Berlin is a city that wears its history in layers—from Prussian grandeur and Weimar modernism to the scars of World War II and the concrete realities of the Cold War. Reunified in 1990, it reinvented itself as Europe’s creative capital, mixing world-class museums and opera with street art, pop‑ups, and parks.

With 180+ museums, 2 rivers, ample green space, and a famously late nightlife, Berlin invites both deep dives and detours. You’ll stand beneath the Brandenburg Gate, trace the Berlin Wall, and wander courtyards in Mitte—then linger over third‑wave coffee, Turkish-German classics, and inventive Michelin‑starred tasting menus.

Practical notes: cards are widely accepted but small cafés may prefer cash; tip 5–10% by rounding up. Most shops close on Sundays, but museums and restaurants stay open. Public transport is excellent—download the BVG app, consider an AB/ABC day pass, and pre‑book the Reichstag Dome if you want the rooftop view.

Berlin

Berlin is a city of neighborhoods. Mitte holds the historic core—Unter den Linden, Museum Island, the Reichstag. Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain brim with street art, indie bars, and the East Side Gallery. Charlottenburg offers classic West Berlin elegance, while Prenzlauer Berg delivers leafy streets, brunch cafés, and Berlin’s oldest beer garden.

Top sights include the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, and Museum Island’s Bode and Neues Museums (note: the Pergamon Museum’s main building is closed for multi‑year renovations; check current partial exhibitions nearby). Don’t miss a Spree River cruise for skyline views.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Browse Berlin apartments on VRBO for family‑friendly flats in Prenzlauer Berg or lofts in Kreuzberg.
• Search Berlin hotels on Hotels.com across all budgets and neighborhoods.

• Iconic luxury: Hotel Adlon Kempinski beside Brandenburg Gate; old‑world service, fine dining, and prime sightseeing location.
• Best location for families: Novotel Berlin Mitte between Museum Island and Alexanderplatz; spacious rooms and kids’ perks.
• Scandi-cool + green: Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz near Tiergarten and Sony Center; great breakfast spread.
• Reliable value: Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof for easy rail and airport access.
• Hip hostel/hotel hybrid: The Circus Hostel in lively Rosenthaler Platz; social vibe and private rooms available.
• Central budget: MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof steps from Berlin Hbf; solid for short stays.

Getting to Berlin (BER):

• Flying from within Europe: compare fares on Omio (flights). London–Berlin ~1h50, Rome–Berlin ~2h, fares often $60–$150 one‑way when booked early.
• Flying from outside Europe: search global options via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop from NYC ~8h; West Coast with 1 stop ~12–14h.
• Trains within Europe: check Omio (trains). Hamburg–Berlin ~1h45; Prague–Berlin ~4h20; Munich–Berlin ~4h. Advance fares can be €18–€60 one‑way.

From BER to the center: take the FEX or RE trains to Berlin Hbf (~30–35 minutes). An ABC ticket is ~€4–5; day passes available. Taxis/Uber take ~35–50 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, First Tastes of Mitte, and Sunset at the Gate

Afternoon: Arrive at BER, drop bags, and stretch your legs around Hackescher Markt and the Art Nouveau courtyards of the Hackesche Höfe. For a pick‑me‑up, stop at The Barn (Rosenhöfe) for precision‑roasted filter coffee and a cinnamon bun. Walk Unter den Linden toward the Brandenburg Gate; the golden hour light here is unforgettable.

Evening: Dinner at Zur Letzten Instanz (est. 1621) for slow‑roasted pork knuckle, potato dumplings, and Berlin’s culinary history in wood‑paneled rooms. Prefer produce‑driven modern German? Try Lokal near Monbijoupark—short, seasonal menu, natural wines. Cap the night with skyline views at Monkey Bar (Bikini Berlin), watching the city glow above the Tiergarten canopy.

Day 2: Icons and Storylines of the Historic Core

Morning: Join this essential guided walk to orient yourself:

Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour

You’ll trace the city’s timeline through Bebelplatz, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Brandenburg Gate—perfect context for the days ahead.

Afternoon: Refuel with a classic currywurst at Konnopke’s Imbiss beneath the U2 tracks (ask for “scharf” if you like heat) or try Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap for Berlin’s famed grilled‑veg döner. Pre‑book the free Reichstag Dome visit and walk the spiral ramp for 360° views and a smart audio guide to the skyline. If queues are long, stroll the nearby Tiergarten instead.

Evening: Dinner at Borchardt near Gendarmenmarkt for schnitzel in a Belle Époque dining room, or book Rutz (3⭐) for a deep dive into German terroir cuisine. For a speakeasy nightcap, ring the bell at Buck and Breck (tiny, reservation advised) and order their Champagne cocktails.

Day 3: The Berlin Wall, Cold War Relics, and Kreuzberg After Dark

Morning: Coffee at Silo in Friedrichshain (Aussie‑style flat whites, excellent scrambled eggs on sourdough). Head to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse; the preserved death strip and documentation center explain how the Wall divided streets, families, and lives. If it’s Sunday, swing by Mauerpark’s flea market and open‑air karaoke.

Afternoon: Visit the Topography of Terror on the former Gestapo/SS HQ site—chilling, clear exhibits. Walk via Checkpoint Charlie (touristy but historic) to Gendarmenmarkt for photos of the twin domes and the Konzerthaus. Lunch at Mogg in the former Jewish Girls’ School—house‑smoked pastrami on rye and a Berlin‑via‑NYC deli vibe.

