Looking for things to do in Berlin, Germany? Check out my list of must-see sights and the very best things to do in Berlin!
Berlin is one of the most interesting cities in Europe with a dramatic history, fascinating culture and beautiful architecture. The capital of Germany has been the center of a heartbreaking war and has been divided, reunited, destroyed, and rebuilt. Berlin is almost a monument in itself and there are actually no cities in the world quite like Berlin.
There are hundreds of things to do in Berlin and it can get a little overwhelming for first-time visitors. It’s impossible to see it all on a single trip to Berlin, or even on many trips. That’s precisely why I’d made this list of the best must-see sights and things to do in Berlin.
Table of Contents
1. East Side Gallery
Although the Berlin Wall was about 27 miles (43 kilometers) long, there isn’t much left today. But at the East Side Gallery, there’s a 0.8 mile (1.3 kilometers) long stretch of the Berlin Wall. It’s actually the longest remaining piece since the fall of the wall in 1989.
The East Side Gallery is located parallel to the River Spree, which was once the boundary of the area. Therefore, this piece of the wall isn’t that thick, because it just served as an extra wall towards East Berlin.
The wall isn’t dull and gray at all, as it has been decorated by artists from all over the world. A gigantic work of art has been created with 106 paintings relating to the political changes of 1989-1990. After the decoration, the East Side Gallery became the longest open-air gallery in the world! If you’re interested in the history of the city, this is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Berlin!
2. Berlin Cathedral
Berlin Cathedral is located on the Museum Island and is the largest, most beautiful, and peaceful cathedral in all of Berlin! The first church on the site was originally built in 1443, while the current church wasn’t completed until 1905. So it’s actually a fairly new cathedral.
Unfortunately, the church was badly damaged by several bombings during World War II. It was not until 1993 that the church could finally be reopened, but still it wasn’t completely finished until 2002.
When visiting the Berlin Cathedral, don’t miss the crypt with the royal family resting. But you must also not forget to go up in the impressive green dome that is the hallmark of the cathedral. You’ll have to climb the 270 steps to get there, but you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic view of Berlin!
3. Museum Island
The Museum Island is located in the heart of the historic center of Berlin and forms the northern tip of the Spree Island. It’s the oldest and most important museum complex in Berlin and has five world-famous museums! Museum Island is also the largest cultural investment project in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The museums on Museum Island are Pergamon Museum, Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bode Museum, and Altes Nationalgalerie. The museums each have thousands of artistic and cultural exhibits throughout the 6,000-year history of mankind.
The Pergamon Museum is supposed to be the best museum on the island and is at the same time one of the most important archeological museums in the world. If you’re not interested in art, you can also just take a walk on Museum Island.
4. Brandenburger Tor
One of the absolute best things to do in Berlin is to see the Brandenburger Tor! You simply can’t have been in Berlin without seeing it! The Brandenburger Tor is located at the end of Unter den Linden and is the last preserved city gate in Berlin. Originally, there were 18 city gates along the old wall.
The Brandenburger Tor has been Berlin’s landmark for more than 200 years and has survived both World War II and the Cold War. The gate was built in 1791 as a symbol of peace but ended up being a symbol of the divided city during the Cold War.
The Brandenburger Tor was the largest and most famous border crossing and served as an important customs post for traders. But the famous city gate later became the symbol of freedom and the reunification of Germany.
5. Siegessäule
The Siegessäule is a 220-foot (67-meter) high victory pillar that stands in the middle of the large roundabout in the Tiergarten. The Victory Column stands as a memorial to the Prussian victories over Denmark, Austria, and France in the 19th century. At the top of the pillar stands a 27-foot (8-meter) tall and a 35-ton statue of the Roman goddess of victory, Victoria.
The gilded cannons at the bottom of the column are trophies from the war in Denmark, Austria, and France. The Siegessäule was damaged during World War II and there are actually still bullet holes!
If you want to visit the Victory Column, go through one of the four tunnels that lead under the busy road. Here you can choose to go up the pillar, but it requires climbing a steep spiral staircase with 285 steps. The stairs lead up to a viewing platform with beautiful views of Berlin and the Tiergarten, the largest park in Berlin.
6. Berliner Fernsehturm
The German capital is a very flat city, and therefore it’s difficult to avoid noticing the Television Tower with a height of 1,207 feet (368 meters)! It’s the tallest building in Berlin and has become a major landmark of the city. That’s precisely why the Television Tower is one of the absolute best things to do in Berlin!
