14 of the best things to do in Berlin

Jul 8, 2023 • 7 min read

places to visit berlin tour

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.

The Bode-Museum at the Museum Island in Berlin at dawn

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.

Graffiti at the East Side Gallery, the longest preserved stretch of the Berlin wall.

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.

View of a bread stall in an indoor food market

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.

An older couple riding bikes among autumn foliage in Tiergarten

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 .

Couple take a selfie at Brandenburg Gate at sunset, Berlin

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 January 2015 and updated July 2023

Explore related stories

places to visit berlin tour

Nov 1, 2023 • 15 min read

Our fave Christmas markets offer chestnuts roasting on an open fire, copious amounts of mulled wine and some of the best hot chocolate ever.

5Shops-Berlin-Hero-Image.png

Aug 16, 2023 • 5 min read

places to visit berlin tour

Jul 27, 2023 • 9 min read

Open every Saturday and Sunday since 1992 Berlin's Flea Market at Bode Museum is a great place for antiques, books, clothes and bric a brac. There are about 60 vendors.

Jan 17, 2022 • 5 min read

Freiburg im Breisgau is located in the foothills of the Black Forest.

Sep 28, 2021 • 5 min read

Treptower park in Berlin, Germany

Jul 30, 2021 • 6 min read

Sober-Sensations-mocktails.jpg

Jan 10, 2020 • 5 min read

1st Prize - The Independent Photography Competition Claire Tan.jpeg

Oct 31, 2019 • 2 min read

GettyImages-538698212.jpg

Oct 4, 2019 • 6 min read

places to visit berlin tour

Aug 15, 2019 • 6 min read

Europe Chevron

Germany Chevron

Berlin Chevron

17 Best Things to Do in Berlin

By Eliot Stein and Krystin Arneson

Germany Berlin Activity Brandenburg Gate

More than thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, 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.

Click the link to read our complete Berlin city guide .

Germany Berlin Landmark Landwehr Canal

Landwehr Canal Arrow

You visit the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag to sightsee in Berlin. You wander the Landwehr Canal to fall in love with Berlin. Arguably the city's best people-watching spot, the canal unites two of its hippest 'hoods (Kreuzberg and Neukölln, called "Kreuzkölln") into the beating heart of the city's bohemian counterculture scene. In fact, one of the most quintessential Berlin experiences you can have is grabbing a €1 beer from a spätkauf (Berlin’s version of a bodega) and sitting along the canal’s grassy banks under a weeping willow tree. You'll be surrounded by scruffy hipsters, Turkish families, hard-nosed Berliners, and everyone in between. A well-marked footpath runs along the canal through much of Berlin. In addition, benches, biergartens, bocce courts, and other welcome distractions invite you to sit and linger.

Germany Berlin Activity Club Hackesche Höfe and Haus Schwarzenberg

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.

Germany Berlin Activity Charlottenburg Palace

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.

Müggelsee Berlin TTD

Müggelsee Arrow

Berliners swarm the city’s outdoor spaces in the summer, and Müggelsee has long been a crowd favorite: It’s a popular spot to pass an afternoon when a short Ryanair hop to the Italian coast isn't in your weekend plans. Of course, this is an inland lake and not the sea, but it’s a respite on hot, AC-less days for city residents. The lake's golden sand is smoother than you might expect and is absolutely fine in bare feet. There's usually plenty of room on the beach to spread out, just don't set up camp too close to the curmudgeonly swans that strut the shoreline.

These New Airports Are Making Bucket-List Destinations More Accessible

Jessica Puckett

11 Best Airbnbs in Buenos Aires, From Palermo to San Telmo

Harrison Pierce

These Tennis Skirts Deserve a Spot in Your Spring Travel Wardrobe

Kristi Kellogg

35 Best Women's Loungewear Sets to Pack on Your Next Trip

Madison Flager

Germany Berlin Museum Berlin Wall Memorial

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.

Treptower Park Berlin

Treptower Park Arrow

Summer in Berlin is practically synonymous with sunny afternoons whiled away in Treptower Park, located along the banks of the Spree River. Berliners head here en masse after winter’s hibernation to picnic and drink Spati beers in the park’s wide expanses—and there’s plenty of room to hold them all, with 207 acres of green space. Those feeling a little more active head to the park for running or walking; tourists come to catch a Stern und Kreis City Tour by boat that departs from the food-stall-lined riverside jetty. This being Berlin, there’s some serious history behind it (the Soviet War Memorial is a cemetery for 5,000 Soviet soldiers), and stargazers should check out the Archenhold Sternwarte, which boasts the world’s longest refracting telescope.

Germany Berlin Activity Mauerpark Flea Market

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.

Default

Tadim Arrow

Ask any proud Berliner and they’ll tell you that you don’t go to a döner kebab shop for the ambience, and Tadim is no exception. Located smack-dab in the heart of Kreuzberg’s bustling Turkish epicenter, Tadim has been attracting culinary pilgrims for more than 20 years. Inside, you'll salivate at simmering hunk of meat rotating on the spit like a glistening, fatty disco ball. A few sterile chairs and tables round out the place. It’s simple and straightforward, just as a proper kebab joint should be. Going to Berlin and not eating a döner kebab would be like going to Naples and not eating pizza—it’s cheap, it’s delicious, and it’s informal. You can eat in, take it wrapped to go, or stand and eat it outside—there’s really no wrong way to eat at Tadim.

Germany Berlin Night Club Berghain

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. Things generally kick off well after midnight and hit their stride toward 3 a.m. or 4 a.m.; and this is a black jeans and Converse kind of city, so if you dress in expensive heels and cute tops, you won’t get in anywhere.

Germany Berlin Landmark The Reichstag

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.

Germany Berlin Activity Brandenburg Gate

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.

Germany Berlin Museum Museum Island

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.

Germany Berlin Muesum Sammlung Boros

Sammlung Boros Arrow

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, including Ai Weiwei, Thomas Ruff, Tomás Saraceno, and Olafur Eliasson, rotates every four years. 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.

Germany Berlin Activity The Holocaust Memorial

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.

Germany Berlin Mural East Side Gallery

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.

Image may contain Human Person Vehicle Transportation Bike Bicycle Animal Bird Architecture and Building

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.

Recommended

Telegraphenamt

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Post : 52 Best Things to do in Ireland

52 Perfect Days

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.

Scenic view of The New Cultural Center in Berlin, Germany

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.

Neuköllner Wochenmärkte in Berlin (Turkish Market in Berlin)

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

East Side Art Gallery in Berlin near Berlin Wall

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

Memorial 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

A falafel sandwich at Falafel Sababa in berlin.

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

Day rave in Berlin

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

Grünewald Lake in Berlin

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

Hemingway Sour at Yuma Bar in Berlin

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

The gate at Sisyphos club in Berlin, Germany

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

Mauerpark flea market Berlin

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

street art in Berlin

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

SUP Stand Up Paddle Tour in Berlin with Guide

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

Berlin Opera House

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

view from 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

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

Berlin Bootsverleih hot tub boat on Spree river in Berlin

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

food trays at Thai market in Berlin

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

Bar Himmelreich.

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

cherry blossoms in Berlin

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

Yorckschlösschen jazz club in berlin

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

Holocaust memorial in Berlin

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

Visit a Berlin 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

Treptower Park

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

Berlin 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

Berlin 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

views from the U Bahn in 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.

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

  • 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

Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin

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 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 Hotel in Berlin

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

Hotel room at the Circus Hotel in Berlin

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

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

Uncover Berlin's myriad wonders in our comprehensive guide featuring 50+ incredible things to do. Explore historic landmarks and unearth hidden gems for an unforgettable adventure in this dynamic German capital.

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

Follow  52 Perfect Days  on   Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Instagram

If you liked it, please share it. Thank you!

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.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Crazy Tourist

Home » Travel Guides » Germany » 75 Best Things to Do in Berlin (Germany)

75 Best Things to Do in Berlin (Germany)

No capital city in the world feels quite like Berlin, and maybe that’s because none has had a century as eventful. Here’s a city that was the party capital of the world in the Golden Twenties and was then razed and cut in two. One half rebounded as an economic juggernaut while the other languished in oppression and a sea of concrete.

And when the two halves were reunited a quarter of a century ago Berlin got a new identity as a fun-loving, disarmingly scruffy, cool and socially-conscious hotbed of ideas. And if you need photo-friendly sights Berlin has them in spades and they’re all permeated with the drama of the last hundred years.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Berlin :

1. Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate

Where Unter den Linden intersects with Ebertstraße stands what may be Germany’s most recognisable sight.

For first-timers in Berlin the Brandenburg Gate is obligatory, and it’s charged with real emotion and meaning, as an ever-present landmark during the destruction of the Second World War and the Berlin Wall when it stood at the divide.

This ceremonial monument was erected at the turn of the 1790s at the behest of the Prussian King Frederick William II, on the site of one of Berlin’s former defensive gates.

At the top is the Quadriga, a chariot pulled by four horses, all supported by 12 Doric columns forming five passageways.

Recommended tour : Discover Berlin Walking Tour

2. Reichstag

places to visit berlin tour

Another landmark that sums up the drama of the 20th century in Berlin is the Reichstag, the meeting place of the German Parliament.

This Neo-Baroque building dates from 1894 and housed the Imperial Diet until it was damaged in that infamous and historic fire in 1933. The ruins were merely maintained until after the Berlin Wall fell.

And as soon as it came down a restoration project by Norman Foster began to resurrect the Reichstag as an emblem of a unified Germany.

The plan included a new glass dome in which you can look down on the debating chamber and take in Berlin’s cityscape, all while hooked up to an audio-guide.

Available activity: Berlin Reichstag: Rooftop Dinner at the Käfer Restaurant

3. Tiergarten

places to visit berlin tour

After scurrying around the big-hitting sights and museums the Tiergarten could be a peaceful interlude.

It’s a large belt of thick foliage, coursed by the Landwehr Canal and spreading west from the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag.

Like so many European city parks the Tiergarten was once a hunting ground (for the Electors of Brandenburg) before being revamped in the 1830s by the Prussian architect Peter Joseph Lenné.

Schloss Bellevue, the residence for the President of Germany, is in the Tiergarten.

Beyond providing some respite from the city the Tiergarten is woven with monuments like the Bismarck memorial, and pretty spots like the Luiseninsel and rose garden.

4. Victory Column (Siegessäule)

places to visit berlin tour

Where the roads converge in the Tiergarten there’s another big photo opportunity.

The Victory Column was built in 1864 after the defeat of Denmark in the Danish-Prussian War.

But it would also come to represent a slew of other victories in that era, over Austria and then France in 1870-71. Following these successes an 8.3-metre sculpture of Victoria was added to the top of the column, weighing 35 tons.

The whole monument once stood in front of the Reichstag, but was moved in 1938-39 to its current spot at the centre of a roundabout as part of Hitler’s ambitious plan to remodel Berlin as “World Capital Germania”. For a small fee you can tridge the 285 steps of the spiral stairway to watch over the Tiergarten and Berlin 51 metres above the park.

5. Museum Island

places to visit berlin tour

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum Island on the Spree is an ensemble of five world-beating museums.

These are the Altes Museum, Alte National Galerie, Neues Museum, Bode-Museum and the Pergamon Museum.

This little district, and the wider notion of a museum as a venue for public edification, is a product of the Enlightenment and plans were set in motion in the early 19th century.

The museums were also an opportunity to show off the richness and sophistication of the Prussian royal collections and the fruits of its 19th-century victories.

The first institution to open was the Altes Museum in 1830, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel who drew up several Neoclassical monuments around Berlin in that period.

The last was the Pergamon Forum from 1930, while the Neues Museum from 1859 was reopened in 2009 having been wrecked in the war.

Tip: If you’re planning to visit a few museums have a look at the Museum Pass Berlin: 3-Day Entry to Over 30 Museums

6. Neues Museum

places to visit berlin tour

Created in 1855, destroyed in 1945 and now reborn, the Neues Museum had been left to rot for the entire post-War period.

Finally, after reunification plans were put in place its treasury of ancient artefacts was finally moved from the Altes Musuem back to its rightful home in 2009. There are galleries for Ancient Rome and Greece, but it’s the Egyptian displays that pull in the crowds and none more so than the bust of Queen Nefertiti.

The 3,350-year-old sculpture was discovered at Amarna in 1912 and has been beguiling people ever since.

Still, Nefertiti is only one of many exhibits, from hieroglyphics to sarcophagi and two preserved ancient courtyards, one Egyptian and one Greek.

7. Gemäldegalerie

Gemäldegalerie

Paintings by Europe’s greatest artists up to the 18th century are in store at the Gemäldegalerie, one of the world’s top fine art museums.

For the sake of introduction, we’re talking about Botticelli, Albrecht Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hans Holbein, Raphael, Vermeer, Botticelli and many more than we can list here.

This wealth of painting wasn’t amassed by a single family, but was curated by the Prussian Government from 1815 as a cross-section of European art.

You have 1,250 works of the highest quality to see, by master after master, so don’t be surprised if you lose all track of time under their spell.

8. Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer

places to visit berlin tour

Some of the most memorable images from the early days of the Berlin Wall were recorded at Bernauer Straße where there’s now a memorial to this famous boundary.

A 70-metre length of the wall has been preserved here, including the Todesstreifen (Death Strip) in between, and a watchtower beside the street.

This whole section is closed off as a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives trying to cross between 1961 and 1989. Across Bernauer Straße is the visitor centre, which chronicles the wall, from when it was first enforced to its eventual destruction.

There’s also a five-storey observation tower giving you a true sense of the divide.

9. Pergamon Museum

places to visit berlin tour

At the Pergamon Museum you’ll come face-to-face with epic ancient monuments from the Near East, brought in pieces to Berlin from the 1910s and reconstructed in these galleries.

The 2nd-Century Pergamon Altar is the piece that gives the museum its name, a stairway and portico on a pedestal adorned with a frieze in high relief portraying scenes from Greek mythology.

Some other wonders are the colourful Ishtar Gate, rebuilt with the material discovered in its excavation, the Roman Market Gate of Miletus, the Islamic art of the Umayyad Mshatta Facade from Jordan and, oldest of all, the Mesopotamian Meissner fragment from the Epic of Gilgamesh.

10. Deutsches Historisches Museum

places to visit berlin tour

In the Zeughaus, one of the many palatial buildings on Unter den Linden, the German Historical Museum reveals 2,000 years of German history.

For this there’s an enormous exhibition of 7,000 artefacts arranged in chronological order.

These jump from precious pieces, like the iconic painting of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach the elder or Napoleon’s hat worn at the Battle of Waterloo, to things that give you a hint of everyday life.

So you can also cast your eye over Weimar election posters, penny farthing bikes from the 19th century, intact American supply drops from the Berlin Blockade and home appliances from the GDR.

11. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

places to visit berlin tour

Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is the solemn and powerful memorial to the holocaust, designed by the New York architect Peter Eisenman.

Set on what used to be the “death strip of the Berlin Wall” are 2,711 concrete blocks of varying heights, in a grid pattern on an undulating open space that lends the memorial a wavelike form.

The blocks are on 54 north-south rows, and 87 perpendicular east-west rows.

The memorial encourages you to interact and reflect, and there’s also an underground gallery ; a network of themed rooms offers background on Jewish victims of the holocaust, with biographies, letters and personal effects of some of the victims.

12. Unter den Linden

places to visit berlin tour

Berlin’s oldest and most stately boulevard runs east to west from the Musuem Island to the Brandenburg Gate.

The route is as old as Berlin, and the lime trees that give Unter den Linden its name were planted in 1647. But it was only in the 18th century, during the reign of Frederick the Great that the boulevard took on its current grandeur.

The big sights like the Zeughaus, State Opera and Humboldt University all arrived in this period.

The list of alumni at the university includes Einstein, Marx, Engels and Hegel.

Many of the historic landmarks on Unter den Linden were levelled or badly damaged in the war and would take until after Reunification to be rebuilt or restored.

13. Gendarmenmarkt

places to visit berlin tour

Contained by Charlottenstraße and Markgrafenstraße is a square exuding Baroque opulence and plotted by the architect Johann Arnold Nering in the 17th century.

The showpieces are the French and German Churches, facing off at the northern and southern ends of the plaza.

They are both fronted by porticos and crowned with regal domes.

Between them is the newer and very imposing Konzerthaus, erected in 1821, in front of a statue of the writer Friedrich Schiller.

In December the square gets a sprinkle of fairy dust when the Christmas Market sets up, while the Classic Open Air is a programme of concerts in summer.

14. Topography of Terror

places to visit berlin tour

Like the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, the Topography of Terror stands as another sobering message for future generations.

On Niederkirchnerstrasse is the former location of the Gestapo and SS, two names that are instantly connected to possibly the most infamous period in European history.

The headquarters for these institutions were bombed in the war and then pulled down afterwards, before being abandoned on the course of the wall, which still stands here.

There’s an open-air exhibition on the excavated ruins of the headquarters, recalling life in Berlin during the Third Reich, the story of the SS and Gestapo, their key figures and the deeds that were plotted at this place.

15. Fernsehturm

places to visit berlin tour

Raised next to Alexanderplatz in the late-1960s, the Fernsehturm (Television Tower) was intended as a highly visible symbol of communist power in East Berlin.

