All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner!“    John F. Kennedy, 1963

Germany’s capital city has a vibrant cultural and art scene. It has overcome its difficult past with resiliency and grace — preserving iconic landmarks and not forgetting lessons taught by history. It is nine times bigger than Paris, has more waterways than Venice, three UNESCO World Heritage sites, its own beer, its own snack and its own doughnut! How about it? Ready for GetAway Travel to make you a Berliner?

Hit the island for some museum time

 Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site with five world-class museums encompassing 6,000 years of history and art. Museum Island, or Spree Island, is in the heart of Berlin between the River Spree and Spree Canal. It is easily accessible.

With five museums to choose from, you can pick your art interests. One of the museums, the Pergamonmuseum, is closed until 2027 for renovations. But there are plenty of options in the other four.

The Altes Museum was built by order of King Frederick William III and its considered a major example of German Neo-classical architecture. Here you can find Greek antiquities Fromm the 10th to the First century. There’s early portraits of Caesar and Cleopatra, stone sculptures, vases, craft objects, jewelry, gemstones, coins, urns and tablets.

The Neues Museum building is a blend of old and new. Heavily damaged during WWII, the remains were used in the new construction. There are bullet holes, chipped paint and the ceilings are partially destroyed. The Egyptian collection, including the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti are housed here. Included in the 9,000 objects are a burial chamber from Egypt dating back to around 2500 BC, art, artifacts, statues, vessels and manuscripts.

Art from the period of the French Revolution and WWI are in the Alte Nationalgalerie museum. Browse among paintings done by Adolph Menzel, Sabine Lepsius, Dora Hitz, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas and Cézanne.

The Bode-Museum is renowned for its Byzantine art and coin collection. There are glazed terracottas by Luca della Robbia and masterworks by Donatello da Settignano.

The Humboldt Forum is also on Museum Island. Originally built as an imperial palace in the 15th century, it now has exhibits dedicated to human history, arts and culture.

Many of the artifacts are displayed in context. The Berlin Global exhibit examines Berlin’s impact on the world referencing categories such as entertainment, revolution and fashion. A Nature Exhibit looks at the interplay of climate change and democracy around the world.

More museums, historic sites, palaces

Charlottenburg Palace was build in 1699 as a summer retreat for Sophie Charlotte, wife of King Fredrich I. The massive, multi-wing Baroque style structure as damaged in WWII and then restored and rebuilt through several decades. The reconstructed rooms feature ornate plasterwork, gilding, frescoes, all from original designs. There are priceless collections of silver, crown jewels and royal porcelain. The 18th century paintings include works from French masters. The gardens are fabulous. Designed in English and French styles, there are fountains, ponds, tree-lined paths and hedges.

The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most famous monuments. The Neo-classical arch is the only one of 14 that remains in the city. About a block from the arch is the Holocaust Memorial or the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The maze of 2,711 concrete blocks is a stark, modernistic, abstract reminder of the 2.6 million Jews who were victims of the Nazis. There is a museum/information center at the memorial.

The Berlin Wall Memorial is an indoor/outdoor museum and memorial. The one-mile stretch along Bernaur Strasse is an open air exhibit that includes photographs, signs and a preserved piece of the original wall. One of the original watchtowers is there and an indoor center has exhibits chronicling the historical and political events around the wall. The East Side Gallery is also a wall memorial. The stretch of Berlin Wall runs parallel to the Spree River. The concrete canvas has murals from 118 artists from 21 different countries.

The Berlin Cathedral is a 19th century church that fronts the Spree River on Museum Island. It is one of the largest religious landmarks in the city. The Protestant church is a mix of Italian, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles. The cathedral’s most striking feature is the 374-foot high dome topped with a gilded cross.

Entertainment, snacks, etc.

 The Mauerpark Flea Market is located in Wall Park, The largest and best outdoor market in the city gets going every Sunday. Visitors can buy anything and everything there and also enjoy jugglers, have a picnic and participate in the giant karaoke party at Bearpit Karaoke.

Speaking of shopping, Berlin is home to Europe’s largest department store, KaDeWe.

The Berghain used to be a power station. This gigantic warehouse draws techno music fans from all over the world for three-day pulse-pounding music extravaganzas every weekend.

Tiergarten is a 519-acre oasis of green that used to be a royal hunting ground. Now its a series of lakes, bike paths, English gardens and the very romantic beer garden, Café am Neuen See. The Berlin Zoo is here and there’s a great panda exhibit.

Prater Garten is Berlin’s oldest beer gardens. Sit at the communal tables or benches, people watch and enjoy a bratwurst, Bavarian pretzel and, of course, a beer. Bratwurst is ordered either spicy or standard.

Berlin has its own specialty beer, Berliner Weiße, this slightly sour brew is made with wheat and barley. It has a high acid content and can be served with a shot of either raspberry or woodruff syrup.

Currywurst is a Berlin snack with a cult following. Get it at restaurants or from street vendors. The fried sausage is sliced, doused with tomato sauce, dusted with curry powder and served with bread or a roll. There is a vegan option.

If you are a late-night snacker, there are 1,000 kiosks around the city that dispense food, snacks and beverages.

Ooooh, pretzels, warm, golden brown served plain or with coarse salt. They are also served with cheese sauce, sesame seeds and even sunflower seeds.

Then there’s the Pfannkuchen. This sweet, yeasty beauty of a filled doughnut is known as a Berliner or Krapfen in the rest of Germany. Topped with powdered sugar, the pfannkuchen can be filled with chocolate creme, but is most often filled with marmalade.

Ready to “be a Berliner?” The travel advisors at GetAway Travel can help you with that! We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel