Historic · Center
Mitte
Mitte is the district where almost every trip to Berlin begins. The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the TV Tower and Museum Island stand so close together that the most important sights can comfortably be linked on foot. Between Unter den Linden, the Gendarmenmarkt and the government quarter, Prussian grandeur mixes with traces of Germany's division, at Checkpoint Charlie or the Berlin Wall Memorial, for example.
If you are out and about in Mitte, take time for the small contrasts: the medieval-style reconstructed Nikolai Quarter, the bustling Friedrichstraße and the quiet courtyards around the Hackesche Höfe. When it comes to food, the range runs from tourist cafés along the boulevard to ambitious cooking in the side streets. For a quick bite between two museums, a classic currywurst stand is never far away. Staying right in the middle costs more, but saves you a lot of travel time.
Highlights on the ground
Attractions in Mitte
The key landmarks and spots you shouldn't miss in Mitte.
Brandenburg Gate
Berlin's most famous landmark on Pariser Platz, transformed from a symbol of division into a symbol of unity.
Reichstag Building
Seat of the German Bundestag, with a walk-up glass dome by Norman Foster and views over the government quarter.
Museum Island
Five world-famous museums on an island in the Spree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Berlin Cathedral
A monumental Protestant church on the Lustgarten with a walk-up dome and views over Museum Island.
Berlin TV Tower
At 368 meters the tallest structure in Germany, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant.
Gendarmenmarkt
One of the most beautiful squares in Berlin, with the Konzerthaus and the German and French cathedrals.
Checkpoint Charlie
The former border crossing between East and West, today a symbol of the Cold War.
Berlin Wall Memorial
The central place of remembrance for the division, with a preserved border strip on Bernauer Straße.
Holocaust Memorial
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, with 2,711 concrete steles near the Brandenburg Gate.
Victory Column
A golden goddess of victory at the heart of the Tiergarten, with a viewing platform over the city.
Großer Tiergarten
Berlin's green lung in the center of the city, with wide lawns, lakes and shady avenues.
Potsdamer Platz
A modern square of glass and steel, rebuilt in the 1990s on a former stretch of the Wall.
Nikolai Quarter
A reconstructed old town around the Nikolaikirche, with narrow lanes and views of the Spree.
DDR Museum
An interactive museum on everyday life in the GDR, right on the Spree opposite the cathedral.
Alte Nationalgalerie
A temple-like museum on Museum Island with 19th-century art, from Caspar David Friedrich to the French Impressionists.
Bauhaus Archive
The Bauhaus Archive holds the world's largest collection on the history of the Bauhaus.
Berlin Philharmonie
The iconic concert hall by Hans Scharoun at the Kulturforum and home of the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic.
Berlin Underworlds
Guided tours through Berlin's bunkers, shelters and underground structures, starting from the museum at Gesundbrunnen station.
Bode Museum
A neo-Baroque museum with a striking dome at the northern tip of Museum Island, home to the sculpture collection, Byzantine art and the coin cabinet.
German Historical Museum
Germany's national museum of its own history, housed in the Baroque Zeughaus and the modern Pei building on Unter den Linden.
Hackesche Höfe
A winding ensemble of eight interconnected commercial courtyards with Art Nouveau facades in the heart of the Spandauer Vorstadt.
Humboldt University of Berlin
A tradition-rich university founded in 1810, in the Baroque palace on the boulevard Unter den Linden.
Kulturforum
A concentrated hub of high culture between the Tiergarten and Potsdamer Platz, with world-class museums, libraries and the famous Philharmonie.
Rotes Rathaus
Berlin's striking brick city hall and seat of the Governing Mayor in the heart of the historic center.
Bellevue Palace
The German President's first official residence, in a neoclassical palace on the edge of the Tiergarten.
Spreebogen
The striking bend of the Spree at the heart of Berlin's government quarter, with the Reichstag and the Chancellery.
Berlin State Opera
Frederick's magnificent opera house of 1743 on the grand avenue Unter den Linden, still one of Europe's most important opera stages.
Natural History Museum
Germany's largest natural history museum, home to the tallest mounted dinosaur skeleton in the world.
Neue Wache
Schinkel's neoclassical guardhouse on Unter den Linden is today Germany's central memorial to the victims of war and tyranny.
Hungry & thirsty
Food & drink in Mitte
Where to eat, drink and take a break in the neighborhood.
Stay in the neighborhood
Where to sleep in Mitte?
Ideal for first-time visitors who want to walk to most landmarks and value a central location over price.
Tours & tickets in Mitte
Guided tours, tickets and experiences to match Mitte. Bookable directly via GetYourGuide.
* Tours & tickets from GetYourGuide. If you book through the markers we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Keep exploring
All Berlin neighborhoods at a glance, or jump straight to the attractions and food & drink.