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Looking for the best things to do in Berlin?
You’ve come to the right place! We love exploring Berlin, and there’s a lot to do here. It’s a really fun place to be a tourist, and we’ve tested all of the best activities to create this list!
Most people only spend a couple of days in Berlin, so you don’t want to waste your time on sub-par experiences. That’s why we’ve narrowed it down to the real must-do activities to ensure you get the most out of your visit.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our FAVORITE thing to do is this food tour of East Berlin. It takes you around this historic part of the city to enjoy everything from kebabs and crumb cakes to donuts and currywurst!
It’s THE best way to explore East Berlin and get a taste of the history and food.
Check out the 700+ positive reviews and book it here!
Tip: This tour is popular in Berlin – book your tickets online in advance and you’ll get free cancellation!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
- Things to do in Berlin
- 1. Go on a food tour
- 2. Go on a history walking tour
- 3. Sunset dinner cruise
- 4. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour
- 5. Go on a craft beer tour
- 6. Explore the city by bike with a guide
- 7. Save your feet and tour the city by car
- 8. Ride around the city in a mini hot rod
- Where to Stay in Berlin, Germany
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Things to do in Berlin
1. Go on a food tour
We firmly believe that if you only do one thing in Berlin, it should be this small-group food tour! We had such an amazing time eating our way through East Berlin, and we got to see a ton of colorful street art and local landmarks along the way.
East Berlin was the Soviet-occupied sector of the city that was fenced off from the rest of the capital by the Berlin Wall, so it’s absolutely fascinating to explore the local neighborhoods and hear about the history. It’s a very trendy area nowadays with tons of street art, so you’ll be able to snap lots of Insta-worthy photos!
We had a blast exploring with our guide, Francesco, who was such a funny guy and had our group laughing the entire time. And of course, we can’t forget about the food itself!
We got to eat so much on this tour and were absolutely stuffed by the end. From currywurst, spiced biscuits, crumb cakes, and iconic Berliner doughnuts, we tasted a ton of delicious local treats. We also enjoyed a flammkuchen, which is like a German flatbread pizza, alongside a pint of local craft beer and a full kebab. We didn’t need to eat dinner that night, I can tell you that much.
To be honest, we can’t say enough good things about this tour, and lots of other people like it too – just check out the 700+ raving reviews!
Book this food tour ASAP before it sells out and you can pay later!
2. Go on a history walking tour
There’s no denying that Berlin has a fascinating history, but you can end up missing a lot of it without a guide to help you! That’s why we recommend booking this half-day walking tour.
We were absolutely fascinated by everything we learned and couldn’t believe how many historical highlights we got to see. It’s honestly one of the best ways to make the most of your time in the city, so don’t hesitate to book!
Our guide, Luisa, was so knowledgeable about German history and she had us enthralled the entire time! I’m clearly not the only one who was captivated, either, since the tour has over 7,000 glowing reviews you can check out here!
I felt like we got to know the central Mitte district inside and out on this tour. We walked along the Berlin Wall, saw the iconic Brandenburg Gate, admired the majestic Reichstag building, and paid our respects at the Holocaust Memorial. I also really enjoyed hearing real-life spy stories at Checkpoint Charlie!
This tour is honestly a steal at just €20. It’s the best way to get to know Berlin’s history and ensure you don’t miss out on any important landmarks.
Take advantage of the free cancellation policy and book this walking tour now!
3. Sunset dinner cruise
There’s no better way to spend an evening in Berlin than fine dining on the River Spree. We suggest you book this 4-course dinner cruise right away because it’s popular!
We had an amazing evening dining in luxury on board this intimate dinner cruise. In fact, there were only 12 tables on board, so it really was a very personal experience.
We were welcomed on board with a glass of prosecco, although you’ll get mulled wine if you book this over the festive period. Then, we sat back and relaxed as we glided past some of Berlin’s most iconic landmarks lit up at night, including the Reichstag building and the TV Tower.
