Explore Essentials: Things to Do in Berlin

“Berlin’s list of attractions is so long and impressive that it can be hard to know where to begin. From world-class museums and quirky flea markets to famous historical sights and amazing museums, there is so much going on in the German capital. To help you get the most out of your experience, we’ve created a guide listing some of the absolute essential things to do in Berlin.

Experience the City from the TV Tower
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It might look like the Death Star skewered on a giant cocktail stick, but the futuristic Fernsehturm – or TV Tower – is one of the symbols of Berlin. Standing at 368m above the city streets, from the observation deck you have panoramic views of the German capital and beyond.

The revolving restaurant is perfect for grabbing a bite to eat while you enjoy the view. Book tickets in advance to avoid the long queues that can form back down on the ground.

By RudolfSimon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26704518

Visit the German Parliament at the Reichstag
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Almost destroyed during the battle for Berlin at the end of World War II, the Reichstag was given a new lease of life in the 1990s as the government returned to reunified Berlin and architect Norman Foster was brought in to reconstruct the building.

With views across the city skyline and down into the debating chamber, Foster’s dome is the highlight of any visit. Anyone can visit but you’ll need to register online in advance.

Load up on Culture at Museum Island
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Is there anywhere in the world with such as concentration of impressive museums as this island in the River Spree? Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to five of Berlin’s state museums.

This includes the Pergamon, with its collection of antiquities; the Old National Gallery with its collection of 19th-century art; and the New Museum, home to Berlin’s Egyptian and prehistory collections. There are different types of tickets on offer, including a Museum Island one-day pass and a three-day Berlin Museum pass.

By Bassel Khabbaz – This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed asMuseumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin., CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72551144Go Shopping on Ku’Damm
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From Zoo Station it’s a short walk to the Kurfürstendamm ­- otherwise known as Ku’damm – in the heart of Berlin’s west end and the city’s most famous shopping street.

As well as being the location for the flagship stores of international boutiques, Ku’damm is also packed with cafes and restaurants, theatres and hotels, as well as the Story of Berlin exhibition, featuring a genuine Cold War nuclear bunker.

Walk the Wall on the Mauerweg
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For 28 years the Berlin Wall split the city in two, and although most of it has now gone there are a few places where the infamous structure still stands.

The Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center on Bernauer Straße is the best place to learn the history of the divided city, while for a photo opportunity you’ll want to head to the East Side Gallery with its murals created by artists from around the world.

Step Back in Time through Berlin’s History
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There is history on every corner in Berlin and the city has a number of excellent museums and exhibitions to help you get to grips with all that happened here. The German History Museum is a good starting point for an overview of everything from the Middle Ages to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Other top class exhibitions that history buffs shouldn’t miss include the Jewish Museum, documenting two thousand years of German-Jewish history and the Topography of Terror on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters.

Take to the Water on a River Cruise
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Numerous boats sail the rivers, canals and lakes of Berlin, and will give you a very different view of the city. In the city centre, the river cruises will take you past most of the main sites, including the Reichstag and Museum Island, while at Wannsee down in the south, the forested shoreline and islands populated with peacocks will make it hard to imagine you haven’t left the city far behind you.

Picnic on the Runway at Tempelhof
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Berlin’s newest public park is one of the most unusual of its kind. Until 2008 Tempelhof was an operational airport, but now its runways and airfield are no longer the preserve of planes and other flying machines but cyclists, joggers, picnickers and kite-surfers.

There is an urban garden to explore, a barbecue area for your picnic and plenty of space for everyone – right in the heart of the city.

By Tony Webster – https://www.flickr.com/photos/diversey/17082933365, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39497980Hunt for Bargains at the Flea Market
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Alongside a leisurely lunch, the classic Berlin Sunday activity is to hit the flea markets in search of bargains.

There are markets all across the city, with the most famous being Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg – home to regular open-air karaoke sessions – as well as Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain and the antiques and book market by the Bode Museum on Museum Island, right in the city centre.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in the German capital, check out our hotels in Berlin.”