If you visit Berlin for the first time and don't have much time to spend on the countless sightseeings, museums and tourist attractions, you will have to concentrate on the city's main impressions. The following page will guide you through the most important ways to discover Berlin.

Schedule:
Unter den Linden with Gendarmenmarkt and Friedrichstraße: approx. 3 hours
Brandenburger Tor and Reichstag: approx. 2 hours
Potsdamer Platz: approx. 1,5 hours
Kurfürstendamm: approx. 1 hour

The best place to begin is in the historical centre of the city, in Mitte, whose fully restored architecture gives you some idea of the Prussian splendour of bygone days. They stand in stark contrast to the building style of the period when the country was divided and this part of town was under East German rule. Alexanderplatz was made famous through Alfred Döblin's novel of the same name and is dominated by the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Berlin's tallest edifice. The spectacular panoramic windows offers a breathtaking view out over the whole city. The tiny Marienkirche (Church) looks a bit lost among the many modern buildings at Alexanderplatz, but its "dance of death" fresco is well worth a closer look.
From Alexanderplatz you can walk down Karl-Liebknecht-Straße toUnter den Linden, the magnificent boulevard featuring numerous well-known buildings of architectural interest. On the right you soon come to the impressive Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), the court church of the Hohenzollern Dynasty. The Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden), now restored according to the original plans, offers an opportunity for a pleasant stroll and not only for museum visitors heading towards the Museumsinsel (Museum's Island) with its imposing museums whose collections are easily on a par with those in other cities of the world.
Returning to Unter den Linden we cross the Schlossbrücke (Palace Bridge) which was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and is once again resplendent with its once lost statues.
To your right is the Zeughaus (Old Armoury) which is currently undergoing extensive repair work. The Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum), that will present an exhibition about German history, will open in June 2006. Next to the Zeughaus stands the Neue Wache (New Guardhouse), the official memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany. To the rear of the small chestnut wood lies the Maxim-Gorki-Theater, which was built in 1827 for the Singakademie (Academy of Singing). The next building is home to Berlin's oldest university, the Humboldt-Universität, built between 1748-66. Standing in the middle of Unter den Linden at a level with Universitätsstraße is the monumental equestrian statue by Christian Daniel Rauch depicting Friedrich II on his favourite horse Condé.
The Staatsoper (State Opera House) is located on the other side of Unter den Linden. This was the first building constructed as part of the 'Forum Fridericianum'. In the centre of the Bebelplatz square is a memorial set into the ground commemorating the "book-burning" of 1933.
At the southern end of the same square you will find Hedwigs-Kathedrale (St. Hedwig's Cathedral) with its unconventionally shaped dome. To its right stands the Alte Bibliothek (Old Royal Library), known locally as the 'chest of drawers' because of its crescent-shaped frontage. It is well worth making a short detour to the Gendarmenmarkt, which with its ensemble of Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), Deutscher Dom and Französischer Dom (German Cathedral and French Cathedral), is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The new architectural face of Berlin is well in evidence in the nearby Friedrichstraße – elegant stores and shopping malls like 'Galeries Lafayette', 'Quartier 205' and 'Quartier 206'. Here you will also find the most famous of all memorials to the division of Germany – the Checkpoint Charlie border-crossing point – recalling one of the more tragic periods of Berlin history. To get to the Gendarmenmarkt from Bebelplatz go down Behrenstraße and turn into Markgrafenstraße which will take you there directly.
Pariser Platz lies at the western end of Unter den Linden, a grand 1.5 km long and 60 m wide boulevard. A series of imposing corporate, commercial and embassy buildings are strung along this most famous of the city's thoroughfares. Just off to the right of Pariser Platz you can see the legendary Hotel Adlon and the Russian Embassy, an icing-cake style building constructed during the Stalin Era of the 50s. A few yards further on, at the corner of Behrenstraße, stands the Komische Oper, one of the three Berlin opera houses, this one presenting German language versions of opera and operetta. Pariser Platz is of course the location of Berlin's most prestigious landmark, the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), a symbol of the division and reunification of the city of Berlin. In the south wing the BERLIN infostore offers more detailed information. Situated on the former border between East and West Berlin, it provides the most moving reminder of the city's recent history. Not far away is the Reichstag, another notable landmark of historic dimensions. Looking out over the roof garden or through the glass dome you can enjoy a unique view of the inner city and at the same time feel right at the centre of German politics.
Tip:
Allow plenty of time for the queues waiting to visit to the dome – entrance is free.
If you want further examples of Berlin's new metropolitan architecture take a look at the recently completed Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery) and the Pressezentrum (Federal Press Office).

