10 Must-Visit Historic Landmarks in Berlin

Untold Story: Beyond being a symbol of reunification, the gate has witnessed Napoleon’s army march into Berlin and its Quadriga statue (the chariot on top) was once stolen by the French. The statue, which is an allegory for peace, was turned into a symbol of victory during Napoleon’s reign.

Untold Story: Many know of the wall that once divided a nation, but few know about the ‘death strip’ – a no man’s land equipped with watchtowers, mines, and guards ready to shoot defectors. Many brave souls risked everything to cross this treacherous strip.

Untold Story: An arson attack on the Reichstag in 1933 played a pivotal role in Hitler’s rise to power. The event led to the Reichstag Fire Decree, which curtailed civil liberties and made it easier for the Nazis to oppress their opponents.

Untold Story: This checkpoint, once a symbol of the Cold War division, now stands as a testament to freedom. An unknown fact is that during the Cuban Missile Crisis, American and Soviet tanks had a tense stand-off here that could’ve ignited a third world war.

Untold Story: Hidden beneath this vast field of concrete slabs is a place called the “Place of Information”. It holds the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims. The design of the slabs, each unique in size and height, is deliberately meant to disorient and isolate visitors, reflecting the emotions of Jews during WWII.

Untold Story: Amid the opulence of the palace lies a darker history. Sophie Charlotte, the palace’s namesake, died mysteriously at 36. Some whispers suggest foul play, while others claim she was the early victim of a smallpox vaccination.

Untold Story: During WWII, the cathedral suffered significant damage. As Berlin lay in ruins, this holy place was used as a pig sty by some locals to survive the tough post-war conditions.

Untold Story: This is the world’s longest open-air gallery, a stretch of the Berlin Wall covered in murals and graffiti. One lesser-known mural is Dmitri Vrubel’s “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love”, depicting an actual fraternal kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker.

Untold Story: What looks like a natural hill is actually a man-made one, constructed from the ruins of WWII. It hides a Nazi military-technical college beneath. During the Cold War, the US National Security Agency used it as a listening station.

Untold Story: This iconic airport turned park was once the lifeline during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49. An untold hero is Gail Halvorsen, a U.S. pilot who started dropping candy for the children, which led to other pilots doing the same, coining them the name “Candy Bombers.”