Berlin’s tourism and convention industry contributes to its diversity, quality of life, and attractiveness, as well as being the largest peace movement in the world. It brings people together, educates, makes the city more colorful, secures jobs, and nourishes the Visitor Economy players. Berlin is known for its Cold War history and is filled with museums and an artistic atmosphere. Berlin is on the way to becoming a smart city destination, with visitBerlin developing a tourism data hub for the city.
To visit Berlin, consider traveling at off-peak times, getting inspired by innovation and sustainability, arriving relaxed by train, staying at sustainable hotels, using public transport, and being safe. Berlin’s unique character, fascinating history, and low prices make it an ideal destination for tourists. The city has a vibrant cultural scene, good public transport, both urban and lovely nature, fantastic restaurants, and quirky bars. Berlin’s rise to prominence as a tourist destination since the city’s reunification has been extraordinary, and the UNWTO has returned to ITB Berlin with a clear message: tourism is back and committed to delivering positive change that goes beyond the sector itself.
The Berlin Tourism Plan Concept for modern, sustainable, and city-compatible tourism in Berlin is based on post-tourism demands and infrastructure to understand how Berlin’s city policies and marketing efforts are physically altering the urban environment. Berlin is a diverse, multicultural city with affordable alcohol, food, and accommodation. Germany leads the way in reducing absolute emissions in the Travel and Tourism Sector, with an average GDP growth of 1.5 annually while greenhouse gas emissions remain high.
📹 Berlin: Where You Can Still See the Traces of the Second World War @Alemanizando
Traces of the Second World War are still visible in Berlin today. The most prominent example is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial …
Why is Germany best for tourism?
Germany is renowned for its tourism due to its favorable vacation conditions, including magnificent mountain ranges, lake and river scenes, North and East Sea coasts, numerous cultural monuments, and well-developed infrastructure. Many visitors prioritize visiting Germany’s famous cities, picture-perfect villages, and attending spectacular events. Bavaria is the most popular tourist destination in Germany, with 100 million overnight stays in 2019.
Germany is a popular vacation destination among Germans, with most visitors coming from Germany itself. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA rank next. When traveling to or within Germany, the majority of people seek history, culture, and natural beauty. Metropolitan cities like Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg offer spectacular sights and art experiences, while active holidaymakers prefer the Bavarian Alps, Black Forest, and Rhine Valley for real action.
Why is Berlin so popular?
Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is known for its diverse landmarks, vibrant cultural scene, and relaxed way of life. The city is characterized by striking contrasts between historical and modern architecture, with landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Chancellor’s Office showcasing the nation’s history. Berlin is also home to the main government buildings, including the Reichstag building, which serves as the German parliament’s seat.
Over 170 museums showcase precious artefacts from around the world, some of which can be found on the internationally renowned Museum Island. Berlin is a popular destination for classical music enthusiasts, with leading orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic and three large opera houses offering spectacular performances. Theatre venues specialize in variety performances, revues, cabarets, and more. Shopaholics can find their element on the renowned Kurfürstendamm, elegant Friedrichstraße, and independent boutiques around the Hackesche Höfe.
Berlin is a trendsetting city in music, art, and life, with artists from around the world flocking to the city for inspiration. The city is constantly changing, making it an exciting destination in Europe.
Why are tourists attracted to Germany?
Germany is a popular destination for travelers seeking history, culture, and natural beauty. Major cities like Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg offer spectacular sights and art experiences, while active holidaymakers enjoy exploring the Bavarian Alps, Black Forest, and Rhine Valley. Tourists typically travel to Germany by car, train, or flying into major cities. Despite Covid-19 restrictions, international travel is possible in Germany and most other European countries, but certain rules must be followed, especially if coming from high-risk areas. Travelers can continue their journey by bus or train from their destination.
What is the tourism strategy of Germany?
The national tourism strategy in Germany aims to increase domestic value added, improve the quality of life for German citizens, and foster international stability. The strategy is based on a two-stage concept, with the Federal Government and partners from commerce, policy-making, and administration drafting principles. The government then formulates strategic goals for tourism policy, which future initiatives should focus on.
The strategy will be developed through intensive dialogue, with specific measures and recommendations for action by stakeholders in the tourism sector. The key principles of the national tourism strategy can be found in German.
What are 5 positive effects of tourism?
