Berlin is a city where the scars of history have become part of its unique landscape, where bullet marks on facades coexist with futuristic architecture of glass and steel, and the remnants of the famous Berlin Wall have been transformed into the world`s longest open-air gallery. The tragedy of two world wars and the Cold War has here been transmuted into a unique atmosphere of freedom, creativity, and tolerance.
History of Berlin
From fishing settlements to the capital of a reunited Germany. Berlin`s history began in the 13th century with two trading settlements — Berlin and Cölln on the banks of the Spree River. Cölln is first mentioned in 1237, Berlin in 1244; this date is considered the official year of the city`s founding. In 1307, the settlements merged.
In 1415, power passed to the Hohenzollern dynasty, which ruled for over 500 years. It was under them that Berlin first became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia, and after 1871, the capital of the united German Empire.
The Thirty Years` War in the 17th century devastated the city. Reconstruction began under the "Great Elector" Frederick William, who pursued a policy of religious tolerance and attracted immigrants, especially French Huguenots. In 1701, after the coronation of Frederick I, Berlin officially became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia.
The 20th century was a time of catastrophe and rebirth. After World War I, in 1920, the Greater Berlin Act incorporated numerous surrounding territories into the city, and the population exceeded 4 million, making it the largest industrial and cultural center in Europe.
With the Nazis` rise to power in 1933, Berlin became the capital of the Third Reich. The war and Allied bombing raids reduced the city center to ruins. After the capitulation in 1945, Berlin was divided into four sectors. In 1949, two German states were formed: East Berlin became the capital of the GDR, while West Berlin received the special status of an enclave. In 1961, the GDR government erected the Berlin Wall, which became the main symbol of the Cold War.
On November 9, 1989, the Wall fell. In 1990, Germany was reunited, and Berlin regained its status as the unified capital. Since 1999, the parliament and government of the Federal Republic of Germany have worked here. Today, Berlin is a global cultural center with a population of about 3.7 million people.
The Architectural Code of Berlin
Berlin`s architecture is a synthesis reflecting all the ideological conflicts of the 20th century. The city experienced four large-scale reconstructions: under the Nazis, after the war by the Allies and the Soviets, and after reunification.
Almost nothing remains from the Middle Ages. Baroque left behind the ensemble of Gendarmenmarkt square and the Unter den Linden boulevard. Classicism gave the city the Brandenburg Gate (1788–1791) — Berlin`s main symbol.
After the proclamation of the empire in 1871, the era of Historicism began: the Reichstag, the magnificent buildings of Museum Island, and Berlin Cathedral were constructed. The Weimar period was the golden age of Modernism with its "New Building" housing complexes.
Nazi architecture rejected Modernism in favor of monumental classicism — this is how the Olympic Stadium and ministry buildings came into being. After 1945, Berlin became a field of architectural rivalry: in the east, they built in the style of Stalinist Empire; in the west, in the spirit of Western Modernism. The Television Tower at Alexanderplatz and the Axel Springer high-rise became symbols of the two systems.
After reunification, Berlin became the "construction site of the century." Potsdamer Platz with its futuristic Sony Center, Norman Foster`s glass dome on the Reichstag, and the quarters on Friedrichstrasse by world-renowned architects — all this shaped the city`s modern appearance.
Sights of Berlin
Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor). The main symbol of Berlin and Germany. The 26-meter-high triumphal arch, crowned with a quadriga bearing the goddess of peace, was built in 1788–1791. The gate survived Napoleon (he took the quadriga to Paris, but it was returned after victory), the division of the city (it stood in the "no man`s" land by the Wall), and became a symbol of reunification in 1989. In the evening, illumination highlights the sculptural details, and inside the complex is the "Hall of Silence," an intimate space for reflection.
Reichstag. The building of the German parliament with a dramatic fate. Built in 1894, it burned in 1933 (an event the Nazis used to seize power), and was heavily damaged in 1945 (it was here that the Victory Banner was hoisted). In the post-war years, the building stood derelict right by the Wall. After reunification, Norman Foster reconstructed the Reichstag, adding the famous glass dome (1999), which can be climbed (advance registration required). The dome itself symbolizes the transparency of power — visitors can look down into the plenary chamber.
Berlin Wall and East Side Gallery. The Wall, which divided the city from 1961 to 1989, has been almost completely dismantled. The longest remaining section (1316 meters) along the Spree River has been turned into an international open-air gallery. In 1990, 118 artists from 21 countries painted the wall. The most famous image is Dmitri Vrubel`s "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love," depicting the kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker.
Museum Island (Museumsinsel). A unique architectural and museum complex on an island in the Spree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses five museums: the Old Museum (antique art), the New Museum (Egyptian collection, including the famous bust of Nefertiti), the Old National Gallery (19th-century painting), the Bode Museum (sculpture and Byzantine art), and the famous Pergamon Museum with its grand architectural reconstructions — the Altar of Zeus from Pergamon and the Ishtar Gate from Babylon (closed for renovation until 2027). The ensemble is completed by Berlin Cathedral with the Hohenzollern crypt.
