Interesting landmarks, museums and other attractions in Berlin Mitte

Important landmarks in Berlin Mitte

Some of the visitors of Berlin don`t even go outside Mitte because there are just so much to see in this area as it includes the historical center of Berlin and some famous attractions. There is a high density of important landmarks in this area. For example, every day you can take tours of the bunkers, cold war defense shelters or flak towers that still exist below Berlin. The Berliner Dom, the Cathedral of Berlin, is also located in this area and you wouldn`t want to miss the Brandenburg Gate, a very important landmark that now symbolizes reunification. Alexanderplatz, where many tours start and end is located in Mitte. Just a short walk from Alexanderplatz you can find the TV tower, which has a staggering height of 368 m and was built in 1965-1969. And this is not all. You can visit the Reichstag, the headquarters of the German parliaments, the tallest building in Berlin, the Park Inn Alexanderplatz or the Famous memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe, which is a vast Holocaust memorial.

Finding apartments in Berlin-Mitte

A large part of the attractive cheap hotels in Berlin is located in the district of Mitte and with good reason. Due to the high density of attractions, bars, clubs and shopping streets it is the favorite place of people who visit Berlin. Although it is a large area everything it is well connected by the U-bahn, S-bahn and busses but most visitors prefer to walk from one tourist attraction to another. Good apartments in Berlin Mitte can be found at lower prices than in the capital cities of other countries in Europe.

Museums and other attractions

There are more museums in Mitte than one could visit in a week. A definitely must see is the Museum Island, built in 1830, where five very interesting museums that focus on art and archaeology are located. One of them is the Pergamon Museum, which is absolutely stunning and hosts three huge collections of antiquities and samples of Islamic art with reconstructions in natural size and with extreme detail. Other interesting museums in Mitte are the Old National Gallery on Bodestrasse, which hosts some famous paintings and sculptures, the Deutsches Historisches Museum, which covers everything from pre-history to our times, the DDR Museum or the Berlin wall documentation center.

Visiting Berlin in the winter

Christmas markets

Most people go to Berlin in the summer because the weather is nicer, but the city has a lot in store for the random tourist even in the winter. Even if it is a little colder, you can enjoy Berlin just as you would have in the summer. If you go during Christmas time you will find the city to be quite magical. There are more than 60 Christmas markets in Berlin and each has its own specific charm. One famous fair is the one at Schlossplatz unter den Linden which starts at the end of November. You can taste the mulled wine, enjoy festive treats and take pictures of the wonderfully decorated Christmas trees.

Berlin accommodation in the winter

Winter may not be the favorite time of tourists, but Christmas is, so you will want to book an apartment in Berlin starting from October or even earlier. As it will be a special time of the year and you may want to stay for the New Year festivities find some cozy Berlin accommodation that offers fine dining, a spa or a pool. The hotel should also organize special events on Christmas day. Pick your apartment in Berlin near the center, as you will want to take long walks during the night to see the Christmas lights and enjoy the snow.

Other winter activities

Your choice of winter sports is limited to ice skating as there are no mountains around, but you will have a lot of fun on the popular ring Marlene-Dietrich-Platz. The entrance is free and renting skates is cheap. In the winter, Potsdamer Platz prepares the Winterworld. It opens in November and attracts many people local people and tourists. There are many food and drinking stalls and you can enjoy special rides like the one on the 70-meter toboggan. If you go to Berlin between October and March, bring your winter clothes, as it can get really cold in the evening.

Mitte - the real center of the Berlin

Why is Mitte important

The district of Mitte is considered by many locals to be the real center of the city. It contains several main sights like the primary boulevard called Unter den Linden, political institutions and basically, the historical center of Berlin. This is the area where you will spend most of your when exploring Berlin. The new Berlin Mitte district includes the Tiergarten with its very interesting park, Potsdamer Platz and the Wedding area, which may not be so interesting for tourists. In Mitte you will find the Museum Island, the Branderburg Gate and the main shopping street Friedrichstrasse. Most tours start and end in this area.

