Our Ultimate Guide to the 9 Top Things to Do in Berlin

Gritty yet glamorous, historic yet avant-garde. It’s impossible not to feel the intoxicating rush of endless possibilities in the air when you are in Berlin, a once-divided city that’s now packed full of fascinating attractions for every visitor. History? Berlin’s world-class museums and sites narrate the tragedies and triumphs of its past. Culture? Stroll in the landscaped gardens of a Baroque palace, or marvel at an imposing domed cathedral. If you’re looking for outdoor fun, the German capital is home to both one of the oldest zoos in Europe and a cycle trail that hugs a former Cold War frontier. Here are our top 9 things to do to make your stay in Berlin a truly memorable one.

This magnificent neo-Renaissance building is in itself a sight to behold, with its symmetrical facade, ionic columns supporting an embellished pediment and square corner towers. Built in 1894, the German parliament building has borne witness to national history, surviving fire, bombing and neglect. It was restored in the late 20th century with a Norman Foster-designed glass dome that’s now an iconic feature in Berlin’s skyline.

The best way to visit is with a 90-minute guided tour, which needs to be booked well in advance. These run several times daily when Germany's parliament is not in session, and can be conducted in English on request. You can also visit the roof terrace and dome, during which an audio guide will tell you all about the building as you ascend to panoramic views of the city and Spree river. 

Good to know: Both tours are free but you can’t enter the building without an advance booking. For last-minute tickets, try your luck at the nearby Visitor Centre on Scheidemannstraße, southwest of the Reichstag. Make sure to have your passport or official ID with you. 

Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin. Check online for opening days and times. Bundestag U-Bahn.

You’ll recognise this sandstone gate from countless photos and movies, but nothing prepares you for its grandeur when you get up close. Inspired by the Acropolis in Athens, the Brandenburg Gate was first built in the late 1700s and is topped by a monumental sculpture of a horse-drawn chariot. When the city was divided in 1961, the gate was in a restricted area, inaccessible to East and West Berliners. No wonder, then, that it’s come to symbolise reunification, and is now the site of major city events from festivals to ceremonies and parties. 

This is definitely a top thing to do if you’re looking for free activities in Berlin. Afterwards, consider walking to the nearby Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to remember the victims of the Holocaust. 

Good to know: The best time for photography at the Brandenburg Gate is sunset, when the square is bathed in a resplendent golden glow, but if you want to avoid the crowds, head there in the early morning.  

Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin. Brandenburger Tor U-Bahn and S-Bahn.

If you want to walk in the footsteps of royalty without leaving the city, Charlottenburg Palace is the perfect place to do it. This Baroque summer residence, built for Prussian Queen Sophie Charlotte, features airy, gilded rooms filled with tapestries, paintings and ceramics. Pick up an audio guide and lose yourself in the grandeur of the restored palace, then head out to explore the vast, landscaped gardens inspired by Versailles. Stroll through the ornamental gardens bursting with seasonal blooms to a lakeside viewpoint, then follow winding wooded trails to discover the tranquil mausoleum of early 19th-century Queen Louise. The palace gardens also host one of city’s best Christmas markets, a top thing to do in Berlin if you’re here during the festive season.

Good to know: There's a charge (19€) for entrance to the palace building, but the gardens are free, ideal if you have kids who get easily bored, if the weather’s too glorious to be indoors or if you’re simply not in the mood for opulent interiors. 

Spandauer Damm 10-22, 14059 Berlin. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 5:30pm (summer season), Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 4:30pm (winter season). Richard-Wagner-Platz U-Bahn.   

Whether you want to gaze at classical antiquities, Byzantine art or modern sculpture, you’ll find all that and more on Museum Island in the River Spree. Head to the Neues Museum, in a restored and reconstructed neoclassical building, to discover millennia-old weapons, exquisite jewellery and the renowned limestone bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. (Our tip: Photography isn’t permitted in Nefertiti’s gallery, but you are allowed to get your shot from one of the two adjacent rooms.)

Also on Museum Island are the Alte Nationalgalerie, an imposing Greek temple-like building that’s home to works by Rodin, Schinkel and Renoir, and the Altes Museum, where must-sees include Roman sculptures and Etruscan art. After you’ve marvelled at the Pergamon Museum’s ancient architectural masterpieces, including the Hellenistic altar that gave the museum its name, discover works by Donatello and Bernini at the Bode Museum. Looking for a nearby hotel? The family-friendly Novotel Berlin Mitte is a short walk away on the same island.

Good to know: If you’re planning to visit multiple museums, get a Museum Pass, which gives you free entry to all the museums mentioned above, plus a host more, over three consecutive days.

Neues Museum: Bodestrasse 1-3, 10178 Berlin. Open Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 8pm. Museumsinsel U-Bahn.

