Berlin, the dynamic capital of Germany, is a city rich in history and culture, once divided by the Berlin Wall and now united again. Nestled along the scenic Spree River, Berlin seamlessly blends historic landmarks with modern architecture and vibrant neighbourhoods. It offers world-class museums, eclectic cuisine, a thriving art scene, and dynamic nightlife. Whether you're a history buff, art lover, or food enthusiast, Berlin has something for everyone.

Travelling to Berlin

Berlin used to have three airports, which sometimes made it quite confusing. Now it only has one left which builds on the remains of Berlin Schönefeld. And also, the airport code got a lot easier: BER (Berlin Brandenburg Airport). It serves major international long-haul carriers and regional low-cost airlines. It’s well connected to the city by S-Bahn (urban-railways) and bus. For those arriving late or leaving early, there are two hotels right next to the exit (which I use frequently).

As expected for a capital the city is as well very well connected to the rest of the country by train and high-speed (the infamous ICE-trains) trains. The main station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof) is located close to the Reichstag and along the river. Besides domestic trains, it serves as well international trains (to Poland and Czech Republic) and night trains.

You can also reach the city by bus (Flixbus) or car.

What to do

From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the bustling streets of Kreuzberg, Berlin offers a unique and diverse experience for every traveller.

A good starting point for visiting the main sights in Berlin is the Alexanderplatz with the World clock. If you walk south-west from the train station, you’ll pass the TV tower and the City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) before getting to the newly rebuilt Stadtschloss (Humbold Forum im Berliner Schloss) and the Museumsinsel (Pergamonmuseum) with the Berliner Dom. The Museumsinsel houses many great museums like the Pergamonmuseum, Neues Museum and the Alte Nationalgalerie besides many more. From the Berliner Dom starts the big boulevard ‘Unter den Linden’ that runs all the way to the Brandenburg Gate and Adlon. Along the way you find many more museums and Embassies (incl. the Russian Embassy a massive embassy complex dating back to the Soviet occupation of Eastern Germany).

**Alte Nationalgalerie on the Museums Island**

After walking through the Brandenburg Gate to the right you will find the Reichstagsgebäude (Reichstag) which houses the German Bundestag (to get in you need a reservation). In front of the main entrance to the Reichstag you have a huge lawn which offers great views on the building itself and some space to rest in case you need it. At the other end of the lawn, you also find the Kanzleramt where the Chancellor of Germany has his/her residence. Further to the west from the Brandenburg Gate you’ll reach the Siegessäule (Victory Pillar). You can go up the Siegessäule and have a great view over Berlin. Following the Spreeweg north from the Siegessäule you’ll reach the Schloss Bellevue, which is the residence of the German President, today more of a representative role. The whole area is the Tiergarten which is a big recreational park and acts as the green lung of the city.

Walking south from the Brandenburg Gate (to the left) you will pass the Holocaust Memorial and eventually reach Potsdamer Platz with the Sony Center. It’s a completely new area with some of more unique architecture (including parts of the former Berlin Wall) and which is now a hub for entertainment, shops and restaurants.

Not far from Potsdamer Platz you have Stadt Mitte from where you can explore Checkpoint Charlie (famous border station between East and West Berlin) and Gendarmenmarkt (with the Französischer Dom, Deutscher Dom and the Concert Hall Berlin).

If you want to learn more about the history of the division between East and West, visit the Tränenpalast (Palast of the Tears) next to the S-Bahn station Friedrichstrasse. There you can experience what the procedure was for the few lucky Eastern Germans that were allowed to cross the border to West Germany. For me it was a very personal experience as I used to cross over there to the “other Berlin” as a kid. Next to the museum you also have the piers from where the sightseeing cruises up and down the river leave. The boats are fun and you see Berlin from another angle.