Finding apartments in Berlin-Mitte

Mitte, being the heart of the city and the favorite part of tourists has a wide variety of hotels. You can find budget, mid-range or luxury Berlin accommodation on almost every street. There are many hostels with prices being around 15euro/person/per night. Central apartments in Berlin will costs a little more but the main attractions in the city are within walking distance, the rooms are very comfortable and there are many bars, restaurants and clubs nearby so the investment is well worth it. Remember that Mitte is a large area, so do not forget to check if the location of the Berlin apartments you have found suits your needs.

About Berlin Mitte

Mitte is well served by both the U-bahn and S-bahn lines which you can use if you want to explore the rest of the city. You will not have to walk a lot to find the Brandenburg Gate which is the only remaining city gate and an important symbol of the city or The Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe or the Reichstag which houses the Federal German Parliament. Mitte also hosts the Museum Island developed by the Prussian Emperors, an important UNESCO site. On the island you will find five very impressive archaeological and art museums. There is something of everything in Mitte as it is a mix of old and new and you just need a short walk to discover museums, parks, theaters, flea markets but also clubs, restaurants or any other attractions you might expect from a city like Berlin.

Insider tips for Berlin visitors

Some insider tips

Berlin is a fascinating city and will probably fill your time perfectly, but having some insider tips up your sleeve will help you heighten the experience a little bit, lower the costs and help you get around more efficiently in this city which, few know, is bigger than Paris. The first insider tip is probably the most valuable: get yourself the Berlin WelcomeCard. You can get it from several locations and it will provide free travel on all public transport means for 48 hours or 72 hours and discounts at museums and other attractions. If you are a fan of museums with 15 euro, you can buy the SchauLUST museum ticket, which will give you a three-day pass to several interesting museums. Care to do some shopping? Get to the store early especially in the weekend when most of the stores close at 2pm. Want a very cheap tour of the city? Try the bus lines 100 and 200 that go by the most important attractions and the busses are double-deckers so you are in for a ride.

Insider tips for finding Berlin cheap hotels

What the usual tourist does not know is that while something is always happening in Berlin some weeks are really crazy due to events or festivals. A smart traveler will find out the dates when the events take place and try to book Berlin accommodation on a different period when hotels are competing for clients. In addition, people usually want to find Berlin cheap hotels in the central area and end up choosing the most expensive hotels as they think it’s worth it as they are well situated. The real fact is that Berlin has several so-called centers and if your hotel, no matter its location, is connected to the U-bahn and S-bahn, you will have no problem in getting around the city.

Do it like the locals

If you want to get around easily and find things in no time, you should try to learn a few German words as they can help you a great deal. If you want to take a quick snack, do not go to restaurants try the really good Turkish Kebabs or the Currywurst instead. If you are thinking of going out, do not hit the clubs earlier than 10 PM or you will be drinking alone and remember that you do not have to tip the waiters unless you want to. If you are out all night, you can get around using the public transport lines that work all night but do not forget to validate the ticket.

Free things to do in Berlin

Having fun on a low budget

Germany is not a cheap country and Berlin is not really a cheap city either. Even a short weekend break will make your wallet thinner. Fortunately, there are some free things you can do in order to keep your budget intact and enjoy a wonderful time in Berlin. You might have heard of the free walking tour that starts every day in Alexanderplatz and includes the important attractions of the city. There are three tours every day at 11 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM, but keep in mind that many tourists tip the tour guides. If you want to see the city on your own, you can enjoy the Eastside Gallery, which includes 1.3 km of the former Berlin Wall and now serves as a gallery because hundreds of artists painted on it. If you are interested in museums, plan your stay to be in the city for the first Sunday of the month, when the entrance to most state museums is free. Going for a walk in the parks is subject to no charge. Find the Treptower Park, which you will find to be most interesting, especially the central area where a 1949 Soviet Memorial is placed.

Choosing Berlin cheap hotels

If you don`t have any friends or relatives in Berlin, staying there for free will be very difficult, but don`t worry. There are plenty Berlin cheap hotels and most of them are very clean and offer a good service. If you are organized enough to search for cheap apartments in Berlin in advance you are likely to pay even twice less than you would pay on the spot. Also, try the last minute booking websites if you know there is not festival or big event in Berlin at the time of your visit.

