Alexanderplatz & Television Tower

Once the heart of the former East Berlin, Alexanderplatz is today the largest inner-city square in Germany and has developed into a popular shopping attraction. The view from the Television Tower, its height of 368 metres making it the tallest tower in Germany, is absolutely fantastic. A perfect 360° all-round view is provided by the revolving restaurant Sphere and Bar 203, making a full turn twice an hour.

• Web:

  tv-turm.de/en

• E-mail:

  info@tv-turm.de

• Address:

  Alexanderplatz und Berliner Fernsehturm, Panoramastraße 1A, Berlin-Mitte

• Opening hours:

  The observation deck: daily 9am–10pm

• Subway:

  S U Alexanderplatz

Berlin Christmas Markets

The smell of candied apples and toasted almonds drives Berliners out of doors during the cold season into their city's Christmas markets. With more than 400 stalls at the weekends, the Christmas markets offer sensual concerts, unique handicrafts, and culinary delights from top chefs — the winter magic is in the air at the Gendarmenmarkt. A romantic Christmas market is held in Charlottenburg. The illumination of the castle and the castle park create an enchanting backdrop. Winter sports enthusiasts head to Winter World in Potsdamer Platz. At the Christmas market, you can go ice skating and sledding on the largest mobile toboggan run in Europe. If you feel a bit intimidated by the abundance of choice and want to have the smoothest introduction to Berlin's Christmas Markets — book a guided tour with several snacks and mulled wine included!

• Web:

  www.berlin.de/en/christmas-markets

• Address:

  Approx. 60 markets throughout the city

• Opening hours:

  Open in late November and last through December, closing right after 25 December, with a few staying open for New Year's.

Berlin City Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Berlin is a vast city with not one, but several centres that come in their distinct and varied flavours of cool. The fastest and most time efficient way to hit all the main attractions is to get on one of those hop-on hop-off buses. You can get a 24- or 48-hour ticket, as well as an option to upgrade to a river cruise boat. Buses run every 10–15 minutes. Of course, you get audio commentary in multiple languages, plus a kids' channel.

• Web:

  convention.visitberlin.de/en/meetingguideberlin/servicepartner/bex-sightseeing-berlin-city-tour

• E-mail:

  sightseeing@bex.de

• Phone:

  +49 30 880 41 90

• Opening hours:

  The buses run 10am–6pm

Berlin Highlights Bike Tour

Experience Berlin like a local and cover all the must-see attractions in just half a day with this highlights tour on a bicycle — ideal for cycling enthusiasts with limited time in the city. You'll be introduced to iconic landmarks such as the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate, among others. You don't have to worry about navigation, as your knowledgeable guides will lead you through a carefully planned route while sharing engaging stories about Berlin's culture and history.

• Web:

  www.fattiretours.com/berlin/tours-activities

Berlin Palace Humboldt Forum

The Berlin Palace on the Museum Island in the Mitte area of Berlin, was the main royal residence from 1443 to 1918. It was badly damaged during the Allied bombing in World War II, and was demolished by the East German authorities in 1950 to build the modernist East German Palace of the Republic. After German reunification and several years of debate, the Palace of the Republic was itself demolished and the Berlin Palace was constructed anew to house the Humboldt Forum museum. Today, the Humboldt Forum museum houses a rich collection of Asian art and craft objects dating from the 5th millennium BC through to the present day. Explore East Asian paintings and prints, lacquer objects and ceramics, the art and culture of the Silk Road, South Asian and South-East Asian art, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and much more.

• Web:

  www.humboldtforum.org/en

• Address:

  Berliner Schloss, Museum Island, Berlin-Mitte

• Phone:

  +49 30 99 21 18 989

• Opening hours:

  Mon & Wed–Sun 10:30am–6:30m, Tue closed

Berlin Wall Memorial

The Berlin Wall Memorial is the central memorial site of Germany’s division. Located directly at the former border strip in the Bernauer Straße is a 1.4-kilometre piece of the Berlin Wall with a border strip and watchtower. The Gedenkstätte memorial is the last remaining stretch of the Wall as it existed during the separation era, and it conveys an impression of how the border fortifications really looked. The Visitor Center and the Documentation Center with a viewing platform are located on the other side of the street that belonged to the western part of the city. The exhibition 'Border Stations and Ghost Stations in Divided Berlin' is shown inside the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn station.

• Web:

  www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en

• Address:

  Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, Bernauer Straße 111, Berlin-Mitte

• Phone:

  +49 30 21 30 85 123

• Opening hours:

  Visitor centre: Tue–Sun 11am–6pm. Memorial Grounds: daily 8am–10pm

• Subway:

  U Bernauer Straße, S Nordbahnhof

• Tickets:

  Free admission. Guided tours cost extra.