Tourism has a significant impact on a destination’s economy, generating revenue, creating jobs, and stimulating economic growth. Tourists spend on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment, generating income for local businesses and residents. Tourism can also create jobs in areas struggling economically, such as hospitality, tour guides, souvenir vendors, and tour operators. Infrastructure development, such as roads and airports, can stimulate further job creation.
Additionally, tourism preserves cultural heritage, promotes cultural exchange, and provides opportunities for education and personal growth. By fostering understanding and respect for different cultures, tourism promotes peace and harmony.
Is Berlin a good tourist destination?
Berlin is a popular tourist destination in Germany, but it’s best to travel during off-peak times to enjoy cooler weather, smaller crowds, and lower prices. The city is busy during the summer season from June to September, but visiting during these times can be more affordable. Oktoberfest and Christmas are also busy, so unless you’re willing to endure crowds and long waits, other times of the year are better. It’s also advisable to book tickets or make reservations for major attractions, such as the Reichstag, as they are popular and can be difficult to find after arrival.
What are the benefits of tourism in Berlin?
Berlin’s tourism sector has been a significant success story since the 1990s, contributing €11. 6 billion to the city’s economy and providing 235, 000 full-time jobs. The sector is strategically important for the city’s development and the quality of life for its residents. In 2022, Berlin was one of the 30 most sustainable destinations in the world and ranked fifth among the world’s metropolises, according to the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
The Index evaluates four areas: urban environmental strategy and infrastructure, social sustainability performance of the city, support for suppliers, and destination management strategies and initiatives. Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, stated that sustainability is a core concern for Berlin, and its ranking in the international sustainability ranking demonstrates its progress as a climate-friendly, innovative destination worth living in. Berlin is working to ensure that its visitor economy continues to set its course for the future, demonstrating the importance of sustainable tourism strategies in today’s global travel landscape.
Does Berlin rely on tourism?
A 2023 study revealed that travel and tourism’s direct contribution to Berlin’s GDP was projected to reach approximately 6. 6 billion euros in 2022, representing a notable increase in comparison to the initial two years of the global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Nevertheless, this figure has yet to reach the levels observed prior to the pandemic. The figures are based on constant 2021 prices and exchange rates as of November 2022.
Why is Berlin so special?
Berlin is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage, making it a popular destination for visitors. It is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the famous Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Prussian palaces and gardens, and modernist housing estates. Berlin is also the only city in the world to host three opera houses, the Deutsche Oper, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, and the Komische Oper, which can accommodate over 4, 700 spectators. Berlin has over 150 theatres and stages of all genres, with 3 million tickets sold in 2023.
The Gemäldegalerie at the Kulturforum, inaugurated in 1998, houses many collections, including the painting collections of the Bode-Museum and the former Gemäldegalerie in Dahlem. With around 290 galleries dedicated to classical modern and contemporary art, Berlin is the top location for galleries in Europe. The world’s largest universal museum, the James-Simon-Galerie, connects four of the five buildings on the Museumsinsel.
The Pergamonmuseum is currently undergoing a complete renovation, with the north wing and middle section being modernized, followed by the south wing. In 2027, the north wing with the Pergamon Altar will be on display again as the first completed construction phase.
In 2023, 14. 2 million people from Germany and abroad visited Berlin’s museums, exhibitions, and memorials, particularly the Berlin Wall Memorial and the memorial site “Topography of Terror”. Berlin also has offbeat museums, such as the Lipstick Museum, the Schwules Museum, the Hemp Museum, and the Buchstabenmuseum (Museum of Letters). The East Side Gallery, the longest open-air gallery in the world, is the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, painted in 1990 by 118 artists from 21 countries with 106 pieces of art.
Berlin hosts about 50 film festivals every year, with 99 cinema halls, making it the maximum number in a single city across Germany. The Berlinale, one of the most popular film festivals in Europe, will be 75 years old in 2025 and draws around 20, 000 trade visitors and journalists from 132 countries every year. The Berlinale stands out due to its huge public participation, with cinema fans from Germany and abroad buying around 330, 000 tickets in 2024.
Berlin is a sought-after setting for international films and series, with notable filming locations like Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) serving as the backdrop for six Edgar Wallace films. The 20th Festival of Lights, held in October, illuminates Berlin landmarks in a different light, using energy-saving LED technology.
In summary, Berlin is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage, making it an ideal destination for visitors. The city’s diverse museums, museums, and special events make it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.