Still the second tallest structure in all of the European Union, it is as much landmark for Berlin as the Reichstag or the Brandenburg Gate.

The Fernsehturm is also the highest building in Europe open to the public, and provided you plan ahead, the 40-second ride to the viewing platform 200 metres high is something you can’t turn down.

From this height you can zoom in on the minutest details with a telescope, and there’s also a revolving restaurant, which requires a bit of pre-planning if you want a table.

Suggested activity : Skip-the-Line Berlin TV Tower with VIP Dinner

16. Jewish Museum Berlin

Jewish Museum Berlin

On Lindenstraße the museum tackling the weighty topic of Jewish history in Germany opened in 2001 in an acclaimed Deconstructivist building by Daniel Libeskind.

From above, the museum’s plan resembles a bolt of lightning and has been compared to a dismantled star of David.

Once you start negotiating its zigzagging corridors there are empty spaces, 20-metre-high voids that express interrupted history and the sense of loss of the holocaust.

The permanent exhibition lays out the story of the Jews in Germany, starting in the towns on the banks of the Rhine in medieval times.

The hope and prosperity of the Jewish Emancipation of the 18th and 19th centuries gives way to National Socialism and the horrors that followed.

An alternative axis leads you to the Garden of Exile, and another to the Holocaust Tower, a hollow 24-metre silo.

17. DDR Museum

DDR Museum

Believe it or not, “Ostalgie”, or nostalgia for the German Democratic Republic, is a thing in the former East Germany.

The DDR Museum opened just across from the Berlin Cathedral in 2006 and is a complete repository for the German Democratic Republic, documenting the good, the bad and the downright kitsch.

Among many things you can check out the decor and furnishings inside a typical flat in an East German “plattenbau” concrete tower block and see what it was like to drive a Trabant.

Across 27 themed spaces there’s memorabilia from the Free German Youth (FDJ), recordings of East German music, a reproduction of a classroom, but also information about the notorious Stasi and their efforts to pry into the lives of thousands of citizens.

18. Berlin Cathedral

Berlin Cathedral

Not strictly a cathedral, as it has never been the seat for a bishop, this temple on Museum island is still Berlin’s most important Protestant church.

It’s the fourth church at this setting next to the Spree, in a line that goes back to 1451. The current cathedral is in the exuberant Historicist style and was finished in 1904. Berlin Cathedral sustained damage in the Second World War when the lantern in the dome was destroyed, but the building never collapsed and has become another allegory for Berlin.

Restoration began in the 1970s and took until 1993. Through the portal there’s a profusion of goldwork, mosaics, sculpture and a mosaic hewn from marble and onyx by the 19th-century architect Friedrich August Stüler.

Below, enter the Hohenzollern Crypt, the resting place for the House of Hohenzollern, which produced Prussian Kings and German Emperors.

19. Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz

The largest square in Germany and an energetic transport hub, Alexanderplatz is one of the most dynamic and exciting corners of Berlin.

This former parade ground became the city’s main shopping district at the start of the 20th century.

It was completely obliterated in the Second World War and owes its appearance to a GDR project during the 1960s.

In those days “Alex” was the scene of many public gatherings, including the peaceful protests against the wall in 1989. The rate of transformation since the wall came down has been dramatic, and following developments like the Alexa mall, Alexanderplatz is a major shopping and entertainment destination once again.

A lot of the GDR’s concrete architecture remains, most famously in the unforgettable silhouette of the Fernsehturm.

20. Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie

The intersection of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße is the site of the legendary border crossing between East and West Berlin.

This very place was almost the scene of a catastrophe in 1961 when American and Soviet Tanks stood off against each other for six days at the end of October.

Later, in 1962, it witnessed the death of Peter Fechter, a teenager shot trying to cross from East to West.

The name comes from the phonetic alphabet (Charlie meaning C), as Checkpoint Charlie was the third such border crossing set up by the allies in the city.

Now the guardhouse and sandbags in the centre of the street are worth a photo as you pass by.

21. Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears)

Tränenpalast

Also harking back to the days of the wall is a hall at Friedrichstraße Station, the only westbound border crossing by train, U-Bahn and S-Bahn link.

West Berliners making short visits to the east would return home from here, and the name Tränenpalast comes from the tearful goodbyes that would happen in front of the station.

The old terminal has an exhibition using firsthand accounts by people who made the journey between 1962 and 1990, describing the stringent security measures and customs checks.

There are hundreds of original artefacts to bring the reality home, while the original signs and instruction panels have been preserved and are still in place.

22. Treptower Park

Treptower Park

A quick ride on the S-Bahn takes you to Treptower Park next to the Spree in the southeast of Berlin.

Summer is when the park is at its best as you can amble beside the river for four kilometres or catch a boat for a cruise on the Spree.

The park was landscaped in the English style in 1884 and spreads over 84 hectares, composed of abundant lawns, tree groves and a rose garden.

Right after the war an immense memorial and cemetery was built for the 80,000 Soviet soldiers who died in the Battle of Berlin.

It was East Germany’s chief war memorial and is a large ensemble of sculptures, including a central area lined with 16 stone sarcophagi, one for each of the Soviet republics.

This leads up to a 12-metre statue of a Soviet soldier holding a German child and standing on a smashed swastika.

23. Gedächtniskirche

Gedächtniskirche

The original Kaiser Wilhelm Church was built in the 1890s and had a Neo-Romanesque style.

The church was part of the Kaiser’s nationwide construction project to ward off the growing labour movement, and was named after his grandfather.

It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943, and after the war there was a big debate about whether it should be pulled down or rebuilt.

In the end the architect Egon Eiermann designed a stunning modern church next to the ruins.

This new building has walls inlaid with more than 20,000 blue stained glass panels and consecrated in 1961. The surviving, damaged tower of the old church remains as a memorial, holding an anti-war exhibition with a crucifix made from nails collected from Coventry Cathedral, bombed by the Nazis in 1940.

24. Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium

Few sporting arenas have seen as much world-changing history as Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 they identified the upcoming 1936 Olympics as a propaganda opportunity, and Werner March was called upon to design a monumental stadium that would turn heads.

The result was a technical masterpiece and would be the arena where Jesse Owens took four gold medals, undermining any notions of Aryan supremacy.

Since then an immense steel roof has been installed, weighing 3,500 tons and the capacity has been cut back from 100,000 to 74,475. Visit for a tour during the week, or try to catch the famous atmosphere of a Bundesliga match when Hertha BSC play their home matches in the ground between August and May.

25. Berlin Philharmonie

places to visit berlin tour

The Berlin Philharmoniker is often voted in the top two or three symphony orchestras in the world.

So for classical music fans a night at the Philharmoniker’s home venue might represent a lifetime ambition.

The concert hall, noted for its tent-like roof, opened on the south side of the Tiergarten in 1963. In those days it was in a wasteland created by the wall, but is now at the green soul of the city and a member of the Kulturforum ensemble of important cultural venues.

An odd piece of trivia is that guns were used to test the acoustics during construction in the early 60s.

You might have your eye on an upcoming performance, but if you’d just like a taster there’s a free concert of chamber music every Tuesday at 13:00 in the foyer.

26. Deutsches Technikmuseum

Deutsches Technikmuseum

A technophile’s idea of heaven, the German Technology Museum is a trip through transport and industry down the years.

Kids will be wild about the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles like steam and diesel locomotives and a gigantic aviation hall holding a V-1 bomb, an Arado Ar 96, the wreckage of a Stuka divebomber and Lancaster, a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor.

As for industrial processes, the museum doesn’t just tell you how things are made; it shows you with live demonstrations of paper production and typecasting for newspapers for instance.

Kids can also get involved at the Science Centre, where wacky experiments will deepen their understanding of concepts like electricity, light and magnetism.

27. Charlottenburg Palace

Charlottenburg Palace

The summer home of the imperial Hollenzollern family is an easy journey west on the S-Bahn, and is the largest and most refined palace in the city.

Berlin’s answer to Versailles was first built in 1695, and then expanded according to the taste of its owners over the next century or so.

And like Versailles, Charlottenburg could easily consume a day, as there’s so much to see at the palace and its various outbuildings, many hosting museums.

The baroque Old Palace has a magnificent porcelain cabinet, sumptuous tableware, the crown jewels and royal silver collection.

The Rococo New Wing has the state apartments of Frederick the Great, while the Hohenzollern mausoleum is where members of that prestigious family are buried.

The delightful Belvedere outside has a display of Berlin porcelain, while the old palace theatre has a museum for prehistory.

28. Kaufhaus des Westens

Kaufhaus Des Westens

Shortened to KaDeWe, Kaufhaus des Westens is a department store without rival.

This eight-storey monster is the most famous shopping destination in Germany and the second largest department store in Europe.

If you’ve got money to burn the first three floors are all about high-end women’s and men’s fashion, and if you think you’ve seen it all before, the dazzling “Luxury Boulevard” on the ground floor is like a mini 5th Avenue.

But for the rest of us the show-stopper is the immense “Delicatessen” food hall on the 6th floor where scores of confectioners and bakers work their magic, and almost any specialty food under the sun is available.

Then above is the winter garden, setting the scene for KaDeWe’s 1,000-seat self-service restaurant.

29. Museum für Naturkunde

places to visit berlin tour

You can say hello to the world’s largest mounted dinosaur skeleton at the central hall of Berlin’s natural history museum.

Standing at 13.27 metres this beast, a sauropod, would have weighed 55 tons when it was alive.

Nearly all the material is from one animal, discovered in Tanzania in the early 20th century.

Tristan the T-Rex, and the groundbreaking archaeopteryx fossil (the missing link between reptiles and birds), are the other main events.

But there’s a lot more keep you rapt in the museum’s galleries: Take the 4,500 mineral specimens in the Hall of Minerals, a taxidermy of a dodo, and an exhibition illustrating the theory of evolution with perfect clarity.

30. Mauerpark Market

Mauerpark Market

Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg is the setting for a shopping trip to remember.

The market is at its best in summer, when you can compare it to a small music festival.

In among the stalls are musicians playing gigs for little crowds, as and street food vendors selling international fare.

The stallholders themselves are mostly everyday people trying to sell stuff they no longer need.

But there are also professionals flogging antiques and collectibles like Soviet paraphernalia, and artisans selling handicrafts, clothing and art.

At 15:00 all attention turns to the amphitheatre where there’s a mass karaoke session in which anyone can take part, as long as they don’t mind singing in front of hundreds of people!

31. Alte Nationalgalerie

Alte Nationalgalerie

When the wealthy banker and art patron Joachim Heinrich Wilhelm Wagener passed away in 1861 he bequeathed his bountiful collection of 262 paintings to Prussia.

That collection would be the basis for the Nationalgalerie, and work began on a venue within two years.

Friedrich August Stüler’s came up with a stately Neoclassical temple that has a few Eclecticist flourishes thrown in.

As for the contents, the museum deals only with the 19th century.

We’re talking about the Romantic art of Caspar David Friedrich and his contemporaries, moving through Impressionism and paintings by Renoir and Monet, into the early roots of Modernism via Max Liebermann and Adolph von Menzel.

32. Konzerthaus Berlin

Konzerthaus Berlin

The grand concert hall on Gendarmenmarkt was actually a theatre for most of its history.

As the Königliches Schauspielhaus, and then the Preußisches Staatstheater, the most illustrious actors of the 19th century trod its boards.

It functioned in this capacity up to the Second World War when it was bombed out.

The ruins were left untouched until the building was revived as a concert hall and the venue for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Now the Konzerthausorchester Berlin). Check the season in advance and buy, beg, borrow or steal to get a seat, as the acoustics in the Konzerthaus are rated in the top five in the world.

33. Berlin Zoo

places to visit berlin tour

No animal attraction in Europe gets more visitors than the Berlin Zoo, which is enveloped in woodland on the southwestern corner of the Tiergarten.

At just over 1,5000 the array of different species is the largest on the planet, and the zoo toes the line between ethical animal treatment and crowd-pleasing exhibits.

All the big cats are present, along with chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos and gorillas: As of 2017 Fatou here is the oldest gorilla in the world at 60 years olc.

Though space is at a premium near the centre of the city, the inhabitants are kept in humane enclosures that resemble they’re natural environments.

The zoo engages in breeding programmes for rhinos, gaurs and various rare deer and pig species, while a pair of giant pandas arrived in 2017 on a breeding loan and are presented in a large glass habitat.

34. Potsdamer Platz

Potsdamer Platz

On the southeast corner of Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz was an empty no-man’s-land divided by the wall from the end of the war to the 1990s.

That was all a far cry from the Golden Twenties when the square had been the bustling centre of the city, an equivalent to Times Square for its transport connections, shopping, entertainment and nightlife.

After the wall came down developers were presented with a blank canvas to re-imagine a unified Berlin as a modern, forward-thinking capital.

Only a quarter of a century later Potsdamer Platz is a futuristic business district in the mould of La Défense or Canary Wharf.

Daimler’s Haus-Huth here was the only facade to survive the devastation of the war, and behind it lies a free museum for modern and contemporary art delving into movements from Bauhaus to Minimalism.

35. Sony Center

Sony Center

Maybe the showpiece for the new Potsdamer Platz is this building complex that went up during the 1990, designed by Helmut Jahn and Peter Walker.

The centre is a kind of plaza, encircled by arresting glass towers and sheltered by a tent-like canopy, which creates a real sense of spectacle.

Around it are shops, hotels, museums, cinemas, an IMAX theatre, restaurants and offices.

There’s free Wi-Fi on the plaza and sure to appeal to kids is the branch of the Legoland Discovery Centre, an indoor theme park based on the much-loved building toy.

36. East Side Gallery

East Side Gallery

Warschauer Straße station is the spot to start a walk beside the longest preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall.

Every patch has been adorned with art, turning this into the world’s longest outdoor gallery.

Some of the murals have gone down in history and are indelible, while others are constantly being replaced and updated.

Most of the work is bold, colourful and thought-provoking.

The lasting image depicts GDR leader Erich Honecker and General Secretary of the Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev locked in a kiss.

Painted by Dimitri Vrubel in 1990, it was restored by the artist in 2009 as part of an ongoing fight to preserve the most famous images in the face of erosion and tagging.

37. Museum of Film and Television

places to visit berlin tour

The Deutsche Kinemathek is Germany’s film and television archive, which unveiled its museum in 2006. If you’re enchanted by Weimar-era silent movies like Nosferatu and Metropolis, trailblazers in the horror and sci-fi genres, you owe it to yourself to come for the inside story at the museum.

There are vintage posters, costumes, scene sketches, photos and original props.

One of the biggest stars of the era, Marlene Dietrich has a special place in the exhibition, and there are artefacts from her breakthrough, The Blue Angel and a collection of her personal belongings.

The highlight of the television exhibition is the archive footage of momentous 20th-century events like the fall of the Berlin Wall or Germany winning the World Cup in 1954.

38. Prenzlauer Berg

Prenzlauer Berg District

Somewhere to try and grasp the dizzying speed of change in Berlin since Reunification, Prenzlauer Berg is a former East German neighbourhood.

As a residential area it escaped a lot of the wartime destruction that levelled the rest of the city.

So the dominating five-storey Neoclassical apartment blocks survived, falling into dilapidation on the socialist side of the border.

When the wall came down these blocks and their courtyards were taken over by squatters, whose radical ideals and rough edges have been gradually smoothed out over the last quarter of a century.

Still young, it’s a neighbourhood of leafy streets, artsy boutiques, hookah bars and trendy restaurant concepts.

39. Botanischer Garten

Botanischer Garten

Planted with over 22,000 plant species, Berlin’s 43-hectare botanical garden is heaven on earth for horticulturalists, gardeners and anyone who needs to recharge their batteries.

The garden is in the residential area of Dahlem, having moved from the centre of the city between 1897 and 1910. At this time the largest of the park’s 15 greenhouses, the Große Tropenhaus (Great Tropical House) was raised in a graceful Art Nouveau style.

Its humid interior is 30°C all year, and supports a giant bamboo.

Outside you can get lost in a 14-hectare arboretum, which has the absurdly romantic “Arbour of Roses” at its heart.

And real scholars can immerse themselves in the Botanical Museum, teeming with plant trivia and exhibits like the Prussian royal specimen collection.

40. Stasi Museum

Stasi Museum

Berlin confronts another difficult period from its past at the former headquarters of the State Security Service for the GDR. At Haus 1 of the Ministry for State of Security, the museum is in a suitably oppressive-looking complex in Lichtenberg, some way east of the centre.

The full scope of the surveillance conducted by the Stasi on the GDR’s citizens and its efforts to infiltrate the west are laid bare.

Anyone who’s into espionage will get a kick out of the miniature cameras, bugs and concealable weapons, and there are explanations of the Stasi’s structure and recruitment methods.

Go upstairs and things get really interesting, as everything has been left exactly as it was in 1989. Desks, chairs, filing cabinets and safes are all in place, and you can step into the office of its head, Erich Mielke, the man known as “The Master of Fear”.

41. Bode Museum

Bode Museum

The last of our Museum Island attractions is on the northern tip, and was named for its curator when it first opened in a Neo-Renaissance palace 1904. The focus is on classical sculpture, Byzantine art, Renaissance painting, liturgical art and a massive numismatic collection.

