Berlin has something for everyone. This multi-cultural capital city is packed with incredible street art, world-famous museums and art galleries, bustling nightlife and history on every corner. You could honestly spend a week in Berlin, however if you only have 48 hours, here’s how you could enjoy it.
1 day in Berlin | The must-do's
On your trip to Berlin, start your day like the Germans do with a broetchen (bread roll) or two from the local bakery. If you’d prefer a sit-down meal, check out Commonground in the Mitte district for all your coffee, avo on toast or bacon roll cravings.
Get some comfy sneakers on because now it’s time for a lot of walking! To see and learn all the main historical sights, join a Sandemann’s Berlin free walking tour. This tour takes you to the Brandenburg Gate, Hitler’s bunker, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, Checkpoint Charlie and to parts of the Berlin Wall. Remember to tip your guide with what you think that the tour was worth. The tour takes around 3 hours and begins by the Starbucks by the Brandenburg gate.
For lunch, head to the nearest Currywurst joint to get your fix. Currywurst was created in 1949 after a lady discovered that pieces of sausage tasted even better with a sauce of ketchup and curry. Served with a side of fries, you can’t beat it. Tried and tested best places for Currywurst are Curry 36, Curry Mitte, Dom Curry, or Curry 61 if you’re interested in vegetarian options.
Afterwards, either walk or jump on one of the many buses or trains available and head to the Reichstag Building, the German Parliament. For free, you can go on a self-guided audio tour of the roof terrace and dome of the building for legendary views of the city. The audio-guide explains how the Government and Parliament function and provides you with insight into the building and its surroundings. You do need to book in advance online to secure a spot and remember to bring some form of photo ID.
Next, jump on the U-Bahn to the East Side Gallery. The East Side Gallery is an open-air gallery consisting of murals on remnants of the Berlin Wall which used to separate the East with the West of Berlin. The East Side Gallery will provide you with no shortage of pics for your Instagram feed so definitely don't forget your camera!
Time for dinner! The delicious burger joint Burgermeister proves to be a crowd favourite time and time again. In a past life, the restaurant was a train station toilet. Now it’s home to the ‘Bester Burger in Berlin’. Highly recommend the MeisterBurger (complete with fried onions, bacon, mustard and BBQ sauce) or the Waldburger for the vegetarians out there.
If you’re fancying a classy and fun night out, head to Claerchens Ballhaus. This dance hall is over 100 years old! It has seen everything from illegal sword fights, to large dance events when dancing was banned by the Nazis. Every day after 9pm, the dancefloor opens for the public. With a different type of dance every night, from salsa to disco to the cha-cha, it’s the perfect place to dance the night away. For those who want to learn the tricks of the trade, lessons occur earlier in the evening. Check out their website for more information on times.
For those wanting a slightly less classy (but equally as fun) evening, head to one of the world-famous clubs that call Berlin home. Go to the underground techno nightclub Tressor, check out the top DJ acts at Watergate overlooking the River Spree, or test your luck at trying to get into the exclusive Berghain.
No night out in Berlin is complete without a trusty kebab. Due to the large amount of Turkish immigrants living in Berlin, it's is the best place in Europe outside of Istanbul to get your fix. Ask to have yours with ‘knoblau’ (garlic sauce) and if you’re feeling extra peckish get a side of fries as well.
If you have more time | Local Experiences
Hopefully you’re not nursing too big of a hangover and are ready for another day of adventures.
As you would have realised from walking around Berlin yesterday, street art is thriving in the city. To get a greater fix of street art, head to Teufelsberg. Teufelsberg used to be a former spy station for the American NSA during the Cold War, however was abandoned in 1992 and is now a street art paradise. Get ready to be snap happy, there’s so much going on and to see. At the top of the station, there are incredible views all over Berlin.
Another way to dive into the street art scene within Berlin is going on an Alternative Berlin walking tour. They run several tours during the week, with one even including the possibility to enter a graffiti workshop and create your own masterpiece. The guides are street artists themselves and will show you all the hot-spots of the area and tell you stories about the artists.
For those of you who like museums, spend today checking out some of the city’s greats. Museum Island is home to world renown Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Bode-Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie. Buy a Museum ticket which includes entry to 5 museums. Or if you are a budding historian, go to the Jewish Museum or the Topography of Terror Museum with exhibits on WW2.
Spend your evening watching the sunset go down at Tempelhof. What used to be a decommissioned airport is now a large park with preserved runways, picnic spots and gardens. Bring some food with you and enjoy chilling in this unique spot in the world.
You can check out Berlin and all the sights this beautiful city has to offer by creating a fully customised itinerary using our online Adventure Planner!
