Alexanderplatz

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 relic of the Communist era was named after the Russia Tsar Alexander I. Back in the days of the Berlin Wall and the iron curtain, the Alexanderplatz was an important centre of East Germany. Today, the Alexanderplatz has become much more westernised, and now contains all of the lifestyle accoutrements associated with a contemporary urban metropolis.

Shoppers are well served by the Alexanderplatz, with retail chains such as H&M, and its fair share of German department stores such as Alexa and Kaufhof. And if you love good food, the Alexanderplatz is a must-visit. The Hackescher Market, adjacent to the Alexanderplatz, has a great selection of restaurants and cafés giving visitors the opportunity to eat al fresco. Try a few German specialities. If you’ve never tried a German sausage before, try the delicious bratwurst and currywurst that are on offer, washed down with a traditional stein of beer. Street performers also congregate in this area to keep you entertained.

The Fernsehturm located in the centre of the Alexanderplatz is worthy of a look. This is a huge tower, built in the 1960s by the East German government as a symbol of nationalist pride. Today, it has become a symbol of the city, much in the same way that the Eiffel Tower is in Paris. For spectacular 360-degree views over the whole of the city of Berlin climb the 368 metre ascent to the top of the tower The sphere at the top of the Fernsehturm has a bar and a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner.

Alexanderplatz is easy to reach from anywhere in Berlin, being situated in the Mitte district and serviced by U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations.