Berlin, Germany is an interesting city to visit. It’s an eclectic mix of old and new. From flea markets to museums to the graffiti around every corner, Berlin is home to a unique culture of people. And there are a lot of things to do in Berlin, Germany whether you are only there for a short weekend or a longer trip.
Berlin is the largest city in Germany and also the capital city. It’s located in the northeast corner of the country. Just by walking around, you’ll get a sense of the city’s history by taking in the buildings. There are a lot of historic areas amongst the modern rebuilding of Berlin.
Berlin was impacted heavily during WWII and many parts of the city were completely destroyed. Lots of bombs were dropped on the city and by the end of the war, Berlin was divided into four sectors. West Berlin was occupied by the US, Britain and France, while East Berlin was occupied by the Soviet Union.
During the Cold War, East Berlin built a wall around West Berlin which eventually led to a tank standoff at Checkpoint Charlie. In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and the following year, Berlin was reunified.
Today, you can see some of those famous landmarks among the more modern buildings that have been built around them. It’s a fascinating city that has preserved a lot of its history.
Things to Do in Berlin, Germany
Whether you’re taking in the history, the sites or the beer, there is plenty to experience in Berlin. Exploring the city is easy to do and you’ll learn a lot of fun facts about Berlin along the way. Here are some of the best things to do in Berlin, Germany:
1. Visit the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall
You can see sections of the Berlin Wall in different areas of the city; however, the most popular is the East Side Gallery. It’s an open-air gallery in which the wall is famously painted on by graffiti artists. It’s also the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall.
During the Cold War, East Berlin was occupied by the Soviets. The main purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep people on the East Side from going to the West Side instead (which was occupied by the US, Britain and France).
The wall separated the two up until 1989 when the East German Communist Party announced that people were finally able to cross the border. People swarmed the wall and the rest is history.
One of the most famous pieces of art is a depiction of a photograph of Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker. They were two General Secretaries and the kiss was a supposed ‘socialist’ greeting.
2. See the Oberbaum Bridge
The Oberbaum Bridge crosses over the Spree River and connects two boroughs that were once divided by the Berlin Wall. It was also one of the few crossover checkpoints between the East and West sides of Berlin. Fun fact: you can spot the bridge in “The Bourne Supremacy”.
Afterwards, head to Pirates restaurant where you can sit outside with a view of the bridge and have a Pirate Bubble cocktail. It was one of the most refreshing cocktails I’ve ever had.
3. See Checkpoint Charlie
During the Cold War, the most well known crossing point between the East and West sides of Berlin was Checkpoint Charlie. Today, you can get your picture taken with part of the wall and learn about stories of people who tried to cross the wall at that time. It’s one of the top things to do in Berlin and has great historical significance.
You can also buy a piece of the Berlin Wall on a magnet (whether it’s real or not, I’ll never know!).
4. Visit Reichstag
The Reichstag Building is where the German Parliament is held. You can visit the rooftop terrace or the dome, which gives you 360° views of the city. The dome is a glass structure with a spiral walkway up to the top. Just make sure to register in advance—the spots fill up quickly!
5. Eat Currywurst
The staple food item in Berlin seems to be the currywurst: a mouth-watering sausage with a blend of ketchup and curry drizzled on top. You can find this on street corners, nice restaurants or you can even visit the Currywurst Museum. It’s a tasty snack to have while exploring on-the-go.
6. Visit the Fernsehturm
The Fernsehturm, or TV tower, is Germany’s tallest structure and is a recognizable structure in the Berlin skyline. Atop the tower is a revolving restaurant and bar where you can take in the views of Berlin from the sky.
7. Go to the Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin is a little bit different than others I have been to. The official name is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and it’s located in the heart of Berlin and is entirely outside.
The memorial site was actually apart of a design competition, which was won by architect Peter Eisenman. The large area is covered in rectangular concrete slabs of varying heights. They are laid out in a grid lock pattern and the ground slopes in different areas. There’s also an information center underground with photographs and footage.
