Top 10 Things to do in Berlin

Berlin is rich in culture with diverse foods, sites, languages, and expats. I truly enjoyed wandering the streets of Berlin. Here are my top 10 things to do in the city!

1) Go on a walking tour with the Famous Insider's Walk

The Insider's walk was one of my favorite things to do in Berlin. It was fascinating to learn about the city's history. You will get to see the Berliner Dom, Nazi Book Burning Site at Bebelplaza, Hitler's Bunker Site (a parking lot), Memorial to the Murdered Jews, Berlin Wall, Gendarmenmarkt (main market), Checkpoint Charlie, and Brandenburg Gate.

2) Discover the East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery used to be the Berlin wall which separated East Germany and West Germany. Today, it is an open art gallery where you can find over 100 different paintings from different artists reflecting on the political landscape of 1990.

3) Wander the Museums on Museum Island

Museum Island is a great place to discover some of the great museums that Berlin has to offer. Here are the museums that you can choose from:

• Pergamon Museum is famous for its collections of massive reconstructions of the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon. Unfortunately, this museum is closed for renovations and will reopen in 2027.

• Neues Museum (New Museum) houses the Egyptian Museum and is known for hosting the iconic bust of Nefertiti.

• Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) is an art gallery that is most known for its collection of French Impressionists, as well as Caspar David Friedrich.

• Bode-Museum is a museum that has a huge sculpture collection, Byzantine art, and a coin collection.

• Altes Museum (Old Museum) has a collection of classical antiquities from Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art.

If you plan to visit at least 3 museums, I would recommend purchasing the 3 day Museum Pass, which you can see more about here.

4) Look down from the dome of the Reichstag

Another one of my favorite things was going to the top of the Reichstag. The Reichstag is the meeting place for the lower house of the national legislature. It has a reflective glass dome at the top where you can look down to see the legislators.

Our tour guide mentioned that the glass dome is symbolic, as it allows everyday citizens to look down at the government. This serves as a reminder to the government that they are here to serve the people.

5) Travel Back in Time to East Germany

One of my favorite museums in Berlin was the DDR museum. This interactive museum allows you to see exhibits of what life used to be like for Germans in East Germany versus West Germany.

6) Skate on Tempelhofer Feld

Tempelhofer Feld is an old Berlin airport that was used by the Allied forces to protect Berlin until the 1990s, but now serves as a massive park. You can skate, bike, and relax in this public park. There is a trail that has 20 different sites with plaques to read more about the history of this site.

7) Go to the top of the Berlin TV Tower

The Berlin TV Tower used to be a symbol of communism, but now serves as a symbol of the unification of all of Germany. The structure allows you to see 360-degree views of the city. You can also choose to eat there to watch the sunset.

8) Take an iconic picture next to the Brandenburg Gate.

If there is one thing you must do on this list, you must take a picture in front of the Brandenburg Gate. The Brandenburg Gate is the most famous landmark in Berlin. It was commissioned by Frederick the Great and built by 1791. This landmark is another symbol of unity. During the Cold War, no one from either side could visit the gate. Once the wall came down, everyone in Germany could enjoy visiting the gate.

9) Go on a day trip to Potsdam

If you have an extra day in Berlin, I would recommend taking transport over to Potsdam. In Potsdam, you can visit the famous Sanssouci Palace, where you can view the extravagance of Frederick the Great and his elegant rooms. You can also visit Cecilienhof Palace, which was the site of the Potsdam Conference, where many world leaders gathered to make decisions on the fate of countries post World War II in 1945.

10) Enjoy Bratwurst and drink a beer

Before you leave, you must enjoy a beer and bratwurst in Berlin. For some craft beer, you can check out Hopfenreich (located in Kreuzberg), Kaschk (located in Mitte), and Markthalle IX (at the Heidenpeters, located in Kreuzberg).