The Italian Renaissance halls are maybe the most accessible for first-timers, and are bursting with frescoes, glazed terracotta and sculptures by artists like Donatello.

Equally spellbinding is the Byzantine art from the 3rd to the 15th centuries made up of carvings, mosaics and painted icons from Greece, the Balkans, Italy, Turkey and Russia.

And as for that coin collection, only 4,000 pieces of the 500,000-strong reserve can be shown.

This was first assembled by the Brandenburg Electors in the 16th century.

42. Kurfürstendamm

Kurfürstendamm

Shooting west from the Gedächtniskirche is Berlin’s glitzy and upscale shopping avenue in the Parisian tradition, drawn up at the behest of Otto von Bismarck in the 1880s.

Framing four rows of plane trees are luxury emporia and flagship stores for international mid-market brands like Urban Outfitters and C&A. Next to the Gedächtniskirche is the Europa-Center, Berlin’s oldest shopping mall, beneath a rectangular 1960s skyscraper which is now a protected building.

In the Golden Twenties Kurfürstendamm was Berlin’s hottest entertainment district, and “Theater und die Komödie am Kurfürstendamm” are throwbacks to that era.

Café Kranzler harks back to before the war when it was known as Café des Westens and the haunt of bohemian Berlin’s intellectuals and writers.

43. Hackesche Höfe

Hackesche Höfe

Opening onto Hackescher Markt is a chain of eight connected Art Nouveau courtyards, conceived at the turn of the 20th century by the architect August Endel.

Between Rosenthaler Straße and Sophienstraße are bars, clubs, theatres, shops and a cinema, all on courtyards organised according to their occupants: So to explain, a lot of the entertainment is on Courtyard I and II, which stay open at all hours, while the quieter businesses and residential courtyards further back are closed off at night.

After the war Hackesche Höfe was neglected on the GDR side, though its heritage listing meant it couldn’t be torn down.

The courtyards and their beautiful Jugendstil motifs were restored in the 1990s and have become a dynamic testament to a unified Berlin.

44. Museum Berggruen

Museum Berggruen

In 1996 the Jewish native Berliner Heinz Berggruen sold his astounding modern art collection to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation for a nominal sum.

This was a gesture of reconciliation after being forced to flee Berlin in 1933. He left at the age of 18 and became a prominent art patron in the intervening years, making friends with Pablo Picasso and having an affair with Frida Kahlo.

Picasso and Paul Klee are the two stars of his collection, represented by more than 200 pieces.

They are joined by celebrated artists like Seurat, van Gogh, Braque, Cézanne and Matisse Giacometti, whose monumental “Large Standing Woman III” greets you at the entrance.

45. Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg

Bounded to the east by the Spree, Kreuberg is a neighbourhood that was a little desolate in the 20th century as it was surrounded on three sides by the wall.

The low cost of living appealed to an eclectic mix of immigrants, squatters, anarchist communes, artists and musicians, and Kreuzberg became the centre of Berlin’s counterculture and gay scenes.

With the arrival of start-ups, gentrification has crept in over the last few years, but Kreuzberg still has that communal, creative spirit at shared gardens, cultural centres an markets.

There’s a multicultural mix of restaurants, shops you can’t find anywhere else and countless places to catch live music.

A little more polished, Friedrichshain to the east is packed with museums, and officially has the highest density of nightclubs in Berlin.

Recommended tour : 2.5-Hour Walking Tour through Kreuzberg 61

46. Landwehr Canal

Landwehr Canal

Dug in the 1840s, the Landwehr Canal created a navigable route between Friedrichshain in the east and Charlottenburg in the west.

The canal cuts right through Kreuzberg, and its embankments are calm, green and walkable.

Along the Maybachufer on the south side of the canal there’s a Turkish market on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, which feels like a bazaar and has a cornucopia of Turkish produce and goodies.

Facing Maybuchufer from the north side is Paul-Lincke-Ufer, traced with canal-side cafes and bars, while Fraenkelufer has the vestiges of a synagogue, demolished by the Nazis and with one wing still intact.

47. Brücke Museum

Brücke Museum

Connoisseurs of Expressionism won’t mind going the extra mile to Dahlem by the Grunewald where there’s a fabulous museum for Die Brücke.

This group of Expressionists was formed in Dresden in 1905 and among its members were some of the most exciting painters of the period, like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde.

The museum opened in 1967 and was endowed with the private collections belonging to two of its members, Karl Schmidt-Rottluf and Erich Heckel.

The total reserve of 400 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings is shown in temporary exhibitions that home in on a specific theme or individual painter.

48. Grunewald

Grunewald

Within walking distance of the Olympic Stadium is the northern cusp of Berlin’s largest green area, sprawling across 3,000 hectares.

Berlin’s streets will seem far away once you’re on a peaceful trail in deep birch and coniferous forest.

And you can thank Berlin’s early-20th-century environmental movement for helping to protect the Grunewald from the city, which was expanding west at the time.

Pack a picnic in summer, as well as your bathing suit on the hottest days as swimming is permitted at Wannsee and Schlachtensee.

There are many more smaller lakes in the forest, like Grunewaldsee, which has the Renaissance Jagdchloss Grunewald on its shore, the oldest palace in Berlin.

It’s one of a host of historic residences either ensconced in the woodland or on its fringes.

49. Teufelsberg

Teufelsberg

In the northernmost expanse of Grunewald is the extraordinary Teufelsberg, a man-made hill cresting at 120 metres.

When Berlin’s streets were cleared at the end of the war, rubble from some 400,000 bomb-hit buildings was deposited in the forest.

The hill was started in 1950 and the last load of debris was dropped in 1972. That was all dropped on top of an incomplete Nazi military-technical academy, designed by Albert Speer.

Like a lot of Nazi concrete constructions the academy proved too difficult to demolish with explosives so was buried.

In the 1960s an American listening station was built on top, and urban explorers will love pottering around this abandoned site if they don’t mind paying a €8 fee at the gate.

50. Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz

Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz

In 1914 the pharmaceutical magnate Ernst Marmlier built himself a luxurious Neoclassical villa on the shore of Wannsee, to the southwest of Berlin.

Not long after this would come into the hands of Nazi-sympathiser Friedrich Minoux, who sold it to the SS during the Second World War.

And that’s how it was involved in one of the grimmest chapters in world history.

The Wannsee Conference in 1942 is where the plan was drawn up for the “Final Solution”. The museum at the villa has documents from the conference and multimedia outlining how the genocide of millions of Jews came about.

The exhibition goes into depth on deportation, concentration camps and life in the ghettos before the Final Solution was put into action.

51. Liebermann-Villa

Liebermann-Villa

Also on the lake, next door to the Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz is the summer residence for the eminent German Impressionist, Max Liebermann.

Lovers of his work will be captivated by the garden, which shows up in around 200 of Liebermann’s paintings and has been restored to Max’s early 20th-century designs.

A terrace faces Wannsee, and this is framed by a lovely birch grove on one side and gardens with boxwood hedges on the other.

The artist’s studio holds a poignant exhibition about the Liebermann family’s persecution under by the Nazis, while the top floor has around 40 of Max’s later works and portraits of friends and important figures from the time.

52. Spandau Citadel

Spandau Citadel

Billed as one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe, the Spandau Citadel also contains the oldest surviving building in Berlin.

Julius Tower is the symbol for the citadel, 35 metres high and a remnant from a medieval castle predating the Renaissance fortress by about 300 years.

The four-bastioned stronghold took shape around the tower in the second half of the 16th century, and was besieged by the Swedes in 1674 and taken by Napoleon’s troops in 1806. As you go in, you’ll see how gravestones from a medieval Jewish cemetery were reused in the citadel’s walls, and the Commander’s House chronicles the fortress’ eventful history.

In winter the vaulted cellars are a haven for hundreds of flying fox bats, and there are bat-themed tours for closer look of these harmless creatures.

53. Domäne Dahlem

Domäne Dahlem

A trip on the bus or the U3, Domäne Dahlem is a manor house and rural museum on the southwestern fringe of the city.

The oldest architecture in the manor goes back to the 1560s, while the land on its grounds has been farmed for more than 800 years.

Naturally Domäne Dahlem is just the setting for a museum about traditional agriculture and nutrition, dealing with its topics in a smart, creative way.

In the stables is the Culinarium, in which three floors of interactive exhibits and multimedia explain the history of nutrition in Europe, and where our food comes from today.

In the manor house there’s a recreation of a shop from the Renaissance, where a hologram merchant will assist you, and in the grounds is a real blacksmith’s forge and furniture workshop.

54. Schloss Köpenick

Schloss Köpenick

On an island in the Dahme River, just before it feeds the Spree, sits the only Baroque palace in Berlin to make it to the 21st century unchanged.

Another residence for the Hohenzollerns, Schloss Köpenick is often referred to as the Water Palace (Wasserschloss) for its picturesque waterside setting, and took on its current form under after a reconstruction ordered by the future Frederick I in the 17th century.

He turned a Renaissance hunting lodge into a plush Baroque residence, adorned with exuberant stuccowork by the Italian decorator Giovanni Caroveri.

Within there’s an exhibition by Berlin’s Kunstgewerbemusuem showcasing applied art from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods.

55. Käthe Kollwitz Museum

Käthe Kollwitz Museum

You can pick up the Käthe Kollwitz thread once more at this museum dedicated to the female painter and sculptor.

In a Historicist villa on Fasanenstraße are some 200 woodcuts, paintings, sculptures, graphics and posters.

A member of the Expressionist and then New Objectify movements, Kollwitz spent a lot of her career in Prenzlauer Berg, which was a working class district at the time, and her art gave a voice to the downtrodden during industrialisation.

That empathy shines through in prints like “Brot!”, and the anti-war woodcut cycle “Krieg”. On the top floor, in a gallery drenched with natural light is a well-known two-metre sculpture of Kollwitz by Gustav Seitz.

56. Neue Wache

places to visit berlin tour

A good follow-up for the Kollwitz Museum is the Neoclassical temple on Unter den Linden.

The architect behind this monument was Karl Friedrich Schinkel who designed it in the 1810s as a memorial to the fallen soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars and specifically the German Campaign of 1813. The building was also employed as a guardhouse for the troops of the Crown Prince, up to the end of the First World War and the start of the Weimar Republic.

Since 1993 this solemn space has been dedicated to “Victims of War and Dictatorship”. Kollwitz’s sculpture Mother with her Dead Son is the centrepiece under the oculus where it is exposed to the elements to signify the civilian suffering during the Second World War.

57. Friedrichstadt-Palast

Friedrichstadt-Palast

You can recapture the spirit of the 1920s at a cabaret show in Berlin.

And while there’s no lack of options the Freidrichstadt-Palast (1919) deserves special mention for the incredible dimensions of the theatre and the lavish revues it puts on.

The stage floor of 2,854 square metres is claimed to be the largest theatre stage in the world.

And if the venue is palatial, the shows are an explosion of glitz and glamour.

The casts are huge, and the costume design, acrobatics and choreography are from a less restrained Las Vegas.

In 2017 the marquee event was Jean Paul Gaultier’s “The One Grand Show”, boasting 500 costumes, more than 100 performers and a multi-million Euro budget.

58. Bauhaus Archive/Museum of Design

Bauhaus Archive

The impact of the Bauhaus School (1919-1933) on architecture and design is impossible to overstate, and at the Bauhaus Archive you’ll be treated to the largest assortment of works from the movement.

The venue is from the 1960s and its futuristic appearance and serrated lines have made it a shooting location for movies like Æon Flux and V for Vendetta.

The exhibition meanwhile uncovers the origins of the Bauhaus movement and its key figures, and has models by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius.

There’s also art from the period by László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Klee , Kandinsky, Lionel Feininger, along with a complete library for the movement, furniture by Gunta Stölzl, Marcel Breuer and Josef Pohl, sketches, schematics and photography.

59. Hamburger Bahnhof

Hamburger Bahnhof

In 1996 the old terminal for the Berlin-Hamburg Railway reopened as a contemporary art museum.

The distinguished Neo-Renaissance hall became obsolete early on, when trains were re-routed to the Berlin Hauptbahnhof in 1884. After that it served as a museum of transport, which closed following damage in the war.

A donation of contemporary art by Berlin businessman Erich Marx set things in motion again, and there are noteworthy works by Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Gerhard Richter, Anselm Kiefer and Joseph Beuys.

Video art, particularly from the 1970s is prominent, along with contemporary photography by Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff and Bernd and Hilla Becher.

60. Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island)

Pfaueninsel

Pfaueninsel on the Havel River is part of a World Heritage Site that encompasses Potsdam and Berlin’s stately properties.

Excavations on the island have brought up evidence of occupation from the Iron Age, and in the 1600s it was the site of a royal-approved glassworks founded by the man of science Johannes Kunckel.

But what we see today is straight from the Romantic period at the end of the 18th century when Friedrich Wilhelm II commissioned a summer residence intended to resemble the ruins of a Romanesque castle.

The gardens are in the English style, which was in fashion at the time, and are littered with follies and grottoes, as well as an aviary.

The most famous inhabitants though are the many free-ranging peacocks that give the island its name.

Get there by S-Bahn and on a ferry, which is part of the fun.

61. Strandbad Wannsee

places to visit berlin tour

In Berlin’s westernmost borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Wannsee is a neighbourhood beside two lakes on the River Havel.

By Großer Wannsee on the southern limit of Grunewald is the Strandbad Wannsee, affectionately known as Berlin’s “bath tub”. On sunny summer days you can join the herd on the S1 or S7 and wallow in the clean, mostly shallow water and lounge in the sun on the beach.

At more than a kilometre long the lido has been accommodating bathers since 1907. The beach is traced by a promenade and there are sports facilities, boat rentals, playgrounds for little ones and a selection of bars, cafes and kiosks.

Tour starting here : 2-Hour Seven Lakes Tour from Berlin’s Wannsee

62. Tempelhofer Feld

Tempelhofer Feld

Many of Berlin’s cherished landmarks and public spaces are still here because residents came together to stop developers getting hold of them.

And that is exactly what happened at the city’s former Tempelhof Airport after it was decommissioned in 2008. The airport is now a public park only a few minutes south of Kreuzberg: A generous flat space criss-crossed by former runways and taxiways that are a dream to cycle and skate on, and still commanded by a listed terminal building.

Tempelhof was where the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49 was coordinated, and was the last of Europe’s great pre-war city airports to cease operation as a passenger hub.

63. Story of Berlin

Story of Berlin

On a jaunt down the swanky Kurfürstendamm you can brush up on the history of Germany’s capital.

Across 23 rooms you’ll be led on a journey through eight centuries, from the first recorded mention of Berlin to German Reunification in 1990. All the facts are relayed via multimedia displays, and if you’re with kids the museum’s short bursts of information and interactivity are ideal for young attention spans.

There are also some fascinating artefacts, like a genuine nuclear bunker from the Cold War, the GDR leader Erich Honecker’s Volvo limousine and pieces of the Berlin Wall.

64. Berliner Funkturm

places to visit berlin tour

You don’t need to be an architecture expert to know where the idea for Berlin’s 150-metre-high radio tower came from.

Its designer Heinrich Straumer clearly based his steel framework construction on the Eiffel Tower, and the Berliner Funkturm was inaugurated during the Great German Radio Exhibition in 1926. Not long after, during the 7th edition of the exhibition, Albert Einstein himself gave a speech from the base of the Funkturm.

The tower later made history in 1936 when it transmitted the world’s first regular television programme.

The observation platform is at 124 metres and has a view to rival the Fensehturm, precisely because the Fernsehturm is part of the panorama!

65. Markthalle Neun

Markthalle Neun

This Baltard-style market hall in Kreuzberg first opened in 1891, getting its name from being the ninth of fourteen halls around Berlin.

After the war residents fought off developers for years to preserve this much-loved landmark.

In the end Markthalle Neun was sold to a trio of entrepreneurs who reopened it as a food market in 2011. The venue hosts delectable culinary extravaganzas throughout the year like a wine fair, a cheese festival and a wurst and beer event.

There are stalls selling produce and speciality foods on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the rest of the week you can come for one-off establishments like an Italian bakery, craft beer microbrewery, an artisanal pasta maker and traditional butcher’s shop.

The third Sunday of the month brings a breakfast market, while Thursday nights are all about street food.

Included in this tour : 2.5–Hour Culinary Tour with East Side Gallery

66. Natur-Park Südgelände

Natur-Park Südgelände

After Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof shut down in 1952 its buildings and infrastructure dating back to the 19th century were left to rust and be reclaimed by nature.

The site slowly turned into an unofficial park, before it was properly landscaped in the 1990s.

What’s special about this place is how old industrial structures like a 50-metre water tower, a cavernous locomotive shed, tracks, bridges, a turntable and a DRB Class 50 engine mingle with the woodland and meadows.

The shed is used for markets, avant-garde performance art, and as an atmospheric shooting location for movies.

67. Marx-Engels Forum

Marx-Engels Forum

A relic from a very different time, the pair of statues depicting Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels stand in the shadow of the Fernsehturm on the right bank of the Spree.

The statues were cast in 1986, not long before the wall came down, and after Reunification there was much discussion about whether to remove them or keep them as a reminder of the past.

Eventually they remained, which makes sense as these two 19th-century figures loomed large over life in Berlin until 1989. The park around it used to be a quarter of the Old Town before it was flattened in the war and it would be three decades before the ruins were cleared and a green space laid out.

