If there's one place in Berlin where you can see the city's history collide, it's Alexanderplatz. A medieval church sits in the shadow of a towering piece of East German modernism, trams rattle across the square, and the TV Tower watches over the whole scene. It's not subtle, but then Berlin rarely is.

Ask a Berliner for directions and sooner or later they'll point up. The Fernsehturm, as locals call the TV Tower, is visible from almost anywhere in the city. It's the ultimate landmark, and the easiest way to find your bearings when the streets start to blur together.

Let's be honest: the square itself isn't Berlin at its prettiest. There's concrete, traffic, trains and plenty of people with somewhere to be. But don't rush off. Alexanderplatz is a brilliant starting point, and some of the city's most interesting corners are just a short walk away.

Within five or ten minutes, you'll find medieval architecture, hidden courtyards, independent galleries, historic cinemas, riverside lawns and some of the best stories in Berlin. This is a city that rewards curiosity, and the Alex is a pretty good place to start.

Here's how to explore it, from a friend who lives on the doorstep.

First, a little local knowledge: Alexanderplatz isn't a neighbourhood. It's a square in Mitte, Berlin's historic centre, although the name tends to be used for the wider area too. The square takes its name from Tsar Alexander I, who visited Berlin in 1805. Berliners have long since shortened it to something much easier to say. To everyone here, it's simply the Alex.

It's also a place that's had more than a few reinventions. Alfred Döblin put it on the literary map with his 1929 novel Berlin Alexanderplatz. A few decades later, East Germany set about reshaping the square into a showcase of socialist modernism. The result? The TV Tower and the World Clock, two landmarks that have become as much a part of Berlin's identity as the Brandenburg Gate. The World Clock has been keeping track of time in cities around the world since 1969.

Marienkirche

But look beyond the concrete and the crowds and there's something much older. The Marienkirche, tucked into the shadow of the tower, dates back to the 13th century and is still a working parish church. Step inside and the noise of the square seems a world away.

East German modernism is everywhere around the Alex. You'll either love it immediately or find yourself warming to it as you explore. The TV Tower is the obvious star, rising 368 metres above the city, while the surrounding square is a fascinating snapshot of the architectural ambitions of another era.

But there's another side to the area's design story, and you can find it inside Bob W.

Art isn't an afterthought here; it's part of the building's identity. Two artists have created work that gives the property its own personality, and it's worth taking a moment to discover it.

Look out for the artwork as you move through the building. The contrast between the industrial exterior and the warmer, more colourful spaces inside is part of what makes Bob W distinctive. It's a little reminder that Berlin has always been a city where creativity finds a way into unexpected places.

On 4 November 1989, up to 500,000 people gathered in Alexanderplatz to demand free speech, free elections and democratic reform. It was one of the largest demonstrations in East German history. Five days later, the Berlin Wall opened. It's hard to stand in the square and not think about it.

The Alex also belongs to two storytellers. Döblin wrote it into literature in 1929, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder turned his novel into a 14-part television adaptation in 1980. Both are still the best introductions to the place, if you have a long weekend and a strong coffee.

Otto Weidt's workshop

And a few streets away, on Rosenthaler Strasse, Otto Weidt ran a brush workshop where he employed Jewish workers, many of them blind or deaf. During the war, he did everything he could to protect them from persecution, providing hiding places and helping some escape deportation. The workshop is now a small museum, and one of the most moving hours you can spend in Berlin.

Berlin TV Tower

The Berlin TV Tower is 368 metres tall and the obvious first stop. Go up for the view, then stay for lunch at Sphere by Tim Raue, the revolving restaurant that completes a full rotation every 30 minutes. You'll get a constantly changing panoramic view of the city while you eat.

Museum Island

Museum Island is a short walk west. The Neues Museum is open, and Nefertiti is as calm as ever. She's one of Berlin's most famous residents, after all.

Hackesche Höfe

The Hackesche Höfe are made for getting a little lost. Eight interconnected Art Nouveau courtyards, originally opened in 1906, are now home to cafés, independent shops, galleries and a cinema. Go through one entrance and see where you end up. Each courtyard has its own character, and there's plenty to discover if you take your time.

Babylon

The Babylon cinema on Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse is another worthwhile detour. Opened in 1929, this historic cinema has a repertory programme, independent films and silent-film screenings accompanied by live music on its original cinema organ.

★ Don't miss: the free silent-film screening at midnight every Saturday. A pretty special way to spend the small hours in Berlin.

Shopping around Hackescher Markt

For shopping, the streets around Hackescher Markt have it covered: independent designer boutiques, streetwear, vintage and second-hand finds, and concept stores you won't find anywhere else. The weekly market at Hackescher Markt takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays, with food, handicrafts and plenty of interesting things to browse. Saturday is particularly good for the art and gourmet market, so leave a little room in your day for a wander.

Berlin is a city that takes its food seriously, but it doesn't always take itself seriously. Around the Alex, you'll find everything from quick street-food favourites to historic restaurants that have been feeding Berliners for centuries.

Some of Berlin's best discoveries aren't on the main sightseeing route. They're the places you stumble across when you take a wrong turn, follow a courtyard entrance or decide to walk one more street.

Klosterruine

The Klosterruine is what's left of a Franciscan monastery church, now used for outdoor art shows and cultural events. You can explore the remains when access is available. In winter, it may just be a view from the railings, but it's still worth the detour.

Haus Schwarzenberg

Rosenthaler Strasse 39

Haus Schwarzenberg sits right next to the Hackesche Höfe and could not be more different. Its courtyard is covered in street art, with layers of murals, stickers and graffiti creating an ever-changing open-air gallery. Inside you'll find an independent cinema, the Anne Frank Zentrum and the Otto Weidt museum. It's one of those places that makes you glad you didn't just walk past.

Monbijoupark

Monbijoupark is a riverside lawn on the Spree, opposite Museum Island. When you've had enough sightseeing, spread out on the grass, watch the boats drift past and enjoy doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes that's the best thing you can do in Berlin.

Alexanderplatz is a place of contrasts, and that's exactly what makes it such a good base for exploring Berlin. One minute you're surrounded by the monumental architecture of the GDR, the next you're wandering through medieval streets, discovering independent galleries or settling into a café for a coffee that turns into lunch.

Bob W Berlin Alexanderplatz puts you right in the middle of it all. The building has a bold metal exterior, but step inside and you'll find warm, colourful studios, each with its own kitchen and artwork created for the space.

The creative work of Amir Fattal and Otto Baum gives the building a character all of its own, from the art pieces in the rooms to the striking mural and window paintings. It's a little slice of Berlin creativity to come home to after a day exploring the city.

With 285 studios and Alexanderplatz station around 100 metres from the front door, getting around couldn't be easier. Head out for museums, markets, late-night drinks or a long wander through Mitte, then come back, put the kettle on and make yourself at home.

Where to stay in Berlin

Opening April 2027

Bob W Berlin Alexanderplatz

Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 33, 10178 Berlin

Our biggest Bob yet, by the TV Tower: 285 studios, a co-working lounge, and art by Amir Fattal and Otto Baum inside and out.

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Open now

Bob W Berlin Mitte

Köpenicker Strasse 92, 10179 Berlin

Can't wait for April? Neither can we. Our small, friendly Bob in Mitte is ready for you now, two minutes from Heinrich-Heine-Strasse U-Bahn and an easy hop to the Alex. Studios with somewhere to cook, plus our local breakfast and gym partners nearby.

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Because the best way to experience Berlin isn't to tick off every attraction. It's to find your own corner of the city.

Bob W, your friend in town.