Cities We Love: Berlin

I thought I loved a lot of cities in Europe, but I really fell hard for Berlin. It’s old and new. It’s full of history, some of which you’d think Germany would rather forget. But that history is front and center, reminding everyone not to repeat the mistakes of the past. It’s vibrant. It’s beautiful. It’s big. It’s full of bicycles. Public transit is incredible. The food is incredible. And It’s just really, really cool.

Planning Your Trip

Berlin is a solid destination all on its own. You will find plenty to do in 5 or 6 nights here, adding on day trips to nearby cities like Dresden which are easily accessible by train. But if you’re interested in combining Berlin with another destination, I’d highly recommend Prague, a city much different from Berlin in size and culture and quite easy to reach from Berlin (a few hours by train is all you need). You can also expand your time in Germany by combining Berlin with Hamburg, Leipzig, or Munich. And it’s an ideal city to explore before or after a river cruise in Eastern Europe.

Where to Stay (and Play)

The Mitte neighborhood is centrally located and ideal for travelers on their first trip to Berlin. It’s easily accessible to major sights such as the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and more.  You’ll find easy access to public transit and it’s also very walkable. You’ll find dozes of restaurants, cafes, and shops around Rosenthaler Platz and along Oranienburger Strasse. You’ll find some of the most famous hotels in this area, such as the Hotel Adlon, steps away from the Brandenburg Gate.  

Ku Damm in West Berlin has a number of great hotel options and is closer to shopping and the Berlin Zoo and Tiergarten, the largest city park.

If you’re looking for a trendy stay, head to the Michelberger Hotel in Friedrichshain - it’s super hipster, but is still kind of cool. This area is a bit further from sightseeing, but very close to all the major clubs in Berlin if you’re interested in checking out that scene. At a minimum, I would suggest checking out the hotel bar and having a few drinks here – the people-watching is excellent.

No matter where you stay, it’s quite easy to get around Berlin by public transportation (U-Bahn) so you can see a lot during your stay! 

Museum Hopping

There are so many museums worth visiting in Berlin that it’s easy to get sucked into museum overload while in the city (ahem, this is what happened to me). So rather than try to cover everything during your stay, pick a few museums that are most interesting to you and stick to that. I’d highly recommend the Jewish Museum and a few stops on Museum Island (the Pergamon Museum is a must-visit, then go to the Neues Museum to see Nerfiti’s bust and the Golden Hat). As you can imagine, there’s also a lot of WWII and Cold War history to explore here and I certainly recommend taking some time to see at least a few of these sites such as the Topography of Terror and the Berlin Wall Museum. 

Other Places to Explore

Berlin has a famous zoo (located right next to its largest city park) and plenty of outdoor activities available. It's a walkable city and perfect for enjoying beautiful weather outside. Even if you visit in the colder months, you’ll find much to do including the city’s Christmas Markets that run from mid-November through the end of December.

I also highly recommend checking out the famous flea market in Prelnzlauer Berg for local food, drinks, shopping, and live music. Every Sunday the flea market draws large crowds of locals and visitors and is totally worth spending some time people-watching, maybe with a sausage and a beer! 

Visit the East Side Gallery, a large portion of the Berlin Wall that is still standing in Friedrichshain and painted by various artists. It’s worth taking some time to walk around here, before grabbing a drink at the Michelberger Hotel.

While there are fewer historical sights in West Berlin, there are plenty of shops, department stores, and luxe hotels in the area. If you’re up for some shopping, check out KaDeWe and be sure to visit the 6th floor’s fancy buffet and scope out the food hall on the 5th floor offering everything from cheese plates to burgers to French cuisine to traditional German sausages).

Have you been thinking about a trip to Germany, and specifically Berlin? We’d love to help you start planning.