Things to see in Berlin

The Charlottenburg Palace was built in 1699 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of King Frederick III. Prices and hours vary for the Old Palace, New Wing, and other parts of the complex. Keen photographers must also purchase a photo permit which allows visitors to take pictures for private use only (not for publication). Flash and tripod are also not allowed. The museums and galleries that are in and around the palace include the Museum Berggruen which contains more than 120 artworks by Picasso, as well as a representative collection of his contemporaries.

Old Palace: Tue-Sun 1000-1730 (Apr-Oct); Tue-Sun 1000-16:30 (Nov-Mar).

Yes

Checkpoint Charlie was the monitoring tower used to control the area around the Berlin Wall that divided the city during the Cold War. It was demolished soon after the 1989 revolution, but the Mauermuseum (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie) that stands in its place is well worth a visit to discover the historic significance of this apparently unremarkable site. A cinema shows films on the Third Reich and the Cold War era, and the museum also details the history of the Berlin Wall, a piece of which still stands a short distance from the museum, complete with decorations on the western side.

Daily from 0900-2200.

Yes (the museum)

This extraordinary site is an unforgettable rendering of the holocaust in sculpture that never fails to impress visitors. As you enter the enormous field of stelae, you gently descend into unseen depths through the regimented rows of the giant concrete slabs, which can be a disorienting and disturbing experience. There's a visitor centre underneath the memorial where individual testimonies from holocaust survivors are on display, as well as a room where every known holocaust victim's name is read out on a loop lasting six years.

Memorial: Daily 24 hours.
Visitor Centre: Tue-Sun 1000-2000 (Apr-Sep); Tue-Sun 1000-1900 (Oct-Mar).

No

British architect Norman Foster transformed Berlin's Reichstag after years of disuse and in 1999, it became the meeting place of the German parliament again. The large glass dome at the top of Reichstag is meant to symbolise the transparency of the democratic government and visitors can pass between its layers to witness the decision-making chamber of the government (advance online registration is required). The walk through the dome itself is stunning, culminating in sweeping views of the city. The rooftop restaurant provides a way to beat the queues.

Guided tours of the Reichstag Building: daily at 0900, 1030, 1200, 1330, 1530, 1700, 1830 and 2000.
Dome: Daily 0800-2400 with last admission at 2145 hours. Prior registration required.

No

Built in 1791 as a triumphal arch, the Brandenburg Gate is the only remaining town gate in the country and an enduring symbol of Berlin. Once Berlin's main avenue and still one of its best preserved historical areas, Unter den Linden ('under the lime trees') is a wide, lime tree-lined boulevard that runs from the Brandenburger Gate to Alexanderplatz, the centre of east Berlin. Along the way, the street takes in many of Berlin's real treasures, including the Deutsche Staatsoper (German State Opera), the Neue Wache (New Guardhouse), which is now a memorial to the victims of fascism and tyranny, and the Zeughaus (Arsenal), which houses the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum). 

No

Only a few sections of this most famous of cold war relics remain. The East Side Gallery (www.eastsidegallery.com), along Mühlen-Strasse (S-Bahn Ostbahnhof), emerged in the post-Wall years as a poignant symbol of new hope, as it was covered with inspiring artwork. But the best place to see the wall as it was is at the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, a small graffiti-free stretch of the Wall that has been preserved by the authorities. A visitor centre has information about the Wall years, while a chapel is dedicated to the 80 or so victims that died trying to cross it.

Visitor Centre: Tue-Sun 1000-1800.

No

One of the city’s grandest attractions, Berlin Cathedral is a magnificent domed building located in the charming Spree Island area. The brainchild of King Frederick William IV, the cathedral was unveiled in 1905 only to sustain heavy damage in WWII. Extensive restoration work was eventually completed in 1993 and today the cathedral is one of Berlin's top sights. You can admire its architectural splendour from the park opposite or buy a ticket and wander around the museum, chapels and Hohenzollern crypt inside. Visitors can also go to the top of the dome for stunning views over Berlin.

Mon-Sat 0900-2000, Sun 0900-2000.

Yes