Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany

Berlin is a city that has constantly and consistently rebuilt itself through centuries of invasions, divisions and domination. Like the proud city that it is, the battle scars of the past are worn alongside the achievements of the present and the aspirations of the future. Arguably, none is more representative of Berlin's drive for reinvention than the Alexanderplatz.

Known simply as Alex by native Berliners, the Alexanderplatz is a large public square that also serves as a transportation hub for the city specifically the Mitte district. From the square, tourists and residents alike can proceed to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations, both of which also go by the same name as the square itself. As can be expected, the hustle and bustle of the square makes for a good venue for people watching although we recommend just hopping to other places in the city for more excitement, adventure and enjoyment.

Alexanderplatz has a colorful history of its own despite its rather drab appearance today. In the 13th century, a hospice and chapel were built on the site with the gate thereafter dubbed the Georgentor (St. George's Gate). In a reversal of purposes, the area became a cattle market in the early part of the 1700 while the wool market followed during the second half of the century, two events that marked the first of many transformations for the public square.

Then in 1777, the King's Bridge with its imposing colonnades, which is located in the Kleistpark, was built under the orders of King Frederick II. The Alexanderplatz has also served as a military parade ground, thanks to its large space.

During World War II, the Alexanderplatz was heavily bombed, a fate that it was unable to escape along with the rest of the city. During the division of Germany into East and West, the public square belonged to East Germany. As such, the heavy influence of East Germany town planning still remains and it is not as impressive as the other plazas found in the old West Berlin but it can certainly hold its own.

Tourists are greeted by the sight of a huge pedestrian area with little by way of avant garde art, lush gardens and even park benches. This area is then surrounded by boxy high-rises, a relic from the 1960s although these are beloved relics, nonetheless. What the Alexanderplatz lacks in bedazzle, it definitely makes up for in hustle and bustle.

Fortunately, there are other attractions in the Alexanderplatz. For one thing, the public square was the epicenter of the November 1989 Berlin Revolution when the Berlin Wall came tumbling down - the energy is still palpable. For another thing, the 365-meter Fernsehturm television tower is worthy of note, thanks largely to the panoramic views that it offers of the almost the entire city.

Book a vacation apartment in Berlin before booking your airplane tickets going into the city. Your explorations of the most cosmopolitan city this side of Europe will be made more enjoyable when you have a comfortable apartment to go home to after a day as tourists. Start your explorations at the Alexanderplatz and its stations, of course.

Find more information about Berlin in our Berlin City-guide