On your way to Potsdamer Platz you pass the The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the central place for remembrance and a place of warning. The impressive Field of Stelae by Peter Eisenman, the internationally renowned New York architect, was opened in 2005.

Potsdamer Platz has also undergone complete reconstruction. The glass facaded Sony Center, the debis headquarters and the Kollhoff-Hochhaus combine to form part of the new hub of the city, a synthesis of contemporary architecture and urban lifestyle. In the newly-designed Kulturforum (Cultural Forum) just round the corner from Potsdamer Platz the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery) houses a collection of old masters to wonder at. Back at Potsdamer Platz we can take a walk through the Tiergarten park, Berlin's 'green heart' and arrive in the western centre of the city. On the way there we pass by the Siegessäule (Victory Column) on whose summit 'Golden Victoria', an angel- like figure, seems to float over the city.

Bus 200

To get from Potsdamer Platz to Zoologischer Garten, enter bus 200. Driving time: ca. 10 minutes

The Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's western centre, is full of shops and department stores – an ideal place to find a souvenir or two to take back.
KaDeWe, Europe's largest store, is a real shoppers' paradise.
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche (Memorial Church) is located on Breitscheidplatz and was kept as a memorial to the horrors of war; there are two contrasting churches here, one the old ruined church and the other a modern-looking construction. Beyond them we can already make out the all-glass Kranzlereck complex pointing up into the sky. This is one of the city's most recent building projects where also a BERLIN infostore with fancy souvenirs and fashion of the brand BERLIN is located.
As the day closes it's time to visit one of the many restaurants on or not far from the Kurfürstendamm – for example, at nearby Savigny Platz – to relax and soak up the Berlin atmosphere.

Clubbing Tip:
The restaurants in and around the Hackeschen Höfe in the district of Mitte, within easy reach of Alexanderplatz, offer similar hospitality and are an ideal starting place for setting out in the evening to get a taste of Berlin's night-life in some of the thousand and one all-night clubs and bars spread throughout the city.

S 3, 5, 7

At Zoologischer Garten take the suburban train to Hackescher Markt. Driving time: approx. 15 minutes

Kollwitzplatz in Prenzlauer Berg and Goltzstraße in Schöneberg are two more venues for enjoying Berlin's vibrant nightlife. To arrive at Kollwitzplatz, enter the underground U2 from Zoologischer Garten in direction Pankow and get off at station Senefelderplatz. Driving time is appr. 20 minutes.
To get to Goltzstraße enter the underground at Wittenbergplatz, take the U2 in direction Pankow or the underground U1 in direction Warschauer Straße and get off at station Nollendorfplatz. Go down Maaßenstraße to Goltzstraße. Driving and walking time: approx. 15 minutes.

U 2	U2, U1
To arrive at Kollwitzplatz, enter the underground U2 from Zoologischer Garten in direction Pankow and get off at station Senefelderplatz. Driving time: appr. 20 minutes	To get to Goltzstraße enter the underground at Wittenbergplatz, take the U2 in direction Pankow or the underground U1 in direction Warschauer Straße and get off at station Nollendorfplatz. Go down Maaßenstraße to Goltzstraße. Driving and walking time: approx. 15 minutes

Gastronomical Tip:
When in Berlin you mustn't forget to try the local delicacy, Currywurst (fried sausage in curry ketchup), the classic fast-food speciality. Berlin also boasts a traditional drink, Berliner Weiße, particularly refreshing in summer when relaxing in one of the many beer gardens or street cafés.

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