Berlin - The once divided capital of Germany, has been re-united for more than 25 years. Yes, it really has been that long since we witnessed those unforgettable scenes of the Berlin wall being torn down.
In the last two and a half decades the city has become almost unrecognisable from its previous cold-war self. It’s array of buildings offer visitors a glimpse of the past and a view of the future.
From the imposing Reichstag building, to the many new futuristic buildings that line the river.
The traditional cobbled streets of East Berlin, with traces of communistic era architecture, to Check-point Charlie, which reminds visitors just how real and relatively recent the East West division was.

Its 6pm and not only is the cold-war over, but so is your working day.
It’s time to get out and explore a city steeped in history.

A good starting point is the Potsdamer Platz. It has its own stop on the U-Bahn (The underground metro system) if you’re not confident with using the underground take a taxi, or depending on where your hotel is located you might prefer to travel on foot.
Our advice would be to ask your hotel for a free map of the city, if at any time you’re unsure where you are, a quick glance at the map will keep you heading in the right direction.
Better still if you have a smart phone with mapping and GPS use this to navigate the city – just check the data roaming charges with your provider before you leave the UK.

The Postsdamer Platz is now home to the brightly lit Sony Centre. Various restaurants and bars can be found inside the Sony Centre, so if you want to grab a snack or a quick drink, this would be great opportunity.
Don’t waste too much time here though, as we have a lot to see on our tour.
Stand in Potsdamer Platz and look for The Ritz Carlton hotel, if you stand facing the hotel, then look to your right, you will see remnants of the original Berlin wall.
Only fragments remain but the wall comes complete with storyboards written in both German and English, helping to give a sense of what life was like, depending on which side of the wall fate dictated you would find yourself.
Take a few moments to read the story boards, they will help you gain perspective on just how far the city has come in such a short space of time.
From here head up to the Holocaust memorial – a vast monument made up of 2,711 concrete slabs called stelae.

According to the artist, the stelae are designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason. The memorial is free to visit, you are invited to wander around the controversial monument whilst making up your own mind on how it makes you feel.

Now walk just one block to the World famous Brandenburg Gate.

The gate is an 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace, built between 1788 and 1791.
Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered a symbol of the tumultuous history of Europe and Germany, but also of European unity and peace.
Napoleon was the first to use the Brandenburg Gate for a triumphal procession, then later when the Nazis ascended to power, they used the gate as a party symbol.
The gate is now completely closed to traffic and a wonderful square has been created, where in recent years Presidents Bill Clinton and Barak Obama, have made speeches about peace and nuclear arms reduction. Tonight you can stand where they stood and admire the Brandenburg Gate for yourself.

Time to check the map and move on again, our next stop is the Reichstag building, just a short walk from the Gate.

Opened in 1894 to house the Imperial Assembly of the German Empire. It served until 1933 at which time it was severely damaged by fire.
After World War II it fell into disuse and wasn’t fully restored until after the German unification of 1990.
The Nazi parliament left after the fire and never returned, rumour has it the Nazis started the fire so they could suspend rights provided for by the 1919 Weimar Constitution in an effort to weed out communists and increase state security throughout Germany.
The building, having never been fully repaired since the fire, was further damaged by air raids during the second world war.
During the Battle of Berlin in 1945, it became one of the central targets for the Red Army to capture due to its perceived symbolic significance.
Today, visitors to the building can still see Soviet graffiti on smoky walls inside as well as on part of the roof, which was preserved during the reconstructions after reunification.

Next stop Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral.

It’s not an island in the conventional sense, as you simply walk across a short bridge to reach it, not surprisingly it takes its name from the Museum and galleries located here.
Follow the map from the Reichstag Building to the Cathedral – Its full title is The Evangelical Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church of Berlin, but its known locally as ‘The Cathedral’, which is ironic as the Berlin Cathedral has never been a cathedral in the actual sense of the term, since it has never been the seat of a bishop.
It’s impressive and imposing non the less. With an original history traceable back to 1451 it’s also one of the oldest stops on our tour, although the current building was finished in 1905.

Just around the corner is your final stop, Alexanderplatz and the Fernsehturm, or ‘The TV Tower’ as it’s more commonly known.
Its height of 368 meters makes it the tallest structure in Germany.

The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the country and it’s often featured in the opening shots of films set in Berlin.
Due to its location near Alexanderplatz, the tower is occasionally called Alex Tower.
Check your watch … You should still have time to visit the viewing platform - depending on how long you’ve spent admiring the other stops on our tour.
What better way to end your sight-seeing tour of Berlin than with a panorama of the entire city.
Late night admission is just 13euros and the tower is open until midnight.

Has all of that walking worked up an appetite? The great news is you can dine at the towers revolving restaurant ‘Sphere’ 207 meters above the city (book in advance if you want a table by the window – who wouldn’t?) Enjoy live piano music and dinner while the world turns, literally!

After your trip to the viewing platform, or dinner, it’s time to head back to your hotel.
We always promise to try and have you back by 10pm so take a taxi … you’ve done enough walking this evening.

For those of you staying near the Potzdamer Platz (Which is where we started our tour) if you are looking for a night-cap before ending your evening we can highly recommend ‘The Fragrance Bar.’ Located inside of the Ritz Carlton, The Fragrance Bar is the world’s first bar for all the senses. (It also featured in our list of top 10 places to be seen this Autumn)
Become enchanted by outstanding drinks based on exclusive fragrances and personal memories. Fragrances is the first bar dedicated to the art of cocktails in combination with the world of perfume and aromas. Hand-picked fragrances of renowned brands by Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Guerlain are the inspiration for the unique drinks created by bar manager Arnd Heissen.
Follow your senses and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, indulge in a unique, sensual experience with fragrance cocktails!

We hope you’ve enjoyed your evening exploring Berlin, it’s an incredible city and next time you’re in town maybe you’ll have more time to explore, be sure to check-out Check-Point Charlie and the many museums, until then ...

Happy travelling.

For help planning, or organising your business trip to Berlin, please speak to one of our experts who will be delighted to look after all your arrangements.

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