The picture is part of the travel blog 'The Essence of Traveling'. This travel blog features authentic and unique travel content such as compact travel guides and itineraries, travel tips and how-to guides, travel essays, and authentic perspectives about destinations from all around the world. The picture shows an antique globe and someone holding a magnifying glass in front of it. In the background, there is an old leather bag. The picture is part of the Europe travel guides.
The picture is part of the travel blog 'The Essence of Traveling'. This travel blog features authentic and unique travel content such as compact travel guides and itineraries, travel tips and how-to guides, travel essays, and authentic perspectives about destinations from all around the world. The photo is used for the Europe travel guides.
The picture is part of the travel blog 'The Essence of Traveling'. This travel blog features authentic and unique travel content such as compact travel guides and itineraries, travel tips and how-to guides, travel essays, and authentic perspectives about destinations from all around the world. The picture shows an antique map in the background. In the foreground, there is a mobile phone showing the time and a background photo of a cafe. The phone is laying on a notebook and next to it there is a pen. The picture is part of the Europe travel guides.

Berlin travel guide

Guide me through Berlin

“Berlin is poor but sexy.” A first-time visit to Germany’s capital is bound to be an intense experience due to a fusion of grit and glamour, cutting-edge architecture, turbulent history, and wild nightlife. Wander Berlin and take in its anything-goes spirit, the constant sense of motion, its industrial look, and the incredible art that can be found everywhere you go. Being a city that is inescapably defined by its past, Berlin intrigues and welcomes its visitors with open arms.

Not yet sure where to travel after Berlin?

Berlin Top 5

See the Brandenburg Gate

Learn about Germany’s turbulent history

Have at least one unique experience

Try Currywurst

Visit a museum

Best things to do in Berlin

The Highlights

Top 5  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

The picture is part of the travel blog 'The Essence of Traveling'. This travel blog features authentic and unique travel content such as compact travel guides and itineraries, travel tips and how-to guides, travel essays, and authentic perspectives about destinations from all around the world. The photo is used for the Europe travel guides.
No matter how long you stay in Berlin, you will never run out of activities in Germany’s capital which is in constant movement. Nevertheless, there are some main attractions you cannot miss while visiting this vibrant city.
 
Visit Berlin’s best-known landmark, the iconic Brandenburg Gate, which is until today the national symbol of unified Germany. Berlin’s most famous church, the Berlin Cathedral, can be visited from the inside and outside and is located on Museum Island. Not only home to the Berliner Dom, but also the city’s oldest museums, Museum island is well worth a visit to marvel at fantastic architecture in beautiful surroundings
 
See where the German Parliament is operating at Berlin’s Reichstag. You can enter the transparent dome to catch a panorama of the city and learn about its history. Don’t forget to bring your passport and book your tickets in advance.
 
Another impressive building is Charlottenburg Palace. Although the royal palace can be toured, its grounds and gardens are the genuine highlights, best enjoyed on a summer afternoon. The French Cathedral is a further example of splendid architecture in the German capital.
 
Hang out at Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz, two of the city’s main squares, featuring Berlin’s iconic TV tower. Go up to the top to catch dazzling views of the city. A typical Berlin institution is the KaDeWe, a famous but expensive department store with a gourmet food court.
 
See some preserved parts of the Berlin Wall on Bernauer Straße or visit the famous East Side Gallery, a part of the wall which was turned into an open-air art gallery. Located right next to East Side Gallery in the Friedrichshain district, the Oberbaum Bridge is a classic landmark. In general, Friedrichshain is an alternative and trendy neighborhood popular with artists and students and worth to be explored. Find spectacular street art, hip boutiques and markets, trendy cafés and bars, and some of the city’s best nightclubs in this area.
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Special things to see in Berlin

The Parks

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

If you find yourself lucky and visit the German capital during good weather, stroll some of the city’s beautiful and interesting parks. Tiergarten is Berlin’s most extensive park and features a beer garden, the Victory Column, and several lakes on which you can ice-skate in the winter and rent a pedal boat in the summer. 
 
