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How to Spend a Day/Weekend in Berlin

a large clock tower in front of a building

 

Photo by Ingo Joseph from Pexels

Berlin weekend adventure promises world-class museums, good food, a variety of shopping districts, and an extensive variety of nightlife. Indulge yourself for an out-of-the-ordinary weekend trip in Berlin. And the first thing you need to do is to find the perfect strategic place to stay, and the best way is to book Airbnb vacation rentals in Berlin, Germany

Many travelers from all over the world can’t get enough of this city, and many found themselves coming back to experience more of Berlin. If you want to go scot-free from touristy crowded places and with limited days only, you will need to plan out a little bit more for your itinerary. The following are the top places you need to visit:

Brandenburg Gate 

This is the ideal starting point of your itinerary in Berlin. It may be flocked by many tourists, but this is a not-to-miss place to visit. Historically, it has been a physical symbol of the separation of East Berlin, and many have climbed just to catch a glimpsed from the Iron Curtain of East Berlin during the Cold War. But now, the gate has been a stunning and glorious symbol of “unity and hope”.

Reichstag Dome 

The Reichstag has seen it all, literally. The building has a rough history, and it has been the home if the current German Parliament after the German Unification. The structural distinction, political importance, and the stories in its walls are worthy of your visit.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

It is one of the top places you need to visit in Berlin, and it is a place for contemplation and reverence for all the murdered Jews of Europe. The Memorial consists of 2,711 slabs of concrete and is open day and night. Also, you need to check the free underground exhibit which shows more about Germany’s Jew Population and horrible facts and stories of the Holocaust. 

An important reminder: Mind your manners at the memorial, disrespectful behaviors, climbing in the concrete blocks to take pictures are highly discouraged. 

There are nearby memorials that are worthy to visit, such as the Memorials of Europe’s Roma and homosexual populations. Both memorials are located near Tiergarten— it’s one of the biggest public parks in Berlin. It’s the perfect place to take a break. 

Topographie des Terrors (Topography of Terror)

Make a stop at the Topographie des Terrors, if you’re still not too worn down from the difficult history of Berlin. It is an outdoor museum that is meaningfully located on the site of the former SS Gestapo headquarters. The admission is free. 

a large white building

Photo by Viviana Ceballos from Pexels

Museum Island

Museum Island is strategic as it houses plenty of museums you can choose to visit. Here’s the list of the museums that might pick your interest:

  • Pergamon Museum – exhibits Ancient East such as Babylon and Uruk. It is one of the most popular and drew the heaviest crowds, and it’s ideal to get tickets prior to visiting. 
  • Neues Museum – famous for its extensive exhibit of ancient Egyptian antiquities. And its popular artifact is the Bust of Nefertiti.
  • Alte Nationalgalerie – this gallery displays art collection ranging from the Neoclassical to Romantic periods, and up to the early modern artworks. It showcases the works of Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Friedrich.
  • Altes Museum dedicated to art and sculpture of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time in the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Etruscans civilizations.
  • Bode Museum – it showcases works from four different eras. And one of the best exhibits is the stunning sculpture gallery that displays works ranging from the medieval period up to the 1700s.

After your museum visits, you need to go to the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) which is also located on Museum Island. 

a large white building

Photo by Niki Nagy from Pexels

Alexanderplatz

Unanimously, Alexanderplatz is Berlin’s most famous squares. This square is an action-packed and exciting place to explore. It is Berlin’s main transportation hub, and you can indulge in shopping here or even just relax and do people watching. It is easily recognizable if you are in Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm)

East Side Gallery

The trip to Berlin is not complete without stopping here. The East Side Gallery is the home of painted murals on the remaining remnants of the Berlin Wall. Many of the mural work displays hopefulness and forthcoming positive changes. 

Its famous and most photographed mural is the depiction of Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker kissing. The East Side gallery showcases over 105 mural paintings. 

If you’re down for some unusual places to visit in Berlin, you can visit

  • Berliner Unterwelten which is an underground museum that shows the secrets of Berlin, including escape tunnels and World War II bunkers. And across the street, you can check the Flak Towers that were built by Adolf Hitler to defend the city from the enemy’s air raid.
  • Badeschiff Pool is an old 30-meter barge that was converted to a swimming pool. It offers panoramic views of Berlin City, and it is connected to the riverbank by a footbridge. 

Aside from places to visit, you also need to plan out where to eat, to shop, and where to have a fun nightlife.

Berlin’s top foodie spot is the Prenzlauer Berg, the place is famous for the plenty of pubs, cafes, galleries, and restaurants. After your long and emotional Berlin exploration, you deserve to splurge a little bit for some good food and drinks. 

The top shopping spots of Berlin are the Mauerpark Flea Market and Friedrichstraße. These are one of the biggest and most famous shopping areas in Berlin, and you can spend and enjoy your spare time here shopping. 


Lastly, Friedrichshain is the place you’ll want to finish your day of exploration and enjoy Berlin’s nightlife. It is in the east of Berlin and gives off a punky and alternative vibe. There are restaurants and many different indie boutiques that you might want to check out too. Another area in Berlin where you can enjoy and party is the Simon-Dach-Straße and Boxhagener Platz where numerous clubs and pubs are located.