Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), Berlin

Berlin's primary railway station officially commenced full operations just two days after a grand ceremonial inauguration on May 26, 2006. The event was attended by former Chancellor Angela Merkel and marked the replacement of an older 19th-century railway building.

This station plays a pivotal role in Berlin's transportation landscape, embodying the "mushroom concept," where it serves as a central nexus for various modes of public transport, facilitating seamless connections and intersections of different lines. The name "mushroom" is derived from the unique shape created by the integration of the new railway line with existing ones, resembling, albeit loosely, the form of a mushroom.

The station's impressive hall is constructed with steel and glass, stretching from east to west. At its heart lies a station building with a sprawling 70,000 square meters of floor space, housing a diverse array of retail stores and cafes. From pharmacies to florists, you can find all sorts of shops within this multifaceted complex, leading to its description as a shopping center with the added bonus of being connected to the railway network.