Pariser Platz

Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's most iconic landmarks and a must-see during your visit. It once marked the city's division and now celebrates its unity. Commissioned in 1788, the neoclassical monument looms 26 meters (85 feet) above Pariser Platz square at the entrance of the Unter den Linden Boulevard to the City Palace. While it sustained much damage during World War II, it's been beautifully restored. Over the decades, the Brandenburg Gate has been a site of many protests, celebrations and political meetings. Visit at night when it's lit up and at its most stunning.

Bodestraße 1-3 

Museum Island, or Spree Island, is a stretch of land between the Kupfergraben and the River Spree that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to five of Berlin's major museums. Visit the Bode Museum to view sculptures and Byzantine art. The Altes (Old) Museum, built in 1830, is one of the city's oldest and houses royal treasures and Greek and Roman artifacts. The Neues (New) Museum features Egyptian art and classical collections. Stop by the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) to see Germany's largest collection of 19th-century art. The popular Pergamon features Greek and Babylonian relics, including the Ishtar Gate.

Bernauer Straße 111

Only 1.4 kilometers (0.85 miles) of this graffiti-covered wall remain, serving as a reminder of the city's divisive past. Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall prevented citizens from fleeing from East Germany into West. It was torn down in 1989 and today serves as a chilling memorial to the people who lost their lives trying to cross the wall. To learn more about the wall's history, you can visit the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum adjacent to the monument, as well as the Monument in Memory of the Divided City and the Victims of Communist Tyranny and the Window of Remembrance.

Gendarmenmarkt

Visit this massive 17th-century square for stunning city views and architecture and to appreciate the surrounding historic buildings. The domed French Cathedral (Französischer Dom) here is home to the Huguenot Museum. The German Cathedral (Deutscher Dom) displays German Parliament exhibits. The Konzerthaus theater is where Germany's Konzerthausorchester Berlin symphony orchestra performs. On its steps sits the famed Schiller Monument.

The Regent Berlin, situated on Charlottenstraße in Berlin's historic Mitte district, has unrivaled views of Gendarmenmarkt Square. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might catch concerts, public events and the popular Christmas Market.

Oberbaumbrucke

The two-story Oberbaumbrucke, or Oberbaum Bridge, over the Spree River is another site from which to view the city, particularly at sunset. It links the Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg districts — former East and West Germany —and today serves as a symbol of unity as well as a public road and railway. View the bridge's spectacular architecture from either side of the river, or cross it on foot.

Nikolaikirchplatz

Stroll around this popular quarter in Berlin's old city to appreciate its narrow, cobbled streets and historic buildings. It's home to many small cafes, traditional German restaurants, shops and workshops, as well as the Ephraim Palace and the Knoblauch House, both built in the 18th century. At the heart of the quarter is St. Nicholas's Church, with its iconic twin spires, which hosts an organ concert every Friday evening. Also look for art as you explore, including the bronze sculpture of St. George and the Dragon.

Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Berlin's Holocaust Memorial, or Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe), is a poignant memorial for the 6 million Jewish victims of the Third Reich. You'll find yourself in a grid of 2,711 concrete blocks, some standing 15 feet tall.

Many visitors walk through the gray blocks, moved by the size of the more than half square mile memorial. You can also go down to the underground visitor center to learn more about its history. While the visitor center is only open on certain days and times, the memorial itself is open 24 hours a day.

10178 Berlin, Germany

Right in the heart of Berlin's Mitte district, Alexanderplatz is both a large public square and a major transportation hub for the city. Catch a glimpse of the Berlin TV Tower from here — the huge structure dominates the skyline. You'll also see the World Clock and the Neptune Fountain. Take some extra time to explore some local shops and restaurants, or get some shopping in at the Galeria Kaufhof, one of the area's busiest shopping spots.

Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin, Germany

You'll find Berlin's TV Tower, known to the locals as the Berliner Fernsehturm, right near Alexanderplatz. Built in the 1960s, this impressive structure is considered one of Germany's most significant mid-century modern buildings. You can look forward to taking in spectacular views of the city when you visit the observation deck of the tallest structure in Germany. Want to grab a drink or meal while you're there? There's an upscale restaurant just below the main observation deck called the Sphere. You can also enjoy a cocktail in Bar 203, Berlin's highest bar.

Rosenthaler Str. 40-41, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Visit the Hackesche Hofe and explore eight interconnected courtyards designed and built by architect Kurt Berndt. August Endell created the Art Nouveau facade. The complex underwent extensive restoration after reunification, and today you'll find an assortment of shops, restaurants and cafes. The complex is in central Berlin, at the end of Oranienburger Strasse and adjacent to the Hackescher Markt. Mingle with visitors and locals while you wander the unique complex.

Mühlenstraße 70-71, 10243 Berlin, Germany

Want to experience the Berlin Wall for the first time? The East Side Gallery is the place to do it. It's the longest intact section of the wall, stretching nearly a mile, and it's the place where many international artists came to congregate and create paintings that showed their optimism following the end of the Cold War era when the wall fell in 1989. The wall is the largest open-air gallery in the world and features over 100 murals.

Große Sternallee, Berlin, Germany

When it's time for a respite from the bustle of the city, head over to the Tiergarten. That translates as "Animal Garden" — the area served as a hunting ground in the late 17th century. You'll find 519 sprawling acres that span westward from central Berlin. Visit Zoologischer Garten, or the Berlin Zoo, within the park, or just go for a stroll and enjoy Berlin's most popular green space. You can also go to a biergarten in the Tiergarten. The large park boasts two.