Berlin - Berlin visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Berlin' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Berlin.

Berlin is the capital and largest city of Gremany. First mentioned in records in the 13th century, Berlin is most famous for it's role in WWII as the capital of Hitler's Third Reich. After WWII the city was divided into East and West Berlin, with the east under Soviet rule and West Berlin surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Berlin was re-united in 1999 following the reunification of Germany and is now a world class city of culture, politics, media, and science with a very strong service sector.

Berlin - Attractions

Berlin is one of the most visited cities in Europe with over 700 hotels and 100,000 hotel beds. About 140 million people visit Berlin each year. This Berlin map and guide shows virtual tours of some of the sights and attractions in the city. People come to Berlin for the museums, culture, night life and the arts. Among the top tourist attractions are:

• Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) - massive sandstone multi-arched gate made in 1788-91 by Carl Gotthard Langhans the Elder surmounted by a statue of a chariot drawn by 4 horses.
• Gendarmenmarkt - one of the most harmonious, 17th century squares in Berlin, just a few minutes walk from Friedrichstrasse. Dominated by the chauspielhaus (Theater), the French Cathedral and the German Cathedral.
• Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Applied Art) - founded in 1867 and since 1985 housed in purpose built facilities in Kemperplatz with a massive collection of applied art from the Middle ages to the present day.
• Pergamon Museum - a collection of museums in one complex including Folk Museum, the Department of Antiquities with the Pergamon Altar, the Near-East Museum, the Islamic Museum, the East Asian Collection a permanent 'Ancient Coinage' exhibition.
• Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Gardens) - Berlin's new zoo and aquarium built after WWII laid out in modern concepts with an active breeding and conservation programme.
• Charlottenburg Palace - first built in 1695 and extensively rebuilt after a bombing raid in WWII, the palace and associated grounds are open to the public. Within the complex are Historical Apartments, the Museum of Prehistory and the Gallery of Romanticism from the New National Gallery. The park contains the Schinkel Pavilion, the Belvedere and the Mausoleum.
• Dahlem Museums - collection of museums and galleries including the Museum of East Asian Art, Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Indian Art, Museum of Islamic Art, Picture Gallery, Sculpture Gallery and notable collections of German, English, Dutch, Flemish, Italian and Spanish paintings.
• Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung (Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection) - housed in the Neo-Classical Stülerbau (Stüler Building) with about 1,500 works of art and culture from Ancient Egypt from 5000 B.C. to A.D. 300.
• Unter den Linden (Under the Lime-Trees Avenue) - famous broad avenue some 1.4km long in Berlin's Mitte district lined by many important and historical buildings as well as cafes and hotels.
• Nikolaiviertel (Nicolai Quarter) - area in Berlin's Mitte district based in the historical core of Berlin on the site of the oldest known settlement on a ford around the Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas' Church).
• St Hedwigs-Kathedrale (St Hedwig's Cathedral) - 18th century Baroque cathedral destroyed during WWII and rebuilt between 1952-63.
• Marienkirche (St Mary's Church) - first mentioned in 1294 this is the second oldest parish church in Berlin and containing several notable frescos and other works of art.
• Fernsehturm - one of the highest free-standing viewing platforms in Europe with stunning panoramic views over Berlin.
• Funkturm Berlin (Radio Tower Berlin) - one of the oldest radio towers in Europe, 150m high with an open viewing deck 125m high with panoramic views over Berlin.
• Nikolaikirche (St Nicholas Church) - the oldest church in Berlin, this is a Romanesque basilica built around 1230 in the middle of Nikolaiviertel and badly damaged during WWII.
• Dom (Berlin Cathedral) - built between 1894-1905 with a 74.8m high dome and bells dating from 1532. Parts are still undergoing restoration following damage during the War.
• Checkpoint Charlie and Museum - formerly the best known crossing point of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie is now a deserted area awaiting redevelopment. The small Checkpoint Charlie museum charts the history of the checkpoint.
• Sophienkirche (Church of Sophie) - built by and named after Queen Sophia in 1712, this church has the most beautiful church tower in Berlin. The church is near to Alexanderplatz and Ribbeckhaus.
• Reichstagsgebäude (Reichstag Building) - seat of the German Bundestag (Parliament), completely rebuilt after former buildings were destroyed by bombing during WWII.

Berlin has far more attractions not listed here. Some of these are featured on the Berlin virtual tour.

Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH
Am Karlsbad 11
D-10785 Berlin
Phone: +49-(0)30-26 47 48-0

Flight: Tegel International Airport followed by bus and train links. Schönefeld Airport in former East Berlin, used by many budget airlines.
Trains: International train services arrive at Hauptbahnhof, Südkreuz, Ostbahnhof and Zoologischer Garten stations.
Bus and Coach: Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (Central Bus Terminal) in Charlottenburg international routes across Europe.