Berlin Travel Guide
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer policy.
The capital of Germany, Berlin is a must-see for many visitors. Home of the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the Berlin Wall, you’ll never run out of things to do in and around Berlin.
Even if you’ve been to Berlin before, we recommend visiting again – the city has changed so much over the years! We love Berlin – Cate used to live near the city and it’s one of her top 3 favorite cities in Germany.
This guide will help you start planning what to do and see in the Berlin area, where to stay, best tours, day trip ideas, and more.
What to Do and See in Berlin
Whether you’re into history, art, architecture, food and drink, nature, or spontaneous adventures, you’ll find plenty to see, and experience in and around Berlin! If you’re only in Berlin for a day or two, maximize your time by starting with the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. In just a couple hours you can see a lot of the city, which then leaves you time to zero in on the sights you want to explore in more depth.
Tip:
if you have our Germany Travel Planner be sure to check out the interactive planning map so you can see where the best sights are located. Seeing where these sights are on the map, along with our up-to-date photos and tips, makes planning your trip SO much easier. If you don’t yet have it, click here to get access.
Where to Stay in Berlin
You’ll find a wide variety of accommodation options in Munich, including hotels and apartments. If you’re only in Berlin for a couple days, we recommend staying in the city center so you can walk to many of the must-see sights.
If you’re looking for an apartment in Berlin, do a search on Booking.com. We’ve found several great apartments there (less than what we saw on Airbnb for the same apartment) and it’s SO nice to have all hotel and apartment reservations in one place. We booked our most recent apartment in Berlin using that sight and not only got a great rate, we got an upgraded apartment when we arrived!
Tips:
If you have our Germany Travel Planner you’ll find recommended hotels on our interactive planning map. Seeing where these hotels are in relation to the top sights makes it a lot easier to find the perfect place to stay. If you don’t yet have it, click here to get access.
Book your Berlin accommodations in advance! They tend to fill quickly during peak travel times (summer, Christmas, etc.) so I recommend seeing what’s open for your travel dates.
Best Hotels in Berlin, Germany
See our top recommendations – including where we stayed!
Recommended Tours and Tickets
PREFERRED PARTNERS prIVATE TOURS
Private Full Day Tour with Matti
GROUP TOURS from our affiliates
PREFERRED PARTNERS FOOD TOURS
Private Food Tour
Fully customizable. Click here for options.
GROUP TOURS from our affiliates
30 Exhibitions and Museums
3-Day Ticket for 30 Berlin Musuems. Buy online.
Know Before You Go
Airport: Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER)
Currency: Euro
Language: The official language of Germany is German (Deutsch)
Time zone: Central European Time (CET / GMT+ 2 / 6 hours ahead of US EST)
Germany Visa: tourists from the US, Canada, and several other countries do not need a visa to visit Germany for under 90 days.
Germany Electricity Socket: Germany uses different voltage and sockets than in North America, the UK, and other parts of the world. Read our guide to adapters and converters so you can safely use your tech in Germany.
Germany SIM card: Read our guide here to SIM cards and other ways to use your phone in Germany.
Germany Car Rentals: We find great deals on rental cars here. You can also check out our scenic Germany road trips article here.
Recommended Day Trips from Berlin
Be sure to add 1-2 days to your Berlin visit so you can do a day trip or 2! You can plan your own day trips for maximum flexibility or book a guided tour for maximum relaxation and convenience. Here are some ideas to get your planning started.
FROM OUR affiliates…
FROM OUR BLOG…
Best Berlin Day Trips
Read about our 15+ recommendations!
Click to learn more ➔
Berlin Travel FAQ
Where is Berlin Located?
Berlin is in north eastern Germany in what used to be East Germany (the GDR or DDR in German). It’s a city-state, meaning Berlin is both a city and a German Bundesland (state). I used to live near Berlin and have visited many times over the years. I never get tired of exploring Berlin.
Berlin is a big city but it doesn’t feel as big and overwhelming as other cities. If you stay in a hotel or apartment downtown you can walk to many of the popular sights. And it’s easy to get to take public transportation all over the city to sights that are outside of the city center.
Berlin is not super close to other popular destinations but there are high speed trains to Berlin from Munich, Hamburg, Prague, and other cities. Berlin is worth the trip!
Where do I Get That Map?
If you have our Germany Travel Planner, you’ll find recommended hotels on our interactive planning map. Seeing where these hotels are in relation to the top sights makes it a lot easier to find the perfect place to stay. If you don’t have it yet, click here to get access.
Is Berlin Germany’s Capital?
Yes! During the years Germany was a divided country, East Berlin was the capital of East Germany (and Bonn was the capital of West Germany). When east and west reunited after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Berlin once again became the capital of a unified Germany.
What is Berlin, Germany Famous For?
So many things! Most people think of a divided and then reunited Germany, as Berlin was split into East and West Berlin until 1989. These days Berlin is a vibrant capital city with world class museums, all kinds of delicious restaurants, cafes, bars, and street food, historical sites, stretches of the old Berlin Wall, nightlife, and much more.
How to Get To Berlin?
Berlin is easy to reach via train, bus, car or plane. If arriving from the US, consider flying directly into the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. We’ve found flying into or out of Berlin (instead of Frankfurt) super easy and stress free. You can take public transportation, hop in a taxi or book an airport transfer here.
How to Get Around Berlin?
You can easily walk all over Berlin with many tourist sites located in the city center. For the sites that are further away you can hop on a tram, bus, U-bahn or S-bahn. Or take a small group tour of Berlin in an historic Trabi do the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour!
Is Berlin, Germany Safe to Visit?
Yes. Germany in general is a safe country to visit. Of course, it’s always a good idea to take the same safety precautions you would at home.
Berlin Basics
Population
3.7 million
Airport
Berlin Brandenburg (new!)
Federal State (Bundesland):
Berlin
Train Travel Times to Berlin
Munich ➔ Berlin = 4-4.5 hours
Frankfurt ➔ Berlin = 4 hours
Hamburg ➔ Berlin = 1.5 hours
Salzburg ➔ Berlin = 6-6.5 hours
Paris ➔ Berlin = 8.5-10 hours
Rome ➔ Berlin = 14-20 hours
Prague ➔ Berlin = 4-5 hours
Fun Facts
Berlin is full of greenery! More than 44% of the city consists of forests, rivers, and other green areas.
The Easy Way to Enjoy the BEST of Germany.
Planning a trip to Germany is surprisingly overwhelming – even for seasoned travelers!
That’s why we created the Germany Travel Planner.
With our 30+ years Germany travel experience and expertise by your side, you’ll navigate the complexities of trip planning effortlessly. And then enjoy a relaxed and memorable adventure filled with unique experiences tailored to your preferences!