If you only visit one church in the German capital, make it the Berlin Cathedral. This imposing 1800s cathedral, flanked by the Spree river and the leafy Lustgarten park, combines Baroque and High Renaissance architecture in a domed building that’s as much palace as place of worship. Admire the eight intricate dome mosaics, depicting the Beatitudes from the Gospels of Matthew, before climbing the 270 steps up to a viewing platform with 360-degree city vistas. On your descent, reward yourself with a slice of cake at the cosy cafe. 

Also here is the Hohenzollern Crypt, known for its opulent sarcophagi, the final resting place of kings, queens and politicians from the 16th to the 20th centuries. It’s currently closed for renovations and due to open again in spring 2024, so keep an eye out as it's definitely one of the top things to do when you travel in Berlin.  

Good to know: Entry costs 10€ and tickets need to be purchased online as they don’t accept payments on site.

Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin. Open Monday-Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 5pm. Hackescher Markt S-Bahn or Museumsinsel U-Bahn.

The Berlin Wall, a forbidding structure of concrete blocks and (initially) barbed wire, sprang up virtually overnight in August 1961, built by the East German government. Berliners could no longer move freely between the two halves of the city, and this physical barrier became a symbol of the Cold War’s ideological differences. It was only 28 years later, in November 1989, that the border was opened and before long the wall was gone, pulled down by bulldozers, cranes and citizens with pickaxes and hammers.

Today, there are a handful of places around Berlin where you can see remnants of this historic division. Topping the list is the East Side Gallery, which hugs the River Spree in the hip Friedrichshain district. Here you’ll find a 1.3-km section of wall covered in over 100 murals, including famous ones like Birgit Kinder’s Trabant smashing through the wall and Dmitri Vrubel’s Fraternal Kiss. Or visit Checkpoint Charlie, a former US-controlled border crossing, where you’ll discover a replica of the original guard house that stood there, plus the small BlackBox Cold War museum.

Good to know: A top thing to do in Berlin is a bicycle tour of the Berlin Wall. Choose between a 5.7-km route between the East Side Gallery and Bernauer Strasse, or commit to a 150-km trail winding along the former border.

East Side Gallery: Mühlenstrasse 3-100, 10243 Berlin. Warschauer Strasse U-Bahn and S-Bahn.

When you’ve had as much history and culture as you can handle, Berlin Zoo offers a fun, low-key day out spotting animals in enclosures designed to mimic their natural habitats. Highlights include adorable giant pandas placidly munching on bamboo, a pride of lions and an aviary with plenty of brightly plumed residents. Scheduled feeding times allow you to see animals like orangutans and hippos up close, while a large playground lets the kids burn off excess energy. When everyone’s exhausted, return to your room at Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof, which is just around the corner and offers a spa for you to recharge.

Good to know: While summer temperatures in Berlin are very comfortable – averaging highs of 24°C in August – some animals might be sheltering from the sunshine, making them hard to spy.

Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin. Open daily 9:30am to 4pm (Oct 30 to Feb 26), 9am to 6pm (Feb 27 to Mar 26, Sep 25 to Oct 29), 9am to 6:30pm (Mar 27 to Sep 24). Zoologischer Garten U-Bahn and S-Bahn. 

What do you do when you don’t know what you want to eat? You head to Markthalle Neun, a buzzing indoor market with stalls selling everything from Turkish dumplings to Chinese bao buns and American slow-cooked BBQ meats. Chase it with an organic smoothie, and you’re ready to browse the fresh produce section, where fruit, cheeses, meats, breads and other artisan products await.

Good to know: Come on Street Food Thursdays (5pm to 10pm) to sample flavours from all around the world, including Africa and Latin America.   

Eisenbahnstrasse 42/43, 10997 Berlin. Open Monday-Wednesday and Friday noon to 6pm, Thursday noon to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm. Schlesisches Tor or Görlitzer Bahnhof U-Bahn. 

If you can’t make it to Bavaria in October, Hofbräu Wirtshaus is the next best thing. This Oktoberfest-inspired establishment offers Alpine specialities like crispy roasted pork knuckles and breaded schnitzels, plus a range of Munich-brewed beers. Staff in lederhosen and dirndls, plus live bands encouraging audience participation in the singing and dancing, add to the raucous ambience. Tacky? Perhaps, but still heaps of fun nonetheless. If you partake in the Munich-brewed beers, consider planning your return with public transport or a taxi to keep the festive spirit worry-free.

Good to know: Enjoy a brunch buffet of Bavarian favourites on Sundays and selected public holidays from 10am to 3pm. 

Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 30, 10178 Berlin. Open Monday-Thursday 11am to midnight, Friday-Saturday 11am to 1am, Sunday 10am to midnight. Alexanderplatz U-Bahn.

With so many top things to do while you're sightseeing in Berlin, you're bound to have an unforgettable time in this cosmopolitan city. Viel Spaß!