Unter den Linden, named after the linden trees planted along it in 1647, is Berlin’s historic central boulevard, leading from Museum Island to Brandenburg Gate. In Pariser Platz, you will find not only the iconic gate, but also the starting point for various walking tours. Be sure to visit one of the open-air cafes such as Pavillon: the food and drink are nothing special, but on a sunny day there can be few more scenic places to grab a beer while soaking up 350 years of history.
If you take a stroll away from the gate you will pass the imposing Russian embassy, and the solemnly tranquil Neue Wache. Constructed in 1816, the Neo-Classically-inspired Neue Wache was designed by architect Karl Schinkel as a guardhouse for the royal palace, but it now serves as a monument to the ‘victims of Fascism and dictatorship’.
As you reach the eastern end of Unter den Linden, don’t miss the chance to explore the campus of Humboldt University, where you can walk in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest minds such as Karl Marx, Max Planck and Georg Hegel. Across the river is Lustgarten, where you can follow the progress of the new City Palace: demolished by the Communist East German government in 1950, it is now being rebuilt with completion scheduled for 2019. All in all, Unter den Linden makes for a great starting point to explore the city from.
Unter den Linden, Berlin
24h
Pavillon cafe – beer from €3.50, currywurst €3.50
Brandenburger Tor (U55, S25, S2)
Jerome Bailey
Berlin, Bitte! 