Berlin travel guide: what to see, do and eat in Berlin

This guide is for tourists who want to visit Berlin. If you want to move to Berlin, read my moving to Berlin guide.

Visa requirements

You might need a visa to visit Germany. It depends on your citizenship:

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
You can visit Germany without a visa. You can stay as long as you want. You can also live and work in Germany.
Other Schengen area residents
You can visit Germany without a visa. You stay in Germany for 90 days in a 180 day period.¹ If you want to stay longer, or work in Germany, you need a residence permit.
Citizens of other countries
People from certain countries can visit Germany for 90 days without a visa. Other people need a Schengen Visa to visit Germany. A Schengen Visa costs 75€.² You can apply for a Schengen visa at the German embassy or consulate in your country.

Visa requirements by country – Federal Foreign Office

How to travel to Berlin

By plane

Fly to the Berlin Brandenburg airport. Use Kayak, Omio, Rome2Rio or Google Flights to book your flight.

To get from the airport to the city, you can…

Use public transit (recommended)
Take a train from BER airport to Berlin. It takes 30 to 45 minutes. Use Google Maps or BVG Fahrinfo. The airport is in zone C, so you must buy an ABC ticket. The ticket costs 4.40€. You can buy tickets at the airport, near the train platform. You can pay with cash or a credit card.³ Validate your ticket before you get on the train. – How to use public transit
Take a taxi
There are taxis outside the BER airport. A ride from the airport to the city centre costs at least 50€.⁴ You can also book a taxi with Uber or FreeNow. You can pay with cash or a credit card.⁵
Rent a car
You can rent a car at the airport. There are kiosks for different car rental companies. You can also rent a Miles car.

By intercity bus

Intercity buses are often cheaper than planes or trains. Use Rome2Rio or Omio to buy bus tickets. Some buses let you bring a bicycle.

Most buses have free Wi-Fi, power outlets and a small toilet.

Most intercity buses arrive at…

Berlin Brandenburg airport, 45 minutes from the centre
Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB), 25 minutes from the centre
Alexanderplatz, in the centre

If you arrive at BER airport, you need an ABC train ticket to get to Berlin. It costs 4.40€.

By train

Intercity trains are more comfortable, but also more expensive. They arrive directly in the city centre. Most trains have free Wi-Fi, but it’s often unreliable. Some trains let you bring a bicycle.

Most trains stop at the central train station, Berlin Hauptbahnhof. This is in the middle of Berlin.

Use Rome2Rio, Omio, Bahn.de or Google Maps to find a train route. To pay less, use the Super Saver Fare or book your tickets long in advance.

By car or motorcycle

You can drive in Germany with a foreign driving licence. You might need a translation or an International Driving Permit.

Who can drive in Germany

Driving in Berlin is easy, but free parking is hard to find.

Most parking spaces in the centre cost 1€ to 4€ per hour.⁷ Use Parkopedia to find a free or paid parking space. Most parking spaces outside of the central neighbourhoods are free. Motorcycles can park on the sidewalk for free.

You can also park outside the city and take the train to Berlin. There are free Park and Ride (P+R) car parks. You can park your car there for free, and take the train to Berlin. You can find them on this map (in Multi-mobility), or with this list.

The area inside the Ringbahn is an environmental zone. You need a green environmental sticker to drive in this area. You can get a green sticker at most gas stations around Berlin. Motorcycles don’t need a green sticker to enter this zone.

Information about the environmental zone – Berlin.de

BlaBlaCar lets you ride with drivers who travel to Berlin. You meet them in one place, and drive together to another city. Car sharing is usually cheaper and faster than intercity buses, but it takes more planning.

How to get around in Berlin

How to find your way around Berlin

Google Maps works really well in Berlin. It also works offline. The BVG app and the Jelbi app let you see train schedules and buy train tickets, but they don’t work offline. Maps.me and OsmAnd have offline maps and directions.

