See the WWII Historical Sites in Berlin in One Day
Explore Berlin’s pivotal World War II sites in a single day, delving into the city's complex history through key landmarks, memorials, and museums that offer profound insights into the past and its impact on modern Berlin.
​STOPS
1st Stop - Fuhrerbunker
2nd Stop - Murdered Jews Holocaust Memorial
3rd Stop - Berlin wall survivor memorial
4th Stop - Brandenburg gate
5th Stop - Reichstag Building
6th Stop - Mutter mit Totem Sohn
7th Stop - Checkpoint Charlie
HOW TO USE THE MAP
Tap the icons on the map to learn more about each point of interest. To save this map for later, click the star next to its title to add it to your Google account. Then, open the Google Maps app, go to ‘Saved’, and select ‘Maps’. You’ll now see this map listed under its title.​​
10am - Führerbunker
After some German breakfast, your fast-paced tour starts at the Führerbunker, the place where Adolf Hitler camped out during the war. The bunker is not so obvious to find so use the Google Maps above to help you pinpoint the location. The bunker has a big plaque in front of it with information about how Adolf Hitler used the bunker as an air raid shelter and as the Führer headquarters during the second world war.
You will not find any pictures of Hitler or large writing with his name as the Germans today continue to be ashamed of their past and do not want to in any way accidentally glorify Hitler's actions. So don't go to Berlin expecting to see a museum of him or anything! Really, he is nowhere to be seen.
10:30am - Memorial to the Murdered Jews
Just down the street you will see a large area that are filled with various shapes and sizes of concrete blocks. This is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. The memorial uses the strong language in order to fully take accountability of the Nazi execution of the 6 million Jewish people in Europe. It is a wonder as to why the blocks are all different shapes and sizes. Some people consider it symbolism of tomb stones to represent the different ages of people. Others consider the dullness of the grey and height of the blocks simply a way to make you feel lost and confused as you walk around.
​
Walk through the memorial and submerse yourself in how it makes you feel. Let yourself really feel it.
After you've found your way out of the memorial, head over to the underground exhibition. In here you will find displays of the persecution and extermination of the Jews of Europe and various documentations of remembrance such as surviving family stories. In here, there is documentation of 6 million names of murdered Jews and if you were to read out each name in a normal speed would take 6 years, 7 months and 27 days.
​
​12pm - Brandenburg Gate
​
​Take the 8 minute walk over to Brandenburg Gate and if you can follow the remains of the Berlin wall. Near one of the pedestrian crossings, sorry I just cannot find the location on the map, there is a memorial of some of the people who were killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall.
​
Arrive and Brandenburg Gate and take in Berlin's only surviving historical gate symbolising Berlin's Cold War in the 1960's. The gate began to symbolise the division of the East and the West when the Gate was in the Soviet sector of Berlin post WWII. When Berlin Wall fell, thousands of people gathered here for the reopening of the gate which now symbolises a reunited Berlin. ​​​​​​​​​​​​
​12:30pm - Reichstag Building
​Take the 7 minute stroll to the Reichstag Building, the German Parliament. The Reichstag Building is an extremely symbolic building in marking the end of WWII. When the Soviets, Americans, French and British soldiers were causing the Nazi's to retreat, the Soviets famously captured the Reichstag Building in late April 1945, flying their flag, marking the symbolic fall of Nazi Germany to end WWII.
​
Now, the Reichstag Building is multi-functional space, catering for the German Parliament but also a significant art displays, a restaurant and the cryillic graffiti left by Soviet soldiers after their capture. The graffiti has been preserved and you can go inside to view it. It is also possible to go inside the glass dome at the top of the building but it seems that bookings are necessary. ​
When we visited, the building was under construction so we didn't get to go inside. Please go and let us know what it is like!
​1pm - Mutter mit Totem Sohn
​
Mutter mit Totem Sohn, in English, Mother with Dead Son, serves as a poignant symbol of mourning and suffering caused by war and violence, created by Kollwitz. The sculpture features a grieving mother cradling the body of her dead son, representing loss, grief, and sacrifice. The work reflects Kollwitz's personal experience of loss during World War I, when her own son was killed in combat, as well as her broader anti-war sentiments. It is in an open top building so when it rains, it rains on the mother.
It takes 15 minutes to walk in the straight line from the Brandenburg Gate to the Neue Wache, where this sculpture lies. Enjoy the walk up Unter den Linden and take in the amazing street as you walk. There are many prestigious universities along this walk, the Equestrian statue of King Friedrich II. of Prussia, as well as the famous top floor window of the Hotel Adlon where Michael Jackson hung his baby out of.
1:30pm - Lunch
​
Take some time now to find some lunch and absorb the German culture. Your next stop isn't until 3:30pm. Check out our Berlin food and drink recommendations.
​​
3:30pm - Checkpoint Charlie
​
Your final stop of the day is the famous Checkpoint Charlie. It takes 20 minutes to walk here from the Neue Wache. Checkpoint Charlie was a key border crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, used by diplomats, military personnel, and foreign visitors. It became a symbol of Cold War tensions, especially during incidents like the 1961 tank standoff, and now stands as a historical site after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
​
Regular people could not cross the Berlin Wall and so if they attempted to do so, they would be shot dead by the thousands of military personnel guarding the walls. Checkpoint Charlie was the only way through.
​
You can stand in the queue to snap a picture of you at the checkpoint - just ignore the modern day fast food chain restaurants behind you - and see the checkpoint from both sides.
​Your tour ends here for the day in order for you to experience the gastronomy and a good stealthy German beer. It's fun looking at the sights but it's even better when you can fit in some relaxation time too. If you find yourself with more time, check out our Three Perfect Days in Berlin guide or our Berlin Food and Drink Guide if you need some inspiration on where to eat and drink.