Places you can visit for free

Do you like cars? Visit the Volkswagen showroom where you will find all the VW cars and cars made by Bugatti, Seat or Bentley. If you don`t go on the free tour at least go to the Parliament building, the Reichstag, to visit the famous glass dome. It is better to get there before 9AM. A very interesting free museum is the Stasi Museum, which shows devices used by the former secret police of East Berlin. In this museum you can get an idea of how life was in the old East Germany. The Holocaust Memorial is an impressive place where almost 2700 concrete slabs are placed in the memory of the people that were victims of the Holocaust. Berlin is packed with street artists which will delight you especially around Breitscheidplatz and along Ku`Damm so even on a low budget you can have a great time in this city.

Cultural and historical attractions in Berlin

The marks of history

Berlin is a very diverse city and has a lot to offer. A big part of the visitors are interested in the history and culture of the city and some of the biggest reference points are the activity during the Cold War and the time of the Berlin Wall. Traces of the wall still exist today and some visitors even choose to retrace the places where the wall used to be by taking a long walk in the city. Most tourists got to the memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, which is a dramatic and impressive sight, dedicated to the 6 million victims of the holocaust. A very important landmark of the past is the Brandenburg Gate built between 1788 and 1792, which is next to the Reichstag Building famous for its dome. Berlin offers more than 150 museums and six of the most important ones are places on the Museum Island or the Museumsinsel found in the center of the city. Unmissed attractions are the Dahlem museum which holds impressive art from non-European continents, the Museum of Photography, the Primeval and Early History museum where pre-history and the Middle ages are well represented in marvelous collections and, of course, Checkpoint Charlie.

How to find a nice apartment in Berlin

The great number of sights and the tumultuous history of Berlin attract millions of visitors every year. For that reason, hundreds of hotels were built after the reunification of East and West Berlin, which means that finding a very comfortable apartment in Berlin at a good price will not be an impossible task. The general rules of finding good, cheap accommodation in Berlin are: book in advance, tell them you have other options and try to negotiate, check the reviews, search the hotel on the map and make sure is connected to the U-bahn and S-bahn. If you follow these rules, you should manage just fine.

Cultural events

Berlin is an appealing city to visit for the variety of cultural events. For example in February, the Berlinale takes place. This is the Berlin International Film Festivals, which was started in 1951. In March, you can attend the MaerzMusik Festival with orchestral, chamber and experimental music. In the summer, you may catch the German-American Festival and enjoy many American style fairs, carnivals and a piece of American culture. In October, you can enjoy the wonderful Berlin Jazz fest, which is a traditional festival in Berlin, and in December, you will be delighted by the incredibly beautiful Christmas markets. Each time of the year is marked with a special event that will let you taste a little bit of the German or International culture.

Out of the ordinary places in Berlin

Weird places to visit in Berlin

Like any big city, but probably more than most, Berlin has its weird places and attractions. Let`s see what are some of these places that could make some really good stories for back home. The first out of the ordinary place is the Tempelhof Park, best visited by bike or roller skates. The interesting thing about it is that it used to be an airport terminal. It`s huge, it`s in the center and full of ruins of old planes. All in all a very interesting place. Berlin has another interesting attraction, a museum, which is entirely dedicated to the currywurst a German sausage and here you can learn everything there is to know about this sausage, see it, taste it and smell it. Another weird museum is Design Panoptikum, which features all kinds of rare items collected by a Russian artist. The museum is full of bizarre things and you can even purchase some of the objects there.

Finding unusual apartments in Berlin

Most of the apartments in Berlin are very clean, comfortable and normal, but if you are looking for something special and a little crazy there are some options. For example, you could go to the Propeler Island City Lodge, which is one of the strangest hotels in the world. Each room has a weird theme like the Flying Bed Room or Upside Down Room; however, visitors say, in the end, it was a creepy experience so maybe you should stick to finding normal Berlin accommodation, with a normal room and a normal bed for a normal comfy experience. If you feel a little adventurous, you can ask for the top floor apartment, with a big balcony and a view.

Other strange places

If you are in Berlin, don`t miss the Kunsthaus Tacheles which used to be a luxury department store and today is a bizarre building and art gallery. You will meet some outgoing people and see some amazing art pieces. For a completely weird experience try the Nocti Vagus Dark Restaurant to eat using all your senses, but not your eyesight as you will eat in total darkness. These are not the only strange attractions in Berlin and a walk in the city will reveal many other out of the ordinary, safe, places.