Beautiful Berlin: The City's Most Photogenic Sites

One of the city's most well-known sights, the Brandenburg Gate was built in the 18th century at the behest of Prussian King Frederick William II. On top of the gate, the Quadriga statue (that depicts the Goddess of Victory on her chariot,) was once taken by Napoleon as a prize. It was shipped to Paris at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but returned in 1814 by the Prussians as the tides of the conflicts turned.

Berlin enjoys a temperate climate year-round, so anytime is a great time to see the Gate, but the Festival of Lights in October is especially beautiful. For 10 days, artists transform many of the city's historic locations into colorful artistic canvases using strobes, lasers and projections. Music and performances are also scheduled during the Festival.

When in Berlin, make time to visit "the iron three in Spree." This aluminum statue, of three beings coming together, was built in the late 90s by renown artist Jonathan Borofsky. The holes in the aluminum represent the molecules of human beings coming together to create our existence. From this site on the River Spree, you can also get a great view of The Oberbaum Bridge, which used to be a checkpoint between East and West Berlin. 

If you love all things Christmas, then Berlin is the perfect destination for you. That's because the city glows with holiday lights into the wee hours, sparkling and twinkling under a million tiny bulbs. Locals get to browse through over 60 seasonal markets across town, but the best is the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market. Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most popular town squares, and t's perfectly located for out-of-towners because you get to see many spectacular buildings at once: the Deutscher Dom (German church), the Französischer Dom (French church), and the Berlin Concert Hall.

The market stays open until New Year’s Eve, so you can keep the festive spirit alive longer with special treats like white chocolate-milk, fried apples and handcrafted goods.

In a city with about 175 museums and galleries, you'll have plenty to do and explore. Set aside at least one day and head right to Museum Island so you can be in walking distance to 5 of them at once.  Museum Island is home to: Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum, Neues (where you can view the bust of Nefertiti), Alte Nationalgalerie (stop in to see Renoir's In Summer), and the Alte Museum.  

In addition, Museum Island itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also home to the Berliner Dom, or Berlin Cathedral, the largest church in this historic city and overlooking the River Spree. If you like what you see, you can stay in a floating hostel on the River Spree.

How could we list the most picturesque sights in Berlin without mentioning the Berlin Wall? What once split East and West Berlin is now a symbol of the city’s unification. The East Side Gallery is especially known for its artwork. It is a modern, open-air art gallery with iconic images painted on it like the "kiss of socialist brotherhood" between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker, aka "My God, Help Me To Survive This Deadly Love." You can visit the 167 kilometer wide wall and explore its history or take a bike tour.

Germans take their leisure time seriously; spas, saunas, sunbathing and swimming are all things that locals find time to do, year-round. In warmer months, Berliners can catch some rays at the Badeschiff, the city's public floating pool located in the River Spree complete with a sandy beach and plenty of room to relax, socialize, or do a little yoga. The pool, originally a large shipping hull, was sculpted into the serene floating bath by local artist Susanne Lorenz in 2004. This explains the name, which literally translates to “Bathing Ship.”

Visiting in the winter and still want to experience it? From November-March, the pool is covered and converted into a wellness center complete with a sauna deck.