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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.

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.

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

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

With 80 historic gaslights along the paths, an evening stroll in Tiergarten is very romantic.

The 1930s complex, which is today known as Bendlerblock, lies behind the former Prussian Ministry of War. During World War II it served as army headquarters. It was here that a group of officers planned the assassination of Adolf Hitler. When the attempt failed on 20 July 1944, Claus Schenk Count von Stauffenberg and the others involved were arrested in the Bendlerblock, and many of them were shot in the courtyard during the night. A memorial, created by Richard Scheibe in 1953, commemorates these events. On the upper floor is a small exhibition documenting the German resistance against the Nazi regime. Today, the Bendlerblock has been incorporated into the Berlin branch of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

The Großer Tiergarten is Berlin’s largest park, straddling an area of 200 hectares (494 acres) between the eastern and western halves of the town. Formerly the Elector’s hunting grounds, it was redesigned in the 1830s as a park by Peter Joseph Lenné. At the end of the 19th century, the Siegesallee was established in the east of the park, more than 500 m (1640 ft) in length, lined by the statues of monarchs and politicians. After World War II, the starving and freezing population chopped down nearly all the trees for firewood and dug up the lawns to grow food. Thanks to reforestation work since the 1950s, Tiergarten today has become Berlin’s favourite green space and the lungs of the city.

The former Hamburg railway station, now the “Museum of the Present Day”, holds a cross-section of contemporary paintings and the latest multi-media works of art and installations. One of the highlights is the private collection of Erich Marx, including works by Beuys and others. Apart from well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Robert Rauschenberg, it also shows works by Anselm Kiefer and Sandro Chiao.

The Hansa estate west of Schloss Bellveue was built for the “Interbau” trade fair in 1957. World War II bombs had flattened Tiergarten, and 36 residential complexes were erected in the park, designed by distinguished architects from around the world, including Walter Gropius (Händelallee 3–9), Alvar Aalto (Klopstockstr. 30–32) and Oscar Niemeyer (Altonaer Str. 4–14).

Docked on the banks of the Spree are some of the remaining few houseboats in Berlin – an idyllic haven in the middle of the city.