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Provided by: Scholvien/Visit Berlin
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Jewish Museum Berlin
The guide was updated:The Jewish Museum Berlin is housed in the impressive building designed by Daniel Libeskind. The zinc-coated zig-zag building is one of Berlin’s major landmarks. The permanent exhibition traces the high and low points of German-Jewish history from the end of the Roman Age to the present day. The museum is a must for architecture nerds, history buffs and anyone who wants to understand the enormous intellectual, economic and cultural contribution made by the Jewish citizens of Berlin.
Useful Information
- Address: Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Lindenstraße 9-14, Berlin-Kreuzberg
- Opening hours: Daily 10am–6pm
- Tickets: The core exhibition is free. Temporary exhibitions cost extra.
- Website: www.jmberlin.de/en
- Public Transport: U Hallesches Tor, Kochstraße
- Phone: +49 30 25 99 33 00
- Email: info@jmberlin.de
Digital Travel Guide Download
Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.
*this will be downloaded as a PDF.Price
€4,95
It’s Berlin’s most famous landmark and became the symbol of overcoming the division of Germany. From an architectural perspective, the sandstone structure, built by Carl Gotthard Langhans, is one of the most magnificent examples of German classicism. Nowadays the Gate serves as a backdrop for festivals, big sporting events or New Year’s Eve parties.
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East Side Gallery
An East German Trabant car, which appears to be breaking through the concrete. Honecker and Breschnew locked in a kiss of brotherly, socialist love. With the East Side Gallery, a segment of the Berlin Wall has been turned into the longest open air gallery in the world.
The open-air East Side Gallery is located along the banks of the river Spree in Friedrichshain. At 1,316 metres, it's also the longest segment of the Berlin Wall that is still standing. Right after the fall of the Wall, this stretch was painted by 118 artists from 21 different countries. Using various techniques, the artists commented on the political events that took place in 1989 and 1990 in over 100 works of art found on the eastern side of the wall.
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Alexanderplatz & Television Tower
Once the heart of the former East Berlin, Alexanderplatz is today the largest inner-city square in Germany and has developed into a popular shopping attraction. The view from the Television Tower, its height of 368 metres making it the tallest tower in Germany, is absolutely fantastic. A perfect 360° all-round view is provided by the revolving restaurant Sphere and Bar 203, making a full turn twice an hour.
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DDR Museum
The DDR Museum is an interactive museum that takes you on a journey into the socialist past. You'll see countless iconic objects from the former East Germany, will take a simulated ride in a Trabi, dance the Lipsi and rummage around in an authentic apartment. It's an essential Berlin history trip.
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Berlin Highlights Bike Tour
Experience Berlin like a local and cover all the must-see attractions in just half a day with this highlights tour on a bicycle — ideal for cycling enthusiasts with limited time in the city. You'll be introduced to iconic landmarks such as the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate, among others. You don't have to worry about navigation, as your knowledgeable guides will lead you through a carefully planned route while sharing engaging stories about Berlin's culture and history.
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Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Not far from the Brandenburg Gate you'll the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial. It is a grid of stelae (2,711 concrete slabs) on a sloping field accessible from all sides. It serves as a central place of remembrance and admonition and is supplemented by an underground information centre, containing the names of all known victims and details on the places of horror.
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Boat Cruise on the River Spree
One of the best ways to see any city is from the water — and Berlin is no exception. Enjoy a boat cruise along the River Spree and catch a glimpse of many city attractions, including the government district, Bellevue Palace, Berlin Cathedral, and Museum Island in just a couple of hours. Perfect plan for when your legs are already tired but you are still in the mood for adventure. Choice of morning or afternoon departure.
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Museum Island
The five historical museum buildings on Museum Island have been part of UNESCO world heritage since 1999, and represent a collection that is unique in the world. Each museum building on the island was designed by famous architects of their time. Museum Island is home to collections in the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), the Bode Museum, and the Neues Museum (New Museum). The Pergamon Museum is closed for renovation until 2037 or 2043. The exhibitions cover prehistoric times, ancient history and 19th-century art.
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Berlin Palace Humboldt Forum
The Berlin Palace on the Museum Island in the Mitte area of Berlin, was the main royal residence from 1443 to 1918. It was badly damaged during the Allied bombing in World War II, and was demolished by the East German authorities in 1950 to build the modernist East German Palace of the Republic. After German reunification and several years of debate, the Palace of the Republic was itself demolished and the Berlin Palace was constructed anew to house the Humboldt Forum museum.
