Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Berlin Hauptbahnhof

The New Berlin Central Station 

The construction of the new central station "Berlin Hauptbahnhof" was the city's most spectacular architectural project. Europe's biggest rail transfer point was opened in May 2006 by the time Germany played host to the FIFA World Cup(TM).

The original Lehrter Bahnhof (station) was destroyed during the Second World War. The new station arises on the same site, and connects the East-West ICE line with the North-South line. The building's architecture reflects its function as a crossing-point.

A steel and glass construction covers the station concourse of the East-West line, and is transversed by two parallel architectonic crossbars, which frame the roofing of the lower-level North-South line. This delicate and transparent structure is an impressive example of contemporary railway architecture.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof is one of Berlin's most important building projects, and not merely because of its exceptional architecture; it also marks the first-ever connection of the East-West and North-South railway lines.

Address:

Europaplatz
10557 Berlin-Tiergarten
Phone: 297 1055
www.hbf-berlin.de 

Getting there: S+U Berlin Hauptbahnhof
S5, S7, S75, S9
U55
120, 123, 147, 240, 245, TXL
M41, M85

Opening Hours:

Mon - Fri: 6 to 22 h

Saturday - Sunday: 7a.m.-10p.m.
Daily 6 to 22 h

Bebelplatz

Bebelplatz

A Place of Changing Fortunes

Because of its location on Unter den Linden and the importance of the buildings which surround it, Bebelplatz is one of the most noteworthy tourist attractions in Berlin.

The square dates to about 1740, but it was named in 1947 after the joint founder of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), August Bebel. At first, it was to be the centre of the Forum Fridericianum planned by Knobelsdorff. This could not however be fully realized - only the opera house was constructed from 1741-43, which leads to the spot known as Opernplatz. Behind the Staatsoper, St. Hedwig's Cathedral can be found (built 1747-1773), while the western side is the site of the Königliche Bibliothek (Royal Library, 1775-80), known colloquially as the "Kommode" ("chest of drawers"); today, this building belongs to the Humboldt University and is attached to the Altes Palais (Old Palace, also now used by the Humboldt University).

On May 10, 1933, the square was the focal point for the "burning of the books" staged by the Nazis: the works of Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Erich Kästner, Stefan Zweig, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Alfred Kerr, Kurt Tucholsky and countless other writers were thrown into the flames. Since 1995, this event has been commemorated by the monument designed by Micha Ullmann, which consists of an underground library with empty shelves and which can be seen through a transparent plastic window set into the ground.

Address: Bebelplatz 1, 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Getting there: U Hausvogteiplatz (U2)

Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz

The Rough Charm of the City

Alexanderplatz is Berlin's most famous square.

 
Originally, this square lay just beyond the gates to the city. Around 1700 it was the site of a livestock market, earning it the name Ochsenplatz or "Oxen Square". Later, it was also used as a wool market and as a parade ground. It received its current name on the occasion of the visit of Czar Alexander I. in 1805. 

At the turn of last century, "Alex" gradually lost its marketplace character, and, with the establishment of a regional train station there in 1882, it became an important transport intersection. The square which Alfred Döblin immortalized in his novel "Berlin Alexanderplatz" (1929) was almost completely destroyed in the war.

Its present appearance dates from the construction of the East German city center from 1966-71. This included the former Centrum department store, the Alex Passages which connected with it, the 123m-high hotel building, and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) which dominates the square. The square is also home to the World Time Clock, and the Fountain of International Friendship, both of which were erected in 1969. In the nearby recently opened shopping mall ALEXA visitors will find a BERLIN infostore.

An exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009 turns the Alexanderplatz into a large open air gallery: "Friedliche Revolution 1989/90" (Peaceful Revolution 1989/90) recollects the dramatic events around 1989, presents bone-headed politicans, protesting people and mass demonstrations, which also took place at this very site. The exhibition is in English and German and can be visited until November 14. 24 hours a day, admission free.

