After departing from Copenhagen, our first stop on the Norwegian Breakaway was Germany! We disembarked in Warnemunde on the coast and took a three hour train into Berlin. This was my first time in Berlin and I absolutely loved the history and vibe of the city. I know that Berlin is a popular city to visit among students, especially during a semester abroad, so I’ve created a travel guide of the must-see attractions! Keep reading to learn about what to see in Berlin in one day.
Berlin Travel Guide: Sights
Brandenburg Gate
This gate once separated east and west Berlin and is one of the last remaining original 18th-century city gates. This famous monument is a symbol of German history and unity.
East Side Gallery
An open-air gallery on the original Berlin Wall in the east part of the city. Hundreds of graffiti artists have done murals here, making it a popular photo-op and a symbol of peace and unity in the city.
Fernsehturm
This famous TV tower is the symbol of east Berlin and is located in the popular Alexanderplatz area of the city.
Pro-tip: There is a revolving bar and restaurant on top!
Berlin Cathedral
This iconic building suffered during WWII and has several bullet holes and patches on its facade to prove it. Also known as the Berliner Dom, you can visit this cathedral for free.
Reichstag
This building currently houses Germany’s Parliament and is most famous for its fires during the WWII era that led to the Enabling Act, which allowed Hitler to rise to power.
Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe
This memorial is dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Its concrete blocks are positioned unevenly to make you feel uneasy and lost as you walk through the maze, creating a powerful experience that is said to replicate how it felt for those who were taken from their homes.
Checkpoint Charlie (Checkpoint C)
One of the three checkpoints in the city. This checkpoint marked the boundary between the US and USSR sides of Berlin during the Cold War. Today, there is a replica guard booth with “American” (I heard they’re actually Turkish) guards that you can take photos with.
Berlin Travel Guide: Eats
Rausch
This chocolate shop, located in Gendarmenmarkt square, sells freshly made, mouth-watering treats made by German royal chocolatiers! I recommend visiting here and customizing your own box of truffles!
Currywurst
Legend says in 1949 a Berliner mixed together ketchup and curry powder and put it on a sausage and the currywurst was born! Now sold on every corner, you can’t leave this city without trying this famous street food.
Pro-tip: Heads up – you’re either going to love it or hate it.
Berlin Travel Guide: Facts
During the 1960s-80s, east Germany was Communist and was called the German Democratic Republic. Ruled by the Soviet Union, they also took control of east Berlin, which became Communist as well. During this time period, the rest of Germany was split among the US, Britain, and France, and a wall was built around west Berlin to secure it from the Communist outside. The Berlin Wall began as barbed wire guarded by soldiers – an action that took place overnight, and later turned into a 155 km concrete wall that can still be seen today in some parts of the city. West Germans could enter east Berlin so long as they had the correct stamps in their passports, but east Berliners could not leave the Communist state until the wall came down in 1989 and unity was achieved – for Berlin and all of Europe.
Berlin Travel Guide: Getting Around
Uber in banned in this city! My family and I walked around the city easily, but taxi or subway are other feasible options.
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