Berlin, Germany30-45 minutesSunset
Brandenburg Gate
Berlin's iconic neoclassical gate and symbol of reunification.
Ideal: Ideal for first-time Berlin visitors and those who love history and city landmarks.
Completed in 1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans, modeled on the entrance to the Athenian Acropolis. Napoleon took the quadriga on top to Paris in 1806; the sculpture was only returned in 1814. From 1961 to 1989 the gate stood in the Wall's death strip and could not be approached from either side; Reagan's 1987 'tear down this wall' speech was delivered in front of it. For Berliners it remains the gathering point for New Year's Eve and major celebrations.
Why go?
- To see Berlin's most recognizable landmark
- To feel Germany's recent history and the symbol of reunification
- Because it connects easily to Unter den Linden, the Reichstag, and Tiergarten routes
Travel tip
It looks far more impressive with evening lighting; seeing it by day and by night is worthwhile.
