Berlin’s Top 10 : Churches & Synagogues

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  1. Berliner Dom

    Berlin
    Cathedral, the largest and most lavish church in town, was reopened in
    1993, after almost 40 years of restoration. Designed by Julius Raschdorf
    in 1894–1905, the building reflects the empire’s aspirations to power.
    In particular, the imperial stairs, made from black marble, are a
    manifestation of the proximity of the Hohenzollern town residence
    opposite the cathedral. Members of this ruling dynasty are buried in the
    crypt. The main nave, topped by a 85-m (279-ft) high dome is
    remarkable. The church is dominated by a magnificent 20th-century
    Neo-Baroque pulpit and the giant Sauer organ.

    • Am Lustgarten

    • Apr–Sep: 9am–8pm Mon–Sat, noon–8pm Sun; Oct–Mar: 9am–7pm Mon–Sat, noon–7pm Sun

    • 030 20 26 91 19




    Berliner Dom

  2. St Hedwigskathedrale

    Berlin’s largest Catholic church was commissioned by Frederick the Great in 1747–73 after his conquest of Silesia .

    • Bebelplatz

    • 030 203 48 10

    • 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, 1–5pm Sun




    St Hedwigskathedrale

  3. Marienkirche

    Work
    started in 1270 on the Church of St Mary, which nestles at the foot of
    the Fernsehturm. Gothic and Baroque in style, it has an impressive
    Neo-Gothic tower, added in 1790 by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The font
    (1437) and the fresco Dance of the Dead (1485) are among the church’s oldest treasures. The richly ornamented Baroque pulpit was created by Andreas Schlüter in 1703.

    • Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 8

    • 10am–6pm Mon–Sat, noon–6pm Sun; Services 10:30am Sun

    • Admission charge




    Font in Marienkirche

  4. Nikolaikirche

    Berlin’s
    oldest sacred building, the Church of St Nicholas was built in 1230, in
    the Nikolaiviertel. The present church, with its red-brick twin towers,
    dates from around 1300. It is particularly famous for the portal on the
    west wall of the main nave, created by Andreas Schlüter. It is adorned
    with a gilded relief depicting a goldsmith and his wife. The church was
    rebuilt in 1987 and completely restored in 2009.

    • Nikolaikirchplatz

    • 10am–6pm Tue–Sun




    The interior of Nikolaikirche

  5. Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche

    A
    landmark in West Berlin, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
    successfully combines modern architecture with the ruins of the church
    tower.

  6. Neue Synagoge

    Berlin’s
    largest synagogue, built originally in 1859–66, was demolished in World
    War II but completely reconstructed in 1988–95. Its magnificent dome is
    visible from afar.

    • Oranienburger Str. 29–30

    • 030 88 02 83 00

    • Admission charge




    Dome of the Neue Synagoge

  7. Friedrichswerdersche Kirche

    This
    small brick church was built by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1824–30, in
    the Neo-Gothic style. Originally it was meant to serve the German and
    French communities of the Friedrichswerder district. Today, the Schinkel
    Museum is based here.

    • Werderscher Markt

  8. Synagoge Rykestraße

    The small synagogue looks the same today as when it was originally built 100 years ago .

  9. Christi-Auferstehungs-Kirche

    The
    only Russian-Orthodox church in Berlin, the Church of Christ’s
    Ascension is known for its green onion domes. Services are still held in
    Russian, following Orthodox rituals.

    • Hohenzollerndamm 166

    • Only during service 10am & 6pm Sat, 10am Sun

  10. Französischer Dom

    At
    66 m (216 ft) high, this Baroque tower, which dates back to 1701–5, is a
    magnificent ornamental structure for the church serving Berlin’s
    Huguenot community.

    • Gendarmenmarkt 5

    • 030 206 499 22

    • noon–5pm Tue–Sun