Berlin serves as the capital of Germany and ranks as the second largest city proper in Europe after London with a total population of 3.7 million people and an area of 817 sq. km and a metro population of about 6 million people making it the third largest metropolitan area in Germany after Rhine Ruhr and Rhine-Main.

Berlin has a rich history and being the capital of one of the most progressive nations in the world; one can never lack what to see in this city. Below are some of the things that shouldn’t pass you in case you visit Berlin.

The Berlin Wall Memorial

The history of the Berlin wall dates back into the cold war period when socialist East Germany decided to break off from Capitalist West Germany completely. After World War II, Berlin was divided into 4 occupational zones following the Potsdam Agreement. The four zones were occupied by France, UK, USA, and the Soviet Union. France, the UK, the USA, and the Benelux countries later combined to reconstruct what remained of post-war Germany in the zones they occupied.

The growing animosity between the Soviet-controlled East Berlin and Allies controlled West Berlin let to the construction of the wall to divide the city into two. To date, the site of the wall is a popular tourist attraction attracting tourists from all over the world. Visits to the wall site include:

  •    Hop-on, hop-off bus tour and do a complete wall site tour of the wall. Tickets cost start at 22 Euros.
  •    Visit the Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie. Ticket cost from 14:50 Euros.
  •    Take a discover Berlin walking tour. Cost start at 14 Euros.

Visit the Berlin Zoological Garden

This is the most famous and the oldest Zoo in Germany. It receives about 3.5 million people yearly – that’s almost equal to the population of the city of Berlin. The Zoo is located on a 35-hectare piece of land in Berlin’s Tiergarten Park and has a range of animals including Rhinoceros, Gaur, Deer, Mongoose, Orangutan, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Bonobos, and carnivores including all the big cats, etc. It also has a world-famous aquarium that hosts a range of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Tickets start from 19 Euros.

Architecture

A globally important city like Berlin definitely won’t lack its share of architecture to offer. If you’re an architecture enthusiast, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Berlin. You could marvel at the height of the Fernsehturm Tower or visit the Brandenburg Gate that is a symbol of Germany.

The Eastside Gallery is part of your Berlin wall tour. Museum Island on River Spree offers a host of preserved medieval architecture including five museums and Berlin Cathedral which is a replica of the St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City. When you want a taste of modernity, modern structures like the Potsdamer Platz and Kollhoff Tower will ensure you don’t get bored. You could also Marvel at the Oberbaumbrucke, Berlin’s iconic bridge over River Spree.