Today, the Humboldt Forum museum houses a rich collection of Asian art and craft objects dating from the 5th millennium BC through to the present day. Explore East Asian paintings and prints, lacquer objects and ceramics, the art and culture of the Silk Road, South Asian and South-East Asian art, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and much more.
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Berlin City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Berlin is a vast city with not one, but several centres that come in their distinct and varied flavours of cool. The fastest and most time efficient way to hit all the main attractions is to get on one of those hop-on hop-off buses. You can get a 24- or 48-hour ticket, as well as an option to upgrade to a river cruise boat. Buses run every 10–15 minutes. Of course, you get audio commentary in multiple languages, plus a kids' channel.
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Reichstag
The Reichstag, with its iconic glass dome, is home to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. In the 1990s, British architect Sir Norman Foster reimagined the building, blending its historical grandeur with a modern, spacious design. The accessible glass cupola offers stunning views of the city and a unique perspective on German politics. While entry to the cupola and roof terrace is free, advance booking is crucial because of the Reichstag's popularity.
To learn more about German political system and the daily life of the Parliament, you can book a 90-minute guided tour. Guided tours of the Reichstag Building are held in the weeks when Parliament is not sitting.
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Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin
Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, often referred to as Palast Berlin, is a stunning architectural marvel that hosts Europe's most spectacular entertainment. With over 500 bold and lavish costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, the dazzling performances evoke a range of emotions from hope to happiness, celebrating the joy of life. The New York Times hails it as a 'Must-See in Berlin.' The shows are also accessible to international visitors, with no German language skills required.
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Get Closer to David Bowie
Back in the 1970s, Berlin was the home of the legendary David Bowie. Together with a specialist guide, you'll navigate the city on foot and by public transport, discovering the Berlin that inspired David Bowie's seminal Berlin Trilogy. You'll see Hansa Studios, where 'Heroes' and 'Low' were recorded. Stop by 155 Hauptstrasse, where Bowie and Iggy Pop lived and created together in 1977. This tour is an absolute must for all the fans of Ziggy Stardust.
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Panoramapunkt
Experience Berlin's best views from the fastest elevator in Europe, which whisks you to a height of 100 metres in just 20 seconds. At the top, a terrace offers breathtaking vistas of the German capital's iconic landmarks and historic sites. The Brandenburg Gate and many other attractions are within sight. Enjoy the panoramic view, explore an exhibition, and relax in a stylish café.
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Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg Memorial
Berlin is great for parties and long walks with friends, but it's also a city marked by profound historical events. A visit to the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg Nazi concentration camp offers a sobering perspective on this darker chapter of history. Just a half-day trip from the city, the camp saw over 200,000 prisoners pass through its gates from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May 1945. Primarily housing political prisoners during World War II, the camp's history is a stark reminder of the past.
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Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt square is a beautiful example of an architectural ensemble which includes both the French and the German cathedral, as well as the Concert House. Many Berliners believe that the Gendarmenmarkt is the most beautiful place in Germany and indeed in all of Europe. A must-see for all visitors to Berlin.
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Teufelsberg — Field Station Berlin
Teufelsberg, an artificial peak in Grunewald, was formed from the rubble of World War II. It provides a sweeping 360° view of the city. During the Cold War, this location served as a key surveillance site for British and American intelligence agencies. Nowadays, it's a popular spot, especially on weekends, when guided tours offer a glimpse into its past, enhanced by striking street art galleries.
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Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
The protestant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a beacon of peace and reconciliation. It stands for the will of the Berliners to rebuild their city during the period after the war. Most of the original structure was destroyed by a British bombing raid in World War II — all that remained was its gaping, ruined tower. The first plans to rebuild the church would have removed the crumbling tower completely. However, Berliners protested the demolition of the 70-metre belfry and the new modernist church buildings are centred around this piece of history.
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Jewish Museum Berlin
The Jewish Museum Berlin is housed in the impressive building designed by Daniel Libeskind. The zinc-coated zig-zag building is one of Berlin’s major landmarks. The permanent exhibition traces the high and low points of German-Jewish history from the end of the Roman Age to the present day. The museum is a must for architecture nerds, history buffs and anyone who wants to understand the enormous intellectual, economic and cultural contribution made by the Jewish citizens of Berlin.
