Berlin is a perfect weekend destination, whether you are looking for culture, history or wild entertainment, shopping or relaxation , traveling with children – who will appreciate the colorful museums and green areas – or with your sweetheart. What to do in Berlin : from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, Skyscanner has chosen the 10 must-see attractions to visit in Berlin.
Berlin is a city full of energy, an experimental center for art, fashion, music and design . A young, hipster , alternative destination. The cradle of clubs, discos , museums, avant-garde festivals. Stroll through its quiet streets, let yourself be enchanted by Alexanderplatz , visit the part of the Berlin Wall still standing, sip your aperitif along the Spree – the river that crosses Berlin – and go shoppingin Scheunenviertel. The means of transport are efficient, the city is safe and the prices for food and drink are not exaggerated. I mean, what’s holding you back? Berlin is the city to visit again this year.
Berlin, how to get there
Berlin is very well connected with Italy , by various flag and low cost airlines. At the moment there are two airports in Berlin: Tegel , to the north-west of the city and closer to the centre, and Schönefeld which is further south: almost all low-cost airline flights land here.
Tegel has a bus line to the city, while Schönefeld has a train station, which is well connected to the German train network and the Berlin S-Bahn. Which airport to choose? Well, soon that might not be a problem anymore, as the large Berlin Brandenburg Airport is under construction, which should replace the other two (find Air Berlin info here ).
Find out more: Flights Naples Berlin
Getting around in Berlin
Getting around in Berlin is pretty easy , thanks to the underground network. There are two types of trains: those of the S-Bahn ( Stadtschnellbahn , or “fast urban railway”) travel on the surface, often on elevated ones: you will need them for longer journeys, or to reach the surroundings. Those of the U-Bahn ( Untergrundbahn , or “underground railway”) are instead the classic subways, and guarantee great ease of movement thanks to a capillary network. If you prefer to travel on the surface, the integrated transport network ( BVG ) also includes buses and some ferries.
What to see in Berlin
1. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of Berlin. At the time of the Cold War it was the emblem of the division of the two Germanys while, after the fall of the Wall, it became the representation of a united Germany . Designed in 1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans in a neoclassical style, it is the only surviving example of the city wall, and was the gateway to the city. Twelve columns still support the door surmounted by the famous Quadriga by Johann Gottfried Schadow. But there’s more than just history here… today the Pariser Platz , opposite the Gate, hosts big pop concerts from time to time. Find out: it’s a unique experience.
2. East Side Gallery
A mix of art and history at Berlin ‘s East Side Gallery . Starting in 1989, the wall that divided the city was torn down. However, a 1.3 km long stretch of it remained standing along Mühlenstraße : this relic of 20th-century history has become an open-air gallery , where artists from all over the world have painted 106 murals. The most famous are Birgit Kinder ‘s Test the Best , which depicts a Trabi breaking through the Wall, and Dimitrij Vrubel ‘s The Deadly Kiss , which portrays Erich Honecker andLeonid Brezhnev passionately kissing. You will certainly enjoy walking this route and immortalizing your favorite works!
3. Holocaust memorial
A few steps from the Brandenburg Gate , in the heart of the city, is the impressive Holocaust Memorial, the memorial dedicated to the European Jews who were victims of the Holocaust : a must see. Visitors walk through 2711 rectangular concrete blocks, placed on an undulating surface, creating a claustrophobic effect of great intensity and emotional participation . The work is by architect Peter Eisenman , and won the AIA (American Institute of Architects) award. An information center is located under the monument.
The Holocaust Memorial is open from 10am to 8pm.
4. Checkpoint Charlie
An important symbol of the Cold War , which has become a must-see if you are in Berlin. Here passed the Allies, diplomats and all those foreigners who had the right to go from one part of Berlin to another from 1961 to 1990. Today at Checkpoint Charlie there is a US army guardhouse reconstructed down to the smallest detail and the very photographed sign “You are leaving the American sector” . Today the Checkpoint has also become the film set of major spy films and thrillers. Within walking distance, you can visit the Mauermuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie.
5. Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and Pergamonmuseum
There are tons of museums worth visiting in the city, five of which are gathered on Museum Island, one of the world’s largest concentrations of culture! Our pick, if you can only visit one, goes to the fabulous Pergamonmuseum . The imposing headquarters collects works from the Roman Empire , Ancient Greece , the Middle East and even from Babylon. Three collections are brought together under one roof: the old part, with architectural halls and sculptures, the Museum of Front Asia , and the Museum of Islamic Art . Once you cross the threshold, consider spending at least 3 hours for the entire visit.
The Pergamonmuseum is open every day from 10 to 18, and on Thursdays until 20. Admission costs 12 euros (6 euros the reduced ticket.
6. Reichstag
Seat of the German Federal Parliament since 1999, the Reichstag in Berlin deserves your attention if only for the glass dome , accessible by an elevator, the work of the English architect Norman Foster. If you happen to be here on a beautiful sunny day, you can admire a wonderful 360° panorama of Berlin ! An early morning or late evening visit is recommended to avoid the crowds of tourists.
Admission to the dome of the Reichstag in Berlin is free, every day from 8 to 24 (last lift at 22).
7. Hamburg train station
If you love contemporary art and are in Berlin you cannot miss this stop! The Hamburger Bahnhof collects many works by Andy Warhol , Roy Lichtenstein , Keith Haring , Anselm Kiefer and others. Since 1996 he has been the reference point for this type of art throughout Berlin. As the name suggests, the Hamburger Bahnhof is a former 19th century railway station converted into a museum. So huge that … be careful not to get lost! At night the facade is illuminated thanks to a lighting project created by Dan Flavin . Permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, a well-stocked bookshop and a coffee!
The Hamburger Bahnhof is closed on Mondays. It is open from 10 to 18 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, until 20 on Thursday, from 11 to 18 on Saturday and Sunday.
8. Zoo
On a trip to Berlin you certainly cannot miss a bit of healthy relaxation in the open air , preferably in the green lung of the city : the Tiergarten . Paths, lakes, streams, meadows, woods will be the outline of your moment of peace away from the chaos and traffic of the metropolis. Designed by the architect Peter Lenné , these 210 hectares of greenery will also be the ideal destination for jogging, walking, eating a sandwich lying on the grass or enjoying the summer and taking a bike ride. You remembered that you are stepping on the ground of a former game reserve !