Charlottenburg Palace stands as one of the oldest landmarks in the district that shares its name. More than a grand residence, it is the original spark that led to the creation of Charlottenburg as a city. The palace’s presence drew people, trade, and culture to the area, shaping a new urban center around its gardens and courtyards.
The palace began as a royal retreat and quickly became a symbol of power and taste. As craftsmen, merchants, and workers settled nearby to serve the growing court, streets and neighborhoods formed in its shadow. Over time, what started as an estate evolved into a town, and later a thriving district of Berlin.
Charlottenburg Palace is known for its Baroque and later Rococo elements, with a central dome that rises above formal gardens laid out in geometric patterns. Inside, gilded halls, mirrored galleries, and richly decorated rooms reflect changing artistic styles across centuries. Outside, the landscaped park connects fountains, statues, and tree-lined paths, creating a calm contrast to the city beyond.
The site has witnessed major turns in Berlin’s history, from royal ceremonies to wartime damage and careful restoration. Each restoration step aimed to preserve original details while making the complex accessible to the public. Today, its museums and galleries display art, decorative objects, and historic furnishings that trace the story of the palace and the people who shaped it.
The palace grounds host exhibitions, seasonal markets, and cultural events that draw visitors and locals alike. Gardens open for strolls, guided tours, and educational programs link past and present, keeping the palace at the center of community life—just as it was when Charlottenburg first began to grow around it.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Charlottenburg
Arguably the most beautiful bridge in Berlin and the only connection between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. As signage on the bridge indicates, it was built twice - once in the 1890s and once in the 1990s. Before reunification the border ran where the bridge now is.
Specializes in 19th-century painting and sculpture; Monet, Manet, Cézanne, C. David Friedrich and other important 18th- and 19th-century artists are well-represented.
The former Imperial General Post Office, now Museum for telecommunication and post with many interesting historical objects.
Experience the Stasi Secret Police Prison first-hand. Tours are compulsory. Some of the tours are done by former inmates.
A man-made hill of about 120 m in the Grunewald, created after the Second World War from debris of the city. On top is the Field Station Berlin, a former US listening station. Inside the building complex you can see lots of graffiti art. The hill can be accessed without any restrictions and is free; however, the building complex is surrounded by fences and requires a ticket (tours are available as well).
House museum on Max Liebermann, German painter and printmaker. Has about 15 Lieberman paintings.
This museum describes the procedures applied by the East German secret police. Every Friday to Monday, there is a guided tour in English at 15:00 (5€).
The main street of former East Berlin. It is a big avenue, featuring neoclassical East German buildings, fountains and lakes.
Built 1859-1866 this is one of the most architecturally stunning synagogues in Germany to survive both the Nazi era and the war.
A beautiful landscape of water canals and vegetation with charming little fish restaurants.
It is the only hemp museum in Germany; you can see the history of hemp, the culture and use of it. You can see hemp grow. There is a cafe downstairs, with an open WiFi access. Everything going on here is legal - including the hemp growing under artificial light (a low THC strain grown with a special permit) - but they do not refrain from political commentary on the legal situation of cannabis in their exhibits.
The main floor houses the antiquities collection in an ongoing exhibit called "Neue Antike im Alten Museum" (New Antiquities in the Old Museum). Directly through the front door, entering from the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden, now under reconstruction), there is a domed rotunda with red and white cameos, Greek-style, with statues of the gods. To reach the Hildesheim silver collection, go to the back of the rotunda, turn left, walk through the long gallery and turn left into a small room at the end.
Take a stroll for a few kilometers along this canal which runs right through the heart of Kreuzberg. It's peaceful and mostly traffic-free, but full of life in summer. Some parts are lined with bars and restaurants with terraces. Sit on a bench or terrace and watch the world go by on a summer evening.
This chapel was built on the site of a church built in 1894 which sat on the "death strip" and was thus blown up by the GDR authorities in 1985. The chapel is the site of occasional memorial services for victims of the wall.