How to use public transit in Berlin

Berlin has very good public transit. It’s the best way to get around, even when you have a car. Just make sure you buy the right ticket and validate it. If you are caught with the wrong ticket, you will get a 60€ fine.

You can buy a 24 hour, 7 day or 1 month ticket. It’s cheaper than buying a ticket every time. There’s also the WelcomeCard, a ticket that gives you rebates on museums and attractions.

How to use public transit

How to rent a bicycle or a scooter

This is the best way to see Berlin. Berlin is very flat and has a lot of bike paths, so it’s easy to ride a bicycle or a scooter. You can rent them for around 10€ per day.

When I have visitors, this is my favourite way to show Berlin. I take my visitors along the river Spree and the Landwehrkanal.

Where to rent a bicycle

Where to rent an electric scooter

How to rent a car

You don’t need to rent a car in Berlin. It’s easier to use public transit. If you have an International Driving Permit or a EU driver’s licence, you can drive in Germany.

Where to rent a car

What to see and do in Berlin

Start with visitBerlin.de, WikiVoyage and Lonely Planet. To see what’s happening in Berlin, check tipBerlin and Mit Vergnügen (in German).

Main attractions

Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer)
Some parts of the Berlin wall were preserved. There is preserved part of the wall and a free museum on Bernauer Straße. The East Side Gallery is another part of the wall that was turned into a gallery.
Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)
The most famous church in Berlin. You can visit it, or relax on the grass in front of it. It’s on the museum island, close to many old museums.
Berliner Unterwelten
Bunker, tunnel and air raid shelter tours. The tours are in German, English, French, Spanish and more. I have done 3 of their tours. They are very interesting.
Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)
The iconic gate on Berlin’s East-West axis.
Christmas markets
In November and December, you can visit Berlin’s Christmas markets. There are dozens of them. Many are in scenic locations. There are dozens of kiosks that sell hot drinks, food, sweets and home-made goods. The Christmas markets are open from the middle of November to the end of December.
East Side Gallery
A long mural painted directly on the Berlin wall.
Flea markets
Every Sunday, there are flea markets all over the city. You can find great souvenirs there. There are also weekly markets that focus on food. I like the one at Maybachufer on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Mauerpark
Every Sunday, this park hosts a big flea market and an open air karaoke. Many musicians also play music there.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Next to the Brandenburg gate is a large holocaust memorial and museum. You can walk through the memorial.
Museum island (Museuminsel)
Museum island is home to the Berliner Dom, and many of the biggest, oldest museums. If you like beautiful old buildings, it’s worth a visit.
Oberbaum Bridge (Oberbaumbrücke)
A beautiful bridge that goes across the river Spree. It’s right next to the East Side Gallery. You can also kayak on the Spree to get a really good view on the bridge.
Palace of tears (Tränenpalast)
A small, free museum about the border control between East and West Germany. It’s in the old border crossing point, right next to the Friedrichstraße train station.
Reichstag building (Reichstagsgebäude)
An iconic building. You can visit the cupola and the rooftop, and learn about the history of Berlin. It’s free, but you must make an appointment.
Soviet war memorials
There are many memorials to the Red Army, who liberated Berlin in 1945. There are big memorials in Tiergarten, Treptower Park, and in Schönholzer Heide. The biggest one is in Treptower Park.
Tempelhof airfield (Tempelhofer Feld)
This giant former airfield is where many Berliners go to relax, drink beer, skate, kite surf and cycle. It’s a great place to visit on a sunny day.
Teufelsberg
Teufelsberg is an artificial hill. There is a cold war listening station at the top. It’s now an open air gallery with a really good view of Berlin. If you don’t want to pay to visit Teufelsberg, you can visit Drachenberg, the other hill next to it.
TV tower (Fernsehturm)
The TV tower in Alexanderplatz is visible from almost anywhere in Berlin. You can take an elevator to the top of the tower, and get a panoramic view of Berlin.
Victory Column (Siegessäule)
The Victory Column in Tiergarten sits on Berlin’s East-West axis. You can go up the tower and see Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building from above.

visitBerlin.de – Official website with really good information

Events

Find events on visitBerlin.de, Berlin.de, Facebook, Berlin Events Weekly and Rausgegangen.

