Berlin is probably the big city in Europe that evokes the most emotions from everyone who has been here. The city where old and worn are mixed with new and modern, ruins from the Second World War are mixed with hip boutique hotels and the infamous wall is painted with graffiti. It's rough and grey, but at the same time absolutely exuberantly alive and unique. A city that you either love or avoid - because Berlin offers no middle milk. Personally, I love all of Berlin's worn little alleys and nooks and crannies and embrace how fearlessly and curiously the city tackles the present. There is always something unique happening in Berlin. The visits to Berlin have become many over the years and there will be more. There is simply no avoiding Berlin's pull.
There are more sights in Berlin than you can do in a weekend, but what does that do? You will definitely come back again!
Quick links to attractions in Berlin
1. East side gallery – Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is the remains of the military border that from 1961 to 1989 divided West and East Berlin. Built to stop the escape from the GDR (East Germany) to the West, the wall was part of Europe's Iron Curtain. In total, the wall was over 4 Swedish miles long. Families were separated and neighbors became enemies. Several people lost their lives here fleeing to the West.
Most of the wall was demolished in the years after the border opened in 1989, but a stretch of 1316 meters was spared in Friedrichshain. After the wall fell, 118 artists from 21 countries had the opportunity to paint on the wall, and on September 28, 1990, this outdoor gallery was opened. Since then, the wall has been renovated several times, but the artworks that reflect the political winds that blew immediately after the fall of the wall have been preserved.
There is no admission to the East Side Gallery, you just need to hop off the subway at Warschauer Straße or the train at Ostbahnhof and take a walk.
Card (opens in Google maps)
2. Brandenburg Gate
No building is more associated with Berlin than the Brandenburg Gate. Built as early as the 18th century and formerly part of the divided city, the site has since the fall of the wall become the greatest symbol of a united Germany. A historic place with an important message about peace and a united Europe.
The area around the Brandenburg Gate and the nearby wide, long and straight avenue Straße des 17 June is where Berliners gather to celebrate something - whether it's sports wins or New Year's Eve - this is the place to be!
The nearest subway is The Brandenburg Gate.
3. Biergartens
In Berlin, there are several large biergartens, which during the summer evenings are filled with Berliners who want a good beer and a cheap bite to eat together with friends.
One of the city's most famous biergartens – Cafe am Neuen See – located in the Tiergarten park in the middle of central Berlin. Café an Neuen See has both an indoor restaurant and a biergarten and serves many classic German dishes.
Another lovely biergarten – Zollpackhof – is located just below Berlin's central station. We have been here twice and both times it has been packed. But when it is not possible to book a table at a biergarten, there is always room. You just have to kneel down.
4. The Holocaust Monument
The Holocaust monument "The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe" from 2005 is a place to remember and honor the 6 million Jews who fell victim to the Holocaust. Over a large area in the center of Berlin, 2710 concrete columns rise to the sky at different heights. Although there are often many visitors here, you can always find a lonely row to stroll through. A place for both reflection and reminder.
The site is just south of the Brandenburg Gate and there is no admission.
5. Charlottenburg Castle
North of the Charlottenburg area with its fine turn-of-the-century houses and boutiques, lies the beautiful cream-yellow castle of the same name. Built during the late 17th century as a summer castle and the largest remaining castle in Berlin. Here in the castle's many rooms you will find traces of many of the Prussian kings and German emperors who have owned the castle over the years. There are often concerts at the castle and in the park, and during Christmas a popular Christmas market is held here.
Read more at the castle official site. Entrance to the castle €19 for adults, the park is free. The nearest subway is Richard Wagner Square.
6. Berlin Cathedral (Berliner dom)
Berliner Dom is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks and is a popular Protestant cathedral/church. Although the cathedral's foundations date from the 15th century, the old building was demolished in the 19th century to make way for a new church during the reign of Emperor William II. The new cathedral was to demonstrate the strength and wealth of the empire and was built to be as impressive as Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome. And the result was a really grand church.
The cathedral was completed at the beginning of the 20th century, but was destroyed during the Second World War. Renovations of the cathedral began in the 70s, but it wasn't until 2002 that the building was fully restored to its former glory. Today you can visit the beautiful interior of the cathedral (when there is no service) or climb the 270 steps to the top for a great view of Berlin.
Beneath the cathedral, the royal Hohenzeller family is buried in 94 lavish sarcophagi. Right now, the crypt is undergoing renovation, but it is expected to be opened to visitors through the spring of 2025.
Berliner Dom is located on the Museum Island in the middle of the river Spree. The nearest subway is Isle of Museums. Admission for adults is €10.
7. Drinks at a beach bar by the river Spree
Berlin can be scorching hot during the summer months and the sea is not nearby. To cool off from the water, quite a few restaurants and bars have appeared along the banks of the River Spree. Sit down in a sun lounger under the palm trees and order something refreshing.
You will find an extra cool beach bar at Badeschiff an der Arena, where they have built a 30 meter long floating pool (!) in the Spree. A very popular place that needs to be booked in advance!
