Not only is it Germany’s political and cultural capital it’s also its capital of cool too. Berlin has an astonishing cultural history, is a hub for modern art and film and has a thriving food scene. Its nightlife is legendary too. So, it’s no wonder it was ranked as the best city in the world for millennials to live.
Here are just a few of our favourite things to do in Berlin:
1. Trabant Tour of Berlin
Berlin is a fantastic walking city but if you want to give your feet a rest take a Trabant or Trabi tour. A Trabant is a car produced from 1957 to 1990 in Eastern Germany. They are slow, noisy and very cool and a unique way to see the city. A tour guide will drive ahead of you in their own car and will talk about the main points of interest via a radio when you pass by them. You just have to follow the guide, so no need to follow a map or GPS.
2. Checkpoint Charlie
A visit to one of the world’s most famous checkpoints is one of the top things to do in Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie was the main entry point for visitors wanting to cross the infamous Iron Curtain to East Berlin. Take a photo with the guards and then head into the Mauer Museum. This museum explores the history of the Berlin Wall and the stories of those it affected.
3. THE WALL Asisi Panorama
THE WALL is a 360° panorama by artist Yadegar Asisi. This fascinating outdoor exhibition documents the history of Checkpoint Charlie and puts you in the shoes of those who lived in a divided Germany.
4. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery once was part of the Berlin wall. Now it’s the longest open-air gallery in the world. It’s also the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall still in existence. Along this 1.3-kilometre stretch of history and art, you can admire the works of 118 artists from 21 different countries. The drawings depict the political changes in 1989/90.
5. Museum Island
Located in the middle of River Spree, Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re into museums, this is the place to go as it is home to five different museums. On Museum Island you’ll find the Pergamonmuseum (Pergamon Museum), Bode-Museum, Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) and Altes Museum (Old Museum).
6. Mitte district
Many of Berlin’s most famous sights a clustered around the Mitte district. These include the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Parliament building as well as Berlin’s Cathedral Church and the GDR TV tower. You can explore this area on your own by foot or by bike or join a sightseeing tour and hear all about the remarkable history of the buildings.
Tip: If you want to tour the Reichstag and see the roof terrace with its fantastic views over the city you have to register in advance.
7. Memorial to the Murdered Jews
South of the Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s striking Holocaust Memorial. This is a collection of 2,711 concrete columns of different heights arranged in rows. Be sure to also visit the underground information centre where you can find information on the victims and the locations. Photographs, diaries, farewell letters and film footage show the sites of persecution and take the victims out of their anonymity. It is a very moving experience.
8. Tiergarten park
Close to the city centre and major sights like the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz is the tranquil Tiergarten park, which is actually bigger than London’s Hyde Park. The park brims with joggers, skaters, cyclists and walkers and its sprawling lawns are perfect for picnics. It is a picturesque place to recharge and take a break from shopping or sightseeing.
Tip: Tiergarten park is also a great place to refuel with some traditional food and drink at one of the many beer gardens. Seek out Café am Neuen See along the lake, it is one of the prettiest beer gardens in Berlin. We suggest washing a large portion of currywurst down with some local beer.
9. Markthalle Neun
The culinary epicentre of the food scene in Berlin is the Markthalle Neun food market. Housed in a beautiful hall, Markthalle Neun is home to some brilliant butchers, bakers, brewers, cheesemakers and fishmongers. There’re also themed markets like Street Food Thursday and a monthly Breakfast Market (every third Sunday), which are some of the best street food markets in Berlin.
10. Shopping in Berlin
Kurfürstendamm is the largest retail district in Berlin with around 200,000 square metres of shops and restaurants. ‘Ku’damm’ for short, is lined with fashion stores like Chanel and Hermes and high-street chains like H&M and Zara. The street begins at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (next to the Zoologische Garten) and stretches 3.5 kilometres southwest to the Halensee lake.
Tip: Berlin also has plenty of flea markets too. One of the most popular flea markets takes place every Sunday at Mauerpark.
11. Nightlife in Berlin
Nightlife in Berlin is intense, diverse and so much fun. It is also hailed as the techno capital of the world! One of the most famous nightclubs in Berlin, and in Europe, is Berghain. Check the Berghain website for events as some nights are quite alternative and it has a strict door policy and dress code. Usually, the weirder and wilder you dress the better.
If you a looking for something tamer, there are plenty of other after dark actives on offer too. Jazz lovers should book a table in A-Trane in Charlottenburg which is a popular New York-style jazz bar. Tausend in the Mitte district is a more upmarket club where mixologists serve sophisticated cocktails to well-dressed customers while disco, house and R&B music plays.
12. Beer in Berlin
Germany is a country famed for beer and Berlin has a great reputation for smaller scale brewing. Across the city are dozens of microbreweries where you can sip your way through tasty, artisanal, small-batch beers in a variety of styles.
Some of the most popular microbreweries in Berlin are Bierkombinat Kreuzberg, Heidenpeters, Hops and Barley, Schalander and Straßenbräu.
Looking for accommodation in Berlin? Check out the Top 10 most beautiful hotels in Berlin.
Berlin Climate
The climate of Berlin is moderately continental, with moderately warm summers and cold winters. In the summer, temperatures hover around 24° and in the winter temperatures average around freezing (0°) with plenty of snow and frosty days. The cold temperatures can last into March, but April brings in milder weather with some light winds and showers.
Best time to visit Berlin
Berlin is a year-round travel destination. Much of Berlin’s appeal lies in its cultural and historical attractions, which you can enjoy regardless of the weather. Berlin is very popular in the summertime when tourists and locals alike take to the outdoors to make the most of the city’s parks, gardens, sidewalk cafes and free events. However, during the festive period, Berlin is an extra popular travel destination because of its Christmas markets.
Flying to Berlin from Ireland
You can fly direct to Berlin from Dublin and Kerry airports. Berlin Schönefeld Airport is only 30 minutes away from the centre on the express train, and 40 minutes by car. To fly to Berlin from Cork, Donegal, Knock, or Shannon, you can get connecting flights from Ireland or through Europe.
Check cheap flights to BerlinFind a hotel in Berlin
