Berlin

Canal markets, street art & underground nights

Browse Berlin

Find hotels in Berlin Book tours & experiences

Berlin is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Maybachufer, Graffiti Wall of Fame and Stroll Along the Spree. Food lovers should not miss Mama Bar and Konnopke's Imbiss. Below you will find 49 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Berlin at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Maybachufer and Graffiti Wall of Fame
Where to stay: Neukolln and Mitte
Local picks: 49 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Berlin

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Berlin: Best Neighborhoods for First-TimersWhere to stay in Berlin? A local guide to the best neighbourhoods, from central Mitte and foodie Kreuzberg to charming…

Local tips3 Days in Berlin: The Perfect First-Timer’s ItineraryA local's perfect 3-day Berlin itinerary: Museum Island and the Reichstag, the Wall and Kreuzberg food, plus parks, street art…

Where to stay in Berlin

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Charlottenburg

25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

A playful, jungle-themed design hotel by the Zoo and Ku’damm, with a superb rooftop bar-restaurant (Monkey Bar) overlooking the animals and the Tiergarten. Fun, central-west and full of character.

★ 4.5

Prenzlauer Berg

666 Anti Pub Crawl (Alternative Berlin)

A low-key, small-group alternative to Berlin’s rowdy pub crawls – a local guide leads you through the city’s most unusual underground venues: a ping-pong bar (the iconic Dr. Pong), a horror-themed rock bar, an absinthe bar, squat and beach bars and burlesque clubs, ending at a techno or hip-hop party. ~5 hours; free shots and venue entry included. Bring ID and an AB transport ticket.

★ 4.7

Friedrichshain

Alternative Berlin Street Art Tour

A tour of the other Berlin – street art and murals, courtyard galleries, squats and the subcultures that make the city tick, often with a hands-on stencil workshop. See why Berlin is Europe’s creative capital.

★ 4.7

Museum Island

Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)

The grand baroque-revival cathedral on Museum Island, with an opulent interior, the Hohenzollern crypt and a dome you can climb for a fine view over the island and the Spree. A small entry fee applies.

★ 4.6

Kreuzberg

Berlin Food Tour: Kreuzberg

A guided graze through Kreuzberg’s gloriously multicultural food scene – Turkish, Middle Eastern and modern Berlin bites, markets and craft beer – with a local telling the neighbourhood’s immigrant story.

★ 4.7

Mitte

Berlin Wall & Cold War Tour

A guided walk tracing the line of the Berlin Wall – the death strip, watchtowers, escape stories and the day it fell – across the sites where the Cold War played out. The essential Berlin history tour.

★ 4.7

Friedrichshain

Blackriver Store Berlin

The Friedrichshain home of fingerboarding – skateboard tricks done with your fingers, and a surprisingly serious scene with its own World Championships. What began as a workshop for wooden fingerboard ramps is now one of the world’s key fingerboard hubs (they still make skateboards and skateparks too). Tip: try the ramps and desks in-store for free.

★ 4.5

Mitte

Brandenburg Gate

The neoclassical triumphal gate that has stood through Prussian glory, Nazi rule, the divided city and reunification – the very symbol of Berlin. Free and always open; magical when floodlit at night.

★ 4.8

Mitte

Checkpoint Charlie

The most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War – now a much-touristed replica guardhouse. A bit of a circus on the spot, but the nearby wall history and the Mauermuseum give it real weight.

★ 4.0

Kreuzberg

Curry 36

The other great currywurst institution on Mehringdamm, open till the small hours and beloved by night-owls and cabbies alike. Order it mit Darm (with skin) and a side of fries.

★ 4.4

Mitte

DDR Museum

A hands-on, hugely popular museum recreating daily life in Communist East Germany – sit in a Trabant, snoop through a GDR flat, open every drawer. Fun and genuinely illuminating; busy, so go early.

★ 4.3

Friedrichshain

East Side Gallery

The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, painted by artists from around the world after 1989 – including the famous “Fraternal Kiss.” A free, open-air gallery and one of the most moving spots in the city.

★ 4.5

Alexanderplatz

Fernsehturm (TV Tower)

The 368m TV Tower on Alexanderplatz – the tallest structure in Germany and an East-Berlin icon. Ride up for the best panorama in the city; there’s a (slowly revolving) restaurant near the top. Book a timed slot to skip the queue.

★ 4.4

Tiergarten

Gemaldegalerie

One of the world’s finest collections of European Old Masters – Vermeer, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Bruegel – in a calm, spacious gallery that’s never overrun. A quiet treasure for art lovers.

★ 4.7

Mitte

Generator Berlin Mitte

A design hostel on lively Oranienburger Strasse with dorms, privates and a sociable bar – the affordable, meet-people base right in the middle of Mitte’s nightlife.

★ 4.2

Friedrichshain

Graffiti Wall of Fame

Berliners treat graffiti as an art form, and this wall – on the side of Friedrichshain’s Intimes arthouse cinema – gathers some of the city’s most prominent icons in one dense, colourful spot. A quick, satisfying hit of Berlin street art if you’re short on time.

★ 4.4

Kreuzberg

Henne

A gloriously old-school Kreuzberg tavern that’s served essentially one thing for a century: crisp, milk-fed half-chickens with tangy slaw and potato salad. Book ahead – tiny, wood-panelled and always full.

★ 4.6

Mitte

Hotel Adlon Kempinski

Berlin’s most storied grand hotel, right beside the Brandenburg Gate – old-world luxury, impeccable service and a guest list from Einstein to presidents. The definitive Berlin splurge.

★ 4.7

$$$

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to Berlin

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Berlin Book tours and experiences

Berlin travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Berlin?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Berlin at a relaxed pace. See our Berlin itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Berlin?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Berlin guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Berlin?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Berlin?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Berlin is worth visiting year-round.