When it comes to history, Berlin has to be one of the most fascinating cities in Europe, with signs of its unique and turbulent history seen everywhere around the vibrant German capital, as well as landmarks and striking graffiti around every corner.
The fall of the Berlin Wall between the capitalist west side of the city and the poverty-stricken communist east was not that long ago, and there are many landmarks and attractions that people visiting the city should see if they want to learn more about the structure and the poignant unification that followed its fall.
Delving further back into the 20th century the city was at the heart of Adolf Hitler’s horrifying Nazi regime, and this era can be brought to life through a visit to the vast and moving Holocaust Memorial, with the Gay Holocaust Memorial situated nearby. Visitors can also see where the political leader spent his time, and stand on the site where the bunker in which he spent his final days is buried.
With so much to see and do, people will want to make sure they have the right type of insurance policy for them secured before they go, whether this is travel medical insurance, or travel insurance over 50, and make sure they plan their itinerary in advance so they know which optional extras they will need to be covered for. But where to start?
With its plethora of things to see and do, and monuments and museums paying tribute to its vast history round every corner, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start when it comes to Berlin – so why not ask the experts? With Insider Walking Tours, people can choose which part of Berlin’s history they are most interested in and embark on a tour reflecting this. Visitors can choose between examining Third Reich Berlin, Cold War Berlin, Jewish Berlin, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Insider’s Potsdam.
However, there are a number of well-known attractions that everyone should visit in Berlin, with the startling Holocaust Memorial, made up of grey bricks of different sizes, being a top one. Visitors can walk between the numerous bricks, reflecting on the tragedies that inspired them, or look across the vast sea of thought-provoking sculptures.
For thought-provoking attractions related to the Holocaust, the Anne Frank Centre is an essential one to visit. Situated directly next to the Hackesche Hofe in Berlin’s Mitte district, it runs an exhibition called Anne Frank: Here & Now which looks at the famous writer from a very human perspective. It details the life story of the young Jewish girl who fled from Frankfurt to Amsterdam with her family in 1933, living in hiding until 1944 when she was taken to a concentration camp where she sadly died.
The Jewish Museum is another attraction to widen a visitor’s understanding of Jewish life under the Nazis, with permanent exhibitions being dedicated to the history and life of Germany Jews. A striking Holocaust Tower and the haunting Garden of Exile are two pieces at the museum that are well worth a visit, and a number of contemporary works of art are also on show.
Checkpoint Charlie, and its accompanying museum, is another landmark integral to the history of Berlin. The former border crossing was a focal point during the cold war, and the museum hosts a number of exhibitions looking into the history of the Wall and the incidents surrounding it.
