Areas of Berlin

The main city centre areas of berlin are divided into the areas of Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Grunewald, Zehlendorf, Tiergarten, Mitte, Kreuzberg, Schöneberg, Friedrichshain, Prenzlauerberg.

Charlottenburg & Wilmersdorf

This is one of the most enchanting regions of the city, full of greenery and attractive buildings dating from the end of the 19th century. By the 18th century Charlottenburg was inhabited by wealthy people living in elegant villas. During the days of the Berlin Wall it was regarded as being the 'city centre' of the west and is home to the Kurfürsten Damm or as it is often referred to the KuDam. Located here is the 'KaDeWe' which is europes largest department store with a fantastic foodhall on the fifth floor and a restaurant on the sixth floor. Also located here is the landmark building Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche, only the massive front tower of this neo-Romanesque church remains after being destroyed by bombs in 1943. It now houses the 'Memorial Hall'. Next to it stands the new octagonal church in blue glass and a new freestanding bell tower which was constructed in 1961.

Another 'must see' in Charlottenburg is the magnificent Schloss Charlottenburg which was the summer residece of the Prussian kings. The construction of this baroque royal palace was begun in 1695, it was originally intended as a summer home for Sophie Charlotte. It was restored to its former glory following World War II. The area surrounding Schloss Charlottenburg is one of the most picturesque places in Berlin.

This area of the city has many elegant apartment buildings with balconies facing leafy streets. A relaxing area with great restaurants and elegant shopping. Palmer Collins International show apartment is in this area of the city as is one of our agent partners. The equivalent of London's central tube line passes through this area of the city and so it is quite easy to get around and explore. Charming.

Tiergarten

Once a royal hunting estate, the Tiergarten became a park in the 18th century. Since re-unification the area has witnessed exciting development and is the centre of Berlins political and financial district.

Mitte

This is the historical city centre and fell into the old East of the city. The area is home to the highest concentration of historic buildings in Berlin including the world famous 'Brandenburg gate' and the Reichstag, the German Parliament. Endless shopping opportunities exist in the Friedrich Strasse area and the wonderful Gendarmen Markt - not to be missed. Don't miss the wonderful Hackesche Märkte area with endless boutique shops, pavements cafes, street markets and art galleries. Trendy, interesting and historical. Too much to see in one visit.

Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg is an area of contrasts, with luxury apartments next to dilapidated buildings. Some parts of Kreuzberg are mainly favoured by the Turkish community creating a vibrant eclectic community, while others are inhabited by affluent young professionals. The districts attractions are its wealth of restraunts and Turkish bazaars, as well as an interesting selection of nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and gallerys. It is also home to Checkpoint Charlie and the Jewish Museum.

Schöneberg

Located to the south of Mitte, Tiergarten and Charlottenburg, it is regarded as a pleasant residential area in proximity to the city centre. It has a wealth of good restaurants, bars and shops and is the main centre of 'Gay Berlin'. Each June it plays host to the week long Berlin gay pride festival.

Friedrichshain

Is located to the south east of Mitte and provides some spectactular remnants of Berlins most recent history including the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery and the watch tower on the old border. The area is undergoing substantial re-development and is becoming popular with investors.

Prenzlauerberg

Formerly in the old East of the city it is currently the most fashionable area for alternative youth culture and has a large selection of trendy shops and restaurants particularly around the Kollwitzplatz . There is currently a lot of re development in the area with restoration of the street front facades and the construction of trendy loft style apartments. The area has also become a base for a number of large multi national companies who have made their German headquarters in the area.

The above is a very brief overview of the main areas and is by no means exhaustive. Many city guides to Berlin are available in your local bookseller and are always a good starting point.