Mitte
Mitte: the back story
Neighbourhood guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Mitte: the back story
Mitte is the historic centre of Berlin, divided by the Wall from 1961 to 1989. It runs from the Brandenburg Gate along Unter den Linden to Museum Island and Alexanderplatz, and north into the Scheunenviertel around the Hackesche Höfe.
Sights
The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, the Berliner Dom and the TV Tower.
Music
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the Konzerthaus on the Gendarmenmarkt and the Pierre Boulez Saal.
See it on foot, and book the Reichstag dome before you arrive.
Eating
Rutz (Three MICHELIN Stars, 2026), Cookies Cream, Bandol sur mer, Borchardt and Grill Royal.
The Scheunenviertel
The Hackesche Höfe, the galleries of Auguststrasse and the cafés of Torstrasse.
Our advice: walk Unter den Linden early, before the crowds, then cross to Museum Island.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Music
- Eating
- The Scheunenviertel
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mitte: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Mitte: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest U-Bahn stations
- Rotes RathausU5300 m3 min walk
- MuseumsinselU5350 m5 min walk
- KlosterstraßeU2550 m7 min walk
Key sights
- Museum Island350 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- TV Tower500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Gendarmenmarkt950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Brandenburg Gate1.8 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Reichstag1.9 kmWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Berlin Wall Memorial2.3 kmWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Philharmonie2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- East Side Gallery2.9 kmWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- KaDeWe4.6 kmCycle 19 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Charlottenburg Palace7.5 kmCycle 30 minCar or taxi 25 min
Main railway stations
- Berlin Alexanderplatz750 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Berlin Friedrichstrasse1.1 kmWalk 14 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Berlin Ostbahnhof2.2 kmWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Berlin Hauptbahnhof2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Berlin Gesundbrunnen3.6 kmWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Berlin Zoologischer Garten5.0 kmCycle 20 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Berlin Südkreuz5.4 kmCycle 21 minCar or taxi 19 min