local places to visit in berlin

29 Cool Things To Do in Berlin – the Touristy Stuff + My Favourite Hidden Gems

I have lived in berlin, still travel there many times a year and try to keep my finger on the pulse of what to see and experience in the german capital..

In this post, I will share some of the best & coolest things to do in Berlin .

Planning a last minute trip to Berlin? 🇩🇪 Here are my favourite places to stay & things to do in German capital. 🛌 Places to Stay : 1. Hotel Adlon Kempinski (luxury hotel where all the celebs are staying too, right by the Brandenburg Gate) 2. NH Collection Mitte (very good hotel with an even better location in the heart of Berlin) 3. H4 Hotel Alexanderplatz (affordable hotel near Alexanderplatz and my favourite area, Prenzlauer Berg) 🎟️ Top Activities & Tours : 1. Fast-track ticket to the TV Tower (skip the slow-moving queue) 2. Go on Boat Tour on the River Spree (lovely way to see a lot of sights) 3. Take a Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour 4. Take a guided tour to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial 🚇 Get The Berlin WelcomeCard for easy access to public transport (it's also valid on the Airport Express train) & huge discounts on a lot of activities in Berlin.

I’ll mention the top things to do and come up with my favourites from when I lived in the German capital and from my many subsequent travels.

I used to run my own travel agency where I customised trips to Berlin, so if you’ve any questions about Berlin, you’re more than welcome to comment below.

1. The TV tower at Alexanderplatz

2. boat trip in berlin – see the sights from the river spree.

• 3. Sightseeing bus tour (Berlin is a huge city!)

4. The Stasi prison in Hohenschönhausen

5. berlin story bunker – wwii museum, the best way to see the sights in berlin: walk from alexanderplatz to the brandenburg gate, 6. alexanderplatz, 7. rotes rathaus, 8. berliner dom, 9. unter den linden, 10. bebelplatz, 11. gendarmenmarkt, 12. checkpoint charlie, 13. the wall panorama museum, wwii things to do in berlin, 14. topography of terror, 15. the holocaust memorial, 16. the brandenburg gate – berlin’s best-known sight, 17. the bundestag – the german parliament, the berlin wall, 18. east side gallery, 19. gedänkstätte berlin mauer, 20. museum island – 5 world-famous museums on one island, 21. panoramapunkt – see berlin from the top of potsdamer platz, 22. madame tussauds berlin, 23. alternative berlin experience – an alternative guided tour, 24. kurfürstendamm – the trendy shopping street in charlottenburg, 25. kaiser wilhelm memorial church, 26. berlin victory column and tiergarten, 27. berlin zoo, 28. olympiastadion – the olympic stadium used at the 1936 olympics, 29. eat a döner, what are the best things to do in berlin, what are some hidden gems & non-touristy things to do in berlin, when is it best to visit berlin, what are the best areas of berlin, how many days should you spend in berlin, what to do in berlin on a sunday.

First, I would recommend everyone going on a city break in Berlin buy the so-called Berlin Welcome Card .

It’s a card for tourists that gives access to the city’s public transport for 48 hours, 72 hours or 5 days. It is very useful when going around and seeing sights.

In addition to providing access to public transport in Berlin and transportation from Berlin airport to the city centre , you also get a discount on over 200 different sights in Berlin, so it makes a lot of sense to invest in the Berlin WelcomeCard.

Let’s begin with my guide to Berlin’s best things to do.

The legendary TV tower right by Alexanderplatz is an unavoidable attraction on the trip to Berlin.

The TV tower can be seen from most of Berlin and is a good benchmark for where you are in the enormous German capital.

The view from up there is awe-inspiring, and you get a sense of how big a city Berlin is.

A trip up the TV tower is thus also an excellent experience for children and adults.

• A mistake I made when I first went up the TV tower in Berlin was not buying a skip-the-line ticket.

How stupid I felt when I stood in the queue for an hour and a half and saw people skipping the line because they had already booked a ticket.

I won’t make that mistake again, and I can strongly recommend everyone who wants to visit the iconic tower buy a ticket from home.

Get your fast-track ticket here .

When going to Berlin on a city break, you’ll see the river Spree , which cuts its folds right through the middle of Berlin. The fact that the Spree is centrally located in the city means you pass a string of attractions on a boat trip in Berlin.

There are many different boat trips in Berlin, and many companies organise popular trips.

As always, however, it is possible to book the ticket from home and be guaranteed a place on a boat.

Look at this 1-hour boat trip around the Reichstag and Museum Island .

The boat docks in Berlin Mitte, my top recommended area for places to stay in Berlin .

3. Sightseeing bus tour ( Berlin is a huge city ! )

When I lived in Berlin, I took a bus ride with my family when they visited me.

I admit I should have done that as one of the first things as I got to the city.

Most people have tried to be on these classic sightseeing bus tours in various European cities, which can sometimes be a bit unnecessary, but in Berlin, in particular, it makes a lot of sense to go on a bus tour around and see the sights.

Berlin is huge and divided into many different districts, each with its own life and hubs.

With a bus tour (where you can hop on and off as you please for 24 hours), it is possible to experience several different parts of the city and sights quickly.

See more about sightseeing bus tours in Berlin here .

I when on a school trip to Berlin as a teenager in high school, where we started our trip by visiting the old Stasi prison in Hohenschönhausen . I don’t think I was the only one who got nauseous from being there.

In other words, it is not the most uplifting thing to do in Berlin, but it is perhaps the one on the list that has made the biggest impression on me.

You can only go on guided tours of the prison, and the wild thing is that the guides are often former prisoners under the GDR regime . In other words, they know what they’re talking about when they show around the dungeons.

A scary but exhilarating historical thing to do in Berlin .

There are guided tours in English every day at 10:40, 12:40 and 14:40.

You can book online here .

As the prison is located a good distance out in eastern Berlin, a special tour has been made where you are picked up by a private driver at your hotel and driven to and from the prison.

See more about this tour here .

Another fascinating place for those interested in history, particularly WWII, is the Berlin Story Bunker.

Here you can see the exhibition “Hitler, How Could It Happen” and learn about Hitler, Nazism and the history of Berlin.

In addition, there is a large model of Hitler’s “ führerbunker “, where he ended his days at the end of World War II.

See more about the Berlin Bunker Story .

When I had my own travel agency, I made tailor-made trips for Berlin (as well as London , Scotland and New York City ).

Here I also came up with recommendations of things to do and made walks that passed some of the city’s best attractions.

And perhaps, in particular, experiences in Berlin about the Second World War.

When I was a tour guide for a bus full of Danish tourists a few months ago, I finally got the opportunity to test my one walk myself and it worked really well!

So I would recommend it if you want to see some of Berlin’s best sights on a walk that takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the pace and coffee stops.

I’ve made a video where I’m walking this exact route in Berlin:

The tour starts at Alexanderplatz, which is well-known to many tourists. It’s not really because anything extraordinary is happening right here, but it’s a bit of a ‘hub’ for public transport and, thus, a fine landmark.

However, one thing you should see at Alexanderplatz is the World Time Clock .

(The TV Tower is also located here – so you could start the walk by going up the tower )

Then the tour continues past the Rotes Rathaus , Berlin’s town hall and one of the more iconic buildings in the German capital.

Rotes Rathaus is close to Alexanderplatz and is Berlin’s stunning town hall.

The river Spree is crossed and immediately thunders Berliner Dom as you start the tour on Unter den Linden .

From the road, you can even look towards Museumsinsel , the museum island, where the world-famous Pergamon Museum is located (more on this later in this guide).

Unter den Linden goes up to the Brandenburger Tor, which is (almost) the last point of the walk, but we turn left at Bebelplatz .

Bebelplatz is the square where the Nazis burned over 20,000 books by mainly Jewish authors in 1933.

The walk continues to Gendarmenmarkt, where we find both the French and German churches. A beautiful square inspired by the Piazza del Popolo in Rome.

This would be an excellent place for a coffee stop.

From here, it is a short walk down to another iconic attraction in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, which hardly requires much introduction.

Around Checkpoint Charlie is always a bit busy in the street with street vendors selling a lot of junk from the GDR era.

Personally, I don’t think the GDR is something that should be celebrated, and I always cringe when I see people who wear GDR merchandise but to each his own taste…

Right next to Checkpoint Charlie is an interactive museum that always triggers my curiosity when I’m on these edges. It is relatively new, and the times I have been past it, I have not had time to look inside.

On the other hand, I have only heard positive things about it and can also read from the reviews that it should be fascinating.

The museum is called THE WALL – Panorama and, although I can’t say for sure, I think it’s worth a visit.

Read more about the museum and buy a ticket here , it’s quite cheap actually.

The next places on the walk are unfortunately not ones you pass with a huge smile on your face, but I still think they are important to pass by.

From here, it’s just a matter of following the Berlin Wall westbound.

Then you hit (yet another) slightly depressing thing to see in Berlin, the SS’s old headquarters, which has now been converted into a museum, which shows just what atrocities the Nazis were behind – Topography of Terror .

The Topography of Terror in Berlin isn’t particularly cheerful, but I’d still recommend it if you’re interested in history – it’s free , by the way.

You could swing past Potsdamer Platz from here, which is often mentioned as a place in Berlin you should see, but in my view, there is nothing to go there for – it’s just a big square…

The next point on the walk is also not in the funny category, but nevertheless one of the city’s most well-known and visited attractions – the monument to the Jews killed during the Second World War .

You have undoubtedly seen pictures of the place, but it is a different experience to walk around in the middle of the memorial, which is surprisingly ‘deep’.

As a side note, Hitler’s bunker is buried a few meters from the memorial. But there is nothing to see as it’s just a parking lot and is not marked with anything other than a small sign, so it won’t be an attraction in itself – I like that very much.

Just around the corner from the memorial, we find the Brandenburg Gate, which must be one of the gates that have experienced the most in its history.

Like so many other places in Berlin, you feel the whir of history at the Brandenburger Tor and Strasse des 17. Juni , which leads up to the Victory Column.

However, my walk does not end there – it instead “ends” just around the corner at the German Bundestag.

The Bundestag building, like the Brandenburg Gate and generally this Berlin area, has seen much happen .

The history of the building is truly unique and, thus, an attraction in Berlin that you have to experience.

I have made a Google Map that shows all the mentioned sights you can experience on this walk from Alexanderplatz to the Bundestag:

Of course, you can’t make a guide on things to do in Berlin without mentioning the Berlin Wall , one of Berlin’s sights that must be experienced.

There are still quite a few pieces of the Berlin Wall around the city, but more and more are being removed year by year.

Below, let me briefly review two of the most well-known places to experience the Berlin Wall.

The East Side Gallery , located right by the Spree on the east side (close to, among other things, Warschauer Strasse Station and the well-known Simon Dach Strasse), is the part of the wall that most people have seen from home.

This is where the wall is decorated with graffiti and the well-known “kissing painting” of Gorbachev and Honecker, which in many ways symbolises the fall of the GDR.

You can still see that, and it is undoubtedly a rather exciting experience in Berlin, which can be recommended.

Incidentally, the area around the East Side Gallery has developed a lot (like the rest of the city) in the last few years.

When I lived in Berlin, the area was relatively dead – now it is packed with offices, brand-new buildings and the large Mercedes Benz Arena for concerts and ice hockey.

Check out this Cold War Walking Tour if you want to get the full experience at the East Side Gallery.

Many tourists love Prenzlauer Berg (I lived there myself and still love the area), so we like to go there. And it is especially recommended on Sundays when there is a large flea market in Mauerpark.

But did you know that a few hundred meters from Mauerpark are a larger area where you can see pieces of the Berlin Wall?

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer is a larger area where you can experience the history of the Berlin Wall for free.

Read more about the site here .

Museumsinsel , the museum island , is located in Mitte and a stone’s throw from Berliner Dom so you could squeeze it into the sightseeing tour.

Still, there is also good reason to set aside most of the day if you want to visit all five museums on Museum Island.

Altes Museum is the island’s and one of Berlin’s oldest museums, originally built from 1823 to 1830. Here you will find antique exhibitions with everything from antique vases to sculptures and antique pieces of architecture.

Neues Museum was built between 1843 and 1855 but was unfortunately partially destroyed during World War II. The Neues Museum was then renovated and fully opened in 2009, where you can now see exhibits from the Egyptian Museum and much more.

Alte Nationalgalerie is, as the name suggests if you know German, the old national gallery where you will find all kinds of works from classicism, romanticism and much more.

Bode Museum is the island’s neo-baroque museum building, which, among other things, exhibits European sculptures, paintings and Byzantine art. In addition, you will find here one of the world’s largest coin collections in the Münzkabinett .

Pergamon Museum is the newest building on the museum island, and here you will find, among other things, the Museum of Islamic Art and exhibits from ancient Babylon.

However, it must be said that a large part of the Pergamon Museum is undergoing renovation and will not open until 2025 .

If you don’t make the trip up the TV tower or can’t get enough of the view over Berlin, you can make the trip past the Panorama point on Potsdamer Platz.

I haven’t gone up there myself, so I can’t describe the view myself, but I can see on the sales page that there are only good reviews of the ticket.

See more about Panoramapunkt here .

You might have thought Madame Tussauds was only to be found in a guide on things to do in London.

But no – the world-renowned wax museum has also opened in Berlin with great success.

It is thus possible to see similar wax dolls of Lady Gaga, the Beatles and Michael Jackson.

Madame Tussauds Berlin is a top-rated attraction where a certain number of people are admitted for 90 minutes at a time. This is positive, as it never gets too crowded at the wax museum.

However, remember to book the ticket from home and skip the long queue!

Skip-the-line tickets can be bought online here .

What is the ‘alternative Berlin’? The German capital is probably one of the edgiest cities in Europe, so it is easy to stumble across so-called alternative sights in Berlin.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to take a tour (which is relatively cheap) that shows off some of the more closed underground places in Berlin.

The trip takes place on foot and takes about 4 hours, where you pass by Kreuzberg and experience the most important sights in Berlin within various subcultures.

The alternative Berlin tour is top-rated among photographers. Still, with the knowledgeable tour guide, there is enough to do for everyone – indeed, an attraction/activity in Berlin that not everyone comes home to talk about.

Read more about the tour here .

Kurfürstendamm is to Berlin what Oxford Street is to London, 5th Avenue is to New York, and the Champs-Élysées favour Paris. To experience world-class shopping, you must pass Berlin’s most famous shopping street in West Berlin.

This is also where you will find KaDeWe , Berlin’s best-known shopping centre worth visiting. I also mention the area as very child-friendly in my guide on the best areas in Berlin .

There are other sights in the area, such as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was bombed in World War II and was not restored on purpose.

The Kaiser-Wilhelm Church is a stark yet beautiful testament to the city’s turbulent past.

Severely damaged during the Second World War, its hollow spire, known as the ‘hollow tooth’, persists as a monument of resilience.

Adjacent to the ruined structure is a striking modern bell tower, adding to the site’s unique blend of history and modernity.

Visitors are greeted by a serene ambience accentuated by stunning blue stained-glass windows.

The Tiergarten is a vast park that starts from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.

From the Brandenburg Gate to the Siegessäule as it’s called in German, you can see the significant victory column celebrating the Prussian victory over Denmark , Austria and France in the 19th century.

The entire area around the Victory Column is full of history, and the road from the Brandenburg Gate is now called Strasse des 17. Juni must be one of the streets in the world that has seen the most historical moments .

These days the street is used for the Berlin Half Marathon (which I did a couple of years ago), and there are extensive screenings when Germany plays in the football World Cup.

Berlin Zoo is one of the most visited zoos in Europe and one of Berlin’s most visited attractions.

There are over 1,500 species and almost 20,000 different animals in the park, located on the western edge of the Tiergarten (Tiergarten can also be translated as Animal Park, so it all makes perfect sense).

As you know, Berlin hosted the Olympic Games in 1936, where Hitler got everyone’s eyes on him and perhaps hosted one of the first major sports-washing events …

For the 1936 Olympics, the Olympiastadion was built in West Berlin and is still in use. This is where Hertha Berlin plays its home matches, and you can also watch big stadium concerts at the impressive stadium.

I have been out there for a concert (with Bruce Springsteen), football matches (Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich ), and outside match days for a stadium tour.

Whether a football fan or interested in history, taking the S-Bahn to the Olympic Stadium is highly recommended.

I’ve got to be honest: I like kebab, but it’s not something I’m too fuzzed about. Apart from when I’m in Berlin!

Berlin has a rich, tangy secret that its history belies – the tantalising döner kebab .

While this savoury delight originates from Turkey, Berlin’s multicultural fabric transformed the döner into the city’s beloved fast food icon.

It was in the swinging ’70s that a Turkish immigrant named Kadir Nurman noticed Berlin’s bustling metropolis of on-the-go workers and decided to introduce a hearty, handheld meal.

He innovatively served up juicy rotisserie meat with fresh vegetables inside a fluffy bread pocket, and just like that, Berlin’s döner kebab was born.

Trying a döner in Berlin isn’t just about filling your stomach; it’s about tasting a story of migration, adaptation, and gastronomic innovation.

It’s definitely a must-do when you’re coming to Berlin – and it’s cheap as well.

My favourite place to eat döner in Berlin is at K’Ups Gemüsekebap in Prenzlauer Berg:

I hope you could use this guide to the best things to do in Berlin.

If you have any questions about your trip to the German capital, please comment below, and I will do my best to help.

With its compelling cocktail of history and modernity, Berlin offers much more than its star attractions – the imposing TV Tower , the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the moving Holocaust Memorial, and the notorious Checkpoint Charlie. But don’t stop there!

The real joy of Berlin lies in its hidden corners and bustling local haunts. In this guide, I’m excited to share 29 of my favourite spots that offer a unique peek into the heart of this dynamic city.

Here are a few hidden gems you might want to check out:

Spreepark : This abandoned amusement park in the Plänterwald has an eerie charm. You can’t go in, but you can walk around the perimeter and catch glimpses of the overgrown rides. Sometimes they even do guided tours.

Teufelsberg : This man-made hill built on top of a Nazi military school is now home to an abandoned Cold War-era spy station. It’s a fascinating spot for history buffs, with amazing street art and panoramic views of Berlin.

“ Thai Park “: Officially called Preußenpark, this spot in Wilmersdorf becomes a vibrant outdoor Thai food market on weekends. It’s a great place to grab a bite and enjoy a picnic.

Viktoriapark : This lovely park in Kreuzberg has a waterfall, a national monument, and a great view of the city. It’s a bit less touristy than other parks, so you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

Klunkerkranich : This rooftop bar in Neukölln is located on top of a shopping center parking garage. With its eclectic vibe, urban garden, and fantastic views, it’s an awesome spot to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset.

Sammlung Boros : This contemporary art collection is housed in a converted WWII bunker. Visits are by appointment only, so make sure to book ahead.

The best time to visit Berlin really depends on your preferences, but I absolutely love Berlin in spring through early fall (May to September) offers the most pleasant weather.

During this time, you can expect mild to warm temperatures, with plenty of sunshine and longer daylight hours. Outdoor events, festivals, and open-air cafes are abundant during these months, making it a great time to explore the city and soak up the atmosphere.

That said, winter in Berlin has its own charm, with Christmas markets and festive lights, but be prepared for cold temperatures and potentially snowy or wet conditions. Just make sure to pack warm clothes and enjoy the city’s cozy cafes and indoor attractions.

I used to live in Prenzlauer Berg , and I loved it. Prenzlauer Berg is still my favourite area, but Mitte , Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain also have much to offer. Check out my guide on the best places to stay for more about the different Berlin areas.

I’d say you should plan for at least 3-4 days to really get a good feel for the city. This should give you enough time to check out the must-see attractions, explore cool neighbourhoods, and maybe even catch a few off-the-beaten-path spots.

Of course, if you can spend more time, like a week or so, that’s even better! You’ll have a chance to dive deeper into Berlin’s history, art, and culture, plus enjoy some laid-back days in the city’s parks and cafes.

Berlin has so much to offer, and the more time you have, the more you’ll be able to experience it. Even if you only have a weekend, you’ll still have a blast – make sure to prioritise the things you really want to see and do

Unfortunately, most things in Berlin are closed, but one of my favourite things to do in Berlin is only open on Sundays. One of the best things to do on a Sunday is to head over to Mauerpark, where you’ll find a lively flea market – Flohmarkt im Mauerpark . It’s a fantastic place to browse for vintage treasures, unique crafts, and tasty street food. Plus, you can enjoy the famous open-air karaoke sessions that take place in the amphitheatre.

After you’ve had your fill of Mauerpark, why not explore the charming Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood? You can stroll along its tree-lined streets, check out some cute boutiques and art galleries, or grab a coffee and a bite to eat at one of the many cosy cafes. It’s a lovely area to unwind and soak up the laid-back Berlin vibe.

Websites I use to book my trips 👇 • Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay • GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation • This power bank is the one thing I never travel without • Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?

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The 23 best things to do in Berlin right now

Not sure where to start in the German capital? We've got you covered with the absolute best things to eat, see and do in Berlin

Is there anything Berlin can’t do? The German capital was the city of the twentieth century and has carried that momentum into the twenty-first. What are the best things to do in Berlin? The diversity at the heart of the city makes it a ‘something for everyone’ sort of place, with museums and galleries for the culture vultures next to 72-hour parties for the buzz-chasing, erm, buzzards. Not the best analogy, clearly, but you see the point. If you want it, you’ll find it in Berlin. And that’s how we’ve curated our list the way we have: to show off each element of this fabulous city. In any case, a plan is a must, as this modern metropolis fills every inch of its territory with interest, so follow our guide to the best things to do in Berlin and get planning. You are in for one incredible trip.

RECOMMENDED: 🪩 The best clubs in Berlin 🍴 The best restaurants in Berlin 🏡 The best  Airbnbs in Berlin 🛏 The best hotels in Berlin 📍 How to spend  a weekend in Berlin .

This guide was recently updated by Berlin-based writer  Kate Bettes . Original photos by Berlin-based photographer Astra Pentaxia .  At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines . 

An email you’ll actually love

Best things to do in Berlin

1.  Spend a day at Mauerpark

• Parks and gardens

Berlin’s most famous, biggest and busiest vintage scene is at Mauerpark .  This Sunday flea market sees storeholders selling everything from clothes by local designers to eclectic collections of vintage items. It also hosts the immensely popular weekly outdoor singing session, Bearpit Karaoke . You can also try out the the flea markets on the RAW cultural site in Berlin-Friedrichshain, and for fresh fruit and vegetables or baked goods, head to  Neuköllner Wochenmärkte  on Tuesdays and Fridays.

🥙 Discover more of the best markets in Berlin

2.  Go clubbing at Berghain

• Friedrichshain

The Berlin clubbing scene is world famous, and rightly so. The most famous is Berghain , a techno temple whose fame as an 'out-there' venue sees queues as long as six hours, with possible rejection when you reach the front. If that happens, check out  Sisyphos  (famous for its 10 pm Friday to 10 am Monday hours),  Renate ,  KitKatClub  and rooftop  Klunkerkranich . 

The best way of getting in? 1) If you don’t like techno, learn to love it. 2) If you go to a club 'just to see it' instead of genuinely liking the vibe, you probably won’t get in. 3) Learn the DJs' names in case you’re asked. 4) Obviously, don’t turn up drunk.

3.  Get active at Tempelhofer Feld

After Tempelhof Airport ceased operation in 2008, the city opened the runways to the public. Now you can stroll down the runways where Second World War Stuka dive-bombers took off and where, during the Berlin Airlift of 1948 after the Soviets blockaded West Berlin, the Western Powers dropped supplies for the city’s 2.5 million residents.

Today, the 368-hectare open space of runways and grasslands is much enjoyed by walkers, kite surfers, cyclists, runners, skaters, and goshawks. There are designated sections for dogs to run free, basketball courts, a baseball field, beer gardens, and even small allotments where Berliners can grow their own veg.

4.  Take a day trip to Potsdam

Frederick the Great’s summer grounds make for an unforgettable day out in Potsdam, the state capital of Brandenburg, just an S-Bahn ride southwest from central Berlin. As well as touring the Sansouci palace itself, guests can spend hours getting lost in its gardens and the ornate Bildergalerie and Neue Kammern (‘new chambers’). A trip to the lush grounds is welcome after a few days of pavement-pounding in urban Berlin. Not a fan of royalty? Discover the Golden Age of Berlin film at Filmpark Babelsberg , visit the Dutch and Russian quarters, and cross the Glienicke Bridge AKA the Cold War ‘Bridge of Spies.

5.  Grab a beer with a view in Tiergarten

Ask any local Berliner what their favourite thing to do in the city is, and you can bet your bottom euro that many of them will say that it's plentiful green spaces. Tiergarten by the Brandenburg Gate is the most famous and makes a refreshing break from your sightseeing. In its lifetime, it has been a hunting area for wild animals, a public park as created by Frederick the Great, and a site of destruction during and post-WW2, where much of the greenery was destroyed. Today, newer trees have been grown, and it is once again a relaxing park in which you can while away your summer days.

Time Out Tip:  Check out  Volkspark Friedrichshain to sunbathe with a pretzel and  Treptower Park  for one of the city’s prettiest outdoor beer gardens by the river. 

6.  Paddle on a floating barge at Badeschiff

The  Badeschiff pool in Treptow  is a famous floating barge pool, right next to the River Spree. You can sip Aperol spritzes from its bar and lean back in the various deckchairs overlooking the Instagram-worthy pool in front of you. But don’t be tempted to take a quick snap. Badeschiff is one of the many venues where you are not allowed to take photos. Note, that booking is essential, particularly on those long, hot, and humid summer days. Just note it’s not open all year round, so check its website for opening times. 

7.  Go for a dip in a Berlin lake

The wider Brandenburg region has around 3,000 lakes. Many are accessible by public transport and are a gorgeous way to cool off in summer or exhilarating spots to ‘ice dip’ in winter. Overwhelmed? Wannsee to the city’s west and Müggelsee to the east are the classic destinations, but there are plenty of others to discover.

You can grab some cold radlers and take the S-Bahn to the Schlachtensee Lake in southwestern Berlin for forest vibes. Alternatively, Plotzensee in north-western Berlin charges you €8 for entry … but it’s worth it. From play equipment for children on the right, currywurst and pizza stores in the middle, and a dance floor, sofas, a bar, and a naked sauna on the left, it’s nothing if not left of field. Not your jam? There are more to choose from than you could swim in in your lifetime.

🛶 Discover more of the best lakes in Berlin

8.  Confront a dark past at the Jewish Museum

Going to the   Jewish Museum   can make for a challenging, and full-on experience, but a visit here should certainly be high on your things to visit in Berlin. Since 2001, the museum has showcased the vast experiences of the Jewish people, both their past and present, covering everything from the documentation of Jewish German families to Jewish history from the Middle Ages to today. Admission to the core exhibition is free. 

🏛️ Discover more of the   best museums in Berlin

9.  Get naked at Vabali

• Health and beauty

In pretty much every spa in Berlin, clothes are forbidden and are mixed-gender. While this might sound intimidating, it is perfectly normal in Germany, meaning almost all the time, people aren’t creepy. The exquisite and mind-blowing  Vabali   is a good place to start. For anything from two hours (from €23.50) to a full day (from €41.50), you can visit its sweat lodges, panoramic laconium saunas, infusion and herbal and birch saunas, as well as outdoor and indoor pools, an outdoor restaurant and a bar. Whether you’re simply wanting to lounge around or want to book a massage, you’re bound to see people from all over Berlin, in every shape and size, doing the same.

📍 Discover more of the best spas in Berlin

10.  Grab brunch at Kanaan

• Middle Eastern

When it comes to breakfast places, it’s easy to break out of the ‘avo on toast’ expat scene. Take   Kanaan in Prenzlauer Berg , a delicious and worthy collaboration for peace between Palestinian and Israeli chefs, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Opt for the multi-course brunch, with pomegranate salads, vine leaves, labneh, hummus, and   Baba Ganoush , delectably salty roast potatoes, and more. 

🥞 Discover more of the  best brunch in Berlin  

We visited Berlin's Fotografiska

@timeouttravel the coolest new museum in Berlin 🎞️🪩 #fotografiska #fotografiskamuseum #berlin #berlinexhibition #berlinart #thingstodoinberlin ♬ ten_the firrrrrsttt day back - Fredagainagain

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14 of the best things to do in Berlin

Jul 8, 2023 • 7 min read

Experience the best of Berlin with this guide to the top things to do © Westend61 / Getty Images

For a scene-stealing combo of glamor and grit, poised to mesmerize anyone keen to connect with vibrant culture, bold architecture, global food, intense parties and an easy-going vibe, head to Berlin .

Whether your tastes run to posh or punk, you can sate them in the German capital. Here are the best experiences Berlin has to offer.

1. See the treasures of Museum Island

Berlin’s "Louvre on the Spree", this imposing cluster of five treasure-houses is an undisputed highlight of the city’s impressive landscape. Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999, Museumsinsel showcases art and cultural history from the Stone Age to the 19th century.

Feast your eyes on antiquities at at the Pergamonmuseum  and  Altes Museum , take in 19th-century art at the Alte Nationalgalerie and lean in for close-ups of medieval and Renaissance sculptures at the Bode-Museum . The  Neues Museum  is famous as the residence of the exquisite but controversial bust of Nefertiti which has been the subject of repatriation requests from Egypt for almost a century.

Planning tip:  As part of the ambitious  Museum Island Master Plan , the Pergamonmuseum will be completely closed to visitors starting October 23, 2023. The institution is not scheduled to partially reopen until spring 2027 – with some sections of the museum, including the famous  Ishtar Gate , scheduled to stay closed until 2037.

2. Follow the legacy of the Berlin Wall

Few events in history have the power to move the entire world. If you were alive and old enough for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, you will probably remember the crowds of euphoric revelers cheering and dancing at the Brandenburg Gate . Although little is left of the physical barrier, its legacy lives on in the imagination and in such places as Checkpoint Charlie , the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Memorial) and the East Side Gallery  with its colorful murals.

3. Party at Berlin's world-famous clubs

Berlin’s reputation for intense and unbridled nightlife is rooted in the libertine 1920s when everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Christopher Isherwood partied like it was 1999. Since the fall of the Wall, Berlin’s club culture has put the city firmly back on the map of music-lovers everywhere .

The edgiest clubs can be found in locations like power plants, abandoned apartment buildings and other repurposed locations, especially in Kreuzberg & Neukölln and Friedrichshain . Electronic music dominates at cult favourites like ://about blank , Kater Blau and Griessmühle , while Prince Charles has made a name for itself as a hip hop mecca, fetish-focused KitKatClub is a must, and the local punks mosh away at SO36 .

Planning tip: Some of Berlin's best parties are its daytime raves: here's how to hit the clubs in the afternoon .

4. Enjoy drinks outdoors

Whether its beer gardens, rooftop bars or some casual drinks in parks and by the Landwehrkanal, Berliners take a relaxed approach to drinking and socializing outdoors. While Berlin has something to offer all year round, the city in the warm weather has a special buzz around it.

5. Be dazzled by the grandeur of Schloss Charlottenburg

An exquisite baroque palace,  Schloss Charlottenburg evokes the onetime grandeur of the Prussian royals. It is particularly special to visit in the summer when you can fold a stroll, sunbathing session or picnic in the lush palace park into a day of peeking at royal treasures.

6. Book ahead to visit the Reichstag

It’s been burned, bombed, rebuilt, buttressed by the Berlin Wall, wrapped in fabric and finally turned into the modern home of the German parliament, the Reichstag  is one of Berlin’s most iconic buildings. Designed by Paul Wallot in 1894, this is where the German parliament, the Bundestag, has been hammering out its policies since 1999.

Planning tip:  Reserve online in advance  to visit the striking glass dome  for free . This is a government building and you will need to provide identification to gain access.

7. Shop and eat at Markthalle Neun

This delightful 1891 market hall was saved by dedicated locals in 2009. Not only do local and regional producers present their wares but also, on Street-Food Thursday, they're joined by aspiring or semipro chefs, who set up their stalls to serve delicious snacks from around the world. There’s even an on-site craft brewery, Heidenpeters .

8. Tour Berlin's art scene

Art aficionados will be truly spoilt for choice in Berlin. Home to hundreds of galleries, scores of world-class collections and thousands of international artists, the city has assumed a pole position on the global artistic circuit. Its main contemporary art showcase is the Hamburger Bahnhof , a vast museum housed in a former railway station whose loft and grandeur are the perfect foil for this top-notch collection of paintings, installations, sculptures and video.

Local tip:  If you’d prefer something even more Berlin-centric, try Urban Nation in Schöneberg . A relative newcomer to Berlin’s array of galleries, this street art celebration turns the concept of a museum on its head and celebrates art in a unique way.

9. Get to know Jewish history and culture at Jüdisches Museum

Berlin’s Jüdisches Museum  presents an eye-opening and emotional journey through 2000 years of Jewish history in Germany, not just the 12 years of Nazi horror that such exhibits often focus on. Find out about Jewish cultural contributions, holiday traditions, the difficult road to emancipation, outstanding individuals like the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and jeans inventor Levi Strauss, and the fates of ordinary people and families.

10. Wander or cycle the paths of Tiergarten

Berlin’s rulers used the grounds to hunt boar and pheasants in the rambling Tiergarten until master landscape architect Peter Lenné landscaped the grounds in the 18th century. With its sweeping lawns, shaded paths, woodsy groves, romantic corners, ponds and creeks, the Tiergarten is one of the world’s largest city parks and a wonderful retreat from the city bustle.

Planning tip:  In summer, several charming beer gardens beckon, including Café am Neuen See and the Teehaus im Englischen Garten.

11. See urban renewal at Potsdamer Platz

Despite the name, Potsdamer Platz is not actually a square but an entire city quarter, forged in the 1990s from terrain once bisected by the Berlin Wall. A collaborative effort by the world's finest architects, it is considered a showcase of urban renewal.

Planning tip:  The area itself is rather compact and quickly explored – unless you stick around to see Berlin from above from the Panoramapunkt or dive into German film history at the Museum für Film und Fernsehen .

12. Pose for a photo at the historic Brandenburg Gate

Prussian emperors, Napoleon and Hitler have marched through this neoclassical royal city gate that was once trapped east of the Berlin Wall. Since 1989 Brandenburg Gate  has gone from a symbol of division and oppression to the symbol of a united Germany. The elegantly proportioned landmark is at its most atmospheric – and photogenic – at night, when light bathes its stately columns and proud Goddess of Victory sculpture in a golden glow.

13. Go shopping along Kurfürstendamm

No trip to Berlin would be complete without a saunter along Kurfürstendamm (Ku’damm for short) in Charlottenburg . Along with its continuation, the Tauentzienstrasse, it is the city’s longest and busiest shopping strip, lined with high-street chains and designer boutiques. Don’t miss the KaDeWe , continental Europe’s biggest department store with a mind-boggling food hall, or the cutting-edge concept and flagships stores at Bikini Berlin , a revamped 1950s landmark near Zoo Station.

Local tip:  Take a moment to look up. Amid all this, the majestically ruined Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church) stands quietly as a poignant reminder of the absurdity of war.

14. Explore the exhibits of the Topographie des Terrors

In the spot where the most feared institutions of Nazi Germany (the Gestapo headquarters, the SS central command and the Reich Security Main Office) once stood, this compelling exhibit documents the stages of terror and persecution, puts a face on the perpetrators, and details the impact these brutal institutions had on all of Europe. A second exhibit outside zeroes in on how life changed for Berlin and its people after the Nazis made it their capital.

This article was first published Jan 28, 2015 and updated Jul 8, 2023.

