Top 10 things to do in Berlin

Berlin is such a fun city to explore, with plenty of things to do, such as learning about the history of the city, enjoying tasty food and seeing some great street art, here are the top 10 things to do in Berlin:

1.East Side Gallery

The East side gallery is an international memorial for freedom, the wall separated the East and West sides of the city during the Cold War. The gallery is a monument of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Since the fall artists have been invited to come and paint murals with various political statements. At 1316 metres long and located along the Spree river, it is the longest continually standing outdoor gallery in the world. One of the most recognised images on the wall is that of fellow communists Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev kissing each other.

The gallery attracts 2-3 million visitors each year, so expect a lot of people posing for photos when you go there. It doesn’t take that long to walk the stretch and there are a couple of food stalls and tourist shops where you can stop to pick up some currywurst or souvenirs.

Address:Mühlenstraße, 10243 Berlin

Public transport – U Schlesisches Tor

2.Berliner Dom

The Berliner Dom is the largest cathedral in the city, the interior is a mix of Renaissance and Baroque design featuring mosaics and stained glass windows. Climb to the top dome for breath taking views across the city and river Spree. Afterwards head to one of nearby restaurants to enjoy dinner whilst admiring the beautiful architecture. In the summer relax and watch the world go by on the grass area by the cathedral and Altes Museum home to many historical artefacts.

Address: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Admission: €7

Public transport: S-Bhf Hackescher Markt or U-Bhf Alexanderplatz

3.TV Tower

Berlin Fernsehturm also known as the TV Tower is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. You can always spot it towering above you in the city skyline. The tower has an observation deck for spectacular views over Berlin. The revolving restaurant rotates a full 360° every hour so you get to see all the attractions whilst enjoying a delicious meal. They have a range of offers for the restaurant, we opted for the 2 course lunch for €34.50 per person. The only downside when booking the offers is that you aren’t guaranteed a window seat however the view and food is still worth it though.

Address: Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Price: Observation deck tickets start from €14, check website for restaurant offers here

Public transport: Alexanderplatz Station

4.Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The memorial is designed by Peter Eisenman and dedicated to the Jewish victims of the holocaust. As you walk through the concrete blocks you may feel disorientated as the floor sinks and rises. Make sure you visit the museum under the memorial which is free to enter but tends to have a queue especially at weekends.

Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Public Transport: U-Bahn: Mohrenstraβe, U6; Französische Staβe

 5.Get a taste of Istanbul at the Turkish Market

This vibrant outdoor Turkish market is situated in the multicultural neighbourhood of Kreuzberg. Street vendors sell traditional Turkish street foods, fresh produce and an assortment of knick-knacks. The lively atmosphere attracts plenty of locals and tourists, head to the end of the strip and you’ll probably find an impromptu musical performance. Don’t leave without picking up one of the gözlemes which is a traditional Turkish flatbread dish.

Dates & Time: Tues & Fri from 11am to 6.30pm

Adress: Maybachufer 1-13, 12047 Berlin

Public Transport: U-Bhf Schönleinstraße

6.Cruise along the river

Stern + Kreis offer a range of river cruises ranging from 1 hour to 3, we opted for the 3 hour evening cruise. It’s a great way to see Berlin and relax with a drink or two. They also offer a range of snacks which you can buy on board, or they have main meals which you can order when booking. Our tour guide gave us information about the building and attractions we passed in German and then in English. Remember to bring a jacket if opting for the evening cruise as it can get quite chilly. I’d recommend doing the 1 hour cruise as 3 was a bit too long for us. If booking online you have the option to choose from different starting locations.

Book your tour here

7.Sing karaoke at Mauerpark

In the summer Bearpit karaoke is the best way to entertain yourself on a Sunday afternoon. Once you’ve finished searching for treasures at the flea market sit down and be captivated by the amazing and awful singers, whilst you and the audience sing along with them. Joe the warm up guy does a great job of adding in some humour and revving up the crowd to create an electric atmosphere. I’d recommend getting here early to get a seat with a good view as it gets packed.

Time & Date: Sundays it starts around 3-4pm and admission is free

Address: Mauerpark Berlin (located next to the market by the basketball court) Gleimstraße 55, 10437 Berlin

8.Visit street art heaven

The buildings in Berlin are very grey but the graffiti and street art help inject some colour in the mix. For a particularly concentrated area of graffiti go to the courtyard near Cinema Cafe, where impressive street art covers every inch of the walls. Down this alley is the Anne Frank centre an exhibition about the history and present. Directly opposite this is the Otto Weidt’s Museum Workshop for the Blind, a small workshop where Weidt employed deaf and blind Jews to protect them from persecution and entry to this is free. To find the most famous street art pieces you should go on a street art tour.

Address: Rosenthaler Str. 39, 10178 Berlin, Germany

9.Explore the Zoo

The zoo is huge with over 19,400 animals to see,you can easily spend the whole day here. The zoo is home to the only Pandas in Germany Meng Meng & Jiao Qing. Some other highlights are the Polar Bear, Giraffe, Lion, Zebra and Elephant. Download the app so you don’t miss the animal feeding times.

Address: Zoologischer Garten Berlin AG, Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin

Public Transport: Zoologischer Garten 

Prices for adults start from 15.50

10. Eat at Burgermeister

Burgermiester is located under the U-Bahn tracks in an ornate 100 year old structure that used to be a toilet, now transformed into a popular burger joint.Burgermiester is located under the U-Bahn tracks in an ornate 100 year old structure that used to be a toilet, now transformed into a popular burger joint. There is usually a line of tourists and locals, but it’s well worth the wait. Try the Meisterburger with bacon, bbq sauce and fried onions paired with cheese fries.

The Berlin Welcome Card

• Free public transport in Berlin
• Free city guidebook
• Discount to 200 attractions including the Zoo, Berliner Dom, Museums & TV Tower
• For more info click here

Looking for somewhere to stay in Berlin check out my post on 25 hour hotels

Check out the Crazy Tourist’s guide to the 75 best things to do in Berlin here

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*Thank you to Visit Berlin for the Welcome cards & Stern + Kreis for the river cruise, all opinions remain my own*