Important Things/Places to visit in Berlin if you only have 2 hours.
Do you feel like touring whiles you are in Berlin, the capital of Germany (Deutschland) but have only 2 hours to spare? It is a well-known fact that one day is not nearly enough time to discover the whole of a city with as many neighborhoods and landmarks as this one.
On the other hand, we have devised a plan for you to participate, during which you will see the most significant landmarks located inside the city’s downtown area. Learn more about Berlin and its fascinating past by taking a stroll through the government sector, having lunch at Potsdamer Platz, and taking a trip down the gorgeous street Unter den Linden.
It is highly recommended that you pay a visit to the brand new Humboldt Arena, which is Berlin’s global forum for culture, art, and science.
Charlie Check Point
If you only have 2 hours, we recommend you first stop at the Checkpoint Charlie, a landmark that formerly served as a border crossing is now considered to be one of the city’s most significant and popular attractions.
Friedrichstraße 43-45
10117 Berlin
Free
During the period of the German partition, the location on Friedrichstraße which is currently frequented by large numbers of visitors from inside Germany and farther afield served as a military checkpoint.
Even though the Wall has been removed for a long time and Checkpoint Charlie’s turnpikes and watchtowers have been replaced by reproductions, there is still a significant amount of curiosity about the location of the old border crossing. In addition, the Wall Museum may be found within a short walking distance.
A massive mast depicting a soldier rises into the air in the center of Friedrichstraße, which serves as the primary traffic artery across Berlin from north to south. A modest wooden barrack adorned with flags and sandbags can be seen positioned at the base of the mast.
Even though the sacks are now filled with concrete rather than sand and the barracks have been replaced with copies, the attractiveness of the sight has not been affected in any way: One of the most interesting and well-known attractions in all of Berlin is the Checkpoint Charlie border crossing.
The historic military checkpoint in Berlin was under American authority at the time when the city was partitioned into East and West Berlin. Here, the only people who were permitted to cross the border were those who were not from the GDR, foreigners and workers of the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany in the GDR.
Location of Significant Importance During the Cold War
The atmosphere of the Cold War was almost never as icy in any other location, but Checkpoint Charlie was one of the few exceptions to this rule. The border crossing became famous in October 1961 after the construction of the Berlin Wall: in the final days of October, American and Soviet tanks took up positions hereafter members of the US mission were asked to identify themselves at the GDR border post when passing through the Allied checkpoint.
Tanks from the Soviet Union and the Allies engaged in combat with live fire, bringing to the near-certain possibility of a third global war. In the years that followed, the checkpoint was the setting for daring escape attempts that more often than not resulted in the perpetrator’s demise.
Consider Checkpoint Charlie to Be an Outdoor Museum.
The section of the Berlin Wall known as Checkpoint Charlie was one of the first to come crashing down after German reunification. A reproduction of the barracks that formerly served as a border station may be seen at the location where it once stood today.
The historically noteworthy location has been brought back to life thanks to the steady development of a variety of tourism amenities in the neighborhood.
Visitors to the Wall Museum may get knowledge about the countless efforts that were made to flee from East to West Berlin and examine a variety of artifacts that were used in these attempts. A highly intimate and creative perspective of Berlin’s split cityscape may be seen at the Asisi Panorama Berlin, which is easily accessible on foot.
Brandenburg Gate
After Charlie Check Point, you can take the U6, 2 stops to U Unter den Linden. Then 9 min walk to
The Brandenburg Gate, also known as the Brandenburger Tor in German, is an important historical landmark in Berlin as well as a key emblem of the city’s current status as the capital of Germany.
It was built in 1791 in the Pariser Platz, which is located in the middle of Berlin, and it is now considered to be one of the most famous monuments in Berlin.
The Acropolis of Athens served as an inspiration for the design of the neoclassical gate, which is 26 meters in height.
In 1795, the monument was topped off with the Quadriga, which was a chariot that was pulled by four horses and headed towards the city. The bronze statue is a representation of the Goddess of Victory. The original sculpture was lost or destroyed during World War II, and in 1969, a West German workshop created an identical duplicate of the artwork to serve as a replacement.
There are twelve columns supporting the Gate, and there are five tunnels leading through it. From the time it was first opened until the year 1918, the central entrance was reserved only for members of the German Royal Family as well as members of the German Bourgeoisie.
Exultation and conflicting emotions
Since the time it was constructed, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin has served as the stage for some of the city’s most significant celebrations and processions, including those involving royal processions, Nazi rituals, and marches led by Napoleon and his forces.
