Mitte

Berlin’s central district is a convergence of quaint residential streets, sprawling Soviet squares and some of Europe’s most revered museums.

Divided by the Berlin Wall for decades and now separated into several vastly differing neighborhoods, Berlin’s Mitte offers an intriguing cross section of the city. The district’s staggering TV tower rises from Alexanderplatz and has become a symbol of the city since its construction during the Cold War. Visit the fashionable shopping districts, an island dedicated to cultural institutions and some of Germany’s finest restaurants. Spend a day exploring the district on foot to see many of Berlin’s major attractions and to engage with its cosmopolitan residents going about their daily lives.

Start your exploration at Alexanderplatz, home to Berlin’s TV Tower (Fernsehturm). At 1,207 feet (368 meters) tall, the tower is one of the tallest structures in Germany and in the European Union. Walk around the pedestrianized area surrounding the tower to discover the World Time Clock installation as well as restaurants, bars and hotels. Beneath your feet you’ll find the Alexanderplatz U-Bahn station, one of the busiest in the city.

Walk the short distance to Hackescher Markt for excellent shopping. Choose between independent boutiques and international fashion outlets. The residential area to its north, between Linienstrasse and Torstrasse, is home to a number of small restaurants, cozy bars and the KW Institute, one of Berlin’s leading contemporary art institutions.

For more art and cultural museums, travel to Museum Island (Museumsinsel). Originally the sister city of Berlin, named Cölln, the island’s history dates back to the 13th century. Today the northern part of the island is known as Museum Island, the site of many of the city’s most significant museums and galleries, including the Pergamon Museum, the Old National Gallery and the New Museum. Purchase bundled tickets to see multiple institutions.

Join a walking tour departing from Alexanderplatz to see the historic sites of the city center, including Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial also known as Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Mitte is well served by tram, train and bus. Find parking in lots and on streets throughout the area.

Explore the best attractions in Mitte
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This symbol of German unification ranks alongside Paris' Arc de Triomphe as one of Europe’s most iconic and emotive monuments.
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Explore the city center campus of this famous educational institution, which has nurtured some of the greatest minds in history.
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This architectural gem is a monument to one of Nazi Germany’s most bitter legacies—the millions of Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust.
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Say “Guten Tag” to some of the world’s most exotic creatures in one of the most comprehensive and elegant zoos in Europe.
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Learn about life in ancient Europe and marvel at antiquities from the Greek and Roman eras in this grand neoclassical building on Berlin’s Museum Island.
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Take in breathtaking views of Berlin and enjoy a meal in a revolving restaurant inside the sphere of this iconic tower, the tallest structure in Germany.
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This vast cylindrical structure is packed full of marine life, ensuring that visitors can enjoy all the beauty of the ocean right in the centre of Berlin.
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Leaf through original Communist school books and put your ear to secret police listening devices at this truly hands-on museum.
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Enjoy the old-world atmosphere of this elegant square, which is bordered by two cathedrals and a grand concert hall.
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The infamous, tempestuous story of the Berlin Wall is covered in this outdoor museum, which provides an insight into one of the world’s most famous constructions.
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Bring along euros to purchase designer goods and alternative fashions at one of the most interesting shopping districts in the city.
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Find an impressive collection of ancient sculptures, Byzantine art and coins from antiquity in this beautiful Baroque Revival building on Berlin’s Museum Island.
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Learn about Germany’s compelling history through this vast collection, which takes an honest and unflinching look at this modern European nation.
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Admire the architecture of this grand concert hall and listen to an orchestral performance in the lavish auditorium.
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This 18th-century square in the heart of the central district of Mitte has an opera house, cathedral and a library and was once the site of a Nazi book-burning event.
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Admire this magnificent neoclassical palace built for a Prussian prince in 1786 in the leafy Tiergarten, which today holds the official seat for the German president.
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Named for its ornate dome, this beautiful 18th-century tower within Mitte’s Gendarmenmarkt is a great place to see sweeping views across the city.
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This church dates back to Berlin’s medieval beginnings. It’s now one of the city’s great museums.
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Don’t leave Berlin without saying hello to Golden Lizzie, the gleaming statue at the top of the city’s best-known landmark.  
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One of Berlin’s oldest churches, a Gothic medieval building in the heart of the central district of Mitte, holds an immense fresco called The Dance of Death.
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A variety of exceptional opera productions are staged in the hallowed halls of this Prussian treasure, which has been rebuilt tree times during its 250-year tenure.
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The white and shining headquarters of federal government on the banks of the River Spree is a testimony to the newest chapter in German history. 
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Once a royal garden, this elegant public park is now a perfect resting and picnic spot for city explorers.
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Take in views of the Brandenburg Gate and the edge of sprawling Tiergarten park from this expansive and handsome public square.
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Look for the distinct red-brick building in the central district of Mitte to see where Berlin’s mayor works. Inside, tour the ornately decorated rooms and interesting historical exhibitions.
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Alexanderplatz is a marvellous example of 1960s architecture and a centralised meeting place within Berlin that’s particularly popular with local residents.
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To journey through the art and culture of nearly 6,000 years of civilisation, just visit this world-heritage listed island.
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Berliners come to celebrate their city in this public square, which was completely destroyed during the Second World War and isolated during the Cold War.
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Discover a lesser-told story from Berlin’s history at this unique memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers, set in the lush grounds of the Tiergarten.
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This spectacularly beautiful cathedral plays a significant part in Berlin’s religious and cultural life, as well as being a honeypot for visitors to the city.
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Berlin’s most popular museum houses ancient monuments some wonderful examples of architecture that date back more than two millennia.
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Torched by Hitler, bombed by Britain and stormed by the Russians, the seat of German power has risen again as a symbol of a united, progressive Germany.