Find live music on Resident Advisor, Bandsintown, Songkick and Echtzeitmusik. @berlingig is a Telegram channel that posts cheap concerts every week.

Berlinale film festival – February
This is the third largest film festival in the world, after Cannes and Venice. You can meet movie stars, and see all kinds of films.
Cherry blossom – April and May
After the reunification, a Japanese TV channel donated 10,000 cherry trees to Berlin. Most of them were planted where the Berlin wall was. Every spring, the cherry trees bloom and cover the alleys in rose petals.
Karneval der Kulturen – May, during Pentecost
A big cultural festival with street food, music and shows from all over the world. There is a parade on Sunday. Go earlier in the day, before it’s super crowded.
Fête de la Musique – June 21
A music festival in the entire city. There are musicians and concerts in every part of the city.
Zug der Liebe – End of August
The Zug der Liebe is a big parade with techno, dance and a lot of happy people.
Berlin Pride (CSD) – End of July
A big LGBTQ+ parade with music trucks. It’s one of the largest Pride events in the world.
Christmas markets – Middle of November until end of December
Germany is famous for its Christmas markets. Berlin has dozens of different markets, including alternative markets like the Japanese Christmas market and the Naughty Xmas Market.

Official event calendar

Public holidays in Berlin

Walking tours

Guided tours are a great way to discover Berlin. Use GetYourGuide or Airbnb experiences to find walking tours, or look at this list. I recommend the Berliner Unterwelten tours.

Outside of Berlin

If you have a bit more time, Potsdam and Wannsee are worth seeing. You can get there by train. Potsdam is in zone C, so you need an ABC ticket.

In the last week of April, you can also see the Baumblütenfest in Werder. It’s one of the largest folk festivals in Brandenburg.

Clubs in Berlin

Berlin is famous for its techno clubs. It can be hard to get into certain clubs. Clubs don’t let everyone in. For example, they often reject tourists, big groups, drunk people, and people under 21 years old.⁸

In Berlin, people don’t wear fancy clothes to go clubbing. If you dress too nice, you won’t get in.⁹ Each club has its own unofficial dress code. Ask the locals what the dress code is.

Most clubs have a cover charge. You must pay 5€ to 25€ to get in. Clubs in Berlin stay open all night. The party starts late, and the busiest time is around 2AM. You can buy presale tickets for club events on Resident Advisor. When you have tickets, it’s easier to get in.¹⁰ If you don’t get in, you get your money back.⁶

Find club events on Resident Advisor, or follow clubs on Facebook and Instagram.

What to eat in Berlin

Typical Berlin street food

Currywurst
A pork sausage with a curry and ketchup sauce. It’s usually served with fries (mit Pommes) in a cardboard plate. Curry 36 and Konnopke’s Imbiss are two famous options.
Döner kebab
The standard street food in Berlin. The best kebab places are a secret, but the worst kebabs are usually in train stations and tourist areas.
Gemüse Döner (or chicken Döner)
A Döner kebab with chicken and fried vegetables. Mustafa’s and Rüyam are some of the most famous chicken Döner places. I like K’Ups and Superhahn.

Typical Berlin dishes

Cuisine of Berlin – Wikipedia

Fleischerei Domke and Englers Unikat have cheap, traditional working class dishes. For something fancier, try Max und Moritz.

Tipping in restaurants

Most people tip in German restaurants, but it’s okay if you don’t. The waiter won’t be rude to you if you don’t tip. German waiters don’t need tips to survive, but it’s a big part of their income.