Before World War II, the Brandenburg Gate had never been touched by human hands; as a result, the building suffered significant damage during the conflict, and the Quadriga was destroyed.
In 1956, both the East and the West came together to collaborate on the reconstruction of the monument. A number of years later, in 1961, the Soviet Union constructed the Berlin Wall, and the Gate continued to stand between the two halves of the city, despite the fact that access to it was severely restricted.
The significance that had been bestowed upon the Brandenburg Gate in the past was, at long last, restored once the city was reunited.
Both are lovely throughout the day and enchanting after the sun goes down.
The Brandenburg Gate is not only one of the most significant landmarks in Berlin, but it also provides one of the most breathtaking vantage points over the city. The foot of the Gate is a popular spot for tourists to congregate in order to snap the image that best captures the spirit of the occasion.
The Gate, which is located in the heart of the city, is within walking distance of a number of other significant locations, including Potsdamer Platz, Pariser Platz, and the German Bundestag.
Berlin Cathedral
From Brandenburg Gate, you can Bus 100,3 stops
In addition to its proximity to Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral is also in the immediate vicinity. The greatest church in the city is easily identifiable from a considerable distance due to the spectacular dome that tops it.
If you are already there, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to go inside and have a look at the ornately furnished space inside. There are also free guided tours of the church that depart every 20 minutes; the cost of these excursions is included in the purchase of the ticket.
The Humboldt Forum opened in 2020 just across the street, and it has state-of-the-art interactive displays that are spread out over an area of around 30,000 square meters and five stories.
When the year 2021 comes to a close, this location will also be showing off the illustrious holdings of the Ethnological Museum as well as the Museum of Asian Art.
The Rotes Rathaus is the building that we will see next. The red bricks that can be seen on the outside facade of the mayor’s office are where the moniker “Red Brick” originated. In addition, this historic structure is available to the public; the exhibition is open from Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
In addition to being situated immediately on Unter den Linden, the Bebelplatz may also be found there.
Many of Berlin’s most notable structures, including the Prinzessinnenpalais, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, are visible from this vantage point. A memorial that recalls the pyrotechnics that was used to destroy the books is located underneath the plaza.
The Berlin Television Tower
The Berlin Television Tower, which was constructed in the late 1950s and is now the highest building in Germany, is one of the city’s most recognizable monuments. Take the elevator up to the observation deck to take in the sights, or have a meal at the Tower’s rotating restaurant for what is sure to be the most out-of-the-ordinary eating experience you’ll have in Berlin.
Berliner Fernsehturm(TV-Tower): Panoramastraße 1 A, 10178 Berlin
S-Bahn | S5, S7, S75 (Alexanderplatz)
Underground (U-Bahn) | U2, U5, U8 (Alexanderplatz)
Tram | M2, M4, M5, M6
The tower is open until a late hour in the evening, giving guests the opportunity to take in the cityscape of Berlin at all hours of the day. This promises to be a great way to get acquainted with the city at any hour of the day.
Berlin is a bustling city with something for everyone.
Visitors come from all over the globe to experience Berlin’s unique blend of historical sites, pulsating nightlife, museums of international renown, and culinary oddities. The Berlin Wall is a major magnet for tourists, while the city’s parks and lakes provide plenty of opportunities to unwind and enjoy the scenery. In addition, there are a great number of museums that are devoted to the rich history of Berlin, in addition to galleries that display everything from medieval art to modern photography.
It is because of landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Column, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church that Berlin is able to demonstrate that it deserves its reputation as a historical and cultural powerhouse. Get a bird’s eye perspective of this enormous metropolis from the top of the Berlin Television Tower before delving into the city’s plethora of tourist destinations.
The Berlin Television Tower is now the highest building in Germany.
One of the most recognizable landmarks in Berlin is the Television Tower, which was first constructed as an antenna for the East German television network. Visitors may ride lifts to either the observation deck 203 meters up the tower or the rotating restaurant located on the level just above it.
Guests are able to take in the city’s famous sites while savoring a wonderful meal at this restaurant that rotates 360 degrees and takes half an hour to do so. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day, and there is also a trendy bar that serves drinks. On a day when there is little to no cloud cover, it may be able to see as far as 100 miles away.
All the above-mentioned important places can be visited within 2 hours and trust me, it will be worth it.
Have fun with your short stay in Berlin. Tschuss!!