Kreuzberg is one of the more unique neighbourhoods in Berlin, housing most of the Hipsters in town. One of the best activities is to stroll around and explore the area. Don’t miss out on the East Side Gallery and Markthalle Neun (Market Hall Nine). You’ll also find one of the more interesting and photogenic spots with the Oberbaum Bridge crossing over into Friedrichshain, another hip neighbourhood with a punkier and more alternative vibe. Bordering Kreuzberg is also the former airport Tempelhof, which today is a public park and great to rest and some people watching.

The Kurfürsten Damm (Ku-Damm) is another area worth exploring. It’s been always the more up-market area and still today houses one of the more luxuries department stores in Germany, the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens). The Ku-Damm is one of the great shopping streets in Berlin and offers something for everybody. You also find the remains of the Gedächtnisskirche close by which stands as reminder to the destruction of the city during the Second World War.

For a more unique shopping experience visit the Hackeschen Höfe. It’s a complex of interlinked Jugendstil courtyards home to boutiques, cafes & art exhibitions. Right next to it you also have the art gallery in Haus Schwarzenberg and alley with some cool laidback bars to rest.

If you stay for a weekend, check the Flea market (Berliner Trödelmarkt) next to the S-Bahn station Tiergarten. You can brows the stands for some antiques or vintage clothes and explore some of the best street food in town. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

If you get sick of the city or stay for more than a weekend, check Potsdam. It’s a perfect day trip. Take S-Bahn line 7 all the way to the end. Besides the city itself it also has the Sanssouci Palace, which was inspired by the Louvre in Paris. Around the Palace you have a massive park with some more buildings like the Orangery Palace, Neues Palais and Belvedere on the Klausberg.

Where to stay

With so many things to do, there’s no one good area to stay. I stayed in different areas, and I was happy in all of them. One of the best is to stay around the S-Bahn station Tiergarten as it makes it very easy to get around the city. The Ku-Damm is another area with good hotels and good connections. If you prefer AirBnB I would check Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain. Alexanderplatz is popular with younger travellers, but I find it quite overwhelming.

Food & Drinks

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Germany you can imagine that there’s food from all over the world. If you’re looking for some great typical German cuisine in a great atmosphere, I recommend Tiergarten-Quelle (next to S-Bahn station Tiergarten). It’s a restaurant in the arches below the train station serving some good local beer from Lehmke. Also, Lemke Biergarten close to Hakescher Markt has some more great beers and typical local food. Especially in the summer it’s a great place to hang out. If you’re looking for a craft beer place with a good selection, check out Berliner Republik or Ständige Vertretung both close to S-Bahn station Friedrichstrasse (opposite the Tränenpalast). For a more touristy spot but still with some great food and beer head to Georgenbräu close to the new Stadtschloss.

Visiting Berlin you can’t escape the Currywurst. For one of the best, I would go to Curry36 in Mehringdam 36. Around this area you also find some great restaurants (craving a Ramen check Hako Ramen) and bars, for some crazy cocktails head over to Zynkalibar.

For music lovers looking for good Jazz and live music a really cool place is Yorckschlösschen in the Yorckstrasse,

Travelling around Berlin

The easiest and best way to get around town is by S-Bahn or U-Bahn. Most of the neighborhoods and sights are a long an S-Bahn line. BVG (the local public transport company) offers some great multi-day tickets that make exploring convenient. Some even include a discount for the river cruise tours. Buses work well too; some lines have the double-decker. Bus line 100 passes almost all the sights and is a great way to explore Berlin. Bicycle and walking are good options if you want to see more of the city. Cars can be taunting with the traffic, especially around rush hour.

Best Photography Spots in Berlin

There are plenty of good spots for photographers. One of the best views over the city you’ll have from Siegessäule. Walking along the train dam and then river from Hackescher Markt towards Museumsinsel offers a good view on the winding tracks of the S-Bahn. For people watching head out to the old city Airport Tempelhof (Tempelhofer Feld).

The Bandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Potsdamer Platz are also good areas if you like to take some iconic shots.

I hope with all the above, I could help you planning your next trip to Berlin.

Here a link to my Berlin site which hopefully gives you some ideas what to expect.

Berlin - the City on the Spree