Alexanderplatz. A vast square — a transport hub and symbol of East Berlin. Here rises the Television Tower (Fernsehturm), 368 meters high — Germany`s tallest building and the fourth tallest in Europe. The upper observation deck offers a 360-degree panorama of the city. Nearby are the "Fountain of Friendship among Peoples," the World Time Clock, and the distinctive high-rise of the Park Inn hotel.
Potsdamer Platz. Before the war, it was Europe`s busiest intersection; after the war, a wasteland by the Wall; in the 1990s, Europe`s largest construction site. Today, it is a futuristic quarter of glass and steel with skyscrapers, theaters, cinemas, restaurants, and the famous Sony Center with its huge, translucent tent-like dome. Here, you can also find Germany`s first traffic lights and a remaining piece of the Wall.
Victory Column (Siegessäule). A 67-meter column topped with a gilded figure of the goddess Victoria, erected to commemorate Prussia`s victories in the 19th century. It offers an excellent view of the Tiergarten park. For Russian tourists, it`s a special place — a reminder of the taking of Berlin in 1945.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust-Mahnmal). A vast field of 2711 concrete stelae of varying heights, arranged in waves. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and opened in 2005. Walking between the stelae, one is immersed in an atmosphere of alienation and loss — it is one of the most powerful architectural metaphors for the tragedy of the Holocaust.
Berlin`s Squares, Palaces, and Other Gems
Gendarmenmarkt. Berlin`s most beautiful square, with an ensemble of three buildings: the Concert Hall in the center and two cathedrals — the French and the German. It was built at the end of the 17th century by French Huguenots.
Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg). Berlin`s largest palace, built at the end of the 17th century for Frederick I`s wife, Sophie Charlotte. Luxurious interiors, a Baroque park, a porcelain collection, and a picture gallery.
Unter den Linden Boulevard. Berlin`s main boulevard, connecting Brandenburg Gate with Museum Island. Here you will find the Old Library, the State Opera, Humboldt University, and other historic buildings.
New Synagogue. The reconstructed synagogue with a gilded dome on Oranienburger Strasse — a symbol of the revival of Berlin`s Jewish community.
Topography of Terror (Topographie des Terrors). A documentation center on the site of the former Gestapo and SS headquarters, featuring a preserved section of the Wall and an open-air exhibition on Nazi crimes.
Berlin`s Parks, Canals, and Special Flavor
Tiergarten. The "green heart" of Berlin, a huge park in the city center with lakes, avenues, lawns, and the Brandenburg Gate on its edge. You can have picnics, cycle, or simply stroll in peace.
Treptower Park. Famous for its grand Soviet War Memorial featuring the figure of a soldier-liberator holding a girl in his arms. A place of remembrance for those who fell liberating Berlin.
River Spree. Boat trips along the river and canals open up a completely different perspective — you can see the city from the water, gliding past the Reichstag, Museum Island, and the government quarter.
Bunkers and Underground. Berlin sits atop underground structures — air-raid shelters, bunkers from the war and the Cold War. Some are open to visitors.
Unusual Corners and Contemporary Spaces
• Nikolaiviertel Quarter. The reconstructed oldest residential quarter around St. Nicholas` Church, created for Berlin`s 750th anniversary. Narrow streets, cozy restaurants — an "historic" center that wasn`t actually there originally, but the atmosphere is pleasant.
• Bunker on Friedrichstrasse. A massive concrete building, first a wartime air-raid shelter, then a tropical fruit warehouse for the GDR, then one of Berlin`s most famous clubs. Today, it houses a museum of contemporary art and private collections.
• Kreuzberg District. The epicenter of alternative culture, an immigrant and youth district with street art, cafes, and bars.
• Tegel. An airport closed in 2020, but its hexagonal terminal designed by architect von Gerkan is a landmark of 1970s architecture.
• Haus der Statistik. The former GDR statistics building, saved from demolition and being transformed into a center for art and social projects.
Practical Tips
• When to go. The best time is May–September: warm, outdoor cafes are open, many festivals. In December, Berlin is beautiful with its Christmas markets.
• Book tickets in advance. Registration for the Reichstag dome is mandatory and free, but must be done weeks in advance on the Bundestag website. For the Pergamon Museum and other highlights on Museum Island, it`s best to buy tickets online.
• Transport. The metro (U-Bahn) and city train (S-Bahn) form the backbone of the transport system. Tickets are universal and must be validated before boarding. The Berlin WelcomeCard, offering free travel and museum discounts, is convenient for tourists.
• Where to eat. The Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts are centers of gastronomic diversity. Be sure to try currywurst (the famous Berlin sausage with ketchup and curry), Königsberger Klopse, and Berliner Pfannkuchen.
• What to drink. Berlin beer — local varieties like Berliner Pilsner, Kindl, Schultheiss. In recent years, the city has become a capital of craft beer.
• Good to know. Many museums are closed on Mondays, but there are exceptions. Sunday is a quiet day; most shops are closed. Berlin is very tolerant of different lifestyles — you can look however you want, you won`t surprise anyone.
Berlin is the capital of Germany, a city with a population of about 3.7 million people, the country`s largest scientific, cultural, and political center. It is a city that does not hide its scars but makes them part of its identity. Here, the past is embedded in the living fabric of the city, reminding us of the price of freedom and the importance of preserving peace.
