Brandenburg Gate - Berlin - TravBuddy

Branderburger Tor(Brandenburg Gate) is perhaps the most symbolic building in Berlin. Its located at the end of Under den Linden , which is germanys biggest promenade street. Its located at Parizer Platz (Paris Square), next to several important Embassies.

Branderburger Tor was also a wall that separated East and West Berlin and if you walk through the gate you can see the bricks in the road which shows where the Berlin Wall once where. Its lying Between the Reichstag and the Holocaust Memorial so its a great chance you see many things in just an hour. Dont expect to hang around here for so long, its basically only a monument with a lot of history.

The Free Berlin Tours (Recommended!) starts in front of Starbucks where you can see Branderburger Tor.

Brandenburg Gate stands at the end of Unter den Linden, one of the grandest streets and pedestrian thoroughfares in Berlin. During the Cold War, it was surrounded by the Berlin Wall, and it came to symbolize the division (then reunification) of Germany. As triumphal arches go, this one is monumental and impressive. It also sits on the border of an important plaza: both the American and Russian embasses are close by. Most significantly of all, there is a Starbucks on the opposite side of the plaza, right in the heart of former East Berlin. I don't know whether or not to find this ironic, offensive, or entertaining, but I imagine there is some controversy over this awkward placement.

The trouble with gates is that there is not a lot to do except look at them and walk through them. The Brandenburg Gate is large and impressive, if you find that kind of thing impressive, and of course is also redolent of Berlin's history: amongst other things it was an important crossing point between East and West Berlin. All of this comes to mind as one gazes on it, but then it also comes to mind when one gazes at a photograph. In truth, you look at it from one side, take a pic, walk through an arch and look at it from the other side. Ten minutes, tops. Unless, of course, you are one of those keen types who want to examine it closely in excruciating detail, which I am not.

But there are good reasons for going there nonetheless. First, it is so famous that deliberately not to visit it just seems downright perverse. Second, it is very pleasantly situated in Pariser Platz, which is pedestrianised and sometimes has street performers - if the weather is fine it is a good spot to which to take your lunch and watch the world go by. And third, it is a good starting point for other excursions: the Tiergarten is to the west, the Reichstag to the north, Unter den Linden to the east, and the new Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to the south.

So go, to say that you have seen it, be impressed by it if you like, but don't expect to be there very long.