The food was sensational, and definitely rivals many of the city’s upscale restaurants. We were given different set menus to choose from and went for the fish option, which included salmon in a buttery lime sauce and potato salad with orange salsa verde. It was delicious, but the highlight for me had to be the sweet nougat and marzipan lasagne with bourbon vanilla sauce for dessert!
We also enjoyed bottomless beer and wine which, of course, only made the evening even better. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and we just loved the views of Berlin’s skyline at night.
We definitely felt it was worth €119, because it was our favorite night in Berlin, and made us feel like VIPs!
If you want to experience this amazing dinner cruise too, reserve your spot here!
4. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour
Nowadays, Berlin is a really fun city, but it’s important not to forget its harrowing history as the capital of Nazi Germany. To learn more about that history, we think everyone should take this memorial tour of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
After booking, we received simple instructions on how to take the train out to Sachsenhausen, which is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the city center. We met our tour guide, Johanna, who was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a very thorough tour. She was adept at handling such a difficult topic and was easily able to answer all of our group’s questions with sensitivity, compassion, and respect.
Over the course of the tour, we visited Sachsenhausen’s torture cells, gas chambers, and burial pits, where tens of thousands of people were imprisoned and died between 1936 and 1945.
The tour costs €30 and part of that fee goes towards maintaining the memorial. While this was obviously a somber and emotional experience, it is 100% worth doing.
We highly recommend booking this thought-provoking tour for anyone visiting Berlin
5. Go on a craft beer tour
Germany is one of the world’s top beer producers, so you have to check out the craft beer scene in Berlin! We love trying local brews, so of course we had to book this craft beer tour, and we have no regrets. It’s a must for any beer drinker!
Our guide, Alex, helped us drink our way through the Friedrichshain area, which is an uber-cool district that really epitomizes Berlin’s hipster culture! We loved seeing the street art and architecture, and Alex took us to a handful of fantastic microbreweries that we definitely wouldn’t have found on our own.
We tried a variety of traditional and experimental craft brews at each, so we got a feel for Berlin’s brewing scene. The tour also included a yummy flammkuchen at one of the pubs and we didn’t need dinner after that. So it was well worth the €99!
To top it all off, our last stop was the RAW Gelände cultural center, a former industrial area that’s now full of food markets, beer gardens, brewpubs, and art spaces. It was an ideal place to end the tour because we stuck around with a few of our newfound friends to soak up the atmosphere and grab another beer!
If you feel like a fun evening out in Berlin, don’t miss out on this super fun tour! It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys a cold one after a long day of sightseeing, and a great way to ensure you get your fill of quality German beer.
Book this top-rated craft beer tour easily here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Explore the city by bike with a guide
Berlin is a cyclist’s dream, so if you’re short on time, this bike tour ticks off all of the city’s highlights in just three hours!
Berliners are known for their love of cycling, so this tour shows you how to get around like a local! Even if you’re not a super confident cyclist, cycling in Berlin is easy because the bike lanes are super wide and the whole system is very well organized.
Cycling around the city was so much fun and our guide, Nate, was great. He knew a lot about Berlin’s history and shared lots of funny personal anecdotes with us from his time living in the city.
We saw all of the capital’s most iconic spots including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie, as well as a few lesser-known landmarks that we might have missed otherwise. Traveling around by bike is a time-efficient way to see the city without feeling rushed, so I highly recommend this tour if you’re only here for a day or two!
The tour costs €25 if you want a regular bike, or €45 if you’d prefer an e-bike. Either way, all of the bikes are in great condition, despite the low price. We were impressed by this tour and we’re clearly not the only ones, given the HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews.
If you’re looking for a fantastic tour of Berlin’s highlights, don’t hesitate to book this one!
7. Save your feet and tour the city by car
Looking for a stress-free way to see as much as possible in Berlin, without all of the walking? Allow me to introduce you to this private tour, which is a game-changer!