How to tip in Germany

Where to stay in Berlin

There is no “down town Berlin”. There are many popular neighbourhoods, and each one has a different personality. If you stay anywhere in the Ringbahn, you should be okay.

2000Px S Bahn Ring Berlin Svg — The central parts of Berlin are inside the Ringbahn.

Hotels: Booking.com
Hostels: Hostelworld
Vacation apartments: Airbnb or Wimdu
Long term apartments: see How to find an apartment in Berlin

If you are more patient, you can also use CouchSurfing and BeWelcome. People host visitors for free, and spend time with them during their visit.

Shopping in Berlin

You need cash

Germans pay with cash, Girocard, Visa and Mastercard. Always have cash with you. Many restaurants only accept cash. Most street food kiosks and Spätis only accept cash.

Payment methods in Germany

Shops close on sundays

In Germany, shops and supermarkets close on Sundays. Most restaurants, tourist attractions, Spätis and gas stations stay open on Sundays.

What stays open on Sundays

VAT refund

If you live outside the European Union, you can get a refund for the VAT you paid in Germany. For example, if you buy a laptop in Germany and bring it home in the United States, you can get the 19% VAT back. It’s not easy to do.

VAT refund process – Federal Foreign Office

Stay connected

If you visit from another EU country, your EU SIM card will also work in Germany. You make calls, send SMS and use mobile data without any extra costs.

German power outlets

Germany has Type F power outlets. They have a voltage of 230V, and a frequency of 50Hz. Before you visit Germany, check if your devices will work there. You might need a travel adapter to charge your devices.

Power sockets in Germany

Free Wi-Fi in Berlin

If you don’t have mobile data, you can find free Wi-Fi everywhere:

All U-Bahn stations have free Wi-Fi. Look for the “BVG Free WiFi” network.
Some S-Bahn stations also have free Wi-Fi. Look for the “WIFI@DB” network.
All trams have free Wi-Fi. Look for the “BVG Free WiFi” network.
REWE and Lidl supermarkets have free Wi-Fi.¹¹ Some Edeka supermarkets also have free Wi-Fi.
Hotels and hostels have free Wi-Fi for their guests.

Prepaid SIM cards for tourists

If you want mobile data while you visit Berlin, you should get a temporary SIM card.

There are 3 ways to buy a SIM card:

Buy a digital SIM card (eSIM)
This is the cheapest and easiest way. I use it all the time. You buy an eSIM from Airalo, and activate it when you arrive in Berlin. Your phone must support eSIMs.
Get a SIM card at a mobile phone shop
Buy a SIM card from a Vodafone, Telekom or O2 shop. Electronics stores like Saturn or MediaMarkt also sell and activate SIM cards. You must show your passport and a registration certificate to activate the SIM card, but store employees will just use your passport and the address of your hotel.¹²
Get a SIM card at the airport
The Wall Store and Travelex sell SIM cards at the Berlin. The Wall’s SIM cards are much cheaper than Travelex. There is often a long queue to buy them, so Airalo is much easier.

The Wall Store at Berlin airport sells SIM cards, but they are too expensive.

Travelex at Berlin airport sells SIM cards, but they are too expensive.

Maps

Google Maps works really well in Berlin. If you need offline maps, use OsmAnd or Maps.me. Google Maps also works offline, but you can’t get directions.

For more accurate public transport directions, get the BVG app.

To buy public transport tickets, get the BVG app or the Jelbi app to buy train tickets. They have more accurate train schedules. It’s easier than the ticket machines, and it’s in English. The Jelbi app also lets you book cars, scooters, bicycles and taxis.

Be a good tourist

Language

You don’t need to speak German. People in the tourism industry often speak English. If you are not sure, ask first. Museum exhibitions are in German and English. Signs in tourist areas are also in English. If you want to live in Berlin, you should learn German. If you are just visiting, English is fine.

Do I need to speak German in Berlin?

Tipping

In Germany, tipping is optional. In general, people tip up to 10% for good service, or round the amount on the invoice.