DK Travel : Berlin : Tiergarten & Federal District

In 1999, Berlin’s green centre became the government district. Around Tiergarten, Berlin’s largest and most popular park, stand the Reichstag, the Bundeskanzleramt and Schloss Bellevue, seat of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Tiergarten itself is a great place for strolling and cycling, and it also boasts the Neuer See, the Spree River and Berlin’s Zoo. In summer, its lawns are used for soccer games and barbecue parties.

Tiergarten: www.tiergarten.de For more on modern architecture (see Modern Buildings)

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A Day Out

Morning

Start your tour of Tiergarten at the Reichstag . Explore the government district from here starting with the Bundeskanzleramt (the Federal Chancellor’s Office, diagonally opposite). Stop at Restaurant Käfer in the Reichstag for breakfast. Via John-Foster-Dulles-Allee you will pass the Carillon and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt on the way to Großer Tiergarten . Continue along one of the paths into the park, directly opposite the old Kongresshalle, until you reach Straße des 17. Juni. If you turn right here, you will be heading directly towards Siegessäule . From there continue along Fasanerieallee in a southwesterly direction until you get to the Café am Neuen See , where you could have lunch.

Afternoon

A stroll through the Diplomats’ Quarter : from Neuer See, it is only a few steps along Lichtensteinallee and Thomas-Dehler-Straße in an easterly direction until you get to Klingelhöferstraße with its Scandinavian embassies. On Tiergartenstraße you will pass, among others, the embassies of Japan, Italy, India and Austria. From here you could continue south along Klingelhöferstraße, making a small detour for refreshments at Café Einstein . Continue along Lützowufer until you reach the Kulturforum via Potsdamer Brücke. A good place for an evening meal would be the Vox .
Alte Pumpe

There is always an excellent atmosphere in this old Berlin restaurant, based in a pumping station and serving rustic German fare.
Brasserie Desbrosses

An appealing, historic French restaurant. Its seafood is particularly good.
Café am Neuen See

Not a place of pilgrimage for gourmets but Berlin’s most popular beer garden, serving salads, pasta and pizza (see Kneipen (Pubs)) .
Café Einstein

Based in the villa belonging to the film star Henny Porten, Café Einstein is the ultimate in Viennese elegance, serving Austrian food and boasting the best strawberry torte in town.
Carillon

The carillon , officially dedicated in 1987, is the largest of its kind in Europe. The 68 bells are rung every day at noon and 6pm in the 42-m (138-ft) high black tower.
Diplomatenviertel

In the late 19th century, an embassy district sprang up. Its extent is still marked today by two pompous Fascist buildings (Italian and Japanese embassies of 1938 and 1943 respectively). Most structures were destroyed during World War II, and until the reunification of Germany the diplomatic buildings were left to decay. Since 1999, new life has been breathed into the diplomats’ quarter and, thanks to its adventurous architecture, it has been transformed into one of the most interesting parts of Berlin. Especially worth seeing are the Austrian and Indian embassies on Tiergartenstraße as well as, on Klingelhöferstraße, the embassies of the Nordic countries (see Modern Buildings) and of Mexico.
Englischer Garten

The landscaped English-style garden near Schloss Bellevue is ideal for strolling.
Estonian Embassy

The old Estonian Embassy, in a quiet side street next to the ruined Greek Embassy, is characteristic of the diplomats’ quarter.
Facil

Mediterranean gourmet food, stylishly presented, dominates the menu at this elegant eaterie.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and charges included.
- under €20
- €20–30
- €30–45
- €45–60
- over €60