Berlin Travel Guide

Berlin offers mythic nightlife and trend-setting culture, but travelers are usually first captivated by its history, which involves some of the most dramatic moments of the 20th century, all of which is reflected in our Berlin travel guide. Historical landmarks—the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, and Berlin Wall Memorial—are big draws and rarely left off of sightseeing trips. Travelers who are interested in seeing the eastern, formerly Soviet-ruled part of the city often start at Museum Island on the River Spree, and move toward the TV Tower, the tallest structure in Germany, or the East Side Gallery, a former blockade covered with street art. From there, the alternative neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are nearby. Guided tours also specialize in off-the-beaten-path visits to Potsdam, East Berlin food tastings, Jewish heritage tours, and more.

Brandenburg Gate

Functioning as the gateway to Tiergarten, Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most recognizable landmarks, and a symbol of Germany’s post-Cold War reunification. Nearly all sightseeing tours stop at the gate, but private or small-group walking tours provide more context. For clients who want a deeper look into Berlin’s history, consider tours that also stop at the Reichstag and Holocaust Memorial, both nearby. Bicycle tours are a convenient way to get to the gate, and tend to continue west through Tiergarten Park from there.

Private Half-Day Tour of Berlin: Capital of Culture, Tyranny, and Tolerance

The City Sightseeing Berlin Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Berlin Wall

No Berlin travel guide would be complete without mentioning the Berlin Wall. Small portions of the Berlin Wall still stand, and can be seen at the Berlin Wall Memorial or East Side Gallery, a preserved stretch that has become an open-air mural gallery. Much of the rest of the wall’s path has been built over, but clients looking to follow the route should consider walking, biking, or Segway tours. Nearly any historical Cold War tour visits the wall along with Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate.

Cold War History Walking Tour

Modern Berlin Walking Tour

Private Half-Day Walking Tour: Berlin Wall, Cold War, and Checkpoint Charlie

Private Guided Van Tour: Berlin Wall With Living Witness Commentary

Museum Island

Museum Island is a UNESCO-listed ensemble of five museums clustered at the northern end of Spree Island. If clients can only visit one museum, The Pergamon, which houses classical antiquities and Islamic art, is their best bet. It’s also Berlin’s most-visited museum, meaning that lines are inevitable without skip-the-line admission – which is why we’ve included a few skip-the-line options in our Berlin travel guide. Clients can also take walking or boat tours that pass by the island to orient themselves and return later.

TV Tower

The TV Tower is Germany’s tallest structure and one of the capital’s most visited landmarks, drawing more than 1 million annual visitors. Visitors can take in the views from the observation deck, grab a drink at Berlin’s highest bar, or book a table at the revolving Sphere restaurant. Walking, biking, and Segway tours usually stop long enough to take a photo, while sightseeing and hop-on hop-off bus tours afford longer visits. Skip-the-line tickets are often paired with dinner and other perks.

Skip the Line: Dinner at the Berlin TV Tower and Hop-on Hop-off City Tour

Private Tour: Berlin by Trabant Stretch-Limousine

Berlin Highlights Segway Tour

Food and Drink

This vibrant city has quite the culinary scene. Roaming through the streets by bike or on foot you can encounter great eats, from classic German favorites to Turkish, Arabic, Vietnamese and Italian food. Berlin also boasts a myriad of vegan-friendly restaurants and the most Michelin starred restaurants in Germany. Don’t forget to take advantage of the great beer the city has to offer with new and fun micro-breweries opening regularly.