Berlin is the largest and greenest metropolis in Germany, covering around 30% of its total area of 892 square kilometers. The city is home to 2, 500 parks and green spaces, with over 71, 000 gardens within the city. The Spree is the longest river in the city, while the Teltow Canal is the longest canal at 29 kilometers. Visitors can explore Berlin on an excursion boat, which offers various tours and activities.
The largest lake in Berlin is the Großer Müggelsee, with a surface area of almost 7. 6 square kilometers. Berlin’s second highest elevation, the 120-meter-high Teufelsberg, is made of rubble, with 26 million cubic meters of rubble piled up after the war. The tallest tree in Berlin is a Beech tree planted in Tegeler Forst in 1843, reaching 43. 15 meters and a diameter of 96 centimetres. The Tegeler Forst is a forest of superlatives and is home to the oldest tree, a pedunculate oak estimated to be 800 to 900 years old.
Berlin is home to the largest Chinese garden in Europe, part of the Marzahn Recreationa Park, along with other gardens, including Balinese, Japanese, Korean, and Oriental gardens, an Italian Renaissance garden, a perennial garden, a Christian garden, an English landscape garden, a Jewish garden, and a maze. Berlin is also home to two zoos, the Tierpark Berlin in Friedrichsfelde, and the Zoologischer Garten with its aquarium. The zoo locations hold many records, with around 30, 000 animals and a combined population unmatched anywhere in the world in terms of diversity and rarity.
The Berlin Zoo is home to the only panda bears in Germany, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, who have been living in the panda garden built especially for them since 2017. Berlin is known as the “place to go for gourmets”, with 21 restaurants awarded Michelin stars, surpassing Munich and Hamburg. Six restaurants in the German capital excel in sustainability, using regional and seasonal products, avoiding long transport routes, and paying attention to species-appropriate animal husbandry and energy conservation.
The most famous pastry in Berlin is the Berliner Weiße, a fizzy, slightly sour beer made with a blend of wheat and barley malt and fermented in the bottle. Berlin also has more than 60 vegan and vegetarian restaurants, with new restaurants, snack bars, cafés, and pubs popping up all the time. Additionally, there is a vegan sex shop in the German capital.
Why is Berlin a tourist attraction?
Berlin is a popular destination for museums, with Museum Island being the most well-known complex, featuring five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Pergamon Museum is the most visited in Germany. Berlin has around 175 museums in total, including the Deutsches Technikmuseum, Jewish Museum, Natural History Museum, Stasi Museum, Topography of Terror Museum, and German History Museum. To explore more museums, a Welcome Card may be a good choice.
Why Germany is best for tourism?
Germany is renowned for its tourism due to its favorable vacation conditions, including magnificent mountain ranges, lake and river scenes, North and East Sea coasts, numerous cultural monuments, and well-developed infrastructure. Many visitors prioritize visiting Germany’s famous cities, picture-perfect villages, and attending spectacular events. Bavaria is the most popular tourist destination in Germany, with 100 million overnight stays in 2019.
Germany is a popular vacation destination among Germans, with most visitors coming from Germany itself. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA rank next. When traveling to or within Germany, the majority of people seek history, culture, and natural beauty. Metropolitan cities like Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg offer spectacular sights and art experiences, while active holidaymakers prefer the Bavarian Alps, Black Forest, and Rhine Valley for real action.
📹 Berlin Map – EXPLAINED
Leave a comment with any questions you have and we’ll make sure to include it in a future video. Make sure to subscribe to the …
My father was a lifer in the USAF, and I lived in West Berlin as a young child, 1961-62. We arrived just three months after “The Wall” went up in August of ’61. I should say it wasn’t much of a wall when I saw it in Nov-Dec, just a crude stack of concrete cinder blocks, and very brief. Most of “The Wall” was thick rolls of barbed-wire and mine-laden fields. It took awhile for “The Wall” to become a full-fledged wall. Every school day, my older sister and I would walk past what was once a church, destroyed by Allied Bombers in WWII, and left in a heap of rubble with a plaque to commemorate. We walked past it twice a day; once going to school, then again returning home. It was not the Kaiser-Wilhelm ~ too small. However, it had a haunt to it that left a huge impact on this 6-year-old, each time I walked by it. We lived a lot of places on this planet, compliments of the USAF ~ some incredible places I’ll never forget ~ but none come even close to West Berlin in 1961-62 for intensity.
