Die Hackeschen Höfe is a building complex with eight courtyards located in the Scheunenviertel…read more(Barn Quarter*) between Rosenthaler Straße and Sophienstraße in the Mitte area of Berlin. The building was opened in 1906, with an Art Nouveau facade, and mixed use commercial and residential spaces. After a period of disuse and damage following WWII, a revitalization started in 1993 which included extensive restoration. Today about 40 businesses call this location home--with a similar blend of vendors, including cafes, a theater, residential apartments, and a variety of retailers (apparel, shoes and accessories, home goods and furniture, art galleries, toys, stationery and a salon). For food there are a few restaurants, a couple bakeries and confectioneries, a gourmet food store and a coffee shop. Although the hours on g-maps show 9-10am, opening times for individual stores varies, so check prior to arriving. Especially on weekends when some opening times start closer to noon. When I arrived at 9am on a Sunday morning most places were closed, with the exception of Maison de Souvenirs, which although geared towards tourists, I enjoyed perusing because of the local and regionally made souvenirs they carried. Around 9:30am a couple of other shops started stirring, including a cafe, apparel store and gallery though only the cafe had opened by 9:45am. The courtyards are worth wandering around for 10 minutes to appreciate their unique architecture, though I didn't stay longer since most stores opened later. No parking available close by, they recommend arriving via public transit as it's a very busy area. Hackesche Markt S+U-bahn station is a couple minutes by foot, and a number of trams and buses stop nearby too. No public restrooms unless patronizing the couple of restaurants (and maybe the cinema) in this complex. *apparently in the 17th century this used to be the part of town outside of Berlin city walls that stored hay for animals, kept separate from the rest of the city due to fire concerns.

The store is beautifully appointed. The quality of the product is clear. Alice was exceptional when…read moresharing information and answering questions. Highly recommend stopping in if you are out shopping.

One of my favorite Christmas markets in Berlin. I would say it's one of the top Christmas markets…read morein Berlin. Perfect example of how a Christmas market should be. It has a cosey and warm feeling to it. Nothing tasteless or cheesy about it. Location is ideal as well. Definitely make sure to explore the community. Beautiful area, it has so much to see. The best time to come to Berlin is during winter for the (Christmas Markets) or during Autumn, Spring, and Summer as well.

This is one of those grand European architectural locations. Once you get anywhere near this area,…read morewhat you will find are great cathedrals, beautiful buildings, and a very large square. The center point of this area is the large square. My suggestion is that you go and stand in the center of it, look around, and study its true uniqueness. What you will experience is one of the best places to view the grandeur of historic Berlin. Around this very large square, what you will find, (occasionally), is that they will have marketplaces. These marketplaces are usually seasonally orientated. Meaning, if it's Christmas season, you will find a great selection of Christmas orientated items. The main reason you come here is not so much simply to go shopping or dining, of which there are a lot of places to check out around the surrounding area, but to go inside some of the structures, and truly bask in the architectural glory of the statues, the way the buildings were constructed, and all of that kind of stuff. This isn't really a highly-touristy Berlin location. Which, is a good thing. Meaning, you can come here and really bask in a historic Berlin, which is deeply rooted in history. It will provide you with the true flavor and culture of Berlin. Overall, I would suggest that you do go here. You just need to know what to expect. There's not necessarily a lot to do, unless you truly appreciate the finer elements of architecture. But, it's a great place to visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed viewing the Fernsehturm from outside and seeing the views offered from the…read moreinside! Inside there are photos with points of interest numbered so you can look for specific Berlin landmarks from above. Going inside and up was very easy. We already had tickets we bought online, so we got in line for security as soon as we went in. Security was quick and kind, much like airport security. We were able to get on the elevator to go up almost immediately after security too. It was a bit busy up there, but there was more than enough room to walk around the entire viewing area and look for each point of interest we wanted to search for. We didn't have a long wait to get back into the elevator to go down when we were done either. There is a small store inside you can buy a souvenir from if you choose.

Although it's a complete tourist trap, when in Berlin, yes, I recommend visiting the Berliner…read moreFernsehturm. You cannot avoid seeing it from anywhere in Berlin. There is only one entrance, and you can purchase tickets on site. It cost $34.50 Euros for a standard ticket, which I felt is a little pricey. They search for weapons before you get in the elevator. If you look up while going up in the elevator, you get an interesting view of the interior. Once you get out of the elevator, you are allowed to roam all around and get a view of all of Berlin. There is also a bar, where I purchased a Latte Macchiato and Salzige Brezel. Even though my drink was machine made, it wasn't bad. The salted pretzel, however, was the driest pretzel I've ever eaten. The bartender was friendly, but a little slow. Seating is very limited. Only a handful of stools. After heading down in the elevator, I perused the gift shop. Didn't purchase anything though.

Beautiful and the biggest church in Berlin located on the museum island. It is very massive both…read moreoutside and inside...you have to pay for entrance and you can climb to the top to see 360 degree view of Berlin, worth it but it's 267 steps each way..no bathroom so go before climbing. Somehow I was there and there was a mass in German an I stayed 1/2 way and it was lovely. I'm not a church person but do appreciate the service. The building, the decor, the history itself is worth to check it out for sure. There are plenty of crypts within the church so you can check them outs along with shop and café upon exiting.

