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If you have 4 days to travel, spend them in Berlin. The German capital is like no other! It offers culture, architecture, nature, history, delicious food, and fantastic nightlife. That’s why we go there all the time.
Berlin is perfect for walking. It’s safe, and there are sidewalks everywhere! If you rather bike, there are bike lanes galore. Besides, you can reach all corners of the city by public transport.
To travel with no glitches and enjoy every minute of your trip, we strongly recommend you get the Berlin Welcome Card. You’ve got several options to choose from, and you can do so online.
How Many Days to Spend in Berlin
The last time we went to Berlin, we spent two weeks, and it wasn’t enough! However, we all have time constraints, so you are probably wondering how many days you need to spend in Berlin to cover the basics.
We believe that you need at least 3 nights and 4 days. Less than that, it’s a bit too short. You will cover the basics and see what this fabulous city is all about.
The city is sleek, fancy, rough, super international, and very German. If you come to Berlin and follow our 4 day itinerary, you will want to come back for more. And longer!
Best Area to Stay in Berlin for Sightseeing
The best area to stay in Berlin for sightseeing is around Mitte. You can walk to most museums and landmarks. Hop on a bus, train, or metro and reach the rest of the city in no time.
Considering its class and location, the Titanic Gendarmenmarkt is great value for money. The uber-luxurious hotel was an opera warehouse. Its spa is one of the best in the city. You will love the jaw-dropping rooms, restaurant, and lavish lobby.
Our favorite hotel in Berlin is the Capri by Fraser. The contemporary building is in the heart of the city. The fully equipped units are big, extra plush, and have views. It has a gym, restaurant, and bar.
The Perfect Berlin 4 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Reichstag Building and Brandenburg Gate
Berlin has two landmark buildings that will take your breath away. The Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate and next to each other in the center. The parks in the middle are gorgeous too.
You can walk from one to the other. The 18th-Century gate is free of charge. Walk around and under it to admire the details. Go at night to see it in its entire splendor.
The 1894 original Parliament building was burned down in 1933, fell into oblivion, and was fully recovered in 1990. Access the Norman Foster futuristic glass dome on top of the building to enjoy epic views.
Unter den Linden and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
The nicest boulevard in the city is Unter den Linden. It’s actually an open-air museum. You get to walk under tall trees admiring Berlin’s landmarks. Begin at Brandenburg gate and finish at the Berlin State Opera.
Impressive buildings line both sides of the boulevard. Take your time and enjoy. A sad but mandatory place to visit is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The striking 2711 blocks are south of Brandenburg Gate.
The park in front of the memorial is beautiful. In Tiergarten, you can see Goethe’s monument, fantastic stones, sculptures, and loads of plants. The Memorial of the Soviet War is there too.
Bebel Platz and Gendarmenmarkt
Bebel Platz is on Unter den Linden. The massive plaza is one of the oldest in the city. The oldest Catholic Church built in Prussia, Saint Hedwig’s, is to the south. Go in and admire the temple.
Look out for The Empty Library. The monument is a reminder of the thousands of books the Nazis burnt in 1933. For unforgettable views, cocktails, and wine, head to the Rooftop Terrace at Hotel de Rome.
The Berlin Concert Hall, the Huguenot French Church, and the German Lutheran Church preside over Gendarmenmarkt Plaza. The monument in the center is of Friedrich Von Schiller. Go shopping at Galleries Lafayette next to the plaza.
Checkpoint Charlie and Jewish Museum Berlin
It may feel a bit touristy, but you have to check Checkpoint Charlie. The former crossing point was the border between East and West Berlin. The US and the Soviet Union stood on opposite sides.
The interactive Wall Museum overlooks the checkpoint. It’s totally worth it. Walk south to the Jewish Museum Berlin. It’s a big compound with parks and several museums to visit. Begin at the Children’s Museum, dedicated to Noah’s Arch.
The museum is behind. You have two big buildings to explore. The older one is about German Jewish history. The contemporary one about the Holocaust. Lovely parks surround both. Rest and refresh at the coffee house.
Day 2
Potsdamer Platz and Topography of Terror
For a happier Berlin, head to Potsdamer Platz. There’s a huge giraffe, and loads of shops, restaurants, and bars. The plaza was revamped after the wall fell and is now an architect’s dream and so much fun.
If you are into movies, walk along the Boulevard of German stars and check German Movie Museum. Architects will love the huge contemporary glass towers. Go at night to see the plaza fully illuminated.
You have to visit the Topography of Terror Museum. The Gestapo main offices were there. A preserved section of the wall is in front. Then clear your mind at the Martin Gropius Bau contemporary art museum.
Berliner Philharmonie and Neue Nationalgalerie
Music lovers will be in heaven at the Berliner Philharmonie plaza. Two of the world’s best concert halls stand on the plaza. The big one is from the 60s. The newer and smaller building opened in 1980.
You can check here for information on concerts and shows. Walk southeast of the plaza to the Neue Nationalgalerie. The Mies Van Der Rohe designed museum and gardens are amazing! The collection inside will blow your mind.
The Museum of Decorative Arts is behind the Philharmonie. To see European art from the 13th to the 18th Century, go to the Gemäldegalerie, one of the best museums in the city.The Kulturforum is south and equally impressive.
Bauhaus Archive and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Bauhaus architecture was born in Germany and Berlin is one of the cities where the style shines the most. The Bauhaus Archive is the largest museum dedicated to the style in the world.
The Nationalgalerie Museum is behind Bauhaus Archive. Both places are next to the river. From there you can walk next to the Berlin Zoo and the aquarium to Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
The original church was completed in 1906. Almost completely destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt from 1959 to 1963. You’ve got ruins and new buildings to admire. The area around is a shopper’s paradise.
