DK Travel : Berlin : Places of interest

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Nollendorfplatz

Nollendorfplatz and neighbouring Winterfeldtplatz are right in the centre of Schöneberg. The former square has always been a focal point for the gay scene in Berlin, and a plaque at U-Bahn station Nollendorfplatz commemorates approximately 5,000 homosexuals killed in concentration camps by the Nazis. Today, gay life is concentrated more in the surrounding streets. Before World War II, Nollendorfplatz was also a centre of entertainment. The Metropol-Theater, today a discotheque, then boasted Erwin Piscator as its innovative director. And next door lived the writer Christopher Isherwood, whose novel formed the basis of the famous musical “Cabaret”.
Oranienburger Straße

Like no other street, Oranienburger Straße, in the centre of the old Scheunenviertel, symbolizes the rise and fall of Jewish culture in Berlin. Traces of its Jewish past are visible all along the street, such as the Neue Synagoge and several Jewish cafés and restaurants (see Restaurants & Cafés) . Some 18th- and 19th-century buildings bear witness to the street’s former splendour – the Postfuhramt (see Central Berlin: Scheunenviertel) , for example, or the house at No. 71–72, built in 1789 by Christian Friedrich Becherer for the Grand Lodge of the Freemasons of Germany.
Oranienstraße

Oranienstraße is the heart of Kreuzberg. It is the wildest, most colourful and most unusual street of the district, where alternative shops and pubs jostle for space with doner kebab take-aways and Turkish greengrocers. All aspects of life and politics in Kreuzberg are centred around this road.
Postfuhramt

The richly ornamented Postfuhramt (post office transport department) dates back to the 19th century. It is now an exhibition hall for alternative photography and art shows and a centre for performance art.
Puppentheatermuseum

The small but excellent and inspirational Puppet Museum specializes in dolls and puppets. Children are allowed to perform their own puppet shows and have a go at being puppet theatre directors.
Reichstag

More than any other Berlin landmark, the Reichstag - seat of the German parliament – has come to symbolize German history (see Reichstag) .
Ritz-Carlton Berlin

The new Ritz-Carlton Berlin near Potsdamer Platz is an ultraluxurious gem hidden behind a modern façade reminiscent of New York’s Rockefeller Center. The lobby, with its marble columns and tons of gold leaf, is a stunning setting for the Curtain Club and the Desbrosses brasserie. Its rooms are sumptuously decorated, all decorated to Prussian Neo- Classical designs – there are even telescopes to enjoy the cityscape.
Savignyplatz

One of Berlin’s most attractive squares is right in the heart of Charlottenburg. Savignyplatz, named after a 19th-century German legal scholar, is the focal point of Charlottenburg’s reputation as a district for artists and intellectuals and as a trendy residential area for dining out and entertainment. The square has two green spaces, either side of Kantstraße. It was built in the 1920s as part of an effort to create parks in the centre of town. Small paths, benches and pergolas make it a pleasant place for a rest. Dotted all around Savignyplatz are restaurants, street cafés and shops, especially in Grolman-, Knesebeck-, and Carmerstraße, all three of which cross the square. Many a reveller has lost his way here after a night’s celebrating, which is why the area is jokingly known as the “Savignydreieck” (the Savigny Triangle). North of Savignyplatz it is worth exploring some of the most attractive streets in Charlottenburg – Knesebeck-, Schlüter- and Goethestraße. This is still a thriving Charlottenburg community; the small shops, numerous bookstores, cafés and specialist retailers are always busy, especially on Saturdays. South of the square, the red-tiled S-Bahn arches also lure visitors with their shops, cafés and bars; most of all the Savignypassage near Bleibtreustraße and the small passageway between Grolman- and Uhlandstraße on the opposite side of the square.
Savoy Hotel

Greta Garbo used to stay at the Savoy, and the style of days gone by is celebrated throughout. Many filmstars are regulars in this hotel, which is justly proud of its service. The Savoy is famous for its Times Bar.
Schloss Cecilienhof

This little palace, built in the style of an English country manor house, entered the history books in 1945, when Germany’s fate was sealed by the Potsdam Conference. Built in 1914–17, the palace is now used as a hotel. It also houses a small exhibition documenting the Conference and the palace’s furnishings.

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Hotel price categories

Price for a standard double room per night, with breakfast, taxes and other charges included.
- under €60
- €60–100
- €100–150
- €150–200
- over € 200