🇩🇪 Germany's Capital

Discover
Berlin

History, culture, nightlife, and street art — Berlin is unlike anywhere else in Europe. Here's everything you need to explore it.

3.7M
Residents
170+
Museums
~500
Galleries
3
UNESCO Sites
Must-See

Top Sights

From Cold War relics to royal palaces — Berlin wears its history on its sleeve.

🏛
Brandenburg Gate
The 18th-century neoclassical gate that once divided East and West. A symbol of reunification and Berlin's most iconic landmark. Best at sunrise or by night.
Mitte · Free
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East Side Gallery
1.3 km of original Berlin Wall now covered in murals by artists from around the world. The longest open-air gallery on earth. Walk it end to end.
Friedrichshain · Free
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Museum Island
Five world-class museums on a UNESCO-listed island in the Spree. Home to the Pergamon Altar, the Bust of Nefertiti, and the Ishtar Gate.
Mitte · Paid
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Checkpoint Charlie
The most famous crossing point of the Berlin Wall. The original guardhouse is gone, but the area is steeped in Cold War history. Visit the nearby museum too.
Mitte
🌯
Holocaust Memorial
Peter Eisenman's powerful field of 2,711 concrete stelae, just south of the Brandenburg Gate. Free to enter, with an underground information centre.
Mitte · Free
🔺
TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
At 368 m, the GDR-era tower is the tallest structure in Germany. The viewing platform offers 360° views across the city. Book in advance to skip the queue.
Alexanderplatz · Paid
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Tiergarten
Berlin's great central park — 210 hectares of forest, lakes, and paths through the heart of the city. Hire a bike, have a picnic, find the Victory Column.
Mitte · Free
🏠
Schloss Charlottenburg
Berlin's finest Baroque palace, built for Queen Sophie Charlotte in 1699. The formal gardens are free; the palace interiors are worth the ticket.
Charlottenburg · Paid
📷
Topography of Terror
On the site of the former SS and Gestapo HQ, this free outdoor and indoor exhibition documents the crimes of the Nazi regime. Essential and sobering.
Kreuzberg · Free
Where to Stay & Explore

Neighbourhoods

Berlin is a city of villages — each Kiez has its own personality. Here are the ones worth knowing.

01
Mitte
Historic Centre
The official heart of Berlin. Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, the Reichstag, and Unter den Linden are all here. Tourist-heavy but essential.
02
Prenzlauer Berg
Leafy & Residential
Beautiful Wilhelminian-era streets, farmers markets, independent cafés, and young families. One of the most liveable areas. Great base for visitors.
03
Kreuzberg
Counter-Cultural
Punk, Turkish food, canal-side bars, street art, and Berghain. Kreuzberg is gritty, creative, and essential. Oranienstraße is the main artery.
04
Friedrichshain
Party & Street Art
Home to the East Side Gallery, RAW Gelände, and the bulk of Berlin's club scene. Younger, louder, and cheaper than most other areas.
05
Neukölln
Hip & Diverse
Berlin's most rapidly-changing area — Arabic bakeries next to natural wine bars next to vinyl shops. Rixdorf is a hidden village within it.
06
Charlottenburg
Elegant West Berlin
The Kurfürstendamm (Kudamm) boulevard, luxury shopping, the KaDeWe department store, and the old West Berlin atmosphere. Quieter and more upmarket.
07
Mitte — Hackescher Markt
Trendy & Central
The Scheunenviertel / Hackesche Höfe area: courtyard architecture, boutiques, galleries, and some of the best brunch spots in the city.
08
Tempelhof / Schöneberg
Green & Laid-Back
Tempelhof Field is a converted airport runway — now one of the world's great urban parks. Schöneberg has a storied LGBTQ+ history and great restaurants.
Eat & Drink

Food & Nightlife

Berlin's food scene punches way above its weight. From Döner to Michelin stars — and the world's most famous clubs.

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Döner Kebab
Berlin has the largest Turkish diaspora outside Turkey. The city's Döner is legendary — thin-sliced meat, fresh salad, yoghurt sauce, in a soft flatbread. Try Mustafa's Gemüse Kebab in Kreuzberg.
Street Food · €
🍕
Currywurst
The Berlin original — a sliced pork sausage smothered in curried ketchup. Best enjoyed from a Imbiss stand with a small fork and paper tray. Curry 36 in Kreuzberg is the classic stop.
Street Food · €
☕
Café Culture
Berlin's café scene is world-class. Expect third-wave coffee, all-day brunch, sourdough, and zero rush. Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln are the epicentres.
Brunch · €–€€
🍻
Biergarten
In summer, Berlin's beer gardens fill up fast. Prater Garten in Prenzlauer Berg is the oldest in the city (1837). Bring cash, grab a Maß, and enjoy the chestnut trees.
Beer · €
🌞
Club Scene
Berghain / Panorama Bar is the world's most famous techno club. Queue patience required. Also: Tresor, Watergate, Sisyphos, and Salon zur Wilden Renate for different flavours.
Nightlife · €€
🍲
Markets & Street Food
Mauerpark flea market on Sunday, Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg (Thursdays), and the Turkish Market on the Maybachufer canal (Tue & Fri) are unmissable.
Markets · €
This Week in Berlin

Events: 10–17 April 2026

Concerts, film festivals, exhibitions, and cultural happenings across the city right now. Dates and times verified; book tickets early.

