Berlin is a great city and it is one of my favorites in Europe! The great thing about it is that you don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy yourself in the German capital. There are so many things to do and interesting things to see that make everyone’s visit to Berlin always unforgettable.
If you are or are not on a budget, these things are still worth doing and checking out:
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is the most well-known landmark in Berlin and a visit to the city won’t be complete without seeing this 18th-century gate. During the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of division between East and West Germany. After the Berlin Wall fell and was torn down, the gate has become a symbol of freedom for Berlin and it is also now the national symbol of Germany.
Address: Pariser Platz 10117 Berlin Mitte
The Reichstag
The Reichstag building is not just a house to the German Bundestag (Parliament) but it has also become a major tourist attraction in the city. After East and West Berlin were reunited, the Reichstag was renovated and a glass dome has been added to it, making it a perfect example of old and modern architecture. It is now Germany’s second most visited attraction. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Queues can long so get there before 10 am or after dark. It’s all worth it once you climb to the top of the glass dome to see some amazing 360-degree views of Berlin.
Address: Platz der Republik 1, 10557 Berlin
Reichstag Website
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
A few minutes walk past the Reichstag lies a memorial to the murdered Jews in Europe. It was opened to the public in 2005 and it contains 2,700 concrete slabs designed by Peter Eisenman. The memorial was built to honor and remember the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust. The Field of Stelae is open at all times and the admission is free.
Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 10117 Berlin
Holocaust Memorial Website
Unter Den Linden
Named for its linden trees that were once planted here in long rows, Unter den Linden is a famous boulevard in the historic heart of Berlin. Here, as you walk along, you will find many architectural sites such as the German Historical Museum, the Humboldt University, the Staatsbibliothek, the Staatsoper, Altes Palais, the Palace Bridge, and on its western end, is the Brandenburg Gate (and a Starbucks)!
The Berlin Wall
Most of the Berlin Wall that divided the city once was torn down after the reunification. The East Side Gallery is a mile-long section of the wall near the center of Berlin. There are nearly 100 paintings on this wall from artists all over the world making it the largest open-air gallery in the world. In Potsdamer Platz, you can find a small chunk of the wall and some information about this historical piece of Berlin. In many souvenir shops, you will find small bits of the Berlin Wall sold as souvenirs!
East Side Gallery: Ostbahnhof Station, 10243
East Side Gallery Website
Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral, also known as the Berliner Dom, is the largest and most impressive church in the city. It attracts thousands of visitors every year. The entrance to this magnificent cathedral is 7,-€ (or 4,-€ reduced with student card) and inside you’ll be able to see the ministry church and it’s amazing cupola, the impressive imperial staircase, and the grand interiors wonderfully decorated in mosaics. Also inside is the Hohenzollern Crypt, the Prussian’s royal crypt, with nearly 94 coffins that are centuries and centuries old. Explore the Cathedral Museum and climb the steps to the top of the Dome where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city!
Note: Tourists aren’t allowed during services and events.
Address: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin
Berlin Cathedral Website
Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church
Located in the center of former West Berlin, the Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church serves as a symbol of the destruction of war. Also known as Gedächtniskirche and surrounded by modern buildings and shopping centers, this old church has some of it still remaining after it was badly bombed during World War II. An octagonal church was designed by Egon Eiermann and was built next to it in the 1960s and two other smaller buildings were added after. The memorial hall in the remaining west tower contains some of the original objects from the old church and also shows photos from before and after the war.
Address: Breitscheidplatz, 10789
Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church Website
Free Walking Tours
Berlin can be easily explored on foot and it’s great to know that a number of free tours are available all year round. These tours will take you around the famous sights of the city and it’s up to you how much you’d want to pay the guides or if they don’t deserve any at all! The guides are informative and a lot of fun (so try not to be too tight)!
Check out: New Berlin Tours Website | Alternative Berlin Tours Website | Brewer’s Berlin Walking Tours Website
Currywurst!
I don’t know about you, but currywurst is just so delicious! And where else can you enjoy it more than Berlin, where it was invented, eh? Currywurst is a pork sausage, fried and covered with curry sauce and curry powder. It’s a very popular street food found almost anywhere in Germany and is an obsession in Berlin (Berlin’s Currywurst Museum is one proof). It’s a tasty and affordable treat not just for Berliners but also for all its guests!
Berlin’s Currywurst Museum Website (Address: Schützenstraße 70 10117 Berlin | Admission: 7,€-11, €)
Grillwalkers
These grillwalkers sell sausages from their portable grills for only 1,50€ and you get a bread too! Though they may not be currywurst, it’s still a cheap treat! You’ll see a lot of them all over the city.
Berlin is awesome. I know you will love it!