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50 Awesome Things to Do in Berlin: Local Recommended!

Living in Berlin for over 9 years now , my list of the best things to do in Berlin in 2024 combines some of the most important tourist sights with locals’ favorite spots that visitors to Berlin never see.

It’s one of those cities that is really just really cool – and knows it . When I first moved to Berlin from a mid-sized German city, it was like going to the future – grocery stores open past 8PM, public transit that runs late, there’s even so much WiFi WLAN I don’t even know what to do with it, I need to cancel my data plan! I immediately saw what Germans mean when they say that Berlin is a city like no other in Germany. Not just in terms of conveniences, but attitude .

Read on for 50 essential Berlin experiences that will help you fall in love with the city and might even convince you to stick around for a while. You’ll need much more than the standard weekend in Berlin that so many tourists have, though I’m sure you can something fun to do on this list, whether you’ve got two weeks or just a few hours.

Some links in this post are to affiliate sites. If you purchase something through them, I may earn a small comission — which costs you nothing! I am very grateful when you use my links to make a purchase.

Are you trying to decide where to stay in Berlin? Don’t miss my extensive Berlin neighborhood guide and tips on where to stay in Berlin that explains the best place to stay based on what you want to experience in the city, as well as your budget. Based on my experience living in Berlin for over SEVEN years!

Are you visiting Berlin in Winter? I’ve got a dedicated post on things to do in Berlin in Winter which lists a number of activities and sights you can only experience during the Winter season! Go check it out if you’re feeling festive and will be visiting Berlin in December , January, or February.

50 Best Things to Do in Berlin

Honestly there are so many amazing things to do in Berlin, narrowing down a list of 50 was hard. But I’ve done my best to prioritize the must-do things — especially if you are a first-time visitor .

So, as an adopted local, and including tips from Berlin natives, here are the best things to do in Berlin regardless of the season. My top three recommendations are summarized here:

1. See Berlin’s most famous landmarks by boat!

Summer is coming! And now that both my and my boyfriend’s parents have visited, it’s fair to say I know boat tours . I can personally recommend the boat tours by Stern & Kreis , and the most time-efficient tour with them is the 1-hour Berlin City Tour by Boat . You’ll learn about Berlin’s history, and really hit the highlights in term of Berlin’s landmarks in a short period of time.

In good weather it’s an amazing way to see Berlin’s main sights and scenic neighborhoods. In colder weather, the boats have indoor seating as well. Put me on a boat and put a Bier in my hand, and I’m a happy girl.

Now that the weather is getting better (and tourism is finally picking up again), seats on these boat tours get snapped up fast. I definitely recommend booking in advance (and showing up early!) to make sure you’re able to enjoy this experience.

2. Go inside the dome of the German Parliament Building, the Reichstag

The mighty German parliament comes here to spend their time walking around this cool glass dome at the Reichstag. The original parliament was destroyed in the war, and was rebuilt with this glass dome. You can even take a tour and climb it yourself for a view over Tiergarten. At the top, there is a cafe where you can get coffee or lunch. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see a famous German politician you don’t recognize 😏

One thing to know is that you MUST book your appointment to visit the Reichstag more than one month in advance in the peak season . Entry is free for a self-guided walk about if you do it in advance through the German government , but you can also get a sense of the history of the building by taking a tour in English , and they’ll help you apply for entry to the building which includes a background check.

3. Visit the Museum Island’s world-famous museums

The Germans take their museums very seriously, and there are a ton of great museums located on the Museum Island, right in the center of Berlin. You could spend a day or more hopping between them.

If you love museums, pick up the three-day museum pass .

You are almost guaranteed to save money, and the pass covers more than 30 museums around the city like the excellent Jewish Museum and the German Technology Museum.

Here’s a summary of the five museums located on the Museum Island.

My personal favorites are the Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum , though the Bode Museum is also quite good too.

Nefertiti’s bust is possibly the most tantalizing attraction of the Museum Island. Earlier this year, hackers claimed to have covertly 3d scanned it, which was later said to be a hoax .

Don’t try to take a picture of it, or a grumpy Museum Frau will scold you. The funny thing is though, if you stand outside the room and use a zoom lens, you are still allowed to take a picture.

I’m pretty sure it’s because they don’t want people leaving on their flash and slowly destroying the paint on the bust, which is still in amazing condition.

4. See the Brandenburg Gate, which Napoleon once marched through

The Brandenburg Gate is easily one of the most recognized sights in all of Germany, not only in Berlin. It was built on top of the former city gate, on the orders of the Prussian king Frederick William II in the late 1700s. About fifteen years later, Napoleon has even passed through the Brandenburg gate, after the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt. So just think, you’ll be passing through a place where Napoleon once stood! I don’t know about you but that gives me a sense of gravity .

If you want to take photos with minimal crowds, do show up early in the morning. Brandenburg Gate is one of the most popular sites in Berlin for a reason!

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5. Take a tour inside the former airport built by Hitler

One of the neatest things about Berlin is how many abandoned and defunct buildings you can find. Probably the most famous one in the entire city is the former airport, Tempelhof, which was originally commissioned by Hitler himself.

He imagined it to be a grand stadium where he would give speeches, and it was designed that literally one million people could fit in the stands to listen to him. Ironically, he never even saw the completed airport. Apart from the history of the airport, you’ll learn a lot about the history of Berlin, history about Berlin during the second World War, and a ton of topics that can give you perspective to shape your trip to the city.

My boyfriend and I loved the tour of the airport – it was even led by an architecture student who had really great insights on how Hitler personally influenced the design of the airport. The exact tour I can recommend you try out is Berlin Tempelhof Airport: The Legend of Tempelhof Tour !

Apart from seeing airplanes and hangars, you can also see how the Americans repurposed the airport to their own needs while they occupied part of Berlin after the second World War. No spoilers though 😉

6. Visit the Versailles of Berlin, Sanssoucci Palace

If you have more than a day or two in Berlin, don’t miss visiting Sanssoucci Palace , the palace occupied by Prussian kings and queens of yore. It’s got plenty of grounds to walk around, making it an excellent place to spend time both outside and inside. You can explore the palace grounds and gardens, the opulent interiors, and spend the rest of the time in Potsdam, the surrounding city.

It’s possible to reach Sanssoucci Palace either by public transit, or you can take a guided tour of Sanssoucci for a very reasonable price. Don’t miss either a guided tour or audio guide to dive deep into the history of Berlin! Fun fact: In French, Sans soucci means “Without Worry” 😄 You can understand why the kings and queens chose this name for their Summer home.

7. Enter a former spy station (and Europe’s largest street art gallery)

Teufelsberg , literally “Devils Mountain”, is a former spy station that the Nazis originally constructed as a military college, and was repurposed by the American NSA to listen to Russian communications.

Today it’s covered in graffiti, but you can still go up and explore this abandoned building. Climb all the way to the top to enter the echo room and listen to your voice while you admire the impressive art.

Not only is the spy station neat, but you also get an impressive view over the forest surrounding Berlin from the top of the station.

Reaching the spy station involves a short hike through the Gruenewald forest and a small sense of adventure. You can also take a guided tour of Teufelsberg .

8. Visit Peacock Island

Known in German as Pfaueninsel , Peacock Island is home to – you guessed it – peacocks! You can walk around a number of different landmarks, go for a picnic, and just generally enjoy being an on inside within the borders of Berlin. Makes for a great combination if you’re exploring the Gruenewald area, the biggest forest near Berlin. For more details, read my post on Peacock Island .

9. Have a huuuuuge beer! Eine Maß Bier, bitte!

Go big or go home, amirite? Not everywhere in Berlin offers the big ones, but you’re sure to find it at the Hofbräuhaus , a sizable beer hall modeled after the eponymous one in Munich. If you’re looking to experience Oktoberfest but find yourself in Berlin instead of Bavaria, here’s a sure bet for seeing a ton of people in Lederhosen singing traditional German songs. If you care more about craft, try Hopfenreich .

10. Picnic in the Tiergarten

Literally, “Animal Garden”, Berlin’s Tiergarten is a massive park including lakes, lots of willows, plucky ducks, and a lovely beer garden. It’s 520 acres of nature, right in the middle of the city. Outsized in Germany only by Berlin’s own Tempelhofer Park and Munich’s Englischer Garten (English Garden), it’s called Tiergarten because the Berlin Zoo – the zoo with the most species in the WORLD mind you – is located at its feet.

11. Visit the zoo with the most species in the world

Would you have ever guessed that Berlin is the home to the zoo with the most species in the entire world? Me neither. But it’s true! Now, what percentage of those critters are actually creepy crawlies I cannot say, but nonetheless you are bound to be impressed by this expansive zoo. And once you’ve had a lot of fun observing the different animals, you can go and visit…

12. Drink cocktails with the monkeys!

After your trip to the zoo, why not visit Monkey Bar for a fancy drink. The big draw of this bar is the people monkey-watching opportunities. Swing right once you enter the bar for the best views over the monkey enclosure at the Berlin Zoo! Sometimes you wonder who is watching who in the zoo 🤔

There are monkeys down there. I saw them entertaining the zoo-goers.

There are tons of awesome rooftop bars in Berlin in addition to Monkey Bar, so don’t miss reserving one if you happen to be visiting in Summer.

13. See the Fernsehturm from all over Berlin

Whether you’re trying or not, you will see the TV tower while you hop around the city’s main sights. You can even go up to the top, and use skip-the-line tickets to avoid a long wait during peak season. There’s even the possibility to eat dinner at the restaurant at the top of the tower – I haven’t done it yet but it’s definitely on my list of things to do before I eventually move out of Berlin!

For a close up of the exterior of the TV tower, pop by Alexanderplatz, just don’t stick around the area afterwards as it a bit lacking in shops or restaurants. Instead…

14. Eat some traditional German food

By now, you’ve worked up an appetite and deserve some serious eats. German food is the definition of hearty, so make sure you have a friend to carry you home. I have an entire post dedication to where to eat German food in Berlin , which covers not only the restaurants I recommend that you try, but also which foods to try! Naturally, Schnitzel is a great option but it’s not the only option. Thankfully, there are even vegetarian-friendly German options like Kaesespaetzle (think: German mac and cheese) and Gemuese Maultaschen (vegetable dumplings).

In Berlin I always recommend making a reservation, just to be on the safe side. That said, if you’re only 1 or 2 people, there’s a good chance most places will be able to find you a table.

15. Climb the Kreuzberg for a panoramic view of the city

I would be remiss if I didn’t bombard you with recommendations in Kreuzberg (my own neighborhood, represent!). Ascend the hill in Viktoriapark until you reach the apex, where you’ll see a sweeping view of Berlin. See if you can find the TV tower, Gendarmenmarkt, and other famous landmarks.

16. Spend an afternoon in a beer garden

Alas, one of my favorite pasttimes! Germany has got its beer game down , and nowhere is that clearer that in a garden expressly designed for the purpose of drinking it. I’ve got a whole guide of best beer gardens in Berlin , but you can scroll down for a summary.

Here are some of my favorite beer gardens in Berlin:

• Cafe am neuen See : It’s like an oasis inside an oasis. Located on a lake in Tiergarten, you can sit at a bench right that is practically in the lake.
• Restaurant Brachvogel : This is a locals secret in the Bergmannkiez – the food is so-so, but the garden itself is completely surrounded by trees and you’d never know you’re actually in a residential neighborhood. Come here if a good sports match is on!
• Golgatha Biergarten : If you find yourself thirsty after climbing the Kreuzberg, simply climb back down on the other side and you’ll wander onto this biergarten. This place is a great spot to relax after a busy day of sight-seeing.
• Pratergarten : The godfather of Berlin’s biergärten, Pratergarten is a favorite of many located in Prenzlauerberg.

17. Take an underground tour

In preparation for the bombing campaigns of World War II, the German government built civilian shelters and bunkers which exist to this day. You have to see this to get an idea of what it was really like living in Berlin in the thick of intense bombings during the war. You can learn more about underground tours on the Berliner Unterwelten website. They have a number of different tours to pick from and many options in English. I’ve never done it before but I’ve had friends and colleagues rave about these tours!

18. Climb the Siegesäule for a view over Berlin’s Tiergarten

Located in the middle of a busy roundabout, the Siegesäule (Victory Column) might remind you of the Arc d’Triomphe – with the distinct difference that this one has tunnel access so you don’t have to risk your life running across traffic like you do in Paris. The stairs be narrow, but the view be worth it. The cost to enter is very low, just a couple of euro.

Apart from the view from the top, there’s also a small museum inside about the history of the Victory Column. How it was relocated by the Nazis during World War II, which luckily helped it survive the bombings of Berlin by the Allied Forces. You’ll also see replicas of many other monuments around Germany and the world.

19. See the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery

Do not, I repeat, do NOT go to Potsdamer Platz to see the Wall. Potsdamer Platz is ugly and soulless, whereas the East Side Gallery has the most famous pieces you’re expecting to see. Just don’t stick around the immediate area once you’re done, instead head back in to the Wrangelkiez and maybe grab a craft beer at previously mentioned Hopfenreich 😉

If you want to get some more history about the Berlin Wall, consider doing a dedicated Berlin Wall tour.

20. Go swimming in one of Berlin’s surrounding lakes

If you’re lucky enough to spent some summertime in Berlin and it’s sunny and warm, it’s practically a sin not to take a dip. Berlin’s got numerous surrounding lakes, including Müggelsee , Schlatchtensee , and many others ( Check out this nice long list by the Berlin Tourism Office ).

21. …and if it tickles your fancy, go naked!

Many of these beaches have also got an FKK Bereich (Free body culture area). Let it all hang out with the oldies and you’re on your way to a perfect tan. If you’re more of a spa kind of person, Vabali Spa Berlin will also offer you a chance to get naked with the locals in a slightly more private setting.

22. Visit the Oberbaumbrücke

This bridge is one of the most recognizable sights in Berlin. If you decide to go on a boat tour, you’ll definitely pass under it at some point during the trip. If you’ve watched some Berlin-based TV shows like Berlin Station , you’ll also recognize this bridge. Come here for some lovely pictures from the north side of the river!

23. Eat street food at Markthalle IX on Thursdays

This market is a busy one. All summer they host themed breakfast markets, and on Thursdays, a streetfood market where vendors from all over Berlin come and set up shop. You can check out their website for a weekly schedule on the different markets they are running, and all sorts of special events. Besides the vendors that come and go, there are also long-term tenants such as Sironi , the bakery responsible for Berlin’s top-rated bread, Heidenpeters , a craft beer corner, or some delicious coffee at Kaffee 9 .

24. Go for wine at a pay-what-you-want wine bar

Berlin is so cheap, I LOVE IT. Der Weinerei on Veteranenstrasse, to me, the epitome of cheap Berlin. It works like this: you go in, you pay for your glass, you serve yourself from the open bottles at the counter or ask to taste something else, and off you go! It’s a great way to try wine before really committing to a glass – or just to drink a lot of wine.

25. Wander the cobbled streets of old town Berlin

Berlin is not like those quaint German villages you see in Rick Steve’s Europe, with criss-cross designs all over them, perched over the Rhine river. We’ll say, it’s not “traditionally beautiful.” But there’s a small corner of the city that has this small town charm, called the Nikolaiviertel. Come to the Berlin old town to see a reconstruction of the oldest settlement in Berlin from 1200.

26. Drink some third-wave coffee

I’m not sure what first or second wave coffee was like, but third wave coffee is delicious. I personally recommend two locations in Kreuzberg: Concierge Coffee and Chapter One . For more options check out this massive list of third wave coffee places by Stil in Berlin .

27. Eat a döner kebab at its birthplace

Cheap eats abound in Berlin, and none is more iconic than the venerable döner (okay, this point is arguable, but more on that later). Be warned: not all döner is created equal. Look for a line and stand in it, or go to the supposed birthplace of the döner, Hasir in Kreuzberg, or the kebap place famous for having the longest lines, Mustafa's . If you’re wondering what exactly is inside a döner, don’t worry, we all are.

28. Get lunch at the Turkish market on the Maybachufer

On Thursdays the Turkish market sells fresh produce and delicious (and cheap!) meals. Grab a plate of something yummy and park yourself on the banks of the nearby canal.

29. Read inspiring quotes by Josef Stalin at the larger-than-life Soviet War Memorial

Over 5,000 Russian soldiers are buried at the memorial in Treptower Park. There are enormous statues of Russian soldiers and a mixture of German and Russian on every plaque. Come here to wonder at the sheer scale of this installation as a detour from your walk along the Spree river.

30. Shop your heart out at Europe’s largest department store

For the luxury travelers out there, this one is for you. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even afford the shoe polish at the Kaufhaus des Westens (shortened to KaDeWe). Between 40,000 and 50,000 shoppers pass through eight floors housing more than 380,000 articles every day .

Autumn in Berlin is a transient season in a transient city. These things to do take advantage of the wonderful place between the vibrant summer and dead of winter!

31. Go to “Thai Park” and eat tasty food cooked by Thai mamas

Just around the corner from KaDeWe is Preußenpark , which transforms into “Thai Park” on summer weekends. The grassy pitch is filled with tiny tables where Thai ladies provide home-cooked Thai food. The busiest day is Sunday, so get it while it’s hot!

32. Eat currywurst (also available vegan!)

Personally, I had one bad currywurst and that was enough for me. But a LOT of people swear by it, so I’d be remiss not to include it in the list. You can get a currywurst for a steal all over Berlin, so it doesn’t hurt to pick one up and see if the tantalizing combination of wurst, curry, and ketchup does it for you.

33. Grab a beer at the Späti and drink it with the hipsters on the Admiralsbruecke

Did you know that Berlin has more bridges than Venice? Enjoy some quality bridge time with the hipsters of Kreuzberg, watch the sun go down over the Landwehrkanal, and take in the gorgeous scene kissed by golden hour. If you have the patience, you can get some of Berlin’s best pizza from Il Casolare . Be warned, it will take at least an hour on the weekend and they will not be friendly, but dayum that pizza!

34. Sing karaoke at the Mauerpark

Sing your heart out with a serious crowd! Every Sunday, people gather in Mauerpark, mostly for the Flea market, but also for an impromptu karaoke festival. So pick up something vintage and head for the song pit!

35. Go swimming in the Badeschiff

A must for any list of Berlin to-dos. If you’re lucky enough to be here in high Summer, you’d be remiss not to take a dip in this swimming pool that’s partially submerged in the Spree.

36. See (and taste) the latest and greatest of urban gardening in Berlin at Prinzessinnengarten

This place takes “farm to table” to a whole new level. Come here for lunch and feast on food that was grown in the very ground you’re walking on! It’s amazing to see a place like this right in the middle of the city.

37. Try to get into the world’s most famous nightclub

Berghain is famous for rejecting people at the door for no reason, but if you get through, you’re greeted with the hottest club in the world. Just make sure you’re wearing enough black to pass the “cool test”. If you don’t like the idea of rejection, the Berghain Kantine next door hosts concerts and you can still dance as much as you want.

38. Pay your respects at the Holocaust Memorial

Possibly one of the most striking views in Berlin, this memorial makes you feel lost and disoriented. For a historical look at how Jews came to Germany and their contributions to this country, don’t miss the Jewish Museum.

39. Browse flea markets all over town for your next treasure

While the flea market in Mauerpark is the best known, it’s surely not the only. Go there for vintage cameras, leather goods, and locally made clothing. Don’t miss the Art Market at Zeughaus or the Antiques Market at Straße des 17.Juni . There’s also the newer RAW Flohmarkt at Revaler Strasse , which hosts themed markets several times a year.

40. Drink Glühwein at one of Berlin’s many majestic Christmas markets

Most people come to Berlin during the summer, but if you brave the winter cold you may be rewarded with Christmas market season, which basically lasts for the month of December. Some of the best markets in town are: Gendarmenmarkt , Schloss Charlottenburg , and the lesser known Richardplatz .

Don’t miss my post on Berlin’s best Christmas markets , which I’ve just updated for 2019 and listed out the new opening dates, hours, and entry prices for this year.

41. Peek in on the Berlin startup scene’s hipster programmers

St. Oberholz is infamous for providing shelter to legions of Mac nerds from the few stray rays of sunshine that happen to grace Berlin a few times a year. You’ll find them typing away in silence on their super secret startup ideas. Blend in with the crowd by bringing your shiny computer and indulging in some delicious cake. The surrounding area (Tor Strasse and Rosenthaler Platz) is lined with cool bars and restaurants.

42. Visit the Gärten der Welt (Gardens of the World) for cherry blossom season

One of the most beautiful places to see Spring in Berlin, there is accompanying music, dancing, theatre, and of course – food. These Flowers aren’t the only attraction of the gardens. There are also Chinese, Balinese, Korean, and Renaissance gardens, with an English garden also planned.

You don't have to go to Japan to experience cherry blossom season. Berlin has over two kilometers of cherry blossoms waiting to be wandered through, admired, and photographed! Here are the best places in Berlin to enjoy cherry blossoms.

43. Build your own free art walking tour in Mitte

Although some of the better known galleries do charge admission, and are likely worth the entrance fee, it’s totally possibly to give yourself a free art tour .

44. Hang out with the Mitte-hipsters at Rosenthaler Platz

There are just tons of fabulous places to eat and drink in the area (as well as people-watching!). Be fancy and have fabulous Italian at Hartweizen or go grungy-hipster-style beers at Mein Haus am See . Continue up the bikes-only Weinbergsweg for a lovely and lively tree-lined street with even more bars and cafes galore.

45. Check out the street festivals happening year round

Berlin loves festivals for all occasions, and especially in the summer it seems like a different one is happening every weekend. Some well-attended festivals in Kreuzberg include the Maifest (May Day Festival) on May 1st, Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures), and the most mature of them all: the Jazz festival!

46. See a movie in a Freiluftkino (Open air cinema)

Germans celebrate summer like no other people I know. One clear evidence of this is the concept of Freiluftkino , where the wonderful warmth is celebrated by showing films outdoors. Check out what’s playing this Summer

47. Drink a coffee in a cemetary

While not everyone’s taste, enjoying a coffee in a cemetary is bound to be very…peaceful. If you need somewhere super quiet to nurse your hangover after a wild night out, you’ll find no better cafe than Café Strauss .

48. Have a barbecue in the park

One of the many wonderful consequences of having no laws against drinking in public is how free you are to have a beer and beef barbecue in the park! Grab a blanket, brewskies, and some Fleisch and head to one of the BBQ-friendly parks .

Bargain barbecues can be found at any supermarket in the summer – so grab some coal and hit the park!

49. Rent a canoe on the Insel der Jugend (Island of Youth) and paddle around the Spree

In between Treptow Park and Forst Plänterwald (Plänterwald Forest) is a tiny island, connected to mainland Berlin by the oldest bridge of its kind in Germany. Come for a picnic, live music on Sundays, or to rent a canoe and go padding along the River Spree.

50. Rent an apartment and stay for a while!

Because why not? Find a long term AirBnb, learn a few words of German, and see what all the fuss is about. Interested in making Berlin your home? Check out my guide to emigrating to Germany and places to check for startup jobs in Berlin .

Have you ever been to Berlin? What am I missing on my list of essential Berlin experiences?

Share your suggestions in the comments and I will DEFINITELY check them out myself!

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About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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20 Best Things to Do in Berlin, Germany

Berlin's history of battling ideologies makes for some of the most fascinating sightseeing in Europe. Explore the remnants of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery , which has been transformed by colorful murals into the largest open-air

• All Things To Do

Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) free

U.S. News Insider Tip: A nice souvenir video of the Brandenburg Gate can be captured by taking a taxi on the northbound road (Bundesstraße 2) that loops around the Brandenburg Gate. Keep your camera steady out the window, and you’ll have an impressive panoramic video. – Michael Cappetta

Inspired by the Acropolis entrance in Athens , the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) is one of the most-photographed sites in Berlin. Located in Pariser Platz (Paris Square), one of the city's most famous squares, the Brandenburg Gate was built for King Frederick William II starting in 1788. Designed by royal architect, Carl Gotthard Langhans, the sandstone structure stands 85 feet high.

Reichstag Building Reichstag Building free

A symbol of Germany's past, present and future, the Reichstag, or Parliament Building, is a blend of different architecture styles from the late 20th to late 21st centuries. It symbolizes the country's path from a dark past to a brighter future.

Originally constructed between 1884 and 1894, the building was destroyed by arson in 1933, an act that marked a turning point in the history of the Third Reich. It was then bombed during World War II and didn't become the seating house of government again until 1999, when the distinguishing glass dome was added. Today, a visit to the dome is popular among travelers thanks to the stunning views it provides, particularly of the Tiergarten . If you're interested in a more in-depth history lesson, heed the advice of past travelers and take advantage of the free audio guide available to visitors.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe free

The Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas  (which translates to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe or, more simply, Berlin's Holocaust Memorial) consists of a sloping, wave-like grid of 2,711 concrete pillars constructed to memorialize the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Some of the pillars stand as tall as 15 feet.

Many visitors choose to simply walk among the gray slabs, but if you're interested in learning more about the history, you can descend to the underground visitor center, which displays information about the victims, including photographs, diaries and farewell letters. Recent travelers said they felt incredibly moved by the sheer size of the memorial (it spans more than half a square mile), and most highly recommended a visit when in Berlin. Reviewers note the memorial is within a five-minute walk of the Brandenburg Gate and across the street from Tiergarten Park , making it easy to visit all three top attractions.

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Topography of Terror Topography of Terror free

The Topography of Terror ( Topographie des Terrors ) museum sits on the site of the Gestapo and SS Police's former headquarters during World War II. By walking the grounds and touring the documentation center, travelers can learn about the atrocities committed by the German officers that once worked at this very site. In addition to the WWII history on display here, you’ll also see part of the Berlin Wall in the front of the building.

Other interesting exhibits that detail Berlin between 1933 and 1945 are found on the grounds, including excavated portions of the old building. For a more in-depth look at the museum, you can take the free English-speaking tour, which is offered Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. (Most exhibits are listed in German and English.) You'll want to sign up at the reception desk 30 minutes before the tour starts. 

Berlin Wall Memorial Berlin Wall Memorial free

Located in the center of Berlin, the Berlin Wall Memorial stretches for a little less than a mile along what was once the border that divided the city in two. Upon arriving at the memorial, you can stop into the visitor center to watch a short film on the history of the Berlin Wall, as well as explore a handful of exhibits. Visitors will learn about the political and historical context that led to the wall’s construction, its fall and the reunification of Germany.

Once you are finished in the visitor center, head across the street to see preserved remnants of the border strip. In addition to part of the Berlin Wall itself, you will find the Chapel of Reconciliation, a rebuilt structure that serves as a place of remembrance for the lives that were lost at the wall.

East Side Gallery East Side Gallery free

The East Side Gallery refers to the longest intact section of the Berlin Wall, which stretches for nearly a mile. If you want to experience the wall for the first time, this is the place to do it. After the Berlin Wall's fall in 1989, more than one hundred international artists congregated here, painting murals that depicted the world's joyous and optimistic reactions to the end of the Cold War era. What exists today forms the world's largest open-air gallery, featuring more than 100 murals.

Despite its distance from the main tourist attractions (a little less than 5 miles), the East Side Gallery still wins high praise from past travelers, who say it’s worth the side trip to see this history up close. Recent visitors suggested going early in the day to avoid crowds.

Museumsinsel (Museum Island) Museumsinsel (Museum Island)

Museumsinsel (or Museum Island) is the name given to a group of five museums, the Baroque-style Berlin Cathedral and large gardens clustered on a tiny island in the River Spree. Built between 1823 and 1930, some museums present a different aspect of German history and art, while others spotlight global arts and antiques, such as the Egyptian Museum and Pergamon Museum .

When you visit, see if you can guess which museum hangs which art; there's the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Neues Museum (New Museum), the Bode-Museum and the very popular Pergamon Museum.

Tiergarten Tiergarten free

The expansive Tiergarten sprawls 519 acres from central Berlin westward and attracts visitors looking for respite from the city's clamor. The name of the park translates to "Animal Garden," and it is also known as "Berlin’s Green Lung." The land where the park sits previously served as a royal hunting ground for select Germans during the late 17th century. Nowadays, visitors can still get a glimpse of animals by visiting Zoologischer Garten (the Berlin Zoo) located within the park. You can also stroll, jog or bike through the most popular green space in Berlin. For many locals, no visit to Tiergarten is complete without stopping at its two beer gardens, in particular Café am Neuen See, which occupies a picturesque lakefront perch.   

The Tiergarten also houses the Victory Column, which was erected in 1873 to commemorate Prussia's victory in the Franco-German War. Visitors can climb to the top of this monument to enjoy great views of Berlin.

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Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg) Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)

Beginning its life as a summer home for the royal family in the late 17th century, Schloss Charlottenburg became a lavish palace after Frederick the Great commissioned some 18th-century upgrades and additions. Now the complex can take more than a day to tour from top to bottom. Located 6 miles east of Berlin’s city center, this is a popular destination for tourists interested in history and architecture. 

Inside the baroque palace, you can view Frederick I and Sophie Charlotte's living quarters, the chapel and the Neuer Fluegel (New Wing) where Frederick the Great once resided. You can also venture outdoors to the Royal Gardens, the family mausoleum and even an ornate teahouse.

Berlin Cathedral Berlin Cathedral

Located in the Museum District of Mitte, the Berlin Cathedral spans more than 67,000 square feet, making it the largest Protestant church in Germany. Along with its size, the cathedral is also recognized for its beauty – it shares a similar design to Rome ’s St. Peter's Basilica . Its interior features gold accents, intricate mosaics and imperial staircase. Along with the cathedral’s dome, which is accessible to visitors via a set of 270 steps, another highlight is the marble and onyx altar. More than one million visitors stop by the Berlin Cathedral annually for worship services, tours, concerts and special events. Visitors traveling with children should review the cathedral’s event calendar to see if any kid-friendly activities, such as family concerts, align with your visit.

Recent visitors use words like “peaceful” and “iconic” to describe the cathedral. Some reviewers complained about the admission costs, but others said it’s worth the price to be able to view the stunning interior and climb the dome for outstanding views of the city.

TV Tower (Fernsehturm) TV Tower (Fernsehturm)

U.S. News Insider Tip: The TV Tower is conveniently located near the Alexanderplatz station and shopping district. Schedule some extra time to visit some of the unique local shops. During the holiday season, this area is also home to a beautiful Christmas market. – Michael Cappetta

For the ever-popular panorama of the city, the Berliner   Fernsehturm (TV Tower) is a great place to go. Originally constructed in the late 1960s to widely broadcast television signals across Germany, the TV Tower is still the tallest structure in Germany (standing at 1,207 feet), and it's guaranteed to provide quite the view. Visitors can take one of two elevators to the top. If the 40-second trip makes you hungry, stop by the rotating Sphere Restaurant or Bar 203 for some light refreshments.

Pergamon Museum Pergamon Museum

Note: The Pergamon Museum will be closed beginning in October 2023 for extensive renovations. It will reopen in spring 2027, according to the museum’s website .

The Pergamon Museum, located on Museumsinsel (Museum Island)  on the River Spree, is one of travelers' favorite museums. Recent visitors used words like "remarkable" and "jaw-dropping" to describe the museum, which was completed in 1930 and houses many works that are important to the development of ancient art and architecture. Filled with an impressive collection of Greek, Roman, East Asian and Islamic art, exhibits include pieces like the reconstructed Ishtar Gate from Babylon and the Pergamon Altar – a massive monumental Greek temple that is believed to date back to 180 B.C. Other highlights include the Market Gate of Miletus, which dates back to the second century and the Mshatta Façade, which hails from a Jordanian desert castle.

Friedrichstadt-Palast Friedrichstadt-Palast

Friedrichstadt-Palast is home to the world’s largest theater stage. The theater’s roots date back to 1867, though the building that is used today opened in 1984 after the original theater had to be demolished in 1980 for safety concerns. Since its reopening, the theater has been used for entertaining circus performances, vaudeville acts, comedy and musicals. Every February, the theater hosts film screenings as part of the Berlinale, or Berlin International Film Festival.

Recent travelers enjoyed the theater’s beauty. Travelers also added that the theater’s location is very convenient as it sits within walking distance of other major tourist attractions, such as the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstagsgebäude .

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Berlin Beer Gardens Berlin Beer Gardens

No trip to Berlin is complete without visiting a classic biergarten (beer garden). Biergartens in Berlin are popular with locals for summer afternoon and evening activities – plan ahead so you don’t end up in a long queue on a hot day.

One of the most popular beer gardens is Prater Biergarten, which is located just 2 miles north of the city center. The historic beer garden first opened in the mid-1800s. Open daily starting at noon, Prater offers a classic menu of pilsners, along with tasty grilled sausages from the region of Thuringia. Other classic snacks included baked potatoes with cheese curds and pretzels. Before visiting the biergarten, make sure to check the weather forecast: it’s only open weather permitting.

Berlin Christmas Markets Berlin Christmas Markets free

The festive Christmas markets in Berlin attract thousands of travelers each year for their unique food, shopping, beverages and holiday cheer. With dozens of Christmas markets to choose from, it is important for travelers to take the time to research which area they would like to visit, and which theme they would like to experience.

One of the most historical and romantic Christmas markets in Berlin is located at the Charlottenburg Palace . Christmas lights and decorations adorn the largest palace in Berlin to welcome visitors to a winter wonderland. Hundreds of vendors exhibit booths in the palace's plaza, where guests stroll through for holiday gifts and treats. A more classic Christmas market, which has historically opened on Nov. 21 and runs through Dec. 22, is located in the town of Spandau, which is located approximately 10 miles from Berlin’s city center and a 30-minute ride on public transit. At the Spandau Christmas markets, travelers navigate a large plaza that is decorated with Christmas lights and trees to shop hundreds of vendors from around the world. The charm of being in the middle of Spandau's town square adds to the enchantment of shopping at a classic German Christmas market. 

Berlin Story Bunker Berlin Story Bunker

The Berlin Story Bunker is an immersive museum spread across five floors that invites visitors to explore centuries of Berlin and German history. World War II and Hitler are a major focus of the museum (a recreation of Hitler’s personal study and a model of the bunker where he died by suicide in 1945 are among the displays). In fact, the 70,000-square-foot museum is housed within a concrete World War II bunker that’s connected to the Anhalter railway station. Open since 2014, the museum contains multimedia displays, large-scale photographs, short films, sculptures and other art installations.

Recent visitors said the information was well-presented and called the museum a must for history buffs. Because of its size and the amount of reading required, it’s recommended that you set aside at least three hours for your visit.

Potsdamer Platz Potsdamer Platz free

Pre-World War II, Potsdamer Platz was Berlin's main plaza – and a bustling one, at that – but the ensuing wars left it ravaged. After the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended, companies like Sony and Daimler moved in and built their headquarters on the square, thus revitalizing the area.

But global companies weren't the only ones credited with rejuvenating the plaza: Attractions like the Deutsche Kinemathek, a museum dedicated to German film and TV, the Boulevard der Stars – Berlin's answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame – and the Theater am Potsdamer Platz, the largest show stage in Berlin, also set up shop. Families will enjoy the nearby LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Berlin and a sizable mall, The Playce. Plus, with a casino and one of Berlin's largest movie theaters, the entertainment possibilities are nearly endless.

Checkpoint Charlie Checkpoint Charlie

Many say a visit to the Checkpoint Charlie border crossing should not come without a visit to the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, or the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Checkpoint Charlie was the most popular border crossing between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It has also had a starring role in major films, including the James Bond franchise.

Experts and travelers say the museum gives context to what's left of the border crossing, and indeed you will find chilling stories of those who escaped from East to West via the Berlin Wall – as well as stories about those who didn't. You'll also get a thorough history of the Berlin Wall.

