Berlin, Germany Attractions

The Alexanderplatz is a Berlin city square, which is bordered by the Galeria Kaufhof department store, a hotel and train station. Named after Russian czar Alexander I in 1805, today the German square is a center of city activity, and shopping. The World Time Clock in the south corner of Alexanderplatz/ is a popular place to meet up. To learn more, visit www.tr-turm.de

The Berliner Philharmonie is among the most distinguished symphony orchestras in the world and calls the Philharmonie mit Kammermusiksaal its home. Other orchestras appear at the Kammermusiksaal as well, and guided tours are held daily for interested visitors at 1 pm for a nominal fee. To learn more, visit www.berliner-philharmoniker.de

A classic monument, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor, in German) is one of the most recognizable symbols of Berlin. After falling into disrepair when the Wall was built to divide the city, the city gate has been restored to its former glory and is the site of celebrations on Unification Day, as well as New Year's and other holidays. To learn more, visit www.fodors.com/world/europe/germany/berlin/review-99609.html

The famed dividing line between the former East Berlin and West Berlin, today Checkpoint Charlie tells the stories of those who escaped by it. Visit the small Checkpoint Charlie museum to learn about the fascinating history surrounding the Wall and how its building affected the peoples of Germany. To learn more, visit www.mauermuseum.com

The Deutsche Oper is Berlin's leading opera company and performs in one of the greatest opera houses in the world. A noted modern architectural landmark in itself, the Berlin opera house seats 1,885 and is located in Berlin's Charlottenburg district. To learn more about upcoming performances at the opera house in Berlin, visit www.deutscheoperberlin.de

The Radio Tower Berlin (known as Berliner Funkturm and Funkturm Berlin) is a protected Berlin, Germany monument that has been operating since 1926. One of Berlin's most popular monuments, it is located in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough on the grounds of what was once the Berlin trade fair. To learn more about the Radio Tower Berlin, visit www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funkturm_Berlin

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a somber tribute to the devastation of war. Located in Berlin's western sector, there's very little standing of the neo-Romanesque church after the Allied bombings of WWII, save for the bell tower. Amidst the scattered ruins, a new church and museum have been built. To learn more, visit www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de

Berlin's Hackescher Markt, or "Barn District" as it is known, offers a delightful shopping and arts excursion. One of Berlin's most fashionable and artistic districts, the Hackescher Markt is one of the few areas with historic buildings to have survived the bombings of WWII and features some of Berlin's most prized art galleries and theatres. To learn more, visit www.frommers.com/destinations/berlin/0046010031.html#ixzz1Q1xzfAjF

The KaDeWe is a large, upscale Berlin department store perhaps best known for its international foods section. Visit the sixth floor to sample imported specialties from around the globe. It's a great place to stop for refreshment amidst a day of sightseeing, and there are counters for dining. To learn more, visit www.frommers.com/destinations/berlin/S29132.html#ixzz1Q1yGUvWd

Zoologischer Garten is Berlin's most famous zoo and one of the leading animal parks in the world. Sprawling for more than 11 hectares, the Berlin zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, including sea lions, trained elephants, rhinoceros, monkeys, even a pygmy hippopotamus. The zoo features a restaurant pavilion for meals and refreshment. To learn more about one of Berlin's most famous tourist attractions, visit www.zoobasel.ch