Berlin Historical Sites

It’s hard to imagine a city with a deeper, more complicated, lengthy national and world history than Berlin. A visitor to this remarkable area can stand before the Reichstag, walk where a politically divided city’s wall once stood and see how a divided nation rebuilt itself, all in a single guided shore day.

Obviously, as a landlocked interior city, Berlin isn’t a sea port, but cruise guests can easily reach Berlin on a full shore day via either Warnemünde or Hamburg, each a scenic train ride away. For full details of available Berlin excursions or a deeper dive into Berlin’s museums, please refer to our dedicated articles. Here, we’re going to focus on the handful of historical sites that are probably the most worth learning about before you go.

Key takeaways

Guests visiting Berlin can see imperial landmarks, Nazi-era history, Cold War sites and symbols of reunification in a single day.
Several guided routes include the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and remnants of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin’s approach to its own history is remarkably open, making a guided visit feel more like discovery than a lecture.

Stand before the Reichstag

The Reichstag is one of Berlin’s defining landmarks and a prominent sight on nearly every guided route through the German capital. The imposing building, completed in 1894 to house the parliament of the German Empire, combines its historic stone façade with a striking, decidedly modern-looking glass-and-steel dome that has become a symbol of contemporary Berlin.

Standing before the Reichstag gives visitors a tangible sense of the city’s complex past. The building has witnessed the sweeping political and social changes that have shaped Germany since the late 19th century, making it both an architectural landmark and an enduring symbol of German history. Today, this historic government building serves as the official seat of the Bundestag (the German federal parliament). On Princess’s guided excursions the Reichstag is a photo stop, so a visit to the roof terrace and glass dome is an option for guests exploring Berlin on their own. Entry is free, but you’ll need to register online in advance via the German Bundestag website and bring photo ID.

A grand neo-Renaissance building featuring neoclassical columns, a large central glass dome and German flags flying on top, situated beside a riverfront promenade with steps and trees under a dramatic evening sky. — Stand in awe of the historic Reichstag Building in Berlin, Germany, home to the German Bundestag with its striking glass dome.

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See where a wall once divided a city

Checkpoint Charlie and surviving sections of the Berlin Wall are among the city’s most visible reminders of the Cold War. Today, these preserved sites are photographed by visitors and passed on nearly every guided sightseeing route through Berlin, including guests booking the Easy Berlin by Train, Berlin by Train and Jewish History or Best of Berlin by Chartered Train excursions.

At Checkpoint Charlie, guests can see the former border crossing site and familiar Cold War imagery associated with the divided city. Elsewhere, preserved stretches of the Berlin Wall provide a tangible look at the barrier that once separated East and West Berlin and was a symbol of the political strife that divided a city, a nation and effectively the world for nearly three decades of the 20th century. Together, these landmarks provide guests with a poignant look into Berlin’s Cold War past without requiring an extended museum visit.

A close-up view of white signs reading “ALLIED CHECKPOINT” and “US ARMY CHECKPOINT” in bold black lettering atop the guard booth in front of a classical building facade — Revisit Cold War history at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany, the famous crossing point between the American and Soviet sectors marked by its famous guard house signage.

Visit Bebelplatz

Bebelplatz is an elegant public square in the heart of Berlin, surrounded by impressive Baroque façades and other historic buildings. Its central location places it naturally along guided sightseeing routes through the city, including the Princess® Best of Berlin by Train excursion, offering guests a chance to take in the architecture and atmosphere of Berlin’s historic center.

The square also carries a somber historical significance. In 1933, Bebelplatz was the site of a National Socialist book burning in which thousands of works deemed unacceptable by the regime were destroyed in a huge bonfire. Today, a memorial in the square commemorates the event.

A broad, cobblestone-paved public square with a metallic spherical object in the foreground and visitors gathered before a massive, curved Baroque building with classical statues lining its roofline. — Reflect on history at Bebelplatz in Berlin, Germany, a historic public square bounded by the grand Baroque facade of Humboldt University’s Law Faculty building.

A city that rebuilt itself

Since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Berlin has transformed itself into one of Europe’s most open and culturally vibrant capitals. Historic landmarks now stand alongside contemporary architecture, creative neighborhoods and public spaces that reflect a city continually looking forward while acknowledging its past.

Part of what makes visiting Berlin so meaningful is the city’s residents and culture, and their willingness to preserve and explain Berlin’s fraught history and learn from it rather than hide it. Memorials, museums and surviving landmarks give guests multiple opportunities to understand difficult chapters of the past while seeing how dramatically the city has changed.

That combination of remembrance and renewal defines modern Berlin. More than three decades after reunification, the city offers an uplifting example of how a place shaped by, and literally defined by division can reconnect, rebuild and emerge with a renewed sense of possibility and hope for a bright future.

Bronze statues of seated youth figures positioned on a stone wall overlooking the Spree River with the grand dome and towers of Berlin Cathedral rising prominently in the background. — Admire the striking view of Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) in Berlin, Germany, framed across the Spree River past Wilfried Fitzenreiter’s bronze sculpture ensemble “Drei Mädchen und ein Knabe” (Three Girls and a Boy).

Getting to Berlin from your ship

As we mentioned above, Berlin has no cruise terminal of its own, so cruise guests reach the city via a scenic train ride from either Warnemünde or Hamburg ports. The chartered train on Princess’s excursions takes about 2.5 hours each way from Warnemünde and about 2.5 to 3 hours each way from Hamburg. The best (and easiest) way to arrange travel from a German port to Berlin is via a curated Berlin excursion from Warnemünde or Hamburg so all the logistics and tickets will be handled for you. You may elect to arrange transportation to and from Berlin on your own, but remember to keep your ship’s departure time in your mind so you can be sure to return to port on time for stress-free re-boarding.

For more ideas about things to do in Berlin and to learn more about the best time to visit Berlin, be sure to check out our full articles.

A single day in Berlin offers a rare opportunity to experience history up close, from imperial-era landmarks and grand public squares to thought-provoking reminders of WWII history, the Cold War and reunification. It is also a chance to see how a city once defined by division transformed itself into one of Europe’s most open, creative and culturally vibrant capitals.

Explore European cruises and book the Princess Cruises itinerary with a port call that provides your preferred way to access the German capital, so you can view the landmarks, experience Berlin’s remarkable story firsthand and return to your ship with a deeper appreciation for one of Europe’s most compelling cities.

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