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Mauerpark Mauerpark free

Mauerpark is a 37-acre park that was officially opened in 1994. The park's name translates to "Wall Park:" It's located on the land in between the walls that separated East and West Berlin, formerly known as “death strip.” Don’t let that sinister name deter you; the park is now known for its "open-air culture in the middle of Berlin" and it provides a great activity space for travelers. What's more, the park has several barbeque areas, making it a perfect spot to prepare an outdoor meal during the summer.

If your visit to Berlin overlaps with a Sunday, set aside time to visit Mauerpark to peruse its flea market. It’s one of Berlin's largest second-hand shopping events, and features hundreds of vendors selling unique antiques, clothing, furniture, products and other wares. In addition to the flea market, live music, pick-up sports games and other events take place on weekends.

Olympiastadion Berlin Olympiastadion Berlin

U.S. News Insider Tip: Review the upcoming schedule of events for Olympiastadion Berlin and try to catch a Hertha BSC football match – the energy is electric! – Michael Cappetta

Olympiastadion Berlin is a large, majestic stadium in Berlin's Olympischer Platz neighborhood that has the capacity to host up to 74,000 fans. The stadium is known as the home of Hertha BSC, a popular German soccer team, and host to a variety of special events throughout the year, including Lollapalooza Berlin, an annual music festival held in September. It's also known for its dark history. The stadium originally opened in 1936 for the Summer Olympics, often referred to as the "Nazi Olympics" for the widespread Nazi propaganda on display during the games. 

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18 of the best things to do in Berlin

By Liz Humphreys and Krystin Arneson

Thirty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, in 1989 the German capital's intoxicating mix of grit, glamour and anything-goes expression born from historical repression has made it one of the most dynamic cities on earth. Where else can you saunter through Prussian palaces, venture into Nazi-era bunkers, tour the world's longest outdoor art gallery and lose yourself in Europe's most famous techno temple? (And that's just day one.) So bring an open mind, pack your stamina and get ready to dive into all the city has to offer. Read on for the very best things to do in Berlin .

Hackesche Höfe and Haus Schwarzenberg

Beneath its rough exterior, Berlin hides elegant urban courtyards behind the Altbau buildings that survived World War II. In the heart of Berlin’s central Mitte neighbourhood, Hackesche Höfe is a cluster of eight café- and boutique-filled public courtyards dating from 1907. Following a complete renovation to restore the interconnected höfs (courtyards) to their former glory, the labyrinth reopened in 1996. Several doors down on Rosenthaler Straße, Haus Schwarzenberg is Hackesche Höfe’s gritty, graffiti-covered brother, and it offers a fascinating glimpse of what much of Berlin looked like before gentrification swept in.

Address: Rosenthaler Str. 39, Berlin 10178, Germany Website: haus-schwarzenberg.org

Charlottenburg Palace

Built in 1699 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of King Friedrich I, this massive, multi-winged baroque structure is Berlin’s largest palace. Heavily damaged in World War II and rebuilt and restored over several decades, the palace is home to a number of priceless collections, including royal porcelain and silver, crown jewels and important 18th-century French paintings by artists such as Antoine Watteau. The rooms themselves, most of which were entirely reconstructed, feature ornate plasterwork, gilding and frescoes, all based on original designs. The highlight is the gardens, created in the French and English style, with orderly hedges, fountains, ponds and tree-lined gravel paths.

Address: Spandauer Damm 10-22, Berlin 14059, Germany Website: spsg.de

Berlin Wall Memorial

This free indoor/outdoor museum and memorial is the best place to learn how the Berlin Wall sprung up, practically overnight, what life was like in the former East German state, and the heroic (and heartbreaking) attempts people made to reunite with their families. As you walk along this one-mile stretch of Bernauer Strasse, an open-air exhibit features photographs and signs detailing the stories on either side of the barrier. There’s also a preserved piece of the original border wall and a watchtower, as well as an indoor visitor centre with exhibits chronicling the political and historical events surrounding the city’s division.

Address: Bernauer Str. 111, Berlin 13355, Germany Website: stiftung-berliner-mauer.de

Mauerpark Flea Market

Located along a former part of the Berlin Wall that was a militarised no-man’s land known as the “Death Strip,” the area that is now Mauerpark (“Wall Park") was where guards stationed in watch towers would shoot would-be escapees trying to flee from East Berlin to West. Today, the attack dogs and soldiers are gone, and in their place, the city’s largest and best outdoor market is held every Sunday. Surrounding the bustling market in the trendy green space is something of an anything-goes circus, filled with jugglers, picnickers and the world's largest karaoke party, known as Bearpit Karaoke.

Address: Bernauer Str. 63-64, Berlin 13355, Germany Website: berlin.de

Perhaps no club in Berlin (or the world, for that matter) is more hallowed than Berghain. Set in a former East German power station, this cavernous, nondescript warehouse is the Holy Grail for techno fans, hosting three-day-long debauchery-induced raves. Every weekend, the club attracts some of the best DJs from all over the planet to spin and pump beats so intense that they ring in your bones instead of your ears.

Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, Berlin 10243, Germany Website: berghain.berlin

Reichstag Building

Reduced to rubble after one of history's most infamous fires in the 1930s, and then rebuilt decades later, the stately Reichstag is arguably Germany's most iconic landmark. The building has been home of Germany’s parliament (the Bundestag) since 1999 and now serves as a symbol of the country’s reunification. Today, a glistening glass dome designed by starchitect Norman Foster sits atop the grand old structure, and anyone with an advanced booking can ascend its 755-foot-long ramp for sweeping views over the city. The Reichstag dome is one of the most enriching free experiences for first-time visitors to the city, where a troubled past exists side by side with a trendsetting future. Few places employ this juxtaposition quite as well as this monument to freedom and openness, which was literally built atop the site that saw Nazis rise to power.

Address: Platz der Republik 1, Berlin 11011, Germany Website: bundestag.de

Humboldt Forum

The Humboldt Forum’s collection is vast and varied – and honestly more than a little overwhelming. The main exhibit is the Ethnological Collection and Asian Art, which displays about 20,000 objects from Berlin’s former Ethnological Museum and Museum for Asian Art of the State Museums. What’s most interesting here is that many objects are examined in a critical context – for instance, looking at how they were taken from African nations during colonial rule, with descriptions in both German and English. The fascinating, if sprawling, Berlin Global exhibit examines Berlin’s impact on the world in six categories: Boundaries, Entertainment, Fashion, Interconnection, Revolution, Space, and War. The After Nature (Humboldt Lab) exhibition critically examines the interplay between climate change and democracy in countries around the world. Then there are a few exhibitions reminding you of the building’s complex history: a Sculpture Hall displaying fragments of the original palace as well as six large 18th-century sculptures; the Palace Cellar below ground that includes part of the medieval Dominican monastery originally on the site as well as preserved sections of the Berlin Palace’s foundations; and a large-scale video panorama about the history of the site (“800 years of history in just 14 minutes!”) Plus, a panoramic rooftop on the fourth floor (accessible with an extra fee) offers lovely views of the Berlin rooftops. Also of note: as befits a modern museum, a good number of exhibits are interactive, with buttons to push, videos and virtual reality stories to watch, and audio to listen to.

Address: Schlossplatz , Berlin, 10178, Germany Website: humboldtforum.org

Brandenburg Gate

This triumphant neoclassical arch is Berlin’s most famous monument and the only remaining gate of the 14 that originally surrounded the city when it was a proud Prussian metropolis. Since then, Napoleon and Hitler have stormed through it and the world watched as thousands of Berliners swarmed the site with sledgehammers to topple the nearby Wall in 1989. Ever since, this Acropolis-inspired 1791 monument has come to symbolise German reunification. Conveniently located within easy walking distance of a trio of boldfaced Berlin sites (Tiergarten Park, the Reichstag, and The Holocaust Memorial), the Brandenburg Gate serves as a central meeting place for tourists.

Address: Pariser Platz , Berlin 10117, Germany Website: berlin.de

Topography of Terror

You’re on the site of the headquarters of the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s secret police force between 1933 and 1945, where many political prisoners were tortured before being sent to concentration camps and prisons. The Reich Security Main Office, created by Nazi paramilitary organisation Schutzstaffel (SS) head and chief of the German police Heinrich Himmel – which was responsible for organising the Holocaust – was also headquarted here starting in 1939. Indoor and outdoor exhibitions walk visitors through the history of these organisations and the crimes that they committed. Especially moving is the outdoor exhibit “Berlin 1933-1945. Between Propaganda and Terror” that looks at how the Nazis came to power in Berlin; it’s displayed amongst excavated sections of the fomer building (visible through glass panels) where the Nazis planned their crimes against humanity. The comprehensive inside exhibit goes into even more depth, using photos and stories to tell the story of when the Nazis came to power and the crimes they committed until World War II ended. Both exhibits, plus regularly rotating temporary ones, are free to visit. For even more history, to the site’s north you’ll find the longest section of the Berlin Wall still remaining in the city centre.

Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, Berlin, 10963, Germany Website: topographie.de

Museum Island

Berlin's Smithsonian on the Spree, Museumsinsel (“Museum Island”) is a UNESCO-inscribed collection of five world-class museums and a must-see for anyone coming to Berlin. Spanning 6,000 years of art and history, the island’s ensemble of museums (The Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Pergamonmuseum, and Bode Museum) represent the pinnacle of Germany’s museum collection. Here, visitors can come face to face with Nefertiti; ascend an ancient altar dedicated to Zeus; and marvel at Monet, Cézanne, and Degas’ landscapes before crossing the bridge back to mainland Berlin.

Address: Bodestrasse 1-3, Berlin 10178, Germany Website: smb.museum

Neue Nationalgalerie

All of the Neue Nationalgalerie’s art dates from the 20th century. The museum’s permanent collection is strong on German Expressionism – think Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, and Emil Nolde – along with Cubist and Dada works, plus worthy pieces by such 20th-century art world luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch, Piet Mondriaan, Joan Miró, and Wassily Kandinsky. Though the permanent exhibition space on the lower floor is large, it only holds about 250 pieces, so selections from the museum’s collection of about 5,000 artworks rotate throughout the year. (A new, larger “Berlin modern” museum is under construction next to the Neue Nationalgalerie to display more of the artworks; however, its planned opening in 2027 is in question, as it’s already behind schedule and millions over budget.) When the Neue Nationalgalerie reopened in 2021, the permanent exhibition space featured art from 1900 to 1945; from late 2023 through October 2025, the museum is displaying works from 1945 to 2000, with such artists as Barnett Newman, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, and Louise Nevelson. Visitors also have the chance to catch the Gerhard Richter Art Foundation, which has loaned 100 works from the renowned German artist to the museum until at least 2026. You can hit the highlights in 60 to 90 minutes, but it will be a bit rushed. Two hours will give you a much more relaxed pace to explore the permanent and temporary collections, and to maybe even spend some time enjoying the lovely sculpture garden, if the weather’s nice.

Address: Potsdamer Str. 50, Berlin, 10785, Germany Website: smb.museum

Sammlung Boros

A renovated Nazi-era bunker in the now-posh Mitte district houses this private collection of contemporary art, owned by Christian and Karen Boros (who actually live in an apartment on the roof). The selection of sculpture, paintings, photographs, and installations by international artists rotate every four years, but have recently featured contemporary artists like Katja Novitskova, Guan Xiao, and Kris Martin. A guided tour across its five floors reveals not only the impressive collection but also the long history of the bunker, which was used as a Nazi air raid shelter and later became an underground techno club (you can still see vestiges of fluorescent paint in some rooms and stairwells). Tours (required) book up months in advance, so plan accordingly.

Address: Reinhardtstraße 20, Berlin 10117, Germany Website: sammlung-boros.de

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

A short walk from Brandenburg Gate, this sprawling, maze-like set of 2,711 concrete columns is a haunting reminder of the atrocities and toll of World War II and Germany’s main memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Officially called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site occupies an entire 205,000-square-foot city block and was designed by American architect Peter Eisenman after an exhaustive 17-year planning process. The memorial’s abstract design offers no explanation or prescribed walking path, but simply invites visitors to enter and become swallowed in its tomb-like slabs.

Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, Berlin 10117, Germany Website: stiftung-denkmal.de

East Side Gallery

With more than 100 paintings, the East Side Gallery is the world's largest (and longest) open-air art gallery. The 0.8-mile stretch of the Berlin Wall, which runs parallel to the Spree River, once trapped East Germans inside. But when the rest of the Wall came crumbling down in 1989, this stretch remained and became a concrete canvas for international artists, who splashed it with murals between February and June of 1990.

Address: Mühlenstraße 3-100, Berlin 10243, Germany Website: stiftung-berliner-mauer.de

Tempelhofer Feld

Used as a lifeline by some two million people during the Allied Airlift, Tempelhof Airport is now a sweeping urban playground that’s larger than Central Park. On sunny days, thousands of Berliners come to jog down the abandoned runways, bike under the old radar station, and grill next to grounded Cold War-era planes. Stay long enough and you’ll see beekeepers in the lawn, windsurfers on the runway, cricket players by the tarmac, zipliners in the forest and much more.

Address: Tempelhofer Damm, Berlin 12101, Germany Website: gruen-berlin.de

Berlin's signature park and "green lung," Tiergarten Park is a leafy 519-acre oasis that was once used as the hunting grounds of Berlin’s rulers (“Tiergarten” means “animal park”). These days, the boars and pheasants have moved on, and in their place a series of lakes, hiking paths, English gardens, and even a biergarten attract joggers, cyclists, and sunbathers. Towering over the centre of the park, the gilded Siegessäule (Victory Column) is the most famous of Tiergarten’s many monuments and commemorates Prussian war victories. Nearby, the white Schloss Bellevue palace is where the German president lives. Elsewhere, don’t miss the manicured English Garden and teahouse, and Berlin’s most attractive and romantic biergarten, Café am Neuen See, where lovers can enjoy a pint, a pizza, and a paddle aboard a rowboat on the lake. It would take you days to see all of the park – we recommend downshifting and taking your time here with a bike, a blanket and a book.

Website: visitberlin.de

Prater Garten

Prater Garden, Berlin's oldest biergarten, comprises almost a full acre of communal tables and benches. Although Germany’s capital city doesn't have the biergarten culture of Bavaria, this gem has been around since 1837 – and has withstood the multiple tests of time for good reason. Like most biergartens, the atmosphere is relaxed and convivial: People focus on their company first and their drinks (think Pils and housemade dark beer) second. This is also Berlin's best spot for a bratwurst fix; nothing goes better with sun and bier than a grilled sausage, so choose from spicy or standard. Bavarian pretzels make for great beer-side snacks, too.

Address: Kastanienallee 7-9, Berlin, 10435, Germany Website: prater-biergarten.de

Trending Post : 52 Best Things to do in Ireland

50+ Incredible Things to do in Berlin (from a local)

Whether you’re after a weekend packed full of partying, a city break with brunch, markets and bars galore or a trip discovering history, Berlin will deliver.

Start planning your must-do activities with this guide, sharing the insider lowdown on all of Berlin’s best bits. I’ve lived in Berlin for three years: here are 52 things I love to do that you should definitely check out when in Berlin.

Ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

The Absolute Must-Do Activities ✅

If you can do everything on this Berlin list , do it. But if you’re time is limited, these are my Berlin faves:

• Walk along the former Berlin wall
• Grab a delicious takeaway falafel
• Visit Tempelhofer Feld
• Cool off at a lake in Grünewald
• Visit the Turkish Market at Maybachufer
• Stay at Hotel am Steinplatz

Getting around Berlin

If you’re staying in Berlin for a few days, you’re probably going to want to invest in a weekly pass for the public transport. Berlin’s not a walkable city by any means but the maze of buses, trams and S + U Bahns (read: trains) mean you’ll get around in no time.

You can also get a Berlin Hop on Hop off ticket to see the most important sites. Or of course rent a car or book guided tours to explore the city.

52 of the Best Places to Go, Restaurants, Clubs and Things to do in Berlin

1. visit the turkish market at maybachufer.

The chaos and vibrancy of Maybachufer’s Turkish market (Maybachufer, 12047 Berlin) makes it my favorite in Berlin.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, stalls are set up alongside the Landwehr Canal in Kreuzberg, with fruit and veg nestled among lunch offerings, fabric stands, freshly made tahini, local cheese, handmade jewelry and so much more.

Visit for a fun afternoon of browsing and make sure you arrive hungry enough to grab a bite to eat!

2. Check out the East Side Gallery

If you’ve begun researching your Berlin trip, the East Side Gallery (Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin) is probably already on your must-see list.

This part of the former Berlin wall is covered in graffiti dating back to the 1980s. Wander along with your camera and snap pictures of your favorite street art. Don’t be confused by the word ‘gallery’ though – there’s no entrance fee or opening times, you can just turn up.

3. Walk along the former Berlin Wall

Learning about Berlin’s rich history is an essential thing to do on your visit. One of the best (and free!) ways to do that is to walk along the site of the former Berlin wall (Bernauer Str. 50, 10435 Berlin), learning the history of Germany’s DDR era from the open air museum as you go. Start at Bernauerstraße opposite Mauerpark and follow the signs all the way to the Berlin Wall Memorial.

4. Visit Tempelhofer Feld

Not many cities can boast a disused airport as one of their top hang-out spots – but Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld (Tempelhofer Damm, 12101 Berlin) is a favorite green space of countless Berliners. The flat, grassy field is pretty vast, with a circumference of 6 kilometers, and is criss-crossed with running tracks for joggers, cyclists, skaters, roller skaters and even wind skaters.

You’ll also see people trying out circus lifts, practicing diablo or working on their juggling skills. Head down to try out a sport of your own or simply grab a beer, sit back and observe the fun.

5. Take advantage of the Museum Sonntag offer

Trying to see every activity a city has to offer can get expensive – but if you happen to be visiting Berlin during the first weekend of the month, you may be able to snag free entrance to a museum on Sunday, when many museums and galleries are free.

Tickets are released a month in advance, so keep an eye on the website and make sure to act fast when they’re live. Even if your museum of choice is sold out, there will be plenty more to choose from, so take a chance on the available tickets and surprise yourself!

6. Grab a delicious takeaway falafel

While tourists may think of typical German food as Currywurst or Pretzels, in Berlin, falafel is undoubtedly a typical local dish. Not only are there countless falafel shops to choose from but you also need to decide whether you want to sample Turkish, Lebanese or Sudanese falafel – or all three!

The jury’s out on which is the best falafel in Berlin, but one thing’s for sure: Neuköln and Wedding are the neighborhoods where you’ll find the most authentic selection.

You won’t have to break the bank to enjoy falafel in Berlin either: expect to pay between 4-6€ for a wrap that’ll fill you up all afternoon.

7. Go crazy at a day rave

Berliners love to party – and on a few days of the year, the party spreads right out into the streets. Time your visit with the 1st of May (worker’s day), Christopher Street Day (Berlin’s pride parade, in mid-July) or Rave the Planet (a celebration of techno music in early July) for a day party to remember.

You’ll find trucks in the streets blasting music, pop-up DJ booths in parks or on balconies and thousands of people having the time of their life. Be sure to pack a great outfit as dressing up is part of the fun.

The best part? All of these day rave parties are free to enjoy. Make sure to pack some cold drinks though, as vendors selling booze at the site of the parades are pretty expensive.

8. Cool off at a lake in Grünewald

You might not have realized that a day at the beach is a great Berlin activity. I’m here to tell you that it’s a must on your Berlin bucket list! The city boasts 3000 lakes that offer sandy beaches, shady trees and clear waters to cool off in.

Take Me To The Lakes has a great directory that details all the best spots to check out – but the lakes in the forest of Grünewald are a classic option. Situated at the western edge of the city, you’ll just have to jump on a train or hire a bike to cycle through the woods before you’re enjoying a day relaxing in nature.

Depending on whether there’s a cafe or other facilities, I’d recommend packing a picnic, and if it’s a hot summer Saturday, go early to nab the best sunbathing spot.

9. Bar hop on Weserstraße

If you want to grab a drink in Neuköln, Weserstraße is the place to go. From exquisite cocktails at Yuma to drag shows at queer bar Silver Future to table football at Ä, you’re sure to find a fun place to drink the night away. Make sure to end the night by grabbing a kebab or falafel at one of the countless nearby takeaways: not only will it help your hangover in the morning but it’s sure to be delicious.

10. Try your luck at Berghain

Getting rejected from Berghain (Am Wriezener bhf, 10243 Berlin) is a Berlin rite of passage. To increase your chances of being let past the legendary bouncer Sven and allowed entrance into Berlin’s mecca of techno, bring your punkiest outfit and best don’t-care attitude.

To skip hours of queuing, try coming early on Sunday morning instead of on Saturday night: by exchanging breakfast for a boogie, you’ll be partying alongside way more locals than tourists too.

11. Have fun at KitKat

Visiting Berlin’s infamous sex club may not be on everyone’s to-do list – but if you want to explore your sensual side and have a crazy travel story to bring back home, KitKat Club (Köpenicker Straße 76, Brückenstraße 1, 10179 Berlin) is the place to go.

Exit Heinrich-Heine-Straße U Bahn station and you’ll find the queue – expect to wait for up to 3 hours if you arrive after midnight. The bouncers will ask to see your outfit, so go shopping in one of Berlin’s kink shops for a suitable look beforehand and hope they like what they see.

Inside the club, you can enjoy the pool, dance to techno sets and if you’re feeling inspired, find a (not so) private corner to have fun. No phones are allowed and consent is the name of the game: you’ll be respected by other punters and if you feel uncomfortable, staff will support you.

12. Party at Sisyphos

Another must-visit Berlin club, Sisyphos (Hauptstraße 15, 10317 Berlin) is best suited to a sunny day where you can enjoy the outdoor stages before heading inside as night falls. Comprised of 5 stages overall, you’ll find a mix of house and techno set among beautiful gardens with a beachside atmosphere. If you’re hungry, grab pizza or chips from the vendors, while the bars will supply you with drinks all night long. As for the outfits, Sisyphos is a place to express your individual style, so dig through your suitcase for your most colorful, vibrant clothes.

13.   Watch the sunset at Modersohnbrücke

Berlin has several picturesque places to watch the sunset – but one of the best is a simple bridge in Friedrichshain (10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg) that becomes a hive of activity come dusk. Grab a beer from a nearby Späti (convenience store) and find a spot looking west to enjoy views across the city as the sun comes down.

14. Try karaoke at Mauerpark Market

A quick language lesson: ‘Mauer’ is German for ‘wall’, hence the name Mauerpark for Berlin’s patch of green that is located at the site of the former Berlin wall. Come to the park on Sunday to check out its infamous flea market (Bernauer Str., 13355 Berlin), where vendors sell everything from vintage clothes to furniture to handmade soap in the shape of vaginas (yep, you read right.)

Once you’re done browsing, grab a drink and watch the outdoor karaoke that is one of the market’s main attractions – if all that beer’s got you feeling brave, you can even join in.

15. Enjoy an afternoon of skating

If you visit Berlin in the summer (which, by the way, you totally should), you’ll likely see plenty of skaters zooming through the streets. If hopping on a board is your thing – or if you’ve been itching to try – rent a board and join the countless people practicing their tricks or whiling away the afternoons at Tempelhofer Feld or Mauerpark.

16. Browse the day away at Boxi Market

This square in Friedrichshain (Grünberger Str. 75, 10245 Berlin) transforms into a bustling marketplace at the weekends. Come on Saturday to check out the food market, where you can pick up a delicious breakfast, organic groceries or artisan gifts for the foodies in your life.

On Sundays, vintage treasure is the name of the game, with a selection of clothes and furniture making for a fun few hours of browsing.

17. Take a street art walking tour

There’s street art galore in Berlin, so pay attention when wandering around and plenty of murals will catch your eye. But if you’re keen to hear more context about the graffiti you’re looking at, definitely sign up for a street art tour .

While the East Side Gallery has some of Berlin’s most famous murals, there are loads more to see that most tourists wouldn’t catch.

18. Try standup paddle boarding

If you’re hanging out on the side of the canal or river with a beer in hand (one of my favorite Berlin pastimes) you’ll see plenty of people floating by on stand up paddle boards. Rent a board (and a lesson if needed) or sign up for a Paddle Board Tour to give SUP-ing a go yourself – you’ll get a whole new perspective on Berlin from the water.

19. Go to the opera

If you want an evening full of glamor, visiting one of Berlin’s opera houses is the way to go. Get your glad rags on and arrive in time to take plenty of photos of the stunning architecture and interior before the show starts. Definitely book in advance and look out for operas with English subtitles so you can follow the story as well as enjoy the show.

20. Visit rooftop bar Klunkerkranich

A rooftop bar with city-wide views that has a great food selection and plays DJ sets as the sun comes down: what more could you ask for?

Finding Klunkerkranich (Karl-Marx-Straße 66, 12043 Berlin) is a little tricky (the bar is at the top of a shopping center in Neuköln) but don’t let that put you off. Follow the instructions on their website, bring cash for the 5-10€ entrance fee and be prepared to queue if you come after 8pm. But don’t worry, you can already enjoy the view as you wait.

21. Visit Schloss Charlottenburg

Never mind Buckingham Palace, Berlin has its own decadent house and gardens in the Charlottenburg district in the west of the city: the Schloss Charlottenburg (Spandauer Damm 10-22, 14059 Berlin), which has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1990. Turn up with enough time to explore the palace’s countless rooms boasting baroque interiors, before wandering through the vast expanse of gardens.

22. Float down the river in a hot tub

Keen to see Berlin from a different perspective? Try floating down the Spree (Berlin’s river) in a hot tub – yes, really! Berlin Bootsverleih rents out boats with hot tubs so you can chill out and get cracking views at the same time. Bring along some Sekt (German sparkling wine) for the ride and have an evening to remember.

23. Learn about DDR history at the Stasi Museum

Checking out museums is surely on your Berlin to-do list. But don’t just stick to museum island: if you venture east to Berlin’s Lichtenberg district, you’ll discover the Stasi Museum (Normannenstraße 20/Haus 1, 10365 Berlin) located in the former Stasi headquarters on a street full of buildings with typical DDR architecture.

The museum offers a unique insight into Berlin’s communist past – book a guided tour if you want to maximize your experience.

24. Eat your heart out at the Thai food market

Berlin’s Wilmersdorf district is where Thai food rules supreme. While visiting a restaurant in this neighborhood may be ideal in winter, if you’re visiting Berlin on a sunny Sunday afternoon, checking out the Thai food market in Preußenpark (Brandenburgische Str., 10707 Berlin) is a must.

You’ll enjoy the hustle and bustle of countless stalls whose mouth-watering dishes will all compete for your attention – but don’t worry, whatever you choose is likely to be delicious. Grab a lassi to accompany your meal and find a spot in the park to tuck in.

25. Prenzlauer Berg

Prenzlauer Berg is one of Berlin’s most picturesque districts. This area in the former east boasts turn-of-the-century architecture, parks including the Wasserturm and Volkspark Friedrichshain (confusingly located at the border between Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain) and countless bars, cafes and restaurants to refuel before you explore further.

Check out the neighborhoods Kollwitzkiez or Bötzowviertel for all of this in abundance, along with some seriously great boutique shopping if your wallet will allow it.

26. Go bouldering

The bouldering craze has well and truly hit Berlin – if you’re a keen boulderer, or just fancy trying out a new skill, turn up at one of the city’s many bouldering halls where you can hire shoes and get stuck in. Try Ostbloc (Hauptstraße 13, 10317 Berlin) for a bouldering session  followed by pizza and beer on the riverside as you watch the sun go down.

27. Grab a drink on Simon-Dach-Straße

If you fancy an evening of bar hopping, trying specialty cocktails and soaking up Berlin’s evening vibe before heading on to a nearby club, Simon-Dach-Straße in Friedrichshain will deliver. Primitiv is a must visit, as is cult gay bar Himmelreich ; just remember to bring plenty of cash as many establishments don’t take cards.

28. Visit the Jewish Museum

Berlin’s Jewish Museum (Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 Berlin) is a must-visit. The poignant and powerful exhibit in Kreuzberg will teach you about Jewish history through the ages. Crucially, you’ll also learn about Germany’s role in shaping Jewish history, providing valuable context as you continue to explore Berlin.

29. Walk among cherry blossom trees

While the very center of Berlin may be dominated by gray concrete buildings, the city has countless beautiful spots if you know where to look. If you’re visiting in April, checking out the cherry blossom trees is a great activity that’ll leave your camera roll full of Instagram-worthy pictures.

Try walking along Käthe-Niederkirchner-Straße in Prenzlauer Berg to see a street full of trees in bloom – or if you have time to head out of the city, Kirschbaumallee, a park in Brandenburg, has a whole field full of trees.

Before you commit to the day trip, research if the cherry blossom is in bloom by asking in Google Map reviews, on Reddit or in Facebook groups. Berliners who have been already will let you know if the flowers are out!

30. Enjoy an evening of jazz

If techno isn’t your music genre of choice, don’t worry: Berlin has plenty more to offer you. The city’s jazz bars are a great place to while away an evening, listening to concerts, jam sessions and improvised sets alike. Check out B Flat in Mitte or Yorckschlösschen in Schöneberg for plenty of the above – and indulge in a great cocktail while you’re at it.

31. Take a day trip to Potsdam

Staying in Berlin throughout your whole visit would mean missing out on everything Brandenburg, the district surrounding Berlin, has to offer.

Take a train to Potsdam (don’t forget to extend your travel pass to the C zone!) and check out the New Palace with its beautifully landscaped gardens. Then take a walk through the town’s charming streets to refuel with coffee or lunch before heading back to Berlin.

Top Tour: Potsdam Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide

32. Check out impressionist art at the Barberini

While you’re in Potsdam, make time to visit the Barberini (Humboldtstraße 5-6, 14467 Potsdam). The art museum hosts an impressive collection of impressionist work alongside temporary exhibits. If you’re a fan of Monet, look no further: the museum has 39 of his works, the most of any museum in Europe outside of Paris.

33. Take a historical walking tour

If you want to truly get to grips with Berlin’s textured history, joining a walking tour is a great way to explore the main sites with a guide who knows their stuff.

If you don’t manage to book a walking tour , try creating one yourself by walking around and looking out for small gold plaques (Stolpersteine) on the ground.

These are placed outside houses where Jewish people who were murdered in concentration camps lived, serving as a memorial and reminder of Berlin’s past.

34. Transport yourself into history at the Panorama exhibit

While Berlin’s Pergamon Museum (Am Kupfergraben 2, 10117 Berlin) is currently closed for a 14 year renovation, its sister museum, the Panorama, remains open.

Entering the Panorama is like walking into the past: the immersive, 360° dome is painted with scenes from the festival of Dionysia in AD 129 and the accompanying soundscape makes the experience even more lifelike.

The museum also hosts a collection of 80 ancient sculptures from the Roman empire that you can browse once you’ve emerged from the Panorama.

35. Party at a bar-cum-club

If you fancy a night out that doesn’t boast a 25€ cover charge, try the venues at Lohmühleninsel , where Treptower and Kreuzberg meet.

Birgit und Bier offers pizza, Club de Visionary has views over the water and Aeden has a beautiful garden replete with mirrors and a tiny, pumping dancefloor.

These bars host a variety of day and night parties, so check the events beforehand to see what event matches your vibe – or take a chance and have a night to remember.

36. Enjoy views from the Reichstag

Berlin’s Reichstag building (Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin) isn’t just a must-visit for politics nerds. While it’s cool to get up close and personal with where the German parliament sits, walking up the winding staircase of the glass dome also rewards you with a stunning panoramic view of Berlin.

Take an audio guide if you’re keen to learn more about the German political system – and be sure to book your slot in advance to avoid missing out!

37. Reflect on Jewish history at the Holocaust memorial

Visiting Berlin’s Holocaust memorial (Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin) is essential for every tourist. Made up of tall concrete blocks that tower above you as you walk through them, exploring the memorial, and its adjacent free museum, will allow you to reflect on Jewish history and Germany’s role in murdering millions of Jews.

Related Tour: In Search of Jewish Berlin (Small Group Tour)

38. Party at a city festival

If you want to combine your Berlin visit with seeing world-famous artists, grab tickets to Lollapalooza or Tempelhof Sounds , two Berlin-based festivals who have hosted the likes of Florence & the Machine, Muse and Imagine Dragons.

While Tempelhof Sounds takes place on Tempelhofer Feld in the heart of Berlin, Lollapalooza is situated in the Olympiastadion, relatively far from the city’s sites. Make sure your trip includes a couple of days to explore Berlin once you’re done with partying!

39. Visit a lake in winter

Who said lakes are just for summer? Heading to Grünewald on a crisp autumn day or as snow falls around you makes for a great day out. Hike around Schlachtensee to see golden leaves in October or visit in December to experience a frozen winter wonderland. If the ice is thick enough, people may even walk on the lakes – but take care: this may be an instance to be a spectator rather than a participant!

40. Explore Treptower Park and Plänterwald

Berlin is a green city with countless parks to choose from. If you’re hanging out in the east of Berlin, visit Treptower Park, which is situated on the Spree river, allowing you to watch the world go by on the water. Grab food or drinks from one of many kiosks and take a walk over the bridge to the park’s tiny island.

Plänterwald borders Treptower Park and has a wilder, larger forest to explore. You can also check out the Soviet War Memorial, set among a grand landscaped garden, which is the largest memorial to Soviet soldiers in Berlin.

41. Get the best view for the sunset

Watching the sunset from a former flak tower (a watch tower built during World War II) is another unique experience you can only get in Berlin.

Head to Volkspark Humboldthain (Brunnenstraße, 13357 Berlin) in the northwest of Berlin and walk up the hill to the flak tower before the sun begins setting. Make sure to bring a drink with you to enjoy as the sun goes down.

42. Check out a Christmas market

Visiting a Christmas market in Berlin as the snow falls around you makes for a picture-perfect experience. Head to RAW-Gelände, Alt-Rixdorf or Holzmarkt and grab a Glühwein (mulled wine) to keep yourself warm as you browse stalls selling traditional crafts and homemade gifts.

These markets are a great place to try traditional German food too – so save some Euros to buy a Currywurst or Käsespätzle to fuel your browsing.

43. Wander through the Botanical Gardens

If you want to find a bit of calm during your Berlin visit, head to the Botanical Gardens (Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195 Berlin) in Steglitz.

The gardens boast indoor greenhouses with a multitude of plant species along with a few acres of outdoor gardens which bloom with a varying selection of flowers throughout the year.

With just a 6€ entrance price, you’ll have some spare change to spend on a drink or ice cream from the cafe at the end of your visit.

44. Experience Vietnamese culture at the Don Xuan Centre

There aren’t many reasons for tourists to go to Lichtenberg, Berlin’s former east district, but the Don Xuan Centre (Herzbergstraße 128-139, 10365 Berlin) is definitely worth exploring.

The vast indoor market has a wide variety of Vietnamese products, as well as stalls where you can grab delicious, authentic Vietnamese food. If you don’t make it all the way out east, make sure eating Vietnamese food is on your Berlin to-do list anyway – try Hamy’s at Hermannplatz for a massive portion of noodles for under 7€.

45. Enjoy a relaxing brunch

A lazy weekend brunch is an ideal way to recover from your late night partying. Great areas packed full of restaurants include Friedrichshain, Kreuzköln (where Kreuzberg and Neuköln intersect), Prenzlauer Berg, Bergmannkiez and Schöneberg.

While some places may take reservations, many others require you to show up and wait (sometimes up to an hour) for a table. Don’t arrive hungry and you can add your name to the waiting list and wander around with a coffee until your time slot.