We have many buildings in London also bearing scars from bomb damage. The shrapnel damage is unmistakable and it’s nice it’s been left, it gives us a permanent reminder of the struggles of yesteryears. I’d love to visit Berlin, I know several people who’ve been and they say it’s a fascinating place. The huge flak tower is a truly superb structure and is something I have on my bucket list for the future. Thank you for your very informative post. Berlin….I’m coming to visit!!!! ❤️🇬🇧🇩🇪
I lived and worked at Templhof Airport for 10 months in 1985. It was very interesting to explore the interior of such a massive building structure. I also was able to go into East Berlin five times. Such a difference than West Berlin. It was like walking into a black and white movie. I have always wanted to return and match the photos I took with the same modern day place.
I served in Berlin as a U.S. Army bandsman from 1983 – 1991. Saw the Wall come down. Potsdamer Platz, at the time, was bisected by the Wall. It has been massively restored in a modern style. Yes, the Soviets waged a brutal campaign in the last weeks of the war with many killed on both sides. I remember well a Christmas concert I played in the NEW Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche (located next to the restored church) in about 1984 or 1985. The blue lighting offered a remarkable ambience.
Thank you so much for posting this article. I an American, but my family is from the United Kingdom and Deutschland. I am proud of my heritage from both sides of my family. I am a boomer, but I have a direct relation to both sides of the 2nd world war within my family. I have been to the region of the UK where my father was from, but I have never been to the region of Germany where my mother was raised. They have both since passed away, and my mother was always silent when it came to speaking about her home land. It saddens me to know that her shame of her former country lived throughout her entire adult life. I would love to visit Deutschland und Osterreich and visit Kitzbuhel (where my mother’s family originates, their nachname ist Kitz). Sorry for my broken German, es ist nicht mein muttersprache.
I visited Kiel and Lubeck back in the 70,s when I was 18 in the Royal Navy – people were friendly but still had that sense that our country had inflicted( as Germany had) great damage & destruction on their country. I am hoping to visit Berlin with my son next year so really appreciated this interesting insight into Berlins architecture.
The blue stained glass in the modern church beside Kaiser Wilhelm kirche is by the late Gabriel Loire. It creates a space of beauty that invites awe and contemplation. I first saw it in the 1980s and it stayed with me for life. I have visited many times. I believe, after seeing his work at Salisbury Cathedral, that Loire had an anti-war sensibility and a passion for peace.
My father was a Flight Engineer on a B-17 bomber in the 306th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Corp as it was known back then…not yet Air Force. One of the missions he was a part of was to Berlin. He also took part in one of the Schweinfurt missions as well as many others. I’m lucky to be here as so many bombers didn’t return. He passed away July 4th, 1995. I am now only ten years shy of my father’s age at passing, much older than that young man who took part in that terrible world war. It was a war that wasn’t supposed to happen due to the war to end all wars also in Europe 1914-1918, demonstrating man’s inability to avoid mistakes of the past from generation to generation it seems. I feel confident my then young father went to war to stop Hitler’s Nazi armies and end the war so he could hopefully make it home and go on with his life. Many of Europe’s cities were in ruins at wars end, with millions of shattered life’s! This article depicts the present while also looking through a window of a not too distant and violent past. Democracy is fragile, and lessons from the past fade, and given the right circumstances, people can be manipulated and lose sight.
American perusal from the State of Rhode Island in the U.S.-thanks for the interesting post guys-scores of people around the world have wondered endlessly how one person-Hitler-could influence so many people to do so many bad things-myself included-it is beyond impressive however-how shamed and vigilant Germany has been since to not repeat that. Peace guys. 😇
I visited Berlin in 1993 and the most striking thing that I remember was walking down a Street and noticing buildings on one side were old and worn out and on the other side the buildings were well kept. On either side of street, the buildings were old and basically from the same Pre-war Period. There was no trace of the Wall, but you knew one side was East Berlin and the other side was the West.
I was an Army brat living in Neckarrems in the early ’60’s. I went back in 1989 and 1990. About the time of reunification I went into East Berlin. I came out of the Alexander Platz and saw a Greek style building with a bunch of small holes all over it. Saw a lot of things that were damaged. Loved living there as a kid. Loved being an adult traveling there so I could really enjoy it.
Interesting article. I was there in 1991 with my Dad.. It sure looks different. My I’m only 56 my Dad was born in 1919. Both my parents and their family survived the War in the Netherlands. My Dad took me to 9 countries by Eurail and ship. We also stopped in Dresden . The Russians left not long before. All I saw left of the old city was the church and the railway station that’s amazing after the fire bombing. The railway usually got th brunt of a lot of air raids.