With Visit Berlin you will find tips on a large number of beach bars.
8. Visit Tiergarden's large flea market – Berliner Trödelmarkt
Not a visit to a big city but a visit to an antique/flea market! One of the best ways to get to know a city is through its second-hand. In Berlin you will find every Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 17pm the large Berliner Trödelmarkt on Straße des 17. Juni. A place to find both antiques and curios and meet lovely Berliners.
Nearest station is Zoo.
9. Eat an ice cream at Eisfabrik Alan
Berlin has lots of ice cream parlors, but the one we like best so far is Eisfabrik Alan. Big scoops of gelato with nice flavors are served here. How about Blood Orange and Basil? Or marzipan with poppy seeds?
Eisfabrik Alan is available at 4 locations, all around Charlottenburg.
Wundtstrasse 4
Windscheidtstraße 18
Schustehrusstrasse 18
Mindener Strasse 3
10. Reichstag
The Reichstag (German Parliament) is located in the middle of Berlin, within walking distance of the central station. The building was erected at the end of the 19th century and was the home of the German Reichstag until 1933 when a major fire ravaged it. After World War II, the capital and the Reichstag of West Germany moved to Bonn. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany in 1990, Berlin became the capital again and the former parliament building was decided to become the new one as well. In 1999, the renovation was completed and the German parliament moved in again.
Visitors have access to the large glass dome located right above the hall where all decisions are made. In addition to spiraling to the top of the dome for great views of Berlin, you can also take guided tours of the building. A really cool building not to be missed!
It is free to visit the glass dome, but you must register first. The easiest way is to register online in advance on the official site German Bundestag – Registering to visit the dome of the Reichstag Building.
We registered on the spot - it requires ID/passport and you have to wait two hours before you can enter (presumably for security check). Not recommended during high season.
Reichsdag is just north of The Brandenburg Gate.
11. Rausch Chocolate House
The world's largest chocolate house is located in Berlin - at least if it is to be believed Rausch Chocolate House slogan. This is a classic café and shop with a strong focus on chocolate of all forms. The shop has over 250 different pralines and the café serves everything from chocolate fondue (with bubbles) to praline towers and classic pastries. Here you don't drink a simple coffee, but take the opportunity to be a little decadent and have a Kaffee mit Kirsch-Edellikör und Sahnehaube (coffee with cherry liqueur and whipped cream)
You will find Rausch Chocoladenhaus at Charlottenstraße 60, the nearest underground station is Stadtmitte.
12. German Spy Museum – Deutsches Espionagemuseum
One of Berlin's many exciting museums is Deutsches Espionagemuseum. Here you get to learn all about espionage, codes and secret agents with both interactive exhibits and real gadgets. One of the highlights of the exhibits is one of Hitler's Enigma encryption machines, but there are also secret cameras in pens and poison-tipped umbrellas. One of my daughter's favorites was the room where you try to save the world by, in true Mission Impossible spirit, reaching the end of the room without touching the laser beams.
The museum is located by the metro station Potsdamer Platz. Ticket prices for adults are between €8-20 and vary depending on the day and time. Book your ticket online to be sure to get the best price.
13. Ritter sports – Make your own chocolate cake!
Most of you have probably tasted a Ritter Sport with its 4 x 4 square chocolate bars at some point, but did you know that it is a German family business that has been around for over 100 years? Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt is their flagship store and here you will find an incredible range of chocolate cakes with different flavours.
You get the very best experience if you book into a workshop where you get to create your very own Ritter Sport with a choice of everything from chocolate to flavours/garnishes and packaging. It takes an hour and for €17 you get two completely unique chocolate cakes that are made by hand in front of you. The workshops sell out quickly days in advance, so book well in advance!
14. Potsdamer Platz
After the bubbling hot area around Potsdamer Platz completely bombed during the Second World War and then part of it became the forbidden zone around the Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz was basically untouched and razed until after the wall fell. Today, a brand new and ultra-modern center has been built here, with everything from a large iMAX cinema to a concert hall to shopping and food. Go here to eat at the international food market Manifesto Market, visit Berlin's largest arcade Gamestate, shop designer clothes at outlet prices at TK Maxx or take a short walk to the children's paradise Legoland Discovery Center.
The nearest subway is Potsdamer Platz.
15. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is one of Berlin's most important remaining sites from the Cold War. Although not much of the original site remains, this is a unique place in a unique city. Actually, the place was called "Checkpoint C", but in the vernacular it quickly became "Charlie" after the spelling of C in the NATO alphabet. At Checkpoint Charlie was the border crossing of the Berlin Wall for the Allied troops who were to get from West Berlin to East Berlin. The place witnessed a confrontation between American and Soviet tanks in 1961 and after that became known to the whole world.
Today, there are no real soldiers standing at Checkpoint Charlie and you can't get any real stamps for your passport either, but there is a popular museum here that tells the story of the wall and the site (Mauer Museum and Haus am Checkpoint Charlie). There is also an outdoor exhibition about the wall that is worth seeing.
