There are some cities where the best way to really get to know them is by walking. Berlin is one of them. With its wide avenues, historic buildings and walls with a story in every corner, this city draws you in as you walk. During my days in Berlin, I saw traces of the past in every step, dived deep into history and admired the city’s street art. Now let’s walk the streets of Berlin together.
Throughout its history, Berlin has been a city of wars, divisions and rebirths. The scars of the Second World War can still be felt here. Imagine a city divided into two in the middle of the Cold War: West Berlin and East Berlin. It is almost impossible to pass between them. This division was epitomized and symbolized by the Berlin Wall. Today, Berlin is a city that has moved on from this difficult past, but has never forgotten it.
My first stop was Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), one of the most iconic places in the city. This is one of the most important symbols of Berlin and has taken on different meanings in history. Napoleon passed through the Brandenburg Gate when he invaded Berlin in 1806, and it was the center of Nazi marches in Hitler’s Germany. During the Cold War, the two sides of the gate opened to different worlds. But today it stands at the heart of the city as a symbol of a united Germany.
Right next to the gate is the Reichstag Building. This building, which houses the German parliament, was destroyed by fire in 1933 and then severely damaged in World War II. After being renovated in the 1990s, today it is a magnificent building with a glass dome that combines modern and historical architecture. You can go up to the glass dome by making a free reservation in advance. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to enter other parts of the parliament building.
Walking back to the Brandenburg Gate, I reached the Berlin Holocaust Memorial in just a few minutes. It is an impressive memorial dedicated to the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime.
The monument consists of 2711 concrete blocks. When you walk between these blocks of varying heights, you get lost in them like a labyrinth. Silence, shadows, darkness and irregular structure. All together, walking here is uncomfortable, which is exactly as it should be. It is a reminder of one of history’s most terrible tragedies.
I was thinking of the children in Palestine. How we never learn from history.
One of the places I was most curious about in Berlin was the Führerbunker where Hitler spent his last days. But today it’s not a museum open to the public. It was destroyed by the Soviets after the war, and apartments and a park were built on top of it. Today there is only a small sign. An information board explaining what happened inside.
The last days of Hitler and the Nazi regime were spent here. As the Soviets approached Berlin, Hitler hid in this underground bunker and eventually committed suicide here. With the fall of the regime, Berlin entered a new era. Traces of Nazi Germany can be found in many parts of the city, but Germany has chosen to forget this history rather than embrace it.
One of the most impressive stops while walking in Berlin was the Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer). Built by East Germany in 1961, this wall was built to prevent people from escaping to West Berlin. It separated families, changed lives and became one of the greatest symbols of the Cold War until its fall in 1989.
Some parts of the wall are still standing today. Especially the East Side Gallery is like a giant open-air museum covered with graffiti. Artists from all over the world have painted on the wall with the themes of freedom and peace. Perhaps the most famous is the one of Soviet leader Brezhnev and East German leader Honecker kissing.
Berlin is an interesting city not only for its history but also for its culture. A large part of Germany’s immigrant population lives here. Especially Turkish immigrants make themselves felt on the streets of Berlin.
One of the things that caught my attention while walking in Berlin was the food culture. It is not limited to classical German cuisine; in fact, the most common food eaten in Berlin is kebab! Turkish immigrants brought doner kebabs to Berlin in the 1970s and today you can see a doner shop on every corner. Currywurst, a sausage with curry sauce, is one of the most popular street foods in Berlin. Vegan options can be found on the menu.
And of course the graffiti culture! Every wall in Berlin is like a work of art. This city has become a canvas for street artists. The walls reflect freedom, protest, or sometimes just fun.
Berlin is a city to be discovered on foot. There is a story around every corner, past and present intertwine at every step. You can feel Napoleon’s armies as you pass by the Brandenburg Gate, the rise of Hitler in front of the Reichstag, and the pain of a divided city in front of the remains of the Berlin Wall.
But Berlin is not just a city of the past. Today it is a vibrant, energetic, art-filled city. A cultural mosaic where immigrants, artists and history lovers come together.
As I walked the streets of Berlin, I listened to the stories the city told me. And I wanted to share them with you. If you are ever in Berlin, make sure you take a walk. Because this city is best discovered in its streets.
Goodbye
