The Berlin landmark has been a distinctive site for German politics and identity ever since the February 1933 fire that enabled Hitler to impose emergency law and consolidate his one-party state. Bombed during the war, disused under East German rule and buttressed by the Berlin Wall, it became the modern home of the German parliament in 1999. Book online to visit its glass dome, offering great views across the capital as well as a timeline of the building’s turbulent history.
It’s been nearly 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of Germany, brought an optimistic end to the country’s devastating 20th century and gave rise to a whole slew of historically significant, always fun things to do in Germany.
Today, this leading European player has seen remarkable resurgence, reconnecting with the rich past that preceded the Third Reich, while painstakingly documenting its fascist and fractured years, and carefully nurturing a thriving contemporary culture. From Carolingian splendour at Aachen Cathedral to the Bauhaus School in Dessau, quintessential Romanticism at the Hamburger Kunsthalle to the anniversary exhibition at Karl Marx’s House in Triere, Germany promises an astonishing historical reach of art, ideas and music.
Outdoor travelers are also in for a treat: Whether you head for the Alpine lake of Königssee, the rugged coastline on Rügen or the much-mythologized forests of the Schwarzwald, Germany preserves a state of wilderness hard to find in other European countries.
Beyond historic and cultural sites, be sure to eat and drink your way through the best restaurants in Germany. No matter what strikes your fancy, there's no going wrong with our guide to the best things to do in the city.
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