12 Hours in Berlin: How to Make the Most of a Day in the City
Berlin is Germany’s capital, a vibrant blend of alternative, historic and diversity. The city truly has something for everyone, from intense history, unique culture, delicious food and a booming nightlife. If you’re short on time and only really have a day in Berlin, this is everything you need to do!
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Planning your trip?
How to get to Berlin:
You will likely either fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport or come via train or bus (e.g. Flixbus – often the most affordable) from another nearby country.
✈️Flying into Berlin Brandenburg Airport:
There is an airport express train every 15 or so minutes which takes you from the airport to the main station (Hauptbahnhof) in a little over 20 minutes. A single journey costs just 5€!
You could also get a taxi, which takes 30+ minutes and cost more than 50€.
🚄Train:
Europe is incredibly well connected by train and you can move easily between countries. The German train website is called Bahn.de and it has all trains that go into Berlin on there.
Also check out my guide on the best night trains in Europe for inspiration.
How to get around Berlin?
Berlin has a really strong public transport system, including trains, trams and buses. A single ticket costs 4€, 24 hr from 11.20€ (depending on your zones). Tickets are available at most stations and even in trams (though sometimes coin operated), but also through the BVG app.
Citymapper or even Google Maps work great here for figuring out the best routes.
If you are planning to do a lot of paid activities and museums, you could also look into the Berlin WelcomeCard. It includes unlimited public transport and discounts for tons of attractions, prices start at 28,50 € for 48 hrs.
Where to stay in Berlin?
Berlin has an excellent public transport system, even throughout the night. Due to that, it can be convenient to stay right in the centre (Berlin Mitte), but is not necessary and other areas may give you a better glimpse into the “real” Berlin.
Check out my full accommodation guide for Berlin here.
Best hostels and hotels in Berlin:
🛏️ The Circus Hostel (very central, nice rooms, clean)
🏬Hotel Johann (quiet location, nice rooms, good value)
🏩THE GATE GARDEN Hotel (super beautiful, central and huge garden)
Activities to check out:
🚶 Third Reich & Cold War 2 Hour Guided Walking Tour (Great way to learn about history and get an overview of Berlin)
🛥️ Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide (Berlin from the beautiful river Spree)
📍English Bus Tour to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (Important for history. Warning: Extremely difficult topics and brutal history)
🚗 75-minute Trabi Safari (iconic way to see the city)
1 Day in Berlin, Germany
Map of things to do in Berlin:
Start the day with a walking tour (or walk it yourself)
Berlin is overflowing with history and it’s impossible to discover it all on your own. A walking tour is a great way to start your time in Berlin, you get an overview of the city plus the most important history.
Most tours start right in the morning and are 2-3 hours, so perfect to tick off some of the highlights in the city while also learning about them.
You could also walk along the main points yourself, I have listed the key ones below, though there are additional stops with the official walking tours.
Points to visit:
- Brandenburg Gate
- The Reichstag
- Site of Hitler’s Bunker
- Tiergarten (briefly)
- the Jewish Memorial
- Mauerdenkmal (wall memorial)
- Checkpoint Charlie
Most tours will finish at Checkpoint Charlie, from which you can visit the Topography of Terror if you wish. This may take some time away from other stops, but it is a great way to learn more about WW2 Germany.
Head to Museum Island
Museum Island in Berlin is pretty literally what is says: an island on the river Spree full of museums. This area is full of history, home to the stunning Berliner Dom (shown above) and Lustgarden, and some of the most fascinating museums in Germany.
Here you can find famous artefacts like the world-famous bust of Nefertiti in the Neues Museum, pieces from the French Revolution to the First World War in the Alte Nationalgalerie, beautiful sculptures in the Bode-Museum, ancient Greek art including Zeus Altar in the Pergamonmuseum (highly recommend!) and finally ancient art and culture in the Altes Museum.
Just across the river is also the DDR Museum, which showcases everyday life in East Germany. In my opinion one of the most interesting ones too.
Even if you don’t have time to go inside any museum, I’d recommend visiting Museum Island. The views over the river Spree with the historic buildings is one of the best in the city.
Stroll over to Alexanderplatz
The walk from Museum Island to Alexanderplatz isn’t far, and yet you go past some gorgeous buildings as well as the famous TV Tower (home to an observation deck and restaurant). Keep an eye out for Saint Mary’s Church, the Red City Hall and Neptune’s fountain.
Once at Alexanderplatz, you’re at largest public market square in Germany, now the centre of shopping in Berlin. Any shop you can think of is likely here.
You’ll also find the Weltzeituhr (world clock) here, which features 24 columns representing the 24 time zones of the Earth.
Get some souvenirs and unique art at Hackescher Markt
A short walk from Alexanderplatz is Hackescher Markt, a mix of modern shops, art galleries, museums, design and unique stores. It’s one of my favourite places to wander and get souvenirs.
Make sure to watch out for the golden plaques (Stolpersteine) on the ground, common here as this was a predominantly Jewish area. They area a reminder of the fate of former residents of the houses. There’s also a museum about Otto Weidt who employed mostly blind and deaf Jewish workers in his workshop to protect them from persecution.
You’ll also find the famous Ampelmann store here. Ampelmännchen are the traffic light signs from East Berlin that have now been turned into an iconic symbol.
My favourite stores:
- Neurotitan Shop & Gallery
- EAT BERLIN
- the weekly market (Thursday & Sunday)
- Saveur de Bánh Mì (BEST FOOD!!)
On Thursdays and Sundays they have a local market with produce, handicrafts and souvenirs.
Grab an S-Bahn to the East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is one of the most striking remnants of the split of Berlin into East and West and a must-visit! It’s a permanent open-air gallery featuring artwork on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall.
It’s just 3 stops on the S-Bahn from Hackescher Markt to Ostbahnhof, which is where I’d recommend the walk along the wall into town.
It is completely free to visit and takes about an hour to walk the whole stretch of wall (with photo stops). Check out my full guide on where to start and what to see below:
Enjoy dinner and German beer at a Hofbräuhaus
Berlin’s actually got a lot of amazing food from all corners of the world. It’s especially known for Currywurst (Sausage in special curry sauce) and Kebabs.
However, it also doesn’t get more German than a beer hall. Hofbräuhaus is originally from the South, Bavaria, but it has some of the best beer in the country and the food is delicious. In addition, there’s usually a live band and some dancing.
Food to try: Käsespätzle, Schweinhaxn, Schweinebraten, Knödel
Where to go: Hofbräuhaus, BRLO Brwhouse, Prater Garten, Café am Neuen See
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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Travel Off Script contains affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
