17 Best Places to Visit in Berlin, Germany

I must have visited Berlin over 10 times in my life. As I mentioned in my bio, I’m a quarter German and have a Great Auntie who lives in the city. It kind of feels like a second home.

Berlin is a vibrant, quirky, historical and exciting place to visit. I love the abstract buildings, graffiti and underground stations. You can’t go very far without seeing one of these three things.

My Great Auntie lives in Neukölln - which in recent times isn’t particularly the safest place. However, it boasts vintage shops, hip bars and cafes. I have a lot of fond memories of this area. There is always something quite special about sitting out on the balcony on a warm summers evening. You can hear the hustle and bustle, cars driving over the cobbles and the clinking of plates and glasses from the streets downstairs. Nothing beats it!

Here are some must-see places which I hope you enjoy and experience yourself!

---

1. Die Van Loon Restaurantschiff.

This restaurant is built in a fixed-anchored ship, situated on the Landwehr Canal. They have a great menu, complimented with beautiful views of the water. You must try the Berliner Weisse, which is a low-alcohol beer with a flavoured syrup. The drink is best served with friends at sunset. You’re welcome…

2. Alexanderplatz.

One of my favourite areas in Berlin. It is the central hub of the city, with numerous shops, attractions and of course the famous Fernsehturm. The tower stands at 368m with a viewing gallery at 203m and a revolving restaurant at 207m. It’s the best way to see the city from above. The restaurant experience is great as in one sitting you get the 360 experience around 3 times without having to move from your seat. Book a table at the tower for early evening, then you can see the city during the day and at night.

Standard tickets to visit the main observation deck are priced at €16.50 for adults.

3. Olympia Stadion.

The last time the Olympics were held in Berlin was in 1936. The stadium is now open for tourists to visit the original grounds and buildings. I love coming here to use the diving boards and swimming pools. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in history and architecture, and of course, relax by the pool in the sunshine.

4. Badeschiff.

I bet you’re thinking, the what? The Badeschiff literally translates to ‘bathing ship’. It’s a floating public swimming pool on the River Spree. Plus it’s a super fun place to hang out. There’s a bar, a large area to sunbathe and the view is wonderful. I was first taken here by my Great Auntie when I was 11 years old and I remember thinking, this is the coolest place I’ve ever been.

5. Potsdamer Platz.

This is one of the main transport squares in the city. There’s generally a lot going on in the area, plus all the main attractions are within walking distance. There is a route I love, which starts at Potsdamer Platz and finishes at the main Hauptbahnhof. Follow Ebertstrasse - which takes you past the Sony Center, Murdered Jews Memorial, Tiergarten, Brandenburger Tor, Unter den Linden and the Reichstag Building. There are also lots of shops, restaurants and people entertaining you along the way.

Parts of the original Berlin Wall are dotted around the area too with lots of very interesting information. A must-see!

6. Tropical Islands.

Just an hour drive from the city centre, you can find palm trees, golden sandy beaches, rainforests, air balloons, lagoons and a whitewater river - all under one roof! From the outside, the building looks like a UFO spaceship, but on the inside it’s paradise!

Unfortunately, we only spent one day here, but I’d love to go back and stay for a few nights. They offer different rooms, lodges and tents, in and outside of the building.

7. Spree Boat Trip.

This is such a great way to see Berlin. The Spree is a river that flows through the city, just like The Thames in London. There are many pick up locations in the city centre, however, we joined the boat in Treptow Harbor which is in the East. The trip lasted 90 minutes and cost around €18. On this route, you get to sail past many historical buildings, Berlin Cathedral, Molecule Man and Bellevue Palace. The boat ride finishes in Charlottenburg.

8. Panoramapunkt.

This is a viewing platform located on the 24th and 25th floors of the Kollhoff Tower in Potsdamer Platz. Giving you 360-degree views of Berlin, including the Tiergarten, Sony Center and Alexanderplatz. I love the architecture of this building!

Top tip: get there at 10am when it opens to guarantee the rooftop to yourself! Adult tickets are €7.50.

9. Berlin Zoo.

In the top 5 famous zoos in the world, located in the Tiergarten. Zoo Berlin is Germany’s oldest zoological garden and home to the world’s largest variety of species. Almost 20,000 animals of around 1,200 species live in the 33-hectare zoo. They include elephants, giraffes, gorillas, and Germany’s only giant pandas.

10. Holocaust Memorial.

A memorial in Berlin for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. It is made up of 2,711 concrete slabs which you can walk in between. There is no other architectural design like it in the world. A must-see! The memorial is located one block away from the Brandenburg Gate.

11. Brandenburg Gate.

The city’s most famous landmark. It is the symbol of Berlin and German division during the Cold War, it is now a national symbol of peace and unity. This has been one of my favourite areas in Berlin since I was little. Lots of shops, restaurants and street entertainment.

12. Museum Island.

There are five museums on the island, Pergamon Museum, Bode-Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and the Altes Museum. If you’d like to visit all the museums, the cheapest way is to purchase the Museum Island pass for €18. There are plenty of grassy areas in the Lustgarten for picnics and photo opportunities in front of the fountains. The famous Berlin Cathedral is right there too!

13. Strandbad Wannsee.

Looking for a beach in the city? Located furthest west of Berlin are two lakes,  the larger Großer Wannsee and the Kleiner Wannsee. The Wannsee beach is Europe's largest outdoor swimming area on an inland body of water. It is the perfect spot for a picnic and to relax and sunbathe on a hot summers day.

14. Tierpark.

Europe’s biggest animal park. I found that this zoo has less tourism than the original Berlin Zoo, however, there is so much more space to relax and enjoy the park. The animals have a lot more space and land which is great. There is nothing worse than seeing an animal in a small cage. Located in Friedrichsfelde on the former grounds of Friedrichsfelde Palace. Not to be confused with the Tiergarten!

15. AquaDom & Sea Life.

Located inside the Radisson Blu hotel by Alexanderplatz. The AquaDom is the largest acrylic cylindrical aquarium in the world, standing at 16m tall. There is a lift that goes up and through the centre of the aquarium, so you’re surrounded by all of the sea creatures. It’s a great experience! The Sea Life Center is located just down the road from the AquaDom which is also worth a visit.

16. Reichstag Building.

The Reichstag Building is home to the German Federal Parliament. The roof terrace and dome of the Reichstag Building can be visited by members of the public, and offer spectacular views of the parliamentary and government district and Berlin’s sights. The admission is free, however, you must register online and book an allotted visiting time. The area around the building is gorgeous - fountains, restaurants, and the main Hauptbahnhof train station is also close by.

17. Sony Center.

We always knew it was going to be a great day when either my Mum or Great Auntie would ask if we like to go to the Sony Center. Yes was always the answer! Located at Potsdamer Platz and contains a mixture of shops, restaurants, art and film museums and LegoLand. A number of major film premieres have also taken place here too! It’s also the perfect place to relax and eat ice-cream after a long day of walking around the city.

---

RELATED POSTS