The bridge that splits the frame exactly right

Oberbaumbrücke crosses the Spree between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, and from the riverside the red-brick towers reflect in the river with the sky above. The bridge runs roughly northeast–southwest, so afternoon light from the west falls on the brick directly. The East Side Gallery runs 1.3 kilometers along the Spree's east bank — the murals face west, meaning late-afternoon sun hits them square on. For sky and scale, Tempelhofer Feld, the decommissioned airport turned public park, is flat and open with 360-degree views and no obstructions. Berlin is one of the cloudier capitals in Europe — the light on high-pressure days is exceptional precisely because it's scarce. The Berliner Dom and the TV Tower are both best in early morning before the tour boats fill the Spree.