The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin cathedral, Alexanderplatz:
These Berlin landmarks feature in thousands of photos
posted on Instagram and they always look amazing.
But does a visit in real life live up to its glamorous depiction on social media?
It's time for a reality check.
Berlin is by far the most-visited city in Germany.
In 2022, an estimated 10 million tourists came to the German capital.
And they had many photo spots to choose from,
including the city's main landmark, the Brandenburg Gate.
It looks great on Instagram, but how does it measure up in reality?
Well, it depends on the weather, of course.
If it rains, pictures can turn out quite grey.
It can also be difficult to get a good shot without masses of tourists in it.
Nevertheless, a trip to the Brandenburg Gate is a must on any Berlin vacation.
It's considered a symbol of Germany's reunification
and is located on the iconic Pariser Platz,
near Hotel Adlon Kempinski, the city's most-famous hotel.
Head concierge Joachim Lenk has worked at the luxury hotel for many years.
He knows it as more than just a photo-worthy hotspot.
So what's our conclusion?
Despite throngs of tourists and bad weather,
the Brandenburg Gate is indeed a photo-worthy spot!
Also popular on instagram is the Berlin Cathedral
and its adjascent Lustgarten.
The 120 year-old church holds masses, concerts and even acts of state.
The cathedral is the largest Protestant church in Germany
in terms of area, but unlike many other German churches,
tourists have to pay an admission fee of 9 euros to enter.
The magnificent interior, however, is worth the visit.
For the past 10 years, the Berlin Cathedral
has been part of Michael Kösling's everyday life.
The cathedral preacher still remembers the first time he entered it.
Our conclusion?
The Berlin Cathedral also does justice to it's picture-perfect Instagram image.
And it offers great views from the viewing platform.
Here you can even see all the way to Berlin's famous TV tower.
The TV tower, or "Fernsehturm" in German, is another iconic Berlin symbol.
It's the tallest building in Germany, and towers over Alexanderplatz,
a popular touristic plaza.
But what does it look like in reality?
Is it actually as amazing as its appears to be on social media snapshots?
It may be cool but it's definitely not beautiful.
In reality, Alexanderplatz is a busy traffic junction,
surrounded by bland high-rise buildings.
It's a fairly gritty urban center definitely not the typical scenic touristic hotspot.
The square is a meeting place for many.
It's also where Ron-Alexander Niendorf works.
He's a social worker for the NGO Gangway
where he helps at-risk youth.
There are also people from every age group here that's what makes the place so interesting.
But is Alexanderplatz worth visiting as as a tourist?
There are no real sights here, after all.
Our conclusion: If you want to see a bit of the real Berlin,
Alexanderplatz is the right place for you.
But if you only want to see the city's most beautiful,
Instagrammable sites, you might be better looking somewhere elsewhere.