Great article it’s very sad that so many People and Beautiful places have been destroyed It just gets me how someone could even bring themselves to destroy even a human life during the WW2 so Many people not just the Jewish people but many others the one story of Ann Frank first time I ever seen that movie i cried but I am very thankful her story was told i think our school’s in the United States should teach the truth about what happened during WW2 and the truth about slavery and the truth about everything that happened to the native American people 😢 ❤ Great article last few I’ve come across I’ve really liked ❤ keep up the amazing work
“…After the war, much of this massive structure was covered in rubble, and today most of it is covered in trees.” And graffiti, unfortunately. According to Wikipedia, modern graffiti originated in the 1960s and 70s in NYC and Philidelphia. One part of American culture that I wish hadn’t spread throughout the world.
You can see what Berlin looked like from the air in 1946 in the movie, A Foreign Affair directed by Billy Wilder. In the 1920s, The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church got the nickname “Taufhaus des Westens” (baptism emporium), an irreverent pun on the then nearby Kaufhaus des Westens (KdW). Berliners like to invent mocking names for important buildings.
Just a short comment: The Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche was not completely destroyed to the remains, which are visible today, but the damaged main nave was demolished after the war, as many ruins were in the years post ’45 in all allied sectors and both sides of the iron curtain. In architecture the remnants of the old Germany and Prussia were seen as the source for the developments towards the third Reich. So a new, modern architecture was not always keen to preserve damaged buildings of the past. Still, the amount of destruction in the center was huge.
My mom in high school got a penpal from Germany. When the wall went up he was on the East German side. Up until the early 70’s they were still able to write each other, then nothing. We had no idea what happened. After the wall came down he was able to make contact with mom by phone again. We found out later he got a job with the Soviet in the 70’s he was afraid of going to jail if they learned about his correspondence with mom. Later he came to the USA for a visit then my parents went to Germany. At that time she was surprised to see how modern the west looked compared to the battle damaged east side. There pen pal relationship lasted over 50 years before death ended it. 🙏🏻
I visited Budapest in the early 1970s and was accompanied by a tour guide who had taken part in the 1956 Hungarian uprising against the Soviets. She showed us the damage from fighting with the Red Army. Now Hungarians have elected a president who is opposed to supporting Ukraine, which is now in the same position as Hungarians were then. So what have they learned from history?
And there is a little village in France empty of people where you can see see the place the remaining old men and teenage boys were shot and the women and children were locked in the church which was set alight by the German army. There are many other places across Europe where you can see evidence of WWI & WWII.
We the indian subcontinent people are thanful to Churchill as well for ending the golden era of British Empire by continuing the fight against Germans after the Fall of France. Should Churchill heard Lord Halifax and like minded opinion to accept Hitler’s proposal of peace after Fall of France then British Empire would have been saved (and unfortunately in that case we the Indian subcontinent people would still be a colony of British Raj). Churchill is a blessing in disguise for Indian subcontinent that it ruined and ended the golden Era of British Empire.
Rebuilt using a modern aesthetic. You mean boring and ugly in comparison. The best example of this is the rebuilt Stadtschloss in Berlin. They painstakingly rebuild three of its magnificent baroque facades, but the fourth side is boring, modern rectangles and squares with no adornment. It just looks like they ran out of money
I hope you don’t think only Berlin has battle scars? There are areas of the UK that also have preserved damage from the extremely hostile actions of Germany during WW2. Don’t overlook who started WW2 and, brought that retribution upon Germany. In the end he was nothing but a coward who didn’t even have the courage to face the consequences of his actions.
I totally understand and completely condemn Nazism in any racism but it is kind of sad that Germany as a nation cannot even mourn or memorialize the regular troops who were simply just doing their duty or the defenders of Berlin that were civilians not responsible for any type of racial crime. There is many people within the German military of that time that did not take part in war crimes nor agreed with them. Germany as a whole is forced to feel this collective guilt for stuff that happened almost a hundred years ago and again cannot even acknowledge or memorialize any of the Germans that died back then without being called racist
As a kid in 76 I first saw the Kaiser Wilhem and it was just covered in bullet holes tank holes and everything else one could imagine. It sent home to me for the first time how world war 2 was the worst thing that happened in the 20th century. When I went back in 85 the bullet holes and all the scars from the past that had supposedly been the reason the church was left to remind us of had all been covered up and filled in.