46. Hang out at Admiralbrücke

You may not have thought that hanging out on a bridge could be so popular – but as evening arrives on hot summer days, Berliners flock to Admiralbrücke (Admiralstraße, 10967 Berlin) in Kreuzberg to enjoy their Feierabend (how Germans refer to their post-work evenings).

Roughing it is the name of the game here: several people sit on the street while others stand and look over the canal, watching the world go by. If you want a comfier place to sit, try the grassy bank just along from the bridge and make sure to visit a Späti beforehand to pick up your choice of ice cold drink.

47. Go vintage shopping

When you’re packing for your Berlin trip, make sure to leave a bit of space in your suitcase for all the clothes you might buy during your visit.

Markets are a great place to score vintage or second-hand finds, as are the countless vintage shops you’ll come across throughout the city. Germany’s charity shop Humana also has countless outlets throughout Berlin. Try the 4-storied Humana at Frankfurter Tor to truly shop til you drop.

48. Enjoy a mouth-watering pastry

Just because you’re visiting Berlin rather than Paris, it doesn’t mean that eating the perfect pastry can’t be on your to-do list. The almond croissant at La Maison is to die for – enjoy it while walking along the canal or opt to sit in at their Hermannplatz location.

Gorillas and Albatross also boast exquisite patisserie that’ll have you convinced you’re in the city of romance after all.

49. Visit Hohenschönhausen Memorial

Learning about Berlin’s DDR history is an essential part of any trip. If you’ve made it to the Stasi Museum in Lichtenberg, try extending your time in the city’s former east and head to the Hohenschönhausen Memorial (Genslerstraße 66, 13055 Berlin), a prison where thousands of Berliners were incarcerated under the Stasi rule.

The permanent exhibition is free but for just €8 you can take a guided tour of the cells to learn more details about the history of the DDR rule in Germany.

50. Try your hand at ping pong

Ping Pong – or Tischtennis, as the Germans call it – is a classic Berlin pastime. You’ll find ping pong tables in many of the city’s parks and squares, while many bars offer table tennis nights where punters begin battling it out with a beer in hand. Try Trude Ruth und Goldammer on Mondays or Bohnengold on Wednesdays to join in the fun.

51. Enjoy vegan food all day long

If your diet is restricted, Berlin’s got you. The majority of restaurants will offer vegan options, while some cater exclusively to vegans. Head to Südblock at Kottbusser Tor for a vegan currywurst, to Like Thai in Friedrichshain for vegan Thai tapas or to Good Morning Vietnam for an all-vegan feast.

52. Enjoy great views from the U Bahn

If you’re staying in Berlin for a few days, you’re probably going to want to invest in a weekly pass for the public transport.

For a great view of the city from above, try taking the U1 or U3 line from Warschauer Straße towards Nollendorfplatz and enjoy seeing Berlin whizz by on either side.

You can also get a Berlin Hop on Hop off ticket to see the most important sites in a day.

Best Tours in Berlin

• Berlin City Tour in a Mini Hotrod : See Berlin in a new and fun way with this 2-hour tour in a hot rod.
• Berlin Walking Food Tou r : Taste the best of East Berlin during this walking tour sampling the area’s history along with a mix of tasty ethnic eats and traditional German staples.
• Third Reich Berlin Walking Tour : Experience the dramatic final days of the World War II in Hitler’s Berlin while visiting some of the most important historical sites and discovering the series of events that culminated in the final German surrender.

Where to Stay in Berlin

Historic Hotel: Hotel am Steinplatz

Opened as a luxury hotel in 1913. The hotel facade is listed as an historical monument and is famous for it’s Art Nouveau design style.

Read Hotel am Steinplatz reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best deals at Hotels.com or Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

Hotel Adlon Kempinski, located near Brandenburg Gate on Under den Linden, is a Berlin icon boasting the most prestigious address among the city’s five-star hotels.

Read Hotel Adlon Kempinski reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best deals at Hotels.com or Booking.com

Boutique Hotel : Max Brown Hotel Ku’damm

Max Brown Ku’Damm, at Charlottenburg’s edge, blends baroque charm with hipster flair—neon signs, vibrant hues, and bold wall prints. A standout boutique hotel in Berlin with a unique culinary twist.

Read Max Brown Hotel Ku’damm reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best deals at Hotels.com or Booking.com

Budget Hotel: The Circus Hotel

Nestled right by the hip Torstrasse, The Circus has managed to maintain its allure over time, and it’s not hard to see why. With its down-to-earth vibe, welcoming staff, and wallet-friendly prices, it continues to be a go-to choice for savvy travelers looking to explore Berlin without breaking the bank.

Read The Circus Hotel reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best deals at Hotels.com or Booking . com

Best Hostel : Grand Hostel Berlin

This hostel doesn’t just rack up awards for its top-notch customer service and spotless accommodations; it’s also smack dab in the heart of Berlin – in the lively district of Mitte.

Read Grand Hostel Berlin reviews on TripAdvisor and find the best deals at Hotels.com or Booking.com

Berlin Resources & Tips

Getting to Berlin is quite straightforward, and you’ll find some great flight from the US. Numerous major cities provide direct flights to Berlin, which serves as the starting point for a lot of tours in Germany .

Check out tools like SkyScanner or Cheapo Air for cheap flights or Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). You don’t even need to shell out any cash because Skyscanner and Cheapo Air have a free version.

Useful German Phrases:

Guten Tag (formal): Good day (formal)

Hallo: Hello (informal)

Bitte: Please

Bitteschön: You’re welcome

Dankeschön: Thank you

Danke: Thanks

Auf Wiedersehen: Goodbye ( formal )

Tschüss: Bye ( informal )

Entschuldigung: Excuse me / sorry

Kein problem: No problem

Guten Morgen: Good morning

Guten Abend: Good evening

Prost: Cheers

Wie geht’s: How are you? ( informal )

Wie heißen Sie? What is your name?

Ich heiße…: My name is….

Ich komme aus…: I come from…

Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?

Wie viel Kostet das? How much does that cost?

Wo ist die Toilette? Where is the toilet?

Ich verstehe nicht: I don’t understand.

Ich hatte gern…: I would like to have…

Ich möchte bezahlen: I would like the check, please.

Können Sie mir helfen? Can you help me?

Deutschland ist wunderschön: Germany is a wonderful country.

Mein Deutsch ist schlect: My German is bad.

Read More About Germany

• A Perfect Day in Berlin including a Tour of the Berlin Wall
• Viking Rhine River Cruise Christmas Experience – Basel to Amsterdam  
• 15 Fantastic Things to Do in Munich  (plus full travel guide)
• Best Things to Do in Frankfurt  (1 Day Itinerary)
• 12 Fantastic Things to do in Erfurt Germany

Recommended Travel Resources

* World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads or any other travel insurance company. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.  

• Travel Insurance: World Nomads *.
• Transport: CheapOAir and Skyscanner (Best Sites to Research Flight Prices) 
• Best Car Rental Deals: Rentalcars.com
• Best Sites to Find Hotel Deals: Hotels.com and Booking.com
• My Favorite Hotel Review Website: TripAdvisor
• Best Tours: Viator and Get Your Guide
• How to Pack for 2 Weeks in Europe (in one suitcase)
• Cheap Flights to Europe with Condor Airlines

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Kezia Rice is a freelance travel writer for hire who has written for the likes of Vice, Stylist, Refinery29 and more. In between crafting wanderlust-inducing blog posts for travel brands, you'll find her stuffing her belongings into a rucksack and escaping on a solo adventure. She's been based in Berlin for three years and shared her local knowledge of the city with us.

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24 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Berlin

Written by Bryan Dearsley and Lura Seavey Updated Dec 22, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Berlin, the capital of Germany and the country's largest city, is also a major center of politics, culture, media, and science.

Noted for its cultural attractions, Berlin is home to the world-famous Berlin Opera and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, while its diverse art scene encompasses numerous events, galleries, and museums , including those on Museum Island , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Despite the devastation of WWII, and following decades of decay to the east of the infamous Berlin Wall, the city has been rebuilt in a way that celebrates its successes while acknowledging a dark past.

Today, Berlin has earned a reputation as something of a youthful, hip tourist destination that offers an eclectic mix of places to visit, including new and classic architectural landmarks, dynamic entertainment, shopping, and a wide variety of sports and cultural institutions.

Whatever your interests, to help you get the most out of your sightseeing adventures, be sure to refer often to our list of the top tourist attractions in Berlin, Germany.

1. The Brandenburg Gate

2. the rebuilt reichstag, 3. museum island, 4. the berlin wall memorial, 5. german historical museum, 6. berliner fernsehturm: berlin's television tower, 7. mauer museum (checkpoint charlie museum), 8. charlottenburg palace and park, 9. gendarmenmarkt, 10. jewish museum berlin, 11. the german museum of technology, 12. memorial to the murdered jews of europe, 13. grosser tiergarten and the victory column, 14. pergamon museum, 15. the humboldt forum, 16. berlin cathedral church, 17. the topography of terror, 18. berlin zoological gardens, 19. tierpark berlin, 20. berlin-dahlem botanical garden and botanical museum, 21. ddr museum, 22. the nikolai quarter, 23. kaiser wilhelm memorial church, 24. französischer dom and the huguenot museum, where to stay in berlin for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to berlin, berlin, germany - climate chart.

Berlin's most famous historic landmark is undoubtedly the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor). Once a symbol of a divided nation, it now stands as a symbol of unity and peace.

This impressively large Neoclassical gate was commissioned by King Frederick Wilhelm II in 1788, and its design was inspired by the Propylaea in Athens' Acropolis. The sandstone monument is 26 meters tall, standing in the Mitte district's Pariser Platz , just a block from the Reichstag building.

During the Cold War, its physical and symbolic position as a blocked gate along the Berlin Wall made it a frequent site for demonstrations by West Berliners. It's also famous for being the backdrop of US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 entreaty to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall.

It was also the scene of a poignant gesture in 1999, when political leaders from a variety of countries—including Germany's Angela Merkel, Russia's Mikhail Gorbachev, and Poland's Lech Walesa—together walked through the gate to commemorate the tearing down of the Berlin Wall 10 years earlier.

Visiting the Brandenburg Gate at night is a special treat, and undoubtedly one of the top free things to do in Berlin .

Address: Pariser Platz, 10117, Berlin

The Reichstag (Reichstagsgebäude) was originally completed in 1894 where the Neo-Renaissance palace served as the home of the German Empire's Imperial Diet until it burned in 1933. It was not used again until after the reunification of Germany, at which point it underwent a 10-year reconstruction and finally became the home of the German Parliament in 1999.

A highlight of this magnificent reconstruction is the replacement dome, the Kuppel. Made of glass, it offers superb views of the surrounding city, especially at night from the Rooftop Restaurant. If you're visiting in the summer months, be sure to check into the schedule of light shows and film nights for a memorable Berlin experience.

Note that entry to the Dome and Terrace is ticketed, and due to demand, it's recommended that tickets be requested in advance . While registration is available on the day, you should expect a two- or three-hour wait. Free English language audio guides are available.

Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011, Berlin

Sandwiched between the River Spree and the Kupfergraben in a 400-meter-long canal, Spree Island—better known as Museum Island (Museumsinsel)—is one of the city's most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites .

Here, you'll find many of Berlin's oldest and most important museums , including the Old Museum (Altes Museum), built in 1830 to house the Crown Jewels and other royal treasures.

The New Museum (Neues Museum), destroyed during WWII, was rebuilt and opened again in 2009. It serves as the home of extensive collections from the Egyptian Museum, the Papyrus Collection, and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.

The Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie), opened in 1876, displays Neoclassical sculpture and paintings from 1815-1848, as well as Impressionist and early Modernist pieces. The Bode Museum houses a collection of Byzantine art, as well as a large sculpture collection spanning from medieval times to the late 1700s.

The city's most popular museum, the Pergamon features a Museum of Islamic Art, the Ishtar Gate, and reconstructed historic buildings from the Middle East. The newest museum attraction, the Humboldt Forum opened here in 2019 and houses the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art.

Address: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin

The Berlin Wall originated in 1961 when East Germany sealed off that half of the city to prevent citizens from fleeing to West Germany. By the time it was torn down in 1989, the four-meter-high wall extended 155 kilometers, dissected 55 streets, and possessed 293 observation towers and 57 bunkers.

Today, only small stretches of this graffiti-covered travesty remain, including a 1.4-kilometer stretch preserved as part of the Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer). It stands as a chilling reminder of the animosity that once divided Europe.

Highlights of a visit include the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum, with its exhibits relating to the one-and-a-half million people who passed through Berlin as refugees; the Günter Litfin Memorial, a former watchtower now set up as a memorial, which pays tribute to the first civilian killed trying to cross from east to west; and the Monument in Memory of the Divided City and the Victims of Communist Tyranny.

Be sure to also check out the Window of Remembrance and the Visitor Center with views over the remains of the wall. Guided tours are available in English.

Address: Bernauer Straße 111, 13355 Berlin

Established to mark Berlin's 750th anniversary in 1987, the German Historical Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum, or DHM) is a must-visit for those interested in learning more about the city's remarkably rich history.

This much-visited attraction consists of a number of historic exhibition halls jam-packed with fascinating displays of artifacts relating to various periods and events from the country's founding right up to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Other highlights include exhibits relating to medicine, fashion, religion, printing, art, and photography. Military buffs are also well catered to with the museum's vast collection of historic armor, weapons, and uniforms.

There's also a cinema located on-site, and a research library that's open to the public. English language guided tours are available, and for those expecting a longer stay (you'll want to, there's that much to see), there's a handy cloakroom and café.

Address: Unter den Linden 2, 10117 Berlin

Despite its age—it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020—the 368-meter-tall Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin Television Tower) has lost none of its appeal to visitors to the city.

Since opening in 1970, Europe's third-tallest freestanding structure has attracted over 60 million visitors, most of them drawn for the spectacular views over Germany's capital.

Originally constructed to mark the prowess of communism (it's located in the former East Berlin district), the landmark can be picked out from pretty much every corner of the city, making it more significant as a symbol of the city's reunification in the 1980s.

Be sure to include the structure's observation deck in your visit, and if you're able to linger awhile, book a reservation at the 207-meter-high revolving restaurant.

Address: Panoramastraße 1 A, 10178 Berlin

Also of interest is the Checkpoint Charlie Museum (Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie). Marking the best-known crossing point between East and West Berlin, this fascinating tourist attraction features numerous displays and artifacts tracing the history of human rights, along with exhibits dealing specifically with the history of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie.

Situated next to the original guardhouse, the museum also highlights some of the most interesting attempts made by those trying to escape communist rule. These include an original homemade air balloon used in one successful attempt.

Also of interest is the nearby open-air BlackBox Cold War exhibit , which features sections of the Berlin Wall and related information stations.

Address: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 Berlin

Berlin's oldest and largest Prussian estate, the late 17th-century Charlottenburg Palace was for decades the primary residence of German royalty.

Now beautifully restored, this huge palace has many extraordinary features, including a massive 50-meter-high central dome, opulent Baroque and Rococo décor throughout its expansive rooms, and a large garden that was inspired by the gardens at Versailles.

A highlight of the property's tour program is a visit to the New Wing , with its State Apartments and fine Banqueting Halls. Built in 1746, it's here visitors get a glimpse of the splendor in which the Prussian Kings and Electors lived, from Frederick I's bedroom and study with their fine furnishings and paintings, to the State Dining Room and 42-meter-long Golden Gallery with its rich, gilded stucco.

Over in the Old Palace is the Porcelain Cabinet, a room dedicated to a large historic porcelain collection and special exhibits, including the Crown Jewels and other royal items.

Other highlights are the Palace Park dating from 1697 and home to the New Pavilion (Neue Pavilion), built in 1788 in the style of a Neapolitan villa, and the Belvedere Teahouse with its fine collection of Berlin porcelain.

Be sure to visit the Mausoleum with its royal tombs, as well as the Grand Courtyard with its large statue of the Great Elector, Frederick William of Brandenburg. One of the top things to do in Berlin in winter is visit the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market , a spectacular display of more than 250 vendors and artisans exhibiting seasonal wares.

Address: Spandauer Damm 10, 14059 Berlin

The Gendarmenmarkt, one of Berlin's largest squares, is dominated by three historic landmark buildings: the Konzerthaus, the French Cathedral (Französischer Dom), and the German Cathedral (Deutscher Dom).

This picturesque 17th-century square is now one of Berlin's top tourist attractions and hosts numerous public events each year, including classical concerts on the steps of the Konzerthaus theater in the summer.

Come winter, the entire plaza becomes one of the most famous Christmas markets in Germany .

Konzerthaus : The Konzerthaus , built in 1821, is as famous for its architectural splendor as it is for the first-rate performances of Konzerthausorchester Berlin, one of the country's most popular symphony orchestras.

In front of the building stands a statue of the German poet Friedrich Schiller surrounded by four female figures who represent the artistic elements of Lyric Poetry, Drama, History, and Philosophy.

Cathedrals: The cathedrals are so named for their domes ("dom" is also the German word for cathedral) and are in fact not churches. The French Cathedral is home to the Huguenot Museum , and the German Cathedral exhibits the history of the German Parliament.

Alexanderplatz : Another well-known square in Berlin, Alexanderplatz was the center of East Berlin life and is now home to the World Time Clock, a popular meeting place. Nearby is the Television Tower (nicknamed Telespargel) with panoramic views of the city.

Address: Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Jewish Museum Berlin (Jüdisches Museum Berlin) features a distinctive zinc-paneled exterior that makes it one of Berlin's most striking landmarks.

It was established in 2001, and inside visitors will find a wide range of historical artifacts and donated collections that illustrate the long history and struggle of Jewish Germans, from the Middle Ages to the present.

Exhibits include artwork, religious objects, and 24,000 photographs that have been preserved and recovered. Especially poignant is The Memory Void, where you'll find an installation called "Shalekhet," or "Fallen Leaves," a collection of some 10,000 iron faces spread across the ground. Sobering, to say the least.

The museum is also home to an extensive library and archives at the Academy of the Jewish Museum Berlin , where there are frequent educational programs. Museum galleries include sections dedicated to Hanukkah, anti-semitism, Middle East conflict, the history and culture of Jerusalem, and the life of Munich rabbi Leo Baerwald.

A variety of themed tour options are available, along with English language audioguides.

Address: Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 Berlin

The must-see German Museum of Technology (Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin) was established in 1983 to showcase and celebrate Germany's industrial and technological prowess.

There are plenty of fun things to do for kids and families in this popular museum, including taking in displays related to the Industrial Revolution, getting some hands-on experience in a reconstructed workshop. In addition, the museum offers a fascinating look at the vehicles that evolved alongside this rise in mechanization.

There are plenty of vehicles and aircraft on display, including a number of preserved steam engines dating back as far as 1843. Other highlights include riding in a vintage 1930s train from the museum to its locomotive depot on the weekends.

Guided tours are available in English. For those wanting to make a day of it (which is recommended), there's a restaurant and picnic spot located on-site.

Address: Trebbiner Straße 9, D-10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg

A remarkable testament to the people of Germany and their commitment to never turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the past, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas)—also known as the Holocaust Memorial —is another Berlin landmark that attracts tourists from all over the world.

Sitting on the eastern side of Tiergarten, this collection of 2,711 concrete slabs covers 19,000 square meters of uneven ground. Below the sprawling memorial is an information center that houses the letters, diaries, and photographs of Holocaust victims. An audioguide is available in English.

Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin

Literally translated as the "Large Animal Garden," Berlin's Grosser Tiergarten has long been a major tourist attraction. Originally a royal hunting reserve in which deer, wild pigs, and other game were kept, it was transformed into a public park in 1700.

Attractively laid out with an abundance of trees and shrubs and expanses of grass and flower borders, the Tiergarten covers 210 hectares and is a favorite spot for relaxation, walking, and boating.

The park also contains numerous statues and monuments, including the 1880 Statue of Queen Luise , which depicts her with a relief recalling her care of wounded soldiers during the War of 1806. There's also an 1849 Monument to Frederick Wilhelm III , with reliefs reflecting the King's peace-loving disposition.

The most famous of the Tiergarten's monuments is the massive Victory Column (Siegessaule), a 70-meter-tall structure crowned by an eight-meter-high gold statue of Victoria. The statue, dubbed Golden Lizzy by locals, was completed in 1873.

It's well worth climbing the 285 steps to the top of this magnificent monument for the views over the Tiergarten . And if you look closely, you'll still see evidence of bullet damage caused during WWII.

Address: Str. des 17. Juni, 10785 Berlin

The Pergamon , the most visited of the Museum Island attractions, is also one of Berlin's top sightseeing destinations. It is home to three main galleries, each occupying a wing of the massive building, including the Middle East Museum, the Islamic Art Museum, and the Antiquity collection.

The artifacts, which narrowly escaped harm during WWII, were collected by German archaeologists during the 19th and 20th centuries from excursions to Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia.

Primarily focused on architectural marvels, including ornate façades and gates, some of the museum's most famous pieces are the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, the Roman Market Gate of Miletus, and the Mshatta Façade. A café and bookshop are located on-site.

One of the most popular attractions on Museum Island—a place that's already busting at the seams with great sightseeing opportunities—is the newly opened Humboldt Forum .

Established in 2019, this remarkable feat of construction sees two of Berlin's leading museum collections —the Museum of Ethnography (Ethnologisches Museum) and the Museum of Asian Art Museum (Museum für Asiatische Kunst)—now housed under a single roof: that of a completely reconstructed Berlin Palace. Both are considered to be the equal of leading museums around the world.

Visitors can now easily explore Germany's largest collections of non-European treasures , including a trove of more than 400,000 artifacts from across the globe.

Notable highlights include displays of ancient art from Asia, along with sizable collections focusing specifically on China. In addition to its theaters, the facility houses two restaurants and a shop.

Address: Schloßpl. 1, 10178 Berlin

Located on Museum Island next to the Lustgarten , the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) is one of the complex's most imposing buildings thanks to its 75-meter-high dome.

Built in the New Baroque style, the building is the largest church in Berlin and is divided into three main sections: the Memorial Church, the Baptismal and Nuptial Church, and the Parish Church. After decades of painstaking work to repair war damage, the church has been returned to its former glory.

Highlights of a visit include the Imperial Staircase, decorated with bronze cornices and 13 tempera paintings by Berlin landscape painter Albert Hertel in 1905. You should also plan to see the Imperial Gallery with its splendid views of Berlin.

Another popular feature is the Hohenzollern Crypt, which contains nearly 100 sarcophagi, coffins, and monuments from the 16th to 20th centuries.

Try to time your visit for one of the cathedral's many concerts, organ recitals, or special visitor services, and be sure to climb the 270 steps to the Dome for superb views over Museum Island. English language guided tours are available, and a café and shop are located on-site.

Address: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin

Also known as the Museum of the Gestapo, the Topography of Terror (Topographie des Terrors) occupies the buildings that were once the central offices and prison of the Secret State Police and the headquarters of Gestapo operations during WWII.

The main exhibit focuses on the SS and police during Nazi rule, highlighting the terrible crimes that were committed and giving visitors a sense of the constant state of terror that was everyday life for Europeans under their control.

Exhibits include documents, photographs, audio, and film, and explore various themes, including persecution and extermination, occupied countries, and the postwar era.

Visitors are also invited to tour the historic grounds, which include remains of the Berlin Wall and the outdoor exhibition Historic Wilhelmstraße. Informative English language tours are available on Sundays.

Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin

Berlin Zoological Gardens (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is the oldest zoo in Germany and remains one of Berlin's most popular attractions, welcoming 3.5 million guests each year.

Established in 1844 and completely rebuilt after WWII, the zoo has earned a reputation for its many successful breeding programs and is known for providing authentic habitats for the animals.

The zoo is home to nearly 20,000 animals big and small, from Arctic wolves to zebras. Famous residents include a pair of giant pandas, two species of giraffe, and a flock of diminutive African penguins.

The Zoological Gardens are also home to Europe's biggest aviary, as well as Aquarium Berlin , where you can watch more than 9,000 creatures swim in its 250 tanks, including reef and tiger sharks, jellyfish, tropical fish, reptiles, and insects.

Address: Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin

Another zoo of interest is Tierpark Berlin . Spread across 400 acres and home to some 7,250 animals from 846 different species.

Opened in the 1950s, it's very nearly the equal of Berlin Zoo and is well worth a visit, especially if you're traveling with kids. Star creatures include its elephants (the zoo is known for its breeding program), polar bears, as well as a large herd of muskox.

If you're visiting in summer, be sure to time your visit to coincide with one of the regular late openings. And check out the zoo's website for details of special kids' programs, feeding schedules , as well as tours and unique animal experiences.

Address: Am Tierpark 125, 10319, Berlin

Originally the kitchen and herb garden of the Royal Palace, the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum (Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem) was built in 1679 on the instructions of the Grand Elector.

Covering 126 acres, it is one of the world's largest botanical gardens , home to more than 20,000 species of plants that represent the flora of not only Europe but also tropical and subtropical environments in the Great Tropical House.

There are also gardens of medicinal plants and a large pond forming the centerpiece of the biotope for marine and marsh plants.

If you can, try to visit at Christmas, or during the attraction's annual "Botanical Night" event, considered one of the most romantic things to do in Berlin in winter.

Also worth seeing is the Electoral Garden with its 17th-century garden greenery, the garden restaurant, and the excellent Botanical Museum with its herbarium featuring more than two million plants and an extensive library.

Address: Königin-Luise-Strasse 6-8, 14195 Berlin

One of Berlin's newer tourist attractions, the DDR Museum opened in 2006 and offers a sobering look at life in East Berlin under communist rule.

Located in the old government district of East Berlin, this popular attraction features a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits related to such areas of life as surveillance, the privations of everyday life, as well as a replica tower block.

Other highlights of a visit include a replica prison cell, interrogation room, cinema, along with accompanying information. Be sure to try out the Trabant simulator, which provides a realistic driving experience along the Berlin Wall in a classic East German vehicle.

A large collection of authentic artifacts from this time period are also on display.

Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin

Berlin's Nikolai Quarter (Nikolaiviertel) is in the heart of the old city, and is where you'll find many of its oldest and most popular attractions, as well as plenty of interesting things to do beyond the usual places to visit.

This pedestrian-friendly quarter is known for its many small buildings set along narrow streets full of nooks and crannies, home to restaurants, cafés, and shops, along with craft workshops selling everything from basketry to wooden crafts.

Highlights include the district's many old fountains, lanterns, and lattice-windows on the older houses and historic buildings such as Ephraim Palace , built in the 1760s, which has exhibits dedicated to Berlin's rich artistic and cultural history, as well as an exquisite grand staircase.

Also of note is Knoblauch House , built in 1760 and representative of the former homes of the city's wealthy Jewish merchants and tradesmen.

Another favorite tourist spot is Berlin's most famous street, Unter den Linden . This broad avenue stretches some 1,400 meters and connects Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate to the Lustgarten.

Today, the two car lanes on the Unter den Linden are separated by a wide, central pedestrian area that extends much of the street's length and provides a wonderful place to relax and take in the bustling city around you. Popular attractions are the Gendarmenmarkt , the Opera House , and St. Hedwig's Cathedral .

Address: Nikolaikirchplatz, 10178 Berlin

One of Berlin's most interesting landmarks, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche) is in many ways two churches: the ultra-modern new church designed in 1961, and next to it, the ruins of the original, including most of the 63-meter-high tower.

Completed in 1895 in honor of Emperor Wilhelm I, the original was destroyed in 1943, but its remains were incorporated into the new complex.

The result is now a major Berlin landmark that also serves as a war memorial, with exhibits installed containing mosaic remains, architectural remnants, and photos. The centerpiece is a figure of Christ from the old church and a Cross of Nails from Coventry Cathedral, destroyed by German bombs earlier in WWII.

Guided tours are available, and visitors are welcome to participate in Sunday services; Evening Music Services featuring cantatas, organ recitals, and choral music; and regular weekday services. A very popular Christmas Market is held outside the church each winter.

Address: Breitscheidplatz, 10789 Berlin

The Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) was constructed in 1705 by and for French Calvinists (Huguenots) who came to Berlin in the late 17 th century seeking religious freedom. Its ornate dome was later added in 1785, and repaired in the 20 th century after sustaining damage during WWII.

The church's tower is one of the best places to get a bird's-eye view of the city of Berlin , offering panoramic views over the Gendarmenmarkt and nearby landmarks like the Berliner Dom and Pergamonmuseum on Museum Island.

The freshly renovated Huguenot Museum is located in the tower of the cathedral, dedicated to the history of those who were forced to relocate as a result of the Reformation. The exhibits focus on the contributions made by these immigrants who, at the time the church was built, made up around 25 percent of the city's population.

The museum includes paintings, photographs, books, and furniture, and also hosts lectures and special programs throughout the year. It is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 12 noon to 5pm.

Address: Gendarmenmarkt 7, 10117 Berlin,

For those wanting to be within walking distance of top attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the best place to stay is Berlin's Mitte district, the city's historic center. Here are some highly rated hotels to consider in or near this area:

Luxury Hotels:

• One of Berlin's most iconic hotels is the magnificent SO/Berlin Das Stue , centrally located and overlooking the western section of the beautiful Tiergarten. This boutique hotel features the Michelin-starred Cinco restaurant, as well as high-end amenities like electric vehicle charging, on-site spa services, and in-room breakfast.
• At the Tiergarten's opposite end, the Regent Berlin and Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin are just steps away from the historic Brandenburg Gate and are perfectly positioned to explore the city's famous Museum Island. Both are also just a short walk from the tree-lined Unter den Linden, famous for its boutiques, cafés, and restaurants.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Just minutes away from the Tiergarten and close to excellent dining and shopping, the Hampton by Hilton Berlin City West is a great base from which to explore other areas of Berlin thanks to its proximity to the city's excellent subway (U-Bahn) system.
• Another popular option is The Circus Hotel , just minutes from Museum Island. Renovated in 2020, this eco-conscious boutique hotel offers a lovely garden courtyard, as well as a rooftop terrace.
• Also of note is the funky, modern Hotel Gat Point Charlie , which as its name suggests, is adjacent to one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. It's also just steps away from the Friedrichstrasse shopping area, and guests can rent bicycles on-site for exploring the city.

Budget Hotels:

• For those on a tight budget, city-center options worth considering include the Ibis Berlin Kurfurstendamm Hotel , a short walk from the Tiergarten, and Motel One Berlin-Hackescher Markt , not far from the city's museum district.
• A fun stay can be enjoyed at the unique CUBE Lodges Berlin Mitte , a collection of bungalow-style "cubes" capable of sleeping up to four people and set around activities including volleyball courts and bike rentals, all just a short walk from the Berlin Wall Memorial.
• Sightseeing: There are several great ways to see Berlin, whether by bus, bike, or on foot. One of the easiest ways to get around the city and learn a little about the history is on a double-decker, open-air Berlin City Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour . This tour offers 20 stops at various points of interest, with the option to get off or stay on the bus. For a more in-depth, feet-on-the-ground experience, the Explore Berlin Walking Tour offers a three-hour guided walking tour that includes major attractions, from the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie to Hitler's former bunker. If you really want to get active, take a 4.5-hour guided Berlin Bike Tour to see the city's top attractions and learn about their history along the way.
• Day Trips: The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Tour from Berlin is a six-hour day trip to one of the first concentration camps established by the Third Reich. Today, it is a national memorial. This is a historian-led tour and includes admission to the site. If you would like to visit iconic tourist attractions like Zwinger Palace and Frauenkirche, the Dresden Day Trip from Berlin provides an opportunity to get a guided walking tour of the historic city and then enjoy the afternoon exploring Dresden and the banks of the River Elbe at your leisure.

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Germany's Other Big Cities : The old imperial city of Frankfurt should be on your Germany itinerary, and in addition to is lovely setting on the River Main is well known for its cultural events, including being home to the Frankfurt Book Fair. Historic Munich is also a must-visit, especially for its stunning cathedral and Marienplatz , the city's central square, popular for people watching and enjoying a picture-perfect, pedestrian-only experience. In the north of the country, the port city of Hamburg -the country's second biggest city-is a delight to explore on foot, especially its old historic quays, canals, and docks.

Germany's Incredible Scenery : Picture Germany, and you'll no doubt conjure up the kind of images associated with picturesque Bavaria , the country's largest state and home to the kind of traditional sights of forests, mountains, and quaint little villages. The Black Forest is another area often visited by tourists, and is as famous for its thick forests as it is for its old farmhouses and pretty villages. For the country's most dramatic scenery, head to Garmisch-Partenkirchen , a mountainous region as popular with skiers in winter as it is hikers and mountain bikers in the summer.

Top Germany Travel Ideas : For a look at old Germany, be sure to include the romantic town of Rothenburg on your travel itinerary, as famous for its old walls and towers as it is for its remarkably preserved medieval architecture. The magnificent Rhine Valley region also makes for a great German vacation, especially one that takes in a Rhine River cruise through the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Rhine Gorge. A similar experience can be enjoyed in the equally attractive Mosel Valley , home to the old Roman city of Trier.

More on Germany

95 Fun & Unusual Things to Do in Berlin

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Berlin is a bustling international city filled with history, art and culture from iconic museums to casual Biergartens and world-famous underground clubs.

There’s no shortage of eye-opening historical monuments that document both World War II and the Cold War split between East Germany and West Germany. The now-bohemian and alternative capital has something for everybody.

And whether you want to drift through the skies in a massive hot-air balloon, wander through the mysterious tunnels beneath the city, or pedal and sip at a mobile pub, the methods of sightseeing here are almost as cool as the attractions themselves!

Whether you’re in town for a day or a week, if you’re looking for ways to experience the best of what the eclectic capital has to offer, here are a host of fun, interactive and fascinating things to do in Berlin (some of which are still little-known among tourist circles).

So, what are you waiting for? Get started planning your trip now and you’ll have a döner in your hand before you know it!

1 – Let your hair down on a pub crawl or beer tour!

The perfect way to start any trip to Berlin and meet a few friendly faces is with a beer tour — with both low-key tastings, pub crawls and wild club-hopping parties, making up either end of the spectrum.

Ranging from authentic German pubs and Biergartens that are hundreds of years old to newer craft breweries, no two tours will be alike — but they’ll all cover an impressive number of establishments throughout this lively metropolis.

Don’t feel like walking? Then hop on a beer bike!

• beer tastings in Berlin

2 – Gaze over the city at the TV Tower

For the perfect introduction to the hip German capital, if you want a magnificent landscape view of the city, make a beeline for the iconic TV tower — known locally as Berliner Fernsehturm.

Standing tall at a whopping 368 meters (with the observation deck at about 200 meters), this German landmark wields the title of the tallest building in Germany. It allows you to scope out the city from the sky, spotting landmarks like Alexanderplatz and Museum Island from above.

For a romantic VIP experience, book a table and enjoy the 360 degrees panoramic views of the sparkling city below on an amazing dinner experience !

• TV Tower tickets

Read more about Berlin TV Tower tickets price .

3 – Go inside the dome of the Reichstag

The German Parliament Building, known to the locals simply as Reichstag, is the owner of Berlin’s postcard-favorite glass dome.

The original building was burned down in a fire in 1933, however, the rebuilt building is just as elegant, offering exciting and history-centric tours for both German and English-speaking guests.

Inside, you can climb to the top of the dome to view the city.

Hot tip: Tours are free, but they sell out fast, so book your tickets in advance!

• Reichstag tours

Read more about Reichstag Dome tickets & tours .

4 – Learn about the history of the Berlin Wall

There is little remaining of the Berlin Wall, but its impact is still felt throughout the city and beyond.