Address: Alexanderplatz, 10178 Berlin-Mitte

Getting there: S+U Alexanderplatz
S5, S7, S75, S9

U2, U5, U8
100, 200, 248, TXL
M4, M48, M5, M6

Berlin Sights

Here are the list of key sights in Berlin:

1. Alexanderplatz: The Rough Charm of the City
2. Bebelplatz: A Place of Changing Fortunes
3. Berlin Hauptbahnhof: The New Berlin Central Station
4. Berliner Dom: Church of the Kaisers
5. Berliner Rathaus: The Seat of Berlin's Government
6. Botanischer Garten: Berlin in Green
7. Brandenburger Tor: Symbol of a City
8. Bundeskanzleramt: Where Decisisions are made
9. Checkpoint Charlie: Memories of a divided city
10. Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas: Place of Remembrance
11. Dorotheenstädtischer und Französischer Friedhof: Final Resting Place of Poets and Philosophers
12. East Side Gallery: Graffiti Art on the Berlin Wall
13. Erholungspark Marzahn: Gardens of the World
14. Fernsehturm: Berlin from Above
15. Friedrichstrasse: Flair and Elegance
16. Funkturm: Berlin's Eiffel Tower
17. Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand: In Memory of Nazi Resistance
18. Gedenkstätte Plötzensee: A Place for Nazi Victims
19. Gendarmenmarkt: Europe's Most Beautiful Square
20. Hackesche Höfe: Courtyards for the In-Crowd
21. Hamburger Bahnhof: Modern Art
22. Haus der Kulturen der Welt: The Pregnant Oyster
23. Jüdischer Friedhof Weißensee: Jewish Cemetary
24. Jüdisches Museum Berlin: Broken Star of David
25. KaDeWe: The Department Store of the West
26. Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche: Lipstick and Powder Compact
27. Karl-Marx-Allee: Socialist Splendour
28. Kulturforum: Center of the Fine Arts
29. Kurfürstendamm: The Kudamm
30. Martin-Gropius-Bau: Neo-Renaissance and Classic Modernism
31. Museumsinsel: World Heritage
32. Neue Synagoge Berlin Centrum Judaicum: Centre of Jewish Berlin 
33. Neue Wache: Place of Remembrance
35. Nikolaiviertel: The Middle Ages Live
36. Olympiastadion: The Sporting Life
37. Pfaueninsel: The Prussian Arcadia
38. Potsdamer Platz: Showpiece of the New Berlin
39. Rathaus Köpenick: Idyllic Smalltown around Müggelsee Lake
40. Reichstag: Parliament and Mirror of German History
41. Schloss Bellevue: A Palace Fit for a President
42. Schloss Charlottenburg: A Palace Fit for a Queen
43. Schloss Glienicke: The Prussian Arcadia
44. Schlossplatz: Kaisers, Communists, Concepts
45. Schlossstraße: The Charme of Old Berlin
46. Siegessäule: Wings and Weapons
47. St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale: The Prussian Pantheon
48. St. Marien-Kirche: Medieval Splendour
49. Staatsoper Unter den Linden: Magic Flutes and a Rosenkavalier
50. Tempodrom: Shows under the Circus Tent
51. Tiergarten: Berlin's green heart
52. Tiergarten Regierungsviertel: Centre of Power
53. Tierpark Friedrichsfelde: A Park for Animals
54. Treptower Park: Recreational Area Near the City Centre
55. Unter den Linden: Berlin's Most Beautiful Avenue
56. Zeughaus: "Mother of the Prussian Style"
57. Zitadelle: Berlin's Oldest Building 
58. Zoologischer Garten: Germany's First Zoo

Introduction about Berlin, Germany

I have been here in Berlin for over 3 months and I have been around almost sightseeing in Berlin. I would divide some key sightseeing here into:

Sights - Museums - Palaces & Gardens - City Tours - History - Berlin Wall - Architecture

Hi, welcome all you guys to my travel blog!

Hi, my name is Phuong, I am very interested in traveling all over the world and I would be do that in the future but not now. I am Vietnamese girl who grows up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam but studied in Switzerland and now in Berlin, Germany. 

I created this blog because of my interests in tourism and I would love to give you some FREE TOURS GUIDE about some key cities of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An, Quy Nhon, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, and some free tours in Mekong Delta), Switzerland, and Germany (Cologne and Berlin).

I worked for travel agency before and I would like to give you back some my comments and guide about some countries I have been there already but not much, just briefly.

Enjoy your time here at my blog and thank you for visiting my blog!

Phuong