How to spend a world-class weekend in Berlin
Berlin has busied itself since the fall of its infamous Wall with becoming one of the most stimulating creative and cultural centres in Europe. It is a hub for hedonists, hipsters and history buffs alike – one that truly offers something for everyone.
Its slew of art spaces, notoriously tolerant nightlife and burgeoning start-up scene grab the headlines most regularly, but the city is also a welcoming destination for families thanks to a wealth of green spaces, sparkling lakes and a generally child-friendly infrastructure. Luxury travellers are catered for with a slew of five-star hotels, Michelin-starred dining spots and indulgent spas; and for history fans, there's plenty – after all, the city was at the heart of much of the turbulent 20th century.
Alongside world-famous cultural and historical sights; related sights include the East Side Gallery and Berlin Wall Memorial, the UNESCO-protected Museum Island, plus the Reichstag, Alexanderplatz and Checkpoint Charlie. Finally, you shouldn’t miss the inner-city neighbourhoods: Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Neukölln and Schöneberg are all huge on local atmosphere and peppered with hip bars and restaurants, as well as independent boutiques and quirky museums.
For a more in-depth look at Berlin, see our individual guides for hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife, attractions and shopping.
In this guide
How to spend your weekend
Day one: morning
Start with a visit to Berlin's most renowned cultural ensemble, the Museum Island. It’s not really possible to do all five museums in one trip, so be selective; the Altes Museum and the Neues Museum both offer a vast and incredibly varied array of exhibits, including the “Berlin Goddess” (a Greek sculpture from ca. 570 BC) and the bust of Nefertiti, respectively. Note that the Pergamon Museum is closed until 2027.
The fabulous Deutsches Historisches Museum, whose permanent collection spans 2,000 years of German history, and its pleasant Café im Zeughaus, whose pavement terrace looks out over the Lustgarten and Berlin Cathedralare also closed for renovations until 2025 but you can catch the “Roads not Taken” and other exhibitions in the adjacent Pei Building. Cross the road to reach the city’s rebuilt Prussian Palace, whose various exhibition rooms, museums and institutions are collectively known as the Humboldt Forum. The complex hosts several restaurants and the Forum Cafe, where you can refuel before exploring the Ethnological Collections and Asian Art exhibitions, which showcase 20,000 objects and the Berlin Global exhibition, which shows how the city is connected to the rest of the world. Find more of the best attractions in Berlin in our guide.
Afternoon
Stroll west along historic Unter den Linden, pausing to look into Friedrich Schinkel’s neoclassical Neue Wache, with its poignant sculpture by German artist Käthe Kollwitz; linger on Bebelplatz square to admire the opera house Staatsoper and Mischa Ullman’s Bibliotek installation, a memorial to the Nazi’s 1933 book-burning. Afterwards, enjoy some shopping along the elegant arcades of historic Friedrichstrasse, which hosts a range of high-end and regular high street shops, from the popular Dussmann bookshop to outlets for Karl Lagerfeld and MontBlanc. If you fancy some contemporary art, pop your head into the PalaisPopulaire, which hosts regular exhibitions, tours and workshops centred around the collection of Deutsche Bank.
Further along you can also find the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which explores the Berlin Wall years.
Late
At the western end of Unter den Linden you’ll find the iconic Brandenburger Tor (Pariser Platz) – a perfect place to grab some selfies. Right next door is the historic Hotel Adlon, which has a decadent lobby for drinks and Michelin-starred fine dining at the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, or stroll to Cookies Cream for the best vegetarian food in the city and a classy cocktail at Crackers below the restaurant, which has DJs at weekends. Find more of the best bars in Berlin in our guide.
Day two: morning
Begin at Potsdamer Platz. One of Europe's busiest squares in the Weimar era, and a derelict wasteland during the Berlin Wall years, today it’s the boldest symbol of contemporary – or at least commercial – Berlin, complete with looming skyscrapers and swish shopping malls. The distinctive, peat-fired brick Kollhoff Tower offers a viewing platform (and a café) at the top, while the Deutsche Kinemathek museum gives an impressively modern and thorough overview of German television and cinema – be quick though, as it will close at the end of October 2024 in order to move into a new premises in 2025.
Afternoon
Though well-known for its sights and shopping, decent restaurants are thin on the ground; best to grab a quick and healthy lunch at Weilands, which serves Levantine fusion cuisine in the shape of poké bowls, salads and tasty vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes, and overlooks a pleasant pond with a sculpture by Mark di Suvero. Find more of the best shopping areas in Berlin in our guide.
After lunch, explore the neighbouring Kulturforum, which hosts the architecturally flamboyant Philharmonie concert hall as well as the excellent Gemäldegalerie, with its Rembrandts, Caravaggios and Botticellis. The nearby Neue Nationalgalerie, designed by Bauhaus master Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and originally opened in 1968, has a magnificent collection of 20th century visual art on rotation, and there’s also an outdoor sculpture garden inspired by MoMA’s in New York.
The LP12 Mall of Berlin at nearby Leipziger Platz has a wealth of mid-range and high-end stores, but hipper is the Bikini Mall, a 15-minute S Bahn ride from Potsdamer Platz to Zoologischer Garten, which offers Berlin/German brands such as Blutsgeschwister, Closed and Mykita. Nearby sights to explore when you’re done browsing are the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Berlin's Zoo and Aquarium, Germany’s largest and oldest.
Late
The nearby 25 Hours Bikini hotel’s Monkey Bar has great aperitif options and a pleasant wrap-around terrace that overlooks the zoo and the church. Its classy in-house restaurant NENI also has very good Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine – and great views. Afterwards, catch an opera or theatrical show at the legendary Theatre des Westens, which also hosts the excellent Quasimodo jazz club. Find more of the best restaurants in Berlin in our guide.