As a popular activity for history buffs, a walking tour to check the Berlin Wall includes visiting former border patrol stations at Bornholmer Straße and Checkpoint Charlie. You will also learn all about where the first East German citizens crossed the border.

Throw in stops at the original watchtower and the death strip, and you get a few hours of fascinating stories.

• Berlin Wall tours

5 – Explore the bustling Hackescher Markt

A historic square in the city center of Berlin made up of an intricate labyrinth of eight courtyards, Hackescher Markt is a must-visit for visitors looking to get their fill on some great food and drink.

Check out the street art in the Courtyard of Haus Schwarzenberg. Take a culinary journey through Viet Village and pick from the handful of restaurants, cafés and wine bars in the area.

6 – Take a pre-arranged tour of Berlin!

Don’t want to waste any time on your trip? Can’t be bothered doing any of the planning? Then take a tour of the city led by locals, to learn about the best things Berlin has to offer!

Whether you opt to scour the city by foot, bike, boat or Segway, expect to explore some of Berlins’ most historic and iconic monuments, museums and architecture.

Every tour is different, so just plan accordingly to your needs and you’re guaranteed a great time!

• city tours in Berlin

7 – Zip inside Europe’s fastest lift — Panoramapunkt

Looking for a thrill? Try zooming up inside Panoramapunkt located in the Kollhoff Tower.

By the time you realize you’re moving, you’ll already be 100 meters up above the streets below, overlooking Berlin and the pint-sized pedestrians. All that in only 20 seconds — blink and you’ll miss it.

For a lifetime memory you won’t soon forget, visit the terrace before sunset for a picture-perfect view.

• Panoramapunkt tickets

8 – Learn about the city’s dark past at the Berlin Dungeon

People who enjoy more macabre thrills will love the Berlin Dungeon, which takes visitors on a guided tour of Berlin’s dark past.

Led by knowledgeable locals, visitors will have the chance to explore over 800 years of history in the walk-through attraction that features immersive performances, sets, costumes, special effects, and plenty of impressive illusions.

With stories spanning the Black Plague to World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall, this is one history lesson you don’t want to miss.

• Berlin Dungeon tickets

9 – Walk around Central Berlin with a Brandenburg Gate tour

For a mix of sightseeing and mild cardio, try a walking tour of central Berlin, an easy way to check off some of the hipster city’s main haunts!

As you stroll around the popular areas, you’ll walk past all the major sights, like Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, and hear rich stories about Berlin’s topsy-turvy history.

If walking isn’t your speed, you can always zip through the city at your own pace on a scooter tour !

• walking tours in Berlin

10 – Shop ’til you drop at Alexanderplatz

Named after Tsar Alexander I, who visited the Prussian capital in 1805, Alexanderplatz has evolved over the centuries into the largest public square in Germany and a haven for shopaholics

With plenty of shops, restaurants and cafés, you can always find something to do! While cliche, you’ve got to take your photo in front of the iconic TV Tower to truly complete your trip.

Keep in mind that most locals just call it Alex.

11 – Try out some Wine Tours and Tastings

Beer often gets the top billing in this town, but the wine tours are well worth a try!

Whether you’re sipping mulled wine while sailing along a lake, strolling through some picturesque vineyards, or living it up with a limo ride and some sparkling varieties, you’ll be able to see a whole new side of the city – and get a little buzzed along the way!

If you’re visiting during the holiday season, be sure to book a combo tour that includes Christmas light viewings – it makes for a truly festive experience!

• wine tours and tastings

12 – Spend some time in Kreuzberg

Eastern Berlin holds a diverse, eccentric, multicultural neighborhood waiting to be explored. Kreuzberg is a well-known community of immigrants, minorities and progressive-minded people.

The neighborhood is filled with hole-in-the-wall cafés, art galleries, second-hand stores and snazzy bars and nightclubs.

A budget-friendly area too, Kreuzberg is the perfect place to eat, drink and dance the night away without breaking the bank.

• Kreuzberg tours

13 – Listen to some candlelight concerts

If you need a somewhat quieter alternative to the famous techno scene in town, you can always head to one of the Candlelight Concerts!

These lovely performances feature the sounds of the orchestra, and a backdrop of candles that make you feel more like you’re in your living room listening to records than out on the town.

But the music isn’t just classical compositions (though there are plenty of those); you can also hear symphonic reinterpretations of everything from Coldplay to AC/DC.

• candlelight concerts in Berlin

14 – Get to know the Alternative Berlin

On the surface, Berlin is all about history — dive a little deeper and you’ll uncover that the German capital is far more than what it seems.

Get to know Alternative Berlin on a walking tour of the city’s multicultural quarters, such as Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Visit trendy shopping areas and cafés, underground art galleries and urban farms.

Walking tours are inexpensive, with some even free (but you can also leave a tip).

• Alternative Berlin tours

Check out the best free walking tours in Berlin .

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15 – Eat your way through Markthalle Neun

When you’re craving a bite (or five), Markthalle Neun is the place to go!

This lively local market is the perfect spot to pick up fresh produce, delicious dairy, and a wide array of mouth-watering cured meats and cheeses.

If you’re not trying to round out your grocery list, you can always grab a coffee or a pastry, and wander around to people-watch.

You can also stop by Canteen Nine to try the perpetually rotating menu.

16 – Float over Berlin in the World Balloon

So long as dizzying heights don’t give you jelly legs, for a unique view of the city at 150 meters, visit the Berlin World Balloon!

High above Berlin in a gondola secured to a steel cable, you can enjoy panoramic views of the sprawling city, learning a thing or two along the way.

Don’t have time to see everything on the ground? The World Balloon floats above Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Sony Center.

• World Balloon tickets

17 – Travel back in time at the DDR Museum

One for the history buffs, don’t miss the chance to step back into authentic homes of East German DDR — Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

In these reconstructed DDR apartments, you will learn about what life was like under the communist regime.

These apartments are meant to be explored, almost acting as an interactive museum. Visitors can rummage through Karat-wall cupboards, watch the TV and even smell the spices on the spice rack.

• DDR Museum tickets

18 – Get your adrenaline pumping on a hotrod tour of Berlin

Buckle up, it’s time for a wild ride through the streets of Berlin! Experience Germany capital like never before with the Hotrod Tour.

Hop in a convertible mini hotrod and zoom past the city’s hottest spots, including the East Side Gallery, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz.

With a top speed of 50 km/h, you’ll feel the rush of go-karting through the city streets.

Ready take a break from everyday life and rev up your engine for an unforgettable adventure? So, let’s Hotrod!

• see price and reviews

19 – Head underground at the Berlin Story Bunker

Initially built as a civilian air raid shelter during the peak of WWII, today the bunker has been transformed into a multimedia exhibition space, telling the story of Berlin.

Showcasing information-packed displays about the ride of Socialism, the Nazi party, and the lead-up and aftermath of the war, it’s a museum experience not to be missed.

20 – Take a guided tour of Mitte: The beating heart of Berlin

Mitte is the city’s cultural center, home to a number of unique museums and galleries, as well as more traditional attractions like the Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten park.

With so much to see in the area — from busy boulevards like Unter den Linden to the Hackescher Markt square — a walking tour led by a friendly local is the best option to cram as much of the area in within a few hours.

For something a little different, consider a comedy tour, food-themed tour, or haunted ghost tour under the moonlight!

• Mitte tours

Play with the bounds of reality at the Studio of Wonders

Studio of Wonders is an art gallery like no other, with more than 30 different photosets filled with optical illusions and setups that range from the epic to the hilarious. Wander through a hall of mirrors, take a quick trip to the jungle, or cuddle up to a giant marshmallow… the choice is yours!

• See price & reviews

21 – Feel like royalty for a day at Potsdam

Once home to Prussian Kings and the German Kaiser, Potsdam is a city full to the brim of history.

Whether you join a guided tour (which includes pick up and drop off from Berlin) or explore solo, don’t miss the palaces. These include the Cecilienhof Palace, King Frederick William II’s Marble Palace, the Dutch quarter and the UNESCO-listed Sanssouci Palace and Gardens.

Potsdam is filled with exquisite architecture, so keep your camera out when you can.

• Potsdam tours

22 – See more of Berlin’s iconic places by bus

Berlin has a lot to see, and if you don’t have a lot of time, a bus tour might just be your best option!

Bus tours travel by the most iconic  tourist attractions in Berlin , such as Kurfürstendamm, KaDeWe, Lützowplatz and Checkpoint Charlie. Keep your eyes peeled and camera at the ready as you sit back, relax and cruise through the city’s best offerings.

• bus tours in Berlin

23 – Remember those who were lost at the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

While confronting, it’s important that we don’t forget about the tragic events of Europe in WWII.

On eye-opening tours to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, visitors travel by train to the site and will learn about some 200,000 people imprisoned within its fences between 1936 and 1945.

During the experience, you’ll be introduced to the barracks, cells, infirmary and laboratory while learning about the brave prisoners’ stories and their harrowing fates.

An important stop, the memorial honors those who needlessly lost their lives.

• Sachsenhausen tours

24 – Take a day trip to Sanssouci Palace

For a popular change of scenery from the German capital, travelers regularly rave about the Sanssouci palace in Potsdam.

This grandiose and enormous palace is the old summer home of the former King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, and sits just 40 minutes from Berlin by car.

The magnificent architecture and interior are spellbinding, but don’t dismiss the serenity of the luscious gardens outside either.

• Sanssouci Palace day trips

25 – Get contemporary at Urban Nation

Urban Nation is a contemporary museum for exhibitions of street art, sculptures, murals and photography.

Art-loving guests can explore over 500 square meters of the museum, filled with eccentric and unique art — yes, it’s compact, but it’s still worth a visit!

The museum also incorporates its art into neighborhoods, with plenty of outdoor murals to see after your visit to the museum.

26 – Wander around the main buildings on Museum Island

A museum lover’s paradise, Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the middle of the Spree River.

The tourist-favorite zone is packed with plenty of historic and cultural museums to choose from. The Alte National Galerie features art from all over the globe, including Romantic and Impressionist-era art. If you’re a history buff, make a beeline for the historical artifacts at the Pergamon Museum.

• Museum Island tours

Sip and paint in the dark at this unique workshop!

This retro-futuristic experience combines the thrill of painting with a fluorescent twist, offering a brush in one hand and a choice of drink in the other. The musical backdrop adds to the atmosphere, making it a perfect outing for friends. By the end of the night, not only will you have had an unforgettable experience, but you’ll also leave with a personal masterpiece to proudly display at home.

27 – Marvel at the jewels at Charlottenburg Palace

Visiting the Charlottenburg Palace is one of the more underrated things to do in Berlin. It’s located just 25 minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of the city.

The palace is home to Prussian crown jewels and other royal treasures. Guests can walk through the giant ballroom and feel like they’ve just been invited to a royal ball!

If you’re on a budget, access to the gardens is free, so soak up the sun all you want.

If you want to linger a little longer in this enchanted world, you can stay for dinner… with a classic concert thrown in!

Enjoy a marvelous three-course meal, with a world-class performance by the Berlin Residence Orchestra as your soundtrack.

With Bach and Mozart filling the room, and delicious food filling your belly, you’ll feel a bit like royalty yourself!

28 – Cruise down the River Spree

We already mentioned dinner cruises, however, Berlin’s River Spree also plays host to an array of private and public sightseeing tours as well as luxury catamaran adventures that often explore the nearby Müggelsee or Wannsee lakes!

Regardless of your boat tour of choice, expect a friendly, informative guide to dish out plenty of fascinating tidbits along the way.

• boat tours in Berlin

29 – Admire the art at the East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery on the Berlin Wall is well-preserved and has over 100 paintings from artists around the world. Each painting has different colors, styles and messages that will keep you inspired for hours.

Hot tip: Be sure to check out the most famous painting on the wall by Russian painter Dmitri Vrubel.

• East Side Gallery tours

30 – Stroll around the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum

Sitting in the heart of Berlin, this is one of Europe’s largest and most famous botanical gardens , spread over a whopping 106 acres (43 hectares) and constructed at the turn of the 20th century.

With shimmering lakes and calm ponds on site, as well as plenty of exotic plants and trees from all around the world — making up 22,000 different species in total — it’s no wonder that locals and tourists flock through its doors.

31 – Solve riddles on a scavenger hunt

Do you love mysteries and puzzles? Then an engaging, totally interactive scavenger hunt may be the perfect way for you to explore Berlin!

With numbered envelopes or via the convenience of an app, you’ll have to solve tasks and crack codes to make your way through Berlin.

In Amazing Race-style, once you solve a riddle, you’ll move on to the next location. The tour takes you through iconic locations, such as Alexanderplatz, Museum Island and Checkpoint Charlie.

• scavenger games in Berlin

32 – Take a moment to reflect at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was built in 1891 and, like much of the city, was largely destroyed in air-raids in 1945 during WWII.

The church started rebuilding in May 1959 and completed the foyer and chapel in December 1963 — and to this day has been popular with history-savvy tourists.

The scored spire on the church serves as a reminder of both Berlin’s dark past and a beacon of hope for the future.

33 – Go under the sea at Aquadom & SEA LIFE

You may not think of the ocean when pondering your Berlin adventure, but SEA LIFE is about to change that.

Offering visitors a chance to explore the big blue world, this family-friendly attraction houses over 35 basins and 5,000 creatures … so there’s plenty to sea .

Learn about creatures who live locally, in the Spree River, and far away across the globe. Let the kids enjoy the touch tanks!

• Aquadom & Sea Life tickets

34 – Set sail on a dinner cruise

If you’re looking for a more intimate way to explore Berlin by night, then why not take in the sights from aboard an evening dinner cruise?

The showstopping boat ride will transport you around the canals of historic Berlin, as your eyes feast on all this iconic city has to offer — including views of Alexanderplatz, the Reichstag Building.

After sailing by the Bundeskanzleramt, Berlin’s answer to the White House, you’ll have the chance to grab a glass of wine from the bar — before being whisked off to your table and served an exquisite three-course (or sometimes four-course!) dinner.

• dinner cruises in Berlin

35 – Learn about Germany’s past at the Deutsches Historisches Museum

Visiting Germany’s national history museum, the Deutsches Historisches Museum , is a quintessential activity for self-proclaimed history experts.

Located in the Mitte district, the intriguing museum aims to be a place of active

communication and discussion of history. Since the exhibits in the museum are always changing, you’ll have something different to talk about every time you pop in.

36 – Get artsy at the Dali Museum

A true surrealist, Salvador Dali infused his work with elements of the macabre and grotesque in order to convey a sense of beautiful disorder.

This museum is dedicated to showcasing this renowned artist’s life’s work, with more than 450 exhibits on display, including several small-scale sculptures.

While you’re welcome to stroll around at your own pace, you can also join a guided tour to go more in-depth into this must-see landmark of the Berlin art scene.

• Dali Museum tickets

37 – Roll around town on a bike tour

For when those weary legs just don’t want to walk anymore, and you want to explore the city from a different perspective (away from the hoards of tourists), book yourself on one of Berlin’s popular bicycle tours.

These fun and easy-going bike trips, led by locals, will take you through some offbeat locations in the German capital — like Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg — before finishing up back at the starting point.

With themed experiences like the Cold War, “Vibes of Berlin,” street art, and “top secret” spots, there’s a two-wheeled adventure for everyone.

• bike tours in Berlin

38 – Step back in time at the Pergamon Museum

Housed in the former Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation palace on Museum Island, the Pergamon Museum is an international landmark and undisputed visitor magnet — arguably the most popular of the city’s museums.

Found here are monumental exhibits diving into ancient Babylonian, Greek and Roman culture — the world-famous Pergamon Altar from the Roman Period and plenty more.

Hot tip: During those busier tourist months (summer), grabbing a skip-the-line ticket online is a great option.

• Pergamon Museum

39 – Admire the flowers at the Gärten der Welt

For an unforgettable Berlin day out in nature, head to the 100-hectare Gärten der Welt in the eastern district of Marzahn.

This locally adored attraction will take you on a journey through the diverse flora of eight different countries from near and far. Whether you’re craving some tulips or are more in the mood for bamboo trees, this is one outdoor spot not to be missed.

40 – Explore the outdoorsy delights of Tempelhofer Feld

In a brilliant bit of repurposing, the city has transformed a former airfield into a splendid green space for everyone to enjoy.

Head to Tempelhofer Feld to search the trees for birds, admire some beautiful gardens, or catch the breeze and fly some kites in the wide-open spaces.

You can see plenty of fascinating civic projects in action, from public art pieces to flocks of endangered sheep grazing in the meadows.

It’s a wonderful way to relax in pure Berliner fashion!

41 – Learn about Berlin’s Jewish Heritage on a guided walking tour

If you’re interested in exploring Berlin’s rich Jewish history, then the Jewish Heritage Walk, which dives into the chapters from the 17th century to today, is an excellent opportunity to do so.

This tour takes up to four hours, taking visitors around and across key sites of interest from both pre and post-war times. These include the New Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery, the Rosenstrasse Memorial and the powerful “Block of Women” memorial that commemorates the 1943 women’s uprising.

The stories told are moving and the sites visited are eye-opening — a must for anyone interested in history.

• Jewish Heritage tours

42 – Hit terminal velocity with a skydive!

If you’re looking for a thrilling experience to take your travel diary up a notch, then book yourself into one of Berlin’s most exhilarating (and adrenaline-pumping) activities!

Jump from 13,000 feet over the beautiful forests, lakes and farmland of Brandenburg county, about 30 minutes outside of Berlin. Go solo or with friends and family — either way, skydiving is sure to make that list of “must do’s” before you go home.

43 – Celebrate the summer at Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

The only thing better than catching a movie is getting to enjoy a little bit of sunshine, and Freiluftkino Friedrichshain offers both in spades!

This beloved open-air cinema runs all summer long, and screens a wide variety of movies for filmgoers of all ages.

Note that the screenings are generally dubbed in German – a perfect way to start learning the language!

Post up on one of the comfortable benches, or bring a blanket and relax in the grass; then you can just sit back and enjoy the show!

44 – Snap a selfie with Brad Pitt at Madame Tussauds

Forget about Hollywood — Berlin offers celeb-obsessed visitors the chance to meet all their favorite A-listers at Madame Tussauds. It’s just down the road from the Brandenburg Gate.

Get up close with life-size replicas of international stars like Barack Obama, Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II — just a sliver of the dozens of names on offer.

It’s a sweet way to attract some social media attention, that’s for sure.

• Madame Tussauds tickets

45 – Check out the Natural History Museum (Museum für Naturkunde)

This sprawling 19th-century building houses a plethora of well-curated exhibits for all ages — including fossils and preserved animals.

One of the essential things to do in Berlin for fans of zoology and evolution, the museum’s collections include everything — from ancient Egyptian artifacts to dinosaur skeletons that have been reconstructed into lifelike poses.

The undisputed highlight? The world’s largest dinosaur skeleton, a Brachiosaurus standing a colossal 13.27 meters tall!

46 – Soar over the city with a helicopter tour

If you’re looking for a unique way to see the capital — and are up for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure at the same time — then getting out into Berlin’s blue skies is just what the doctor ordered!

With an expert pilot manning the controls (who’ll be delighted to teach you about both the vehicle and the city), simply sit back. Enjoy the overhead views of the Victory Column, Brandenburg Gate, TV tower and so much more.

• helicopter tours in Berlin

47 – Catch a football (soccer) match at Olympiastadion Berlin

The Olympiastadion Berlin is situated in the northern part of the city, originally constructed as a venue for the 1936 Olympics, and today it still hosts major sporting events including football matches (it’s home turf to Hertha BSC Berlin).

Besides being one of Germany’s most important venues for athletics, the stadium has a fascinating history — and it’s worth a visit for the eye-catching architecture alone.

48 – Scoot around town on a Segway tour

Zip by a handful of the city’s historic sites in a fun-for-all-ages battery-powered Segway!

Whether you’re new to two wheels or a seasoned expert, all levels are catered for with this unforgettable experience!

Guided tours cover a variety of areas from Mitte to Potsdamer Platz, passing by iconic spots like the Berlin Wall, Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island along the way.

If a tour isn’t your jam, standalone rentals are also available.

• segway tours in Berlin

49 – Explore the Berlin Underworld

This is a perfect example of the “dark tourism” trend sweeping the globe. The Berlin Underworld is viewable through a collection of walking tours that take guests through some of the city’s most infamously dark and twisted locations.

Delve into Berlin’s turbulent past and explore its WWII-era history. Step inside former war bunkers, the abandoned Gesundbrunnen underground railway station and much more.

The tours are led by an expert guide, who’ll offer you a comprehensive account of Berlin’s history — and the lesser-known stories behind some of its famous sites.

50 – See a movie in style at the Astor Film Lounge

For a totally different kind of cinematic experience, head over to Astor Film Lounge !

This gorgeous space is a great place to see the newest releases, with its massive screens and elegant interior designs.

But it also screens plenty of special programs, including performances by the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House.

Whether you’re looking for a unique screening or hoping to catch the next blockbuster, this is the place to go – check all the events and activities here .

51 – Try indoor skydiving!

For all the blood-pumping thrills of a skydive without the need to actually jump out of a plane, Berlin’s indoor skydiving center is the perfect alternative.

With a specially designed wind tunnel, you’ll experience all the excitement of flight with none of the fear — simply put on your gear and step inside for an exhilarating time in complete safety!

The experience lasts just a couple of minutes, but promises to be one that’s truly memorable!

52 – Admire ancient art at the Altes Museum

Located on Museum Island, the Neoclassical Altes Museum building is one of Berlin’s most popular attractions for ancient art lovers.

The museum is home to a large and varied collection that includes everything from Egyptian artifacts to Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities. It offers visitors an immersive glimpse into cultures long past, while also providing food for thought about how they’ve shaped our world today.

Hot tip: Grab a ticket online to skip the line during the busier months.

• Altes Museum tickets

53 – Stuff your face on a food tour!

Who’s hungry?

There’s no better way to get a taste (literally) of Berlin than by exploring its diverse culinary offerings on one of the city’s many food tours that stroll through Mitte and/or Kreuzberg.

Whether you’re in search of traditional German fare such as meatballs or sausages (not to mention cakes!) or looking to dive into the city’s diverse international foodie scene (don’t miss the doner kebabs!) — these tours will satisfy your appetite for adventure.

• food tours in Berlin

54 – Enjoy the art at the Alte Nationalgalerie

One of the five main attractions on Museum Island, this grand art gallery is home to over 2,000 pieces of intricate paintings, sculptures and drawings.

Exhibits include masterpieces of French Impressionism, early Modernism (including works by Adolph von Menzel and Max Liebermann), and a truckload of pieces depicting the Neoclassical and Romantic movements.

• Alte Nationalgalerie tickets

55 – Class up your dinner at some Michelin-star restaurants

From the food to the decor, Berlin doesn’t skimp on its culinary scene; and while it can be hard to pick the ideal restaurants, there are some standouts that are well worth a visit!

Nibble on the tasting menu at Julius , or the simple but elegant dishes (paired with wine) at ernst.

Try some creative approaches to Israeli and European cuisine at prism, or some delicious French meals at Brasserie Lamazere .

Or go all out and enjoy a multi-course meal at Kochu Karu , where the palates range from Korean to Spanish to cheese-based.

It’s all part of the joy of eating!

56 – Visit the museum in the old train station: Hamburger Bahnhof

Dive into the country’s fascinating past at this contemporary art institution (the Museum für Gegenwart) that was once the main train station that connected Hamburg and Berlin!

This mid-19th century building is now an internationally renowned site. It houses an extensive permanent collection of modern paintings, sculptures and drawings, including well-known works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp.

• Hamburger Bahnhof tickets

57 – Meet your favorite animal at Berlin Zoo

The Berlin Zoo is an animal lover’s dream come true!

This sprawling 86-acre site houses more than 20,000 animals from nearly 1,400 species — including giant pandas, polar bears, gorillas, adorable penguins and the snowy owl (a Hedwig lookalike, for all you HP fans).

Visitors can explore the grounds at their own pace or take a guided tour to find out all about the zoo’s history (including its current conservation efforts). Get up close and personal with some of its friendly and furry inhabitants.

58 – Marvel at the works of the Bode Museum

Sitting on the northern tip of Museum Island (dishing up great views), the popular Bode Museum is home to two enormous collections, the Sculpture Collection and the Museum of Byzantine Art — complemented by smaller displays of coins and medals.

Like most of the city’s wonderful museums, skip-the-line tickets are available online and recommended.

• Bode Museum tickets

59 – Enjoy a show at the Friedrichstadt-Palast theater

Experience Berlin’s history through a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and light at this popular show space!

The theater in Mitte is famous for its stunningly opulent interior and the countless performances that have taken place on its stage over the years, including opera and dance presentations.

The theater’s program is as versatile as it gets, with over 100 local and international artists gracing its stage every year — check the calendar to see who’s performing during your trip.

• Friedrichstadt-Palast tickets

60 – Party the night away at the best nightclubs in town

As you head out for the evening, be sure to check out some of the top clubs in the city – never an easy task to choose!

Matrix Club offers a consistent lineup of themed events and vibrant dance floors all week long, creating a perpetual party atmosphere.

Berghain is a must for techno fans and adventurers; housed in an old heating plant, it offers top-notch music, great parties, and a famously anything-goes atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Maxxim boasts everything from disco and burlesque to nostalgic dance parties and wild holiday events.

In this town, you may well be out until sunrise!

61 – Admire over 200 artworks at the Berggruen Museum

This contemporary art museum houses an extensive collection of modern and post-war paintings, sculptures and drawings. It displays an array of thought-provoking pieces by infamous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Paul Klee and more!

Unlike most of the city’s museums, this one isn’t on Museum Island. Berggruen sits in the Charlottenburg district, a convenient short walk from the stunning Charlottenburg Palace.

• Berggruen Museum tickets

62 – Learn about the history of our ancestors at the Neues Museum

In Berlin’s UNESCO World Heritage Museum Island district, the Neues Museum is home to an impressive and extensive collection of antiquities from ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan civilizations.

Inside this beautifully designed building on Schlossplatz, you’ll find 9,000 fascinating and unique objects, none more appreciated than the 700,000-year-old ax head that dates back to the earliest Stone Age.

• Neues Museum tickets

63 – Grab a coffee (or beer) and people-watch at Gendarmenmarkt

Nestled in the Friedrichstadt District, this grand square is the site of many a Berlin Christmas market but is also home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings: the French and German Cathedrals and the Konzerthaus.

The famous square boasts no shortage of restaurants and cafes either, making it a wonderful spot to recharge the batteries and people watch.

64 – Learn about design at Kunstgewerbemuseum

Known in English as the Museum of Decorative Arts, the high underrated Kunstgewerbemuseum is the perfect place to explore the world of European fashion and design, with exhibits spanning centuries of history until today.

As the oldest decorative arts house in the country, it’s a worthy visit for the artistically inclined.

After checking out the two floors of exhibits, spend an hour or two exploring the nearby Tiergarten park.

• Kunstgewerbemuseum tickets

65 – Pay tribute at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

A powerful, postmodern symbol of one of humanity’s greatest tragedies, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is best approached with compassion and an open mind.

Carved into a field in central Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate, visitors are invited to wander through a contemplative maze made up of 2711 concrete slabs of different heights.

Deliberately abstract and complex, the monument has no goal for its visitors, no end, and no clear entry or exit — it’s deliberately lacking understanding, portraying the messaging that understanding the horrors of the Holocaust is truly impossible.

66 – Step inside the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)

An icon of Berlin’s cityscape, this grandiose cathedral has a history book full of interesting stories and anecdotes, including being severely damaged during WWII.

Be sure to check out the 7,000-pipe organ, and take some time to admire the cathedral’s impressive stained glass windows.

Hot tip: Despite the old stairs, it’s certainly worth climbing all the way up to the Dom for the excellent city views.

67 – Learn about the Cold War at Checkpoint Charlie

A Berlin landmark and one of the most iconic symbols of the Cold War, the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum recounts a different side to history.

Centered on Checkpoint Charlie — once part of the escape route between West and East Germany during the Cold War — a visit will give you an insight into life behind what was then known as ‘the Iron Curtain’, diving into one of the tightest and complex border security systems of the era.

• Mauermuseum Checkpoint Charlie tickets

68 – Have a picnic in Tiergarten Park

After ticking off all the museums and filling your brain with history lessons, a breath of fresh air is well-deserved, and Berlin’s Tiergarten is the perfect place to soak up some sunshine and explore Berlin’s love affair with parks!

Sprawling across more than 200 hectares, it features a large lake, pedal-taxi rentals, plenty of green space for picnics, the Berlin Zoo, and the Soviet War Memorial.

A range of guided tours walks through the park for anyone keen to learn a little more about the area.

• Tiergarten tours

69 – Learn about the country’s former secret police at the Stasi Museum

This eye-opening museum is located just minutes from the Berlin Central Station and tells the story of what life was like in East Germany, diving into the stories of the Stasi, the frightening former East German secret police force.

The building, near the Magdalenenstraße train station, has been left largely untouched to show how it looked during its time as a Stasi headquarters – this includes artifacts and photos on the walls documenting their work over three decades.

70 – Spend the day in Treptower Park

Berlin’s Treptower Park is a vast, beautiful and well-maintained green space, covering more than 207 acres (84 hectares) of land.

For nature lovers, consider renting a pedal boat, rowboat or barbecue boat on Insel der Jugend; history buffs, don’t miss the enormous Soviet War Memorial in the park’s center.

Finally, for all of you astronomy nerds, check out the Archenhold Sternwarte Observatory, home of the world’s longest refracting telescope (perfect for nighttime stargazing).

71 – Get off the beaten track with a street art tour

A stark juxtaposition to its historic side, Berlin also boasts a wacky and wonderful side, and its street art is a perfect example of that.

In super hipster areas like Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, you’ll find some of the most famous street murals in the country, depicting everything from pop culture icons to political statements.

Not to be missed is the iconic slice of Berlin Wall art that is the kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker.

• street art tours in Berlin

72 – Climb the steps of the Victory Column (Siegessaule)

A Berlin landmark, this impressive monument is one of the few things that survived WWII intact. Located in Tiergarten park, it was built to commemorate Prussia’s victory over France and Napoleon III in 1871.

The column itself is an impressive 67 meters high, and visitors can climb the 285 steps to get a breathtaking view of Berlin from its 360-degree viewing platform.

73 – Experience a dazzling journey with the ARISE Grand Show

Immerse yourself in the vibrant spectacle of the ARISE Grand Show at the legendary Friedrichstadt-Palast. Be mesmerized as hundreds of performers take to the world’s largest stage to tell stories of love and loss through the lens of photographer and artist Cameron.

Filled with hope and happiness, each scene paints an enthralling picture. ARISE is more than just a show, it’s an experience that will leave you inspired and uplifted.

74 – Walk through Tränenpalast, the ‘Palace of Tears’

Offering an emotional peek into daily life during the Cold War era, Tränenpalast used to be a border crossing point between East and West Berlin. It is now a museum that documents the stories of those who once crossed.

The building is located at the Friedrichstraße train station and, while small, is a powerful reminder of the division and reunification of the city.

It’s free to visit, so why not add it to the list of things to do in Berlin?

75 – Play detective at the Spy Museum!

The Spy Museum is located near Potsdamer Platz and, as Germany’s only museum dedicated to espionage history, it offers visitors an interactive experience of the ever-intriguing world of spies.

Exhibits range from a lie detector simulation to a laser-beam obstacle course (exactly like in the movies) and interactive displays about the history of spying during the wartime (and beyond).

• Spy Museum tickets

76 – See vintage cars at Classic Remise Berlin

Heaven on earth of car lovers, this sprawling museum-meets-garage Classic Remise houses in a historic tram depot is a true gem — and free for everyone to visit.

Besides the dozens of impressive cars on display, the most noteworthy attraction is arguably the fascinating workshop area, where these vintage beauties are lovingly restored and maintained.

77 – Race against the clock in an escape room!

With both escape rooms of different themes and city-wide scavenger hunts on offer, there’s plenty to choose from for any budding detective visiting Berlin.

EXIT Berlin in Mitte offers spooky escape room themes like a prison, an old sanatorium or an underground city. Smartroom Berlin features family-friendly rooms like Alice in Wonderland or adventures in space. Escape Game Notlandung Berlin in Langwitz showcases what a real-life emergency plane landing would be like.

• escape rooms in Berlin

78 – Take the kids to Legoland Discovery Center!

A stone’s throw from  Potsdamer Platz, Legoland Discovery Center offers plenty of fun for youngsters and LEGO-loving adults alike. The giant lego-built giraffe at the entrance is a regular hit, likewise the exhibition of miniature buildings.

Hot tip: For the most affordable tourist package, combine your LEGOLAND Discovery Centre ticket with a visit to SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds to save up to 30% (cha-ching!).

• Legoland tickets

79 – Browse the Rembrandt collection at the Gemäldegalerie

Housing an exquisite array of paintings by Rembrandt, plus those of Johannes Vermeer, Antonio Viviani, and Raphael — to name but a few — the Gemäldegalerie is a must-see for any art lover visiting Berlin.

The museum is situated a couple of minutes from Tiergarten, and while it can’t compete with blockbuster collections like those in London or Paris, for many visitors this only adds to its charm.

Be sure to opt for the audio guide and don’t forget to visit the gift shop!

80 – Explore the oddities of Illuseum Berlin

We all try new things while on vacation, but if you find yourself shrinking in size or walking on the ceiling, you just might be at Illuseum Berlin !

This fascinating space celebrates the world of illusions and human perception, with each room bursting with puzzles, optical illusions, and fun games.

Whether you’re spiraling through the Vortex Tunnel or gazing at the world through a kaleidoscope, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the stranger side of life.

Get started on the fun even quicker with a skip the line pass!

81 – Peer into prison cells at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial

A former Stasi prison, this confronting memorial is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the country’s complicated history.

The exhibitions are fascinating, and offer an eye-opening insight into what life was like during this dark period of German history. Meanwhile, the prison cells, interrogation rooms and exercise yards are all explorable.

82 – Explore the hip district of Prenzlauer Berg

A thoroughly gentrified area that’s become a hotspot for families and youth, the Prenzlauer Berg district is a great place to explore.

From the Berlin Wall remnants to decorated streets lined with boutiques, cafes, and bars – not forgetting plenty of green spaces for recreation – this neighborhood has something for everyone.

Insider tip: On Sundays, the biggest summer flea market in the city is found here, at Mauerpark.

• Prenzlauer Berg tours

83 – Learn about anatomy at Body Worlds

It’s like playing doctor … but in a museum!

This unique exhibition reveals the secrets of what’s happening inside your body. It’s the only place in Berlin where visitors can gain such a detailed understanding of what happens both when you’re alive … and when you’re not.

Showcasing anatomical models and actual human bodies — including brains, hearts, muscles and bones — alongside interactive displays and multimedia presentations about common diseases. It’s a learning experience unlike any other.

Warning: In case you missed it, there are real human bodies here, so don’t visit if you’re squeamish.

84 – Check out the Sony Store

Found at Potsdamer Platz, the ultra-modern Sony Center is home to a Sony Store Berlin where you can browse the latest in digital technology. The PlayStation® Game Zone, in particular, is a hit for gadget-loving gamers.

Besides all the latest whiz-bang tech at the Sony Store itself, the Center also houses a cinema, restaurants, and plenty of shops.

85 – Shop till you drop on the Kurfürstendamm Street

Germany’s answer to the Champs-Élysées or New York’s Fifth Avenue, Kurfürstendamm is known as one of the most famous streets in Berlin, home to some of the city’s finest fashion boutiques and international brands.