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Wall Museum — Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous of the inner-German border crossing points and a name known the world over, was where Allied border guards would register members of the American, English and French Armed Forces (and their families) before they visited East Berlin. The "Wall Museum – Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie” is right next to this major tourist spot. The museum displays an incredible number of the original means and tools that people used in their escape out of the GDR: from the hot-air balloon to a mini-submarine, plus plenty of real and fake travel documents.
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Potsdamer Platz
Looking at the vast pavilion roof of the Sony Center and the many high-rise buildings around it, it’s difficult to imagine that Potsdamer Platz for a long time was in the death strip of the Berlin Wall and was nothing but a desolate wasteland. These days, Potsdamer Platz is a major public transportation hub, as well as a centre for business, entertainment, culture and shopping. Here you'll also find an IMAX cinema and the German Film Archive — Museum of Film and Television in Berlin. Perfect destination after taking a mandatory pic next to the Brandenburg Gate.
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Nikolai Quarter
The Nikolai Quarter is a peculiar reconstruction of the way Berlin used to be before its destruction in World War II. The area was restored in the 1980s in preparation for Berlin's big 750th birthday. Stroll around the idiosyncratic mixture of reconstructed historic houses and concrete slab Plattenbau blocks, and discover some of the most famous traditional German restaurants and bars.
The Nikolaikirche (St Nicholas’s Church), with its striking double spire, is the heart of the quarter. The Ephraim Palace, with the curved Rococo façade, is a masterpiece of 18th century Berlin palace architecture. Don't miss the Baroque architecture of the Knoblauchhaus, built in 1760.
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Berlin Wall Memorial
The Berlin Wall Memorial is the central memorial site of Germany’s division. Located directly at the former border strip in the Bernauer Straße is a 1.4-kilometre piece of the Berlin Wall with a border strip and watchtower. The Gedenkstätte memorial is the last remaining stretch of the Wall as it existed during the separation era, and it conveys an impression of how the border fortifications really looked.
The Visitor Center and the Documentation Center with a viewing platform are located on the other side of the street that belonged to the western part of the city. The exhibition 'Border Stations and Ghost Stations in Divided Berlin' is shown inside the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn station.
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Charlottenburg Palace
The domed Charlottenburg Palace is one of Berlin's famous landmarks. The lavishly decorated Baroque palace was built around 1695 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, Electress of Brandenburg and as of 1701, the first Queen in Prussia. Frederick the Great had the New Wing added in the 1740s. The interior contains, amongst others, the famous Porcelain Collection.
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Kulturforum
After Museum Island, the Kulturforum is the second centre of art in Berlin. It is the home not only of the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery), the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) and other museums, but also houses the Philharmonie (Philharmonic Hall) and the Staatsbibliothek (National Library).
The New National Gallery was designed by a star architect Mies van der Rohe.
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Computer Games Museum
Berlin boasts the world's first computer games museum, which opened its doors in 1997. Since January 2011, the museum has been showcasing its new permanent exhibition in the fashionable Friedrichshain district. The exhibition has ingeniously converted the historic interior of the former East Berlin café, Warsaw, into a pixelated gaming landscape. It's the perfect spot to unwind, play some beloved video games, and delve into the history of the gaming industry.
The Computer Games Museum is conveniently located on the Karl-Marx-Allee, the largest European cultural monument.
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Berlin Christmas Markets
The smell of candied apples and toasted almonds drives Berliners out of doors during the cold season into their city's Christmas markets. With more than 400 stalls at the weekends, the Christmas markets offer sensual concerts, unique handicrafts, and culinary delights from top chefs — the winter magic is in the air at the Gendarmenmarkt. A romantic Christmas market is held in Charlottenburg. The illumination of the castle and the castle park create an enchanting backdrop. Winter sports enthusiasts head to Winter World in Potsdamer Platz. At the Christmas market, you can go ice skating and sledding on the largest mobile toboggan run in Europe.
If you feel a bit intimidated by the abundance of choice and want to have the smoothest introduction to Berlin's Christmas Markets — book a guided tour with several snacks and mulled wine included!
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