Top 10 Things To See And Do In Tiergarten

A moving memorial to a tragedy; a reminder of a nation’s past. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews shows another side of Germany’s past, which makes architect Peter Eisenman’s work poignant. It is paired with the Place of Informationa museum documenting the names and history of the victims. The slabs of unmarked concrete are reminiscent of graves and the undulating waves of paths between Eisenmann’s design create a sense of unease and disorientation.

Although located in the heart of Potsdamer Platz, the Film and TV museum will quickly transport you to the many worlds created on-screen. Relatively quiet for being part of the Sony center, this museum takes you on a tour of the history of German film: from the earliest silent shorts through Metropolis and the work of Marlene Dietrich, to costumes of the 80s, showcasing German history through the lens. Carefully and creatively curated, the museum captures the magic of the story of film.

The historical monument at the heart of the park, Siegessäule was designed in 1864 to commemorate the Prussion victory in the Prussian-Danish War. By the time the construction was finished, Prussia had defeated both Austria and France as well so the monument’s design was altered to feature the bronze sculpture of Victoria atop the column. A Berlin landmark, it is frequently part of the route for marches and parades, such as the Christopher Street Day (Pride) March every year. Take a quick hike up the 270 steps to the top of the column for a beautiful view of the city.

Constructed between 1884 and 1894 after the founding of the German Empire, the Reichstag remains the focal landmark of the country. Disliked and disregarded by both Kaiser Wilhelm I and II, at the heart of the still-mysterious fire of 1933 to its damage during World War II, the Reichstag has often been a sign of the turbulent and divided German history. After the reunification, the reparation and glass dome, echoing the structure of the pre-WWII Reichstag, was designed by Norman Foster and completed in 1999. A free tour of the Reichstag dome climbs up a helical ramp through the structure, looking out over the city, as the monuments and features of the city are pointed out along the way.