berlin

Ephraim-Palais
Ephraim-Palais
The curved Baroque palace,
built in 1766 for the wealthy
merchant Nathan Veitel Heinrich
Ephraim, was once regarded as
the city’s most beautiful spot.
Rebuilt after the demolition of
the old palace, it is now a
museum, showing paintings by
local artists. d Poststr. 16 • Map K6
• 10am–6pm Tue–Sat, noon–8pm Wed
• (030) 24 00 20 • Admission charge
Neptune Fountain
The green Neo-Baroque
fountain, dating from 1895,
depicts the sea god Neptune. He
is surrounded by four female
figures, symbolizing Germany’s
Rhine, Weichsel, Oder and Elb
Rivers. d Am Rathaus • Map K6
Karl-Marx-Allee and
Frankfurter Allee
This road, lined by Soviet-style
buildings, was built as a showpiece
for Socialism in 1949–55.
Known then as “Stalinallee”, it
provided ultra-modern apartments.
d Mitte/Friedrichshain
Neptune Fountain
A Day around
Alexanderplatz
Morning
Start your day by going to
Alexanderplatz (see p131)
where you can watch the
crowds in the square and
perhaps do a spot of
shopping before strolling
to Marienkirche. Not far
from here you can chill out
at Neptune Fountain and
then admire the statues of
Marx and Engels in the
Marx-Engels-Forum. From
there it is only a few steps
to the Berliner Rathaus
(see p131). The basement
restaurant, or Ratskeller, is
an excellent place for an
early lunch, or you could
stroll to the nearby historic
Nikolaiviertel, and enjoy a
meal, for example at
Reinhard’s (see p137),
which serves rustic fare.
Afternoon
Experience the historic
ambience of the Nikolaiviertel
by exploring on
foot, if possible, its narrow
alleyways. Nikolaikirche
and the Knoblauchhaus
are especially worth a
visit. From here walk back
to Alexanderplatz and – if
the weather is nice – take
the lift up to the viewing
café in the Berliner
Fernsehturm (see p131).
After refreshments you
can continue on foot or
take the U-Bahn from Alex
to Strausberger Platz to
admire the products of
Socialist architecture in
Frankfurter Allee (see
p133). On Grunerstraße
you will reach the opposite
bank of the Spree
River, where you can
immerse yourself In
Berlin’s municipal history
at the Märkisches
Museum just around
the corner. In the evening,
go for a posh meal at
Ermelerhaus (see p137).
Ephraim Palais and Märkisches Museum: www.stadtmuseum.de
Around Town – Central Berlin: Around Alexanderplatz
133