Few cities reinvent themselves as boldly as Berlin. From Prussian grandeur to Weimar creativity, from the scars of the Third Reich to the ruptures of the Cold War, the German capital wears its layers in public—on facades, in memorials, and along canals. Today, it’s a laboratory of art, urban green space, and boundary-pushing cuisine.

Expect a living museum—Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, and Museum Island—wrapped in a city where third-wave coffee, craft beer, and Michelin-starred dining thrive beside kebab stands and market halls. Fun fact: Berlin has more bridges than Venice and some of Europe’s largest inner-city parks.

Practical notes: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) connects with fast rail into the center. The BVG network (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses) is extensive; consider the Berlin WelcomeCard for transit plus discounts. The Pergamon Museum’s main building is under long-term renovation—opt for the Neues Museum, Bode Museum, and the Berlin Cathedral instead.

Berlin

Berlin is a city of contrasts: stately Unter den Linden and graffiti-splashed lanes in Kreuzberg; quiet canals in Prenzlauer Berg and the electric hum around Warschauer Brücke. It’s perfect for travelers who love history, modern art, wide green parks, and late nights.

• Top highlights: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Dome (book ahead), Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, East Side Gallery, Museum Island (Neues, Bode, Altes), Berlin Cathedral, Charlottenburg Palace, Tempelhof Field, Gendarmenmarkt/Bebelplatz, Hackesche Höfe.
• Eat & drink: From currywurst institutions (Konnopke’s, Curry 36) and legendary döner (Mustafa’s) to contemporary standouts (Katz Orange, FREA, Cookies Cream), plus market halls like Markthalle Neun.
• Nightlife: Classic cocktail bars (Buck & Breck, Green Door), rooftop sunsets (Monkey Bar), and iconic clubs (Berghain, Watergate, Tresor) for those who want to dance till sunrise.

How to get to Berlin (first city travel options):

• Flights (to/from Europe): Compare carriers and fares on Omio. Typical flight times: 1–2 hours from hubs like Amsterdam, Paris, or Copenhagen, with fares often from €40–€150 booked early.
• Flights (long-haul): Find competitive international options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Trains (within Europe): Berlin is well-linked—e.g., Hamburg (~1h45), Munich (~4h), Prague (~4h30). Check schedules and prices on Omio Trains.
• Airport to city: From BER, take the FEX or regional trains (~30 minutes) to Berlin Hbf; S-Bahn lines also connect many districts.

Where to stay (Berlin):

• Search everything: Apartments on VRBO Berlin and hotels on Hotels.com Berlin.
• Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin (5★, iconic by Brandenburg Gate): Old-world service, spa, and landmark views. Book on Hotels.com
• Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz (4★, eco-minded & family-friendly): Modern Scandinavian style near Tiergarten and Kulturforum. Book on Hotels.com
• Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof (great value by Hbf): Stylish budget with easy rail access. Book on Hotels.com
• Novotel Berlin Mitte (4★, central on Spree island edge): Spacious rooms; handy for Museum Island and Nikolaiviertel. Book on Hotels.com
• MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof (budget & social): Functional rooms steps from the station. Book on Hotels.com
• The Circus Hostel (design-forward hostel in Mitte): Lively lounge, café, and great community vibe. Book on Hotels.com

Day 1: Arrival, Unter den Linden, and Brandenburg Gate

Morning: Travel to Berlin. If flying within Europe, compare fares and times on Omio; for long-haul, check Trip.com. From BER, hop on the FEX/regional train to Berlin Hbf, then U/S-Bahn to your hotel.

Afternoon: Start with a gentle walk along Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate. Pause at Bebelplatz to note the book-burning memorial, then continue to the Reichstag (reserve the glass dome in advance). Coffee stop: Father Carpenter (courtyard setting, excellent flat whites and banana bread) or The Barn on Auguststraße for single-origin pour-overs.

Evening: Dinner at Katz Orange (slow-roasted pork neck, seasonal vegetables; romantic courtyard) or Zur Letzten Instanz (Berlin’s oldest restaurant—try the Eisbein pork knuckle). Cap the night at Monkey Bar (Tiergarten skyline views) or Buck & Breck (reservations recommended; intimate speakeasy with precise, spirit-forward cocktails).

Day 2: Icons of Mitte, Museum Island, and a Spree River Cruise

Morning: Join a historian-led overview to get your bearings:

Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour covers Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, Unter den Linden, Gendarmenmarkt/Bebelplatz, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Pre-fuel at Five Elephant (legendary cheesecake, bright, fruit-forward espresso).

Afternoon: Dive into Museum Island. The Neues Museum houses the famed Nefertiti bust; the Bode Museum excels in sculpture and Byzantine art; the Altes Museum focuses on classical antiquities. Step into the Berlin Cathedral for grand interiors and dome views. Lunch nearby at Restaurant Lokal (locally sourced German fare with a light, modern hand) or Zeit für Brot (still-warm cinnamon buns, hearty sandwiches).

