Is Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Berlin’s Answer To The Upper East Side?

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, made up by the districts of Charlottenberg, Charlottenburg-Nord, Grunewald, Halensee, Schmargendorf, Westend, and Wilmersdorf, is a very chic and grown-up borough of Berlin. Just to the east of Mitte, it’s home to some of the most iconic locations in all of Berlin.

One of the most well known places in Berlin, the Berlin Zoo (S+U Zoologischer Garten), is located within Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The Berlin Zoo, which came to worldwide fame with the birth of the polar bear Knut in 2006, plays host to more than 3 million visitors per year, and is a fantastic place to visit for young and old alike. Next door to the Berlin Zoo is the Zoo-Aquarium, where you can see jellyfish, sharks, and crocodiles.

Just minutes away from the Berlin Zoo is Kurfürstendamm, the main shopping avenue within Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. It is here that you will be able to find Chanel, Cartier, Hermès, and any other designer your heart desires. Although you may not make any purchases, Ku’Damm makes for great window shopping if nothing else.

One of the most unique cafes in Berlin is also not far away from the zoo. The Schwarzes Café (Kantstr. 148, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) does two things that are quite rare in Germany—it’s open 24 hours a day, and never stops serving breakfast. Great for a quick bite to eat in between seeing the sites, or for a longer sit down dinner, the Schwarzes Café offers excellent food without breaking your budget.

Farther west is Schloss Charlottenburg (Spandauer Damm 10-22, S-Bahn Westend or U7 Richard-Wagner-Platz), where you can enjoy beautiful gardens or opt to take a tour of the castle itself. Filled with baroque and rococo art, the palace was built with fine attention to ornamental detail, and thus is breathtaking to see up close. Open year round, you will not regret going to the Charlottenburg Palace, even if it’s only to look at the gardens and marvel at the outside of the palace.

After leaving Schloss Charlottenburg, hop onto the S-Bahn at Westend and head to the Olympic Stadium. Although the stadium was constructed for the 1936 Summer Olympics, today it serves as homebase for Hertha BSC, Berlin’s official soccer team. You can arrange for a customized tour in English or another language of your choice, or just walk around the grounds and see the massive stadium and 77 meter tall Bell Tower.