Stretching from Uhlandstraße all the way down to Breitscheidplatz — passing through Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf on its way — it’s a shopping mecca for those not afraid of high-end labels.

• Kurfürstendamm tours

86 – Pay respects at the Platform 17 Memorial

Located at the Grunewald station, this memorial serves to commemorate the Jews who were deported on trains to concentration camps during the Holocaust.

A subtle yet powerful memorial, the large floor tiles are chronologically laid and display the date, the number of Jews deported and the final destination.

87 – Watch street artists perform at Mauerpark

While a former part of the Berlin Wall, Mauerpark is now a vibrant always-happening focal point for markets, concerts, and casual lazy days on the grass.

Kids flock to the swings at the Rainbow Playground, couples love to throw down a picnic rug in the Birch Grove, and tourists are often drawn to the musicians and performers in the amphitheater.

If visiting in the summer, be sure to stop at the Sunday flea market!

88 – Find the hidden gems around Potsdamer Platz

After being destroyed during the allied bombings, Potsdamer Platz has been rebuilt and revitalized. Now one of the busiest sections of Berlin, it’s home to several international flagship stores and an eclectic array of shops and restaurants.

You can see and do so much in the area with a pre-arranged tour, led by a charismatic local who’ll help you get off the beaten track and uncover all the hidden gems.

• Postdamer Platz tours

89 – Listen to the symphony at Berliner Philharmonie

Since 1882, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has been one of the most revered orchestras in the world. It’s best known for its compelling and elegant sound within its magnificent home, the Berliner Philharmonie theater.

Guests from all over the world flock to hear classical German music, making it difficult to snag a ticket — so, if this is on your bucket list (especially for music aficionados), be sure to plan in advance.

90 – Max out the credit card at the Mall of Berlin!

Berlin’s most trafficked shopping center, the Mall of Berlin is home to over 300 stores — with a vibrant blend of international high-end brands alongside fast-fashion retailers like Mango and H&M.

After all that shopping works up an appetite, the Mall also boasts one of the largest food courts in Germany!

91 – Get lost in the KaDeWe department store

Officially named Kaufhaus des Westens, this department store in the heart of Berlin has been a city icon for over 100 years, with the claim to fame of being Europe’s largest department store behind Harrods in London.

The flagship KaDeWe is home to several floors with designer fashion, gourmet delights and cutting-edge electronics — and even if you’re not a big spender, it’s worth a visit for its sheer size alone.

• shopping tours in Berlin

92 – Visit the Topography of Terror museum

Of all the WWII-related things to do in Berlin, a lot of visitors will suggest that this powerful, confronting museum is one of the most moving and fascinating.

Sitting indoors and outdoors on the former site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters, the museum offers a chilling account of the infamous WWII government regime and their excesses.

It takes visitors through individual moments in history, from Hitler’s rise to power to his eventual death, and includes artifacts, documents, photographs, and films that bring this period in Germany’s past to the forefront of mind for anyone who visits.

93 – Kayak down the Spree

A popular way to see Berlin from a new angle is kayaking in the city’s famous river. The Spree or down the parallel Landwehr Canal is an exhilarating experience for those looking for something slow-paced in the fresh air.

There are plenty of informative and enjoyable tours available where you can get out on the water. You can also simply rent your own kayak and paddle around at your own pace.

94 – Cycle on the runways at Tempelhofer Park

On the site of the now-closed Berlin Tempelhof Airport (of which you can still walk or cycle along the runways), the 877-acre Tempelhofer Park is the largest-inner city open space not just citywide but worldwide.

This former airfield turned park might sound like an unusual day out, but it offers a myriad of exciting activities like easy mountain biking tracks, picnic spots, historic cemeteries, a calendar of music festivals, and bicycle hire stations — a great spot to simply chill out.

95 – Wander around Hackesche Höfe

A network of eight courtyards in the Mitte district, Hackesche Höfe has become a cosmopolitan mixture of old and new, and east and west. It’s coming alive during the sunny days with local Berliners going about their daily business.

The historic buildings are home to a range of cafes and restaurants, as well as boutiques selling everything from jewelry to souvenirs. Plus there’s a cinema in one courtyard if you’re looking for a day of entertainment and a handful of nightclubs for you party animals too.

How to get to Berlin?

While there are tons of ways to get to Berlin (train, bus, etc.), it’s also a great place to fly into and out of.

Whether you’re using Tegel Airport, Brandenburg Airport, or Schoenefeld Airport, you can arrange a shuttle transfer to get to the city quickly and happily.

For added convenience, you can also book the service to get back at the end of your trip.

Where to stay in Berlin?

There are plenty of world-class hotels to choose from in Berlin, like  The Ritz-Carlton , and Regent Berlin . On the flip side, there’s no shortage of quirky and typical Berlinesque hostels and AirBNBs too.

Whether you’re enjoying the hip, artsy Schulz Hotel Berlin Wall or the elegant amenities and nearby shopping at Hotel Adlon Kempinski , your stay will be almost as good as the trip itself.

No matter your budget or appetite for luxury, the best prices are almost always found on Booking.com, a meta-search engine that compares all of the internet’s hotel deals. Even if you don’t book through that site, it’s a wonderful way to explore the possibilities on offer and learn about the most popular suburbs and districts to stay in.

• best hotels in Berlin

Visiting Berlin on a budget?

Embark on some free walking tours to explore the city with local guides, seeing great sites and unusual haunts in equal measure. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of the best free walking tours in Berlin !

You can also purchase a Berlin WelcomeCard to see the best of the city on a budget; save money on major attractions, public transit, and more!

Where to go next?

With its lively cities and gorgeous countryside, Germany has something for everyone!

Head to Hamburg for unique neighborhoods, jaw-dropping architecture, and a lively culture ranging from street art to nightclubs. From its remarkable canals to its soaring concert halls, the city is a feast for the senses!

Or pop over to Frankfurt for historic homes, Ancient Roman forts, and fun, funky diversions ranging from hot rod tours to live music. Plus, it offers plenty of great activities for kids, from mini-golf and zoos to action-packed amusement parks.

Consider Dresden with its stunning baroque architecture and the iconic Frauenkirche, and Leipzig , once home to Johann Sebastian Bach, now boasts a lively arts scene and rich history.

And don’t miss out on Munich , where you can roam through museums, sample remarkable food and drink, and even go surfing… right in the middle of a rushing river!

Whether you want to dive into traditional German culture or explore its most contemporary forms, this dynamic Bavarian city has plenty to offer!

Lastly, just a short trip away is Wroclaw , Poland, known as the “City of a Hundred Bridges.” Its vibrant market square and whimsical gnome statues are sure to charm.

Final thoughts

Plenty of things to do in Berlin are already world-famous: the partying, the sightseeing, the eating.

But you’d be remiss if you didn’t check out its other unique features: the restaurants, the quirky neighborhoods, the public parks, and the powerful museums.

So don’t miss another moment… this fun-filled city is ready to greet you!

27 Hidden Gems in Berlin: Off the Beaten Path and Unusual Things to Do

This post contains links which earn me a small commission at no cost to you.

Ali Garland, Berlin expert & long term resident What to Do

It’s easy to find information about the major attractions in Berlin – places like Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, to name a few. But what about the hidden gems in Berlin ? Places that are really interesting but aren’t as widely known by visitors can make for an enjoyable experience. I’ve been living in Berlin since 2015, so to help you out, I’ve put together this list of Berlin off the beaten path sights and even some unusual things to do in Berlin .

My Berlin local tips includes some quirky Berlin attractions that are simply fun to see or do. It also includes some places that aren’t as popular or visited as much as the big sights in Berlin , but they’re ones that I think are really worth seeing anyway. And then I’ve also listed some sights and experiences that aren’t normally on Berlin top 10 lists.

What you'll find here

Unusual places to stay in Berlin

If you’re looking for hotels that are less than ordinary, you definitely have some choices in Berlin. Here are some hotel recommendations for unique places to stay in Berlin.

25Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

Upscale hotel with “jungle” rooms that overlook the Berlin Zoo and TIergarten Park

Hüttenpalast

Quirky hotel where you can sleep in retro-style caravans and cabins located within an indoor camping site

nHow Berlin Friedrichshain

Midrange hotel along the Spree River where you can rent a guitar for free

Eastern & Western Berlin Boat

Unique budget hotel & hostel in a moored boat in the Spree River near the East Side Gallery

For a more detailed look at the different neighborhoods and our hotel recommendations, check out our guide to where to stay in Berlin .

Unique Berlin Tours

Berlin has lots of great tours to help you see more of the city. But if you’re looking for a Berlin off the beaten path walking tour instead of the standard options, these are a few we recommend.

• Berlin Street Art Tour : Learn about Berlin’s street art scene, legal and illegal street art, and see some off the beaten path art as well as a few famous ones.
• Berlin Neighborhoods Off the Beaten Path Walking Tour : Explore different areas of Kreuzberg, Mitte and Friedrichshain that most tourists don’t get to see.
• 3-Hour Alternative Berlin Bike Tour Vibes of Berlin : See Berlin on a 3 hour bike tour through alternative areas of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln, and Treptow neighborhoods.
• Berliner Unterwelten Tours : The Berlin Underground tours are tours of an alternative side of Berlin, including old bunkers, subways, escape tunnels under the Berlin Wall, and more.

Berlin hidden gems

Berlin off the beaten path map.

I’ve created this map of the places mentioned in this post to help you see where they all are. Towards the end of the post, I have some quirky and off the beaten path day trips, and they are not on the map. Check out the map, and keep reading to learn more about these quirky sights and hidden gems.

9th of November 1989 Platz

The Berlin Wall is a big part of the city’s history, but there are so many different sights around Berlin that have to do with the Cold War , the Wall, and the division of Berlin. One of my favorites that often gets overlooked is the 9th of November 1989 Platz (Platz des 9th November 1989 in German) near the Bornholmer Strasse Sbahn station.

Here you’ll see a remaining piece of the Berlin Wall , plus an interesting display about the fall of the Wall. The former border crossing here was the first place the border opened up on November 9, 1989, so it holds a lot of history.

November 9th was an infamous date in German history before the fall of the Wall, and you can also learn about other dark events that took place on that day in history. This is also an especially nice place to visit in spring to see cherry blossoms .

Location: Bornholmer Str. 61, 10439 Berlin Opening Hours: 24/7 Entrance: free

Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen

The Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen , or the Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial, is a museum in a former Stasi prison. It was the main prison of the East German secret police. At this memorial, you can learn the history of the Stasi and the communist dictatorship, and stories of the many people who ended up here as prisoners. Some, but not all, guides were former prisoners themselves.

Location: Genslerstraße 66, 13055 Berlin Opening Hours: daily 9am – 6pm Entrance: The permanent exhibition is free; tours are 8 euros

Parliament of Trees

The Parliament of Trees a unique Berlin sight and a creative memorial honoring people who were victims of the Berlin Wall. It uses 58 authentic parts of the Berlin Wall, and for each year the Wall stood, there is a number indicating how many people died. It’s only open on Sundays in Berlin and not in the winter, so plan ahead.

This memorial includes 16 trees, one planted in 1990 by the state president from each of the 16 German federal states. Photos, flowers, memorial stones, and more round out this interesting Cold War site in Berlin .

Location: Schiffbauerdamm, 10117 Berlin, east bank of the Spree River, opposite the Reichstag Building Opening Hours: April to October, Sundays only, 12 noon – 5pm Entrance: free

Medieval city wall remains

While the Berlin Wall is the wall Berlin is most known for, you can still see a remaining section of the old medieval walls that once protected the city.

It might not be the most exciting thing to see in Berlin, but it’s certainly interesting that, despite everything, even this little bit of the old city walls still exists. And not far from here, check out the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche church ruins.

Location: Waisenstraße 2, 10179 Berlin Opening Hours: 24/7 Entrance: Free

Urban Nation

Urban Nation, the museum for urban contemporary art, is a free museum dedicated to street art, graffiti, and urban art. It’s the world’s first urban art museum, which is fitting since street art is such a huge part of Berlin’s landscape.

The exhibits change, as does the art covering the outside of the building. You can see fun, quirky art here, but also more serious pieces that have a message to send about current events. Check out my full guide to visiting the Urban Nation Museum and more free Berlin museums .

Location: Bülowstraße 7, 10783 Berlin Opening Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10am – 6pm, Thursday – Sunday 12 noon – 8pm, closed Monday Entrance: Free

>>Finding lots of things closed on Mondays? Check out my ideas for what to do on Mondays in Berlin .

North Side Gallery

You’ve heard of the East Side Gallery, the most famous remaining section of the Berlin Wall . But what if you could see street art on another section of the Wall, but one that is very much under the radar?

Just a few steps away from the Bernauer Strasse Wall Memorial is the Park am Nordbahnhof where you can see a few sections of the Berlin Wall that are still standing. And they have been turned into another legal place for street art. It’s privately run, so you have to get permission to paint on these walls.

For an alternative Berlin outdoor art display, I highly recommend taking a stroll through this park and enjoying the different sections of the North Side Gallery.

Location: Doesn’t really have an address, but look here and here Opening Hours: The park is open daily 6am – 10pm Entrance: Free

Teufelsberg

Tucked into the Grunewald, Teufelsberg is a former Cold War NSA spy station that’s been turned into one of the largest street art galleries in the world.

You can take a tour to learn about the site’s Cold War history as well as see what it’s been transformed into today. Keep in mind that you have to hike there, and they don’t have running water, so the only toilets are port-a-potties.

Location: Teufelsseechaussee 10, 14193 Berlin, 30 minute walk from the Heerstr or Grunewald Sbahn stations Opening hours: Monday – Friday 12:00 pm to sunset; Saturday, Sunday, public holidays: 11:00 am to sunset Entrance: 8 euros online, 10 euros at the door (cash only)

Bierpinsel translates to “beer brush”, which is sort of what this quirky 47 meter building looks like. It’s located right next to the Schloßstrasse U-Bahn in the Steglitz district, and it’s definitely a unique Berlin attraction.

Opened in 1976, this building used to be a restaurant. Unfortunately after the last tenant moved out of the building in 2010, it has remained empty for quite some time. A new owner is supposedly doing repairs and renovations with the hope of reopening it in a few years.

Location: Schloßstraße 17, 12163 Berlin Opening Hours: n/a Entrance: n/a

Computerspielemuseum

Do you love video games? Then the Computerspielemuseum is for you. This museum is dedicated to video games, and you’ll find games from decades ago all the way up to modern day games. And the best part is you can play some of them.

This is a particularly kid friendly place in Berlin , so if you’re not traveling with kids, you might want to avoid weekends and school holidays. That way you can experience the museum with smaller crowds.

Location: Karl-Marx-Allee 93A, 10243 Berlin Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 8pm Entrance: 11 euros

David Hasselhof Museum

I feel like “museum” is a bit of a stretch, but inside the Circus Hostel in their bar area, there’s a tiny, and a bit cheesy, David Hasselhof Museum. You’ll find photos and memorabilia honoring the singer/actor. Who is American, not German, in case you didn’t know.

Location: Weinbergsweg 1A, 10119 Berlin Opening Hours: Open when the bar/microbrewery is open, daily starting at 7pm Entrance: Free, but I recommend staying to buy a tasty beer

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More unusual museums in Berlin

Looking for more quirky museums? Berlin has plenty. Here are a few others to check out if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary.

Disgusting Food Museum : Learn about weird foods that people eat in other parts of the world, and at the end you can even try a few, like insects. Located at Schützenstraße 70, entry 16 euros. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Hemp Museum : The Hemp Museum (Hanf in German) is located at Mühlendamm 5 in Nikolaiviertel and covers everything hemp related, from history to its different uses. Closed on Mondays, entry 6 euros.

Buchstabenmuseum : For something a little off the beaten path in Berlin, check out the Buchstabenmuseum, or Letter Museum. This privately run museum is dedicated to old neon signs and other types of interesting letters and signs. If you’re a fan of design, typography, and signage, this one is for you. Located at Stadtbahnbogen 424, entry 12 euros. Closed Monday to Wednesday.

I think a lot of tourists don’t know about Tempelhof, a huge park that was once an airport. It’s definitely a unique Berlin attraction where you can walk on the runway (or run or ride a bike or many other things) and the airport building is still there. This airport also holds a lot of history as the base of the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War.

Even for those who do know about Tempelhof, did you know you can take a tour ? The tour shows you around the airport building, tells you about the history, and takes you to places not open to the general public.

And just recently they opened a viewing platform at Tempelhof. Both the Tempelhof Airport tour and the viewing platform are paid attractions, but they’re great ways to enjoy this hidden gem in Berlin.

Location: Tempelhofer Damm, 12101 Berlin; Airport building: Platz d. Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin Opening Hours: Daily dawn to dusk (changes with the seasons) Entrance: Park entrance is free, tour is 17.50 euros, viewing platform is 6 euros

Markthalle Neun for Street Food Thursday

Well known by locals, this is one tourists might not be aware of. Markthalle Neun is an indoor market in Kreuzberg that focuses on local and organic (Bio in German) produce, meats, cheeses, and other products.

The main market runs on Saturdays and there are some stalls open every day except Sunday. But come by on Thursday night for Street Food Thursday. This is a popular event with locals where you can try lots of different and interesting food. It gets crowded though, so bring some patience.

Location: Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, 10997 Berlin Opening Hours: Thursdays 5pm – 10pm (hours are only for Street Food Thursday) Entrance: Free

Do you enjoy indoor markets? Also consider checking out Arminiusmarkthalle in Moabit and Marheineke Markthalle in Kreuzberg.

Kulturbrauerei for Street Food Sunday

Another street food event I quite like is in the courtyard of Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg on Sunday afternoons.

On Street Food Sunday, you can find a bunch of food trucks set up selling everything from Korean fried chicken and Thai food to Uzbeki cuisine. Anything goes, and it’s a great atmosphere.

Location: Schönhauser Allee 36, 10435 Berlin Opening Hours: Sundays 12 noon – 6pm Entrance: Free

Klunkerkranich

Berlin has many rooftop bars , but one of the most hidden ones is Klunkerkranich. Yes, it’s well known, but the challenge is finding it once you arrive.

You have to work your way through a parking garage to find the entrance, and it can feel like you must be in the wrong place. Come for the view and enjoy some drinks and a little food.

Location: Karl-Marx-Straße 66, 12043 Berlin Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday 5pm – midnight; Thursday – Sunday from 4pm Entrance: 2 to 8 euros depending on what’s going on that night

This eclectic market along the Spree River is a collection of bars and food stalls in a creative space. It’s pretty well known by locals but off the beaten path for Berlin visitors.

They also hold one of the less touristy Christmas markets in Berlin , so check it out if you’re in Berlin in December .

Location: Holzmarktstraße 25, 10243 Berlin Opening Hours: evenings on weekdays, afternoons and evenings on weekends Entrance: Free

Free lunchtime concert at the Philharmonie

Every Wednesday between September and June, the Philharmonie puts on a free show at lunchtime. The music is wide ranging but always sure to entertain.

The show lasts about 40-50 minutes. The number of guests is limited, so you may want to arrive early. Not only is this a fun free thing to do , but it’s a Berlin hidden gem not many people know about.

Grab a beer at a Späti

Spätis are unique Berlin convenience stores that are usually open 24 hours a day, though sometimes a few hours less. They mostly sell beer, but you can find other alcoholic beverages, potato chips, chocolate bars, sodas, and other snacks. Some will also sell bakery items or quick sandwiches or even items approaching groceries.

Certain Spätis have picnic tables outside where you can sit with your newly purchased beer, making it almost, but not quite, like a bar. Give it a try, it’s definitely one of the non touristy things to do in Berlin.

Location: Within a few blocks from wherever you are

Spandau Citadel

Charlottenburg Palace is the most well known castle in Berlin for good reasons. But if you’re looking for a castle that’s a little off the beaten path in Berlin, I highly recommend Spandau Citadel. It’s a fortress, so it’s more defensive than Schloss Charlottenburg, so you’ll also get to see a different kind of castle here.

The Citadel dates back to the 12th century, and it was strategically built where the Havel and Spree Rivers meet. Spandau is a district in the far northwest corner of Berlin, so it’s outside the center, but it’s still easy to reach by Ubahn or Sbahn.

Location: Am Juliusturm 64, 13599 Berlin Opening Hours: Thursday 1pm – 8pm, all other days 10am – 5pm Entrance: Adult 4.50 euro, Child 2.50 euro

If you’re visiting Berlin in summer and you want to cool off, go for a swim at the Badeschiff. This is a barge that’s been converted into a pool, and it’s located in the Spree River.

Not only is it a unique thing to do in Berlin, but you’ll have some great views of the Oberbaum Bridge and nearby areas from the pool.

Location: Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin Opening Hours: Varies and can change, check website Entrance: 8 euros, book online only, max 4 days ahead

David Bowie’s apartment

From 1976 to 1978, David Bowie lived in Berlin, and during that time, he created three albums: Low, Heroes, and Lodger. Today his former apartment building is marked with a plaque, and often people leave flowers or other mementos.

Location: Hauptstraße 155, 10827 Berlin Opening Hours: n/a Entrance: n/a

Spas are very popular in Germany, and Berlin has quite a few good ones. But the Liquidrom is a unique Berlin place to go because it’s not your typical spa. Here you can listen to techno music underwater, because Berlin loves its techno, and a few nights a week there’s even a DJ. Definitely a interesting thing to do at night in Berlin .

Location: Möckernstrasse 10, 10963 Berlin Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday 9am – midnight; Friday and Saturday 9am – 1am Entrance: starts at 22.50 euros, depends on services

Mauerpark karaoke

Sunday flea markets are a big thing in Berlin, and the one at Mauerpark is one of the most popular. But the most alternative things to do in Berlin also takes place here, and it’s karaoke.

It’s free, anyone can perform, and there’s a fun, relaxed vibe. If you want Berlin local tips, this is definitely one of them.

Location: Mauerpark, right about here Opening hours: Sunday afternoons Entrance: free

Looking for other flea markets? I recommend the RAW flea market and the Boxhagener Platz flea market, both in Friedrichshain.

Park Inn viewing platform

I love views of places from high vantage points. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I travel, so I have tons of favorite places for views of Berlin from above .

While I certainly think the views FROM the TV Tower are amazing, there’s one place that has the best view OF the TV Tower. And somehow it remains one of the Berlin secret places that’s hidden in plain sight.

This viewing platform is in the Park Inn hotel at Alexanderplatz. Because it’s so close to the TV Tower, it is THE place to go if you want fantastic photos of the tower.

It’s on the 39th floor of the hotel, where you’ll be 153 meters (about 502 feet) high. Unfortunately it’s not wheelchair friendly though, because even though you take the elevator most of the way, you have to climb 80 stairs from the 35th floor up to the 39th floor.

Location: Alexanderpl. 7, 10178 Berlin Opening Hours: April to September 12 noon to 10pm, October to March 12 noon to 6pm; can close in bad weather Entrance: 6 euros, cash only

Looking for other viewpoints that aren’t the TV Tower? Try Victory Column , the French Cathedral at Gendarmenmarkt , or Panoramapunkt .

Berlin is known all over the world for being a party city, and for some people, clubbing is the main reason to come here. But one of the more unusual things to do in Berlin is to go to what is probably the smallest dance club in the world.

It’s called Teledisko, and it’s basically a cross between a phone booth and a photo booth that plays music. You pay a few euros, pick a song, and dance your heart out. You can even pay a little extra for pictures or videos. It’s super cheesy, but definitely a quirky Berlin activity.

There are three that I know of, although Google Maps only seems to know of two. I’ll link to all three locations.

Location: RAW , Holzmarkt , Mercedes Platz Opening Hours: 24/7 Entrance: 2 to 6 euros, cash only

Quirky bars in Berlin

Berlin has plenty of bars, but for something truly weird, here are a few suggestions.

Train Cocktail Bar : For cool places to go in Berlin for a drink, why not try the Train Cocktail Bar? This bar is in an original Berlin Sbahn train car from the 1920s, so it’s a pretty cool setting. Located at Hauptstraße 162.

Berlin Ice Bar : This bar is very close to several tourist attractions, but I still think it’s quite an unusual thing to do in Berlin. The Berlin Ice Bar is a place where everything is made of ice and the temperature is 14F (-10C). But don’t worry, coats and gloves are provided. Located at Spandauer Str. 2.

Klo : Klo means toilet in German, and this is a toilet themed bar. The bar is decorated with toilet brushes, bedpans, actual toilets, and just about anything else related. Berlin quirky things to do? Yes, definitely. Located at Leibnizstraße 57.

MacLaren’s Pub : This is a How I Met Your Mother themed bar, completely decked out in just about every detail you could imagine from the show. Lily’s nude paintings of Marshall and Barney. Barney’s motivational posters from his office. The blue French horn. Just to name a few. Even better, this bar was started by two Berliners, one who was studying architecture, and one was studying law. Located at Boxhagener Str. 16.

Off the beaten path day trips from Berlin

The most popular day trips from Berlin are Potsdam and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp , and for good reasons. But if you’re looking for something a little different, here are a few suggestions.

Cottbus : For a charming small city near Berlin, consider a day trip to Cottbus . It has the look and feel of a typical German old town but it’s a bit under the radar, so it’s not too crowded. Plus there’s a palace with a park that has two odd grass pyramids.

Peacock Island : Just on the edge of Berlin there’s an island with a fairy tale castle and peacocks that roam freely. It’s called Pfaueninsel in German. This is a good choice for a little nature that’s still within the city but feels like a world away. Note: The castle is under construction, so if this is your main reason for visiting, you should wait until it’s no longer covered up.

Tropical Islands : Maybe not so off the beaten path since it is definitely well known, but this is a bit quirky. Great if you’re traveling with kids, Tropical Islands is a water park in an old zeppelin hangar. The temperature is kept warm all year round, so it’s actually a great place to go in the winter if you want to pretend you’re in the south Pacific.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide to hidden gems in Berlin and Berlin off the beaten path is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!

• 101 Best Things to do in Berlin
• 23 Impressive Castles in Berlin (And Nearby)
• 27 Best World War II & Cold War Sights in Berlin
• 29 Fun Day Trips From Berlin
• 75 Things to Know Before Visiting Berlin: Essential Berlin Travel Tips
• What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
• How to Get Around in Berlin: An Easy Guide to Berlin Public Transportation

Check out my favorite travel planning sites and resources

These are the sites I like for travel planning, plus items I like to travel with.

Planning Booking.com : Find a Berlin hotel here.

Rick Steves and Lonely Planet : My favorite guidebook resources.

Tours, Activities, Tickets Viator : Great site for finding tours and other activities.

GetYourGuide : Another good option for tours and activities.

Transport Welcome Pickups : No stress option for airport pickups.

Discover Cars : Find a rental car for Germany road trips.

Deutsche Bahn and FlixBus : Best options for getting around Germany.

Packing Orange SIM & eSIM : Great option for SIM & eSIM cards for German & EU.

Collapsible water bottle , plug adapter , and stuff bag : Small things that will make your trip a little easier.

Packing Orange SIM & eSIM : Great option for SIM & eSIM cards for Germany & EU.

Book a local photographer Flytographer : Hire an amazing local photographer anywhere in the world. Use code BERLINTRAVEL to get $25 off your first photo shoot.

Related Posts

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

10 Historic Places to See in Berlin

Dating to the 13th century, germany's vibrant capital berlin is brimming with history. here's 10 sites that you can't miss..

Lucy Davidson

06 sep 2021, @lucejuiceluce.

As the European Union’s most populous city, Berlin is an artistic, historic, and social hub. The city has been under the rule of the Kingdom Of Prussia, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the Third Reich. After the Second World War, it was famously severed in half by the Berlin Wall, which was only taken down in 1989. As a result, there are endless monuments, museums, and historical sites to explore the capital’s multifaceted history with.

From famous places steeped in history like the Reichstag, to lesser-known sites like Berlin Flak Tower, there’s a wealth of sites to visit. Here’s our pick of 10 of the best.

1. Brandenburg Gate

Probably Berlin’s most famous landmark, the Brandenburg Gate is a stunning Romanesque structure modelled on the ancient gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. Standing at the heart of the city, the Gate is a symbol of the German capital and is consistently ranked among the top 10 things to see in Berlin.

Commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia and built between 1788 and 1791, today, visitors from around the world come to see the Brandenburg Gate and its ornate carvings, including its dramatic depiction of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, driving a horse drawn chariot.

2. Reichstag

No visit to Berlin can miss the famous German parliament building, the Reichstag. One of the most popular places to visit in Berlin, the Reichstag Building as we know it today is a fusion of the original 19th century building – heavily damaged by the infamous fire of 1933 and subsequent WWII bombing – and a restoration project which finished in 1999.

As well as viewing the stunning architecture particularly the remarkable roof terrace and dome, visitors can explore more via guided tours are available, but these must be booked in writing well in advance.

3. Berlin Wall

Probably the most famous of all the places to see in Berlin, the Berlin Wall split the city and was a dramatic symbol of the ideological struggle of the Cold War. An 87 mile long concrete barrier that divided East and West Berlin, the Wall was the most obvious embodiment of the so-called ‘Iron Curtain’ between eastern and western Europe.

The fall of the Berlin Wall finally occurred on 9 November 1989, and was almost completely dismantled in the weeks that followed. Very few segments of the wall remain today, but those that have are extremely popular for visitors and locals alike. The largest section can be found at the open air East Side Gallery, although small sections are dotted throughout the city.

4. Berliner Dom

One of the most stunning buildings in Berlin, Berliner Don is an exceptionally beautiful early 20th century Cathedral built during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Constructed between 1894 and 1905, this ornate structure is crowned with a remarkable, imposing dome and is now open to the public to explore.

It’s the capital’s largest and most important Protestant church and, when it comes to deciding what to see in Berlin, this hugely popular landmark is an absolute must.

5. The Holocaust Memorial - Berlin

History runs to the very heart of Berlin, and while joyous events are celebrated, there are a number of sites which document darker moments from the city’s past. Berlin has made the conscious decision to ensure that the horror of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust are not forgotten. One of the most moving sites of all is the Holocaust Memorial.

The Holocaust Memorial is a vast granite maze covering 19,000 square metres which remembers the millions of European Jews murdered by the Nazis. It makes for sombre and thought-provoking viewing.

6. The Pergamon Museum

Located on Museum Island, the Pergamon Museum showcases a vast and fascinating world famous collection of ancient artefacts, Ancient Near East, and Islamic art. For lovers of history, it ranks as one of the very best things to do in Berlin.

As well as a host of incredible artefacts, the museum houses monumental structures such as the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate of Miletus, which all consist of original parts brought from their original locations in Turkey.

7. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Originally built in the 1890’s and dedicated to Kaiser William I by his grandson Kaiser William II, today the fusion of Romanesque and modern architecture make the Kaiser Wilhelm Church a fascinating place to explore.

Seemingly odd to view from the outside – being as it is a largely 18th century tower with a modern concrete, steel and glass hulk attached – inside the Church is truly stunning, with beautiful glass walls and an epic feel. A truly unique experience.

8. Berlin Stasi Prison

An infamous East German prison which operated during the Cold War, the Berlin Stasi Prison is a memorial to those who were persecuted there. Following WWII, East Berlin was under the occupation of Soviet Russia as the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Stasi were the official security forces of this state. The Berlin Stasi Prison became the detention centre for anyone considered hostile to the state until it was eventually disbanded in 1989 as the GDR began to falter.

Today, the prison is a memorial to those who were detained there and is a stark reminder of the atrocities carried out during the Cold War. Tours are offered and visitors can see a film about the prison’s history.

9. The Berlin Flak Tower

One of the more hidden and obscure places in Berlin to visit, the Berlin Flak Tower is a Second World War anti-aircraft station and bunker which can now be seen via organised tours run by the Berlin Underground Association.

Visitors can explore three of the seven floors of the bunker and discover the astounding underground landscape. The most striking experience that the site offers is the opportunity to stare deep down into the very depths of the building.

10. Charlottenburg Palace

Built in 1713 as a summer getaway for the first queen of Prussia, Charlottenburg is Berlin’s largest royal estate. One of Berlin’s most beautiful museums, the architecture is predominantly baroque, reflecting the taste during the period when it was first constructed.

Today, Charlottenburg ranks among the top places to visit in Berlin and visitors can undertake a guided tour through both the Old Palace and the New Wing. Tours guide visitors through the rich family history of Sophie Charlotte, in addition to the property’s extensive collection of artworks.

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18 Best Things to Do in Berlin

By Liz Humphreys and Krystin Arneson

Thirty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, in 1989, the German capital's intoxicating mix of grit, glamour, and anything-goes expression born from historical repression has made it one of the most dynamic cities on earth. Where else can you saunter through Prussian palaces, venture into Nazi-era bunkers, tour the world's longest outdoor art gallery, and lose yourself in Europe's most famous techno temple? (And that's just day one.) So bring an open mind, pack your stamina, and get ready to dive into all the city has to offer. Read on for the very best things to do in Berlin.

Read our complete Berlin travel guide here .

Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider's experience of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.

Hackesche Höfe and Haus Schwarzenberg Arrow

Beneath its rough exterior, Berlin hides elegant urban courtyards behind the Altbau buildings that survived World War II. In the heart of Berlin’s central Mitte neighborhood, Hackesche Höfe is a cluster of eight café- and boutique-filled public courtyards dating from 1907. Following a complete renovation to restore the interconnected höfs (courtyards) to their former glory, the labyrinth reopened in 1996. Several doors down on Rosenthaler Straße, Haus Schwarzenberg is Hackesche Höfe’s gritty, graffiti-covered brother, and it offers a fascinating glimpse of what much of Berlin looked like before gentrification swept in.

Charlottenburg Palace Arrow

Built in 1699 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of King Friedrich I, this massive, multi-winged baroque structure is Berlin’s largest palace. Heavily damaged in World War II and rebuilt and restored over several decades, the palace is home to a number of priceless collections, including royal porcelain and silver, crown jewels, and important 18th-century French paintings by artists such as Antoine Watteau. The rooms themselves, most of which were entirely reconstructed, feature ornate plasterwork, gilding, and frescoes, all based on original designs. The highlight is the gardens, created in the French and English style, with orderly hedges, fountains, ponds, and tree-lined gravel paths.

Berlin Wall Memorial Arrow

This free indoor/outdoor museum and memorial is the best place to learn how the Berlin Wall sprung up, practically overnight, what life was like in the former East German state, and the heroic (and heartbreaking) attempts people made to reunite with their families. As you walk along this one-mile stretch of Bernauer Strasse, an open-air exhibit features photographs and signs detailing the stories on either side of the barrier. There’s also a preserved piece of the original border wall and a watchtower, as well as an indoor visitor center with exhibits chronicling the political and historical events surrounding the city’s division.

Mauerpark Flea Market Arrow

Located along a former part of the Berlin Wall that was a militarized no-man’s land known as the “Death Strip,” the area that is now Mauerpark (“Wall Park") was where guards stationed in watch towers would shoot would-be escapees trying to flee from East Berlin to West. Today, the attack dogs and soldiers are gone, and in their place, the city’s largest and best outdoor market is held every Sunday. Surrounding the bustling market in the trendy green space is something of an anything-goes circus, filled with jugglers, picnickers and the world's largest karaoke party, known as Bearpit Karaoke.

Emily Pennington

Charlie Hobbs

Kaitlin Menza

CNT Editors

Berghain Arrow

Perhaps no club in Berlin (or the world, for that matter) is more hallowed than Berghain. Set in a former East German power station, this cavernous, nondescript warehouse is the Holy Grail for techno fans, hosting three-day-long debauchery-induced raves. Every weekend, the club attracts some of the best DJs from all over the planet to spin and pump beats so intense that they ring in your bones instead of your ears.

