Things to do in Bernau bei Berlin

The Alexanderplatz can be viewed very much as a transport hub for the city of Berlin as well, although it has plenty to offer visitors with its world-class shopping and panoramic views over the entire city.

This enormous monument in the form of a neoclassical arch constructed from sandstone, is intrinsically linked with the history of Berlin and Germany. Built over two centuries ago, in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was originally constructed to mark the entrance to Unter den Linden, Berlin's grandest boulevard. The arch was also intended to be a symbol of peace. There is a clear Greek influence in this monument, with the design of the Brandenburg Gate closely corresponding to the Acropolis in Athens.

Potsdamer Platz is a cast-iron example of the success of urban renewal in Berlin. This was a no man’s land during the Cold War, when Berlin was divided along political lines. In its pre-war heyday, the Potsdamer Platz had been one of Europe’s most bustling areas and the busiest traffic intersection in Europe.

Head to Charlottenburg’s famous boulevard to experience the glamour of old Berlin coupled with the style of contemporary cosmopolitan Europe. The historic Kurfuerstendamm is one of the city’s oldest streets and was built as a route to a prominent hunting lodge now on the outskirts of the city. Today, exclusive boutiques, major department stores and luxury hotels line Kurfuerstendamm, or Kudamm as locals sometimes call the street. At its eastern end find a somber reminder of the bombings of Berlin during World War II.

Berlin Zoo is one of the most highly rated in the world, and gives visitors an excellent opportunity to experience some of the world’s most exotic animals in very attractive and pleasing settings. Known in German as the Zoologischer Garten, the Berlin Zoo is a vast expanse of 34 hectares within the picturesque Tiergarten Park within the city centre. This is home to thousands of animals from every corner of the earth that will thrill visitors of all ages.

Lined by some of Germany’s most exclusive department stores and surrounded by major historical attractions, the Friedrichstrasse cultural and shopping precinct in Berlin’s Mitte district has undergone extreme change since the fall of the Berlin Wall. However, at its center find one of the city’s most unusual tourist attractions, throwing you back into the Cold War era. Friedrichstrasse is today one of Berlin’s most visited streets. It is home to Checkpoint Charlie, one of the very few Cold War border crossings between East and West Berlin.