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9 Reasons We Love Berlin

Berlin is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Located in the heart of Europe, there is an abundance of things to see and do in the German capital.

Whether you’re looking for a cultural tour filled with trips to historical landmarks and museum visits or you just want to visit some of the best nightclubs in the world, Berlin is the place for you.

From dome tours to nightclubs and the Berlin Wall, Goss.ie headed to Berlin last week, and here’s nine things we loved.

 

1. Reichstag

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The Reichstag is the seat of the German parliament (don’t worry, it’s not as boring as it sounds) and is located right in the heart of the city.

There’s always lots of tourists around the park (and the occasional protest) outside and it’s an excellent place for a selfie.

Right on top of the building is the famous Reichstag dome which you can get free tours of throughout the day that provide an amazing 360 degree view of Berlin.

If you’re feeling pretty posh and have money to spend, there’s a very elegant restaurant on top of the dome so you can look out over the city while enjoying a nice glass of wine.

 

2. Brandenburg Gate

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Located a stone’s throw away from the Reichstag, the Brandenburg gate is one of Europe’s most famous landmarks.

The 225 year old arch was built as a symbol of peace and is at the top of a great street filled with coffee shops and bars.

You’ll find quite a few photographers and tourists outside the gate so you might as well join in and take selfies galore.

Although people visit the Brandenburg gate throughout the day, we definitely recommend going at night for the best views.

 

3. East Side Gallery

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Although the full extent of the Berlin Wall is no more, there’s still remnants of it around the city.

The best of these is undoubtedly the East Side Gallery, a 1.3km long section of the wall in central Berlin.

The wall boasts over 100 very impressive paintings along its surface and like all tourist attractions, there’s lots of pictures being taken on the sidewalk beside it.

Tip: For the best pics, leave the main sidewalk and walk around the back next to the river Spree. The paintings are just as impressive but there’s far less people taking up all the space.

 

4. The clubs

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Berlin is renowed for its nightlife with some of the nightclubs being regarded as among the best in the world.

If you’re a fan of house or techo music, Berlin is definitely the city for you with the world’s top DJ’s regularly coming to the city for sets.

Clubs like Tresor, Watergate, Sisyphos, Chalet and the infamous Berghain are must sees.

 

5. Berlin Zoo

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With over 20,000 animals to see and 3 million visitors a year, Berlin Zoo clocks in as the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular in the world.

It’s €13 for an adult ticket and you can fork over an extra €7 if you want a ticket for the aquarium located inside near the elephant gate.

The zoo features everything from polar bears to great apes, farm animals to pandas and the aquarium boasts one of the largest collections of aquatic life in Europe.

Definitely a must see if you’ve got a couple of hours to kill.

 

6. Jewish memorial

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Another monument located within walking distance, the memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe pays respect to the 6 million victims of the holocaust.

The monument features over 2,700 concrete slabs arranged on a sloping platform ranging in height from 7.9 inches to 15 feet.

With an underground information center with the names of all known Holocaust victims, the memorial is definitely worth a visit.

 

7. Topography of Terror

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Another one for all you history buffs out there, the Topography of Terror is a museum dedicated to the story of Germany under Nnazi rule.

The museum is free and you can get guided tours or stroll around solo (be warned, it’s usually pretty busy).

If you fancy doing some reading, there’s a library downstairs and there’s also plenty to see outdoors as well with monuments running along the walls.

 

8. The alcohol

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The drink in Germany is just as good as it is in Ireland and you can get it for a cheaper price.

Seriously, everything is cheaper over there so there’s no need to raid your wallet for nights out.

If you’re in the mood for cocktails, we couldn’t help but notice that they are much stronger than the ones you’ll be served in  Irelandso take it easy.

 

9. The coffee shops

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Okay, if we had one criticism of Berlin it would probably be the lack of restaurants.

Not that there aren’t restaurants, because there are – but you’ll find it much easier to find coffee shops, they’re everywhere.

Make sure to have big meals during the day because it could be a while before you come across your next descent eatery (we ate AOT of Italian food).

However, if you’re a fan of the bean – Berlin’s the place to be.

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