Treptower Park, an atmospheric park close to the river Spree and an abandoned amusement park, houses apart from interesting war memorials some great beer gardens worth visiting. Relax at Tempelhof Field, once an old airport, nowadays one of Berlin’s most popular parks amongst locals and tourists. Every Sunday, Mauerpark hosts a giant flea market with open-air karaoke. Find vintage furniture, artwork, music, food, and beer while wandering the market.

Best museums to visit in Berlin

Museums

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

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Thanks to its turbulent history and reputation as a haven for artists of all kinds, Berlin has a museum scene that is second to none. Learn about diverse aspects of World War II and Berlin during Communist rule in several museums. The most popular museums are the Topography of Terror Museum, documenting the horror of the Nazi regime and Holocaust, the Stasi Museum, showcasing the exploitation of East Germany’s secret police, the DDR Museum, documenting life in Berlin during Communist rule, and the Jewish History Museum, focusing on Jewish history and culture.
 
A whole island, the Museumsinsel, is dedicated to some of the capital’s best museums. The complex includes Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode Museum, and the Pergamon Museum. Check out the different museums which showcase ancient pieces and art collections spanning several millennia, from ancient Greece to the late 18th century. Neuse Museum, housed in a once bombed-out building, is home to a vast collection of artifacts from the ancient world including the bust of Nefertiti, jewelry, mummies, and more. The Natural History Museum is educative and fun for both, young and old and hosts more than 30 million items relating to zoology, geology, mineralogy, and paleontology.
 
Art lovers will get their money’s worth by visiting Berlin’s excellent art museums such as Berlinische Gallerie, Hamburger Bahnhof Museum, or Sammlung Boros.
 
Visit the Deutsche Kinemathek to learn about German filmmaking in an interactive way or the German Museum of Technology which exhibits historical technical artifacts such as airplanes, WWII rockets, u-boats, and more.
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More fun activities to do in Berlin

Other Activities

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

If you are traveling with kids, a visit to Germany’s most popular zoo and aquarium is a great way to spend the afternoon. Take one of Berlin’s many bike or boat tours to get to know the city from a different perspective.
 
For those who have more time on their hands and want to escape the gritty feeling of the city for a while, head to Grunewald Forest for a hike, picnic, or swim at Kuhhorn beach. You can hike Teufelsberg, an artificial hill housing an old listening station from the cold war at the top, which is now an open-air gallery and viewpoint. Or visit nearby Drachenberg for a fantastic and free view of the city.

Berlin's history during the war

WWII Sights

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

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A visit to Berlin would not be complete without learning something about its turbulent history. The best way to do so is by visiting one of the educative museums thematizing World War II and Germany after its separation into West and East. Great museums therefore are the Topography of Terror, the Jewish History Museum, the DDR Museum, the Palace of Tears, and the Stasi Museum. Afterwards, visit the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe to reflect on the Holocaust and the Berlin Wall to fully understand the meaning of those two main attractions.
 
With Checkpoint Charlie, Neue Wache, and Bebelplatz you will see three interesting historical sites in the city. Visit the famous Checkpoint Charlie, a remaining border post between former East and West Berlin. The Neue Wache symbolizes a powerful memorial to the victims of war and dictatorship, while nearby Bebelplatz offers insight into a library with empty shelves where Nazi students burned over 20 000 non-German books. Look through the small window on the ground.
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Top unique experiences in Berlin

Unique Experiences

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

There’s no shortage of unusual, quirky things to do in Berlin. Tour the underground and explore bunkers, escape tunnels, and air-raid shelters with the Berliner Unterwelten-Museum. Or discover the city’s many abandoned places such as a deserted amusement park, or an abandoned spy station on your own, or with a guided tour instead. 
 