Reichstag Building Arrow

Reduced to rubble after one of history's most infamous fires in the 1930s, and then rebuilt decades later, the stately Reichstag is arguably Germany's most iconic landmark . The building has been home of Germany’s parliament (the Bundestag) since 1999 and now serves as a symbol of the country’s reunification. Today, a glistening glass dome designed by starchitect Norman Foster sits atop the grand old structure, and anyone with an advanced booking can ascend its 755-foot-long ramp for sweeping views over the city. The Reichstag dome is one of the most enriching free experiences for first-time visitors to the city, where a troubled past exists side by side with a trendsetting future. Few places employ this juxtaposition quite as well as this monument to freedom and openness, which was literally built atop the site that saw Nazis rise to power.

Humboldt Forum Arrow

The Humboldt Forum’s collection is vast and varied—and honestly more than a little overwhelming. The main exhibit is the Ethnological Collection and Asian Art, which displays about 20,000 objects from Berlin’s former Ethnological Museum and Museum for Asian Art of the State Museums. What’s most interesting here is that many objects are examined in a critical context—for instance, looking at how they were taken from African nations during colonial rule, with descriptions in both German and English. The fascinating, if sprawling, Berlin Global exhibit examines Berlin’s impact on the world in six categories: Boundaries, Entertainment, Fashion, Interconnection, Revolution, Space, and War. The After Nature (Humboldt Lab) exhibition critically examines the interplay between climate change and democracy in countries around the world. Then there are a few exhibitions reminding you of the building’s complex history: a Sculpture Hall displaying fragments of the original palace as well as six large 18th-century sculptures; the Palace Cellar below ground that includes part of the medieval Dominican monastery originally on the site as well as preserved sections of the Berlin Palace’s foundations; and a large-scale video panorama about the history of the site (“800 years of history in just 14 minutes!”) Plus, a panoramic rooftop on the fourth floor (accessible with an extra fee) offers lovely views of the Berlin rooftops. Also of note: As befits a modern museum, a good number of exhibits are interactive, with buttons to push, videos and virtual reality stories to watch, and audio to listen to.

Brandenburg Gate Arrow

This triumphant neoclassical arch is Berlin’s most famous monument and the only remaining gate of the 14 that originally surrounded the city when it was a proud Prussian metropolis. Since then, Napoleon and Hitler have stormed through it and the world watched as thousands of Berliners swarmed the site with sledgehammers to topple the nearby Wall in 1989. Ever since, this Acropolis-inspired 1791 monument has come to symbolize German reunification. Conveniently located within easy walking distance of a trio of boldfaced Berlin sites ( Tiergarten Park , the Reichstag , and The Holocaust Memorial ), the Brandenburg Gate serves as a central meeting place for tourists.

Topography of Terror Arrow

You’re on the site of the headquarters of the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s secret police force between 1933 and 1945, where many political prisoners were tortured before being sent to concentration camps and prisons. The Reich Security Main Office, created by Nazi paramilitary organization Schutzstaffel (SS) head and chief of the German police Heinrich Himmel—which was responsible for organizing the Holocaust—was also headquarted here starting in 1939. Indoor and outdoor exhibitions walk visitors through the history of these organizations and the crimes that they committed. Especially moving is the outdoor exhibit “Berlin 1933-1945. Between Propaganda and Terror” that looks at how the Nazis came to power in Berlin; it’s displayed amongst excavated sections of the fomer building (visible through glass panels) where the Nazis planned their crimes against humanity. The comprehensive inside exhibit goes into even more depth, using photos and stories to tell the story of when the Nazis came to power and the crimes they committed until World War II ended. Both exhibits, plus regularly rotating temporary ones, are free to visit. For even more history, to the site’s north you’ll find the longest section of the Berlin Wall still remaining in the city center.

Museum Island Arrow

Berlin's Smithsonian on the Spree, Museumsinsel (“Museum Island”) is a UNESCO-inscribed collection of five world-class museums and a must-see for anyone coming to Berlin. Spanning 6,000 years of art and history, the island’s ensemble of museums (The Altes Museum, Neues Museum , Alte Nationalgalerie, Pergamonmuseum , and Bode Museum) represent the pinnacle of Germany’s museum collection. Here, visitors can come face to face with Nefertiti; ascend an ancient altar dedicated to Zeus; and marvel at Monet, Cézanne, and Degas’ landscapes before crossing the bridge back to mainland Berlin.

Neue Nationalgalerie Arrow

All of the Neue Nationalgalerie’s art dates from the 20th century. The museum’s permanent collection is strong on German Expressionism—think Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, and Emil Nolde— along with Cubist and Dada works, plus worthy pieces by such 20th-century art world luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch, Piet Mondriaan, Joan Miró, and Wassily Kandinsky. Though the permanent exhibition space on the lower floor is large, it only holds about 250 pieces, so selections from the museum’s collection of about 5,000 artworks rotate throughout the year. (A new, larger “berlin modern” museum is under construction next to the Neue Nationalgalerie to display more of the artworks; however, its planned opening in 2027 is in question, as it’s already behind schedule and millions over budget.) When the Neue Nationalgalerie reopened in 2021, the permanent exhibition space featured art from 1900 to 1945; from late 2023 through October 2025, the museum is displaying works from 1945 to 2000, with such artists as Barnett Newman, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, and Louise Nevelson. Visitors also have the chance to catch the Gerhard Richter Art Foundation, which has loaned 100 works from the renowned German artist to the museum until at least 2026. You can hit the highlights in 60 to 90 minutes, but it will be a bit rushed. Two hours will give you a much more relaxed pace to explore the permanent and temporary collections, and to maybe even spend some time enjoying the lovely sculpture garden, if the weather’s nice.

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A renovated Nazi-era bunker in the now-posh Mitte district houses this private collection of contemporary art, owned by Christian and Karen Boros (who actually live in an apartment on the roof). The selection of sculpture, paintings, photographs, and installations by international artists rotate every four years, but have recently featured contemporary artists like Katja Novitskova, Guan Xiao, and Kris Martin. A guided tour across its five floors reveals not only the impressive collection but also the long history of the bunker, which was used as a Nazi air raid shelter and later became an underground techno club (you can still see vestiges of fluorescent paint in some rooms and stairwells). Tours (required) book up months in advance, so plan accordingly.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Arrow

A short walk from Brandenburg Gate , this sprawling, maze-like set of 2,711 concrete columns is a haunting reminder of the atrocities and toll of World War II and Germany’s main memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Officially called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site occupies an entire 205,000-square-foot city block and was designed by American architect Peter Eisenman after an exhaustive 17-year planning process. The memorial’s abstract design offers no explanation or prescribed walking path, but simply invites visitors to enter and become swallowed in its tomb-like slabs.

East Side Gallery Arrow

With more than 100 paintings, the East Side Gallery is the world's largest (and longest) open-air art gallery. The 0.8-mile stretch of the Berlin Wall, which runs parallel to the Spree River, once trapped East Germans inside. But when the rest of the Wall came crumbling down in 1989, this stretch remained and became a concrete canvas for international artists, who splashed it with murals between February and June of 1990.

Tempelhofer Feld Arrow

Built by Hitler’s henchmen and used as a lifeline by some two million people during the Allied Airlift, Tempelhof Airport is now a sweeping urban playground that’s larger than Central Park . On sunny days, thousands of Berliners come to jog down the abandoned runways, bike under the old radar station, and grill next to grounded Cold War-era planes. Stay long enough and you’ll see beekeepers in the lawn, windsurfers on the runway, cricket players by the tarmac, zipliners in the forest, and much more.

Tiergarten Arrow

Berlin's signature park and "green lung," Tiergarten Park is a leafy 519-acre oasis that was once used as the hunting grounds of Berlin’s rulers (“Tiergarten” means “animal park”). These days, the boars and pheasants have moved on, and in their place a series of lakes, hiking paths, English gardens, and even a biergarten attract joggers, cyclists, and sunbathers. Towering over the center of the park, the gilded Siegessäule (Victory Column) is the most famous of Tiergarten’s many monuments and commemorates Prussian war victories. Nearby, the white Schloss Bellevue palace is where the German president lives. Elsewhere, don’t miss the manicured English Garden and teahouse, and Berlin’s most attractive and romantic biergarten, Café am Neuen See, where lovers can enjoy a pint, a pizza, and a paddle aboard a rowboat on the lake. It would take you days to see all of hte park—we recommend downshifting and taking your time here with a bike, a blanket, and a book.

Prater Garten Arrow

Prater Garden, Berlin's oldest biergarten, comprises almost a full acre of communal tables and benches. Although Germany’s capital city doesn't have the biergarten culture of Bavaria, this gem has been around since 1837—and has withstood the multiple tests of time for good reason. Like most biergartens, the atmosphere is relaxed and convivial: People focus on their company first and their drinks (think Pils and housemade dark beer) second. This is also Berlin's best spot for a bratwurst fix; nothing goes better with sun and bier than a grilled sausage, so choose from spicy or standard. Bavarian pretzels make for great beer-side snacks, too.

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The Best Places to Visit in Berlin, Germany

Written By: Thomas Carney

Updated On: January 23, 2024

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, has a rich, storied past stretching back through the Cold War, the two world wars, to the swinging 20s and beyond. Today it is the largest city in the European Union, yet at the same time, you’ll find that Berlin is surprisingly affordable when compared to other larger European cities.

In this article, we’ll run through some of the best places to visit in Berlin, including its historical sites and attractions. Are you ready to explore this sprawling city of almost four million inhabitants based on my experience of living on and off in the city since 2008? As Germans say, “ Los geht’s! ”.

Table of Contents

Things to do in Berlin, Germany

Visiting Berlin? Book your private airport transfer from the Berlin Brandenburg Airport. We love booking a private transfer when landing in a new city. The meet and greet service at the airport’s arrival hall makes for a seamless transfer in comfort to our hotel lobby.

This article about popular historic tourist attractions in Berlin was originally written by Berlin resident Thomas Carney . It has been updated and expanded for 2022 with fresh new Berlin tours and places to stay.

1. Visit the Reichstag

The Reichstag building is the home of the German Parliament. Famously, its burning in 1933 was a trigger for the Nazi’s consolidation of power. After German reunification in 1990, the rebuilt Reichstag was restored after years of neglect since World War II and today is one of the most popular sites in all of Germany thanks to free entrance to the glass dome on top that gives spectacular views of Berlin. The glass dome was created for more than just the view; it represents transparency and Germany’s united democracy.

You’ll have to register ahead of time to book a visit, and it’s important to bring your ID. Personally, my favorite time to visit is just before closing when you get a view of Berlin at night.

2. Stop by Brandenburg Gate

No visit to Berlin would be complete without visiting one of Berlin’s most famous gathering places. Located just five minutes walk away from the Reichstag building, you’ll find the famous Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s old city gate. It was in front of this monument that Regan issued an ultimatum to the Soviet leader, Gorbachev, to tear down the Berlin Wall. To the east of the gate, you’ll find the Pariser square, which leads on to “Unter den Linden”, a wide boulevard leading down towards Museum Island, which is lined with embassies, five-star hotels, and high-end boutiques.

We took this Berlin Third Reich Walking Tour that visited all the major attractions and historical spots in Berlin. Meeting at Brandenburg Gate, we began the tour by listening to the history of the final days leading up to World War II. We passed the rebuilt Reichstag and seat of the German House of Parliament, visited the Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, The Holocaust Memorial, and Hitler’s Bunker, which is now a very unremarkable parking lot.

3. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Berlin is full of reminders of the crimes of the Nazi era, from the brass-plated stones you’ll find in the sidewalks marking the last residence of victims of the Nazi regime to monuments such as The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as The Holocaust Memorial is a monument is located centrally just beside Brandenburg Gate. It’s made up of 2711 rectangular blocks that descend deeper as you walk further into the memorial, giving you a sense of isolation and unease.

The Holocaust Memorial is free to visit, and it is suitable for wheelchairs. Located underground beneath the memorial, you’ll find an information center on the Holocaust with free entrance almost every day.

4. Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous border crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin, and it is featured in countless films such as Bridge of Spies. It was the top tourist attraction we wanted to see when visiting Berlin. (outside the Berlin Wall, of course) The Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie, which provides information on the Berlin Wall, is worth a visit. Read: Top 16 Fun Facts About Germany That You Probably Didn’t Know

We took a free walking tour in Berlin to see many of the historical sites in Berlin. We highly recommend free city tours as they are often hosted by a local, and when the tour is over, you only pay what you can to suit everyone’s budget. We recommend 10 Euros per person, but it really is up to you. We took the Original Free Berlin walking tour here.

4. Visit a Remaining Piece of the Berlin Wall

Remnants of the Berlin Wall that separated East Berlin from West Berlin still exist around the city. One such place is the Berlin Wall Memorial, where you’ll find a visitor center along with a remaining section of the wall. Another section of the Berlin Wall Memorial that is popular is the East Side Gallery on the Spree River, which has many famous graffiti sections.

The Berlin Wall memorial is one of the top attractions in Berlin, and there are several places to see its remains. We took a Street Art and Workshop in Berlin and it was amazing. Graffiti has a strong history in Berlin and is entrenched in its history. Learn about its origins and then have a lesson on how to make some street art of your own. This tour shows you how to create graffiti with spray paints (it’s harder than it looks) and then paint your graffiti on the original Berlin Wall, where you’ll get a picture of your Graffiti on the historic wall. Get more details here.

5. The Berlin TV Tower at Alexanderplatz

East Germany built the TV Tower to be a symbol of the technological advances of the Eastern Bloc in 1969. Today, the Berlin TV Tower is the highest vantage point in Berlin. You can take an elevator up to the 203-meter-high observation deck and viewing platform, where you’ll get the best view in all of Berlin. This being Germany, you can also enjoy a beer at the top of the bar or even eat at the restaurant that slowly revolves around to give you a 360-degree view of Berlin.

You can book tickets in advance here for fast-track tickets and priority entrance to Berlin’s Television Tower at an exclusive window seat in the Sphere restaurant. From 200 meters (656 feet) above the city admire views of the Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium, and Potsdamer Platz. See more information here

6. Museum Island

Berlin is home to some amazing museums. Conveniently, you’ll find five world-class museums situated on Museum Island right in the center of Berlin. Museum Island (Museumsinsel) is located in the middle of the Spree River. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most frequented museums in all of Europe.

As these museums on Museum Island have large collections, I personally would choose one to visit rather than trying to take in all five in one day. Let’s break down the museums individually to help you decide which one to see. Hours: 8 to Midnight daily

Pergamon Museum – Perhaps the most famous on Museum Island, the Pergamon Museum Art Museum has been undergoing renovations since 2013. (so expect exhibits to be closed and have long lines). In the Middle East Museum, you’ll find entire historical buildings such as the Pergamon Altar, Ishtar Gate of Babylon, and the Processional Way from Babylon. The Islamic Art Museum lets you discover artifacts from Muslim as well as Christian and Jewish groups and the Antiquity Collection houses one of the most significant collections of Greek and Roman Art. Book your entrance ticket in advance here.

Altes Museum – The Altes Museum has an amazing collection of Greek and Roman antiquities where you will immerse in the art and culture of the Greeks and Romans. There are monumental columns and a rotunda inspired by the Pantheon Tickets can be bought here.

Alte Nationalgalerie – The Old National Art Gallery houses Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Biedermeier, Impressionism, and early Modernity. Highlights include Sleeping Beauty and Impressionist works by French Impressionists such as Manet, Monet, and Renoir. Discover Romanticism with The Monk by the Sea, the Group of Princesses, and the Gothic Cathedral at the Water. Tickets here

Neues Museum – See three museums in one at the Neues Museum. It has exhibits from the Egyptian Museum, the Antique Collection, and the Museum of Prehistory and Early History. Highlights of the Neues Museum include the famous bust of Queen Neferti and Priam’s Treasure from the Heinrich Schliemann collection. Get your tickets here.

The Bode Museum houses the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Sculpture Collection, plus one of the largest coin collections in the world. Get your tickets here. All museums are part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

7. Berlin Cathedral

When visiting any European city it is always worthwhile going into the city’s main cathedral. The beautiful Berlin Cathedral is topped by picturesque domes, creating a striking scene. It is the largest cathedral in Berlin and is located near Museum Island. Like so much of Berlin, it was heavily damaged during World War II but has been restored. Make sure to climb to the top for views of the city, and don’t forget to visit the crypts below.

Take this boat tour – A boat tour is an amazing way to see the capital city from the water while enjoying a light lunch. See the government district, Bellevue Palace, and Berlin Central Station on the 2.5-hour boat tour along the River Spree.

8. Stop by Gendarmenmarkt for a Coffee

Berlin was largely destroyed in the Second World War, so many parts of the city lack the historical buildings of other European capitals. One exception is Gendarmenmarkt, a market square situated between Under Den Linden and Checkpoint Charlie. It’s perfect for sitting out on a cafe terrace and enjoying a coffee before your next stop of the day.

Over the holiday season , you’ll find one of Berlin’s best Christmas markets in Berlin at Gendarmenmarkt, where you can sample mulled wine and German Christmas biscuits.

9. Oberbaum Bridge

Spanning the Spree River, The Oberbaum Bridge (The Oberbaumbrücke) is one of the most photographed places in Berlin. It was used as a checkpoint between East and West Berlin during the Cold War from 1961 to 1989 and has become a symbol of Berlin’s unity. It was.

Built in 1895, the Oberbaum Bridge, this beautiful double-deck bridge spans the River Spree connecting the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The two decks are for transportation, the upper carrying the U-Bahn and the lower being a roadway. It was used as a checkpoint

10. Tiergarten

Tiergarten is to Berlin as Central Park is to New York . Spanning 519 acres, it is the heart of the city, bordering major attractions like Brandenburg Gate. It was once the royal hunting grounds but, in the late 17th century, was turned into a leisure park.

After WWII many of the trees were cut down and used as fuel in the winter, but in 1949, many trees were replanted from donations across Germany. Inside the park, there are tree-lined paths, a Biergarten, and Siegessäule (Victory Column). Note you can climb to the top of the Victory Column for a birds-eye view.

11. Berlin Zoo

While we typically don’t recommend zoos, but the Berlin Zoo has extensive breeding programs to reintroduce endangered species. It is located in Tiergarten, and it works to keep animals in natural environments as close to their natural habitats as possible.

12. Berlin Nightlife

Berlin probably has one of the most lively nightlife scenes in all of Europe, and no visit to Berlin would be complete without going out at least once! We chose the nightlife scene in the artsy and bohemian district of Kreuzberg for our evenings out. Other hot nightclub areas in Berlin include Torstrasse in the clubbing district of Mitte and the historic Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg (the oldest LGBTQ neighborhood). Berlin is famous for having everything from techno dance clubs to indie rock bars.

13. Charlottenburg Palace

Located a little outside the center of the capital city, Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Germany. Take a tour to see the apartments of Frederick the Great. For something unique to do in Berlin, book An Evening at Charlottenburg Palace that includes dinner and a concert experience with the Berlin Residence Orchestra. Charlottenburg Palace was a former summer residence for the royal House of Hohenzollern. You can book your tour in advance here.

14. Kaufhaus des Westen (KaDeWe)

It’s the largest department store in continental Europe and has been welcoming patrons for more than 100 years. It was destroyed after WWII but reopened in the 1950s and has become one of Berlin’s top tourist attractions. It’s a great place for shopping for souvenirs and name brands all under one roof. This is also a good place to grab a bit to eat. Head to the 6th floor for some affordable and delicious German food. German Food: 20 Traditional Dishes To Try in Germany or At Home

Where To Stay to Make the Most of Your Berlin Trip

If you’re excited about Berlin and want to make a trip out of it, you then have the question of where to stay. Berlin is a sprawling city, so making sure you choose the right location to stay in will make a big difference. We have a whole article dedicated to Where To Stay in Berlin: Best Areas To Stay For First-Time Visitors .

As you may have noticed, many of the popular historical sites of Berlin are found in “Mitte”, literally meaning Center in German. If you have the budget, this is a great area to stay in as it is within walking distance to many popular sites and attractions. Hotels along the “ Unter den Linden ” Boulevard are very centrally located but also among the most expensive in Berlin.

Accommodation around the “ Volkspark am Weinberg ” offers an excellent mix of locations as well as great surrounding restaurants and bars.

• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin – Berlin’s premier hotel located right next to the Brandenburg Gate.
• AC Hotel by Marriott – close to Teirgartn and the attractions in Berlin Mitte with a more affordable price tag.
• Radisson Collection Hotel Berlin – located in Berlin Mitte near Alexanderplatz Square just opposite the Berlin Cathedral.

How to Get Around Berlin, Germany

Berlin has a very efficient public transportation system. The best way to get around Berlin is by using the underground trains known as the U-Bahn. You can purchase tickets per zone, and there are ten different lines. Most of the tourist attractions in Berlin are located in zones A and B. Zone A spans the city center of Berlin, including the S-Bahn-Ring. Zone B begins outside the S-Bahn ring and goes to the city limits. The fare zone Berlin AB is used most by travelers.

The U-Bahn runs 24 hours on weekends and 1 am on weekdays. Before boarding the U-Bahn, make sure to validate your ticket in the machine. You can’t simply purchase a ticket and walk on, it must be validated beforehand.

You can download the BVG App to help you get around Berlin. We also use Google Maps to get around cities, you can easily follow the best transportation route on Google Maps.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Berlin, Germany

The best time to visit Berlin is from May to September. This is when the weather is pleasant, there are plenty of festivals and events, and it’s great for patio season. In my opinion, the month of May is the best time to visit Berlin, as you’ll enjoy warm weather without overheating (Germans don’t do air conditioning as a rule). The city also feels incredibly vibrant as people awake from the long winter.

Berlin winters are long, cold, and dark. In mid-December, the light will start to fade around 3:30 pm. However, the Christmas markets with mulled wine and holiday decorations do offset the dreary winters.

April and October are also good times to visit Berlin, and you can find better deals during the shoulder season.

Berlin Tours

Dave and I took our tours in Berlin with Get Your Guide. It is our go-to tour company when traveling. This highly rated Berlin Wall and Graffiti walking tour is a great way to explore Berlin’s alternative art and graffiti culture. We really enjoyed this graffiti-inspired walking tour along the streets of the Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain districts.

And there you have it, the best places in Berlin, Germany. If you are visiting the capital city, make sure to spend a few days discovering its history, culture, and nightlife scene. Have you been to Berlin? Share your Berlin travel tips and advice in the comments below.

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Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About Thomas Carney

Thomas is an Irish resident of Berlin who loves travel, hiking and the outdoors. As a fan of minimalist backpacking, he writes about minimalist packing lists and merino gear at MerinoWoolRocks.com

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8 thoughts on “The Best Places to Visit in Berlin, Germany”

Berlin’s rich history is fascinating, and this article does a great job of highlighting key attractions like the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. It’s impressive to see how Berlin has transformed over the years, while still preserving its past. The Reichstag’s glass dome is not only a remarkable architectural feature but also a symbol of Germany’s united democracy. I’ve found that having a map at hand is essential when exploring sprawling cities like Berlin. The tip about visiting the Reichstag just before closing for a nighttime view is a gem. Overall, this article provides valuable insights for anyone planning a trip to Germany’s capital.

I added Germany tour in my calendar may be 2024. I am thankful for your blog and shared knowledge able information

It makes me want to go back to Berlin after reading this post! There is so much to do there that I will definitely check out the locations you mentioned and that I haven’t visited yet the next time I visit. Thank you very much for sharing your site, I received a lot of help from it. You’ve done a fantastic job on your own site, and I really enjoy it.

They are masterminds when it comes to the R32 and VR6 prototype. And don’t forget the W12 edition also. 🙂

Good !! Definatly once I Want To Visit .

Berlin is one of my most favorite cities! I lived there for a year and hold the city close to my heart 🙂 I can’t wait to go there again – perhaps for ITB in March! Thanks for the rundown of the historical sights in Berlin. I love the Reichstag and pretty much everything. Even though the Checkpoint Charlie has become a bit too touristy to my liking. Berlin is an awesome place to visit!

i will plan to visit in berlin soon once i have a free time by this coming summer, a wonderful place to be with thanks

Berlin seems to be a lively city despite its dark past. Would love to explore its historic places.

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• The 19 Essential Cairo Restaurants
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The 38 Essential Berlin Restaurants

Crispy vada pav at a bustling central food hall, kofte cooked on in-table grills at a modern Turkish spot, a Japanese-inflected tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and more of Berlin’s best meals

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Despite its formidable art and music scenes, the German capital has never really been seen as a serious food city. It isn’t loaded with glamorous destination restaurants with international name recognition, especially compared to other, flashier European cities — but that comparison is exactly the problem. Berlin isn’t trying to be Paris or Barcelona.

Berlin’s best spots tend to be low-key neighborhood haunts and candlelit bars that feel like living rooms. You can dine well at the fine-yet-fun Otto on a meal prepared by Berlin native and Noma alum Vadim Otto Ursus, and follow it up with an equally compelling meal at lovingly graffitied kebab shop Rüyam. Meanwhile, Berlin’s location at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe has made it a hub for transplants, who serve khachapuri, curry, empanadas, Japanese pasta, and everything in between. And while the city doesn’t have as many specialty dishes to its name as some other capitals, it leans into prized signatures like currywurst (fried sausage doused with curry-powder ketchup and served with fries) and döner kebab (by way of Turkey).

Note: Some Berlin restaurants only accept cash, and service at many places can be almost aggressively inattentive, even in some higher-end spots. Chasing down servers to take your order or pay is a regular part of dining out in Berlin — embrace it.

Tim Forster is a freelance writer and editor based in Berlin, covering food, culture, and technology. He is the food editor at the Berliner and former editor of Eater Montreal .

With Berlin’s huge Turkish population, it’s not hard to find lahmacun around town. But Örnek, in the Gesundbrunnen area just east of Wedding, merits a detour. Behind the counter, a whole team stretches out circles of dough, topping them with ground meat, tomato, onion, and herbs, and cooking them fresh to order. The flatbreads go for under 2 euros a pop, so you can grab a few and save some for a snack later. The kebabs of chargrilled lamb or chicken, served in fresh bread with supremely tangy garlic sauce, are also worth your time. Örnek can get pretty busy, so be prepared to lurk out front waiting for your order. There’s also an outpost in Neukölln.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Örnek Lahmacun Evi/Grillhaus (@ornek_lahmacun)

Curry Baude

Visitors in the market for currywurst often gravitate to the big names like Curry 36 or Konnopke’s Imbiss — both of which are fine. But locals prefer Curry Baude, little more than a window tacked on the side of the Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station. Owned by butcher Reina Lehmann, Baude offers a quality-to-price ratio that’s off the charts, a sausage that attains crispy-yet-juicy equilibrium, and a ketchup-to-curry ratio that’s near perfect. Sure, the service may be gruff, even by German standards, but that’s part of the charm.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Curry Baude (@currybaude.berlin)

To call this side-street dining room a pizzeria wouldn’t be quite accurate, although its springy sourdough pies with toppings like mushroom cream or ’nduja are worth a visit. It’s hard to pin down the rest of chef-owner Jared Bassoff’s menu; “modern European” would be technically correct, but it undersells comforting-creative bistro dishes, like tender pieces of pork shoulder dotted with local vegetables or a sundae with milcheis (German-style ice cream) that fuses the chef’s American background with Germany.

Wen Cheng Handpulled Noodles

When Wen Chang opened in summer 2021, it usurped the title of “Berlin’s hottest line” from (in)famous nightclub Berghain. The restaurant now has three locations (two in Prenzlauer Berg, one in Friedrichshain), so the lines are less chaotic, but the spicy bowls of hand-pulled Shaanxi-style biang biang noodles are better than ever. The brief menu centers around the silky wheat flour noodles, pulled into satisfyingly thick ribbons, with the perfect amount of spring to each bite. The beef noodles, sauced with soy, vinegar, and Sichuan peppers, are a staple, but every menu item excels, particularly the vegan options.

Sarajevo Berlin

This casual day-and-night Bosnian counter in Wedding dishes up the best börek in the city. For a few euros, servers hack off a hefty quarter from one of the large circular specimens behind the counter. The flaky dough delivers just the right combo of grease and crunch, and comes filled with herbed potatoes, spiced ground meat, or cheese with spinach. True to the restaurant’s Balkan roots, the small menu also features some succulent (and similarly cheap) cevapcici.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jane Silver (@janesilvereats)

Courtesy of his experience with Danish superstar René Redzepi at Noma, chef and Berliner Vadim Otto Ursus applies his formidable expertise on fermentation with aplomb. The result is out-of-the-box, bright, and imaginative takes on German cuisine, served up in a stylish, brutalist space. The restaurant is small, so book ahead. If you can’t nab a table, consider heading to  Trio  over in Mitte, where Ursus offers pitch-perfect takes on German pub fare.

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If you have even a hint of a sweet tooth, there’s no way around a trip to northern Mitte (right by the Berlin Wall memorial) for superb specimens of French baking, courtesy of pastry pros Anna Plagens and Stephan Zuber. Du Bonheur’s pastries are exquisite in terms of texture and flavor. The mille-feuille is a highlight, but you can’t go wrong with anything, from the eclairs to the macarons.

La Criolla Empanadas

Berlin is home to diaspora communities from pretty much every South American country, but it’s only in recent years that the city’s minuscule Latin American food scene has started expanding, as budding restaurateurs set up small shops to offer ceviche, arepas, and — in the case of this counter service spot in Prenzlauer Berg — Argentine empanadas. The restaurant’s name nods to the classic beefy Creole option, but the menu covers a range of Argentine specialties like spicy chicken and Italian-influenced ricotta-spinach, all encased in smooth, soft, wheaty shells.

Gully Burger

The Pfefferberg Markthalle is a hub for top-notch casual dining in Berlin, and while you can’t go wrong with any of its restaurants, Gully Burger is a standout. Americans may find the name to be a slight misnomer, as the go-to menu item is a superb buttermilk-brined chicken sandwich loaded with Indian spices; for vegans, the crispy, tamarindy take on a vada pav (fried potato sandwich) is also a formidable choice. For sides, you have your choice of fries or sweet and spicy samosa chaat.

A Berlin institution, Lokal was among the first places in the city to embrace nose-to-tail cooking and heavy use of regional ingredients. A refreshingly simple restaurant with an unpretentious-yet-classy, seasonal bistro menu and a casual vibe, it’s still an exemplar of modern, terroir-focused German cooking after more than a decade on the scene.

Zur letzten Instanz

Depending on how you measure it, Zur letzten Instanz may be the city’s oldest restaurant. The historic two-story building and garden has housed restaurants and bars since 1621 (although it didn’t pick up its current name until 1924), and it’s been in the same family since its postwar reopening in the ’60s. The central location means the restaurant skews a little touristy (and it’s played host to notable visitors like Charlie Chaplin and Jacques Chirac), but the classic Berlin dishes here are the real deal. The eisbein (pork knuckle) is a classic, but other dishes like cabbage-wrapped pork belly shine too.

Cookies Cream

Cookies Cream may wield a Michelin star, but as you walk up to the entrance — in an alleyway delivery dock — it’s clear the restaurant isn’t your typical exemplar of fine dining selected by a tire company. Owner Heinz “Cookie” Gindullis’s background in the Berlin club scene is evident in the vibe, with hot red banquettes and industrial-chic exposed concrete (not to mention a large painting of a German expletive). The anything-goes approach extends to chef Nicholas Hahn’s outré, all-vegetarian, lineup (a small a la carte selection and a tasting menu), which includes items like potato ceviche or a dish of red peppers infused into items like chips and ice cream. The mostly natural wines are paired with superb care, but it’s worth choosing the option to mix a wine pairing with the restaurant’s non-alcoholic drinks to get a taste of some of the team’s creative, house-made juices and ferments.

This legendary deli dates back to the 1920s, when it started out as a specialty smokehouse with a focus on fish. Nowadays, Rogacki has spread its wings to sell some of the finest meats, charcuterie, and smoked seafood in West Berlin. You’d be remiss not to try the smoked freshwater trout and eel, which are both pulled from the waters surrounding the city. Otherwise, grab some sausage, bread, and other treats, and jump on a train to the lakes around Grünewald for a picnic lunch.

Liu Chengdu Weidao Nudelhaus

A true gem among the somewhat dreary chain restaurants that dominate this office-heavy part of town, Liu is Berlin’s go-to for sharp bowls of Sichuan-style noodles in a range of varieties. Head over at lunch for the hand-made tianshui noodles, laden with sesame, which are a standout. But top-notch chile oil, soy sauce, and Sichuan peppercorns make all options a good bet, from meat to mushrooms. The spicy chilled noodle dishes in summer are a refreshing mix of hot and cold.

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Die Backpfeife

Germany’s bread culture may have its own UNESCO listing, but the good stuff isn’t always easy to find among Berlin’s endless discount supermarkets and train station bakery chains. Enter baker Mattis Harpering, who churns out sourdough, rye, and other glutenous marvels from this wooden shack at Holzmarkt, a boho riverside hangout. If you’re feeling snacky, there are also delectable grilled cheeses, cinnamon rolls, and other classic treats.

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Larb Koi Thai Home Cooking

Don’t be fooled by Larb Koi’s humble description of its offerings as home-cooked fare; at this gem, tucked in a touristy stretch of Friedrichshain, chef Monay Sakarin dishes up some of Berlin’s finest Thai food. With the exception of a superbly tangy papaya salad, the small menu skips standard dishes that you can get elsewhere and leans into specialties from various regions, like a Southern curry with a full, deep-fried sea bass or a phenomenal (if elusive) octopus curry. Despite Berlin’s heat-averse food scene, Larb Koi isn’t scared to play with some serious spice.

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Aleppo Supper Club

This cozy Syrian bistro just off busy, bar-hoppy Boxhagener Platz may serve Berlin’s best hummus. It’s creamy and garlicky, with just the right amount of lemon tang, and the version with toasted nuts is a particular highlight. The rest of the menu focuses on specialties from the city of Aleppo, such as pomegranate salad or kibbeh with tender meat and crispy bulgur. Meze are a big focus, so bring a group and order the whole menu.

Many Vietnamese restaurants tend to cater to blander German tastes. That’s not the case at this multipurpose Charlottenburg restaurant. A banh mi stacked with luscious pate, juicy pork, and crisp vegetables to go? Check. A rich bowl of pho with fixings like meatballs or tenderloin? Also check. French fusion tartares? Check as well (and definitely worth your time). The minimalist brasserie vibe will make you want to stick around for another beer after your meal.

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Nobelhart & Schmutzig

The counter bar that wraps around chef Micha Schäfer’s kitchen is a stunner, and an effective stage for his tasting menu. The chef forgoes unsustainable imports to focus on ingredients from the Berlin-Brandenburg region. The menus take a New Nordic approach to German items from asparagus to kohlrabi — only in season, of course. Though meat is fading out of focus at Nobelhart & Schmutzig, meals usually feature a bite or two, such as absurdly tender lamb. It’s all deftly paired with contemporary wines by owner and host Billy Wagner, who is widely regarded as one of the best sommeliers in the city.

Lamazère Brasserie

Berlin’s robust French community means that most neighborhoods have a reputable brasserie dishing up steak frites and duck confit. Lamazère is at the top of that class. It’s little wonder, considering chef-owner Régis Lamazère was raised by a father who cooked at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant on the Champs-Élysées. He sticks to short menus, mixing brasserie staples like tartares with more novel dishes, often with plenty of meat and earthy flavors from mushrooms and herbs. There’s ample (and surprisingly affordable) fine French wine and a superb rice pudding for dessert.

