Westend

Take a city trip to Berlin and visit Westend to discover the exciting history of the capital of Germany. Westend was founded as a residential area with villas in the middle of the 19th century. Even then, it was home to the affluent elite living on the outskirts of Berlin. It is still part of Berlin today and the villa colony around Branitzer Platz continues to be a very popular residential area. Among the more famous inhabitants of this district were and are the scientist Robert Koch, the boxer Max Schmeling, the composer Richard Strauß, the politicians Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Thilo Sarrazin as well as the comedian Dieter Hallervorden. It is therefore well possible that you might encounter a well-known character while taking a walk through the streets of Westend on your travels to Berlin.

The district of Westend also has some interesting sights to offer. The most famous ones are the Olympic Stadium and the Radio Tower. The latter was built from 1924 to 1926 and is one of the most important landmarks of Berlin. It was from the Radio Tower that the first television programme was broadcast world-wide in 1932. While visiting this landmark on your short trip to Westend, enjoy the restaurant and visitors’ platform in lofty heights and marvel at the view across the city.

Located in direct proximity to the Radio Tower is the ICC, the International Congress Centre of Berlin. Trade fairs take place all year round and are frequently the reason for city trips to Berlin. An especially popular trade fair is the “Grüne Woche” (Green Week) on nutrition and agriculture as well as the International Consumer Electronics Fair IFA.

Equally famous to the Radio Tower is the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. It was built for the Olympic Games in 1936 and is the largest stadium in the city. The stadium is primarily the home of the local football club Hertha BSC. But it also serves as a location for other large events, such as concerts and international sporting events. If you are planning a city trip to Berlin, be sure to take part in a guided tour through the Olympic Stadium. They take place daily as long as no event is scheduled for that day.

Another popular destination in the Westend district is the Berliner Waldbühne stage. It is considered one of the most beautiful open-air stages in all of Europe and is surrounded by a small forest. It lies in direct proximity of the Olympic Stadium. Visiting an event at the Waldbühne is frequently the reason for a mini-break in Berlin. The highlight of the annual concert season is the performance of the Berlin Philharmonics.