Berlin is the most unique capital in the whole of the old continent, thanks to its recent history, its nightlife, its commercial offerings, and the particular atmosphere that breathes through its streets.
In addition to all this, we must add the presence of some of the most important museums on the planet, with the Pergamon Museum as the main reference, and its characteristic multiculturalism, present both in its streets and in its gastronomy.
Berlin is a modern city, but one that does not forget its history, practically reflected in every street through an endless number of details that sometimes make your skin crawl. The best example of this is the remains of its famous Wall, converted into a true urban art mural and the protagonist of thousands of photographs that continue to populate social networks around the world every day.
Welcome to a city with a life of its own, active twenty-four hours a day, where modernity and history are present in the lives of each of its inhabitants.
Below, we show you its most important attractions.
Berlin Wall
It would be impossible to start our list of places to visit in Berlin with any other choice. The Berlin Wall is the city’s main hallmark, an intrinsic and indispensable part of understanding its history and a shaper of its people’s personalities for decades.
It stood for a total of 28 springs, and many people left their lives there with the sole desire to cross to the other side. Perhaps simply to visit a loved one they missed.
The history of the Berlin Wall, and especially the individual stories of the people whose lives were, one way or another, conditioned by this stone barrier, sends shivers down your spine.
If we had to choose one guided tour from the many available in the city, we would undoubtedly choose this one.
But beyond its meaning and cultural background, the Berlin Wall stands out for having become one of the most important urban art galleries internationally. Specifically, we are referring to the East Side Gallery area, which is over a kilometre long and where you can take a photo next to the famous graffiti of the kiss between two communist leaders.
There isn’t a single mural in the entire gallery that doesn’t offer a special meaning, inviting reflection and, most importantly, remembering the history of this famous wall so that it is never forgotten.
Brandenburg Gate
Along with the Wall, the other great symbol of the city of Berlin and, again, a stop with a great historical significance.
It is one of the few monuments in the city that survived the Second World War, still retaining the appearance it presented at the time of its inauguration in 1791.
This emblematic gate has witnessed some of Berlin’s most important historical milestones, such as the parade of Napoleon’s troops entering the city or, more recently, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi army.
Beyond its imposing structure, this kind of triumphal arch stands out for the impressive copper quadriga at its top, representing the Goddess Victoria.
Bebelplatz
This beautiful square in the centre of Berlin was formerly known as Opernplatz. The reason is the presence of the Berlin Opera House within it, which coexists with other historical buildings such as the Old City Library, Humboldt University, and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral.
Surely you have heard of the mythical book burning carried out by the Nazis to censor Jewish and communist authors. Well, it was precisely in this same square that it took place. But we warned you at the beginning of the article that Berlin is a city that does not forget its history, and in this case, it could not be any different. To commemorate that act, it is now possible to visit a monument in the square that represents several empty bookshelves visible through a kind of glass window in the floor.
Bebelplatz brings together several of the capital’s most important historical buildings and also tells an essential part of its history. Therefore, a visit to it is always one of the best things to do in Berlin.
Pergamon Museum
Berlin stands out for having become one of the great art capitals worldwide. The reason for this distinction lies in its famous Museum Island, formed by the Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Old National Gallery, the Bode Museum and what, in our opinion, is the most recommendable, the Pergamon Museum.
The five options present such extensive collections that you would really need a week just to enjoy them calmly. That’s why we have chosen the one that, for us, is the most important, to be part of our list.
In fact, the Pergamon Museum itself is composed of several internal museums: the Museum of Islamic Art, the Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.
Among its numerous works, we advise you not to miss the Altar of Zeus, the Roman Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate, the Mushatta Facade and the Aleppo Room.
We recommend that you visit the other museums that form the Museum Island, such as the Bode Museum or the Neues Museum, as the Pergamon Museum has announced that it will remain closed for restoration until 2037. But given that its reopening date is set, it would be a mistake not to include it as one of the best places to see in Berlin.
Berlin Cathedral
On the banks of the Spree River and close to Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral is surely the most beautiful and imposing historical building in the city.
A large part of this is due to its impressive dome, which, being made of copper, has taken on a very particular greenish hue over time, contrasting with the gold of its upper cross.
We recommend that you visit its interior to admire its astonishing marble altar, its beautiful organ, or the Hohenzollern Crypt, the official tomb of several members of the imperial family.
During the visit, you will have the opportunity to climb the 270 steps leading to the dome, which offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Berlin.
Berlin Cathedral is an enormous building, 114 metres long, 73 metres wide, and 116 metres high, which had to be rebuilt after the damage of the Second World War and still preserves within it remains of the old baroque cathedral that was located in the same place in the 18th century.
Jewish Quarter
Not far from Museum Island is one of the most unique and special areas of the capital.
The Jewish Quarter stands out for its history, present on every pavement, every facade, and every street. But also for the beauty of its inner courtyards and for housing some of Berlin’s most emblematic pubs.
To discover all its details, understanding the reason for each of them and learning all the stories that its avenues and buildings hide, we recommend you take a guided tour through its streets. There will be moments when the guide leaves you speechless, but you will also enjoy some of the most charming corners of the entire city.
Surely, as you walk, you will notice the numerous metal plaques on pavements and façades. Again, another sign that Berlin does not forget its history. These plaques bear the names of the Jewish families who lived there and who were sent to a concentration camp.
Furthermore, the Jewish Quarter also has room for urban art, present in Dead Chicken Alley, a graffiti temple in the form of an alley, and even for enjoying the rhythm of techno, the undisputed soundtrack of any Berlin pub.
An alternative neighbourhood, full of history and meaning, which we are sure you will love.
