From the Brandenburg Gate to the Indian Ocean, this 7-day itinerary marries European history with Gulf-city sparkle and reef-hopping bliss. You’ll trace Berlin’s dramatic past on expert-led walks, savor street food and specialty coffee, then pivot through Doha for a classic dhow cruise before settling into Maldives lagoons.

Berlin’s layered story unfolds in its monuments, museums, and markets—Prussian grandeur meets Cold War scar tissue meets contemporary creativity. In Doha, you’ll sample Gulf heritage at Souq Waqif and glide along the Corniche on a dhow, framed by a skyline built in a generation. Then, the Maldives: sandbanks like powdered sugar, reefs alive with turtles and rays, and island rhythms that slow the soul.

Practical notes: dress modestly in Qatar (shoulders/knees covered in traditional areas), and remember Friday prayer hours. In the Maldives, alcohol is served in resorts but not on local islands; reef-safe sunscreen is essential. For Berlin, consider a day transit pass and pre-book Reichstag dome slots; for all flights, aim for morning departures to maximize daylight on arrival.

Berlin

Berlin rewrites itself every decade—Imperial boulevards, Weimar cabarets, Cold War checkpoints, club culture, street art. The city rewards wanderers: one neighborhood might hand you Bauhaus lines and a third-wave flat white; the next, a smoky kebab and a punk zine.

Top sights include the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, and the open-air gallery of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery. Museum Island packs world-class collections (Neues Museum’s Egyptian antiquities, Altes Museum’s classical art), while the Humboldt Forum reimagines a city palace for our era.

• Coffee & breakfast: The Barn (roastery precision), Father Carpenter (courtyard brunch), Five Elephant (legendary cheesecake).
• Lunch ideas: Markthalle Neun (artisanal stalls; Street Food Thursday), Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (cult queue, go off-peak), Curry 36 (classic Berliner currywurst).
• Dinner & drinks: Katz Orange (seasonal slow-roasted plates), Lokal (Nordic-leaning German), Clärchens Ballhaus (supper + dance hall), Buck & Breck (tiny speakeasy; ring the bell).

Stay: Choose central Mitte or near Potsdamer Platz for easy sightseeing. Browse options on Hotels.com (Berlin) or VRBO (Berlin). Handpicked hotels: Hotel Adlon Kempinski (icon by Brandenburg Gate), Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz (green creds, family-friendly), The Circus Hostel (boutique hostel), MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof (budget near trains).

Getting in: Compare flights to Berlin on Omio (flights to/from Europe); arriving from outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Within Europe, fast trains bookable on Omio (trains).

Day 1: Arrive Berlin (Afternoon Start)

Morning: Fly into BER; if coming from within Europe, consider a mid-morning train arrival to Berlin Hbf via Omio.

Afternoon: Check in and shake off jet lag with a stroll: Gendarmenmarkt’s twin churches, Bebelplatz, and Unter den Linden toward the Brandenburg Gate. Coffee stop at The Barn Mitte.

Evening: Dinner at Lokal (seasonal Berlin cuisine). Post-dinner, wander to the Holocaust Memorial at dusk for a contemplative, light-shifting experience; drinks at Clärchens Ballhaus or a nightcap at Buck & Breck.

Day 2: Berlin Icons & Hidden History

Morning: Dive into Museum Island—choose the Neues Museum (Nefertiti’s bust) and Altes Museum (classical sculpture). Early lunch at Father Carpenter or grab street bites at Markthalle Neun if it’s Thursday.

Afternoon: Join an award-winning city walk to connect the dots between eras:

Explore Berlin: See All The Iconic Sights & Some Hidden Gems — 3–4 hours, typically $20–$30 per person.

Cap with East Side Gallery to see murals painted on the longest surviving wall segment.

Evening: Dinner at Katz Orange (book ahead). If you want a low-key history-meets-pints experience later in the trip, pencil in the beer history walk below:

Historic Pubs of Berlin & Berlin Beer Tour — ~4 hours, $40–$60.

Day 3: Parks, the Spree, and Contemporary Berlin

Morning: Coffee at Five Elephant, then stretch your legs on Tempelhofer Feld—an old airport turned vast urban park where locals bike the runway. Brunch at House of Small Wonder (Japanese-influenced comfort plates).

Afternoon: See Berlin from the water:

Berlin: 1h Live-Guided Boat Tour (DE/EN) – Heated Glass Roof — 1 hour, $20–$30.

Explore Kreuzberg’s canals and street art afterward; pick up a currywurst at Curry 36.

