Berlin

I recently spent a couple of nights in Berlin. Here are some notes and photos from my trip.

Gendarmenmarkt #

I spent quite a lot of time in and around Gendarmenmarkt. Nice square with good places for lunch and dinner and impressive buildings.

For dinner on my first night I went to the Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt. Good food, great beers, and a nice setting. Would recommend!

Berlin Wall Memorial #

This is an open air exhibition with interesting and informative plaques dotted along the former path of the wall. There is also a visitor centre with more information. Definitely worth visiting.

Berliner Unterwelten #

This was probably my favourite part of my trip. The Berlin Underworlds Association researches underground sites in Berlin and offers tours around them. I went on the Dark Worlds tour and the excellent guide showed us where Berliners took cover during air raids, and talked about Berlin during WW2.

If I had more time in Berlin I would definitely have done another of their tours.

Brandenburg Gate #

I visited this first at night, and it looked stunning.

I also came back during the day and went to the museum. It’s a multimedia show that quickly takes you through 300 years of history with the gate at the centre, which was quite interesting and enjoyable.

Checkpoint Charlie #

I also visited this at night, avoiding the crowds. Good photo op, and a small open air exhibition.

Topography of Terror #

Outdoor exhibition and indoor museum documenting the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

What hit me most was the matter-of-factness way high ranking Nazis talked about their crimes, as if what they were doing was completely normal and sane. So important not to forget what happened.

Holocaust Memorial #

Definitely worth coming here to spend a few moments to remember one of humanity’s lowest points.

DDR Museum #

Museum dedicated to life in East Germany. Very well presented and really enjoyable.

More photos on Flickr.