How to spend a perfect day in Berlin, Germany
Recently, I had the chance to spend a day in Berlin, the capital of Germany. I was there for a whole weekend, but only had one day to explore the city. It was a bit unexpected, as I planned to attend some workshops on both days, Saturday and Sunday! Somehow, I failed to buy a ticket for two days, and suddenly, I had an entire day off.
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You could imagine that I did not know at all what to do with all the free time. I mean, what would you do? Of course, you would take the chance and discover a little bit of this city, would not you? So did I!
One thing you should keep in mind is that one day only is not enough to get the full Berlin experience. There are plenty of things to do, and even if you spend a couple of days, you might not be able to do them all.
At least you can try to have the best day in Berlin you possibly can have!
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Where to stay
First things, first! Find yourself a pleasant place to stay. Because my trip to Berlin was more of a journey on a budget rather than a luxury stay. Therefore I checked in one of the many hostels. The Generator Hostel, which sits in “East Berlin’s most laid-back neighborhood, Prenzlauer Berg. The hostel is clean, safe, and the check in and out procedures are straightforward. Its location is close to the Landsberger Allee S-Bahn and Tram station. From both, you are almost everywhere in town in a few minutes.
What to do!
In the morning!
Start your day in Berlin with a proper brunch at the Buchkantine. It is a mixture of a bookstore and a bistro situated in another district of Berlin – Moabit. From 10-14h you can have everything you need for your first meal of the day, like fruit, eggs, bacon, porridge and many more. And if you love reading, you can easily find and buy a gem in the bookshop and spend your time reading while having breakfast.
Buchkantine at Dortmunder Straße 1, 10555 Berlin. Opening Hours Bistro: Daily from 10-22h, and the Bookstore weekdays from 10-18:30 and Saturdays from 10-17h.
In the afternoon!
Although you can easily spend the entire day at Buchkantine, you might want to see a little bit more of Berlin, if you are already here, right?
Moabit has a lot of things to offer, which you can do. Both Tiergarten and the central train station are close to here, and from both locations, you can find more places to visit. I found an article with more details and a great list of things to do and place to visit in Moabit. Just follow the link by clicking here! This district is indeed worth to visit, and I put it into consideration for my next visit.
My way led me to the central station and from there straight into the Government District.
Explore the Government District
The site of the German Government is home of the Reichstag, the Bundesrat Building, the German Chancellery, Schloß Bellevue (home of Germany´s President) and other buildings of the German Government.
1. Reichstag
The heart of this district is the Reichstag, where you can find the iconic glass dome at the top of it. You can book a tour of the Reichstag and also the roof terrace. According to their description, it offers fantastic views of the city.
Unfortunately, this is nothing for an impromptu visit. Usually, it is better to register in advance. Nevertheless, there is a possibility to get a ticket for the tour near the site. But even then you have to buy it at least two hours in advance and only if there are some free spaces available. Better you know that you will go to Berlin and prepare your visit to Reichstag in advance.
With this in mind, I wandered around the building and took a lot of pictures from the outside. I pictured and wondered about the glass dome, the Renaissance, Baroque Revival, and Postmodern architectural facades.
2. Federal Ribbon
If you walk around the Reichstag, you will come across the “Federal Ribbon.” The buildings of the government form a bridge over the river Spree which symbolizes the reunion of East and West. It is a fascinating mixture of modern architecture and German history. And you can walk alongside the river or sit there, relax, and read a book at the promenade of the river Spree.
3. Brandenburg Gate
Close to Reichstag, you can find the Brandenburg Gate, which is also one of the famous and most photographed landmarks in Berlin. It is one more symbol for the reunification of East and West Berlin and Germany.
The Gate is built of sandstone and is one of the earliest and most attractive buildings of neo-classical architecture in Germany.
4. Unter den Linden
You can find the Brandenburg Gate at the top of Unter den Linden, an avenue surrounded by historic buildings. It got its name from the lime trees, which lines the street. The boulevard takes you from the Brandenburg Gate to the Berliner Dom.
1.5 km long, you can stroll alongside landmarks like the Berlin State Opera, Humboldt University, Neue Wache, and the Zeughaus. Of course, you will have a variety of possibilities to recharge your batteries at loads of restaurants, cafés, and shops.
5. Holocaust Memorial
At the south of the Brandenburg Gate, you will find the Holocaust Memorial. 2,700 concrete columns in varies heights are arranged in rows. It is a “place of contemplation, a place of remembrance and warning.”
6. Alexanderplatz and TV Tower
One more landmark to visit on your day in Berlin is for sure Alexanderplatz, which is a popular public space in former East Berlin and home of the famous Berlin Fernsehturm (TV Tower). If you go to the top a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Berlin awaits you, including an observation deck, a bar, and a restaurant. Ticket prices start at 15.50€.
If you visit Berlin and have more time available than just one day, make sure to relive the cold war at the former Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie. Visit the DDR Museum and many more to understand Berlins and also German history. All of these attractions are also part of the Berlin Pass.
In the evening!
After a day full of sightseeing, strolling the city, and maybe a glimpse of history, it is time to finish the day by relaxing in one of the many restaurants and bars in Schöneberg.
