Quick Answer
Capital of Germany: 1. Modern capital (1990-present): BERLIN. 3.7 million population. 6 million metro. 2. Bonn was West German capital 1949-90: small Rhine city. 3. East German capital was East Berlin (1949-90): Soviet zone. 4. German reunification October 3, 1990: Berlin restored as unified capital. 5. Bundestag (German parliament) moved 1999: from Bonn to Berlin Reichstag. 6. Previous German capitals: Berlin (1871-1945 German Empire + Weimar Republic + Third Reich). Various medieval Holy Roman Empire seats. 7. Why Bonn was chosen 1949: small + non-imperial + close to Konrad Adenauer’s home. Provisional capital. 8. Berlin districts: 12 official boroughs. Mitte (center), Kreuzberg (alternative), Charlottenburg (west), Prenzlauer Berg (gentrified). 9. Top sights: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Berlin Wall Memorial, Museum Island UNESCO, Holocaust Memorial. 10. Visit duration: 4-5 days minimum.
Berlin — Germany’s current capital
- Berlin: capital since 1990 (officially restored after reunification).
- Population: 3.7 million. Metropolitan area 6 million.
- Area: 891 km² — largest city in Germany.
- Location: Northeast Germany, on Spree + Havel rivers.
- State: Berlin is itself a federal state (Bundesland) + city.
- Districts: 12 boroughs (Bezirke). Mitte, Kreuzberg, Charlottenburg, Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Spandau, Neukölln, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Treptow-Köpenick, Pankow, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Lichtenberg.
- Bundestag (parliament): Reichstag building. Free entry with advance booking.
- Chancellor\’s office: Chancellery on Spree.
- Foreign ministries: many on Wilhelmstraße.
- Mayor: Berlin\’s Governing Mayor — similar to state premier + city mayor combined.
- Economy: services + tourism + government + startups (Berlin “Silicon Allee”).
Bonn — West German capital 1949-1990
- Bonn: West German capital 1949-1990 (41 years).
- Why Bonn: small city (population 300,000) + non-imperial + Konrad Adenauer\’s home region.
- “Provisional capital”: Adenauer specifically called Bonn “provisorische Hauptstadt” — meaning Bonn was temporary until reunification.
- Population: 330,000 today.
- Location: western Germany on Rhine river, between Cologne + Koblenz.
- Federal city status: retained as “Bundesstadt” — 6 federal ministries still based here.
- Beethoven\’s birthplace: composer born 1770 Bonn.
- UNICEF + UNFCCC + Deutsche Welle: still headquartered Bonn.
- Sights: Beethoven House, Old Town Hall, Poppelsdorf Castle, museums.
- Bonn-Berlin 1999 transition: federal government partially moved to Berlin.
- “Bonn-Berlin compromise” 1991: kept some federal functions in Bonn.
- Visit Bonn day-trip from Berlin: 4h ICE train.
Capital history timeline
- 800-1806: Holy Roman Empire — capitals rotated (Aachen, Vienna, Prague).
- 1701-1871: Kingdom of Prussia capital was Berlin.
- 1871-1918: German Empire (Kaiserreich) — Berlin capital.
- 1918-1933: Weimar Republic — Berlin capital.
- 1933-1945: Third Reich — Berlin capital. Hitler\’s Bunker.
- 1945-1949: Allied occupation. Berlin divided into 4 zones (American + British + French + Soviet).
- 1949-1990: Cold War division. West Germany capital = Bonn. East Germany capital = East Berlin.
- 1961: Berlin Wall built (August 13).
- 1989: Berlin Wall fell (November 9).
- 1990 October 3: German reunification. Berlin designated unified capital.
- 1999: Bundestag officially moved Bonn→Berlin Reichstag.
- 2006: Norman Foster\’s glass dome on Reichstag complete.
- 2020s: Berlin growing population + tech hub.
Top Berlin attractions
- Brandenburg Gate: 1791 monument. Symbol of reunification. Free + always accessible.
- Reichstag with Foster glass dome: free entry but book online 2-4 weeks ahead.
- Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse): most authentic preserved Wall section + watchtowers. Free.
- Checkpoint Charlie: historic East-West crossing. Free + Wall Museum €18.
- East Side Gallery: 1.3 km Wall covered in 105 murals (Friedrichshain). Free.
- Topography of Terror: outdoor + indoor exhibition on Gestapo HQ site. Free.
- Holocaust Memorial: 2,711 concrete blocks. Free + underground exhibition.
- Museum Island UNESCO: 5 museums. €18 day pass / €29 3-day pass.
- DDR Museum: East German daily life interactive. €13.
- Tempelhofer Feld: old airport runways turned giant urban park. Free.
- Berghain: world\’s most famous techno club. Strict door.
- Berliner Philharmoniker concerts: Philharmonie hall.
Berlin neighborhoods
- Mitte: central district — Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Unter den Linden, Hackescher Markt.
- Kreuzberg: Turkish quarter + immigrant cuisine + alternative scene + Görlitzer Park.
- Friedrichshain: hipster + East Side Gallery + Berghain nightlife.
- Prenzlauer Berg: family-friendly + cafés + Mauerpark Sunday flea market.
- Charlottenburg: west Berlin elegant + Schloss Charlottenburg + Kurfürstendamm shopping.
- Neukölln: trendier than Kreuzberg now + Sonnenallee.
- Schöneberg: LGBTQ+ historic + Winterfeldtplatz market.
- Wedding: emerging gentrification + Volkspark Rehberge.
- Tempelhof: old airport turned giant urban park.
- Mauerpark Sunday market + karaoke: iconic Sunday afternoon culture.
- Spreewald (1.5h): UNESCO biosphere with canals + Sorbian culture.
Practical Berlin travel
- Currency: EUR.
- Berlin Welcome Card 48h €23 / 72h €33: transit + 200+ discounts.
- Single transit ticket: €3.50 Zone AB.
- Apps: BVG Fahrinfo (transit), DB Navigator (intercity).
- Best time: April-October. May + September best balance.
- Christmas markets: November-December (Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace).
- Budget mid-range: €120-200/day.
- Cards + cash: Berlin still cash-friendly. Always carry €20-50.
- Tipping: 10% standard.
- Languages: German + English widely spoken. Turkish in Kreuzberg.
- Airport BER (Berlin Brandenburg): opened 2020 after delays. 30 min FEX or S-Bahn to centre.
- Train (Berlin Hauptbahnhof): Europe\’s largest crossing station. ICE connections.
- Visit Bonn day-trip: 4h ICE train via Frankfurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Germany?
Berlin (since 1990 reunification). 3.7 million population. East Germany capital was East Berlin (1949-90). West Germany capital was Bonn (1949-90).
Why was Bonn West German capital?
Adenauer chose Bonn 1949 as ‘provisional capital’ until reunification. Small + non-imperial + close to his home. Reunification 1990 → Berlin restored.
When did Berlin become unified capital?
October 3, 1990 (Day of German Unity). Bundestag moved officially 1999. Berlin Wall fell November 9, 1989.
Top Berlin attractions?
Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag (book ahead), Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse), Museum Island UNESCO, Holocaust Memorial, East Side Gallery, Tempelhofer Feld.
Bonn worth visiting?
Day trip from Berlin or Cologne. Beethoven House, Old Town, UN agencies still based there. 4h ICE train from Berlin.
How many days for Berlin?
4-5 days minimum for highlights. 7+ days for deep exploration (museums, nightlife, neighborhoods). Cheap city for Western European capital.
Recommended on Amazon
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- Lonely Planet Berlin — comprehensive.
- German phrasebook — travel.
- Berlin Wall coffee table book — history.