Nikolaiviertel
The Nikolaiviertel district is the closest thing to a historic centre you will find in the city of Berlin. As we mentioned earlier, a large part of its main monuments and buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, but in this case, the neighbourhood was rebuilt trying to maintain the essence of the old Berlin houses, using their same architectural style.
Hence, when you visit it, it gives you the feeling of walking through a place older than it actually is.
Among its most relevant tourist attractions are the Ephraim Palace, the Knoblauchhaus, and the beautiful St. Nicholas Church.
And also its unique architectural style, this neighbourhood is characterised by housing some of the city’s most recommendable traditional restaurants. If you are looking to try hearty German cuisine in one of its classic restaurants, this is your place.
Turkish Quarter (Kreuzberg District)
Berlin is an especially multicultural city where the Turkish community, due to the country’s proximity to the German capital, has created its own space within the city over the years.
Berlin’s Turkish Quarter is something like an open-air urban art museum. On the facades of its buildings, you can admire some of the most famous graffiti murals on the planet, such as its famous Astronaut or the mythical Elephant Mural, so present in all kinds of merchandise.
And being a neighbourhood inhabited almost entirely by the Berlin Turkish community, it is not surprising that kebabs occupy a privileged position in its gastronomic offer.
Forget any kebab you’ve tried in Spain. The kebabs in Berlin’s Turkish Quarter are the closest thing to enjoying this kind of international sandwich in the very heart of Istanbul. You’ll love them!
There, too, is what is considered the best burger joint in the entire city, the famous Burgermeister.
Finally, we couldn’t finish without mentioning its lively nightlife, with several of Berlin’s and indeed Europe’s most important nightclubs if we take electronic music as a reference. The best examples are Berghain, popularly known as the Cathedral of Techno, Watergate, Tresor and Club der Visionaere.
As a final anecdote, surely when walking through the neighbourhood you will be struck by the fact that all the buildings have hundreds of satellite dishes always oriented in the same direction. The reason is that their tenants use them to tune into Turkish television channels.
Holocaust Memorial
Close to the Brandenburg Gate, we find another example of the indestructible memory of the city of Berlin, determined to remember its past so as not to repeat it.
The Holocaust Memorial is one of those places that chills the heart when you see it for the first time, especially when you know its meaning.
Composed of a total of 2,711 concrete blocks arranged at different heights, it was built between 2003 and 2005 in honour of all the Jews murdered in Europe during the Holocaust.
The sensation caused by getting lost among the paths formed by its blocks, which sometimes obscure the exit and create plays of shadows and lights within, generates a mixture of claustrophobia and anguish that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. One of the best examples in recent history of how art is capable of brutally transmitting emotions.
Always remember where you are and the meaning of the place you are visiting. It would not be the first time that a local has called a tourist’s attention for turning this place into their particular setting for a photo shoot. Berlin has many places where you can unleash your most artistic side, but this is certainly not one of them.
Checkpoint Charlie
We started our list of recommendations with the Berlin Wall, an essential part of the city’s history, and we conclude it with the most famous crossing point between what was once the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic.
Another memory present in the city from the years of the Cold War, through the only checkpoint that, to this day, remains standing in the streets of Berlin.
The fame of this checkpoint comes from the story of Peter Fechter, a teenager who lived in East Germany and lost his life in the so-called death strip, trying to cross into West Germany through this pass. Peter bled to death between both walls because none of the guards present in each of the protected areas dared to go and save him for fear of possible reprisals from the other sentinels.
Currently, it is possible to take a photograph next to the famous guardhouse of the checkpoint and you can even visit the museum dedicated to Checkpoint Charlie and the consequences of the Cold War in the city.
Berlin TV Tower (Berliner Fernsehturm)
The Berlin TV Tower is the tallest public access building in the whole of the European continent.
Be careful because being so tall, it is always easy to spot it standing out above the rest of the Berlin skyline; this causes a curious optical illusion: it seems closer.
Many tourists, guided by this optical illusion, have set off to visit it on foot from the centre, spending much more time than desired on the walk.
The TV Tower is one of the best attractions to see near Berlin, but if you are staying near its central district, we advise you to visit it by taxi or using public transport.
As you can imagine, the views from its main observation deck are truly impressive. Located 204 metres high, it rotates 360 degrees every half hour to offer the best possible panoramic view of the capital.
Frequently Asked Questions Berlin
What places in Berlin should you not miss?
Berlin is an enormous city, and it is very common when visiting it to leave some of its places of interest out. Therefore, you should always try to get your selection right.
In our recommendation of places in Berlin that you should not miss are the Pergamon Museum, the Brandenburg Gate, the Jewish Quarter, the Berlin Wall and the city’s Cathedral.
Where to eat in Berlin?
The two best areas to eat in Berlin are the Turkish Quarter and Nikolaiviertel. The first offers some of the best kebabs in Europe, and Nikolaiviertel is the best area of the city to enjoy traditional German cuisine.
How many days are needed to visit Berlin?
If we consider that it is one of the largest cities in Europe and has a multitude of places of interest, especially historically, we advise you to set aside at least five days to visit Berlin and all its essentials. Bear in mind that between the Pergamon Museum and the Jewish Quarter alone, you will spend at least one day.
When is the best time to travel to Berlin?
The best time of year to travel to Berlin is undoubtedly summer. The city’s mild temperatures and the incomparable atmosphere it enjoys during its warm months make it the ideal time to visit.
Spring and autumn can also be very good times, but remember that the Berlin winter is one of the coldest in Germany. Although it has its charm, we advise you, if you don’t get on well with the cold, to avoid visiting during the months of December, January, and February.
How to get around Berlin?
Berlin is a modern city, with an exceptional public transport offering, with the tram as the best option in terms of value for money. In addition, if you like cycling, it is a city very well prepared for cycle tourism.
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