68. Oberbaumbrücke

Oberbaumbrücke

The last of our run-down of Berlin’s postcard-worthy landmarks crosses the Spree between Kreuzberg and Frierichshain.

When Berlin was divided, the border between the former American Zone and East Berlin hugged the right bank of the Spree.

Oberbaumbrücke became an armed checkpoint, only allowing crossings in one direction from West to East.

And when the wall fell in 1989 some of the most memorable images were taken at this location.

Since then road and U-Bahn traffic has resumed, and the bridge has been restored to its 19th-century Gothic Revival appearance.

Movie buffs may also know Oberbaumbrücke from Run Lola Run and the Bourne Supremacy.

69. Currywurst

Currywurst

On the topic of films, if you’ve seen any movies about Berlin you’ll know that there’s always a scene at an Imbiss.

These are temporary snack bars set up on street corners or parks and cooking up comfort food.

In 1949 a German icon was born at an Imbiss on Charlottenburg, when Herta Heuwer poured a mixture of ketchup and curry powder over bratwurst to create the currywurst.

The sausage normally comes chopped up in the sauce and served with a side of French fries, and something like 70 million currywursts are enjoyed every year in Berlin alone.

The exact spot where Herta is said to have made her first currywurst is now marked with a plaque.

70. Street Food auf Achse

Street Food auf Achse

The courtyard in Prenzlauerberg’s evocative KulturBrauerei is the scene of a new culinary institution that arrived in Berlin in January 2015. Every other Sunday this space is filled with a cosmopolitan variety of food trucks, fitting for a city as multicultural as Berlin.

There’s food on the go from almost anywhere you can imagine, within reason: We’re talking local faves like currywurst, as well as Vietnamese, Thai, South Korean, Tex-Mex, Polish, Brazilian and almost anything in between.

The trucks show up in every season, rain or shine, but the experience is maybe most satisfying in summer when you can nibble at your own pace at the Frannz Club Biergarten, which has a laid-back atmosphere.

Related activity : Berlin: Evening Food Tour by Bike

71. Gardens of the World

Gardens of the World

In the eastern Marzahn-Hallersdorg district is a celebration of landscaping and horticulture from all over the globe.

There are gardens from Japan, China, the Middle East, Bali and Italy, faithfully designed, and tended with love and no little skill.

In 2017 a new English garden opened in time for the Internationale Gartenasstellung (International Garden Exhibition). Also installed for 2017 is the IGA Cable Car, which crosses the attraction and connects with the Kienberg U-Bahn station.

The individual gardens have been planted one by one since the Chinese Garden in 2000. There are seasonal events here, like the cherry blossom festival in April and the Chinese moon festival towards the end of summer.

72. Classic Remise

Classic Remise

A U-Bahn ride west of the centre will bring you to a 1920s tram depot on Wiebestraße in Moabit.

This industrial building came through the war relatively unscathed and in 2003 became an amenity for storing classic cars.

Even though this facility isn’t actually a museum you’ll come close to a bewildering array of privately-owned Ferraris, Bugattis, Rolls Royces, Mercedes, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Porsches and many more prestige marques.

These are stored in two-tired, metal-framed glass containers, which regulate temperature and humidity.

Car connoisseurs can also tour the mechanic’s workshop to see these vehicles being serviced and restored.

73. Sanssouci Palace

Sanssouci Palace

A day out in Potsdam has to be on the cards, and you can reach this city in under half an hour by commuter train.

The first reason to make the journey is to see Frederick the Great’s UNESCO-listed summer escape, a Rococo palace embedded on a vine-decked hillside atop a terraced stairway . The king would get away from it all at Sanssouci, as the name “sans souci” (carefree) makes clear.

The palace is beautifully formed, but isn’t lavish in scale, which tallies with Frederick’s reputation as a self-effacing sort of person.

There are ten rooms on the tour and a uniting feature is the exuberant stuccowork by the sculptor Friedrich Christian Glume.

See the Voltaire Room, where the French philosopher would stay in the mid-1700s, and the Carrara marble columns in the main reception room, the Marmorsaal (Marble Hall).

Recommended tour : Potsdam: Sanssouci Palace Guided Tour from Berlin

74. Sanssouci Park

Sanssouci Park

One explanation for the relatively modest size of the palace is that the king wanted to make the most of the outdoor space.

That vineyard in front of the palace was planted with vines from France, Italy and Portugal under Frederick’s orders, and beneath this is a Baroque parterre, modelled on Versailles and sprinkled with conical boxwood topiaries and marble statues of mythological figures.

After that you have the enormous expanse of the park to cover, and its fountains, ponds and groves of lofty mature trees.

All over the park are delightful follies of temples and miniature Rococo palaces, which were often used as accommodation to make up for the shortage of guestrooms in the palace itself.

75. Sightseeing by Bike

Berlin By Bike

Germany’s public transport company Deutsche Bahn operates a bike-sharing system in Berlin.

You have to register in advance, but after that you’ll be free to hire a bike and pay by the minute or by the day.

There are also a few private bike rental companies in the city, including Rent a Bike on Grunerstraße.

There’s no reason to feel daunted about cycling in Berlin as the city has almost 1,000 klilometres of designated bike paths, as well as lanes on pavements and on the roads (you can track down plenty of maps online). There’s a deep-seated cycling culture too, and it’s safe enough that people don’t generally wear helmets.

For inspiration on two wheels, you can zip around the sights at Tiergarten and Potsdamer Platz if time is of the essence, or coast around trendy Kreuzberg’s cafes and galleries.

75 Best Things to Do in Berlin (Germany):

  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Victory Column (Siegessäule)
  • Museum Island
  • Neues Museum
  • Gemäldegalerie
  • Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer
  • Pergamon Museum
  • Deutsches Historisches Museum
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • Unter den Linden
  • Gendarmenmarkt
  • Topography of Terror
  • Fernsehturm
  • Jewish Museum Berlin
  • Berlin Cathedral
  • Alexanderplatz
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears)
  • Treptower Park
  • Gedächtniskirche
  • Olympic Stadium
  • Berlin Philharmonie
  • Deutsches Technikmuseum
  • Charlottenburg Palace
  • Kaufhaus des Westens
  • Museum für Naturkunde
  • Mauerpark Market
  • Alte Nationalgalerie
  • Konzerthaus Berlin
  • Potsdamer Platz
  • Sony Center
  • East Side Gallery
  • Museum of Film and Television
  • Prenzlauer Berg
  • Botanischer Garten
  • Stasi Museum
  • Bode Museum
  • Kurfürstendamm
  • Hackesche Höfe
  • Museum Berggruen
  • Landwehr Canal
  • Brücke Museum
  • Teufelsberg
  • Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz
  • Liebermann-Villa
  • Spandau Citadel
  • Domäne Dahlem
  • Schloss Köpenick
  • Käthe Kollwitz Museum
  • Friedrichstadt-Palast
  • Bauhaus Archive/Museum of Design
  • Hamburger Bahnhof
  • Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island)
  • Strandbad Wannsee
  • Tempelhofer Feld
  • Story of Berlin
  • Berliner Funkturm
  • Markthalle Neun
  • Natur-Park Südgelände
  • Marx-Engels Forum
  • Oberbaumbrücke
  • Street Food auf Achse
  • Gardens of the World
  • Classic Remise
  • Sanssouci Palace
  • Sanssouci Park
  • Sightseeing by Bike

29 Best 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..

Kristoffer Fons avatar

In this post, I’m going to share some of the best things to do 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.

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 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.

Tv Tower Alexanderplatz

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 .

boat trip berlin

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 ! )

berlin sightseeing bus

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 .

berlin story bunker

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.

Berlin Bunker Story

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:

alexanderplatz 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 .

berlin world time clock

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

Rotes Rathaus

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 berlin

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.

Gendarmenmarkt

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.

checkpoint charlie

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.

Checkpoint Charlie, one of the must-sees in Berlin

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…

the wall museum

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.

Berlin Wall and Topography of Terror

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 .

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…

holocaus memorial

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.

brandenburger tor

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.

bundestag berlin

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:

berlin wall

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.

Mauerpark market

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

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

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

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 .

Panoramapunkt

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 .

Madame tussauds berlin

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 .

alternative berlin experience

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.

Döner kebab in Berlin

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 • Omio is my go-to booking platform for trains in Europe • 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?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

95 Fun & Unusual Things to Do in Berlin

fun & unusual things to do in Berlin

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!

beer bike in Berlin

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

TV Tower, Berlin

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

German Parliament Building, Reigchstag, Berlin

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

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

Hackescher Markt, Berlin

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!

city tours in 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

Panoramapunkt, Berlin

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

Berlin Dungeon, Berlin

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

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

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

Alexanderplatz, Berlin

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

wine tours in Belin

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

Kreuzberg, Berlin

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

candlelight concerts in Berlin

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

Alternative Berlin tours

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 .

Sponsored placement

Discover Frida Kahlo Like Never Before!

places to visit berlin tour

The Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience is a 360-degree journey through Mexico, a vibrant blend of art and technology that celebrates the iconic artist’s legacy and explores new interpretations of her work. With cutting-edge visuals and rich sounds, this is a Berlin sensation not to be missed!

  • See price & reviews

15 – Eat your way through Markthalle Neun

Markthalle Neun, Berlin

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

World Balloon, Berlin

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

DDR Museum, Berlin

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

Hotrod tour in 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

Berlin Story Bunker, Berlin

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 District, 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

places to visit berlin tour

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!

21 – Feel like royalty for a day at Potsdam

Orangery Palace at Sanssouci Park, 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

bus tours in Berlin

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

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Berlin

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

Sanssouci Palace day trips from Berlin

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, Berlin

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

Museum Island, Berlin

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!

places to visit berlin tour

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.

  • See price and reviews

27 – Marvel at the jewels at Charlottenburg Palace

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin

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

boat tours in Berlin

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

East Side Gallery, Berlin

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

Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum, Berlin

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

scavenger games in Berlin

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

A Celestial Journey Through Light and Creation

places to visit berlin tour

Discover the Genesis story like never before with Eonarium’s immersive light show in Berlin’s historic Passion Church. This captivating journey through the creation of the sun, moon, stars, animals, and humans combines art, technology, and spirituality in a unique audiovisual spectacle. Don’t miss this breathtaking experience that transforms ancient narrative into a modern marvel.

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

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin

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

Aquadom & SEA LIFE, Berlin

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

dinner cruises in Berlin

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

Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin

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

Dali Museum, Berlin

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

bike tours in Berlin

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

Pergamon Museum, Berlin

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

Gärten der Welt, Berlin

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

Tempelhofer Feld, Berlin

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

Old Jewish Cemetery, Berlin

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!

skydiving in Berlin

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.

  • skydiving in Berlin

43 – Celebrate the summer at Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

Freiluftkino Friedrichshain, Berlin

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

Madame Tussauds, Berlin

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)

Natural History Museum, Berlin

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

helicopter tours in Berlin

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

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.

  • Olympiastadion tickets

48 – Scoot around town on a Segway tour

segway tours in Berlin

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

Berlin Underworld, Berlin

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

Astor Film Lounge, Berlin

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!

indoor skydiving in Berlin

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!

  • indoor skydiving in Berlin

52 – Admire ancient art at the Altes Museum

Altes Museum, Berlin

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!

food tours in Berlin

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

Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin

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

fine dining in Berlin

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

Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin

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

Berlin Zoo, Berlin

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

Bode Museum, Berlin

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

Friedrichstadt-Palast, Berlin

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

nightclubs in Berlin

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

Berggruen Museum, Berlin

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

Neues Museum, Berlin

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

Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin

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

Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin

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

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin

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)

Berlin Cathedral, Berlin

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

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

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

Tiergarten Park, Berlin

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

Stasi Museum, Berlin

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

Soviet War Memorial in the Treptower Park in Berlin, Germany

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

Friedrichstrasse, Kreuzberg District

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)

Victory Column, Berlin

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

ARISE Grand Show, Berlin

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.

  • ARISE Grand Show tickets

74 – Walk through Tränenpalast, the ‘Palace of Tears’

Tränenpalast, Berlin

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!

Spy Museum, Berlin

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

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!

escape rooms in Berlin

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!

Legoland Discovery Center, Berlin

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

Gemaldegalerie, Berlin

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

Illuseum Berlin, Germany

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

Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial, Berlin

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

Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

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

Body Worlds, Berlin

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

Sony Store, Berlin

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

Kurfürstendamm Street, Berlin

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

Platform 17 Memorial, Berlin

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

Mauerpark, Berlin

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

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

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

Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin

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!

Mall of Berlin, Germany

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

KaDeWe, Berlin

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

Topography of Terror, Berlin

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

kayaking in Berlin

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.

  • kayaking in Berlin

94 – Cycle on the runways at Tempelhofer Park

Tempelhofer Park, Berlin

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

Hackesche Höfe, Berlin

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!

Hand Luggage Only

  • Travel Journal
  • Travel Advice
  • Travel Inspiration
  • Photo Diary
  • Photography Tips
  • Photography Inspiration
  • Destinations
  • Home Inspiration
  • Blogging Tips
  • Work With Us

Hand Luggage Only

17 Best Things To In Berlin, Germany

What To See In Berlin Germany (17)

A first-time visit to Berlin is bound to be an absolutely incredible experience, filled with an eclectic mix of history, culture and gorgeous sights, it’s a city that intrigues yet embraces us visitors with open arms.

Whether you’re going for a long weekend, a week or even months, it’s likely you’ll be scrambling for time to catch all the places in this vibrant city… especially if you keep stopping for a cheeky currywurst (and a tipple or two)! 😉

What To See In Berlin Germany (10)

Just like other German cities  like Hamburg and Cologne , Berlin has a pretty diverse mix of sights that you must see on your first visit with a hefty proportion being included in Germany’s Top 100 sights to see.

17 Must See Sights In Berlin

With that in mind, take a look at some of the very best sights you’ll want to include on your first visit to Berlin.

1.) Stroll through Brandenburg Gate

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 2 (21)

Brandenburg Gate is one of Germany’s best-known landmarks that you’ll no doubt want to see. Historically, an old city gate, Brandenburg Gate was rebuilt around 250 years ago and still stands proudly today.

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 2 (20)

Famous as a point for major historical events, it’s a great spot to see when visiting the Reichstag that’s close by.

Also, for a leisurely sightseeing tour, book this ticket for a sightseeing cruise around Berlin .

These particular tickets offer guaranteed seating, which means you won’t be waiting around or standing for long periods of time. It’s such a great tour.

Book: Berlin sightseeing cruise tickets

2.) Visit the glass dome of The Reichstag

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 2 (17)

The Reichstag is not only home to the German Government but also home to one of the most impressive glass domes in all the world!

Open to the public, you can head inside the dome and enjoy the incredible building (and views) from the top. Make sure to book these tickets well in advance for a tour around the whole Government District, Chancellery, and Reichstag. 

3.) Experience the glorious Berlin Cathedral

12 Must See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin (14)

Perched on Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral is one awe-inspiring place to visit.

The grand history and incredible architecture is jaw-droppingly beautiful and well worth a gander at.

What To See In Berlin Germany (12)

Make sure to spend some time in the main Cathedral before heading downstairs to learn more about the crypts and history of this incredible building.

4.) Learn about reintroduction programs at Berlin Zoo

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (5)

More than just a zoo, Berlin Zoo helps educate, collaborate and maintains reintroduction programs for some of the most endangered species across the world.

What To See In Berlin Germany (1)

Head here to learn more about the valuable work they do and the breeding programs that help in supporting endangered animals.

Also, be sure to book some of these epic Berlin tours, below; especially before you arrive in the city. This way, you won’t be scrambling for tickets and can maximise your time exploring the epicness that is Berlin. 

5.) Discover art at the East Side Gallery  

East Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany (12)

Premised as an international memorial for freedom, this massive stretch of the Berlin Wall has been commissioned, featuring over 100 different paintings from artists all across the world, including the colourful  Some heads by Thierry Noir.

East Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany (23)

Stroll the length of the 1.3km section to admire artists’ works, just take a good pair of walking shoes with you.

That being said, you can also book this epic bike tour around Berlin’s best places to visit. It’s an incredible tour around the Mitte district, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island and so many more spots. It’s amazing. 

Just make sure to book tickets in advance, they are small group tours and they do fill up fast!

Book: Berlin bike tour around the best spots in the city

6.) Explore Berlin’s Museum Island

12 Must See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin (9)

No visit to Berlin is complete without a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hop over to the island that sits in the middle of the River Spree to see some of the best museums in the world.

12 Must See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin (11)

Make sure to visit the Atles Museum and the Bode Museum for some incredible artefacts.

If all that walking works up an appetite, check out our complete list of amazing burger joints that are close by, right here .

7.) Remember at the Holocaust Memorial 

What To See In Berlin-22

Head to the Holocaust Memorial to reflect upon the horrendous mistakes of history.

The creator, Eisenman created this space for visitors to feel uneasy and confusing space where no order cannot be found.

What To See In Berlin Germany (22)

Opened over 10 years ago, it’s a place to ponder and remember the terrible acts of the Holocaust.

Read more: our visit to the Holocaust Memorial

8.) Wander around Charlottenburg Palace

What To See In Berlin Germany (2)

Officially, the largest palace in Berlin, Charlottenburg Palace was originally built over 300 years ago.

