20th Anniversary Edition · MESD'26 · 10–11 December 2026 · Berlin, Germany
Essential sights, history and culture for your stay in Berlin
MESD'26 will take place in Berlin on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December 2026. The German capital offers an exceptional combination of political history, architecture, museums, memorial sites and contemporary culture. If you are extending your stay around the conference, the places below provide an excellent introduction to the city.
Start with Berlin's most recognisable landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, then walk to the nearby Reichstag, home of the German Bundestag. The Reichstag's glass dome offers panoramic views over the government district and central Berlin.
Good to know: Admission to the Reichstag dome is free, but advance registration is required.
Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the historic centre, brings together major collections of art and cultural history. Berlin Cathedral and the Humboldt Forum are immediately nearby, making this one of the city's richest cultural areas.
MESD'26 note: The Pergamonmuseum will still be closed for renovation in December 2026, while the other Museum Island institutions remain the main reason to visit the ensemble.
On Bernauer Strasse, the Berlin Wall Memorial is one of the best places to understand the division of Berlin and everyday life along the former border. The site combines preserved elements of the Wall with an outdoor exhibition, documentation centre and memorial spaces.
This long surviving section of the Berlin Wall beside the River Spree became an open-air gallery after reunification. Its murals make it one of the city's most distinctive places where contemporary art and Cold War history meet.
Located close to the Brandenburg Gate, the field of concrete stelae is one of Berlin's most important places of remembrance. An underground information centre provides historical context and documents the persecution and murder of European Jews.
Alexanderplatz is a major landmark of former East Berlin and an important transport hub. Beside it, the Berlin TV Tower provides a panoramic view across the city and is particularly useful for understanding Berlin's scale and urban geography.
One of Berlin's most elegant historic squares, Gendarmenmarkt is framed by the Konzerthaus, the German Cathedral and the French Cathedral. It is an attractive stop while exploring the historic centre around Friedrichstrasse and Unter den Linden.
For a different side of Berlin, visit Charlottenburg Palace in the west of the city. The former royal residence, its historic interiors and riverside park provide a window onto Prussian court culture and the city's pre-modern history.
For conference participants with limited free time, a very effective introduction to Berlin is to begin at the Reichstag, continue to the Brandenburg Gate and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, then walk along Unter den Linden toward Museum Island. From there, continue to the Humboldt Forum and Alexanderplatz.
This route brings together Berlin's political institutions, twentieth-century history, major memorial sites and the historic city centre without requiring a full sightseeing day.
The ICN Business School Berlin Campus is in Moabit, along the River Spree. The Tiergarten, Berlin's central park, and the government district around the Reichstag are convenient areas to combine with your conference stay. A walk along the Spree is also a pleasant way to experience the relationship between Berlin's contemporary architecture, political institutions and public spaces.
Berlin's official tourism portal provides current information on sights, museums, exhibitions, events and visitor services.
For public transport routes, tickets and live service information, consult BVG, Berlin's public transport operator.
Suggestions on this page are intended as a concise starting point for MESD'26 participants. Please consult the linked official sources before travelling for current opening hours, reservations and access conditions.