A Day Tour of Berlin

If this is your first time traveling to Berlin and you have one whole day to travel around the city, then the route I am recommend to you today should be the best choice.

I suggest you set off from Alexanderplatz in the city center. The most eye-catching building at the square is the towering TV tower, which is the tallest building in Berlin. You can have a spectacular panoramic view of Berlin from above.

Walk along Alexanderplatz south, and you will see the red Berliner Rathaus and the Marx-Engels-Forum. In front of the Berliner Rathaus is a big fountain, where children love to frolic in summer. At the square, there are statues of Max and Engels, who are familiar to Chinese visitors, and screen columns that record the history. If you have spare time, you may find one part of Chinese history on these columns.

Walking down Karl-Liebknecht-Street (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße), you will arrive on the magnificent Under the Linden Trees (Unter den Linden), where a large number of famous buildings are located. What swarms into your view must be the magnificent Berliner Dom, and its history can be dated back to 1465. The new palace style church we see today was constructed between 1894 and 1905. During the Second World War, the Berliner Dom was seriously damaged. In 1993, four years after the two East and West Germany was united, the repair work of the church had just been finished and reopened to the public. The Berliner Dom is magnificent, glorious, and luxurious, and its dome is as high as 70 meters.

Located northeast of the Berliner Dom is the world famous Berlin Museum Island (Museumsinsel). The island is located in the center of the Spree River, and five museums have already settled on it. On the island, ancient Egyptian civilization and ancient Asian civilization are only a few steps away. This museum is like a time machine, and can offer visitors a thrilling cultural and historical travel experience, from the Paleolithic times to the 19th century. Since 1999, it has been listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Welcome Card the Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH provides includes a 72-hour and Museum Island coupon. If you are interested in these museums, you may buy it.

Returning from the Museum Island to Under the Linden Trees (Unter den Linden), you will pass by the German Historical Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum), which consists of an old building armory and the new museum behind it. The museum is designed by Pei Ieoh-Ming, who added Chinese elements to this building. If you have no time to enter and tour the museum, you may stand at the entrance of it to appreciate the architect’s masterpiece.

Located near the German Historical Museum is a little Western style building--Neue Wache, which is the “central memorial of German war and tyrannical victims.” Located west of the Neue Wache is the oldest university of Berlin--University of Humboldt. The statue of Alexander von Humboldt is located at the entrance. On the main wall of the university there are a few important words of Max: “The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways: the point is to change it.”

Opposite of the University of Humboldt is Babelplatz, where there is a sinking space. It is divided by a layer of glass ground tiles, and beneath it is an empty shelf. On May 10th, 1933, the Nazi members burned 20,000 books here, showing the ugly side of German history. This commemorative device was designed by artist Micha Ullman. A few verses of Heinrich Heine are seen beside this glass brick layer: This is only a prelude. Where one burns books, one will soon burn people (Das war ein Vorspiel nur, dort / wo man Bücher verbrennt, / verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen. Heinrich Heine 1820).

Not far from Under the Linden Trees (Unter den Linden) to the south is the Gendarmenmarkt, which, among hundreds of squares in Berlin, many Berliners think that it is the most beautiful square in Germany or even in Europe. The square is surrounded by the Deutscher Dom, a French cathedral, and a music hall, and is harmonious, beautiful and unforgettable. The movie Around the World in 80 Days starring Jackie Chan in 2004 was once filmed for some time at the square. In the film, London in the 19th century can be seen with the French cathedral and the music hall as the background. During each summer, outdoor music concerts will be held here, and it will flourish during Christmas in winter.

Located on French Street (Französische Straße) of the square is the Ritter Sport Chocolate World. If you have enough time, you may as well pick up ingredients to customize your own chocolate.

Now you have come to Friedrich Street, where there is a Galeries Lafayette department store and many other kinds of specialty stores which sell world famous brands for you to choose from. Keep walking forward, and you can also visit the Check Point Chalie, the most famous check point during the broken period of Germany.

You can return to Under the Linden Trees (Unter den Linden) from this check point by bus or subway. The Paris Square and the Brandenburger Tor in front of it are landmarks of Berlin. Surrounding the square are lots of places of interest to visit. For example, to the north is the Reichstag Building (Reichstagsgebäude), the German Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt), and the Berlin Central Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof); or you can move south and pass the embassy of the U.S., and visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas). This magnificent monument must draw your attention and remind you of the past stories of mankind.

Keep walking ahead, and you can see another landmark of Berlin---Potsdamer Platz, the best place to tour, go shopping, or eat. Near the Potsdamer Platz are the longest part of the remained Berlin Wall, and the Topographie des Terrors, where a history exhibition about the capital of Nazi Germany is being held. This is a place you cannot miss.

Taking the bus or subway or light rail, you can easily arrive at Kurfürstendamm in the west of Berlin. This street is a world famous avenue, with all varieties of luxurious products. The most famous place is Europe’s largest department store KaDeWe at Wittenberg Square.

Walk along Kurfürstendamm Street past the European Center shopping area, and you will arrive at the Kaser Wilhelm Catholic Church (Kaser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche). The historical relics left by the cruel wars are obvious compared with the modern style new memorial church.

Located on Kurfürstendamm Street and in nearby areas are also numerous restaurants, such as Savignyplatz, where you eat the most authentic Italian food; on Kantstrasse Street, there are Chinese restaurants which have witnessed years of history, such as Good Friends, Selig, and so on. Have a good dinner in the restaurant, and regain your energy. Now Berlin’s nightlife has begun.

Working out such a route always needs proper concern of your intent, for the things to be introduced and seen are too many on this trip. No matter whether you like shopping, history, art or architecture, you will get something after this trip. The places introduced in this article are only small part of Berlin, and so you need to stay for a few more days in Berlin to explore more of its interesting places. Most of the tourist attractions mentioned in this article have their specific introductions on the column of “See Berlin (看柏林).” If you are hoping to travel around Berlin and do not want to limit yourself to tour the city for just a few minutes, you may visit the official website of “visitBerlin”.