Vacationing in Berlin versus Vacationing in Munich
Germany offers a lot to the international traveler. In addition to its beautiful rural countryside, Germany’s two major cities, Berlin and Munich, can give holiday-makers a uniquely German and European experience. Even though both cities are within the same country, travelers will undoubtedly notice big dissimilarities. In order to make an informed decision on which city to visit, travelers need to consider the differences in historical, political, cultural and fine art attractions offered in both Berlin and Munich.
Unlike most other countries in Europe, Germany’s borders shifted on several occasions due to wars and failed alliances. The city of Berlin is recovering from being separated from its other half for more than 44 years following the end of World War II. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, hasn’t been considered to be a German city for more than 95 years. When visitors look for traces of German History in either city, they may find a great variety of results. Berlin’s major historical attractions seem to focus on the time during and after the Second World War. The city was the hub of Nazi government and played a major role in the surrender of Germany in 1945. Visitors can see the ruins of the war damaged Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, The House of the Wannsee Konferenz, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie. In contrast, Munich did not suffer major damage in World War II and remained mostly intact. Therefore, a lot of the city’s medieval architecture survived and can be visited. A good example is the “Old Court” Gate and Palace. Several interesting structures were built in the Baroque and Rococo era and are available to visit, like the Residence Palace and the Frauenkirche.
In terms of important government buildings and institutions, Berlin features all of Germany’s capital buildings, like the infamous Reichstag. Tours are available to see German government up close. Bavaria has its own sub...