This domed cathedral is the largest in Germany and as we see it today is one of many versions of…read morethis place of worship starting from the mid-15th century. Commissioned by Wilhelm II in 1888 the cathedral broke ground in 1894 over same location as a prior church building demolished the prior year to make room for this new and improved iteration. The design of this monumental structure incorporates details from Italian Renaissance and Baroque styles, notably ornamental mosaics, gold features and trimmings, and the layout of the building with its soaring dome and nave. Construction was completed in 1905, but after major damages during WWII was restored starting 1975 and only completed in 1993. Today it serves as functioning church parish for a German Protestant denomination. Visitors can access the following areas in the building: Preaching Church, Baptismal and Marriage Chapel and Panoramic View via 270 stairs. The crypt below the cathedral is a main attraction though closed for renovation until the end of 2025 or early 2026. Regular musical concerts are held here and programming can be found on their website. Normal visiting hours are Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9am-5pm and Sun: 12-5pm. Check in advance for holiday hours. Tickets are €10 for adults, €7 with the Berlin Welcome Card, €7.50 reduced (students, disabled, see their website for full list). A single adult can bring up to 3 children in the ticket price. Prices go toward church upkeep which their website lists as €15K per day. Purchases can be made in person or line by credit card only, cash not accepted. Tickets for concerts can be booked at the box office without fee, or by phone or email with fee to mail the tickets.

I like to put my energy in things that matter. It includes people as well. So I have learned from…read moremy second time in Europe. I got to reflect and needed it. That's what I did, here. The old school style of Berlin, Germany, can be found here in this neighborhood. Tucked away from the Main Street and filled with local restaurants, cafes, and so forth, it was pleasant to be in the mode of what I call, "peace in mind." It was a good pace to simply be.

If you want to get away from the busy wasteland of consumerism and tourism that is Alexanderplatz,…read morethe Nikolaiviertel is a refreshing piece of Berlin history. Founded in 1200, this is the original old Berlin (Alt-Berlin, if you will). And though it's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Alex, the architecture and the overall ambiance are totally different. Granted, this is also a popular destination for visitors, but it manages to still retain a bit of charm. Truth be told, Nikolaiviertel is best experienced on a weekday afternoon in the spring. Stroll around the cobblestone streets, admire the buildings, peek into shops, or grab a beer and sit alongside the river. While it's never a destination, whenever I find myself here, I can't help but enjoy it.

Located in Alexanderplatz square, the World Time Clock (also known as the Urania World Clock) is a…read moreunique timepiece which shows the times of 148 major cities around the world. It was designed by Erich John and completed in 1969. Fun facts: - The clock face is a cylinder with 24 corners which represents the 24 time zones on earth, and atop the clock sits a model of the solar system - the motor for the clock sits below the structure and is a modified Trabant* gearbox from GDR times. - after Germany was reunified, some of the cities marked in the wrong time zones on the clock had to be corrected. Since this is essentially a landmark, for a visitor there's not a whole lot to do aside from admire the workmanship, look up the current times of some of your favorite cities, take some photos, and cross it off the list. Easily accessible via S+U Bahn, tram, bus, and train. For exact transit info check out the Berlin.de website. Being outdoors, the site is open 24/7. *Trabant is a small economy car manufactured in East Germany between 1957-91, while it was the most popular car in East Germany during that era, it was also one of the only cars available due to the closed socialist economy and it became a symbol of the country''s economic stagnation.

If you are in the area, you definitely need to check out the world time clock. It's extremely close…read moreto the TV tower, which is a famous Berlin landmark. This is right next to a popular subway station.

I love museums, but this museum is pathetic…read more The main history museum is closed, and only one odd display called " the road, not taken" is open in the more modern building. We made the mistake of purchasing combo tickets for both the history component and the nature component of the museum. The nature component of the museum is simply one of the worst, most logical, and pathetic museums I've ever encountered. Until the big history museum is reopened, simply skip " the road, not taken" and visit the topography of terror. The topography of terror presented much deeper history and it's free. Cost for both museums was €10 per person. Coat check and bag storage is on the ground floor. No cost for coat check and bag storage. Clean restrooms on ground floor. A water bottle filling station is available on the ground floor but no water fountains. Be sure to bring your own water bottle. Free Wi-Fi available

This is a lovely building. It is 5 euros per person if you want to do both exhibits. The main…read moreexhibit is not worth 2.5 euros, it should be free because it is disjointed and odd. 1star but the potato display was the best! Skip that exhibit and do The roads not Taken exhibit if you want an overview of German history and even then I would almost say skip it. 3 stars. Free WiFi, toilets are clean, and coat check available.

I visited during January so it was a little bit cooler than I liked, but Still had a great time…read moreseeing all the history As a European and being well traveled, I was aware of the pickpocket issue. It's simple don't bring anything flashy keep your phone in your front pocket. I don't even carry a purse when I travel We stayed at Adlon Hotel so the walk was short I am looking forward to a visit in the warmer months.

I'm always amazed on his they build such great things like this. Absolutely beautiful gate in…read moreBerlin! Huge and has so many designs that you don't notice when you first look at it.

Came across this piece of art when walking around Berlin and thought it looks pretty cool and…read moreinspirational. Great piece to add to a city that's still growing and the culture it holds.

Stunning fountain. Detailed, beautiful sculptures…read more The Roman god of sea, Neptune, is in the center. Beautiful and inspiring. Near Alexanderplatz.

Neptunbrunnen (1891, Reinhold Begas) is a breathtakingly beautiful fountain and piece of public…read moreart. God of the sea Neptune is in the center surrounded by water, sea creatures and four women who portray the rivers of Prussia - Rhine, Elbe, Oder and Vistula. Definitely worth a visit to marvel at such beauty and take a few photos.