Concert
Fri 10 Apr · 20:00
Rundfunkchor Berlin: "Human Requiem"
Radialsystem V, Friedrichshain
Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem reimagined as a choreographed walk-through experience — no seats, just you moving within the sound. Conducted by Gijs Leenaars with Sasha Waltz & Guests. Also plays Sat 11 Apr.
radialsystem.de →
Cultural Festival
Fri 10 – Sun 12 Apr
European Days of Arts & Crafts
Studios & workshops across Berlin
Artisans and designers open their studios to the public for workshops, fashion shows, and lectures. One of Europe's biggest craft open-studio events — entry typically free or low-cost.
visitberlin.de →
Festival
Sat 11 – Sun 12 Apr · 12:00–17:00
Cherry Blossom Festival "Hanami"
Gardens of the World, Marzahn
Up to 25,000 visitors descend on the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean gardens of Marzahn for the annual Hanami celebration — traditional drumming, martial arts, cosplay, dance, and Asian food stalls beneath the pink blossoms.
visitberlin.de →
Concert
Mon 13 Apr · 20:00
Big Thief — Somersault Slide 360 Tour
Columbiahalle, Tempelhof
Brooklyn indie-folk band Big Thief return to Berlin for one of their biggest European headline shows. Supporting act: Dylan Meek. Known for improvised, ever-changing live sets. Tickets from ~€55 via Eventim.
visitberlin.de →
Exhibition
Opens Tue 14 Apr (through 22 Aug)
Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic
Gropius Bau, Kreuzberg
New sculptures, installations, and performances by the legendary performance artist, drawing on Balkan folklore to explore rituals, eroticism, death, and political resistance. One of Berlin's must-see art events of 2026.
berlin.de →
Film Festival
Wed 15 – Wed 22 Apr
achtung berlin — 22nd New Berlin Film Award
Kino Colosseum & cinemas across Berlin
Berlin's second-largest film festival (after the Berlinale), showcasing ~80 new feature films, docs, and shorts by Berlin and Brandenburg filmmakers. Opening film: Mambo Materinca at the historic Kino Colosseum in Prenzlauer Berg. Tickets on sale now.
achtungberlin.de →
Philharmonic
Thu 16 – Sat 18 Apr · 20:00
Berliner Philharmoniker: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Debut
Philharmonie, Tiergarten
Conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla makes her Philharmoniker debut leading a programme of John Williams, Mieczyław Weinberg, and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. A landmark event for classical music lovers.
berliner-philharmoniker.de →
Film Festival
Thu 16 – Sun 19 Apr
Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2026
Cinemas across Berlin
Annual preview screenings of the year's best fantasy and horror films — a cult favourite for genre fans. Shows run across multiple Berlin cinema venues over four nights.
berlin.de →
Human Rights
Fri 10 – Sat 18 Apr
Human Rights Film Festival Berlin
Various cinema venues, Berlin
Curated documentaries from around the world shining a light on human rights issues. One of the most important politically-engaged film events in the German capital, running over nine days through the week.
visitberlin.de →

Full event listings: visitberlin.de/en/event-calendar-berlin · berlin.de/en/events

Dietary & Accessible Eating

Gluten-Free Berlin

Berlin has a strong and growing gluten-free scene — from dedicated 100% GF bakeries to celiac-aware restaurants. Here's where to eat safely.