8. Visit the Charlottenburg Palace
Built in the late 17th century by Elector Friederich III, the Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin was built as a summer home for his wife, Sophie Charlotte. It’s Berlin’s largest palace. The palace is vast with gardens in the back and is said to resemble a miniature Versailles.
9. Visit the Berlin Zoological Garden (or admire it from above)
If you’re into zoos, Berlin is home to Germany’s oldest zoo and it happens to be the most popular zoo in Europe. If the weather isn’t on your side (or you happen to have a mild distaste for zoos…guilty) try going to the Monkey Bar at 25Hours Hotel for a cozy atmosphere and an aerial view of the monkeys.
10. Visit Mauerpark
Every Sunday afternoon, you can head to Mauerpark for a relaxed afternoon of open-air karaoke, flea market shopping or to just meet up with friends at a café around the corner.
But it has historical significance as well. This area included the Death Strip–a heavily guarded section of land with walls on both sides. Due to the uneven ground, an observation deck allowed people in West Berlin to look over the wall into East Berlin.
11. Eat sausages/drink beer
Yes, the currywurst is a prominent option anywhere you go in Berlin, but don’t forget about the others! You can try all different kinds of sausage delights and of course, pair it with some German beer!
I’ve heard a lot of people say that they don’t like German food but I think they’re crazy. It could possibly have something to do with growing up on meat and potatoes in the Midwest, because a lot of foods you’ll find in Germany are meat and potatoes. But I think German food is great!
12. Shop at KaDeWe
For all you shopping enthusiasts, KaDeWe happens to be one of the biggest department store in Europe. You can shop until you’ve burned a hole in your wallet. And if you’ve worked up an appetite, you can head to the Food and Restaurant floor or the Champagne Bar to forget about how much you just spent.
13. See the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most important landmarks. While it was damaged during WWII, it was restored by the late 1950s. It’s located near the Reichstag building and is a symbol of Berlin’s reunification. The Berlin Wall was built right next to the Brandenburg Gate so it was often featured when the wall fell.
It was also the landmark location for when West Germany’s Chancellor walked through the gate in a monumental meeting with East Germany’s Prime Minister.
14. Go to an Underground Bar or Club
Most of Berlin’s nightlife is kept underground. Unless you are ‘in the know’ or happen to stumble upon a nice local with some advice, you may not have any clue on where to go when the sun goes down. Chances are, if you do find out where to go, you will find yourself in an old railway station, in a warehouse or somewhere underground.
We ended up asking a local who told us to find a door in an alleyway that is only illuminated with a small purple light, in which you have to knock and get permission to go inside. We found it, it was awkward because we clearly didn’t know what to say, but ended up somewhere underground to drink our gin and tonics.
15. Take Your Picture in a Photoautomat
Scattered across Berlin are Photoautomats, which are old-fashioned photo booths where you can duck in to capture the moment for just a few Euros. Evidently there are 17 photoautomats scattered around the city that you can find.
16. Visit Any of Berlin’s 175 museums
Berlin has a LOT of museums. So much so that it even has a special part of the city called ‘Museum Island’. You can basically choose what you want to learn about and make your way there, whether it’s about Hitler’s reign during World War II at the Topography of Terror museum or life in East Germany at the interactive DDR Museum.
Check out Visit Berlin for a complete list of the museums because I’m sure you can find something on that list!
17. Go to Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is one of Berlin’s central squares and a major traffic hub of the city. The open area is where you will find a close-up view of the TV tower as well as the famous revolving world clock, which features each of the 24 time zones and has a model of the solar system on top.
Berlin actually surprised me as a city because I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it that much. But there’s a lot to learn about the city and many places to explore. It’s unique and has its own vibe of art and music. Whether you have a day in the city or a week, there are plenty of things to do in Berlin, Germany!
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