Join-in Shore Excursion: Berlin Highlights and Sachsenhausen

The memorial site Sachsenhausen is a former concentration camp in Oranienburg, about 30 minutes north of Berlin. The camp was erected in 1936 and until 1945 more than 200,000 people were imprisoned here by the Nazis. The camp today is open to the public as a memorial site. It clearly shows how different governments left their political imprint on the camp.

Brandenburg gate is the main symbol of Berlin and Germany itself. Located at the beginning of Unter den Linden street, and the boarder of the Tiergarten, it's the only remaining 18th century city gate of Berlin. Brandenburg gate was the important landmark of the cold war time as the most significant border of the Soviet and British sections of the divided city.

The building was opened in 1894. It was the arena for the culmination of the Battle of Berlin of WW2, when Soviet army put the red flag above the damaged building. Shortly after the demolition of the Berlin wall, in 1995 reconstruction, the huge glass dome appeared on the top of the building, as the observation spot for tourist with the brilliant views of Tiergarten, Spree and the center of Berlin.

Charlottenburg is the most beautiful baroque palace of Berlin dating 1699. Named after Charlotte, the wife of Friedrich I, this palace and the palace park along the Spree river are one of three Prussian royal residences, located in Berlin itself and the earliest of those. It's the significant landmark and a beautiful place for a walk.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church mostly just known as Gedächtniskirche is a charming, but very much damaged church, located not far from Kudam street and Berlin Zoo. The original church on the site was built in the 1890s. It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943. The present building, which consists of a church with an attached foyer and a separate belfry with an attached chapel, was built between 1959 and 1963. The damaged spire of the old church has been retained and its ground floor has been made into a memorial hall.

Berlin Victory Column is a special memorial, dedicated to the 19th century wars that helped the unification of Germany. It's located on the Great Star square - the intersection of the numerous road in the middle of the Teirgarten. Before taking its final place in the Tiergarten, the column was relocated several times, and even stood in front of the Reichstag for a while. The viewing platform on the top, for which a ticket is required, offers a great view over Berlin.

Bellevue Palace is located in the middle of the Tiergarten park. Formerly a summer palace of the Prussian kings, since 1994 it has been the official residence of the president of Germany. Its name – the French for "beautiful view" – derives from its scenic prospect over the Spree's course. No visits inside the palace are allowed for public.

Museum Island is the name of the northern half of an island in the Spree river. It is called so for the complex of five internationally significant museums located there: The Altes Museum (Old Museum) features the Collection of Classical Antiquities. The Neues Museum (New Museum) finished in 1859. Destroyed in World War II, it was re-opened in 2009.

Unter den Linden is a main street of Berlin. It begins at the Pariser Plaz and Brandenburg gate and goes East through the most significant part of Berlin historical center to the Schlossbrucke on Spree. The name of the street means "Under the Linden trees", as the lindens were planted here back in the 17th century to decorate Prussian king's ride to the royal hunt at the Tiergarten.

Berlin Cathedral is an impressive baroque structure, dating though to 1905. The park in front of the palace is a quiet area, just 10 footsteps away from the busy street. The cathedral operates as the museum with the guided tours and the admission charge through most of the day, but it's free of charge during the worship time at noon and 6 pm. Dome walkway 270 steps above the ground is worth a visit with the magnificent panorama of the city from the top.

Constructed between 1935 and 1936 according to plans designed by the architec Ernst Sagebiel, the building in the Wilhelmstraße was one of the Nazi regime’s prestige projects in Berlin. It served as the headquarters of the Reich Aviation Ministry until the end of the war and was Herman Göring’s centre of power. The building is used today for the Department of Finance of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Potsdamer Platz is a large square at the South-East corner of the Tiergarten. Prior to the WW2 it was the major transportation and market intersection of Berlin. The square was badly damaged in WW2 battles. Later it became the border of Berlin's Soviet, American and British sectors. Now Potsdamer Platz is a contemporary business district with tall office towers by the best contemporary architects, impressive buildings and large Sony center complex.

Berlin wall was a 155 km structure that 1961-1989 separated the West Berlin from the surrounding pro-Soviet GDR and East Berlin. It is one of the major cold war symbols. The wall is covered with graffiti, including the famous "Kiss of Brezhnev and Honecker".

Berlin's most famous boulevard, Kurfürstendamm, is the heart of the western city center. The train in Berlin should not go without a walk along this street, which is always full of Berliners and guests in the city who are hunting for the latest fashion and designer things or delicious food.

Alexanderplatz looks very 20th century, so it's hard to believe that this square witnessed all Berlin's history. It was first mentioned in 14th century. The square is named after Russian emperor Alexander the 1st for the anti-Napoleon treaty was signed here. The World Time clock, showing the current time in 144 destinations is a must see.

The Rotes Rathaus or the Red City Hall is the official city hall of Berlin, located near the Alexanderplaz. It is the home to the governing mayor and the Senate of Berlin. The red brick building appeared in the middle of 19th century. It was rebuilt to the original plans after WW2. The square in front of the City Hall brings you to the charming atmosphere of 19th century Berlin with Marienkirche, Belin's oldest church and the Neptune, one of Germany's oldest fountains.

Humboldt University of Berlin in located on Unter den Linden street. It's an impressive structure that feels like a school at the first sight. It is one of Berlin's oldest universities, founded on 15 October 1811 by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt. His statue can be seen in front of the main building. It's an active school with thousands of students from all over world.

Checkpoint Charlie is one of 3 checkpoints on the border of Soviet and American sectors of Berlin during the cold war, located on Friederichstrasse. The checkpoints were indicated by letters - Alfa, Bravo, Charlie. With the Berlin wall demolition, the checkpoints were removed as well. Checkpoint Charlie stayed as a memory.