How To Spend Two Days in Berlin – Itinerary and Guide

Considering spending a weekend in Germany’s capital? This itinerary will help you get the best out of two days in Berlin!

Berlin is one of my favourite cities in the world. At the time of writing, I’ve visited multiple times, always finding something new to explore. It’s a modern, urban metropolis with a fascinating recent history, from world war conflicts and atrocities to the division created by the Berlin Wall.

Beyond the reverence of the past, Berlin’s also a future-forward city, with thriving business districts, top-tier dining options and a vibrant nightlife and entertainment culture.

If you’re planning a two-day trip to Berlin, this guide covers everything you need to know.

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2-Day Berlin Itinerary: Day 1

After a quick breakfast on day one, it’s time to explore some of Berlin’s most interesting historical sights.

If you’re not staying within walking distance, get the U-Bahn train to Berlin Brandenburger Tor, to explore the Government District and its notable landmarks.

Brandenburg Gate

Tick off one of Berlin’s most popular sights first thing, with a visit to Brandenburg Gate.

Brandenburg Gate lies on the site of a former city gate, where many major historical events have taken place. Constructed between 1788 and 1791, the gate symbolises unity and peace. Each side was designed by a different architect, in two contrasting styles.

Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building is the city’s main legislative building and seat of the German Parliament (Bundestag). Completed in 1894, the building’s most notable feature is the striking glass dome. The original dome was destroyed in 1933, and the current, modern dome was built in 1999.

To go inside and walk up in its glass dome, you need to register to visit in advance. You can also book a guided tour of the Reichstag, Dome and Government District. (I still haven’t managed to get around to this yet, but it’s on the list for next time!)

You can also dine at the Reichstag restaurant, with a rooftop lunch at Kafer Restaurant.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is one of the continent’s most famous war memorials, representing over 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims. Inaugurated in May 2005, sixty years after the end of WW2, the striking memorial was designed by German architect Peter Eisenman.

In total, 2711 concrete blocks make up the memorial, arranged in a way designed to cause confusion, unease and represent a supposedly ordered society losing touch with human reason. Isolating, despairing and unnerving are all words that have been used to describe this place. And for good reason.

If all the walking’s made you hungry, it’s time to stop for lunch! Some of the best restaurants between the Government District and your next stop include:

• Paulaner Wirtshaus – Beer hall and restaurant serving traditional German cuisine.
• Lou The Parrot – Mediterranean dishes in an open, stylish dining room.
• Savory Chay – vegan and vegetarian Asian dishes.
• Frittenwerk – one of my favourite cheap eats in Berlin, offering loaded fries and currywurst in a casual dining setting.

Checkpoint Charlie

On the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße, you’ll find Checkpoint Charlie. The checkpoint booth, signage and flag represent the most famous Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Germany. The third checkpoint to open in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie saw some of the most notable confrontations and escape attempts during the Cold War.

On the opposite side of Zimmerstraße, the free entry BlackBox Cold War exhibition gives more information on the area’s history. We also visited the Wall Museum, which contains sections of the wall and historical displays.

Topography of Terror

Topography of Terror is an essential visit on any trip to Berlin. This free exhibition is a moving and comprehensive exploration of the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany. Housed on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters, the collection of photographs, articles and first-hand accounts is a sobering reminder of the far-right party’s devastating impact within Germany, Europe and the world.

If you still have some time, there are a handful of other Berlin museums in the area worth a visit:

• The German Spy Museum has hands-on exhibits to immerse you in the world of espionage (open until 8pm).
• Deutschlandmuseum features detailed stagings of important moments in Berlin’s history across the past 2000 years (open until 8pm).
• Berlin Story Bunker explores 800 years of city history including a reconstruction of Adolf Hitler’s bunker (open until 7pm)
• Jewish Museum Berlin is a free-entry museum sharing important aspects of Jewish history in Berlin, including a war memorial and exhibits detailing Jewish life.
  

Dinner: Chen Che Vietnamese Tea House

Berlin’s Mitte district is packed with restaurants and bars, and Chen Che is one of my favourites. Berlin has a vibrant Asian food scene, and Vietnamese food in particular is a popular cuisine with Berliners.

Chen Che Vietnamese Tea House is tucked away down a small side alleyway and in a courtyard – something quite common in this area of Berlin, and it had such a wonderful charm about it. Dishes on offer include Vietnamese pho, dumplings and rice plates.

More great dinner spots in Mitte:

• Restaurant Dae Mon – high-end Asian fusion fine dining with a seven course tasting menu available.
• acht&dreissig – modern German dining in a fresh, contemporary space.
• Sophien 11 – regional German dishes, with outdoor courtyard dining available
• IIMORI Vegan Ramen – vegetarian and vegan ramen with starters and desserts.

