Location
As the name says (Mitte means centre), this district is the heart of Berlin. After years of being the section favored by tour groups and visitors, it is back to being Berlin’s favorite and if you are seeking a buzzing, international feel, then look no further. Is an excellent place to begin your Berlinification and when it comes to nightlife, shopping and dining, Mitte has it all.
This is the district which was once separated by the Wall, and is a landmark area in the history of World War 2. After the dust from the fall of the Berlin Wall settled, hundreds of artists and bohemians took over the area and fed off the fresh buzz that resonated with the reunification of Germany.
Years later the artists have become wiser, the galleries more proper and developers have moved in. But the one thing that has not changed is the pull this neighbourhood asserts on any local.
One of the must-see landmarks of Berlin is located in this neighborhood: the Brandenburger Gate. It is the only one remaining of the original 14 gates that surrounded the city. It was here that the celebration of the reunification of Germany took place and it has been turned into an outdoor museum and a reminder of peace.
For an example of example of modern Berlin, take a look at the Potsdamer Platz with its new skyscrapers and the SonyCenter. Or Alexanderplatz, named in honor the visit of Czar Alexander I to Berlin in October 1805. It is home to Germany’s largest underground train station and the Berlin TV tower. The traditional seat of the city government is just a few blocks away and the Red City Hall is a short 5 min walk.
Also located in Mitte between the River Spree and Kupfergraben, Museum Island is home to some of Berlin's finest museums, including the Pergamon Museum, the National Gallery and the Altes Museum all of which have stood the test of time. Of particular interest is the Pergamon Museum which holds one of the world's most important collections of ancient artefacts which narrowly escaped the bombing of Berlin.
Mitte is well connected with the rest of Berlin. There are several metro stops e.g. line U9 (Stadtmitte, Friedrichstraße, etc.) and all the important bus lines stop here: 101, 123, 245, M27. Another great option is exploring Mitte by foot!
