Things to do
Things to do in Berlin: 12 ideas from the Wall to Museum Island
Berlin is a city where history sits in the streets and culture runs late into the night. These are the twelve things we would do, from Bernauer Strasse and Museum Island to the markets of Kreuzberg.
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On a Sunday afternoon at Tempelhofer Feld people cycle down the old runway while kites hover over the grass where planes once landed. In the middle of a city of millions, there is suddenly room for everything.
Berlin is big and spread out, so it pays to plan your days by district. We have picked twelve experiences that show the city's history, art and everyday life, with advice on what to book and what you can do for free.
Short answer: what should you do in Berlin?
See the Brandenburg Gate and climb the Reichstag dome, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse and the East Side Gallery, and spend a day on Museum Island. Cycle across Tempelhofer Feld, then eat and go out in Kreuzberg and Neukölln.
Best for history: the Berlin Wall Memorial
Best museums: Museum Island
Best free thing: Tempelhofer Feld
Best view: the Reichstag dome
Best evening: Kreuzberg
1. The Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden
The gate is Berlin's best-known symbol and stood behind the Wall for almost thirty years. Walk on along Unter den Linden towards Museum Island.
2. The Reichstag dome
The glass dome on the Reichstag is free but must be booked online in advance. A spiral ramp climbs up while you look down into the chamber where parliament meets.
The catch: slots go quickly, so book as early as you can.
3. The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse
A preserved stretch of the Wall with the death strip between its two lines. It is the best place to understand what the border really looked like.
4. The East Side Gallery
The longest surviving section of the Wall is covered in murals along the Spree. Go early to avoid the crowds at the famous paintings.
5. Museum Island
Five museums on an island in the Spree, including Nefertiti in the Neues Museum and the nineteenth-century paintings of the Alte Nationalgalerie. Choose one or two a day and book a time slot.
The Pergamon Museum is closed for a long renovation, so check what is open before you go. The Berlin Cathedral next door has a dome with views over the island.
6. The Holocaust Memorial
The field of concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate is free and open. The information centre below ground gives faces to the numbers.
7. Tempelhofer Feld
The old airport is now a vast park. Hire a bike and ride on the runway, or bring a picnic.
There are no trees and little shade, so carry water in summer. The gates face Neukölln, Tempelhof and Kreuzberg, and the park closes at night.
8. Kreuzberg and the canal
The Landwehrkanal with its cafés, the market on Maybachufer and the streets around Oranienstrasse show Berlin's everyday life and nightlife.
9. The Topography of Terror
The exhibition on the Nazi terror apparatus stands where the Gestapo had its headquarters. Free and very well done.
A stretch of the Wall still runs along the street outside, and Checkpoint Charlie is a few minutes away, though today it is mostly a tourist stop.
10. The Mauerpark Sunday market
The flea market in Mauerpark draws crowds every Sunday, and in summer the audience sings karaoke in the amphitheatre.
11. Charlottenburg Palace
The baroque palace in the west has gardens made for a quiet day away from the centre.
12. Potsdam
The palaces and gardens of Sanssouci are a short train ride away and deserve a full day.
Hotel de Rome
Hotel de Rome in Berlin.
Where to stay in Berlin
Mitte keeps the big sights close, while Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg put you near the nightlife. Our Berlin hotel guide covers every district.
Hotel de Rome: Bebelplatz on the doorstep
Hotel de Rome stands on Bebelplatz in a former bank building, with a roof terrace over Unter den Linden and Museum Island a few minutes away on foot. You sleep in the heart of historic Berlin and can walk to most of this list. A luxury pick for calm in the centre.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel de Rome
Orania.Berlin
Orania.Berlin in Kreuzberg.
Orania.Berlin: Kreuzberg outside the door
Orania.Berlin is on Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg, in an old corner building with a bar and live music on the ground floor. The canal, the markets and the nightlife of the district are all close. For travellers who want local Berlin, not just the monuments.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Orania.Berlin
Good to know before you go
Book the Reichstag: the dome visit is free but needs online registration.
Carry some cash: many cafés and bars still do not take cards.
Sundays are quiet: most shops close, but the markets open.
Use public transport: the U-Bahn and S-Bahn cover the whole city.
Berlin: frequently asked questions
What should you see in Berlin?
The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome, the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, the East Side Gallery and Museum Island cover the essentials.
Is the Reichstag dome free?
Yes, but you must register online in advance and bring ID.
How many days do you need in Berlin?
Three to four days gives time for history, museums and a couple of districts.
Where can you see the Berlin Wall?
At the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse and along the East Side Gallery by the Spree.