The whole world in one district

The heart of the German capital beats in Mitte. Everything started here and everything has changed here. No other district in Berlin has played such a great role in the history of the city and the world. And there is nowhere else in the city where you can experience the feeling of freedom as much as in Mitte.

The fall of the Berlin Wall - the second birth of Berlin

In November 1989, the German people danced on the Berlin Wall and by the Brandenburg Gate. They hugged one another, laughed, sang and celebrated a unique occasion. The people triumphed over those who were in power. Twenty years later, when you walk through Mitte, the feeling of freedom and joy can still be felt at Brandenburg Gate. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a second birth for the city – particularly for the district of Mitte as it has changed like no other part of the city. International star architects like Norman Foster, Renzo Piano and Jean Nouvel have given the German capital a completely new face - from the government quarters with the Kanzleramt, Paul-Löbe-Haus and the glass dome of the Reichstag as well as the new Hauptbahnhof railway station and Potsdamer Platz where an entire district has developed from nothing over five years.

The historical roots of the city lie here.

Berlin-Mitte is the bridge between Berlin's origins and its future because the historical roots of the German capital lie here. In around 1200, two settlements developed around St. Nikolai Church that later became the city of Berlin. The Nikolai Quarter with its lanes from the Middle Ages is still one of the prettiest areas of the city. And the district has many other historical landmarks along the magnificent Unter den Linden including Humboldt University, Berlin Cathedral and Neue Wache – and all of them have their own story to tell. You can even sense the past where there is nothing to see – on a field where the Stadtschloss and Palast der Republik once stood.

Creative minds and artists love Mitte

So where does the future lie amongst all this history? Quite simple - you can find it on every corner because Mitte is lively, vibrant and full of energy. 80,000 people live in this district over almost eleven square kilometres. Many of them are creative types and artists. There are around 400 galleries that show the diversity of visual art. Even the wealth of high class culture on offer is unique. With the opera house "Staatsoper Unter den Linden", Deutsches Theater, Admiralspalast, Quatsch Comedy Club and Kunsthaus Tacheles, locals and visitors alike have a thousand options for their entertainment.

Countless languages and a French way of life

Mitte has the whole world in a single district. You can hear countless languages when strolling around Alexanderplatz and in the cafes at Gendarmenmarkt. This international flair can also be felt in the shopping streets in the district. Friedrichstraße has turned into an exclusive shopping address over the past few years and international fashion can be seen at Quartier 206. Les Galeries Lafayette is a department store that exudes French style and "Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann" has an astonishing choice of books on offer.

Hackescher Markt - offbeat and extravagant

There are many small shops close by around Hackescher Markt that show the creativity of Mitte. At Lala Berlin you can find stylish knitwear and there are crocheted handbags made of nylon yarn on offer at Fortschritt-Berlin. The vibe is offbeat and extravagant here and you may find yourself bumping into a few celebrities who also appreciate the area as you drink your latte macchiato or window-shop - maybe artist Jonathan Meese or the actress Scarlett Johansson.

Tiergarten - time for the boys and girls from Mitte to relax

There is a lot to do in Mitte – you can spot celebrities at premieres at the Berlinale-Palast, look over the entire city from the Berlin TV Tower or visit one of the five museums at the world-renowned Berlin Museum Island. Fortunately the trees in the park at Tiergarten behind the Brandenburg Gate have been left to grow in peace. This is where those busy Mitte boys and girls relax – regardless of whether they are 5 or 85 years old – at Café am Neuen See with its Bavarian beer garden flair or at the trendy Schleusenkrug. Here you can grill, play badminton or soak up the sun. Or simply walk along the River Spree.