Berlin’s small Georgian food scene punches above its weight. While you can count on pretty much any place focusing on the cuisine, Charlottenburg’s Salhino might have the edge, offering saucy stews loaded with fresh herbs and barbecue skewers with adzhika (red pepper sauce). The classics, like khachapuri and fat khinkali filled with meat or cheese, also stand strong. Don’t skip a tapluri (honey cake) or buffalo milk yogurt laden with nuts and honey for dessert.

Rocket + Basil

Sisters Xenia and Sophie von Oswald let influences from their Iranian background and childhood in Australia shine through at this Tiergarten breakfast-brunch-and-lunch spot. Like a chilled-out Aussie cafe with a substantial food menu, the place serves hearty sourdough sandwiches that are among Berlin’s best, whether you go for a filling of ham and cheese or tahini-roasted carrots. The Persian stews with crisp saffron rice are a soul-warming delight on a cool Berlin day.

Falafel is ubiquitous in Berlin, but Levantine iterations tend to dominate. Switch things up and seek out the Sudanese version (sometimes called tamiya), which is usually served in Berlin with a rich, slightly spicy peanut sauce. The version at Omdur is made with perfectly fried falafel and tender magali (fried vegetables). Service is friendly and the charming yellow dining room is lined with photos of happy customers, making the restaurant ideal for a low-stress lunch or late-night snack.

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Adana Grillhaus

Adana is the most iconic Turkish grill at the heart of what’s historically been Germany’s largest Turkish neighborhood, making it the go-to choice. Grab a seat so you can watch the chefs grill spectacular lamb chops and minced adana (lamb) skewers over sizzling hot charcoals on an open fire. The trick to digesting all that meat is to order cold mezze to start, followed by plenty of raki with ice and water. There’s also a second location right around the corner on Skalitzer Strasse.

Izmir Köftecisi Konak Grill

While a lot of Berlin’s seemingly infinite döner spots offer serviceable kofte, Konak Izmir is a specialist worth seeking out, as many customers do to devour sandwiches from lunch until 3 a.m. The kofte sandwich is a sublime creation of spiced grilled sausages layered with fresh herbs, sauces, onion, and tomato. The bread, a hybrid between Turkish flatbread and a baguette, is a bit thicker here than at comparable places, helping it stand up to the fillings.

Bantabaa Food Dealer

This Kreuzberg restaurant started out in 2015 as part of a project to integrate West African refugees into the city. Years later, it’s a success story, dishing up Gambian dishes that are rich, earthy, and spicy; think domoda (saucy peanut stew with chicken or sweet potato), mustardy yassa chicken, and cassava fries with onion sauce. Don’t skip the drinks; options like tamarind or baobab lemonade are exquisitely refreshing on a sweaty summer day.

For homey Pakistani biryani, daal, and more, look no further than this bright counter in Kreuzberg. Owner Shabnam Syed draws on her mother’s recipes to put forward a small menu of dishes that offer a nuanced mix of flavors and spices. Rotating weekly specials allow Syed to put forward dishes that you’d otherwise never see in Germany. Don’t forget to add a lassi to round out your meal and grab a jar of house-made chutney to take home.

Bring a crew to this unassuming Chinese restaurant in Schöneberg, where you could pick a meal off the extensive menu blindfolded and walk away impressed. Soulful northeastern (Dongbei) cuisine is the name of the game, including spicy, tangy whole fish and salted, fried pork ribs. A few Sichuan touches like cucumber salad also slide into the menu (and are equally delicious).

Every Friday to Sunday from April to October (weather permitting), Thai vendors congregate under colorful umbrellas in a Wilmersdorf park to sell a sublime selection of homemade noodle soups, curries, desserts, and drinks. This massive picnic of dishes from throughout Thailand — especially the region of Isan — draws crowds from all over Berlin. As of 2024, new rules are set to push Thaipark out of Preußenpark after three decades, but it’ll continue as a street market on Württembergische Strasse right alongside the park.

Hovering ambiguously between the realms of British pub, bistro, and locavore neighborhood restaurant, St. Bart checks a lot of boxes: It’s affordable enough to frequent, upscale enough for a special occasion, and eminently friendly by local standards. The mostly small plates include a fancy Scotch egg, buttery scallops, and thoughtfully sauced local vegetables. Go on a Sunday evening for the sublimely English roast dinner, complete with Yorkshire pudding.

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A standout among Berlin’s newer Turkish dining options, Fes shakes things up by offering Korean-style in-table grills and excellently seasoned kofte, skewers, and more to slap down on them. But don’t get too entranced by the barbecue: The mezze platters are stars in their own right, with silky smooth hummus, tangy cacik, and much more.

Felix Austria

While German restaurants can often fry up a solid schnitzel, anyone with passing knowledge of the German-speaking culinary world knows that Austria tends to do it better. This old-school spot in rapidly gentrifying Bergmannkiez certainly backs up that reputation. Pull up a chair at a candlelit table and dive into a perfectly crispy, juicy Wiener schnitzel with potato and cucumber salads. The menu is small, but you can also go for saucy goulash or cheesy spätzle. If you don’t want a schnitzel the size of your face, the menu thoughtfully offers smaller portions too.

Even before you pick up a fork, drink in the impressive dining room at Eins44, a former distillery with white-tiled walls and cavernous ceilings. Fortunately, chef Julius Nowak and team don’t rely on just looks. A small, seasonal menu strikes the perfect balance between casual and fine dining, coming off eminently refined without crossing the line into fussy. The a la carte and tasting menus shift regularly. Expect dishes that capture foraged and farmed flavors of Germany and central Europe, like uber tender venison or earthy morel mushrooms, as well as left-of-center dishes like broccoli with white chocolate and almond cream or potato risotto.

Famous for their fatteh and musabbaha (a well-spiced hummus variant), the Palestinian owners of Azzam, led by chef Hussam Azzam, draw a melting pot of diners from multicultural Neuköllnn. As is the norm in many of Berlin’s Levantine eateries, many menu items are available both in sandwich form or as hearty platters (there’s no wrong choice here). The interior is pretty bare bones, so grab takeout and head to the nearby canal at Weichselplatz.

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Rüyam Gemüse Kebab

Don’t waste 45 minutes of your life queuing with the tourists at Mustafa’s, home of Berlin’s most famous chicken döner kebab. Instead, hit up the less-touristy Rüyam, which is even better. You’ll get a crispy yet pillowy flatbread filled with tender, well-marinated chicken döner, grilled vegetables, a fistful of fresh herbs, and just a sprinkle of cheese and lemon juice. As with any Berlin döner, choose between sauces like garlic or sesame to top it all off. There’s another location in Prenzlauer Berg.

Jemenitisches Restaurant

In a part of the city loaded with Turkish and Syrian food, give some love to one of Berlin’s very few Yemeni restaurants (which expanded to a second location in Moabit, on the north side of town). The cuisine here mixes influences from the Arabian Peninsula, India, and the Horn of Africa into a uniquely hearty selection of dishes. Try a cheese- or meat-stuffed sambosa and the saucy lamb stews, best soaked up with flaky malawah. Or go for the zurbian, a biryani-like dish with slow-cooked meat and creamy yogurt.

Hallmann und Klee

Chef Sarah Hallmann’s Michelin-starred restaurant is partly notable for its focus on reforming macho restaurant culture and flattening the kitchen hierarchy. Based on the splendid food here, it’s working. The tasting menu varies, but often balances earthy local produce with nods to Japan in ingredients like yuzu and nori. Opt for the six-course tasting menu, or show up without a reservation for access to a small bistro menu if you don’t want to commit.

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Krasselt's Imbiss

What began as a cart in a Berlin market in 1959 is now ground zero for the definitive version of currywurst, Berlin’s uniquely funky sausage dish. This should come as little surprise, given that the snack bar’s founder was nicknamed the “ curry professor .” Don’t pass on the ketchup; Krasselt’s makes its own house version, and it’s part of why this imbiss (fast food restaurant) soars above much of its competition. Plus, Krasselt’s doesn’t draw long lines of tourists.

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• 8 Lovely Small Towns To Visit In Maryland This Summer

Make merriment in the lovely state of Maryland , the land where The Star-Spangled Banner was first written and sung to trumpet American troops toward freedom. This summer, entreat yourself to a much-desired vacation in the lovely small towns to visit in Maryland. Charter a trip outside the big cities like Baltimore and seek relaxation and comfort in the Chesapeake Bay or the Allegheny Mountains. In towns like Saint Michael and Cumberland, you will be given greater respect for the revolutionary soldiers who laid down their lives for American liberty. In places like Hancock and Thurmont, you will never forget your experiences in Maryland’s most pastoral and appealing landmarks and landscapes. Listen to the tune of the United States’ national anthem, and come visit the eight lovely small towns in Maryland this summer.

Saint Michael

The lovely small town of Saint Michael embodies the archangel Michael’s credo for righteousness and goodness by being “the town that fooled the British” in the War of 1812 . It was from Saint Michael that agile ships called the Baltimore Clippers were manufactured to bamboozle the slower British ships in the Chesapeake Bay . Even when British cannons bombarded Saint Michael, the townsfolk fooled the British into thinking they perished by dimming their hanging lanterns. In honor of this subterfuge, the Cannonball House stands as the only surviving structure against cannon fire. Visitors can learn more about the Battle of Saint Michael at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Store and St. Michaels Museum.

Aside from martial history, Saint Michael has been a vital fishing and trading port since the 1630s. One can head over to the Miles River and the Chesapeake Bay to catch some exquisite fish, or you can always pluck a few grapes from the vineyards of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail. The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is home to many marvelous birds and other wildlife in the marshy meadows. If you are looking for a place to stay, then look no further than the Inn at Perry Cabin, St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina & Spa, or St. Michaels Inn.

The town of Hancock earned its name not from John Hancock but rather from Edward Joseph Hancock Junior, a soldier from Maryland who fought beside George Washington in the American Revolutionary War . Located along the Potomac River and situated between West Virginia in the south and Pennsylvania in the north, Hancock has been an invaluable crossroads between three central American states. Indeed, visitors can travel down the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal Towpath and the Western Maryland Rail Trail to explore the many attractions and routes in Hancock. Venture into the colonial-era Fort Fredrick State Park, a formidable fortress that repelled many a Native American war party and foreign French armies in old wars. If you prefer the splendors of nature, then go trekking through the Green Ridge State Forest for breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains . And if you ever get weary from all the walking, then book a room at the Hancock Motel.

Thurmont is the kind of place where you can revitalize and renew yourself after all the busy hassles and bustles of a city lifestyle. Among the idyllic delights you can find in and around town is the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, where all manner of animals and beasts can be appreciated and learned about. You can embrace the watery sprays from the Cunningham Falls State Park or go hiking and trekking through the vast Catoctin Mountain Park. The more adventurous of you can brave the Cat Rock & Bobs Hill Natural Area, which leads to a rewarding view of Thurmont and its expansive environments. You might come across the historic Catoctin Furnace, built in 1774 as a workstation to produce more ammunition during the American Revolution. Or you might stumble upon the infamous Blue Blazes Still, a moonshine distillery from 1929 that has inspired many a spooky story. Only around 55 miles from Hancock, let your curiosity guide you through the many thrilling marvels and surprises awaiting in Thurmont.

Leonardtown

Leonardtown is a 60-mile getaway from Washington, D.C., and a perfect place for you to enjoy the splendors of the Potomac River. The town encapsulates the artistry and culture of Maryland with St. Mary’s Art Council and the many exhibits along the Arts & Entertainment district. The Leonard Wharf Park is a vibrant destination for you to relax, while the Amish and Mennonite communities are sure to welcome you to the Amish Quilt Auction in November. Watch butterflies flutter about in Leonardtown’s Butterfly Trail or sample delicious wine in the Wine Trail. However, take care when passing by the Molly Dyer Rock, which memorializes the fading handprint of a local healer named Molly Dyer. Remember not to touch the rock in case Molly Dyer’s ghost haunts you—rather, you should leave little gifts to show your respects.

Most might presume the town of Berlin was named after the city of Berlin in Germany . However, Maryland’s “Coolest Town in America” bears no cultural connection to Deutschland , and rather, the town’s name likely originated from “Burleigh Inn”—a tavern at the crossroads of the Philadelphia Post and Sinepuxent Roads. Even though the town of Berlin is not as culturally attuned or renowned compared to Germany’s capital city, there are over 47 buildings have all been marked in the National Register of Historic Places for you to tour. Consider the Calvin B. Taylor Museum, the most prominent edifice in Berlin that houses historic artifacts and articles preserving the town’s riveting past. Likewise, the Mermaid Museum gives newcomers intriguing tales of mermaid sightings around Berlin. You can attend Berlin’s annual Bathrub Races every July 7, a wild and wacky pastime in the town’s wide streets. Only eight miles away from Ocean City and Assateague Island, you can cherish your trip to Berlin while staying in fine lodgings like the historic Atlantic Hotel.

Seafood lovers rejoice because the town of Crisfield is home to Maryland’s delicious blue crabs, Chesapeake bivalves, and the town’s signature oysters. Due to its location in Tangier Sound and Smith Island, Crisfield has been hailed the “Crab Capital of the World.” Visitors can take scenic boat rides through the southernmost edge of Chesapeake Bay. You can even partake in several fishing and crab-gathering expeditions or simply watch the experts do their daily labors. The J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum gives travelers a better appreciation of Crisfield’s contributions to fishing. Elsewhere, the Ward Brothers Workshop contains many decoy carvings for the most aesthetic of you to admire. And in opulent lodgings like the Captain Tyler Motel and Rodeway Inn at Somers Cove Marina, you will certainly sleep safe and sound in the lovely town of Crisfield.

Havre de Grace

On the Susquehanna River lies the pristine town of Havre de Grace (French for “Harbor of Grace”). Named after the port city of Le Havre de Grâce in France , the town has been an essential trading hub in the Chesapeake Bay. As the “Decoy Capital of the World,” one can peruse waterfowl decoys and carvings at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum or find actual ducks and other avian species at the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge. Climb to the top of the Concord Point Lighthouse to observe the harbor in its totality, or you can learn more about the oldest publicly accessible lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay at Keeper’s House Museum. Admire the local arts and crafts from 1880 to 1920 at the Steppingstone Farm Museum, or grasp Havre de Grace’s significance in transportation at the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House or via the interactive tours at the Lafayette Trail. Lest you forget, you should first purchase a room in the Vandiver Inn, the Spencer-Silver Mansion, or the White House.

You will not feel so cumbersome when you are luxuriating in the lively town of Cumberland. Located 30 miles from Hancock, Cumberland is adjacent to the Cumberland Narrows, a natural gateway connecting the town to the bowl-shaped valley beside the Potomac River and to the magnificent Allegheny Mountains. During the Revolutionary War, Cumberland served as a headquarters for George Washington, specifically at a one-room cabin in Riverside Park. He was also stationed at Fort Cumberland in 1786 during the French and Indian War .

A handful of learning centers and museums dot Cumberland, like the Canal Place Heritage Area, the Allegheny Museum, and the National Civil War Museum—all of which will nourish you with more knowledge and insight into Cumberland’s pivotal past. The Great Allegheny Passage and Western Maryland’s Scenic Railroad (part of the C&O Canal Towpath) are some of the many excellent routes you can take to explore the Allegheny Mountains. And exquisite accommodations like the Cumberland Inn & Spa are certainly going to entertain and provide you with all the amenities you need.

Maryland has been referred to by many names. First, “America in Miniature” because every natural and geographic feature that defines America can be found in Maryland—except the desert. Second, the “Old Line State” because George Washington and his soldiers held the line at the Battle of Bunker Hill and gained victory in Yorktown . And finally, the “Free State” because its people fought and earned their independence against the British Empire , the Spanish Empire , and other colonial powers. But for you, you can call Maryland the perfect destination area to visit the state’s lovely small towns this summer.

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Euro 2024 fixtures, schedule, teams, venues: All you need to know about summer tournament in Germany

England have been drawn against Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark in Group C; Scotland have been drawn against Germany, Switzerland and Hungary; Euro 2024 kicks off in Munich on June 14; final takes place in Berlin on July 14

Tuesday 4 June 2024 16:07, UK

From fixtures to venues, here's all you need to know about this summer's tournament...

Where and when will Euro 2024 be held?

Euro 2024 will take place from Friday June 14 to Sunday July 14 2024.

Germany are the host nation and qualified automatically. West Germany hosted the tournament back in 1988, but this will be the first time Germany has staged the European Championship since reunification.

• Euro 2024 news and latest updates
• England's Euro 2024 fixtures and route | Scotland's Euro 2024 fixtures and route
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Who has qualified for Euro 2024?

In total, 24 teams will take part in the tournament with Poland , Ukraine and Georgia progressing via the play-offs.

What are the Euro 2024 groups?

Group A - Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

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Group B - Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

Group C - Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England

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Euro 2024 latest news

Group D - Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France

Group E - Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine

Group F - Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic

What is the Euro 2024 schedule and format?

The top two teams from each of the six groups will proceed to the round of 16.

Those 12 sides will be joined by four of the six third-placed finishers in the groups. The sides finishing third will be placed into a league table, with the top four sides progressing to the last 16.

The tournament then moves to a straight knockout format, with one-legged ties - including extra-time and penalties if necessary - until two sides reach the final on July 14 in Berlin.

Final tournament

June 14, 2024: Euro 2024 opening game, Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena) June 30 - July 2: Round of 16 July 5-6: Quarter-finals July 9-10: Semi-finals July 14: Euro 2024 final, Olympiastadion Berlin

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Euro 2024 fixtures in full

Group stage

Friday June 14 Germany vs Scotland (Munich, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Saturday June 15 Hungary vs Switzerland (Cologne, kick-off 2pm UK time) Spain vs Croatia (Berlin, kick-off 5pm UK time) Italy vs Albania (Dortmund, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Sunday June 16 Poland vs Netherlands (Hamburg, kick-off 2pm UK time) Slovenia vs Denmark (Stuttgart, kick-off 5pm UK time) Serbia vs England (Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Monday June 17 Romania vs Ukraine (Munich, kick-off 2pm UK time) Belgium vs Slovakia (Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm UK time) Austria vs France (Dusseldorf, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Tuesday June 18 Turkey vs Georgia (Dortmund, kick-off 5pm UK time) Portugal vs Czech Republic (Leipzig, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Wednesday June 19 Croatia vs Albania (Hamburg, kick-off 2pm UK time) Germany vs Hungary (Stuttgart, kick-off 5pm UK time) Scotland vs Switzerland (Cologne, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Thursday June 20 Slovenia vs Serbia (Munich, kick-off 2pm UK time) Denmark vs England (Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm UK time) Spain vs Italy (Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Friday June 21 Slovakia vs Ukraine (Dusseldorf, kick-off 2pm UK time) Poland vs Austria (Berlin, kick-off 5pm UK time) Netherlands vs France (Leipzig, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Saturday June 22 Georgia vs Czech Republic (Hamburg, kick-off 2pm UK time) Turkey vs Portugal (Dortmund, kick-off 5pm UK time) Belgium vs Romania (Cologne, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Sunday June 23 Switzerland vs Germany (Frankfurt, kick-off 8pm UK time) Scotland vs Hungary (Stuttgart, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Monday June 24 Croatia vs Italy (Leipzig, kick-off 8pm UK time) Albania vs Spain (Dusseldorf, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Tuesday June 25 Netherlands vs Austria (Berlin, kick-off 5pm UK time) France vs Poland (Dortmund, kick-off 5pm UK time) England vs Slovenia (Cologne, kick-off 8pm UK time) Denmark vs Serbia (Munich, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Wednesday June 26 Slovakia vs Romania (Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm UK time) Ukraine vs Belgium (Stuttgart, kick-off 5pm UK time) Czech Republic vs Turkey (Hamburg, kick-off 8pm UK time) Georgia vs Portugal (Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Rest days on June 27 and 28

Round of 16

Saturday June 29 37 1A vs 2C (Dortmund, kick-off 8pm UK time) 38 2A vs 2B (Berlin, kick-off 5pm UK time)

Sunday June 30 39 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (Cologne, kick-off 8pm UK time) 40 1C vs 3D/E/F (Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 5pm UK time)

Monday July 1 41 1F vs 3A/B/C (Frankfurt, kick-off 8pm UK time) 42 2D vs 2E (Düsseldorf, kick-off 5pm UK time)

Tuesday July 2 43 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (Munich, kick-off 5pm UK time) 44 1D vs 2F (Leipzig, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Rest days on 3 and 4 July

Quarter-finals

Friday July 5 45 W39 vs W37 (Stuttgart, kick-off 5pm UK time) 46 W41 vs W42 (Hamburg, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Saturday July 6 47 W43 vs W44 (Berlin, kick-off 8pm UK time) 48 W40 vs W38 (Dusseldorf, kick-off 5pm UK time)

Rest days on 7 and 8 July

Semi-finals

Tuesday July 9 49 W45 vs W46 (Munich, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Wednesday July 10 50 W47 vs W48 (Dortmund, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Rest days on July 11, 12 and 13

Euro 2024 final

Sunday July 14 W49 vs W50 (Berlin, kick-off 8pm UK time)

Where and when will the Euro 2024 final be played?

The final will take place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday July 14.

What are the Euro 2024 host cities?

The 10 host venues are as follows:

• Berlin - Olympiastadion Berlin
• Cologne - Cologne Stadium (RheinEnergieSTADION)
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Events in Berlin

Art and culture, knowledge and entertainment in the German capital

What is going on in Berlin?

The German capital offers you a first-class, varied programme of experiences: event highlights, entertainment and lots of culture. Just drive off, Berlin awaits you!

Are you thinking about what you could plan for 2023? Then go to our annual preview page and get inspired.

We also have tips and recommendations for every day , plus dedicated weekend tips for the very best over the weekends!

In addition, you will find current updates and event tips in our visitBerlin blog .

Events in Berlin for every day

What events are on in Berlin today? What events can you find here in summer and winter? Berlin hosts so many events every day that we can hardly count them all!

To help you find your favourite events easily, we have prepared a selection of the top events – for every day, weekend and year.

Looking for the simplest way to experience this exciting city? Check out our travel service for a stress-free trip to Berlin! Buy tickets for top Berlin events and sights simply and easily online.

And it’s fast – so you can find the right ticket in just three minutes!

Event tickets in Berlin

Event highlights on 6/8

• Avi Primor: Threatened Israel. A country in a state of emergency
• Carrington Brown - Best of
• Light and Transparency
• ILA – International Aerospace Exhibition Berlin
• Kunstfest Pankow 2024

Top exhibitions in Berlin 2024

Must see: Highlights of Berlin’s museums and exhibition venues

Tickets for the museums & exhibitions in Berlin

Theatres & venues in Berlin

Berlin is a stage unto itself

Event calendar

What's on in Berlin?

Winter events in Berlin

What's on in Berlin in winter? So much that the winter blues don't have a chance: visit fascinating shows, festive operas or winter events. Find more tips for culture, theatre and more in Berlin's largest event calendar at visitBerlin.de

Berlin’s opera scene will ecstasize you

Opera & dance

For opera and dance lovers visiting Berlin, the huge wealth of venues, big and small, are sure to make for a memorable evening out here.

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Current exhibitions of today's artists

Contemporary Art in Berlin

Immerse yourself in the exciting art of the present - Berlin is the place to be!

Witness unique acts on exceptional stages

Shows & Musicals

Experience all the glitz and glamour of the theatre by catching a show or musical in Berlin - the scene here is wide and thrilling.

Be there every evening when Berlin’s stages show you love, laughter and sorrow. High-profile opera or classical music concerts, theatre

Calendar of the Berlin Museums

Exhibitions

Painting, sculpture, history, and photography: Berlin hosts exciting exhibitions of art ancient and modern every day.

Dance the night away

Clubs in Berlin

Clubs, bars and nightlife in Berlin: dance the night away. There's something going on 24 hours a day in Berlin.

The best bands of all genres in one city

A city diverse in its ideologies, neighbourhoods and art movements offers visitors an equally varied and pulsating live music scene.

Top events: What is going on in Berlin?

1-hour boat tour in Berlin on the river Spree

Classic city tour: Discover the historical & modern Berlin

from €21.00 1hr Tour

• 1-hour boat tour on the river Spree
• Discover historical & modern Berlin highlights
• Daily tours from Friedrichstraße/Tränenpalast

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Ticket: Caspar David Friedrich - Infinite Landscapes Exhibition

Temporary exhibition at the Alte Nationalgalerie

from €16.00 online tickets

• The Art and History of Caspar David Friedrich
• Exhibition with 60 paintings & 50 drawings
• open from 19.04.2024

The must-be-there events in Berlin

Berlin’s cultural landscape is packed with things to do – which can make it hard to know where to start!  That’s where we can help.

Looking for great exhibitions in Berlin? Here, we’ve selected the top exhibitions in the city for you to enjoy.

Food Week , Fashion Week , and Art Week – in Berlin you can immerse yourself in (almost) any topic for a week and just go with the flow.

The Long Night events have already become a tradition in Berlin. Since 1997, the Long Night of Museums has been held twice a year –  a model also inspiring a Long Night of the Sciences, Religions, Start-ups, and much more.

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Berlin classic-style

Berlin has its classics – and not just as classical concerts or opera!

Berlin’s very own Friedrichstadt-Palast, home to the best in Las Vegas-style entertainment, has been wowing audiences since 1984 – and long gained classic status!

Refurbishing a renowned heritage opera house

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Explore 250 years of opera history! While Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden is extensively renovated, take a peek behind the scenes on a

The world’s biggest theatre stage – with stunning Vegas-style productions

Friedrichstadt-Palast

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Friedrichstadt-Palast in the heart of Berlin is famed for its must-see grand shows, glitz and glamour – and all shows are ideal for

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In Berlin, there’s always so much to do, every day of the year, any time of day or night – a sparkling array of events, highlights, entertainment and culture.

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Berlin is a happening place

Berlin is open – for people, music, the new and traditional, partying and chilling out, for inside and outside. You don’t have to decide for Berlin – the city is just there. Always.

At any time of day or night and any time of year, Berlin has a sparkling array of events, highlights, entertainment and culture.

The city’s museum landscape is fascinatingly diverse. Concert halls and three opera houses offer a wealth of events and music to enjoy in the evening, while Berlin’s nightlife gets into gear after midnight in the city’s innumerable clubs.

Berlin is as diverse as the Berliners, as loud as its traffic, as quiet as its parks and gardens. There is simply always something going on in Berlin.

So, you don’t have make detailed plans for your trip to Berlin – when you’re here, the city is your inspiration!

In Berlin, the past is just as much present as the work on creating the future. The new is emerging, the old stepping aside, demand increasing and services expanding.

Art weeks, fashion weeks, theatre weeks, music weeks – the city is bursting with new ideas, creativity and inspiration. A city driven by innovation – where what hasn’t been thought of yet today is already a thing of the past tomorrow.

Berlin has the perfect mix for every taste – any time, any day, all year round.

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Where to watch Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund: Live stream Champions League final online, time, TV channel

Here's the best of the best from this season's ucl when it comes to statistical output.

It only took 124 games to get from the group stage of the competition which began in Milan and Bern, to the UEFA Champions League's last match with the Champions League final taking place on Saturday at Wembley Stadium . This year has seen a wild 374 goals scored and just 53 clean sheets kept, so there's a real chance the biggest match of the year will be a departure from previous editions, with the last four title games ending with a 1-0 scoreline. The 2023-24 season has been one replete with drama, plot twists and, surely best of all, stats. Even with only Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund left standing, there are still individual accolades to be claimed, history to be made and curios to be uncovered. 

Viewing information

• Date : Saturday, June 1 |  Time : 3 p.m. ET
• Location : Wembley Stadium -- London, England
• TV:  CBS  |  Live stream:  Paramount+
• Odds:  Borussia Dortmund +420; Draw +330; Real Madrid -165

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• Morning Footy, 11 a.m. ( CBS Sports Golazo Network )
• We Need To Talk, 12:30 p.m. (CBS,  Paramount+ )
• UEFA Champions League Today, 1 p.m. ( CBS Sports Golazo Network ,  Paramount+ )
• UEFA Champions League Today pre-match, 1:30 p.m. (CBS,  Paramount+ )
• CBS Sports Golazo Matchday, 1:30 p.m. ( CBS Sports Golazo Network )
• Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid, 3 p.m. (CBS,  Paramount+ )
• UEFA Champions League Today post-match, 5:30 p.m. ( CBS Sports Network ,  Paramount+ )
• Scoreline, 5:30 p.m. ( CBS Sports Golazo Network )
• The Champions Club, 6:30 p.m. ( CBS Sports Golazo Network )

Here's a look at the competition's individual leaders:

Golden Boot

One day to doubtless be named the Cristiano Ronaldo award, this one looks to be done and dusted even before the competition itself is concluded. Two players occupy top spot, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain, with eight goals to their name. You may remember that the semifinals did not go to plan for either superstar and even a player of Mbappe's swiftness can't bring his move to Madrid that far forward. Unlike FIFA's curious insistence that the player with the most assists should win the World Cup's prize for its best scorer, UEFA does not apply tiebreakers to the Champions League scoring race. It'll just have to be half a trophy for Kane.

With their nearest rivals, Antoine Griezmann and Erling Haaland , having reached the Champions League club house with tallies of six to their name, it looks like this will be a prize shared by Kane and Mbappe. Their eight goals will be the first time the Golden Boot has been won by a player who hasn't hit double figures since 2009-10, when Lionel Messi hit a high watermark of eight, back in the less-than-illustrious days of Jose Mourinho's sufferball.

Then again this is the Champions League and there are honors to be handed out. Using words like "done and dusted" tends to have a remarkably restorative impact on Real Madrid. Three of their players -- Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and semifinal hero Joselu -- have five goals to their name so far. Three of the four players to score hat tricks in European Cup finals did so in Madrid colors. I'm just saying.

Oh as for Dortmund? Niklas Fullkrug's on three. Probably not then...

Assist leader

Now we've got a tussle on our hands! The man with his digits on the prize right now rather typifies Borussia Dortmund's well-timed heater in the spring. Marcel Sabitzer has completed 213 passes, created 13 chances and provided 1.32 expected assists (xA) to the cause. That has resulted in five assists, more than anyone else in the competition so far. Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi must be wondering what they have to do to get finishers like that on the end of the opportunities they create.

It's still all to play for at Wembley though with Vinicius and Bellingham only one assist away from drawing level with Sabitzer. The former in particular has been on a creative tear in the New Year, one to rival David Bowie in Berlin. Eleven of the 19 chances he has created have come at the high-stakes knockout stage moments, as has 1.61 of his 2.58 xA. Whether he tops the scoring or assist charts, who knows, but keep this form running through to Wembley and into the Copa America and you might just be reading about the next Ballon d'Or winner.

Don't miss CBS Sports Golazo Network's Morning Footy, now in podcast form! Our crew brings you all the news, views, highlights and laughs you need to follow the Beautiful Game in every corner of the globe, every Monday-Friday all year long.

Golden glove

The footballing community is for the most part now sufficiently well-versed to know that clean sheets is far from the best measure of a goalkeeper's qualities. But look, what else would you have me use? Saves? That just favors busy players on bad teams. Goals prevented? Too nerdy. Possession value? What did I just say? It might not be perfect, it might reward the defense as a whole rather than goalkeepers individually but clean sheets will do.

Fortunately, on this occasion it also spotlights a player who is quite clearly the best goalkeeper in the 2023-24 Champions League. Gregor Kobel has this in the bag anyway with six clean sheets to his name, though as Chuck Booth notes, having the best goalkeeper in the tournament is something of a double-edged sword . All credit to Alex Remiro, David Raya, Manuel Neuer and Yann Sommer, but it's the Borussia Dortmund man who takes this prize. He would by plenty of other statistical measures you might like to name.

Kobel's 42 saves are four more than anyone else in the competition, his 7.09 goals prevented almost double the second-best mark set by Anatoliy Trubin. Sommer has his compatriot Kobel beaten on save percentage and goals conceded per 90 minutes but look, Inter came through a fairly pat-a-cake group before exiting to Atletico Madrid. Half of Dortmund's 12 games were against oil state soft power vehicles masquerading as football clubs. They beat both of them to top spot in a group that also contained AC Milan ... then they knocked out PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid before running into one of those sovereign wealth concerns again. There could hardly be a tougher test for a team and in particular for a goalkeeper. Kobel aced it.

Other statistics we like

• The problem with defensive stats is that some of the best work done out of possession involves stopping any meaningful action from taking place. How often does the opposition not hit a long ball into the channel because they know that Virgil van Dijk or William Saliba are going to bully their center forward? Still, there is a world for celebrating the active side of defending: hitting your opponent firmly but fairly, booting the ball, reading the pass before it comes. Enter Mats Hummels, who leads the Champions League in tackles, interceptions and clearances with the second-most ball recoveries. Aaah, you say, but that's just because he has logged the most minutes in the tournament. Adjust your numbers to per 90, however, and the Borussia Dortmund center back still leads the way for tackles, ranks third for interceptions and sixth for clearances. His season has been a masterclass in busy defending.
• Shooting goals added (SGA) is one of those curious metrics. Assessing the pre and post-shot xG values, it does not necessarily tell you all that much more meaningfully over a long timescale than xG itself might. The best strikers are not necessarily the ones who hit the corners every time -- Heung-min Son might say otherwise though -- but the ones who keep getting themselves in shooting positions. Still over the relatively brief lifecycle of a Champions League campaign, SGA does serve a different purpose, highlighting the men whose yikes games had an outsized impact on the tournament. Oh Lautaro Martinez (34 shots, two goals, 5.13 xG, -1.83 SGA), if only you'd kept your Serie A form up in the big leagues, there might have been another Champions League final on the cards. Fabian Ruiz, we really need to get you some heading practice.
• Are we seeing a new post-pressing approach at the top of the European game? Even Borussia Dortmund are no longer the practitioners of Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal, returning to the Wembley promised land thanks to tight defensive lines and immaculate off-ball shape. Manchester City's 92.4% pass completion is the highest in five years of Champions League football. Real Madrid's 90.1% ranks third while PSG, Bayern Munich and Feyenoord were among those to be notably more accurate than in previous years. For the competition as a whole pass completion was at 83.6%, in pre-COVID 2019-20 it was somewhat lower at 82.1%. Similarly, this year sides have won the ball in the middle third on 22.6 occasions per game. Five years ago that was 24.3.
• Perhaps that is partly explained by just how long everyone is hanging about. Twenty players have made more than 150 appearances in the history of UEFA club competitions. Four of them -- Sergio Ramos , Luka Modric, Thomas Muller and Ivan Rakitic -- joined that club this season. With all those games coming in the Champions League, Muller now ranks level with the ageless Xavi Hernandez on 151 Champions League appearances, just one ahead of his compatriot Toni Kroos, who will retire from club football after Saturday's final. For now, at least that means that of the 15 players with the most Champions League games ever, 10 are currently still active. Eight of the top 15 have been managed by Carlo Ancelotti. This era of football has gone on!
• The Champions League final, by the numbers
• Champions League superlatives
• How Real Madrid's stadium allows them to compete financially with Europe's top teams
• Why Gregor Kobel is key to Borussia Dortmund's success in the Champions League final
• Ranking Real Madird's top 10 Galactico signings

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• Match preview and players to watch in the Champions League final
• The legends taking part in the Champions League final
• Dortmund's Mats Hummels on his team's journey to the Champions League final
• Jude Bellingham's impact during his first season for Real Madrid
• A look at Jadon Sancho's resurgence at Dortmund
• What role will Brahim Diaz play for Real Madrid?

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