Must SeeFree
Brandenburg Gate
Mitte
The 18th-century neoclassical gateway that became the symbol of German reunification.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open-air; always accessible
Berlin
A creative, layered capital of history, galleries and all-night clubs.
Plan your Berlin trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Berlin
Berlin is big, edgy and endlessly interesting: Cold War history, world-class museums, lively neighbourhoods and one of Europe’s best club scenes. It is relatively affordable, and easy to explore by U-Bahn and bike.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- May–September for beer gardens and long days; Christmas markets in December are lovely.
- Approx. daily budget
- £65–130 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Berlin cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£60–85a day
- Mid-range traveller£115–170a day
- Luxury traveller£235+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 32 Top picks in Berlin
Must SeeFree
Reichstag Dome
Mitte
A glass dome on the parliament building, with a spiral ramp and city views.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily; free but registration is required
Must See~£21
Museum Island
Mitte
A UNESCO cluster of five museums, home to the Pergamon altar and Nefertiti bust.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Most museums open daily; check each
Must SeeFree
Berlin Wall Memorial
Bernauer Strasse
A preserved stretch of the wall with a viewing tower and a moving documentation centre.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 10:00–18:00
Hidden Gems
See all 10 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
East Side Gallery
Friedrichshain
A 1.3 km stretch of the Berlin Wall painted with murals by artists from across the world.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Hidden Gems~£15
Berliner Unterwelten Underground Tours
Gesundbrunnen
Guided tours of the city’s Cold War air-raid shelters and tunnels, a strong reminder of life under siege.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; fixed tours
Hidden GemsFree
Hackesche Höfe
Mitte
A series of Art Nouveau courtyards with galleries, cafés and boutiques, beautifully restored.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Open-air; shops open daily
Hidden Gems~£8
Stasi Museum
Lichtenberg
The former headquarters of East Germany’s secret police, with the preserved offices of the Stasi chief.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Berlin
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Luxury Value
Example listingMuseum Island Suites
Mitte, Berlin
Excellent valueValue score 92 out of 100
Rated 9.0/10, about 9% below typical 5★ prices in Berlin, in a central location.
From £170 per night · check current availability
Best Mid-Range HotelBest for Couples
Example listingBrandenburger Tor Hotel
Mitte, Berlin
Very good valueValue score 76 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Berlin, in a central location.
From £120 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingKreuzberg Loft Hotel
Kreuzberg, Berlin
Very good valueValue score 72 out of 100
Rated 8.6/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Berlin, in a central location.
From £75 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 11 Where to eat
Curry 36
A busy currywurst stand at Mehringdamm, a fixture of Berlin street food.
Known for: Currywurst
Under about £15 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap
A famous vegetable-heavy döner with a queue to match, beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Known for: Gemüse kebab
Under about £15 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Markthalle Neun
A restored 19th-century market hall known for its Thursday street-food night and weekend stalls.
Known for: Street Food Thursday, farmers’ stalls
About £15–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Konnopke’s Imbiß
A currywurst stand under the railway viaduct at Eberswalder Straße, open since 1930.
Known for: Currywurst
Under about £15 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Berlin itinerary
3 nights Couple
Berlin · Highlights
Berlin in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Berlin picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Gendarmenmarkt, Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Berlin TV Tower
- Day 2 · Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace, Reichstag Dome
- Day 3 · East Side Gallery, Tempelhofer Feld, Checkpoint Charlie, Kreuzberg Street Food and Nightlife
Plan Berlin your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.