Evening: In Kreuzberg, eat at Henne Alt‑Berliner Wirtshaus (legendary crispy half‑chicken, potato salad) or at FREA for a plant‑based, zero‑waste tasting menu. Watch sunset over the city at Klunkerkranich, a rooftop garden bar atop a Neukölln parking garage with DJs and laid‑back locals.

Day 4: Museum Island Masterpieces and a Spree River Cruise

Morning: Start at the Neues Museum (Egyptian collection, including the Nefertiti Bust) and the Bode Museum (Byzantine art, sculpture). Pop into the Humboldt Forum for exhibitions and views over the Berlin Palace courtyard. Note: the main Pergamon Museum remains closed for renovations; check for temporary exhibitions nearby.

Afternoon: Take a scenic hour on the water to stitch the city’s past and present together:

1h Live-Guided Boat Tour (DE/EN) – Heated Glass Roof

Glide past the Reichstag, Museum Island, and the avant‑garde government quarter as guides narrate Berlin’s evolution. After, browse the indie boutiques and courtyards around Hackescher Markt.

Evening: Dinner at Katz Orange in a hidden courtyard—slow‑cooked meats, inventive veg sides, excellent cocktails. For dessert, try the famed cheesecake at Five Elephant (original Kreuzberg roastery). Late drink: Green Door in Schöneberg, an old‑school cocktail institution.

Day 5: Day Trip to Potsdam – Palaces, Parks, and Prussian Elegance

Spend the day among UNESCO‑listed gardens and rococo palaces just outside Berlin:

Potsdam Tour from Berlin With Guided Sanssouci Palace Visit

Walk terraces at Sanssouci, see the Dutch Quarter’s gables, and cross the Glienicke Bridge of spy‑swap fame. Prefer DIY? Take the RE1 from Berlin Hbf to Potsdam Hbf (~40 minutes; ABC ticket ~€4–5) via Omio (trains). Back in Berlin, have a casual feast at Prater Garten (est. 1837)—pretzels, wurst, and beer under chestnut trees.

Day 6: Street Art, the East Side Gallery, and Craft Beer by the Park

Morning: Breakfast at Café Mugrabi (Kreuzberg) for silky hummus plates, pita, and tahini‑drizzled eggs; or grab a sesame simit from a Turkish bakery around Kottbusser Tor. Walk the East Side Gallery—1.3 km of original Berlin Wall painted by international artists, including the famous “Fraternal Kiss.”

Afternoon: Explore Markthalle Neun (open daily; the famed Street Food Thursday runs weekly) and sample Big Stuff BBQ, Käserei for German cheeses, or RosaCaleta’s Jamaican‑Berlin mash‑ups. Stroll the Landwehr Canal, detouring to Viktoriapark’s hilltop waterfall for neighborhood views.

Evening: Dinner and house‑brewed beers at BRLO Brwhouse near Gleisdreieck—try the Helles, Pale Ale, and seasonal sours with smoked celeriac or BBQ brisket. Nightlife options: Watergate (riverfront techno), Kater Blau (bohemian sunrise sets), or if you prefer low‑key, Vagabund Brauerei’s taproom in Wedding.

Day 7: Slow Brunch, Foodie Farewell, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Anna Blume in Prenzlauer Berg—tiered trays of breads, cheeses, charcuterie, and jams, with a floral shop attached. Browse Kollwitzplatz’s boutiques and organic market (Saturdays) for edible souvenirs like local honey and Berliner craft chocolates.

Late morning to early afternoon: Savor a guided neighborhood tasting before you head out:

Berlin Center Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Local Tastings

Expect a delicious mix of classic German bites (Leberkäse, pickles, Kuchen) and global Berlin flavors (Turkish, Vietnamese), plus stories that link food to place.

Departure: Pick up luggage and ride the FEX/RE back to BER (~30–35 minutes). For flights within Europe use Omio (flights); for long‑haul options check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you still have an hour, grab a last espresso and a box of Berliner Pfannkuchen (jelly doughnuts) for the road.

Optional Add‑Ons (fit these where you like)

If you prefer more guided experiences, consider these highly rated options and swap them into Days 2–4:

• Spree River Cruise (1 hour) for architecture and history from the water.
• Half‑Day Walking Tour to cover key sights efficiently with an expert.
• Guided Potsdam Tour to simplify logistics and gain palace context.
• Berlin Food Tour for a flavorful, time‑efficient goodbye.

Coffee & breakfast favorites: Father Carpenter (courtyard café tucked off Münzstrasse), The Barn (multiple locations), Bonanza (Prenzlauer Berg), Zeit für Brot (cardamom knots).

Lunch & casual bites: Curry 36 (currywurst), Kebab at Rüyam or Mustafa’s, Mogg (pastrami), Lon Men’s Noodle House (Taiwanese beef noodles), Brammibal’s (vegan donuts).

Dinner highlights: CODA Dessert Dining (innovative, dessert‑led tasting), Horváth (two‑star modern Austrian), TISK Speisekneipe (new‑Berlin classics), Paris Bar (West‑Berlin institution).

After seven days, you’ll have walked the line between eras—imperial boulevards, Cold War checkpoints, and today’s creative corners—tasting Berlin’s global pantry along the way. Whether you lingered in museums or danced till sunrise, this itinerary gives you a confident, story‑rich feel for the city that never stops reinventing itself.