Since Jan 01, 2000: District Mitte
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Brandenburger Tor, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz … you could continue the enumeration of first-class sights in Berlin's old and new centre endlessly, an excursion through this historical as well as lively district belonged to every Berlin tour even in the times of the GDR. In the avenues Unter den Linden and Karl-Liebknecht-Straße every building has its own story to tell – the government and embassy buildings, Staatsoper, Komische Oper (national and comic opera), Maxim-Gorki-Theater at the Lustgarten park, the Humboldt University, Museums' Island with exhibitions of worldwide rank, Berlin's cathedral, the Palast der Republik ruin which replaced the busted city castle, the Zeughaus, the Neue Wache, to name only the most significant attractions.
Brandenburger Tor, symbol of Berlin, of German separation and reunification is surely the city's most famous building. In one of its wings you will find an office of Berlin's tourist information. Alexanderplatz square with its coolish but impressive tower blocks was and still is East Berlin's urban centre, surmounted by the 365 meter high Fernsehturm (television tower), the city's highest building. The shopping and strolling avenue Friedrichstraße heads south towards the former border crossing Checkpoint Charlie (see Kreuzberg) and north towards Oranienburger Straße. This former Jewish quarter has developped a vital clubbing site that is overtopped by the New Synagogue's golden dome. Exclusive and eccentric shops, chic cocktail bars and scruffy backyard romance encounter in and around Hackesche Höfe. Around Schiffbauerdamm, near Deutsches Theater, Charité clinic and new government quarter you will often meet prominent politicians.
If you prefer to avoid turbulences you should ramble through Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof cemetary, where outstanding personalities like Hegel, Brecht or the architect Schinkel are buried. Mitte has got a lot to offer south of Unter den Linden / Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, too: Next to the majestic Rotes Rathaus townhall the Nikolaiviertel quarter has preserved the charme of a small town of the 18th century. Not far from the conspicuous dome of St. Hedwig's cathedral you will encounter one of Europe's most beautiful places: Schinkel-designed Gendarmenmarkt square with Schauspielhaus theatre and concert hall and German and French dome. Between the districts of Mitte and Tiergarten spreads Potsdamer Platz, on of Berlin's centres.
Traffic junctions in Mitte are underground and city-train stations Alexanderplatz (U2, U5, U8, S3, S5, S7, S9) and Friedrichstraße (U6, S1, S2, S3, S5, S7, S9) where also many regional express trains stop.