Sitting at the western edge of Luisenplatz, this gate built by Frederick the Great in 1770 to…read morecommemorate victory in the Seven Years War. It ended up being designed by two architects--Karl von Gontard, who designed the side facing Brandenburg Straße and his student Georg Christian singer, who designed the one facing Luisenplatz, which was the side originally towards the fields, (though the square itself outside the gate was created in 1744). The gate was built on top of a site that used to be a smaller town gate along a wall surrounding central Potsdam, which controlled the flow of traffic into the city. In 1900 when the city walls were torn down the Brandenburg Tor was left standing. Again as a landmark not much to do except view it and walk through it, though I can see how considering its location leading towards a main shopping thoroughfare there could be community and seasonal activities set up in its vicinity.

Majestic and gorgeous. This building has amazing architectural features and is everything you'd…read moreimagine it to be, and more. The winter time is especially beautiful with the huge Christmas tree.

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.

One visits Gendarmenmarkt to take in the local flavor. There are beautiful buildings and sculptures…read moreto view and appreciate. People come here to hang out with their families and loved ones. I especially enjoyed looking at the expressions on the faces of the sculptures within the gates of the church. The artist truly captures a feeling. I walked here from the hotel I was staying at and enjoyed lunch in the immediate vicinity. It is a place to visit when in Berlin.

A bit off the beaten path, this structure is an UNESCO world heritage site, originally built by…read morePrussian monarch Friedrich Wilhelm IV in the mid 19th century as a viewing platform of the surrounding area. The architecture has Roman and Greek influences and is reminiscent of an ancient Roman temple, with the immediate grounds laid out in an English garden format. During WWII the building fell into disrepair and the subsequently was renovated starting the mid-1990s to mid 2000. It is now open to the public via ticketed self-tour, timed tours (seasonal), and special events for both community and private functions. When I went on a Saturday morning the grounds were fairly empty, maybe a dozen or so other visitors. You could spend 20-30 min or more here. Tickets were €8 for a regular adult price, €6 if I recall correctly, including the discount if you have separately booked the Berlin Welcomecard or the Sansoucci+ package though the ticket is not included in that package. Bathrooms are available though parking is not, it's recommended to take public transportation and then walk. This can be anywhere from a 15-30 minute walk depending on where you're coming from. I came from the direction of Schloß Cecilienhof and that was about 25 minutes with about 10-15 minutes of uphill. Coming from the north or west the walk is shorter from the main road though still takes you along a path in the park/woods.

From the owner: Belvedere auf dem Pfingstberg - Potsdams schönste Aussicht…read more Der Pfingstberg im Norden Potsdams ist mit 76 Metern die höchste Erhebung der Stadt. Hier befindet sich das Pfingstbergensemble mit Potsdams schönster Aussicht, welches seit 1999 Teil der UNESCO-Welterbestätte Schlösser und Parks von Potsdam und Berlin ist. Neben dem bis 1863 nach Plänen König Friedrich Wilhelms IV. erbauten Aussichtsschloss Belvedere und dem 1800 nach Plänen Schinkels errichteten Pomonatempel ist auch die Parkanlage Peter Joseph Lennés dort zu finden. Nach dem II. Weltkrieg wegen der Nähe zur KGB-Zentrale gesperrt und verfallen, wurde das Ensemble von 1992 bis 2005 restauriert. Heute können Besucher dort viel "Kultur in der Natur" erleben, neben einer neuen zweisprachigen Ausstellung zur Geschichte, Hörführungen für Kinder und Erwachsene und Kunstausstellungen im Pomonatempel zum Beispiel auch samstags und sonntags (Mai-September) um 15 Uhr Kleinkunst. Der Neue Garten, das Schloss Cecilienhof und die russische Kolonie Alexandrowka sind nahe. Öffnungszeiten: April-Oktober: täglich, 10 bis 18 Uhr März, November: samstags und sonntags, 10 bis 16 Uhr Anfahrt: Tram 92 oder 96 bis Haltestelle "Puschkinallee" oder "Am Schragen" oder Bus 638 bis Haltestelle "Potsdam, Am Pfingstberg" bzw. Bus 603 bis "Höhenstraße" Parkplätze: am Volkspark Potsdam (ehemaliger BUGA-Park), erreichbar von der Nedlitzer Straße über Straße Esplanade und am Schloss Cecilienhof (erreichbar über Straße Am Neuen Garten)

This private aviation museum is a little out of the way for your average tourist in Germany, but it…read moreis well worth the drive off the beaten path. It is located in former East Germany. You will need to part with a few Euros to enter. I was so surprised to see a replica of the Ryan Aircraft "Spirit of Saint Louis" . It seems as accurate and detailed as the one shown in San Diego's Air & Space Museum. It was suspended over a nice presentation of a Junkers aircraft with corrugated metal skin, an exhibit I certainly would expect here. Farther into the museum is an absolutely breathtaking diorama with the star being an immaculately restored WW2 Focke-Wulf fighter, and its attendant ground crew and ordnance load. Next to it is a Messerschmitt Me109 ('G' variant, as I recall), with the engine bay door propped open revealing it's splendid and meticulously restored V-12. Surprisingly, there is a gorgeous Supermarine Spitfire (British, of course!), displayed with a five-bladed propeller, used toward the end of hostilities, and afterward. As a seeming counterpoint to the Spitfire, a vintage searchlight and a menacing 88 mm German antiaircraft cannon are well displayed, including its crew and cannon shells. A dull-finished MiG-15 looms nearby, red stars and all, but one's attention is immediately drawn to a Luftwaffe F-104G, in period-correct European camo. Its ejection seat and cockpit have been restored, and the aircraft, while in the Euro dark green and grey camouflage, is festooned with small, but bright red maintenance and warning stencils, many of which are in German and English. Such attention to detail is simply remarkable, and so very German. There are numerous other aircraft displays, both inside and outside this fascinating museum, including helicopters and civilian aircraft. It's out of the way, but . . . It's out of this world. Visit this museum.

This little museum is a great visit for aviation enthusiasts interested in the Cold War and Eastern…read moreBloc airplanes. They have a good collection of aircraft, albeit weather worn. They also have a MiG-21 simulator available to "fly". They also house the Aviation Archaeology Society who studies aircraft wreckage and tells their story. Very compelling! Worth a visit and trouble to get out there.