If you’re not afraid of heights, you can use the tower’s extremely fast elevator to ascend the dome to a height of 666 feet (203 meters) in just 40 seconds. From here there’s a spectacular 360-degree view of Berlin! You can also choose to have dinner at the popular restaurant in the dome with a revolving floor.
It may be a good idea to book tickets in advance. As I said, this is one of the best things to do in Berlin and there can be a very long wait.
7. Grosser Tiergarten
Grosser Tiergarten is located right in the center of Berlin and is the largest and most popular park in the city. This is Berlin’s answer to Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London. It’s the city’s green lungs and is a wonderful getaway in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the big city.
The park is a peaceful oasis with large green grasslands, deep forests, blue lakes, beautiful sculptures, and important memorials. You can either go for a walk on one of the trails, rent a rowing boat, go on a picnic, or something completely different.
One thing is for sure, you’ll have a relaxing day in scenic surroundings. Grosser Tiergarten is crossed by several roads, but the most famous is Strasse des 17. Juni, the main road with the large roundabout and the Siegessäule victory pillar.
8. Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is often just called Alex by the locals and is a central square in the Mitte district. It’s known for being one of the most famous and lively squares in all of Berlin. Here you’ll find a myriad of shops, restaurants, and attractions within a short walking distance. Alexanderplatz is also one of the most important traffic hubs in Berlin with both the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses.
Alexanderplatz is dominated by the city’s tall TV Tower, also one of the best things to do in Berlin! You can also see the great World Clock, which shows the clock in 148 major cities from around the world. Alexanderplatz is a great base for exploring Berlin.
9. Checkpoint Charlie
Once upon a time, Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous border crossing between East and West Berlin. It was located right on the border between the Soviet and American sectors, creating a tense atmosphere. Back in 1961, Checkpoint Charlie had the attention of the whole world when American and Soviet tanks pointed at each other and the world feared World War III. Back then, Berlin was called the most dangerous place in the world!
Today, Checkpoint Charlie has become one of the best things to do in Berlin and is visited by tourists from all over the world. But it’s actually only a copy of the original barrack because it’s on display at the Allied Museum.
In front of Checkpoint Charlie stands two border guards dressed in a Russian uniform and an American uniform. However, they’re just actors and just stand there for the pleasure of the tourists. If you want to learn more about the dramatic history of the Berlin Wall, don’t miss the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, also called the Mauermuseum.
10. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
One of the best things to do in Berlin is to visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, one of the most special churches in Germany. Here the ruins of an old church tower stand side by side with a new modern bell tower. The original church with six towers was completed in 1895 and was a gift to the German people.
During World War II, the church and surrounding area were destroyed in a British bombing raid. It was left in ruins, but after a long time, the Germans chose to preserve the old church tower as a memorial to the devastation and meaninglessness of World War II. However, a new church room and church tower were built on each side of the ruins.
You can visit both the new church and the old church for free. The old church has a memorial hall with its history, symbols of war and peace, ancient mosaics, and much more.
11. Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is a traffic hub in Berlin and was one of the busiest places in Europe before the war. There were actually so many people and traffic that the first traffic light in Europe was set up here in 1924! During World War II, the square was bombed and later the Berlin Wall was built across the square. It wasn’t exactly a safe place to stay. And one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe was suddenly deserted with only a single eatery left.
After the war, Potsdamer Platz re-emerged and was the largest construction site in Europe for 5 years. A large collection of high-rise buildings in glass and steel was built – and an extremely modern district emerged from nothing.
One of the most famous buildings is the Sony Center with interesting architecture. This is also where you’ll find the viewpoint, Panorama point, and a myriad of shopping malls, cinemas, and restaurants. You can also see a piece of the Berlin Wall placed in its original place.
Read more: Guide to Public Transportation in Berlin
12. Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial
The Berlin-Hohenschönhausen-Memorial is unfortunately often forgotten on several lists of the best things to do in Berlin – and that’s a shame! The Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial provides a unique, exciting, and terrifying insight into an old STASI prison. The inmates were political opponents and were mentally tortured daily with isolation, sleep deprivation, and threats against family members.
The buildings and furniture of the old STASI prison are almost intact and provide a frightening insight into life behind bars. It’s only possible to visit the prison on guided tours, but it’s a very exciting experience! In fact, it’s often former prisoners who show visitors around the STASI prison.
In my opinion, this prison was more exciting than the Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, so it’s a really good experience in Berlin! It’s without a doubt a prison that should be on every list of the best things to do in Berlin.
13. Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum is one of the most popular museums in Berlin, and among the most important archeological museums in the world! The museum is located on Museum Island and is extremely popular.
