Beautiful Berlin

European travels and tours often include the city of Berlin in Germany.

Central Berlin

BERLIN

Berlin is a city of many happenings. From sunrise to sunset there are many things that could be done. One would enjoy a lovely day strolling down the streets looking at street art, admiring historic sites including palaces and museums.

One could take an afternoon break at one of the cafes. The fun continues until sundown; there are a number of clubs and bars along the city.

Get ready, as we take you to an adventure along the mesmerizing streets of Berlin.

Berlin at Night (1)

GENERAL INFORMATION

TOPOGRAPHY

Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. It could be found on the northeastern region. It occupies a total land area of 891.85 square kilometers, mostly plains; the highest point is at 34meters.

CLIMATE

The climate here is generally oceanic. The coldest months are from November to February with temperatures ranging from -2 degrees Celsius to 3 degree Celsius. The warmest months are from June to August with temperatures from 12 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius.

PEOPLE

In December 2013 the total population in Berlin reached more than 3.5 million. A huge percentage of the population are foreigners or are descendants of migrants. There are also a number of non-indigenous communities residing in the city.

Berlin is a multi-lingual city. Citizens can speak and understand German, Turkish, English, Russian, Arabic, Polish, Kurdish, Vietnamese, Serbian, Croatian, and French.

Majority of the citizens (60 percent) have no religion. Less than 20 percent are Protestants and the remaining are Catholics, Muslims, and Christians.

TRANSPORTATION

There is a superb transportation system in Berlin. There are different ways of getting in and out of the country as well as getting around the city.

Flying into the city is the easiest and most comfortable way to get in. There are two airports in the city: Tegel International Airport and Schonefeld Airport. The first airport is located northwest of the city.

It is now used for international and domestic flights. The later airport is at southeast of the city and mostly used for budget airlines and chartered flights.

There are reports that a new airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport is under construction. Once this new airport is completed, abovementioned airports would be closed down. Construction of the new airport is done in hopes to unify the city.

Other ways to enter the city is by bus, train, and car. These connect Berlin to other major German cities and European countries as well as Russia.

Once inside the city there are various modes of transportation including bus, taxis, tram, trains, and subways. And for those willing and capable, take a day or two to go on a bicycle trip. It is easy to take a bike trip around the city due to its relatively flat plains.

THINGS TO SEE

Below are a few of the things that one could and must see in the city.

BERLIN WALL

The infamous Berlin Wall was built to divide the city between east and west from 1961 to 1989. The wall included several guard towers.

Other names of the wall include death strip, wall of shame, and anti-fascist protection rampart. From the years 1990 to 1992 the wall was brought down. Bringing the wall down was the start of unifying the city.

Remaining Berlin Wall, often known as East Side Gallery (2)

To commemorate those who died in attempts to cross the wall memorial graves were built adjacent to the wall.

Memorial to the victims of the Berlin Wall (3)

There are several museums located in Museum Island, Berlin. These include Pergamon Museum, Altes Museum, Bode Museum, Egyptian Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral, Lustgarten, and James Simon Gallery. Two of these museums are featured here.

NEUES MUSEUM (NEW MUSEUM)

The New Museum was built from 1843 to 1855 north of Altes Museum (Old Museum). During World War II (1939) the museum was closed and severely damaged. Year later, 2009, the museum was once again open to public. On display include Egyptian and Prehistory and Early History collections.

Neues Museum (4)

ALTES MUSEUM (OLD MUSEUM)

Construction of the Altes Museum occurred from the years 1823 to 1830 following a neoclassical style. Since the date of establishment until 1845 the museum was known as the Royal Museum.

Included in the exhibit are Prussian royal family art collection and collection of antiquities. In the year 1999, the museum was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Altes Museum (5)

BRANDENBURG GATE

One of the most famous landmarks in Germany is the Brandenburg Gate – a triumphal arch built in the 18th century. The arch or gate symbolizes both the riotous and peaceful times of Europe and Germany.

Brandenburg Gate (6)

CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE

The Charlottenburg Palace was built in the 17th century and was renovated in the 18th century. Currently it is the only existing royal residence in the city which was built in those years.

The interior of the palace was inspired by both baroque and rococo styles. Surrounding the palace is a garden with a belvedere (tea house), mausoleum, theatre, and pavilion.

Charlottenburg Palace (7)

REICHSTAG BUILDING

Reichstag Building is an important landmark both culturally and architecturally. Construction of the building was finished in 1894. Until 1933 the building was used by the Diet.

But during World War II the building was destroyed and abandoned. In 1990, when Germany was united, the building was restored and used as the modern parliament.

Reichstag Building (8)

VICTORY COLUMN

This monument in Berlin was built in 1864 in commemoration in honor of Prussian victory. After successive victories, a bronze sculpture of Victoria was added on top.

Victory Column (9)

BERLIN CATHEDRAL

The Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church or simply Berlin Cathedral is an evangelical church in the heart of Berlin. Its architecture and façade is impressive and a one of a kind.

Berlin Cathedral (10)

ST. HEDWIG’S CATHEDRAL

Aside from having an evangelical church, there is also a Roman Catholic Church. St. Hedwig’s Cathedral built in 1773 making it the first Catholic Church in Prussia. It serves as the seat of the archbishop of Berlin.

St. Hedwig’s Cathedral (11)

References:
“Berlin.” Travel Guide. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin>.
“Berlin.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin>.
“Berlin – Lonely Planet.” Lonely Planet. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/berlin>.
“Official Tourism Website.” Berlin. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.visitberlin.de/en>.
“Top 30 Things to Do in Berlin, Germany: Berlin Attractions.” – Find What to Do Today, This Weekend, or in February. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187323-Activities-Berlin.html>.

Images:
1. Debowski, Robert. Berlin at night. November 2005. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
2. Remaining stretch of the Wall. August 2006. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
3. Lyricmac. Memorial to the Victims of the Wall, Berlin. October 1986. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
4. Gryffindor. Exterior of the Neues Museum in Berlin. October 2009. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
5. Avda. Altes Museum in Berlin. March 2012. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
6. Wolf, Thomas. The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. May 2008. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
7. Ernstol. Charlottenburg Berlin. April 2014. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
8. Field, Matthew. Reichstag Building. November 2009. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
9. Wolf, Thomas. Berlin Victory Column. April 2012. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
10. A Savin. Berlin Cathedral. April 2013. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.
11. Lostajy. St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. October 2005. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. January 24, 2015.

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