Evening: See Berlin from the water at golden hour:

1-hour Live-Guided Boat Tour on the Spree. Afterward, dinner at Cookies Cream (inventive vegetarian tasting menu tucked behind a theatre) or Rutz (for a splurge—Berlin’s 3-star temple to regional terroir). Nightcap at Green Door (classic cocktail institution in Schöneberg).

Day 3: Berlin Wall, Kreuzberg Street Food, and a Local Tasting Tour

Morning: Walk the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall turned open-air gallery; reflect at the Topography of Terror (outdoor and indoor exhibits on the SS and Gestapo). Coffee at westberlin (near Checkpoint Charlie; filter coffees, light lunches) or Bonanza Roastery (Kreuzberg).

Afternoon: Eat like a local in Kreuzberg and Mitte on a small-group tasting:

Berlin Center Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Local Tastings. Expect currywurst, döner, Turkish börek, and new-wave German bites—plus neighborhood tales that make the flavors stick.

Evening: If it’s Thursday, head to Markthalle Neun’s Street Food Thursday for stalls like Big Stuff BBQ and Italian pastas; otherwise, try Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (go early to avoid lines) or Doyum (Adana kebap off the grill). For drinks, explore the canal-side bars of Kreuzberg or dance at Watergate (glass-walled views over the Spree) or Tresor (a techno time capsule).

Day 4: Day Trip to Potsdam—Palaces, Parks, and Rococo Grandeur

Morning: Breakfast at House of Small Wonder (Japanese-influenced brunch—croissant French toast, okinawan taco rice). Then ride the S7 from Berlin to Potsdam Hbf (~40 minutes; ABC ticket or Berlin WelcomeCard ABC). Prefer a guided experience?

Potsdam Tour with Guided Sanssouci Palace Visit streamlines logistics and provides rich context.

Afternoon: Wander Sanssouci Park’s terraced vineyards and the airy Rococo palace of Frederick the Great. Don’t miss the New Palace’s lavish rooms and the Dutch Quarter’s red-brick streets. Lunch at a Potsdam café (try Flammkuchen and seasonal soups), then train back—check times on Omio Trains.

Evening: Back in Berlin, refuel at Prater Garten (Germany’s oldest beer garden—grilled bratwurst and pretzels in summer; cozy beer hall in cooler months) or FREA (zero-waste, plant-based plates that still feel indulgent). Sip a nightcap at Schwarze Traube (award-winning mixology; let the bartender tailor something to your mood).

Day 5: Neighborhoods—Prenzlauer Berg, Hackesche Höfe, and Design-Forward Dining

Morning: Start in Prenzlauer Berg with pastries at Zeit für Brot (cinnamon buns, crusty loaves) or Albatross Bakery (laminated perfection). If it’s Sunday, browse the Mauerpark flea market and maybe join the legendary Bearpit Karaoke. Stroll Kollwitzplatz and pick up beans at The Barn.

Afternoon: Head to Hackesche Höfe to admire Jugendstil courtyards and indie boutiques. Pop into the Sammlung Hoffmann (if open on your date) or street-art-rich lanes off Rosenthaler Strasse. Lunch at Monsieur Vuong (fast, fresh Vietnamese bowls) or Commonground (all-day brunch plates, natural wines) next to The Circus.

Evening: Treat yourself: Nobelhart & Schmutzig (radically regional tasting menu at the chef’s counter—book well ahead) or Otto (seasonal, wood-fired cooking with a Berlin pantry). For a laid-back finale, try Vagabund Brauerei (small-batch craft beer) or join locals along the Landwehr Canal for an evening stroll.

Day 6: Grand Greens, Final Bites, and Departure

Morning: Walk or cycle across Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport turned colossal city park—runways now host picnics, kite skaters, and allotment gardens. Alternatively, loop through Tiergarten from the Victory Column toward the lakes and hidden sculptures. Coffee near the park at Café Einstein Stammhaus (old Viennese coffeehouse vibe) or Five Elephant Tiergarten.

Afternoon: Grab a quick currywurst at Konnopke’s (beneath Eberswalder Str. U-Bahn) or Curry 36 (Mehringdamm) and pick up edible souvenirs: Kreuzberg craft chocolate, Berliner Luft mint liqueur, or local roastery beans. Depart for BER; trains to the airport are frequent—allow time for security.

Evening: If your flight is late, consider an early dinner cruise for a stylish sendoff:

4-Course Sunset Dinner Cruise along the Spree (reserve if it fits your timing).

Local tips:

• Reserve the Reichstag Dome weeks ahead; bring photo ID for entry.
• Consider the Berlin WelcomeCard (zones AB or ABC for Potsdam) if you’ll be riding transit often.
• Pergamon Museum’s main building remains closed; prioritize Neues, Bode, and the Altes Museum, plus the Berlin Cathedral.
• Markets to note: Turkish Market at Maybachufer (Tue & Fri), Markthalle Neun (Street Food Thursday), Boxhagener Platz flea (Sun).

In six days, you’ll have traced Berlin’s dramatic past, cruised along the Spree, eaten across neighborhoods, and wandered palaces and parks. Come for the history, stay for the creative energy—and leave planning your return for festival season or Christmas markets.