Charlottenburg Palace is Berlin’s grandest surviving royal residence, a Baroque landmark whose copper dome rises above the city’s western districts. Begun in the late 17th century as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of the future King Frederick I of Prussia, it was expanded over generations of Hohenzollern rule and renamed in her honour after her death.
Inside, royal apartments and ceremonial rooms trace changing Prussian tastes, from the lavish Porcelain Cabinet to the Rococo splendour of the Golden Gallery. Badly damaged during World War II, the palace was painstakingly reconstructed, making a visit as much a glimpse into Berlin’s postwar history as its royal past.
The palace gardens are worth time in their own right. Formal parterres near the building give way to a landscape park with shaded paths, water and historic structures, including the Mausoleum and Belvedere. Berliners come here to walk and run, lending the grounds an easygoing atmosphere despite their regal setting.
Allow a few hours for the palace and gardens, or longer if you plan to visit the outlying buildings. Entry to the gardens is free, while palace interiors and some garden buildings require tickets; check current opening times and ticket options before visiting. The M45 bus stops near the palace, and weekday mornings are generally quieter than summer weekends.