Berlin wears its history on its streets—Prussian grandeur, the scars of WWII, the Berlin Wall’s fall, and a creative boom that reinvented the city into Europe’s capital of cool. You’ll move between world-class museums, repurposed factories turned art hubs, and leafy canals lined with cafes.

Food is a delicious trip through migration and tradition: döner kebab and currywurst side-by-side with seasonal German plates, all chased by bold espresso or a crisp pilsner. Markets like Markthalle Neun (Street Food Thursday) showcase Berlin’s global pantry, while neighborhood bakers still pull tray after tray of warm Franzbrötchen and cinnamon knots.

Getting around is easy: the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams run frequently, and contactless cards are widely accepted. Budget tip: a 24-hour AB transit pass is excellent value if you’ll ride more than twice. Expect friendly service without fuss; tipping 5–10% is appreciated. Bring comfy shoes—Berlin rewards walkers.

Berlin

Germany’s capital is a city of neighborhoods (Kieze). Spend mornings in museums, afternoons along canals or the East Side Gallery, and nights in candlelit wine bars or riverside clubs. From the solemn stones of the Holocaust Memorial to the neon of Warschauer Brücke, contrasts are the point.

• Top sights: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag (glass dome), Museum Island (Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Pergamon Panorama), East Side Gallery, Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin Wall Memorial, Topography of Terror.
• Eat & drink: Markthalle Neun, Heidenpeters (microbrew), BRLO Brwhouse, Freundschaft (wine), JAJA (natural wine), The Barn, Five Elephant, Bonanza, Father Carpenter, Silo.
• Shopping: Hackescher Höfe boutiques, concept mall Bikini Berlin, KaDeWe gourmet floor, Voo Store (Kreuzberg), vintage around Boxhagener Platz.

Where to stay (mid-range budget, central locations):

• Motel One Berlin–Hackescher Markt (walk to Museum Island; great value, design-forward).
• Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz (near Tiergarten and culture venues; eco-minded).
• Novotel Berlin Mitte (between Alexanderplatz and historic core; family-friendly).
• Motel One Berlin–Hauptbahnhof or Motel One Berlin–Alexanderplatz for easy transit.
• MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof and The Circus Hostel for budget-friendly, social stays.
• Want a splurge near the Gate? Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Berlin | VRBO: Berlin Apartments

Getting to Berlin (use these for times and fares):

• Flights (to/from Europe): Compare routes into BER on Omio (Flights Europe). Typical times: London 1h50; Paris ~1h55; Rome ~2h10. Low-cost fares often from ~$40–$120 one-way.
• Flights (from outside Europe): Search multi-airline options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. Nonstops from some US hubs (seasonal) ~8–9.5 hours.
• Trains (within Europe): Use Omio (Trains Europe). Sample times: Hamburg 1h45–2h (~€18–€40), Munich ~4–4.5h (~€20–€70), Prague ~4.5h (~€20–€60), Amsterdam ~6h (~€39–€100).
• Buses (budget option): Check Omio (Buses Europe) for Prague ~5h, Dresden ~2–2.5h, Warsaw ~7–8h.

From BER Airport, take the FEX train (~30 minutes to Hauptbahnhof) or S-Bahn S9/S45. A 24-hour AB ticket is great value if you’ll ride more than twice in a day.

Day 1: Arrival in Mitte, Brandenburg Gate, and a Taste of Berlin Nightlife

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Drop your bags and stretch your legs along Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Pause at the haunting Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Coffee break at The Barn (Mitte) for a meticulously pulled flat white, or Father Carpenter in a quiet courtyard for banana bread and silky cappuccinos.

Evening: Dinner at Lokal (seasonal, Berlin-sourced plates like roasted trout and kohlrabi) or historic Zur Letzten Instanz (1621; pork knuckle, Königsberger Klopse). Then ice-cool fun at the Berlin Icebar Experience Including 3 drinks.

If you prefer a view, try Monkey Bar (Bikini Berlin) for zoo panoramas, or in warm months sip a pils at Prater Garten, the city’s oldest beer garden (1837).