Lucky me, a friend of mine found some time spontaneously and showed me around beautiful Schöneberg. We had dinner at Chay Village, a vegetarian Thai restaurant. Afterward, we strolled through the streets of the district. It is so easy forgetting time by “crawling” your way from one bar to the other.
Did you know that Schöneberg was the home of David Bowie when he stayed here more than just a day in Berlin?
More details like this, of what to do and where to eat and drink you will find at the blog www.iheartberlin.de
My 2 cents!
I have to say that as unexpected this day came along, as fantastic it was in the end. I met some friends and also new people in the morning, spend a few hours exploring the city, or at least, a tiny piece of it, and met one more friend in the evening.
Have I mentioned that I was never a Berlin fan? From my point of view, it is too big. You can easily spend your time in the same district you live for years without leaving it to explore other parts of the city. Within a specific area you can, of course, walk as much as you like. However, usually, to go from one district to the other, you always need to take the tube, the S-Bahn or a bus. It is an unusual concept for me because here in Düsseldorf you can easily walk also to reach the different quarters.
On the other hand, Berlin also has a unique charm. It offers many different ways and opportunities to spend your time. From history and art on the one side to a wide range of food and drink options, to a lot more things to do and spending your leisure time. And I have not started yet talking about the nighttime. But be aware of the “Berliner Schnauze.” Do not worry about people who seem to be rude and impolite as they usually do not mean it. It is only their pretty rough but unique charm.
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In the end, I was very grateful that I had the opportunity to experience the city. I want to come back one day! I have to! There are friends to visit and so many more things to see and do in this incredible city. If you have a chance, you should stay for more than only one day in Berlin.
Do you have plans to visit Berlin as well? Or did you already visit? Leave your suggestions and recommendation of how to spend a day in Berlin in the comments!
Aw I know how you feel, I’m going to Berlin and now the ITB is cancelled I’m free to sightsee! This is perfect for me!
Awesome, I mean, not awesome that ITB is canceled, but great that my post helps you out at this moment! 😉
The museums you ll find on Museuminsel include Altesmuseum (Greek Roman antiquities), Neuesmuseum (Egyptian art and artifacts) and Pergamonmuseum (Greek Roman art). The Deutsches Historisches Museum (German history), although not on the island, also lies just beyond. You could spend the entire day perusing the collections, but with only one day in Berlin you ll want to limit yourself. More action awaits!
Thanks a lot for the tips! 😀
So glad you got to spend time in Berlin! Looks like you hit some great spots. We were there for three days last summer and *really* enjoyed it — especially spending time in the Reichstag and at Brandenburg Gate. Will have to check out Buchkantine when we’re there next time!
I agree with so much of this. I was really turned off by the seemingly rude nature of the people, but perhaps that is how people feel when they visit my city in NY! I also felt that Berlin was simply too big, especially in the throws of summer, yuck. I wanted to see more nightlife as you discussed, but nearly everything seemed closed or desolate – even popular bars! I love the “my 2 cents” portion of this, it gives readers your personal experience which I love!
Thanks a lot, Stephanie! Yeah, I always try to give some personal thoughts as well. I know that not everyone has the same opinion, but at least, it gives a direction about how the person felt and what to expect. And in the end, everyone can experience him or herself…
beautiful post dear…Berlin looks like a must-visit-place for everyone!!
Thank you for the great ideas! My husband and I are going to Europe this Fall for a much-needed vacation, so I really appreciated this post! Germany sounds amazing.
So cool! I would love to visit Berlin.
such a well-written story. I’ve never been to Berlin but I so want to check it out and the rest of Germany too.
Tons of landmarks in this city, huh?! Seems like such a historical place and I bet you could spend days and days trying to see everything! I would love to walk around and explore, cities like this are so fascinating.
Very interesting day of hitting the highlights in Berlin. I think I’d enjoy even more than one day to see more historical sights.
Next time try and make a trip to the East Berlin Wall the graffiti and artwork is amazing
Great blog post, with all the infos you need! I stayed at Generator Hostel also, great place for accommodation!
Hi Anda, then you already know what I talking about 😀 Do you have any more recommendation for a short or long trip to Berlin?
Pinning for later! Can’t wait to go to Berlin and visit a lot of these places!
Thanks Katie, I hope you will have a great time then!
I had a morning in Berlin last year when I was attending a trade fair and I’ve wanted to go back ever since.
Hey Mary, thank you for stopping by! Berlin is worth a visit. There are so many things to discover, from the main attractions to hidden gems in the different districts. Have you already considered a date when you would like to go back?
You sure did make the most of your surprised free day in Berlin!! That’s the fun thing with traveling, especially when you travel solo. You just go with the flow and see where your day takes you. Keep good, dear!
Hi Sylvia, you´re right. That is one of the things which I love about traveling alone. You have all the freedom to go where you want to go or just stay at one location if it is it, what makes you feel good. Just go with the flow! Are you traveling solo, too?
It looks less crowded but must visit city, I have never been to Germany, but after reading your experience, I would love to explore this capital city and other parts of Germany.
Hi Nishant, I´m not sure if it is always that less crowded… it was a Sunday and also a lot of different demonstrations where ongoing. Maybe that´s why there were fewer people. Do you have any special German cities or areas in mind which you want to visit?