Exploring Berlin doesn’t have to mean racking up thousands and thousands of steps, because this tour will pick you up from your hotel in a private car and drive you between top attractions. It’s ideal for anyone who struggles with being on for hours at a time.
Another thing that we love about this tour is that the itinerary is customizable, so although highlights like the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie are recommended, you can tailor it to your interests. Just let your guide know what you’d most like to see, whether that’s history, art, or food, and they’ll make it happen!
With recommended stops at the Berlin Cathedral – which is the largest church in Germany, just FYI! – and the stunning Museum Island, this tour showcases how beautiful Berlin is. We loved seeing all of the gorgeous Prussian architecture and exploring the famous Ku-Damm shopping street.
This private tour costs between €94-€240 per person, depending on the size of your group. It’s a pretty affordable experience for groups of four or more, but we’d also recommend it to couples looking for a private tour because it allows you to experience the charm and beauty of Berlin without tons of walking.
Customize your own private tour of Berlin here!
8. Ride around the city in a mini hot rod
Last, but certainly not least, this mini hot rod tour is hands down the most fun way to explore Berlin! Part sightseeing tour, part novelty adventure, this is an experience you’ll want to go home and tell your friends and family all about. I know we did!
This tour made us smile from the moment we climbed into our mini hot rods. And let me tell you, seeing the faces of both locals and tourists as we zoomed around the city was priceless. We received lots of smiles and waves!
We started by driving through the artsy Friedrichshain district, which is a must-see area in Berlin! Then we drove along the East Side Gallery, which is a well-preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall, and we zoomed through Alexanderplatz, the famous square at the base of the TV Tower. We also took photos at the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, so I’d say we got the full Berlin experience and had a ton of fun!
Being so low to the ground in the hot rods made us feel as though we were going super fast, but in reality, this is a very safe experience. It did feel a bit like being in a video game – in the best possible way!
The tour costs €99 and you do need a physical driving license to participate. It was a real highlight of our time in Berlin, but it does often sell out so be sure to book it in advance!
Book this fun mini hot rod tour here and you can pay closer to your trip!
Where to Stay in Berlin, Germany
Now that you have your Berlin itinerary sorted out, you need somewhere comfortable to stay! There are plenty of hotel options out there, and it can be difficult to figure out exactly where to stay. To help narrow down your options, I’ve listed the top three options for those looking for a luxury, mid-range, or budget stay.
Luxury – $$$
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is a 5-star hotel with a Michelin star restaurant onsite, could it get more luxurious? Yes! Rooms are elegantly designed with antique furnishings and top-quality comfort. There’s also an indoor swimming pool, a shopping arcade, and conveniently located from Berlin’s top sights.
Rooms range from €400 to €1,000+, depending on your room choice. Check out all the options and book this luxury stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
For mid-budget travelers, Myer’s Hotel Berlin is a fantastic option. It’s a boutique hotel, located in a historic building and oh-so-charming. You can find twin or double rooms of various sizes, or a suite-style room, and some have a garden view. It’s only a 10-minute train ride to downtown Berlin from this hotel.
Prices range from €230 to €420 and can be booked on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Meininger Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof is located right in the center of Berlin, making it easy to get around. You can book dorm rooms for around €30 – €40 or get a private room from €100 – €150. It’s clean and the staff are friendly, and you can’t beat the location!
Check availability and reserve a room on Booking.com or Hostelworld.
For more options, check out all the hotels in Berlin here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this list of the best things to do in Berlin has helped you plan your trip! We had a blast exploring this city and narrowing it down to our favorite activities was a challenge. From food and history to bikes and craft beer, there’s so much to discover in Berlin, we know you’ll love exploring here.
While planning your future travels, have a look through all our blogs here. We’ve traveled extensively and have tons of travel advice and inspiration whether you’re off to Europe, North America, Australia, or somewhere else!
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