Mitte, Berlin guide

As the tallest building in Germany, the Berlin TV Tower shoots more than 1,200 feet into the city skyline. Reach the top by elevator before picking out landmarks like the Reichstag Building, the Spree river and Tempelhofer Feld. From here, check out a gripping VR experience that takes you through local history from the city’s medieval era to the present day.

Before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, neither East nor West Berliners could visit the Brandenburg Gate, the city’s most important landmark. Pass under its arches in celebration of peace and unity. Then check out the glass dome of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building, which symbolizes moving into the future with transparency.

Tiergarten Park is a former royal hunting ground and Berlin’s finest green space. Pack a picnic and rent a rowboat, or pull up a chair at the lakeside ‘biergarten’ (beer garden), Café am Neuen See. At dusk, let the glow of the Open-Air Gas Lamp Museum transport you to centuries past.

Mitte specializes in retro entertainment. Ballhaus Berlin is a Weimar-era ballroom — if someone catches your eye, pick up the rotary phone on your table and invite them to dance. The Kino Babylon plays silent movies alongside the world’s oldest in-house orchestra. Here for Berlin’s legendary techno scene? Mitte borders the nightlife borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

Flea markets are a favorite weekend pastime in Berlin. Rummage for unique finds at Arkonaplatz, where products made in the former GDR make an unusual souvenir. You can always pick up a bargain masterpiece at the Zeughaus Art Market. And Hackescher Markt is the place to head for indie labels, while Hackesche Höfe boasts eight interconnected Art Nouveau courtyards.

From September to October, the Festival of Lights illuminates Mitte landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and the Berlin TV Tower. Christmas Markets have been a German staple since the Middle Ages. One of Mitte’s most popular is at Rotes Rathaus, where you can ice-skate around the Neptune Fountain.

Located in Mitte, Museum Island is home to five of the most important museums in Berlin. You’ll also find Berlin Cathedral here — climb to the dome for one of the city’s best views. Topography of Terror is a somber look at Germany’s Nazi past. At the interactive DDR Museum, experience life in Soviet-controlled East Berlin, where the highlight is riding inside an iconic Trabant car.

The best restaurants in Mitte are an eclectic bunch. Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt serves traditional Bavarian fare — think pork knuckle and apple strudel to soak up beer from the barrel. The Tajikistan Tearoom was gifted to East Berlin when it belonged to the Soviet Union. Savor Central Asian dumplings from a plush floor cushion, and be amazed by the elaborate tea ceremony.

Unleash your inner secret agent in the spy capital of the world. At the German Spy Museum, see how espionage has evolved since the days of cameras strapped to pigeons. Or come face to face with characters from the past at the Berlin Dungeon. The Berlin Zoo and Berlin Aquarium can both be found in Tiergarten Park.