The Victory Column
The golden angel over the forest — Berlin's cinematic emblem, its view worth the stairs.
CC BY-SA 3.0 · Laurens R. Krol — CC BY 4.0 · Laurens R. Krol — CC BY 4.0 · Laurens R. Krol — CC BY 4.0
The Tiergarten is Berlin's great lung: a 210-hectare urban forest at the capital's exact heart, once the kings' hunting ground, now the people's park. From the Brandenburg Gate to the Zoo stretch its paths, lakes and meadows, claimed by Berliners at the first sun. At its centre rises the golden Victory Column — 285 steps up rewards you with forest and city in one view — and the broad Strasse des 17. Juni cuts through from gate to column, the stage of Berlin's great celebrations. On its edges: the Reichstag, the presidential Bellevue palace, famous embassy buildings. For a visitor it is the ideal interlude between the centre's sights: half an hour under its trees resets a crowded day. There are rowing boats on its lake, and a famous café on the water.
The golden angel over the forest — Berlin's cinematic emblem, its view worth the stairs.
Rowing under trees by a famous waterside café — Berlin summer in one image.
A calm landscaped corner gifted by English royalty — its loveliest hidden spot.
The Red Army memorial with real tanks on the great avenue — history on the path.
Strasse des 17. Juni, 10557 Berlin
Platz der RepublikPlatz der Republik is the wide green lawn stretching in front of the Reichstag. 6 minutes walk4.7
Reichstag BuildingThe Reichstag is the seat of the German parliament and one of Berlin's most impo8 minutes walk4.8
SpreebogenparkA public park on the bend of the Spree directly behind the Reichstag, in the hea9 minutes walk4.4
Brandenburg GateThe Brandenburg Gate is the landmark the whole of Berlin is reduced to. Carl Got9 minutes walk4.6
Bellevue PalaceBellevue Palace is a white neoclassical building in the Tiergarten park, and the11 minutes walk4.4As interludes, not a destination: cross from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column (a half-hour walk), or rent a bike — this is perfect cycling ground. In summer make lunch a picnic on the grass like the locals.
By day entirely — full of families and joggers. After dark it is genuinely a dark forest: keep to the big lit paths or go around, as Berliners themselves do.
The name trips visitors: 'Tiergarten' literally means animal garden, but it is the free public forest. The actual Zoo (Zoo Berlin), fenced and ticketed, sits at its southwest corner — one of the world's great zoos if that is your goal.