Around 15-20 minutes from the bustling centre of Berlin, the palace is a great place to wander, especially through the gardens.

What To See In Berlin Germany (4)

Make sure to visit the Tea House and the Orangery in the palace gardens, they really are spectacular.

9.) See the president’s home, Bellevue Palace

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (2)

Whether you get to visit the inside or not, Bellevue Palace is a grand sight to see whilst in Berlin.

Based on the edges of Großer Tiergarten (Berlin’s oldest and largest park), it’s well worth a little gander.

10.) Take a look at Checkpoint Charlie

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (36)

Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous crossing point between East and West Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall. Nowadays, the checkpoint has been redeveloped to show how it once stood.

If you want to see the original building head to The Allied Museum for a more intimate look.

11.) Grab some bubbles and Currywurst at the Berlin TV Tower

12 Must See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin (21)

Book these tickets and scale to the top of the Berlin TV Tower for some impressive 360-degree views of the city or even for a little brunch.

12 Must See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin (12)

If you’re planning a visit in the late afternoon or early evening, you can also enjoy bubbles and Currywurst whilst overlooking the city.

Just be sure to book these queue jump tickets to the top of the TV tower before arriving. You’ll get straight to the top and miss those long queues that happen at peak times. 

Book: Queue jump tickets to the top of the TV tower

12.) Gorge on the diverse foods of the city

Touchdown In Berlin, Germany (40)

One of the best things about Berlin is the varied and diverse mix of foody delights that are around every corner, you can literally have any type of food that your heart (or tummy) desires.

Make sure to try something you haven’t tried before. For me, this was Israeli Food when we ate at the delicious, Djimalaya .

Make sure to try their Hummus plates and falafel balls. Yum!

Oh, and if you’ve got time, book this guided boat tour of Potsdam to see the beauty of the palaces just outside Berlin itself. We totally loved Potsdam and it’s an essential place to include when visiting the best places in Berlin. 

Book: Guided boat tour of Potsdam

13.) Head inside the French Cathedral

What To See In Berlin Germany (10)

The French Cathedral is, arguably, one of the prettiest buildings in Berlin.

Head inside for a wander around the building, whilst stopping for a bite to eat in the basement halls. Most people don’t realise that the Cathedral also houses The Huguenot Museum in the tower itself.

14.) Climb to the top of the Victory Column

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (4)

If you’re feeling pretty fit, or just want to burn off all those currywurst calories, then take the almost 300 steps to the top of the Victory Column.

Nearly 200 years old, the column offers some pretty epic views across the city.

15.) See inside the New Church 

What To See In Berlin Germany (9)

The New Church sits directly opposite the French Cathedral on the opposite side of the square.

 17 Must-See Sights To See On A First Time Visit To Berlin

Head inside for a closer look at the gorgeous architecture and plan a trip to coincide with one of the many events and markets that operate within the Gendarmenmarkt beside the church.

16.) Watch a show at Konzert Haus

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 2 (2)

If you’re looking to find some of the city’s world-renowned culture and art, then make sure you pop into Konzert Haus, where some of the world’s best ballet, opera and German music and theatre is held.

Tickets can be booked online and I’d definitely advise this if you’re wanting to visit.

17.) See the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (16)

Built well over 100 years ago, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was heavily destroyed during World War II.

Fondly known as ‘the hollow tooth’ the spire and tower of the church still stand in its destroyed state; a testament and memory to the awful tragedies of war.

Sightseeing In Berlin, Germany - Part 1 (6)

Make sure to visit the old and new church that now occupy the site.

Read more: Best cities in Germany to visit

13 Best Cities in Germany To Visit

Check Out The Very Best Of Great Britain!

Hand Luggage Only Great Britain Travel Book Advert Banner

Pop Over To Our YouTube Channel For Travel Videos!

' src=

Puppy Defender. Foodie. Chocolate Fiend and Custard Lover. Dip, Cover or Wrap anything in sugar and I'm Yours!

places to visit berlin tour

Take A Peek Into The Highest Outdoor Bar In The World!

places to visit berlin tour

A Memoir To The Fallen – The Holocaust Memorial In Berlin, Germany

You may also like.

This Is Where To Go For The Best Sunsets In Amsterdam! (3)

Pllek: One epic Bar and Restaurant in Amsterdam

best things to do in New Orleans (12)

Visiting Preservation Hall In New Orleans

Hungry In Singapore? Chinatown (5)

Hungry In Singapore

Looking for something, fellow connected travellers.

  • 535k Facebook
  • 0 Pinterest
  • 1,202,450 TikTok
  • 340,142 Instagram
  • 23,800 X (Twitter)
  • 33,246 Email Subscribers

Adventure Awaits!

Hand Luggage Only Find Out More

Have You Seen These Yet?

The Ancient City Of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The Ancient City Of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

9 Best Castles In Denmark To Visit

9 Best Castles In Denmark To Visit

Win an Exclusive Sony High-Res Audio System – Just For Hand Luggage Only Readers!

Win an Exclusive Sony High-Res Audio System – Just For Hand Luggage Only Readers!

14 Very Best Places In Provence To Visit

14 Very Best Places In Provence To Visit

Photos And Postcards From Croatia

Photos And Postcards From Croatia

  • Privacy Policy

places to visit berlin tour

Email address:

web analytics

PlanetWare.com

12 Top-Rated Day Trips from Berlin

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated May 26, 2022 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

While there are certainly enough great attractions in Berlin to keep tourists to Germany's capital occupied for days, a trip to one or more of the neighboring towns or into the surrounding countryside can offer an excellent respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

From the lovely palaces and pristine parks of Potsdam to the natural splendor of the Havel and Spree rivers, Berlin's surroundings offer plenty of attractions, distractions, and fun things to do. Best of all, the city's excellent rail and public transport networks make it extremely easy to get out and about, and organized tours make it easy to travel further afield.

To learn more about these and other great places to visit near the nation's capital, be sure to read our list of the top day trips from Berlin, Germany.

1. Visit Potsdam's Beautiful Parks and Palaces

2. dresden: europe's baroque city, 3. walking around peacock island, 4. take a drive to spandau citadel, 5. sachsenhausen concentration camp, 6. river havel highlights, 7. visit köpenick's parks & green spaces, 8. see the river spree, 9. grosser and kleiner wannsee, 10. klein glienicke & schlossgarten glienicke, 11. the museum village of düppel, 12. the military history museum, map of day trips from berlin.

Sanssouci Park, Potsdam

The historic city of Potsdam, the capital of the state of Brandenburg, is located just 40 kilometers southwest of Berlin. As one of Germany's most famous former imperial cities, this beautiful travel destination makes for a splendid day trip from the capital.

Easily accessible by train and public transport, Potsdam is famous not only for its beautiful parks and lakes, but also for its old Prussian Rococo palaces. In fact, a large portion of this beautiful city is protected under its UNESCO Palaces and Parks of Berlin and Potsdam World Heritage Site status.

Its most famous royal estate is Sanssouci Park , home to many exquisite gardens, impressive buildings, artworks, and walking trails. Established in 1744, the park's highlights include Neptune's Grotto and the Picture Gallery . Housed in the Orangery, this impressive art collection, with its collection of 17th-century paintings, including works by Rubens, van Dyck, and Caravaggio, is a must-see.

Also of note in the palace grounds is the Great Fountain . Look out for its representations of the four elements and mythological figures.

Inside the park are two palaces: Sanssouci Palace , a single-story, domed Rococo building built in 1745 based on sketches by Frederick the Great; and the New Palace (Neues Palais), built in 1769 and known for its sumptuous interior.

A good way to learn about the fascinating history of these and other top Potsdam attractions is on a six-hour Discover Potsdam Walking Tour . Your professional guide will join you in Berlin for the brief trip to Potsdam, where you will walk past the palaces, through the old the Dutch quarter, and through the UNESCO-listed Sanssouci Palace Gardens as you hear stories of their fabled past.

  • Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Potsdam

Dresden

Located about two hours south of Berlin, Dresden is the dazzling capital of Saxony and stretches along both sides of the Elbe River. Painstakingly restored from destruction in World War II and years of neglect when it was behind the Iron Curtain as part of the GDR, Dresden is once again one of Europe's greatest Baroque cities.

Filled with elegant riverside palaces and beautiful churches built by the Saxon kings who chose it as their capital, Dresden is also heir to the collections these kings amassed and treasured. Along with rare historic artifacts, these collections include examples of fine and decorative arts.

Some of the most important collections are brilliantly displayed in the Dresden State Art Collection (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden), which is housed inside the Dresden Royal Palace . This palace, along with the magnificently restored Frauenkirche (it's hard to believe that this soaring church was once reduced to a pile of rubble), are two must-see highlights of Dresden .

But be sure to schedule time to explore other nearby attractions, too. These include the Zwinger palace and Semperoper (Semper Opera House). Both of these popular tourist attractions can be visited with the services of a professional guide on the 10-hour Dresden Day Trip from Berlin .

After a comfortable two-hour coach ride from Berlin, the tour explores these and the Frauenkirche during a walking tour. You'll then have the afternoon for independent visits to museums or just to enjoy the charming city and its riverside promenades.

Walking Around Peacock Island

A 45-minute drive from Berlin (and on the way to Potsdam), Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel) has long been a favorite place for excursions for Berliners and visitors to the city seeking a fun, easy day trip. And yes, it does have a population of peacocks.

Although just 1.5 kilometers long and 500 meters wide, you can easily spend half a day exploring this picturesque island. Accessible by ferry along the River Havel and covering an area of 242 acres, the entire island was laid out in the style of an English landscaped park and is now home to many rare plants and numerous trees.

Scattered amid the luxuriant vegetation are a number of buildings, including a memorial temple for Queen Luise, built in 1829. There's also a sandstone portico from the Mausoleum in the park of the Charlottenburg Palace .

Farther north is the Dairy Farm (Meierei). Built in 1795 in the style of a mock ruin, it's a delight to explore. In the center of the island lies the 19th-century Kavaliershaus with its Gothic façade. Other highlights include the Schweizerhaus, or Swiss Cottage, built in 1830. You'll also want to see the Russian Slide and the Frigate Harbor, all reached via winding footpaths.

The most important building, though, is Peacock Island Castle . Built in the late 1790s, it resembles a romantic ruin, with its twin towers linked by an iron footbridge. The castle's now home to a small museum.

Address: Nikolskoer Weg, 14109 Berlin, Germany

Official site: www.spsg.de/en/palaces-gardens/object/peacock-island-house/

Spandau Citadel

The old fortress town of Spandau lies at the confluence of the Rivers Spree and Havel just 30 minutes' drive from Berlin's city center. Easily accessible by public transit, it was until 1920 an independent trading town due to its position along the main west-to-east trade routes connecting Magdeburg and Berlin.

Granted its town charter in 1232, Spandau's two major settlements, the town on the Altstadt Insel (Old Town Island) and the castle on the Zitadelle-Insel (Citadel Island), became increasingly important commercial and cultural centers.

Today, the focus of a visit should be Spandau Citadel (Zitadelle Spandau). This imposing high-walled fortress remains largely unchanged since its construction in the 16th century. Entirely surrounded by water, the citadel is square in plan with a bastion at each corner, making it virtually impregnable. A narrow bridge leads from the citadel to the Gatehouse, home to a local museum.

Other highlights include the Prince's Room, a splendid old courtyard, and the 14th-century Palas, which served as the castle's residential quarters. A recent addition is a permanent display of important historic statues and monuments gathered from across Berlin.

Be sure to climb the 145-step Julius Tower with its magnificent views over the Old Town and Spandau Lock. There's also an impressive collection of 17th-century weapons, including rare canons. English language audio guides are available, and admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Address: Am Juliusturm 64, 13599 Berlin, Germany

Official site: www.zitadelle-berlin.de/en/

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Notorious as one of the first concentration camps established by the Third Reich, Sachsenhausen began in 1933 as Oranienburg Concentration Camp, where more than 3,000 people were imprisoned. It was later closed, and the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was built in its place by prisoners in 1936. It was designed by SS architects as an example of "the ideal concentration camp."

More than 200,000 people were imprisoned here between 1936 and 1945, including political opponents, groups defined by the Nazis as racially or biologically inferior, and citizens from occupied countries. Tens of thousands of people died of disease, starvation, exhaustion and mistreatment, or were victims of the SS extermination program.

As if this grisly history were not enough, after the few remaining prisoners were liberated in 1945, the camp was taken over by the Soviets to confine political and other prisoners. At least 12,000 of these Soviet prisoners died here of malnutrition and disease before the camp was finally closed in 1950.

There are English language tours of this sobering camp, now a national memorial. You can also visit the camp on the six-hour Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Tour from Berlin . Led by a knowledgeable historian, you'll learn about the camp's story and hear true accounts of some of those who were held here by its various operators.

Address: Str. der Nationen 22, 16515 Oranienburg, Germany

Official site: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de/en/

Glienicke Bridge over the River Havel

The River Havel flows through Berlin for 30 kilometers of its 340-kilometer length, traversing the city north to south before joining the River Elbe near Havelberg. The most beautiful stretches of this river in the city are around Schildhorn, Lindwerder, Schwanenwerder, and the Pfaueninsel. And on the left bank, the Grunewald , Berlin's large forested parkland, is worth a visit.

A good way to enjoy the scenery is by driving along the Havelchaussee . This leafy stretch of road winds through the Grunewald and along the river's eastern bank. Alternatively, regular tourist buses travel this route, and it's also popular with cyclists.

The best way to see the Havel, though, is aboard a riverboat. Numerous options are available, from pleasant private excursions to large state-run ships that ply the river and its adjoining canals.

A good plan is to start at the Freybrücke landing stage in Spandau and take a boat downstream. You'll pass Schildhorn, the Grunewald Tower, Lindwerder, and Breitehorn to Kladow, returning by boat via the Wannsee and Potsdam before jumping on a bus or S-Bahn back to Berlin's city center.

Berlin's Köpenick district

Like Spandau, Berlin's Köpenick district is the site of a very old settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. Today, Köpenick is not only Berlin's largest district, it's the richest in terms of woodland and lakes. In fact, its 14,700 acres of heather-carpeted woods boast numerous birch, oak, beech, pine, and lime trees.

Come summer, walkers and water sports enthusiasts are attracted by this abundance of nature. Indeed, an estimated 80 percent of the district's surface is covered by water, woodland, and grassland, making it the main recreation area in eastern Berlin.

A highlight of a visit should be Köpenick Palace . This 17th-century mansion standing on an island on the Dahme River was once home to Prussian royalty and now houses Berlin's Museum of Decorative Arts .

Afterwards, be sure to take a walk around the pedestrian-friendly Old Town area of Köpenick (Köpenicker Altstadt). Here, you'll find many fine old examples of historic architecture. Particularly noteworthy is the Old Town Hall, or " Alte Rathaus ." Afterwards, be sure to walk over Long Bridge (Lange Brücke) for its splendid views of the old moat and river.

Address: Alt-Köpenick 1, Berlin, Germany

The River Spree

At 382 kilometers in length, some 150 kilometers of which is navigable, the River Spree is the most important tributary of the River Havel, which it joins in Spandau. Visitors looking for a fun day trip should venture into the Spreewald , a lowland area unique both in landscape and culture that lies 100 kilometers southeast of Berlin.

The area is popular for its sandy flats and dunes crossed by numerous watercourses known as the Fliessen, which in turn are well-known for punting and rowing. The region is also notable for its population of Sorbs, a Slavic minority known for their rich cultural customs and colorful traditional costumes.

One of the best ways to explore the waterway is a roundtrip on the Spree and the Landwehrkanal . This pleasant circular tour lasts three hours and begins at the Charlottenburg Palace Bridge (Charlottenburger Schlossbrücke) before traveling along the Landwehrkanal through Kreuzberg . From here, it's back to the Spree in the district of Friedrichshain, finally returning to Charlottenburg via Old Berlin (Alt-Berlin).

The Wannsee

Wannsee means two things to Berliners: it refers to the ritzy district with its fine old villas, as well as its two lakes, the Grosser and Kleiner (Great and Little) Wannsee. The lakes are the big draw and rank as one of the top recreation areas for Berliners thanks to their beaches, sailing, and rowing clubs. There are also numerous cafés and restaurants with terraces overlooking the water, as well as many attractive footpaths.

The Grosse Wannsee, which covers some 640 acres, is part of a basin gouged out during the Ice Age that runs into the River Havel. From the southern end with the Wannsee bridge, which carries the Königstrasse from Berlin to Potsdam, a string of small connected lakes runs southwest in a long trough. These include the Kleiner Wannsee, the Pohlesee, the Prinz-Friedrich-Leopold-Kanal, and the Griebnitzsee.

If driving, take Am Grossen Wannsee , a scenic road on the lake's western bank. Another option is to take one of the Wannsee tourist boats that run to and from Spandau and Potsdam.

Klein Glienicke

The village of Klein (Little) Glienicke, on the lake of the same name between Potsdam and Berlin, makes for a splendid day trip. It's most famous for its iron Glienicke Bridge, with its spectacular views over the River Havel.

It's also a popular place to visit for Glienicke Palace (Schloss Glienicke). This attractive Neoclassical country house was built in 1826 as a summer residence for Prince Karl of Prussia.