Day 2: Museum Island, Third Reich & Cold War, and a Food Tour Feast

Morning: Explore Museum Island. Prioritize the Neues Museum (Nefertiti bust) and the Altes Museum (classical antiquities). The Pergamonmuseum is undergoing extensive renovation, but the Pergamon Panorama offers an immersive stop-in. Coffee and a cinnamon knot at Zeit für Brot before or after.

Afternoon: Walk Berlin’s pivotal 20th‑century sites on Berlin's Best: 2 Hour Walking Tour Third Reich and the Cold War—expect the Brandenburg Gate, remnants of the Wall, and context around Stasi and Allied sectors.

Between sights, grab lunch at Mogg (smoked-in-house pastrami in a former Jewish girls’ school) or House of Small Wonder (Japanese-influenced brunch plates and matcha).

Evening: Turn the city into your dining room on the Berlin Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better—a small-group, progressive meal through Mitte with Berlin staples and craft beer included.

After, slide into Freundschaft for German Rieslings and Spätburgunders poured by passionate sommeliers, or JAJA in Neukölln for natural wine flights.

Day 3: Kreuzberg & Friedrichshain—Coffee, Canals, Street Art, and Breweries

Morning: Start at Five Elephant (Kreuzberg) for a filter coffee and cheesecake that locals argue is Berlin’s best. Stroll the Landwehrkanal; if it’s Tuesday or Friday, browse the Turkish Market at Maybachufer (fresh gözleme, spices, olives). Pop into Voo Store for directional fashion or hunt vinyl on Oranienstraße.

Afternoon: Walk the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining stretch of the Wall, then hop a one-hour Berlin: 1-hr Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide (DE/EN) to see Berlin’s mix of imperial facades and bold contemporary architecture from the Spree.

Grab a late lunch at Khwan (smoked Thai), or sandwiches at Domberger Brot-Werk in the nearby Markthalle.

Evening: Brewery hop: start at BRLO Brwhouse (Gleisdreieck; house IPAs and seasonal brews with modern German sharing plates), then Heidenpeters inside Markthalle Neun (excellent pale ales), and finish at Vagabund Brauerei (Wedding; community brewpub). Night owls can continue to Watergate (riverside, house/techno) or Kater Blau. Prefer wine? Try Rutz Weinbar for a serious list in a casual setting.

Day 4: Courtyards, Boutiques, and a Last Bite (Departure Day)

Morning: Coffee at Father Carpenter or Bonanza (Kreuzberg roastery cafe), then wander the interlocking courtyards of Hackesche Höfe for art nouveau facades and indie boutiques. If it’s Sunday, detour to the Mauerpark Flea Market or Boxhagener Platz for vintage finds and street snacks.

Afternoon: Squeeze in one more museum: the open-air Topography of Terror (free; documentation center on the SS/Gestapo) or the powerful, design-led Jewish Museum Berlin. For a final bite, join the eternal queue at Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (charred chicken with herb-laden salad) or try the classic Curry 36. Head to BER via FEX/S-Bahn with time to spare.

Evening: If your flight is late, toast the trip at rooftop Klunkerkranich (weather permitting) or enjoy a calm glass at Ottorink Weinbar on Graefestraße. Otherwise—Gute Reise!

Optional Add-On Ideas (If You Have Extra Time)

• Want a breezy overview at the start? The Big Bus Berlin Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour & Currywurst pairs city highlights with a Berlin snack favorite.

  

• Palaces and parks: Half-day Potsdam with Sanssouci is a peaceful counterpoint to urban Berlin—see Potsdam Tour from Berlin With Guided Sanssouci Palace Visit.

Where to shop and snack between sights: KaDeWe (legendary gourmet floor for gifts), Bikini Berlin (small brands and Monkey Bar above), Markthalle Neun (Street Food Thursday), and bakeries like Zeit für Brot and Albatross for stellar pastries and sourdough.

In four days, you’ll see Berlin’s icons, taste its global kitchen, and feel its neighborhood rhythms—from morning espresso to late-night beats. Keep this guide handy; it’s built to help you move smartly, eat memorably, and uncover both the headliners and the little local gems.