Stand on the pedestrian crossing at Bernauer Straße and the ground itself tells the story: a line of paving stones marking where the Wall once ran, a preserved section standing in full gloom beside it, and the S-Bahn passing between Nordbahnhof and Humboldthain with another fragment visible from the window. Berlin rewards this kind of looking — the city was largely destroyed in World War II, so what you get instead of old streetscapes is some of the finest contemporary architecture of the second half of the 20th century onwards, layered over fragments of a divided past.
It suits travellers who are happy to move between districts on a complex but efficient public transport network, and who would rather spend a morning on a single stretch of preserved Wall than tick off a list of monuments. Museums here run from art to the history of Berlin and Germany to technology and science, and about a third of the city's area is forests, parks and gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Berlin
1. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate stands right on Unter den Linden, the main street, and is the iconic starting point for a walk through central Berlin. It is the natural anchor for a day that moves east along the boulevard.
Combine it with the Reichstagsgebäude, which is close by in the Spreebogen / Regierungsviertel area. Come on foot or by S-Bahn rather than planning to park, and treat it as the opening of a longer walk rather than a destination in itself.
2. Reichstagsgebäude
The Reichstagsgebäude is home to the German Parliament and has a spectacular glass dome offering a great view of Berlin. Entry to the dome is free, but you need to book your place in advance.
When booking online, note that you will receive up to three emails: the first contains a link to creating a list of members for your group, which you must click to continue; the second confirms your request has been received but not yet confirmed; the third is the confirmation itself. Bring that confirmation, printed or on your phone, on the day, along with government-issued photo ID such as a passport for foreigners.
3. Berlin Wall Memorial
On the northern border of Mitte and Gesundbrunnen, in the street Bernauer Straße, the Berlin Wall Memorial preserves a complete section of the wall in all its gloom. If you want a truly preserved section rather than an altered tourist site, this is where to go.
A smaller section of the original wall can be seen from the S-Bahn when travelling between Nordbahnhof and Humboldthain stations. For a longer outing, the Berliner Mauerweg, a 160 km biking and walking trail along the former Wall, is well sign-posted and alternates sections of historic importance with natural beauty.
4. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery runs along the Spree in Friedrichshain: a very long stretch of preserved Wall covered in colourful graffiti. It is one of the most popular Wall sites in the city.
Note that like Checkpoint Charlie and the Niederkirchnerstraße fragment, this section has been altered and now functions as a tourist attraction rather than an actual historic monument. Pair it with a walk along the river.
5. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie sits at the southern border of Mitte and Kreuzberg: a recreated legendary border crossing within the Friedrichstraße. You cannot see the actual wall there, but this iconic and extremely touristy point is on almost every visitor's list.
West from there, you can find a piece of the wall lining the Niederkirchnerstraße next to the Topography of Terror museum in Kreuzberg, which makes a sensible next stop on the same walk.
6. Museumsinsel
Museumsinsel is an island on the Spree covered with historic museums, and it is one of Berlin's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most of the city's museums are covered in the Mitte district guide, and this is the densest concentration of them.
Most museums charge admission for people 18 and over, usually €6 to €14, with discounts of around 50% for students and disabled visitors with identification; children and young people can often come in free, but check age restrictions for particular museums. Most museums are closed on Mondays, with notable exceptions including the Neues Museum and the Deutsches Historisches Museum, which are open daily. If you plan to visit several, the three-day Museums Pass grants entrance to all regular exhibitions of the approximately 30 state-run museums and public foundations.
7. Kulturforum
The Kulturforum is a collection of contemporary cultural institutions, also covered in the Mitte district guide. It is worth your time if you want to see how the city rebuilt its cultural life in the second half of the 20th century.
Pair it with the museums of Museumsinsel if you are planning a museum-heavy day, and check the Museumsportal Berlin website, a collective web initiative, for current and upcoming exhibitions. Some museums offer free or steeply discounted entry once a week, once a month or during certain hours, with daily updates on free offers available online.
8. Fernsehturm
The Fernsehturm, or TV Tower, is located on Alexanderplatz and is Germany's tallest construction, with an observation deck with bar and restaurant at around 205 m. It gives you the wide view that suits a city this expansive, which has no single centre where all the tall buildings are located.
Nearby, the Park Inn Hotel has a small terrace on the 40th floor with great views of the Fernsehturm itself. Viewing points other than the Reichstagsgebäude range between €3 and €13.
9. Siegessäule
The Siegessäule, or Victory Column, is a 67 m tall monument now located in the middle of the Straße des 17. Juni in Tiergarten, and it has a viewing platform. It once stood directly in front of the Reichstagsgebäude.
Combine it with a walk through Tiergarten, and remember that the only free viewing point in the city is the one on the Reichstagsgebäude.
10. Berliner Dom
You can climb on top of the Berliner Dom, or Berlin Cathedral, on the Museumsinsel for a view of the city. It is one of the three most important historic buildings with viewing points.
