Whether you’re hosting visitors in Berlin or traveling to Berlin yourself with your loved ones, we’ll help you be the perfect tour guide with genuinely interesting facts —and show off a little with your knowledge . Starting with choosing the date for your visit and great insider tips for the weekend.
Get ready to become the ultimate Berlin sightseeing guide!
Show-off at the Brandenburg Gate: Napoleon and the Retourkutsche
When Napoleon conquered Berlin in 1806, hesimply packedup the goddess of peace, Eirene , from the Brandenburg Gate — much to the horror of the Berliners—and had her shipped to Paris. It wasn’t until eight years later that the Prussians brought her back as the goddess of victory, Victoria, following their victory over Napoleon. The Berliners nicknamed the horse-drawn carriage the “Retourkutsche” at the time .
The original statue was almost completely destroyed during World War II. There was even talk of replacing it with a statue of Picasso’s dove of peace! The last genuine remnant, a horse’s head, can be found in the Märkisches Museum. But in 1942, a plaster cast of the original was made. With its help, the statue was recast and now once again towers over the Brandenburg Gate!
Showing off at Alexanderplatz: The TV Tower and “The Pope’s Revenge”
In divided Germany, the Alex was the flagship of the GDR and thus also a symbol of atheism. But the tower played a trick on the party. When the sun shines on the tower’s stainless steel dome, the light reflects in the shape of a giant cross. Immediately, the mocking name “the Pope’s revenge” began to circulate.
Internal Stasi documents reveal extensive correspondence on how to remove the cross. They even came up with other mocking names themselves, just to erase this one name. But to no avail. The architect behind the design, Hermann Henselmann, took it in stride: it wasn’t a cross, but a “plus sign for socialism.”
Bragging in West Berlin: This mountain didn’t used to be there.
Teufelsberg is a great viewpoint, but it’s completely man-made. The overgrown area consists of around 75 million cubic meters of rubble from World War II. Beneath it lies a dark secret: the ruins of the Faculty of Military Technology, a megalomaniacal project of the Nazis. They simply covered it with rubble from the destroyed city. During the Cold War, the Americans used the hill as a listening post.
Double Surprise in the Meistersaal: This is where David Bowie found the inspiration for “Heroes”—and you can experience live music!
In the 70s and 80s, the Meistersaal became known worldwide as Studio 2 of the Hansa recording studios. This is where David Bowie recorded his legendary album “Heroes” . The title track was inspired by a couple Bowie saw kissing in the shadow of the Wall from the window of the Meistersaal. U2 produced their smash hit “One” here . Other big names who recorded here include Depeche Mode, Iggy Pop, R.E.M., and Nick Cave.
Surprise your audience with a trip to the Meistersaal. At a Candeligh concert , you can admire the hall in all its splendor and bring its musical legacy to life!
Show off a little in the back alleys of Mitte: Here you stroll through Berlin’s hidden history
We recommend: A tour through the back alleys of Mitte. Yes, it sounds touristy at first, BUT: Not if you start at the Hackesche Höfe; from there, you’ll end up right in the Rosenhöfe, then head to the Heckmann-Höfe (right next to the New Synagogue, Oranienburger Straße S-Bahn station), wander over to the Sophie-Gips-Höfe, and for the grand finale, visit the beautiful courtyard of the Sophiensäle. You can’t get more courtyard than that!
Here are a few fun facts: The Hackesche Höfe are organized by function. The courtyards are divided into culture, work, and living. The Sophie-Gips-Höfe once housed the factory of the world-famous Singer sewing machines! Today , you’ll find the “Hoffmann Collection” there , one of Berlin’s most significant private art collections. Although the collection is private, you can book exclusive tours here. Finally, the inner courtyard of the former craftsmen’s association building, the Sophiensäle. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg gave speeches here, and the Spartacus League was co-founded here in 1919.
