Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Soumya
Looking for the best things to do in Berlin, Germany, on your first visit? You’re at the right place.
Berlin is a city of history and culture. It is home to the famous Brandenburg Gate as well as the infamous Holocaust Memorial. Berlin has 5 iconic museums on Museum Island and a large green park, the Tiergarten.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply someone who enjoys exploring a vibrant big city, here are the 10 best things to do in Berlin that should be at the top of your first-ever Berlin itinerary.
✦ Pro Tip: Should you do a Berlin walking tour? Find out here.
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Top 10 Things to Do in Berlin
Brandenburg Gate
Your trip to Berlin is incomplete without a visit to the Brandenburg Gate, the city’s most famous landmark.
Once symbolic of the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate now represents a unified Germany. With the Quadriga statue on top, the gate is one of Germany’s most iconic neoclassical buildings.
The monument looks especially stunning at sunset or when illuminated at night — a perfect photo opportunity and a powerful reminder of Berlin’s rich history.
✦ Pro Tip: Best to visit Brandenburg Gate on this walking tour, where the guide explains the history behind the landmark.
Reichstag Building and Dome
Only a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building stands as the home of the German parliament and an embodiment of German history.
The Reichstag is where the German monarchy came to an end in 1918, Hitler gained complete power in 1933, and some of the last WW2 fighting happened in 1945.
The neo-Renaissance building features an impressive glass dome, designed by Norman Foster, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Berlin skyline.
✦ Pro Tip: You can tour the Reichstag building and visit the dome for free by registering online on the official website here.
Holocaust Memorial
A few minutes from the Brandenburg Gate is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also called the Holocaust Memorial.
Known as the Field of Stelae, the memorial features 2,710 concrete slabs of varying heights, creating a haunting, maze-like landscape. There’s also an underground information center with displays that can be both disturbing and moving.
Walking through the Holocaust Memorial was a profoundly moving experience for me – not one that I enjoyed, but definitely learned something from about one of the darkest periods in world history. Details on opening hours on the official website here.
Berlin is also home to several other memorials, such as the Memorial to the Murdered Sinti and Roma of Europe, Memorial to the Persecuted Homosexuals, and Memorial to the Victims of the Nazi ‘Euthanasia’ Murders.
✦ Pro Tip: Join this affordable Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour of Berlin to learn more about the Holocaust Memorial.
Checkpoint Charlie
When in Berlin, you cannot miss Checkpoint Charlie, the famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.
The checkpoint and the open-air museum next to it offer a glimpse into Berlin’s divided past, telling gripping stories of escape attempts and the realities of life in a divided city.
East Side Gallery
Few places capture Berlin’s spirit of resilience like the East Side Gallery.
The East Side Gallery is a 0.8-mile (1.3 km) stretch of the original Berlin Wall along the Spree River. Now, this stretch is the world’s longest open-air gallery, featuring more than 100 murals by 118 artists from 21 countries.
I love how Berliners turned this war relic into a piece of art, something they are adept at doing.
Some of the most popular, unmissable murals are the Fraternal Kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker and the Trabant breaking through the wall – must-haves on your Berlin street art tour.
✦ Pro Tip: Book your East Side Gallery Walking Tour here.
Museum Island
Next up on our Berlin bucket list is the iconic Museum Island.
For culture lovers, Museum Island (Museumsinsel) is pure paradise. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated on the Spree River, is home to five world-class museums, including two of my favorites: the Pergamon Museum (closed for renovation, reopening in 2027) and the Neues Museum.
From ancient artifacts to Renaissance masterpieces, the collections here span thousands of years of human creativity and history. Unmissable displays at the museum:
- 3,300-year-old Nefertiti bust at Neues Museum.
- Pergamon Altar and Babylon’s Ishtar Gate at Pergamon Museum
- Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities at the Altes Museum
✦ Pro Tip: Get this Museum Island Multiple Museum Entry Ticket.
Spree River Boat Tour
Viewing Berlin from the water offers an entirely new perspective.
On your Spree River boat tour, you will see many of the city’s significant landmarks, including the Reichstag, Museum Island, and Berlin Cathedral from the water. It is the best way to get a hang of the city, especially if you’re visiting Berlin for the first time or for a short stay.
There are different kinds of river tours you can choose from.
- This is the 1-hour city boat tour I did on my first trip to Berlin, and I enjoyed it a lot. It is affordable and gives you a chance to see many of Berlin’s major attractions in a short time.
- If you’re visiting during the festive season, then this Christmas Sightseeing Boat Tour is a must-do.
- Looking to have fun on your boat ride? Opt for this Laughing Spree Comedy Show on a Boat.
Tiergarten Park
Right in the heart of Berlin, Tiergarten is a lush green escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Once a royal hunting ground, Tiergarten is now one of Europe’s most beautiful urban parks, covering over 200 hectares.
Ride a bike or take a walk through its tree-lined paths, enjoy a picnic, or wander among statues. Berlin’s Victory Column and the Soviet War Memorial are close by. Or enjoy a beer at Café am Neuen See’s biergarten by the lake.
Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) is one of the best places to visit in Berlin.
It is a masterpiece of baroque architecture and one of the city’s most photographed landmarks.
Step inside to admire its ornate interior dotted with colorful mosaics and religious images.
Be sure to take the climb 270 steps to the top of the dome for stunning views of Berlin’s historic center. The Hohenzollern family crypt, which houses the tombs of Prussian royals, is equally fascinating.
Every Saturday, at 6 pm, you can visit the cathedral for an hour of choral and organ music, which is absolutely fascinating. Check out the cathedral’s official website for details.
✦ Pro Tip: Book your Berlin Cathedral skip-the-line ticket here.
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz, featuring sleek skyscrapers, theaters, restaurants, cinemas, and cultural venues, is one of Berlin’s unmissable shopping and nightlife destinations.
Once a wasteland, this public square is now home to the soaring Kollhoff Tower with its panoramic viewing platform, the Panoramapunkt; the Center (formerly Sony Center) with its futuristic glass canopy; the massive Legoland Discovery Center (with around 5 million Lego bricks!); and the Berlin Philharmonic Hall within the Kulturforum.
You can easily reach Potsdamer Platz from Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, and other major attractions, making it an easy addition to your Berlin itinerary.
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