Its renovated park is also worth including in your sightseeing trip to the area. Covering 287 acres, Schlossgarten Glienicke was laid out in 1816 and opened to the public in 1934. Also known as Volkspark Glienicke, or the People's Park, it affords fine views over the Havel towards Potsdam, as well as beautiful riverside and lakeside walks from the Glienicke Bridge to popular Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel).

Also of note is the Klosterhof . This former monastery was built to a Venetian design in 1850 and is a delight to explore. So, too, is the Nikolskoe viewpoint, site of a former royal summer home. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, with its Russian-style onion dome, built in 1837, is also worth a visit.

Address: Königstraße 36, 14109 Berlin, Germany

Official site: www.spsg.de/en/palaces-gardens/object/glienicke-park/

The Museum Village of Düppel

A popular day trip for families, the Museum Village of Düppel (Museumsdorf Düppel) lies in the southwest corner of Berlin in Zehlendorf , near the original archaeological site at Machnower Fenn.

This educational reconstruction of an early 13th-century medieval settlement consists of numerous old houses, as well as barns and workshops. Some of these buildings host traditional trades such as a blacksmith shop, a cobbler's shop, and pottery. These buildings were also constructed using the methods available during this period.

Highlights of a visit include interacting with costumed staff members playing the roles of traditional villagers and trades people. There are also interesting demonstrations of such skills as bread making, pottery, weaving, and carving. The village is also notable for the rare animals it has bred back from extinction, including the Düppel pig.

Also of interest is the attraction's use of long-forgotten herbs and vegetables, grown using traditional farming techniques. Guided tours are available on Sundays, and a program of Market Days and Medieval Festivals offers insights into early medieval life.

Address: Clauertstraße 11, 14163 Berlin, Germany

The Military History Museum at the Berlin-Gatow Airfield

Southwest of the village of Gatow, on the outskirts of Berlin between the Gross Glienicker See and Wannsee, Gatow Airfield was used by the British RAF for military purposes. It was also used from time to time to airlift supplies into the city.

Now home to the Military History Museum: Berlin-Gatow Airfield (Militärhistorisches Museum: Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow), it boasts a large number of German military aircraft dating from WWI to the NATO period. There's also a collection of more than 200,000 artifacts, including engine parts and uniforms.

All told, the site has more than 150 original and replica aircraft. These include everything from WWII props to more modern jet-fighters, as well as a number of rare machines in various stages of restoration.

Address: Am Flugplatz Gatow 33, Berlin, Germany

instagram logo

More on Germany

Germany Travel Guide

  • Contrast Contrast

City of Freedom

The Brandenburg gate in spring with red tulips

1 ticket for all museums

Admission to all museums & exhibitions

Spree view of the Museum Island

The most beautiful performances & productions

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Discover dinosaurs & more

An experience for the whole family

Family in the Museum of Natural History Berlin

Highlights in Berlin's Museums

Ethnological Museum in the Humboldt Forum

Bypass the queue

Enjoy a unique panoramic view

Viewing level in the Berlin TV tower

Tips for your journey to Berlin

Be inspired.

Berlin awaits you. Visit the great museums & sights and then relax in a café. Look forward to concerts & shows, stroll through the shops and discover with us all the diversity of Berlin.

BerlinBrandenburger Tor am Pariser Platz mit einem Springbrunnen und schönen bunten Tulpen im Vordergrund im Frühling bei Sonnenuntergang

Spring in Berlin

Tips for spring in Berlin

Büste der Nofretete im Neuen Museum

Tickets for the museums & exhibitions in Berlin

Panorama von Berlin mit Fernsehturm im Winter

Berlin 2024 – the main events

Events, exhibitions, openings

Park Schloss Charlottenburg im Frühling

Berlin's Top 10 Attractions

Berliner Hauptbahnhof

Travel offers to Berlin

4 days in Berlin from €193

Skyline of Berlin

Berlin's official tourist ticket

  • Free public transport in Berlin
  • Choose from many attractions - savings up to 50%
  • Free City Guidebook – including map

More than 15m sold tickets

Event tips in Berlin

FALLING | IN LOVE

FALLING | IN LOVE

Berlin's new show jewel: The new Grand Show at Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, curated and visually designed by star designer Jean Paul

Show details

Berlin Cathedral in Spring

Festivals, markets and concerts

Easter in Berlin

Go on an Easter egg hunt and start spring. Our tips for your Easter holidays in Berlin.

Karneval der Kulturen

Karneval der Kulturen

The Carnival of Cultures is one of the largest city festivals in Germany and reflects the diversity of Berlin. Since 1996, the Carnival of

Logo Theatertrefen

Theatertreffen

The next theater meeting will take place from May 2nd to 19th, 2024. The 10 remarkable productions, selected by a jury of critics, will be

Veranstaltungen in Berlin: Festtage der Staatsoper Berlin

Festtage der Staatsoper Berlin

As an annual classical music festival, the Festtage der Staatsoper Berlin is the cultural highlight on Easter days, performed at two venues

Anzeige Olympiastadion Berlin

All about the European Football Championship in Berlin

European football history will be written in Berlin in 2024. Be there when 2.5 million football fans from 120 countries cheer on their team

Highlights in Berlin

 A couple on a boat trip with Reederei Winkler 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

Tickets & dates

Caspar David Friedrich,   Mönch am Meer

Ticket: Caspar David Friedrich - Infinite Landscapes Exhibition

Temporary exhibition at the Alte Nationalgalerie

from €16.00 Pre-sale tickets

  • The Art and History of Caspar David Friedrich
  • Exhibition with 60 paintings & 50 drawings
  • open from 19.04.2024

This you'll find only in Berlin: our tips!

You definitely don´t want to miss that in Berlin! Besides the top sights, Berlin has a lot more to offer.

Berlin has been the stage for a lot of world history and not just the fall of the Berlin Wall. You can still discover the traces of history in countless places around the capital. You can also explore traces of history in the modernist housing estates , which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Every three years, the large, supra-regional festival of building culture, the Triennale der Moderne , focuses on Berlin's modernist architecture.

Berlin is also a proper shopping destination . Besides luxury shops along Kurfürstendamm, you will also want to check out the numerous flea markets around the capital. Go on a shopping tour of Berlin: we're certain you'll find something you'll treasure.

Be sure to visit the popular food markets in Berlin's market halls and try out street foods from all over the world. And no Berlin visit is complete without a taste of local cuisine: we have the best tips for you and your travel companions.

Dome of the Berlin Reichstag sight in warm light

Berlin through the ages

Historic places in Berlin

Berlin’s history is full of highs and lows. Go on a hunt for clues and experience fascinating encounters with the past throughout the entire

Facade of the Kabelwerk Oberspree in Berlin

Industrial heritage in Berlin

Berlin Modernism

Art in the factory hall, fashion shows in the cold store, theatre in the transformer station – all over the city, Berliners have brought

Two women looking through a shop window in Berlin

Look forward to going shopping

Shopping in Berlin

Go for a wander. Berlin’s shopping malls, shops and department stores are an inviting place to embark on an extra-special shopping trip

Ethnological Museum in the Humboldt Forum

The historic centre of Berlin in rapid transformation

Berlin’s new cultural centre

Berlin’s historical centre is undergoing a dynamic change: new museums and major cultural projects are opening their doors.

15-Min-Stadt-Hotel Orania.Berlin exterior

Discover Berlin’s coolest neighbourhoods by foot

The 15-minute city

Enjoy a Berlin city break by foot with the 15-minute city concept. Explore hidden gems and hip neighbourhoods just a stroll from your hotel.

Dicke Wirtin

Meals for real guys

Berlin Cuisine

The food is half the experience when travelling, and Berlin cuisine won't disappoint. Enjoy a hearty meal after a long day of sightseeing.

Sustainable Berlin Visit: FREA - vegan zero waste restaurant

Berlin is that sustainable!

For an environmentally conscious visit to Berlin

  • Stay in certified hotels 
  • Enjoy vegetarian & vegan delicacies
  • Shop responsibly

Favourite tickets

Discover the greatest places to visit from other visitors! Here, you can find tickets for the sights and attractions our Berlin visitors love! 

Our travel service offers the ideal way to enjoy a stress-free holiday in Berlin, making it easy to buy tickets online for sightseeing tours, museums and exhibitions, attractions, sights and shows.

And it’s fast – so you can find the right ticket in just three minutes!   

Falling in Love im Friedrichstadt Palast Berlin

FALLING | IN LOVE Grand Show

Family in the Museum of Natural History Berlin

Tickets & Berlin Activities for Families with Children

Anzeige Six visitBerlin

SIX – The Musical 

Legoland Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Berlin: Fast Entrance Ticket

Flashdance Musical im Admiralspalast

Flashdance - The Musical

Bus from Berlin City Circle Sightseeing in front of the Berlin Cathedral

Tickets for hop-on hop-off & sightseeing tours

Footloose-Musical

Footloose - The Musical

Tierpark Berlin Sumatra tiger

Tickets for Zoo, Aquarium & Tierpark in Berlin

Dali - die immersive Ausstellung in Berlin

Dali Surreal - The immersive exhibition experience.

Berlin Cathedral in Springtime

Tickets for walking tours & guided tours in Berlin

Hans Uhlmann in der Berlinischen Galerie Berlin

Hans Uhlmann "Experimental forming"

TV Tower in Berlin at dusk

Tickets Berlin TV Tower & Restaurant Sphere

SisterAct

Praise Be, the Nuns rock Berlin!

Spree view of the Museum Island

Berlin Museum Island: Day Ticket

Deutschlandmuseum Berlin

Deutschlandmuseum

Which berlin do you want to see.

Berlin: experience the German capital just the way you like. No problem with our Berlin insider tips. Whether you want to photograph Berlin's sights, visit museums, or experience events, we have the tips and information to get you there.

If you've already done the "big sights," we recommend heading out to Berlin's neighbourhoods, where there's lots of water, nature, and one or two insider tips.

Berlin also has a lot to offer for shopaholics, lovers of luxury, foodies, cyclists, and sports fans. Let yourself be inspired by our recommendations.

We also offer tips and tour suggestions for a relaxed holiday in Berlin with children.

Berlin is tolerant and open: you can be yourself here. We have also compiled tips for LGBTI* visitors including events, bars and clubs.

Whether with or without a disability, we want you to explore Berlin comfortably. Find out more at visitBerlin.de.     

Oberbaumbrücke

Berlin for explorers

We show you those sights in Berlin everyone expects you to have seen: the TV Tower, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, and Museum Island.

Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin

The best events for every day of the year

Berlin for the adventurous

Every day, there are so many events taking place in Berlin that we can hardly count them all. But we've put together a selection of the best

Blue Gate at Pergamon Museum in Berlin

More museums than rainy days

Berlin for culture fans

There are some 170 museums in Berlin, that's more museums than rainy days in a year. We help you find the right exhibition.

Bicycles in a Berlin neighbourhood

Get to know the real Berlin

Exploring Berlin neighbourhoods

12x Berlin: we show you largely unknown spots in the neighbourhoods of Berlin's 12 districts. Because one thing is clear: there's more to

Shopping at Hackescher Markt in Berlin

Flea markets, malls & luxury shops

Berlin for Shopaholics

From Kurfürstendamm to flea markets in rear courtyards: in Berlin, everyone becomes addicted to shopping. We show you Berlin's endless

Shoppingtour

Only the best of Berlin for you

Berlin for Luxury Lovers

Take a break in Berlin and let yourself be spoiled: in 5-star restaurants, premium department stores, and top-class restaurants.

NENI Berlin

Food markets, restaurants & currywurst

Berlin for Foodies

Whether a trendy restaurant or a curry sausage, whether vegan or a burger, from street food markets to market halls to snack bars, we show

Fahrradtour an der East Side Gallery

Tips & tours through the city

Berlin for Cyclists

Experience sightseeing from a different angle and pedal hard on your sightseeing tour through Berlin. It's a completely different

1. FC Union Berlin

Berlin is sports central!

Berlin for Sports Fans

Cheer on Berlin teams in football, basketball and other sports. Or discover the many different trendy and recreational sports on offer here.

Boy and girl playing in front of Berliner Dom

Tips for your family holiday

Berlin with small & big children

Berlin's range of offerings for children is huge. Whether you are bringing toddlers, schoolchildren, or teenagers, there are plenty of

LGBTI* Hotels in Berlin

The best tips for the scene

Berlin for LGBTI*

Berlin is one of the most open and tolerant cities in the world today and the gay and lesbian scene in the German capital is flourishing

Berlin for everyone, whatever your abilities - Men is sitting in his wheelchari and takes a picture from Berlin and looks for boats

A Berlin guide for all visitors

Berlin for everyone, whatever your abilities

Discover barrier-free Berlin: on land, on water, or high up over the city. Check out our tips and recommendations.

Header visitBerlin Newsletter OpenAir

Berlin Newsletter

  • Berlin news, events & trends
  • Every month & for free
  • Exclusive offers

Legal notice Privacy Statement

Book your city break to Berlin

We want your holiday to be a memorable experience – and we support you with a range of services and exclusive deals for your trip to Berlin. Looking for the right hotel? We have a wide selection of hotels for you – from budget accommodation to 5-star luxury.

And we have inspected all the hotels – to ensure you can enjoy a perfect holiday in Berlin. Our hotel selection includes accessible, family friendly and LGBTI* hotels.

And best of all – we give you one night free in our Berlin hotels . A special deal you wouldn’t want to miss! Bahnhit Berlin gives you a fantastic rail deal for Berlin – with your train ticket and hotel included.

Our travel advisors are happy to assist you and answer all your questions.

Because:  We love Berlin and know our city like no other!   

Hotels in Berlin

Your Hotel in Berlin

More than 300 certified hotels

Hotel am Steinplatz

Special Deal: Stay 4, Pay 3 from €242

Choose hotel & save

Grimm's Hotel Berlin

Special Deal: Stay 3, Pay 2 from €156.00

ICE im Stadtbild

Berlin for a bargain price

Including train journey & hotel

Tastatur im Call Center mit tippenden Händen

Booking advantages on visitBerlin.de

  • Your complete Berlin holiday – hotels, city trips, tickets & tips
  • Secure booking on the official Berlin travel portal
  • Qualified Berlin experts with over 20 years experience
  • Free of charge travel advice, no commission fees
  • Exclusive prize games for our newsletter readers
  • American Express

Useful information for your trip to Berlin

Group Travel to Berlin

City Trips for many

Group travel to Berlin

From school and college tours to company trips or activity and fun tours by larger groups of friends – we’ll be happy to help you plan your

Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Everything you need to know

Travelling to Berlin

How best to get to Berlin? By train, by car or by coach? Check out our tips for travelling to the German capital.

Berlin Tourist Info at Hauptbahnhof

Information on hotels, tickets and more

Berlin Tourist Infos

Get information and advice for your Berlin visit from the experts at the Berlin Tourist Information Offices dotted around the city.

Splash Travels

Splash Travels

The Best Things To Do In New York

Posted: January 29, 2024 | Last updated: January 29, 2024

<p>The United States is easily one of the best countries in the world. It has so much geographic and cultural diversity inside its borders, you don’t need to travel far to experience something new.</p><p>If you’re looking for a touristy experience without leaving the country, New York is worth a trip.</p><p>Here are <strong>25 of the best things to do in New York</strong>—some being popular tourist attractions, and some being secret hidden gems.</p>

Best Things To Do In New York

The United States is easily one of the best countries in the world. It has so much geographic and cultural diversity inside its borders, you don’t need to travel far to experience something new.

If you’re looking for a touristy experience without leaving the country, New York is worth a trip.

Here are 25 of the best things to do in New York —some being popular tourist attractions, and some being secret hidden gems.

<p>The Empire State Building is arguably one of the most famous buildings in the world, and is a true icon in New York City.</p><p>It stands 102 stories tall (1, 250 feet) and can accommodate tens of thousands of people.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> observation decks, tours, exhibits, shops, restaurants, theater</p><p>Sam valadi, Flickr</p>

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is arguably one of the most famous buildings in the world, and is a true icon in New York City.

It stands 102 stories tall (1, 250 feet) and can accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Features: observation decks, tours, exhibits, shops, restaurants, theater

Sam valadi, Flickr

<p>Old City Hall Subway Station is one of the prettiest subway stations in New York. It was closed in the early 20th century but the stained class windows and stunning arches are a remnant of historic New York.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Historic architecture</p><p>Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Old City Hall Subway Station

Old City Hall Subway Station is one of the prettiest subway stations in New York. It was closed in the early 20th century but the stained class windows and stunning arches are a remnant of historic New York.

Features: Historic architecture

Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>Central Park is an urban oasis right in the heart of the city. It is known as one of the most famous parks in the world and it welcomes about 40 million visitors each year.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> playgrounds, lakes, ponds, trails/tracks, fountains, monuments, nature sanctuaries, amusement attractions, shopping, theater, and more.</p><p>Mathew Knott, Flickr</p>

Central Park

Central Park is an urban oasis right in the heart of the city. It is known as one of the most famous parks in the world and it welcomes about 40 million visitors each year.

Features: playgrounds, lakes, ponds, trails/tracks, fountains, monuments, nature sanctuaries, amusement attractions, shopping, theater, and more.

