FREE THINGS TO DO IN Berlin

This is an ideal way to get to know Berlin, giving an overview of various sites which you may then choose to explore in further detail. There are several companies offering tours, but one that is completely free is offered by Sandeman’s New Europe. Meeting every day at the famous Brandenburg Gate (link), the three and a half hour walk takes in the Reichstag (link), the Holocaust Memorial, the recreated Checkpoint Charlie guarding the Wall, the Old Royal Boulevard (Unter den Linden) and many more. The tour finishes up at Museum Island where you can admire views of the twin cathedrals, followed by the Lustgarten - the old royal gardens.

While wandering around the city you will also travel back in time into the city’s varied history, including its darkest times as well as happier moments.

The walk is taken at a leisurely pace and includes a coffee break, so don’t worry if three and a half hours sounds a bit daunting.

A great way to get a flavour of the real Berlin and what makes it unique is to take an alternative tour. One such tour is operated by Alternative Berlin Tours, meeting three times daily. During the three hour duration, you will view the world famous street art and graffiti, see artist squats and multicultural neighbourhoods, a huge skatepark and alternative entertainment venue, urban farms, daytime raves, eclectic shops and flea markets in the summer. You can meet local artists and interesting characters.

All the guides are actively involved in the street art and entertainment scene, and are full of stories and knowledge of the places you will see. They can give recommendations on nightlife and other things. Tours are free - you tip what you feel your guide deserves. Although no booking is necessary, smaller groups are preferred so it’s best to phone ahead if you’re in a group of ten or more.

This expansive urban park in the centre of Berlin offers a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a wide variety of vegetation, from forested areas to open parkland popular for picnics, and monuments including statues and the restored Beethoven-Mozart-Haydn memorial. Allow a full day if you want to explore the whole of the park, as it covers a vast area of 520 acres. Cycling is a great way to get around.

Other features include Venus Lake where you can rent a paddleboat, a restaurant and bar with beer garden, and several playgrounds. Berlin Zoo is located at the south-eastern corner, housing over 15,000 animals. There is also the Victory Column, a 226-foot pillar of red granite topped by a golden statue of a goddess. It’s possible to ascend the column - quite a trek but one that is rewarded by stunning views of the park and city.

An iconic structure and one of the must-see sights of Berlin, this monumental gate, located at Pariser Platz, marks the start of the long tree-lined boulevard of Unter den Linden (link).

The neoclassical gate was built in the late 18th century, replacing an earlier city gate. It has had quite a turbulent history; it was significantly damaged during the Second World War, cut off from the rest of the city when the Berlin Wall was built, and was fully restored at the turn of the millennium. Since the fall of the Wall in 1989, it has become a symbol of unity and peace.

The Gate is topped by a sculpture, known as a quadriga, of the goddess of victory riding into the city to bring peace. There are many other carvings on the Gate’s passages representing classical myths, such as the labours of Hercules, which symbolise the struggles of the Prussian Wars at the time the Gate was built.

This striking memorial, located near the Brandenburg Gate (link), is in two parts. First, there is an above ground field of concrete blocks or stelae, of varying heights. Walking along the pathways between them is designed to produce a dark, confusing and foreboding atmosphere, evocative of the senseless tragedy of the Holocaust.

Then there is an underground information centre where you can find out more about the personal lives of the victims, including the opportunity to do computer research on family histories.

The memorial was opened in 2005, sixty years after the end of the Second World War, and has since proven very popular with locals as well as overseas visitors. It provides a space for reflection on one of the darkest episodes in history, and the underground area brings home just how many ordinary lives were shattered by this. Definitely worth a visit on any trip to Berlin

This is one of only a few remaining sections of the Berlin Wall, and features 105 paintings along its 1.3km length in the Mühlenstraße. It is thought to be the largest open air gallery in the world.

Painted in 1990, the works symbolise a move towards a brighter future in a united Germany. As a whole the Gallery is a fantastic profusion of colours and styles. Some of the most famous paintings include a kiss between the leaders of West and East Berlin by Dimitrji Vrubel and Birgit Kinder’s Trabi (Trabant) demolishing the Wall. It’s worth going to see what remains of the Gallery while you can, as a section was recently destroyed to make way for luxury apartments. However, in 2009, work started to renovate some of the paintings.

The Gallery stands as a symbol of freedom and liberation from oppression and definitely shouldn’t be missed on any trip to Berlin

One of the most distinctive tourist attractions in Berlin, this dome sits atop the German parliament building, and was installed following the fall of the Berlin Wall. It’s free to climb up to the dome, take in the fantastic views all around, and view the proceedings in the debating chamber down below. This symbolises the new transparency of the government, as opposed to the Cold War period, and puts the citizens above the government.

British architect Norman Foster won a competition to design the dome in 1993. It is intricately constructed, with a mirrored cone which directs sunlight into the building and lets visitors see what’s going on. Access is via two opposite spiralling steel ramps.

Although admission is free, it’s highly advisable to book in advance, which you can do on the website. Audioguides are available in ten languages, giving information on the Parliament Building, the workings of the government and the surrounding sights

This friendly farmer’s market takes place in one of Berlin’s most attractive squares every Thursday and Saturday and makes a great day out for the family. A wide range of produce is on offer including organic meats, fish, pasta, chocolates, sweets, as well as clothes stalls and arts and crafts. Things aren’t too expensive and are probably on a par with local supermarkets.

If you get hungry wandering around, there are many stalls selling delicious snacks such as kebabs, waffles and bratwurst, as well as fresh coffee and juice.

Kollwitzplatz itself is an upmarket area, refurbished following the fall of the Berlin Wall. There are numerous cafes and restaurants and even kids’ playgrounds in the square. The market fills up with visitors quickly in the summer, so a good tip is to either come early (from 9am) or visit the less congested Thursday market, which features locally produced olive oils, jams and honey.

Unter den Linden is a famous street running from the Lustgarten Park in the east to Brandenburg Gate (link) in the west. It is named after its iconic linden (lime trees) that populate the central grassed pedestrian section. These were first planted over 350 years ago.

You can see many historic sites and a lot of grand Prussian architecture as you stroll down the boulevard. Among these are the Berlin opera house and library, and the imposing Neue Wache, built after the defeat of Napoleon to house the royal guards. Nowadays it is the National Memorial for the Victims of War and Tyranny. The oldest building on the street is the German Historical Museum, built as the Zeughaus Arsenal between 1695 and 1706. There is also the large Humboldt University. Although the boulevard was devastated in World War II, it was sympathetically reconstructed in a neoclassical style. There are also several statues, most notably Friedrich II on horseback.

This street has gained a reputation as one of Berlin’s top spots for nightlife as well as a cultural centre with many art galleries.

Clärchen’s Ballroom is one of the iconic institutions of the street. Founded in 1913, it offers a taste of a different era where you can strut your stuff in the salsa, tango and swing evenings. Across the street is the Mitte Beach Bar, which offers as laidback an experience as you can get without a beach.

The Jewish School for Girls is a hub of art and culture, reopened in 2012 after a long period of standing empty. It includes the Fuchs Gallery, the Photo Gallery Camera Work, and restaurants where you can enjoy your food surrounded by the stylish twenties architecture.

There are also many tiny galleries, usually free of charge, that you can wander into and out of at will. Most consist of just one or two rooms, with frequently changing exhibitions