Travel guide to Berlin – experience this European city with your senses

Berlin, the capital of Germany, proudly spreads over the banks of the rivers Havel and Spree. Every year, this city in northeastern Germany attracts over 18 million people from all corners of the world thanks to its hospitality, rich historical heritage, and impressive culture. Berlin is also one of Europe’s centers of alternative and pop art culture, making its streets seem like open-air galleries. Besides its status of the country’s capital, Berlin is one of 16 German provinces, home to Europe’s best-known film festival and a population made up of over 180 nationalities.

Berlin lovers often remark that the right time to visit Berlin is in the fall – the temperature is just right for sightseeing and nights out, and the city is busy with people and interesting street festivals.

With as many as five flights a week, Air Serbia will make sure you reach Berlin quickly and in comfort. The flight from Belgrade to the German capital takes 1 hour and 50 minutes, and you can buy airline tickets via the Air Serbia website. By subscribing to our Newsletter, you will be among the first to learn about new flights to your destinations of choice and any discounts offered on airline tickets.

Berlin is practically a vast outdoor museum. Its inhabitants nurture the habit of visiting museums and galleries, and treasure their city’s cultural heritage. The Museum Island is in the historic heart of Berlin, on the river Spree, and encompasses the Old and the New Museum, the Bode Museum - the old national gallery with an architectural design inspired by the Acropolis, and the Pergamon Museum, the most popular in Berlin, named after the Pergamon Altar. Here you will see the imposing Ishtar Gate dedicated to a Babylonian goddess, and the Market Gate of Miletus.

Berlin has a deep appreciation of its turbulent history. An adage often heard in urban circles says that we should never forget history, to avoid repeating it. Visitors to this city will see the remains of the Berlin Wall and its longest surviving section, the East Side Gallery. The museum named the Topography of Terror stands on the site of the wartime headquarters of the SS, and is an exhibition of the history of the Nazi regime. Obviously, an overview of Berlin’s history would not be complete without a visit to the Holocaust Memorial, the controversial Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, victims of the Third Reich. The monument, spread over 200,000 square meters, has divided the artistic public of Europe into supporters of its aesthetic and critics of its unusual concept. When visiting the historic part of Berlin, remember to take a picture in front of Checkpoint Charlie, the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin. As the filming location of famous Hollywood movies, Checkpoint Charlie is a favorite tourist attraction.

To experience the unique architecture of Berlin fully, start your tour of the city with a visit to the Alexanderplatz. This square is the city’s transport hub and one of its liveliest locations, and is within walking distance from many tourist attractions. The World Clock, located in Alexanderplatz, shows the current time in nearly 150 cities around the world. Another symbol of this European capital is the Brandenburg Gate. This 18-century monument, built on the site of a former city gate, bears the sculpture of a chariot drawn by four horses, symbolizing triumph and freedom. The next stop in a tour of Berlin’s unique architecture should be the Reichstag Building, the center of political power in Germany. The palace was built to house the first deliberative body of the German Empire, and is now home to the German parliament. This is the first of a series of buildings manifesting the specific blend of traditional style and modern trends in German architecture.

Next on the list are two impressive cathedrals – the Berlin Cathedral and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The Berlin Cathedral is probably the most beautiful building of its type in Germany. Although repeatedly damaged and devastated by fires in earlier times, its subsequent reconstruction resulted in its present ornate beauty. You can climb to the Cathedral dome, one of its signature sights, and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. The Hohenzollern crypt located in the Cathedral, holds the earthly remains of members of the Hohenzollern dynasty. A truly striking landmark is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, built around the original, 19th century church. Heavily damaged by air raids during the Second World War, the old church was spared from total demolition by the inhabitants of West Berlin. The ruins of the old church were integrated in the design of the new church and due to its unusual design the church is nicknamed the Hollow Tooth.

The Berlin TV Tower, a former symbol of communist power, dominates the panorama of Berlin. The tower is visible from every point in the city and a climb to the top will give you a view of Berlin from a height of 200 meters. The restaurant at the top of the tower is a good place to get a taste of German cuisine. The restaurant revolves around the tower axis, so having a meal there is an extraordinary experience.

Berlin streets harbor places where a person can get a very good bite to eat. Street food culture has been alive in the city for decades, combining traditional tastes and modern concepts. An afternoon stroll around the city can turn into a tasting tour of the best Berlin specialties. Prenzlauer Berg, an alternative lifestyle quarter, with a Sunday flea market, is home to fantastic sausages, beer, sauerkraut dishes, and corn crackers. This is the place to try the original Currywurst sausages, a signature dish of this German province.

Meat combined with tasty grilled vegetables forms the basis of German cuisine served in restaurants like Hallman & Klee, Southern Vittles, or Silo Coffee, the latter being the most popular choice of Berliners in search of a good brunch.

Where the most popular restaurant districts are concerned, there are several things to take into consideration. A favorite with young people who want brunch is Simon Dach Strasse, an urban area of the city housing ‘concept’ restaurants. The place to look for pricier restaurants is the Gendarmenmarkt, while the most popular restaurant offering an authentic experience is the Alt Berliner Biersalon, renowned for its rich assortment of local German beer.

To get an authentic feeling for the rhythm of this fascinating city, you should simply get lost in its streets. Berlin is Europe’s center of alternative lifestyles, so you will find true oases of pop art just a step away from the city center. The first thing you will notice are the murals on the facades of buildings lining the main streets. Street art is very popular in Berlin, with festivals held every year. Another cultural attraction not to miss is the Monsterkabinett, a unique exhibition organized by the Dead Chickens, a group of well-known authors leading the Berlin street art scene. The exhibition, where artists present their works to the public, takes place every Friday and Saturday, after 5 pm. Their art is strongly inspired by science fiction, so prepare to see a lot of fantasy creatures and video-game characters.

Visitors looking for nightlife in Berlin should make their first stop in the Mitte borough. During the day, this area is crowded with people working in the surrounding office buildings and agencies but at night, it becomes the favorite meeting place of young Berliners and tourists, enjoying beer and cocktails in gardens, away from the business side of the city. After sundown, these places turn into magical outdoor bars where you will hear good jazz, modern rock, but also the music of the stars of the Berlin music scene. If you are concerned about the prices of food and drink, you will be glad to hear that Berlin is one of the least expensive capitals in Europe.