Mathew Knott, Flickr

<p>The Statue of Liberty is typically the first thing most people notice when visiting New York. It is a colossal monument that stands 305 feet tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.</p><p>Being another one of America’s Historical Landmarks, it stands as a symbol of hope and spirit.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Statue City cruises, museums, tours, park</p><p>I, Laslovarga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is typically the first thing most people notice when visiting New York. It is a colossal monument that stands 305 feet tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

Being another one of America’s Historical Landmarks, it stands as a symbol of hope and spirit.

Features: Statue City cruises, museums, tours, park

I, Laslovarga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed suspension bridge in New York City. It spans across the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and supports 6 lanes of vehicles and a pedestrian/bike path.</p><p>It is known as the <strong>world’s first suspension bridge</strong>, and it was the longest when it opened in 1883.</p><p>Visitors report walking across the Brookyn Bridge at night to be a “magical experience”. The city skyline from the bridge is a view like no other.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Walking path</p><p>Lerone Pieters, Pexels</p>

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed suspension bridge in New York City. It spans across the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and supports 6 lanes of vehicles and a pedestrian/bike path.

It is known as the world’s first suspension bridge , and it was the longest when it opened in 1883.

Visitors report walking across the Brookyn Bridge at night to be a “magical experience”. The city skyline from the bridge is a view like no other.

Features: Walking path

Lerone Pieters, Pexels

<p>New York’s Glass Waterfall is nestled onto one side of the McGraw-Hill building in New York—not far from Times Square.</p><p>Stand inside the glass tunnel and watch the waterfall flow over you—while staying dry.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Tourist photo-op</p><p>Brecht Bug, Flickr</p>

New York’s Glass Waterfall Tunnel

New York’s Glass Waterfall is nestled onto one side of the McGraw-Hill building in New York—not far from Times Square.

Stand inside the glass tunnel and watch the waterfall flow over you—while staying dry.

Features: Tourist photo-op

Brecht Bug, Flickr

<p>Times Square is one of the city’s most popular gathering spots. It’s a major commercial intersection that offers unique attractions and entertainment.</p><p>You’ll find everything you’re looking for here.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Museums, restaurants, shopping, theaters, music halls, upscale hotels, and more.</p><p>Terabass, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Times Square

Times Square is one of the city’s most popular gathering spots. It’s a major commercial intersection that offers unique attractions and entertainment.

You’ll find everything you’re looking for here.

Features: Museums, restaurants, shopping, theaters, music halls, upscale hotels, and more.

Terabass, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>If you’re looking for a swanky shopping district in NY, this it is.</p><p>Fifth Avenue is the top shopping destination for high-end shops and department stores. In fact, it is known as the <strong>world’s most expensive retail destination.</strong></p><p>It also boasts Millionaire’s Row—a stretch of late 19th century mansions overlooking Central Park.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Shopping, museums, mansions</p><p>Ken Lund, Flickr</p>

Fifth Avenue

If you’re looking for a swanky shopping district in NY, this it is.

Fifth Avenue is the top shopping destination for high-end shops and department stores. In fact, it is known as the world’s most expensive retail destination.

It also boasts Millionaire’s Row—a stretch of late 19th century mansions overlooking Central Park.

Features: Shopping, museums, mansions

Ken Lund, Flickr

<p>Another popular street in America is Wall Street, located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. It has been called the <strong>world’s leading financial and fintech center</strong> as it consists of the largest stock exchanges and financial firms.</p><p>Aside from finance, Wall Street has a huge historical component as Manhattan’s original neighborhood.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Tours, Historical guides, Trinity Church, The New York Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull sculpture, Federal Hall, and more.</p><p>GoginkLobabi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Wall Street

Another popular street in America is Wall Street, located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. It has been called the world’s leading financial and fintech center as it consists of the largest stock exchanges and financial firms.

Aside from finance, Wall Street has a huge historical component as Manhattan’s original neighborhood.

Features: Tours, Historical guides, Trinity Church, The New York Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull sculpture, Federal Hall, and more.

GoginkLobabi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>The UN building has a Meditation Room that is completely free and open to the public. It’s a great way to see a little part of the iconic UN building.</p><p>Despite being located in NYC, the UN building is regarded as International Territory—meaning you are not technically in any country while you are in the building.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Meditation room, cultural experience</p><p>United Nations Photo, Flickr</p>

The United Nations Building Meditation Room

The UN building has a Meditation Room that is completely free and open to the public. It’s a great way to see a little part of the iconic UN building.

Despite being located in NYC, the UN building is regarded as International Territory—meaning you are not technically in any country while you are in the building.

Features: Meditation room, cultural experience

United Nations Photo, Flickr

<p>New York City’s Theatre District is an area in Midtown Manhattan where most Broadway theaters are located. It is widely known as the heart of the entertainment industry.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Theaters, restaurants, hotels, entertainment</p><p>Michael Krigsman, Flickr</p>

New York City’s Theatre District is an area in Midtown Manhattan where most Broadway theaters are located. It is widely known as the heart of the entertainment industry.

Features: Theaters, restaurants, hotels, entertainment

Michael Krigsman, Flickr

<p>The Rockefeller Center is a must-see attraction in NYC. Not only is it a tourist hot-spot for many different activities, it is also home to many American traditional events, such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Top of the Rock (observation decks), Ice Rink, Rainbow Room, Tours, Food & Drink, Events and CelebrationsRob Young, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is a must-see attraction in NYC. Not only is it a tourist hot-spot for many different activities, it is also home to many American traditional events, such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Features: Top of the Rock (observation decks), Ice Rink, Rainbow Room, Tours, Food & Drink, Events and CelebrationsRob Young, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>New York Grand Central Station is one the city’s busiest landmarks, with thousands of New Yorkers passing through daily.</p><p>Aside from its rich history and stunning architectural design, it stands as a tourist attraction because it also has an enormous variety of shops and restaurants.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Concourse Ceiling, Booth Clock, Whispering Gallery, Park Avenue Viaduct, Vanderbilt Tennis Club, Grand Central Market, shops, restaurants, cafes, and more.</p><p>Asim Bharwani, Flickr</p>

Grand Central Terminal

New York Grand Central Station is one the city’s busiest landmarks, with thousands of New Yorkers passing through daily.

Aside from its rich history and stunning architectural design, it stands as a tourist attraction because it also has an enormous variety of shops and restaurants.

Features: Concourse Ceiling, Booth Clock, Whispering Gallery, Park Avenue Viaduct, Vanderbilt Tennis Club, Grand Central Market, shops, restaurants, cafes, and more.

Asim Bharwani, Flickr

<p>Pomander Walk is a quaint little tidbit that resembles Olde England right in the heart of NYC. It is a stark contrast from the concrete and glass world of New York.</p><p>Take a stroll down Pomander Walk and enjoy the English countryside hidden in the busy city.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> English-style homes and neighborhood buildings</p><p>Felix Lipov, Shutterstock</p>

Pomander Walk

Pomander Walk is a quaint little tidbit that resembles Olde England right in the heart of NYC. It is a stark contrast from the concrete and glass world of New York.

Take a stroll down Pomander Walk and enjoy the English countryside hidden in the busy city.

Features: English-style homes and neighborhood buildings

Felix Lipov, Shutterstock

<p>The Bronx Zoo is a zoo within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States, with more than 700 different animal species spread across 265 acres of parkland.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Outdoor and Indoor exhibits, rides, animal feedings, events, and more.</p><p>Wally Gobetz, Flickr</p>

The Bronx Zoo is a zoo within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States, with more than 700 different animal species spread across 265 acres of parkland.

Features: Outdoor and Indoor exhibits, rides, animal feedings, events, and more.

Wally Gobetz, Flickr

<p>The Metropolitan Museum of Art—also known as The Met—is a large museum that is part of a museum triad forming one of the largest collections of artworks in the U.S. It presents over 5000 years of art from around the world.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Exhibitions, events, food & drink, and more.</p><p>Penn State University ,Flickr</p>

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art—also known as The Met—is a large museum that is part of a museum triad forming one of the largest collections of artworks in the U.S. It presents over 5000 years of art from around the world.

Features: Exhibitions, events, food & drink, and more.

Penn State University ,Flickr

<p>Harlem is best known for appealing to music lovers. The vibrant neighborhood has an extensive collection of jazz clubs playing sing, Latin, Bebop, and cool jazz all year round.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Jazz clubs, free museum, weekly talks and concerts</p><p>Jorbasa Fotografie, Flickr</p>

Jazz in Harlem

Harlem is best known for appealing to music lovers. The vibrant neighborhood has an extensive collection of jazz clubs playing sing, Latin, Bebop, and cool jazz all year round.

Features: Jazz clubs, free museum, weekly talks and concerts

Jorbasa Fotografie, Flickr

<p>The Yankee Stadium is the new home of baseball in New York City. It sits in the Bronx neighborhood and can fit more than 46,000 people.</p><p>This world-class stadium is a must-see for sports fanatics.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Baseball games, soccer matches, museum, batting practice, food & drinkcdelo9032, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Yankee Stadium

The Yankee Stadium is the new home of baseball in New York City. It sits in the Bronx neighborhood and can fit more than 46,000 people.

This world-class stadium is a must-see for sports fanatics.

Features: Baseball games, soccer matches, museum, batting practice, food & drinkcdelo9032, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>A stunning skyscraper in the heart of New York City, the One World Trade Center is recognized as the <strong>tallest building in the U.S</strong>. It was built on the site of the former World Trade Center.</p><p>Tourists enjoy views of the world-renowned skyline unlike any other in the city.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Observatory, fine dining, shopping, events</p><p>Michael Vadon, Flickr</p>

One World Trade Center

A stunning skyscraper in the heart of New York City, the One World Trade Center is recognized as the tallest building in the U.S . It was built on the site of the former World Trade Center.

Tourists enjoy views of the world-renowned skyline unlike any other in the city.

Features: Observatory, fine dining, shopping, events

Michael Vadon, Flickr

<p>The National September 11 Memorial was built to commemorate those who lost their lives in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.</p><p>One of the best features is the twin reflecting pools, which were built to symbolize the fallen Twin Towers. Names of the fallen are inscribed around the bronze edges of the pools.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Exhibits, memorial, museum, shopping</p><p>Larry Syverson, Flickr</p>

National September 11 Memorial

The National September 11 Memorial was built to commemorate those who lost their lives in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

One of the best features is the twin reflecting pools, which were built to symbolize the fallen Twin Towers. Names of the fallen are inscribed around the bronze edges of the pools.

Features: Exhibits, memorial, museum, shopping

Larry Syverson, Flickr

<p>Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. It offers a culinary trip to a different continent, with dozens of restaurants representing the cuisine of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and Hong Kong.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Temple Mahayana, Columbus Park, MoCa, Ice Cream Factory, restaurants, street vendors, and more.</p><p>Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. It offers a culinary trip to a different continent, with dozens of restaurants representing the cuisine of Southeast Asia, mainland China, and Hong Kong.

Features: Temple Mahayana, Columbus Park, MoCa, Ice Cream Factory, restaurants, street vendors, and more.

Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>Coney Island is located in the heart of South Brooklyn’s amusement district. It has a reputation as a circus-worthy tourist hot spot.</p><p>It’s a vast amusement park that includes attractions of all kinds for all ages.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Rides, restaurants, shops, roller-coasters, go-karting, live entertainment, boardwalk games, beachfront activities, and so much more.</p><p>GPA Photo Archive, Flickr</p>

Coney Island

Coney Island is located in the heart of South Brooklyn’s amusement district. It has a reputation as a circus-worthy tourist hot spot.

It’s a vast amusement park that includes attractions of all kinds for all ages.

Features: Rides, restaurants, shops, roller-coasters, go-karting, live entertainment, boardwalk games, beachfront activities, and so much more.

GPA Photo Archive, Flickr

<p>The Strong National Museum of Play is the ultimate play destination in NYC. It is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Exhibits, museum, Play Lab, Butterfly Museum, Skyline Climb, Videogame Hall of Fame, Toy Hall of Fame, Carousel, Train, and so much more.</p><p>Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons</p>

The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play is the ultimate play destination in NYC. It is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.

Features: Exhibits, museum, Play Lab, Butterfly Museum, Skyline Climb, Videogame Hall of Fame, Toy Hall of Fame, Carousel, Train, and so much more.

Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

<p>After the fall of the Berlin Wall a generation ago, parts of the wall were distributed all across the globe, with five pieces ending up across the city of New York.</p><p>Located at 520 Madison Avenue, you’ll find a section of this wall that makes a great photo backdrop of history buffs. Visitors can walk right up to the wall and touch it.</p><p><strong>Features:</strong> Physical piece of the Berlin Wall</p><p>das_sabrinchen, Flickr</p>

The Berlin Wall

After the fall of the Berlin Wall a generation ago, parts of the wall were distributed all across the globe, with five pieces ending up across the city of New York.

Located at 520 Madison Avenue, you’ll find a section of this wall that makes a great photo backdrop of history buffs. Visitors can walk right up to the wall and touch it.

Features: Physical piece of the Berlin Wall

das_sabrinchen, Flickr

<p>Aside from countless tourist attractions, New York is also known for a number of delicious culinary creations:</p>

New York Food Favorites

Aside from countless tourist attractions, New York is also known for a number of delicious culinary creations:

<p>There are countless ways to get around the busy state of New York. These are the most common touristy transportation services for the ultimate tourist experience:</p>

New York Transportation

There are countless ways to get around the busy state of New York. These are the most common touristy transportation services for the ultimate tourist experience:

<p>Considering the sheer size of New York state, and the endless opportunities for tourism, choosing where you stay will have a great impact on your trip. These are the most common places to stay in New York:</p><p><strong>Upper East Side:</strong> Best for luxury shopping and culture; close to Central Park.</p><p><strong>Midtown Manhattan:</strong> Best for first-time visitors; easy walking and close to Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center</p><p><strong>Lower East Side: </strong>Further from the main tourist area; close to Chinatown and Little Italy</p><p><strong>Harlem: </strong>Best for Black history and culture; close to the Apollo Theater</p><p>Andreas Komodromos, Flickr</p>

Where to Stay

Considering the sheer size of New York state, and the endless opportunities for tourism, choosing where you stay will have a great impact on your trip. These are the most common places to stay in New York:

Upper East Side: Best for luxury shopping and culture; close to Central Park.

Midtown Manhattan: Best for first-time visitors; easy walking and close to Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center

Lower East Side:  Further from the main tourist area; close to Chinatown and Little Italy

Harlem:  Best for Black history and culture; close to the Apollo Theater

Andreas Komodromos, Flickr

<p>New York state is full of countless opportunities for a truly diverse cultural experience. From world-class shopping and fine dining, to outstanding theatrical and historical experiences, there is certainly something for everyone.</p><p>Jorge Láscar, Flickr</p>

Final Thoughts

New York state is full of countless opportunities for a truly diverse cultural experience. From world-class shopping and fine dining, to outstanding theatrical and historical experiences, there is certainly something for everyone.

Jorge Láscar, Flickr

More for You

The massive Ivan Khurs could be taken out of action if heavily damaged (Picture: East2West)

Putin's £80,000,000 spy ship taken out by massive missile strike

A person's emotional reaction when waking up at night can affect sleep quality, according to neurologist Dr. Brandon Peters-Mathews of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle. - Cavan Images/Getty Images/File

Why do I wake up at 3 a.m. every night?

GettyImages-2097723718.jpg

From Tammy Baldwin to Lauren Boebert, Congress members just brought home the dough

Brown recluse spider table

The Cleaning Tip That Will Prevent Brown Recluse Spiders From Invading Your Home

Eric Trump says insurance companies laughed when he asked them for $454 million to cover Donald Trump's bond

Eric Trump says insurance companies laughed when he asked them for $454 million to cover Donald Trump's bond

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is one of the most progressive Democrats in New Jersey, and possibly the nation. He says he’d push New Jersey farther to the left at a time of political upheaval.

This New Jersey mayor wants to be a governor like Ron DeSantis or Greg Abbott — but for the left

Emma Flint smiling

I'm abrosexual - it took me 30 years to realise

Ron Harper, ‘Land of the Lost' and ‘Planet of the Apes' Actor, Dies at 91

Ron Harper, ‘Land of the Lost' and ‘Planet of the Apes' Actor, Dies at 91

Travel-St. Helena Island

The world’s most remote island open to tourists no longer takes five nights to get to

Why You Should Never Roast Carrots In Olive Oil

Why You Should Never Roast Carrots In Olive Oil

40 Things That Didn't Exist 40 Years Ago

40 Things That Didn't Exist 40 Years Ago

Hummingbird flying near thistle plant

Hummingbirds Will Keep Coming Back For These Three Plants In Your Yard

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., speaks during the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Republicans threaten to hold Attorney General Garland in contempt over Biden documents case

Indiana State’s ridiculously fun NIT run is a reminder of how dumb the selection committee was

Indiana State’s ridiculously fun NIT run is a reminder of how dumb the selection committee was

Planking is another type of isometric exercise. - SeventyFour/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Blood pressure is best lowered by 2 exercises, study finds

The BBC was on board HMS Diamond during a mission in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

On board HMS Diamond as it faces Houthi attacks

'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Trailer: Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder Meet Again, Jenna Ortega Joins Ghastly Family | THR News Video

'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Trailer: Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder Meet Again, Jenna Ortega Joins Ghastly Family | THR News Video

The 5 most common deathbed regrets, according to a palliative care nurse

The 5 most common deathbed regrets, according to a palliative care nurse

Manufacturing firm ordered to turn over $1.5M in profits for child labor violations

Manufacturing firm ordered to turn over $1.5M in profits for child labor violations

lsu-v-south-carolina

Everyone thinks LSU coach Kim Mulkey is making things worse for herself

Protect Your Trip »

24 top things to do in las vegas with kids.