Things to do at night in Berlin

Once you’ve finished eating, relax in one of the local bars, or try out some of these night time activities in Berlin:

• Join a Berlin bar hopping tour to meet other travellers and try out signature drinks.
• Book a private Berlin beer tasting tour to learn more about German beers.
• See a contemporary circus show at the Chamäleon Theatre.
• Go to a cabaret show at Tipi am Kanzleramt.
• Get some laughs at an English-language comedy show at Cosmic Comedy.

2 Day Berlin Itinerary: Day 2

On your second day in Berlin, explore some of the city’s popular museums, then head out to discover the city’s more unique neighbourhoods.

Alexanderplatz

Take the U-Bahn to Alexanderplatz station to experience Berlin’s buzzing, modern centre. Alexanderplatz itself refers to the large public square beside the Berlin TV Tower. The square dates back to the Middle Ages when it served as a cattle market, growing into a vibrant hub for shopping and entertainment.

Despite being unpopular with some Berliners, the Berlin TV Tower draws tourism from being Germany’s tallest structure. Visit the TV tower’s observation deck for panoramic views across the city.

Berlin Cathedral

Construction of the Berlin Cathedral was completed in 1905, and since then, it’s been an essential landmark on Berlin’s ‘Museum Island’. The intricately decorated Protestant building is decorated with stunning marble and gold decorations, and contains an organ with over 7,000 pipes.

Opening Times: 9am-6pm (12-5pm on Sundays)
Admission Fee: €10

DDR Museum

If you only visit one museum in Berlin, the DDR Museum is one of my absolute favourites. I love museums that get to the core of people, their everyday lives and cultures. Like this one does

The exhibitions explore the daily lives of those living in East Germany – the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic). It’s also very hands on and interactive – there are loads of drawers and cupboards within the exhibition that reveal artefacts and stories from the days of the DDR.

Opening Times: 9am-9pm
Admission Fee: €13.50 – buy tickets in advance here.

Museum Island

One island. Five museums. Berlin’s Museum Island is home to a collection of art and archaeology museums, in a Unesco World Heritage listed complex:

• The Pergamon Museum houses excavation finds from the Pergamon in Greece.
• The Bode Museum contains exhibits of the finest Byzantine Art.
• The Neues Museum is home to over 9000 artefacts from prehistoric and protohistoric cultures.
• The Alte Nationalgalerie is Berlin’s national gallery, home to over 2000 paintings and sculptures.
• The Altes Museum houses a permanent exhibition of Greek art and culture

You can visit all five museums with a Museum Island combo ticket, and there are also plenty of other museums across a wide range of subjects in the surrounding area. If museums aren’t your thing, it’s still a great area to walk around and soak up the central Berlin buzz.

Lunch: House of Small Wonder

Around 20 minutes’ walk from Museum Island, Berlin’s House Of Small Wonder is a charming spot for brunch and lunch dishes. Their vegetarian Eggs Benedict is a delight, with a perfectly runny egg on top of delicious biscuits and a wasabi hollandaise sauce. If you’re in the market for a light lunch, their salads are next level – garnished with spices and nuts for a truly unique taste.

Afternoon: Alternative Berlin

Experience an edgier side of the city and uncover the vibrant urban art scene, with an Berlin Alternative Walking Tour.

The Alternative Berlin tour showed off the more…you guessed it, ‘alternative’ Berlin hotspots, taking us away from the clean city centre to the more edgy areas, where street art dominates the walls. Alternative Berlin tours may vary in content, but we visited Kreuzberg and Freidrichshain, learning more about the vibrant street art and local creative scene.

Want to go self-guided? Check out my guide to Alternative Berlin

Evening: Friedrichshain

After exploring more of Berlin’s districts, one of my favourite to spend an evening in is Freidrichshain. The district has a punky, alternative vibe, with graffiti covered walls and plenty of independent restaurants and bars. There are plenty of places to grab dinner and drinks on a budget here.

Freidrichshain is one of the best places in Berlin to try out some local casual dining staples. Yep, I mean kebabs and currywurst!

I can recommend Aceto Chicken Döner – Döner Dach, which offers meat and vegan kebabs; and Curry 61 for regular and vegan currywurst.

Ready for drinks? Last time I visited, we did a bit of a pub crawl, and these were my favourite spots:

• Blechbilderbar: Rustic spot with lots of natural light
• Freibuter: Punk dive bar with super cheap beer
• Simons: Intimate, dark bar with music and food available
• Primitiv Bar: Cosy, compact bar close to Urban Spree
• YAAM Beach Bar – urban beach with shack bar and seating, great for outdoor drinking in the summer.