It’s almost unavoidable to escape Berlin’s legendary techno scene while partying in Germany’s capital. In Berlin, there’s even a spa called Liquidrom where visitors can listen to underwater techno music as they float in a saltwater pool or enjoy the sauna. After relaxing to techno music, play black-light mini-golf in the park café in Görlitzer Park.
 
When it comes to food, there is way more to explore than tasty Currywurst. If you happen to be in Berlin on a weekend, spend your Sunday at Preußen Park, which transforms into Thai Park where vendors serve up fantastic Asian street food cooked on the spot. Or take a cooking course where insects are the star on the menu. This sustainable way of food preparation can be pre-tried at a stall at Markthalle Neun. For an unforgettable cup of tea, visit the Tajikistan Tearoom. Once a gift to Germany from the Soviets, this oriental pavilion nowadays serves Russian teatime delicacies.
 
And why don’t have a bite of culture for lunch? Every Tuesday, the Berliner Philharmonie gives a free concert during the lunch break in the main foyer of the Kammermusiksaal.

Best food to try in Berlin

Local Delicacies

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Travel Tips  •  Transportation

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Being a multicultural capital, Berlin features an epic food scene with plenty of budget street food options as well. Find vendors selling all kinds of local and international delicacies everywhere throughout the city, with Döner Kebab and Currywurst being amongst the most popular. To save some travel money, get the lunch or student specials offered at some cafes and restaurants or grab a beer on the go from a kiosk, best enjoyed in one of the city’s many parks.
 
In addition to Berlin’s vibrant street food culture, traditional German food can be found around the city as well. You cannot leave the country without working yourself through the choices of bread, pastries, and cakes in a German bakery. Have a Kaffee und Kuchen break, the German ritual to have coffee and cake in the afternoon in one of the city’s cozy cafes while reading a book or socializing with friends or family.
 
Find SchnitzelSpätzle (egg pasta traditionally served with cheese and roasted onions), and dumplings with cabbage and a tender meat side dish in restaurants serving traditional German food, or try your way through the vast selection of sausages, soups, or stews Germany is so famous for.
 
Don’t forget about German beer and wine! Have a glass of beer in one of the many beer gardens popping up during summer everywhere throughout the city or indulge in traditional and local brands in pubs or breweries.
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Best travel tips for Berlin

Useful travel tips

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Transportation

Here are some tips and tricks on how to manage Germany’s crazy capital. 
 
  • Summers are full of life and outdoor activities, while winters can be harsh but cozy. Bring suitable clothes for the season during which you are visiting.
  • Enjoy Berlin’s Christmas Markets over a mulled wine in November and December, which fill the city with a magical atmosphere. 
  • Take a Free Walking Tour or join a specialty tour to learn about the city’s turbulent history or artsy side.
  • To save some travel budget, bring your student card and ask for discounts. Get the Berlin Welcome Card if you plan on doing loads of sightseeing and using public transport.
The picture is part of the travel blog 'The Essence of Traveling'. This travel blog features authentic and unique travel content such as compact travel guides and itineraries, travel tips and how-to guides, travel essays, and authentic perspectives about destinations from all around the world. The photo is used for the Europe travel guides.

Transportation tips for Berlin

Transportation

Top 5  •  Highlights  •  Specials  •  Museums  •  Other Activities  •  Unique Experiences  •  Delicacies  •  Travel Tips

Berlin’s public transportation system consists of the subway, tram, and buses. Tickets can be purchased on the platform or via the BVG app. Random checks are common, so make sure you have a valid ticket to avoid a hefty fine. Ticket fares are based on travel time and zone. A transportation pass can come in handy as well when using the public transportation system frequently or staying longer in the city.
 
There are several bike rental services around the city which makes it easy to get around by bike as well. The airport is connected to Berlin Central Station and the city center via the Airport Express and regional trains, as well as via S-Bahn.
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Travel Tips

The Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist

or learn which food to try and souvenirs to buy on your next trip to Europe

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