Discover some of the largest ancient finds in the world and fascinating archeological finds from ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic and Byzantine cultures in the Middle East. The Pergamon Museum is huge, but it also houses entire Greek temples and Byzantine cities!
The museum is named after the largest attraction, the Pergamon Altar, from the 2nd century BC. There are also other popular exhibitions such as the Ishtar Gate from Babylon and the exhibition of Islamic art.
14. Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmenmarkt is believed to be the most beautiful square in Berlin, and some even believe that it’s the most beautiful square in all of Europe. However, it can be discussed whether it’s the most beautiful square because it mostly just consists of concrete. One thing is for sure though, it’s still one of the best things to do in Berlin!
The Gendarmenmarkt was built in the late 17th century, but large parts were destroyed during World War II. It took many years before the square was rebuilt and became beautiful again. The Gendarmenmarkt is surrounded by several magnificent and historic buildings, which are the two Protestant churches, the Französischer Dom and the Deutscher Dom, as well as the Konzerthaus Berlin.
If you visit Berlin in December, you can experience one of the most magical Christmas markets in Berlin right here on the Gendarmenmarkt!
15. Berlin Wall Memorial
The Berlin Wall Memorial, also called the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, is one of the best things to do in Berlin. This memorial for the Berlin Wall has a long intact piece of the Berlin Wall with an inner wall and a watchtower as well as rusty metal rods from the interior of the wall. Most of the escape tunnels were also located in the area, and today they’re marked with flat granite stones in the grass.
The official Berlin Wall Memorial also has an outdoor photo exhibition. The exhibition presents the story of the people’s lives as trapped in their own city with escape attempts through the tunnels and much more. There’s also an information center across the street where you can immerse yourself even more in the history of the infamous Berlin Wall.
16. Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, is a must-see sight in Berlin. The Holocaust Memorial is a memorial in honor of the nearly 6 million Jews killed in Europe during World War II. The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete pillars of various heights, covering a huge area.
Under the memorial is a visitor center, documenting the history of the persecuted Jews. Down here you can see the names of some of the Jews killed, read about their history, and learn more about the gruesome persecution of Jews in Germany and the rest of Europe. It’s a very touching and thoughtful visit and is not recommended with small children.
17. Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm, also known as Ku’damm, is by far the most popular shopping street in all of Berlin! The street stretches for 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) and offers a myriad of large department stores, shops, restaurants, and hotels. This is also where you’ll find KaDeWe, the largest department store in Europe!
Many people call the Kurfürstendamm Berlin’s answer to 5th Avenue in New York and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It’s also a great place for shopping in Berlin and there’s something for everyone, whether you want exclusive brands or discount brands. You simply can’t go shopping in Berlin without swinging the credit card at the Kurfürstendamm.
18. Reichstag
Reichstag is the parliament building in Germany and has been the site of major political events in Germany throughout history. Reichstag is one of the most historic landmarks in Berlin and also one of the absolute best things to do in Berlin!
A visit to the Reichstag allows you to get really close to the political everyday life in Germany. But it’s actually the impressive glass dome at the top of the building that seriously attracts visitors. From the glass dome, you get a beautiful 360-degree view of Berlin with some of the most popular sights in Berlin. The best thing about it all is that it’s free to visit the Reichstag! However, it does require that you register your visit well in advance.
19. Berlin Zoological Garden
Berlin Zoological Garden is one of the most popular zoos in all of Europe! The zoo is huge with 19,500 animals spread over 1,500 species, making it one of the most species-rich zoos in the world! Some of the most popular animals in the park are elephants, rhinos, hippos, polar bears, gorillas, pandas, and more. You may remember the world-famous polar bear Knut? He lived right here in Berlin Zoo.
The zoo of course has a program with feedings of the animals and several different shows. Remember to set aside plenty of time for the visit, it can quickly take a whole day to visit. The Berlin Zoological Garden is the perfect experience for both children and adults in Berlin.
20. Topographie des Terrors
Topographie des Terrors is a museum that documents the Nazi rule both before and during World War II. The museum is located on the same site as the former headquarters of the Gestapo and the SS. Here, frightening decisions were made about the persecution of Jews, terror, and murder at one of the most feared addresses in the whole world!
The old building was bombed away, but the basement wall and some of the Berlin Wall are still here. The museum has a small indoor visitor center, which is not particularly exciting. But outside there’s an impressive exhibition with pictures and information about the ravages of the Nazis.
So that was my list of the best things to do in Berlin, Germany. What are your favorite things to do in Berlin? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Berlin? Feel free to leave a comment.
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