The nearest subway is Kochstrasse. There is no entry to Checkpoint Charlie, although the pretend soldiers will be paid if you take a picture with them.
16. Computer Games Museum
For anyone who ever owned a C64 or Atari and remembers all the games that were played on them, a visit to Computer Games Museum a must. Here, it's easy for nostalgic gamers to spend hours playing classic games, but even the younger generation is fascinated by ancient computer graphics and how much fun you can actually have with just a few pixels.
The nearest subway is Weberviese. Admission is €11 for adults.
17. Museum island (Museumsinsel)
In the middle of the river Spree lies an island filled with museums and culture - Isle of Museums. Since 1999, the island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its world-class museum and the island attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
The five museums on the island are:
- Old museum (historical artifacts from Greek, Roman and Etruscan times)
- New Museum (historical artefacts from Europe and the Middle East – from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages)
- Old National Gallery (art and architecture from 19th century Europe)
- Bode-Museum (Byzantine Art, Sculptures and Coins)
- The Pergamon Museum - closed for renovation until 2027 – (Artifacts and buildings from antiquity, Mesopotamia and Syria)
On Museumsinsel you can easily spend a whole weekend with culture and history. My favorite is undoubtedly the Pergamon Museum with, among other things, the fully constructed Ishtar Gate from Babylon, but all the museums are world class. If you haven't already visited the Pergamon Museum, it's time for a visit to Berlin when the museum reopens in 2027.
18. Berlin TV Tower and Alexanderplatz
Everywhere you turn in Berlin, you can almost always catch a glimpse of the Berlin TV Tower at Alexanderplatz. Alexanderplatz is the hub of East Berlin, with a large square and plenty of entertainment and restaurants within walking distance. Alexanderplatz itself is a really gray and boring concrete 60s square, but there are quite a few gems here. Weltzeituhr (World Clock), Brunnen der Völkerfreundschaft (Fountain of International Friendship) and the large Fernsehturn (TV Tower). In the TV tower is a viewing point, a bar, a restaurant and a VR experience that takes you through 900 years of Berlin's history.
There is plenty of shopping at Alexanderplatz and Berlin's largest Primark is also located here.
The nearest subway is Alexanderplatz.
19. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
In the middle of the batter at Kurfürstendamm is a memorial to the war that stands out. At the end of the 19th century, Kaiser Wilhelm II built a magnificent church in the middle of Berlin in memory of his grandfather Wilhelm I – the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. During an air raid during World War II, the church was destroyed by bombs and the spire collapsed. In 1956 the ruins were to be demolished to make way for a new church, but large protests led to the ruin being instead incorporated into the architecture of the new church with its honeycomb patterned glass walls. The result was what you see today – a place of peace and reflection that is worth a visit.
20. Bikini Berlin Concept Shopping Mall
There's plenty of shopping in Berlin, but if you're looking for something more unique outside of Kurfürstendamm's glitzy facades, head to Bikini Berlin Concept Shopping Mall. Here you will find 90 pop-up shops in wooden boxes, where you rent the space on short-term contracts. There are plenty of unique gadgets and exciting new brands here. A bonus is that the shops are located with a large glass wall facing the Berlin Zoo, so you can sit and have a coffee and watch the monkeys.
The complex also houses the hotel 25 hours Bikini Berlin, which is a hotel high on my list to try on my next visit!
21. Berlin Zoo
Berlin Zoo is conveniently located in the large park Tiergarten (animal park in Swedish). Here you will find Germany's oldest zoo with a large number of animals - in fact the zoo in the world with the largest number of species! There is also a large aquarium here, so a visit here is suitable for any weather.
22. Christmas shopping and the Christmas market at Kudamm
The tree-lined avenue Kurfürstendamm is Berlin's largest shopping street. In addition to international luxury brands and large chains such as C&A, you will also find Germany's NK - KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) – Europe's largest department store at 60.000 m2.
During Christmas time, there is a large Christmas market at Kurfürstendamm, with over 100 market stalls with lots of food and Christmas decorations. A good place to unwind from the Christmas shopping and soak up the Christmas spirit with a glühwein at one of the standing tables.
23. The Berlin Wall Memorial
One of Berlin's most popular museums is The Berlin Wall Memorial, a museum that tells the story of the wall and how life in Berlin was during this time. How families were torn apart and about the people who tried to escape. A museum that everyone should visit, but which may not be quite suitable for the youngest in the family. Free entrance.
24. Trabi-Safari
Trabant, popularly called Trabi, was an East German car brand produced between 1957-1991. At first, the car brand was seen as an East German variant of VW, but this changed relatively quickly. The Trabant basically became the only car that could be bought in East Germany, and delivery times were long for those who could afford it.
Today you can experience former East Berlin through Trabi Safari, where you drive your own Trabi in a guided Trabi train through Berlin. A wacky guided tour that definitely offers some laughs! Prices from €59 for a car (with one adult and up to three children).
What are your top Berlin tips? Have I missed something?