Tiergarten and Charlottenburg Palace and Gardens
We love Berlin because it’s one of the greenest cities in Europe. The city’s biggest and oldest park is a sight to behold. You can spend days exploring the 520-acre (250-hectare) Großer Tiergarten.
The best way to enjoy the park is by biking. There are several bike lanes. Don’t forget to check the lakes and the iconic Victory Column in the center. Bellevue Palace from 1786 overlooks the river.
Charlottenburg Palace is the grandest in the city. The 1713 Baroque palace used to be the summer residence of the King of Prussia. The gardens are huge and include bridges, lakes, and plants from all over the world.
Day 3
Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum
The Pergamon Museum is one of the best in the world. It exhibits ancient objects from Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, and other corners of the world. You could call it the things we stole museum.
The giant museum complex holds the Pergamon Altar from the 2nd Century, the Ishtar Gate, and one of the largest Islamic art collections in the world. The massive 1850s Neues Museum is in front.
The building is monumental. It’s one of the best archaeology museums in the world. The world-famous Nefertiti bust is inside. Sorry, but objects should be returned to where they belong.
Bode Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie
Walk to the tip of the so-called Museum Island to visit Bode Museum. UNESCO included the area in its World Heritage Site list. It’s the massive baroque palace overlooking the river. Thus, the awesome views.
A weekend flea market takes place next to the Bode. The Bode holds one of the best Byzantine and Coptic collections in the world. Its coin collection is unbelievable too. Walk along the river south to the Alte National Galerie.
Alte means old in Germany. The Greek inspired building overlooks a park and the river. Look for the sculpture of the Centaur and the Nymph. The museum exhibits art from the 19th Century.
Humboldt Forum and Berlin Cathedral
The Humboldt Forum was controversial from the get-go. The project took years to complete at an astronomical cost. Not only that. Once again, the collection inside comes from colonial Germany.
The building is an exact reconstruction of the Berlin Palace. It houses the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art. The views from the museum over the river and Max Engel Forum are unforgettable.
The grandest church in Berlin is the Cathedral. The former palace church suffered during World War II. Fully restored to its former glory, the interior is incredibly lavish and holds one of the best organs in Europe.
Nikolaiviertel and Rotes Rathaus
To see the oldest section of Berlin, head to Nikolaiviertel. The area is in front of Museum Island, across Engel Forum. You will recognize it from its pastel facades and cobbled streets.
Saint Nikolai Church is the star of the neighborhood. The former church is now a cultural venue. For traditional German food, go to Zur Gerichtslaube. The 13th-Century house has a lovely beer garden.
Cross Spandauer Street and visit Berlin’s City Hall. The original hall from 1869 was destroyed during World War II. Reconstructed by the Soviets, it was East Berlin’s City Hall. Fully restored, it became unified Berlin’s hall in 1991.
Day 4
New Synagogue and Hackesche Höfe
Since the Jewish population grew so much in the city, a new Synagogue was needed. The lavish temple became the pride and joy of the community, visited by notables like Albert Einstein himself.
The original temple from 1866 was damaged in 1938 during the so-called Night of Broken Glass. Today, the Jewish community uses the temple, so be respectful. You can visit the onsite museum and dome.
The prettiest and biggest enclosed garden in the city is the Hackesche Höfe. The lovely park is behind Hackesche Market. There are shops, restaurants, and one of the nicest theatres in the city.
Alexanderplatz and Berliner Fernsehturm
You can’t leave Berlin without visiting the iconic Alexanderplatz. It’s probably the most popular place in the city. Everyone visits to shop, eat and socialize. The city’s most recognizable landmark is here: Berliner Fernsehturm.
The 1207 feet (368 m) tower opened in 1969. The tallest structure in the country was the pride and joy of East Berlin. Climb to the observation deck to enjoy the best views of the city ever!
Don’t forget to walk around the park in front of the tower. Go inside Saint Mary’s Church, one of the oldest in the city. The 1485 Dance of Death fresco is there.
Frankfurter Tor and Stasi Museum
If you are into architecture, you have to walk to Frankfurter Tor. The massive plaza is part of a socialist building spree. The soviets built Stalinallee, later called Karl Marx Alee to showcase their power.
The two towers are at the eastern end of the boulevard. You will recognize them from their identical domes. Though not that loved at the time, today they are protected buildings.
The area is the longest architectural project of that time in Europe. Take the metro or walk half an hour to the incredible Stasi Museum, inside the former headquarters of the soviet organization.
East Side Gallery and Oberbaum Bridge
The best preserved and most famous stretch of the Berlin wall is now called East Side Gallery. It’s next to the river, half an hour walking from Alexanderplatz. You can walk a mile (1.5 km) admiring fantastic graffiti.
A total of 108 artists participated in the project. Search for the graffiti by Dmitri Wrubel of Brezhnev and Honecker kissing. Walk to the end of the wall until you see Oberbaum Bridge.
The two-story bridge crosses the Spree. The bridge opened in 1896. Blown during World War II, it served as a crossing point during the Cold War. The bridge was rebuilt after the city’s reunification. The middle section is by Calatrava.
If You Have 5 Days to Spend in Berlin
If you have 5 days in Berlin, go to Potsdam, less than an hour by train from the center. Potsdam combines splendid nature with historic royal castles. The place is big, so you need a day.
Sanssouci alone is the biggest UNESCO-listed site in the country. The lakes around the city are even prettier. Spending the night at the centrally located and luxurious Brandenburger Tor Hotel is a great idea.
Going to Dresden is another brilliant idea. The former royal capital is 2 hours south of Berlin. It’s got outstanding architecture and a relaxed vibe. If you decide to spend the night, stay at the elegant Hotel Suitess on the main plaza.
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