Later, walk to the small but convivial Rum Trader for some of the most sophisticated drinks in town – don’t try and order a Moscow Mule or a Basil Smash or you’ll be met with righteous indignation.
Insider tips
Attractions
If you're pushed for time but keen to explore Berlin’s Cold War history, skip the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, which is often busy, and instead visit the neighbouring Black Box Cold War Museum the Asisi Panorama and the (free) nearby outdoor photo exhibition.
City views
The Amano rooftop bar is a boon – for guests and locals alike – in the summer, for its views across Mitte’s rooftops and its expertly mixed cocktails.
City hack
Instead of getting a €40-€50 (£35-£43) taxi from Schönefeld airport, buy a €4.40 (£3.80) ABC ticket and catch an S-Bahn or Regional-Bahn train straight into town in roughly the same amount of time.
Did you know?
Berlin has more than 100 miles of navigable waterways within its city limits. It is possible to take a boat tour, or to rent a kayak or canoe and explore by yourself. The piers along Treptower Park is a good place to start.
Map of Berlin
When to go
There isn’t a bad time to visit Berlin – but as with most European cities, it’s during summer that the German capital really comes into its own, with open-air festivals, abundant parks, lake beaches and boat rides to enjoy, and when bars and restaurants spill out onto terraces, courtyards and pavements. Springtime and autumn are very pleasant months to visit thanks to less crowds and better temperatures for walking around, while winter’s notorious chills are cheered by the city’s many twinkling Christmas Markets and international events such as Berlinale.
Where to stay
Luxury living
The Waldorf Astoria is a classic Berlin hotel in the upmarket City West district. It more than earns each of its five stars for its convenient location and excellent service. Elegant and sophisticated, the interiors seamlessly blend Art Deco and contemporary touches, while the staff are eager and obliging. The first – and only – Guerlain Spa in Germany is located on the fifth floor of the hotel, and is one of the best in town.
From
£320
pn
Rates provided byBooking.com
Boutique bolthole
If you're looking for a hotel that seduces from the off, pick Monbijou. This intimate boutique hotel enjoys a wonderfully central location, a welcoming (even romantic) aesthetic, friendly service and an impressive array of on-site amenities that span a bar, lounge, roof terrace and small fitness area.
From
£125
pn
Rates provided byBooking.com
Budget beauty
The Michelberger hotel yells youthful creativity. It has a buzzy bar and a courtyard for concerts, both popular in their own right, one of the best restaurants in the neighbourhood, plus a range of funky, idiosyncratic rooms to choose from – especially the renovated fourth floor double with an in-built saunas and huge bathtub. It’s also close to Friedrichshain’s nightlife scene. Dorm-style rooms are also available.
From
£100
pn
Rates provided byBooking.com
What to bring home
If you’re a fan of interior design, architecture and art, this book by website Freunde von Freunden (Friends of Friends) combines interviews with local creatives with top-notch photography of their immaculately designed apartments. It's available from Dussmann, the main bookshop (Friedrichstraße 90).
For a uniquely fragrant gift, head to Harry Lehmann, a charming timewarp shop inconspicuously located along Kantstrasse. Open for almost a century, it offers vintage and contemporary scents – some of which are Berlin-themed; all of which are handmade and unique.
Know before you go
Essential information
Service in Berlin is generally OK, but when it’s bad it makes nonchalant Parisians look positively proactive. You’ll likely fall victim to the occasional delay, arrogant waiter/waitress or even a withering glare, but don’t take it personally. It’s just the Berlin way.
Berliners, like all Germans, take their rules seriously, especially things like jaywalking and recycling. Littering the streets or crossing at a red light is likely to provoke stern looks or even public admonishment.
On the plus side, Berliners are generally very tolerant and “anything goes” – an attitude that perhaps manifests most in the city’s nightlife scene, where establishments don’t tend to close until late or when the last guest leaves, and where even in the wee hours there’s a discernible lack of tension in the air.
In some bars and clubs, a pfand (deposit) is added to your bottle or glass (anything from €0.20 to €1/18p to 88p), which is reimbursed when you return it to the bar. Sometimes you will also be given a token, which you again return at the end to claim your deposit back.
Public transport in Berlin operates on an honesty system. There are no barriers at train, tram or bus stops, though underground inspectors will fine you up to €60 (£52) on the spot if they catch you without a ticket. Make sure your ticket is also validated (stamped) before boarding a train (there are usually validation machines next to the ticket vendor).
Service is sometimes included in bills, but it’s customary to round up snacks and drinks to the nearest euro or leave a slightly larger tip for meals and larger bills.
The basics
Currency: Euro
Telephone code: From outside Germany, dial 00 49 30; from inside Germany, 030 – then the number
Time difference: +1 hour
Flight time: London to Berlin is around 90 minutes
Essential contacts
British Embassy: (00 49 30 20 45 70; ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/de), Wilhelmstrasse 70, Berlin. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm
Police (Polizei): Dial 110
Ambulance (Rettungswagen): Dial 112
Tourist office: There are several official tourist offices (run by visitberlin.de) around the city, the main ones being at Brandenburg Gate, Kurfürstendamm 22 (Neuen Kranzler Eck) and the main train station (Hauptbahnhof)
About our expert
Paul moved to Berlin in 2008 and still finds it one of the best cities in Europe. He enjoys serendipitous meanders through the city and exploring off-the-beaten track neighbourhoods and abandoned sites.