Since it sits on the Museumsinsel, it fits naturally into a day built around the island's museums and the Spree.
11. Berlin Palace / Humboldt Forum
The Berlin Palace / Humboldt Forum, also in Mitte, has a roof terrace as an observation deck offering a great view of Berlin. It is another of the historic buildings with a viewing point.
Its position in Mitte makes it easy to add to a walk that already includes Museumsinsel and the Berliner Dom.
12. Kollhoff Tower
The Kollhoff Tower at Potsdamer Platz has a viewing point at 101 m and features the fastest elevator in Europe. It is a modern counterpoint to the historic viewing points.
Potsdamer Platz is one of Berlin's landmarks, so you can fold the tower into a wider look at the square rather than making a special trip.
13. Funkturm
The Funkturm, or Radio Tower, in Westend is a 150 m tall lattice tower with an open-air observation deck 124 m above ground. It is the viewing point located in a different district from the Mitte cluster.
Go if you are already spending time in the west of the city, and expect the same €3 to €13 range as the other paid viewing points.
14. Berlin Zoo and Aquarium Berlin
The Berlin Zoo in the west is the historic zoo, an oasis in the city that is very popular with families and schools, with the largest range of species in the world and famous pandas. The Aquarium Berlin is the largest aquarium in Germany and is part of the Berlin Zoo, though it can be visited separately.
The aquarium is near the Elephant Gate on Budapester Straße, one of the entrances to the zoo and a traditional photo stop because of its architecture. If you want a more spacious alternative, the Tierpark Berlin in Friedrichsfelde dates to the era of partition, when authorities in the East wanted to offer their people their own zoo; its compound also includes a small château with its adjacent park.
15. Private art galleries
Berlin is a city of art, and galleries are easy to find on your way, offering a look at modern artists' work in a not-so-crowded environment for free. Several streets have more than about a dozen galleries each.
Look along Auguststraße, Linienstraße, Torstraße and Brunnenstraße, all in Mitte north of S-Bahn station Oranienburger Straße; Zimmerstraße in Kreuzberg near U-Bahn station Kochstraße; and Fasanenstraße in Charlottenburg. For listings of exhibitions and gallery openings, check Berlin.de exhibitions.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Brandenburg Gate on Unter den Linden, then walk to the Reichstagsgebäude for the free dome view — book your place in advance and bring your confirmation and photo ID. Continue to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße, where a complete preserved section of the wall stands; if time allows, ride the S-Bahn between Nordbahnhof and Humboldthain to glimpse another original fragment.
Afternoon: Move east to the East Side Gallery along the Spree in Friedrichshain, then head to Checkpoint Charlie and, west from there, the piece of wall lining the Niederkirchnerstraße next to the Topography of Terror museum. If you would rather spend the afternoon indoors, choose Museumsinsel and the Kulturforum instead, checking opening days first — most museums close on Mondays.
Evening: Go up for a view. The Fernsehturm on Alexanderplatz has an observation deck with a bar and restaurant, and the nearby Park Inn Hotel terrace on the 40th floor looks back at the tower. Alternatively, climb the Berliner Dom on the Museumsinsel or take the roof terrace of the Berlin Palace / Humboldt Forum.
Frequently asked questions
When are Berlin's museums open?
Most museums are closed on Mondays. Notable exceptions include the Neues Museum and the Deutsches Historisches Museum, which are open daily. Most charge admission for people 18 and over, usually €6 to €14, with around 50% discounts for students and disabled visitors with identification, and children and young people can often come in free — but check age restrictions for particular museums.
Is there a pass that covers several museums?
Yes. The three-day Museums Pass grants entrance to all the regular exhibitions of the approximately 30 state-run museums and public foundations. Concessions are available. Some museums also offer free or steeply discounted entry once a week, once a month or during certain hours, and the Museumsportal Berlin website has daily updates on free offers.
How do I visit the Reichstagsgebäude dome?
Entry to the dome is free, but you need to book your place in advance. When booking online you will receive up to three emails: the first contains a link to creating a list of members for your group, which you must click to continue; the second says your request has been received but is not yet confirmed; the third is the confirmation. Bring that confirmation, printed or on your phone, on the day of your visit along with government-issued photo ID such as a passport for foreigners.
Where can I see a genuinely preserved section of the Berlin Wall?
Head to the northern border of Mitte and Gesundbrunnen, in the street Bernauer Straße, and visit the Berlin Wall Memorial, which has a complete section of the wall in all its gloom. Checkpoint Charlie, the Niederkirchnerstraße fragment and the East Side Gallery have all been altered and now function as tourist attractions rather than actual historic monuments. A smaller section of the original wall can be seen from the S-Bahn between Nordbahnhof and Humboldthain stations.
Pick your dates, book the Reichstagsgebäude dome before you go, and start building your days around the districts that hold what you most want to see.