Keep kids happy and entertained with these activities in and around Las Vegas.

24 Things to Do in Las Vegas With Kids

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

Getty Images

From circus shows to roller coasters, Las Vegas is full of attractions and entertainment for the whole family.

" Sin City " may not be at the top of your list for a family vacation, yet there's more family entertainment in Las Vegas than most realize.

Families who visit can admire an array of wildlife and sea creatures, as well as exquisite botanical gardens with thousands of plants. Of course, Las Vegas is also home to one-of-a-kind theme parks and water parks that can keep little ones busy for days.

Read on to see our list of fun things do in Las Vegas with kids, as well as which Vegas hotels offer the best amenities for children.

Adventuredome at Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Debuting in 1968, Circus Circus is one of the older properties on the Las Vegas Strip , but it remains popular thanks to its plethora of on-site amenities, including its family-friendly attractions. The property's indoor amusement park , The Adventuredome, is home to roller coasters, arcades and family rides, along with mini golf and free circus acts. Older kids can take part in indoor rock climbing or virtual reality games, while younger children ride the carousel or play bumper cars.

Mandalay Bay Beach

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

When it comes to things to do in Las Vegas with kids, it's hard to beat the pool and beach area at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino . This world-famous aquatic playground features 11 acres of amenities, including a 1.6 million-gallon wave pool, a meandering lazy river and a lagoon for swimming. Families can rent a private cabana and have food and drinks delivered poolside throughout the day.

Springs Preserve

Springs Preserve , which sits less than 10 miles north of the Strip, is a 180-acre cultural institution that aims to showcase Las Vegas history in a family-friendly environment. It's home to the Origen Museum, which details the historic evolution of Las Vegas, the Nevada State Museum, children's playgrounds, galleries and a sprawling botanical garden that's worth a visit on its own, according to travelers. Regular events are also held here, such as fossil digs and guided garden tours.

View & Book Tickets .

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

Whether you have teens or tweens in tow or you're looking for things to do for toddlers in Las Vegas, a stop at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is worth it. This 14,000-square-foot indoor and climate-controlled botanical garden at the Bellagio is transformed and reimagined every season to ensure there's always something new to see. Considering a horticulture staff of more than 100 workers maintains the botanical garden and the grounds of the hotel, you're bound to be impressed by the flora and fauna found inside.

Discovery Children's Museum

The Discovery Children's Museum aims to teach kids about science, technology, engineering and art through interactive learning experiences. Exhibits include "Water World," which features interactive models of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Bypass Bridge to help youngsters understand the power of water, and "Fantasy Festival," which encourages little ones to use their imaginations with its life-size pirate ship and medieval castle.

places to visit berlin tour

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

High Roller Las Vegas Strip Observation Wheel

Located adjacent to The LINQ Hotel & Casino , the High Roller invites families to soar 550 feet above the Las Vegas Strip for stunning 360-degree views of Sin City. The observation wheel – the largest in North America – takes a half-hour to complete a revolution, and families can relax in safety within a fully enclosed cabin. The High Roller also offers a "STEM Family Field Trip Guide" that helps parents teach kids about topics like engineering, velocity and speed.

Shark Reef Aquarium

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

Kids who enjoy thrills and marine life may also love the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. This glass-enclosed water feature is home to more than 2,000 animals, including giant rays, sharks, green sea turtles and a Komodo dragon. Children can even see flesh-eating piranha, which are known for how quickly they devour their prey.

Hershey's Chocolate World

Hershey, Pennsylvania, isn't the only destination with this beloved attraction . Chocolate lovers of all ages can also enjoy Hershey's Chocolate World in Las Vegas. Bring the kids for a few hours of chocolate tasting and shopping within the New York-New York Hotel & Casino . Notable attractions include an 800-pound chocolate sculpture of the Statue of Liberty and a station that lets you customize your own chocolate bars.

Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

This interactive Las Vegas exhibit at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino is the perfect place to take youngsters who love Marvel characters like Captain America, Hulk, Thor and Iron Man. Kids can spend the day exploring the history, genetic profiles and technology of their favorite characters before assembling case files on each one. The end goal is to become a qualified member of the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. – a feat accomplished by only the biggest Marvel fans.

Bellagio Fountains

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

If you're on the Las Vegas Strip and looking for a way to break up the day, head to the exterior of the Bellagio to wait for the famous fountains to shoot water up to 460 feet in the air. The Bellagio Water Show, which is accompanied by music and lights, takes place every 30 minutes from 3 to 7 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 7 p.m. to midnight on Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, this free show takes place every 30 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Fun Dungeon at Excalibur Hotel & Casino

Excalibur Hotel & Casino looks like a giant castle, so it's not surprising there are kid-friendly activities inside. One attraction for kids is the Fun Dungeon, an arcade with more than 200 games for children of all ages. Highlights include the world's biggest Pac-Man game, 60 arcade games and 10 different sports games. An area called Kiddie Land also features 10 different rides for the little ones in your crew.

Las Vegas Helicopter Tour

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

If you really want to wow your kids in Las Vegas, take them on a helicopter tour for unbelievable views of the Las Vegas Strip . While Las Vegas helicopter tours vary in terms of time and scope, most fly directly over the dazzling lights of the city for a new perspective on landmarks, such as the Bellagio Fountains, Caesars Palace and downtown Fremont Street .

M&M's World Las Vegas

Shopping for chocolate is always fun, but that's especially true in the 28,000-square-foot, four-level M&M's store location in Las Vegas. Visitors can create their own M&M's with the help of a personal printer and a selection of colors and logos. Race fans will also love the on-site replica of Kyle Busch's M&M's sponsored NASCAR.

Las Vegas Shows for Kids

Look for family-friendly shows that might work for your kids based on their ages and interests. Some of the most popular Las Vegas shows for kids include Jabbawockeez at the MGM Grand and the Blue Man Group and America's Got Talent Las Vegas Live, both of which can be found at the Luxor Hotel & Casino.

Read: The Top Vegas Shows

The Big Apple Roller Coaster

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

New York-New York Hotel & Casino has its own thrilling roller coaster that travels more than 67 mph with a 180-degree "heartline" twist and a drop of 203 feet. More than 1.4 million people ride this coaster in any given year, and it's worth a visit for teens and tweens that love heart racing excitement. Keep in mind: Individuals must be at least 54 inches without footwear to ride.

SeaQuest Las Vegas

Seaquest lets kids get up close and personal with an array of land and sea creatures, ranging from sharks to Asian otters and kinkajou – a small monkey-like animal that uses its giant tail to glide through the forest canopies of Central and South America. You can even snorkel with stingrays, sharks and tropical fish in a giant aquarium.

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam is just a 40-minute drive southeast of Las Vegas, yet the dramatic change in scenery makes it seem a world away. You can drive the family to Hoover Dam yourself, or you can book a guided tour with transportation from Las Vegas. Either way, the Hoover Dam is a sight to behold thanks to its history as a modern marvel of engineering and its views of Lake Mead and the Colorado River.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving

For the daredevils in your family, there's the adrenaline-pumping Vegas Indoor Skydiving. With the help of a vertical wind tunnel, participants will feel like they're skydiving, but with safety features like a mesh trampoline floor and foam padded walls. The basic package includes training, all the equipment you need and plenty of wind tunnel time. Your kids will love the thrill of soaring through the air without a parachute and the feeling of free-falling with wind speeds of up to 120 mph. Note that height and weight limits apply.

Tournament of Kings

Kids of all ages will love the Tournament of Kings, a Las Vegas dinner and show experience that's held at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. This performance explains the tale of King Arthur with the help of knights, horses and exceptional storytelling. The swords used during the show are even made of real titanium, and they often create sparks during battle sequences.

Lion Habitat Ranch

Located in nearby Henderson, Nevada, about a 15-minute drive south of the Strip, the Lion Habitat Ranch provides the perfect backdrop for experiential learning. This ranch is home to all kinds of animals, ranging from lions to tigers and a giraffe. Guests can take a tour behind the scenes to learn about the feeding, bathing and watering of the property's magnificent creatures. Select tours also let you feed the animals by hand.

Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas

Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas is a water park with rides and slides to suit kids of all ages. Attractions include tube slides, a wave pool, body water slides, a lazy river and a collection of slides for the park's youngest visitors. The park is only 20 minutes southwest of the Las Vegas Strip, and it's open seasonally during warm weather months.

Downtown Container Park

Located on Fremont Street, Downtown Container Park is an open-air center that offers dining, shopping and live entertainment. You can enjoy some family fun on a large climbing structure with several winding slides known as The Treehouse, or during a free concert or movie on the park main stage. Dining options also abound, with restaurants that offer everything from sandwiches to tacos to bubble tea.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas

Courtesy of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

A visit to the Madame Tussauds wax museum could easily blow your kid's minds. Museum visitors can see lifelike wax figures of sports and music icons, such as Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O'Neal, Tupac, Aaliyah and Miley Cyrus. A virtual reality experience and a Marvel Universe 4D movie are also available. You'll find the museum inside The Venetian .

The STRAT Hotel SkyPod

High atop the Las Vegas skyline, you'll find the SkyPod at The STRAT . The SkyPod is located on top of the STRAT's 1,149-foot-tall resort tower, which is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. The SkyPod features several restaurants and an observation deck that was remodeled in 2019. Visitors can also book three different over-the-top rides, all of which propel thrill-seekers over the edge of the tower.

You might also be interested in:

  • The Top Grand Canyon Bus Tours From Las Vegas
  • The Top Spas in Las Vegas
  • The Top Resorts Where Kids Stay Free
  • The Top Travel Strollers
  • The Top Things to Do in San Diego With Kids

Tags: Travel , US Vacations , Family Vacations , Nevada Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

  • # 1 South Island, New Zealand
  • # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The 6 best kauai helicopter tours.

Holly Johnson and Marisa Méndez March 25, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The Best Diaper Bag Backpacks

Amanda Norcross March 21, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The 13 Best Los Angeles Tours

Kyle McCarthy and Marisa Méndez March 21, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The Best Washington, D.C. Tours

Kim Foley MacKinnon March 20, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The Top Amusement Parks in the U.S.

Holly Johnson and Sharael Kolberg March 19, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

Spookiest Savannah Ghost Tours

Gwen Pratesi March 19, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The Best Vegas Shows

Rachael Hood March 19, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

The Best Gettysburg Tours of 2024

Amanda Norcross March 18, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

Alaska Cruise Cost

Gwen Pratesi March 15, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

Spooky Charleston Ghost Tours

Holly Johnson March 15, 2024

places to visit berlin tour

IMAGES

  1. 16 Absolute Best Things to Do in Berlin in 2023

    places to visit berlin tour

  2. 10 Places To Visit In Berlin You Can’t Afford To Miss

    places to visit berlin tour

  3. 10 best places to visit in Berlin

    places to visit berlin tour

  4. 10 Places To Visit In Berlin You Can’t Afford To Miss

    places to visit berlin tour

  5. 10 Places To Visit In Berlin You Can’t Afford To Miss

    places to visit berlin tour

  6. 90+ Things to Do in Berlin

    places to visit berlin tour

VIDEO

  1. Berlin , Germany Tour

  2. Top 10 places to visit in Berlin

  3. Schleuse

  4. Alt

  5. Best Things To Do In Berlin Germany 2024

  6. Berlin Tour

COMMENTS

  1. Berlin's Top 10 Attractions

    Top pick 3: Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm) - Berlin's highest attraction. The Berlin Television Tower, which is known to locals as the Fernsehturm, and is instantly recognisable from the distance, stand outs of the skyline at 368m, making it the tallest building and by far highest tourist attraction in Berlin.

  2. 20 Best Things to Do in Berlin, Germany

    Searching for the best things to do in Berlin, Germany? Top attractions include Brandenburg Gate, Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and of course, the Berlin Wall Memorial.

  3. THE 10 BEST Berlin Tours & Excursions for 2024 (with Prices)

    5. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour from Berlin. 1,568. Historical Tours. 5-6 hours. Get the most out of your visit to Sachsenhausen, one of the first concentration camps in Germany, by touring with an English…. Free cancellation. Recommended by 98% of travelers.

  4. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Berlin

    Things to Do in Berlin. Find traces of Germany's divided past at the Berlin Wall memorial, or go on a guided tour around Third Reich sites like the Reichstag Building and Brandenburg Gate. Things to Do in Berlin, Germany: See Tripadvisor's 1,716,286 traveler reviews and photos of Berlin tourist attractions.

  5. 24 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Berlin

    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.

  6. 14 of the best things to do in Berlin

    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.

  7. THE TOP 10 Berlin Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)

    Get an insider's look at Berlin, the capital and cultural centerpiece of Germany, on this guided walking tour. Visit some of Berlin's most popular attractions — like the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie — as well as a few lesser-known locations that many group sightseeing tours miss.

  8. 17 Best Things to Do in Berlin

    Landwehr Canal. You visit the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag to sightsee in Berlin. You wander the Landwehr Canal to fall in love with Berlin. Arguably the city's best people-watching spot, the ...

  9. The BEST Berlin Tours and Things to Do in 2024

    1. Berlin: 1-Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating. Discover some of the key landmarks of Berlin on a sightseeing boat tour. Enjoy a relaxing river cruise on the Spree to take in the sights at the heart of this bustling city. Depart from Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel.

  10. 22 AWESOME Things to Do in Berlin for an Unforgettable Trip

    5. Admire the Berliner Dom. Berliner Dom, otherwise known as the Berlin Cathedral, is a Neo-Renaissance style building built in 1905. Paying a visit to this gorgeous cathedral is considered to be one of the top ten things to do in Berlin!

  11. 50+ Incredible Things to do in Berlin (from a local)

    Best Tours in Berlin Photo Credit: Viator. 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.

  12. 75 Best Things to Do in Berlin (Germany)

    Visit for a tour during the week, or try to catch the famous atmosphere of a Bundesliga match when Hertha BSC play their home matches in the ground between August and May. ... Friedrichshain to the east is packed with museums, and officially has the highest density of nightclubs in Berlin. Recommended tour: 2.5-Hour Walking Tour through ...

  13. 29 Best Things To Do in Berlin + My Favourite Hidden Gems

    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.

  14. 95 Fun & Unusual Things to Do in Berlin

    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 ...

  15. The Best Places to Visit in Berlin, Germany

    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. ... 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 ...

  16. 17 Best Things To In Berlin, Germany

    A first-time visit to Berlin is bound to be an absolutely incredible experience, filled with an eclectic mix of history, culture and gorgeous sights, it's - 17 Best Things To In Berlin, Germany - Travel, Travel Advice - Berlin, Europe, Germany - Travel, Food and Home Inspiration Blog with door-to-door Travel Planner! - Travel Advice, Travel Inspiration, Home Inspiration, Food Inspiration ...

  17. 12 Top-Rated Day Trips from Berlin

    11. The Museum Village of Düppel. 12. The Military History Museum. Map of Day Trips from Berlin. 1. Visit Potsdam's Beautiful Parks and Palaces. Sanssouci Park, Potsdam. The historic city of Potsdam, the capital of the state of Brandenburg, is located just 40 kilometers southwest of Berlin.

  18. 12 Best Places To Visit In Germany With Family In 2024!

    12 Best Places To Visit In Germany With Family In 2024! Story by Caroline Makepeace. • 3mo • 14 min read.

  19. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Berlin

    Find traces of Germany's divided past at the Berlin Wall memorial, or go on a guided tour around Third Reich sites like the Reichstag Building and Brandenburg Gate. Things to Do in Berlin, Germany: See Tripadvisor's 1,717,076 traveller reviews and photos of Berlin tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April.

  20. Berlin's official travel website

    Discover the greatest places to visit from other visitors! Here, you can find tickets for the sights and attractions our Berlin visitors love! Our travel service offers the ideal way to enjoy a stress-free holiday in Berlin, making it easy to buy tickets online for sightseeing tours, museums and exhibitions, attractions, sights and shows.

  21. Best places to visit in October: 35+ RECOMMENDATIONS

    2.4. Berlin - one of the best places to visit in Germany in October. Berlin is an unmissable destination in Germany, especially in October with cool weather and many exciting activities waiting for tourists to discover. You cannot miss the opportunity to admire the Berlin Festival of Lights - one of the largest light art festivals in the world.

  22. The Best Things To Do In New York

    Discover 25 things to do in New York. From world-class shopping and fine dining, to outstanding theatrical and historical experiences, there is certainly something for everyone. Travel

  23. Spring equinox: First day of spring arrives

    The spring equinox will arrive exactly at 3:06 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) on Wednesday, March 20, according to EarthSky . For the vast majority of people in the Western Hemisphere, that ...

  24. 24 Top Things to Do in Las Vegas With Kids

    Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas is a water park with rides and slides to suit kids of all ages. Attractions include tube slides, a wave pool, body water slides, a lazy river and a collection of slides for ...