is an excellent half day's visit. Found on an island in the Spree river in the central Mitte district of the city, there are five impressive and fascinating museums and galleries to peruse at your leisure. There's the Old Museum, New Museum, Pergamon Museum, Old National Gallery and Bode Museum.
Art, prints and sketches from Old Masters, sculptures, busts, coins, medals, antiquities, ancient artifacts - these museums have it all. Even the buildings themselves are things to behold; the grand and imposing neoclassical temples looming over you as you stroll the island.
Museum Island is home to over six thousand years of human history and this unique ensemble of treasure troves was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1999 due to its enormous cultural significance to both Berlin and Germany.
Leap over to Leipzig
190km south of Berlin, Leipzig is something of a boom town. It has a long history and has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in eastern Germany for some time. But a recent surge in popularity has seen interest in this artistic and idiosyncratic little city hit an all time peak.
Music, fashion, art, cultural movements, Leipzig’s buzz has earned it the nickname ‘Hype-zig’ in some quarters. But it’s not just a hipster heaven. Sure, there are cutting edge places like Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei, a giant old cotton mill with eleven art galleries and exhibition spaces to look around. But there’s also a plethora of local markets to browse, the Bach Museum to check out and scores of beautiful churches to appreciate.
Be sure to catch the city’s most famous and impressive landmark, Monument to the Battle of the Nations. The century-old structure commemorates Napoleon’s defeat at the 1813 Battle of Leipzig and stands a proud 91 meters tall.
It doesn’t matter if your plan is to stay local, zip to a few neighboring towns and cities or venture out even further into the German countryside, renting a car in Berlin is the best way to really make the most of your time there.
