The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s most iconic landmark and a powerful symbol of Germany’s turbulent history and ultimate reunification. Built in 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II as a sign of peace, this neoclassical triumphal arch has witnessed the march of Napoleon’s armies, the rise and fall of the Third Reich, the construction of the Berlin Wall that left it stranded in no-man’s land, and the euphoric celebrations when that wall came down in 1989. The gate’s Quadriga — a bronze chariot drawn by four horses and driven by the goddess of Victory — crowns the structure with classical grandeur.

Standing in Pariser Platz today, with the tree-lined Unter den Linden boulevard stretching to the east and the Tiergarten park spreading to the west, the gate serves as the ceremonial heart of modern Berlin. Major events, from New Year’s Eve celebrations to political demonstrations, center on this spot. The surrounding area includes the Reichstag building, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and numerous embassies, making it an ideal starting point for exploring Berlin’s layered history.

Pro tip: Visit at dawn for nearly empty Pariser Platz and stunning east-facing light on the gate. Then walk south for five minutes to the Holocaust Memorial, where the 2,711 concrete stelae are most atmospheric in the quiet morning light before tour groups arrive.