Evening: Dinner at Markthalle Neun (rotating vendors—try Käsespätzle, handmade pasta, or Neapolitan pizza). If you want one last panorama, book the Reichstag dome near sunset (ID required on entry).

Doha (Layover)

Doha rose from pearling town to global hub in a blink, layering Islamic geometry and steel-and-glass ambition along the Corniche. Souq Waqif’s lanes perfume the air with spices and oud; the Museum of Islamic Art sits like a lantern on the bay.

Expect warmth—both climate and hospitality. Dress modestly in traditional areas and note some reduced hours on Fridays. Karak tea, grilled hammour, and machboos (spiced rice) are can’t-miss bites.

Getting there from Berlin: Morning flight BER → DOH (~6 hours). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; typical one-way economy $250–$500. If you choose to overnight, browse Hotels.com (Doha) or VRBO (Doha).

Day 4: Transit Day with Doha Highlights

Morning: Fly Berlin → Doha. Use airport storage for bags if needed.

Afternoon: Join a compact city-and-bay experience:

Doha City Tour And Dhow Boat Cruise (Private/Sharing) — 4–5 hours, $45–$95, covering Souq Waqif, Katara, The Pearl, and a dhow ride along the Corniche.

Snack on chapati and karak at Chapati & Karak in Katara or enjoy saffron-rose dishes at Parisa in Souq Waqif.

Evening: Return to the airport for your late flight to Malé (~4.5 hours DOH → MLE via Trip.com or Kiwi.com; typical $200–$450).

Malé & Kaafu Atoll (Maldives)

Kaafu Atoll is your gateway to classic Maldives—sugar-white sandbanks, aquarium-clear lagoons, and reefs buzzing with turtles and reef sharks. Choose a resort close to Malé for quick transfers, or stay on a local island (e.g., Hulhumale/Maafushi) for culture and value.

Alcohol is available at resorts but not on local islands; swimwear is for beaches only unless on “bikini beaches.” Fridays see quieter schedules. Always use reef-safe sunscreen and follow guides’ instructions to protect marine life.

Where to stay: Near-Malé resorts for short stays—Kurumba Maldives (10-minute speedboat; great house reef), splurge at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands or The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Budget in Malé/Hulhumale: Hotel Octave Maldives, Somerset Inn. Browse more on Hotels.com (Malé) or VRBO (Malé).

Day 5: Arrive in the Maldives

Morning: Land in Malé. Transfer: many resorts arrange speedboats (10–45 minutes); if staying on Maafushi, see this handy option: Maafushi: Airport Transfer By Speedboat.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress—beach time, gentle snorkel on the house reef. Coffee/gelato at Seagull Café House (Malé) if you’re on the capital island.

Evening: Sunset mocktails by the water and dinner: at Kurumba, book Thila (grills and reef fish); in Malé, try Symphony for local-meets-Asian classics or The Lime for fresh seafood.

Day 6: Sandbanks, Snorkeling & Dolphins (Full-Day)

Sandbank, Snorkeling, Dolphin Cruise, Picnic, Local Island Tour — A signature full-day outing with reef stops, a barefoot sandbank picnic, and a dolphin search (usually $60–$120 depending on inclusions).

Prefer a shorter water day? Try the 3 Point Snorkeling Safari (3 hours; $35–$65) for turtles and rays.

Day 7: Culture in Malé & Departure

Morning: Learn the capital’s story and architecture on a guided city walk:

Male' City Walking Tour: Top Highlights — 3–4 hours, $25–$45, covering the harbor, markets, and historic mosques.

Afternoon: Lunch at a local spot (short eats like masroshi and bajiya), grab final ocean time if you’re on a resort, then transfer to MLE for your afternoon departure. For outbound flights beyond Europe, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; to Europe, also check Omio (flights).

Evening: If you have a late flight, book a resort day room or enjoy a spa treatment before heading to the airport.

Optional note on Munster, Ireland: Munster is a province (think Cork for food and Georgian facades; Killarney for lakes and Ring of Kerry; Limerick for castle and riverside strolls). With only 7 days, we prioritized Berlin, a Doha layover, and the Maldives for a logical route. Add 3–4 days to slot Munster in comfortably on a future Europe-focused trip.

In one week, you’ll trace history in Berlin, sail past Doha’s skyline, and swim over coral gardens in the Maldives. It’s a brisk, beautiful arc—from city snapshots to sea horizons—that balances culture, cuisine, and castaway calm.