Celiac in Germany? The key phrase is "Ich habe Zöliakie" (I have celiac disease) or "glutenfrei, bitte" (gluten-free, please). Always ask staff about separate preparation areas and utensils — staff in Berlin are generally well-informed. The crossed-grain symbol on packaged goods is your reliable marker.
🍞
AERA — Artisan GF Bakery
Berlin's most media-praised dedicated gluten-free bakery. Naturally leavened sourdough breads, pastries, granola, and pasta — all made with Bauckhof organic flours. Two shop locations in Mitte and Charlottenburg, plus online shipping. Featured in Die Zeit and Berliner Zeitung.
100% GF · Rosenthaler Str. 72 & Fasanenstr. 74
aerabread.com →
🍯
Brotquelle — GF Bio-Bakery
Founded in 2018 in Friedrichshain, this 100% gluten-free organic bakery makes rice-flour sourdough breads, rolls, cakes, and café breakfast. Custom cakes and bespoke baking available. Open Tue–Fri 9–18h, Sat–Sun 9–16h.
100% GF · Gärtnerstr. 2, Friedrichshain
brotquelle.de →
☕
Pretty Hill — GF Café
A beloved 100% gluten-free café in Schöneberg near Kleistpark. Known for homemade waffles, cakes, sandwiches, and ice cream, with vegan and lactose-free options too. Cosy interior with outdoor seating. Celiacs consistently rate it the best single stop in Berlin.
100% GF · Naumannstr. 54, Schöneberg
@prettyhillberlin →
🍕
Schnitzelei Mitte — German Classics GF
A traditional German restaurant in Mitte that takes celiac disease seriously. Extensive gluten-free adaptations of German classics — celiacs report being "blown away" by the options. Speak to staff on arrival about your needs.
GF Options · Mitte
findmeglutenfree.com →
🌳
HappyCow — Vegan & GF Finder
HappyCow's Berlin listings cover hundreds of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, many with strong gluten-free options. Easily filter by diet. Standouts include 1990 Vegan Living, Lucky Leek, and La Stella Nera — all with high GF awareness.
Directory · Online
happycow.net →
📋
DZG — German Celiac Society
The Deutsche Zöliakie-Gesellschaft (DZG) is Germany's celiac patient organisation, founded 1974 with ~42,000 members. Their website has a gluten-free restaurant database ("glutenfrei außer Haus"), a certified product search, and the official crossed-grain seal directory.
Resource · Stuttgart-based, nationwide
dzg-online.de →
More resources: Find Me Gluten Free — Berlin lists dedicated GF venues and celiac-friendly spots with user reviews · TripAdvisor GF Berlin for current ratings · Suzette (Pappelallee, Prenzlauer Berg) for buckwheat crêpes · Biogoods (near Kollwitzkiez) for a GF health deli and café.
Getting Around

Transport

Berlin's public transport network is excellent. A single ticket covers U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses.

✈
Getting to Berlin
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) opened in 2020. The S-Bahn S9/S45 connects the airport to the city centre in ~30 min. A taxi or rideshare takes 30–45 min depending on traffic.
🚋
U-Bahn & S-Bahn
The subway (U-Bahn) and overground (S-Bahn) cover the whole city. Buy an AB zone ticket for central Berlin (€3.50 single, or a day pass for €10.40). Validate before boarding.
🚲
Cycling
Berlin is extremely bike-friendly with extensive cycle lanes. Nextbike and Lime have dockless bikes throughout the city. Riding is the fastest way to explore the flat inner city.
🚌
Trams
Trams (Straßenbahn) are a legacy of East Berlin and run primarily in the eastern half of the city — particularly useful for Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, and Mitte.
🚗
Taxis & Rideshare
BVG (the transit authority) has its own app with bikes, scooters, and ride-hailing. Uber and Free Now also operate. Taxis are metered and relatively affordable.
Before You Go

Practical Tips

A few things to know that'll save you time, money, and awkward moments.

💸
Cash is still king. Many restaurants, bars, and markets are cash-only. Always carry Euros — don't rely on contactless everywhere.
🕑
Things open late. Shops close around 8–9pm. Restaurants start filling up after 8pm. Clubs don't get going until 2am — or later.
🏎
Book museums in advance. Especially Museum Island and the Pergamon (partially closed for renovation). Queue times without pre-booking can be long.
💰
Berlin WelcomeCard. Unlimited public transport + museum discounts. Worth it if you plan to visit 3+ paid attractions in a short trip.
⛈
Best time to visit: May–Sep. Summers are warm (22–26°C) with long days. Winter is cold and grey but Christmas markets are magical.
🗣
Language. English is widely spoken, especially by under-40s. A simple "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" goes a long way. Germans appreciate the effort of "Bitte" and "Danke".
🚶
Don't cross on red. Jaywalking is a minor offence and locals will tell you off for it in front of children. Wait for the green Ampelmännchen.
🏭
Museum tip. The Berlin Museum Pass (3 days, ~€32) covers all state museums including Museum Island. One of the best-value culture passes in Europe.
When to Visit

Climate by Season

Winter
-1 – 4°C
Dec–Feb · Cold & grey
Spring
8 – 17°C
Mar–May · Lovely
Summer
18 – 26°C
Jun–Aug · Best time
Autumn
7 – 17°C
Sep–Nov · Colourful
🚨 Emergency Numbers
112 — Fire & Ambulance
110 — Police
+49 30 19240 — Non-emergency police
116 117 — Out-of-hours doctor