Travel Guide to Berlin

Looking for a travel guide to Berlin? Check out my travel guide to Berlin with lots of great tips!

Berlin is the capital of Germany and is home to almost 3.8 million people. Berlin is an extremely popular destination for travelers from all over the world! There are hundreds of fun things to do in Berlin and you’ll definitely have an exciting trip! There’s just so much to do in Berlin!

But do you know where to stay in Berlin? What sights to see? And how to get around Berlin? There can easily be a myriad of questions before a trip to Berlin. And that’s why you should read my travel guide to Berlin! In this guide, you’ll get answers to many of all the questions you may have before your trip to Berlin in Germany.

Table of Contents

When is the best time to visit Berlin?

Berlin is a destination you can visit all year round. It’s very popular to visit Berlin in the summer when the city is full of life and joy with festivals and events. Of course, the sun shines in Berlin during the summer months, but it’s usually not extremely hot and unbearable either.

I can also recommend visiting Berlin in December when there’s a magical atmosphere with Christmas markets and Christmas lights all over the city. However, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing as it can be very cold in Berlin during the winter months.

During the spring and autumn in Berlin, the weather changes a lot, but it’s still a good time to visit the capital of Germany. Just remember to bring clothes for any type of weather and you’ll be fine. There are most likely not that many people in Berlin in the spring and fall, and that’s great!

How much time should you spend in Berlin?

Berlin has so much to offer, but if you only want to see the main sights of Berlin, it’s fine with three full days in the city. There are just so many things to do in Berlin that you could easily spend an entire week in the city!

If you don’t have that much time and would like to explore a lot of Berlin, I would recommend 5 full days in the city. It’s the perfect time to see all the main sights and also some of the other popular sights in Berlin without stressing around. But a whole week in Berlin is still preferred as it gives a much better feel of Berlin.

Where to stay in Berlin?

So, there are already hundreds of travel blogs recommending hotels in Berlin and other travel destinations in Germany as well. Personally, I do not like being limited to a few hotels, and I prefer to search for deals on Hotels.com or Booking.com myself. Hotel prices are constantly changing, and you may be able to find even better and cheaper hotels by searching yourself.

For example, I just stayed at a brand new hotel in the Harz Mountains in Germany for less than half the price. If I didn’t search for hotels myself, I would never have found it, because I was the first to ever stay there. So please be sure to check out the hotels in Berlin yourself as well. This way you’ll not miss out on great deals!

In return, I would like to recommend the best neighborhoods in Berlin. There are many good neighborhoods in Berlin, and none of them are particularly dangerous to stay in. If you’re going to use public transportation in Berlin, you must check the transport options before booking a hotel.

If you’re planning to explore Berlin, then it’s also a good idea to stay as close to the city center as possible. You should consider staying in one of the following neighborhoods when looking for a hotel in Berlin:

Berlin Mitte is the center of Berlin and is a perfect neighborhood if this is your first visit to the German capital. This is where you’ll find many of the most popular sights in Berlin, which can easily be reached on foot. It’s a very popular neighborhood and clearly the best place to stay in Berlin!

Charlottenburg is a nice and cheap alternative to Berlin Mitte. I recommended staying near the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin’s main shopping street. Charlottenburg is the perfect choice if you want to shop in Berlin or just save some money on hotel accommodation.

Prenzlauer Berg is one of the safest neighborhoods in all of Berlin. The old working-class neighborhood is the favorite neighborhood of many people, and especially for families with children. Here you’ll find lots of stylish bars and restaurants, but still in a quiet area.

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is a neighborhood with lots of bars, nightclubs, and cafés. It’s the perfect place for young people who want to experience the nightlife of Berlin with partying until early in the morning.

How to get around Berlin?

The easiest and cheapest way to get around the city is by taking public transportation in Berlin. It’s easy to navigate and well developed with buses, trains, metros, trams, and even ferries transporting you around the city.

If you need to use public transport more than a few times a day, it may be a good idea to buy an all-day ticket or a ticket for several days. It might be a good idea to buy a Berlin WelcomeCard, which provides unlimited access to public transport in Berlin. At the same time, the card also gives you discounts for more than 200 sights in Berlin!

If you’re willing to pay a little (okay, a lot) more to get around Berlin, you can also take a taxi around the city. A completely different option is to rent a car in Berlin, but you must be aware that parking fees are very expensive in the city center!

What sights to see in Berlin?

Berlin is one of the most interesting cities in Europe with a dramatic history, fascinating culture and beautiful architecture. There are many fun things to do in Berlin, so here’s a list of some of the very best things to see in Berlin:

Brandenburger Tor is the only remaining city gate in Berlin and has survived both World War II and the Cold War. The city gate has been Berlin’s landmark for more than 200 years and is an absolute must-see!

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.

Berlin Wall Memorial 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.

Berliner Fernsehturm is a 1,207-foot (368-meter) tall TV tower in Berlin. Visit the dome and enjoy the beautiful 360-degree panoramic view of Berlin from here!

The Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial is an old STASI prison. The inmates were political opponents and were mentally tortured daily with isolation, insomnia, and threats against family members.

Where to go shopping in Berlin?

As in any big city, there are many opportunities for shopping in Berlin. Shopping malls, department stores, pedestrian streets, designer stores, and discount stores – Berlin has it all! Here’s a small selection of the best places to shop in Berlin:

Kurfürstendamm is the longest, most elegant, and popular shopping street in all of Berlin. Here’s something for every taste and every price level. You can find expensive designer stores, superstores, and completely normal stores.

Mall of Berlin is one of the largest and newest shopping centers in Berlin. Here you’ll find more than 270 stores with something for everyone. There’s also a large area with dining.

KaDeWe is a glamorous and huge department store with a reasonably high price level. It’s actually the second-largest department store in all of Europe, right after Harrods in London.

What to eat in Berlin?

In Berlin, there are restaurants on every street corner and it’s difficult to tell which are the best restaurants in Berlin. We all have different tastes in food, so I’ll just tell you what kind of food you should definitely not miss in Berlin!

When visiting Berlin, I would recommend trying German specialties. Some of the most traditional food in Germany are sausages, wiener schnitzels, fried potatoes and of course German beer! Try some of it, I’m sure you’ll love it! If not, you’ve still had the experience of trying traditional German food. Fun!

Tips for Berlin

In Berlin and Germany in general, payments are made in Euros.
Remember to withdraw some money as many places in Berlin don’t accept credit cards.
It’s common to pay 5-10 percent of the bill in gratuities at restaurants in Berlin.
Consider buying a Berlin WelcomeCard that offers unlimited use of public transportation and great discounts on several sights in Berlin.

So, that was my travel guide to Berlin, Germany. What are you looking forward to on your trip to Berlin? Did you like my travel guide to Berlin? Feel free to leave a comment.

Planning a trip to Berlin? You might also want to read these articles:

… Or read all articles from Germany.

Looking for a travel guide to Berlin? Check out my travel guide to Berlin with lots of great tips!