Berlin is a city that rewrote itself. From Prussian grandeur to Cold War division and a creative renaissance after reunification, it’s a metropolis where monuments, street art, and green parks sit in easy conversation. Over seven days, you’ll trace history on the Berlin Wall Trail, dive into world-class museums, sip third-wave coffee, and taste your way through markets and microbreweries.

Expect neighborhoods with strong personalities: stately Mitte, experimental Kreuzberg and Neukölln, elegant Charlottenburg, and buzzy Friedrichshain. The public transit network (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses) is excellent; many sights cluster so you can walk or bike. Book timed entries for popular spots like the Reichstag dome in advance.

Good to know: Many museums close on Mondays, card payments are widely accepted, and the main Pergamon Museum is closed for renovation until at least 2027 (its Panorama exhibition is separate). For value, consider the Museum Pass Berlin (3 days, ~€32) and a Berlin AB 7-day ticket (~€41–46) for local transit; the nationwide Deutschlandticket (€49/month) is great if you’ll be traveling around Germany.

Berlin

Berlin rewards curiosity. Stroll Unter den Linden from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island, then slip into a leafy courtyard café. Cross the Oberbaum Bridge from Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain at sunset, when the Spree turns burnished gold and the East Side Gallery’s murals glow.

Top sights include the Reichstag dome by Norman Foster, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße, Museum Island’s Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie, Charlottenburg Palace, and Tempelhofer Feld—an old airport turned city park. Nightlife runs the gamut from quiet wine bars to storied techno clubs like Berghain, Watergate, and Tresor.

• Where to stay (search and book): Apartments via VRBO Berlin or hotels via Hotels.com Berlin. Neighborhoods to target: Mitte (central, walkable to major sights), Prenzlauer Berg (leafy, cafés), Kreuzberg/Neukölln (foodie and nightlife), Charlottenburg (classic West Berlin elegance).
• How to get to Berlin: Fly into BER (Berlin Brandenburg). Within Europe, compare flights and trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). From outside Europe, check Kiwi.com and Trip.com (flights). From BER, take the FEX Airport Express or RE trains (~30 min to Hbf; Berlin ABC ticket ~€4.40).

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

Afternoon: Arrive and check in near Mitte. Stretch your legs on Unter den Linden: start at Bebelplatz (site of the 1933 book burning; look down to the empty bookshelves memorial), pass the Humboldt University, and continue to the Brandenburg Gate—Berlin’s neoclassical symbol of unity. Coffee break at Father Carpenter (courtyard café with flat whites and their buckwheat banana bread) or Einstein Kaffee Unter den Linden for a quick espresso.

Evening: Early dinner at Zur letzten Instanz (dating to 1621; order the pork knuckle or Königsberger Klopse) for a taste of old Berlin. Prefer modern, seasonal cooking? Try Lokal in Mitte (small plates, regional produce). Cap the night with a reservation-only cocktail at Buck & Breck (intimate speakeasy; ask for their herbal, absinthe-kissed “Berlin Mule”) or watch the city lights from Monkey Bar atop Bikini Berlin.

Day 2: Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, and Museum Island

Morning: Reserve a free time slot to visit the Reichstag dome; the spiral ramp offers a 360° view and a smart audio guide about the Bundestag below. Walk 5 minutes to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; wander the field of stelae, then visit the subterranean documentation center for context.

Afternoon: Museum Island highlights: Neues Museum (Nefertiti bust; excellent prehistoric collections) and Alte Nationalgalerie (19th‑century German art, Caspar David Friedrich). The main Pergamon Museum is closed for renovation. Between museums, slip to Sofi (artisan bakery by Sophie Rueff; spelt croissants, rye loaves) or Röststätte for an award‑winning cappuccino.

Evening: Dinner at Restaurant Tim Raue (Asian‑inspired tasting menus; book well ahead) or Cookies Cream (vegetarian fine dining via a back‑alley entrance—very Berlin). For a relaxed post‑dinner drink, try Bar Tausend under the S‑Bahn tracks or a glass of Riesling at Freundschaft wine bar.

Day 3: Berlin Wall Stories, Street Art, and Spree Views

Morning: Start at the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße. The open‑air site preserves a full border strip, watchtower foundations, and powerful exhibits—free and unflinching. Grab kanelsnurrer and espresso at Zeit für Brot on the way.

Afternoon: Head to the East Side Gallery, a 1.3‑km stretch of Wall covered in murals like “Fraternal Kiss.” Cross the photogenic Oberbaumbrücke into Kreuzberg. If it’s Thursday, go to Markthalle Neun for Street Food Thursday (Kumpel & Keule burgers, Nigerian jollof bowls, fresh pasta); other days, their butchers, bakeries, and wine kiosks are still great. Consider a 1‑hour Spree boat tour (~€18–€25) for architecture from the water.

Evening: Dinner at 893 Ryōtei (neon‑lit, Japanese‑Peruvian plates; crispy tuna tacos and robata skewers) or Henne Alt‑Berliner Wirtshaus (legendary buttermilk fried chicken, cash preferred). Nightlife options: Watergate (house/techno with river views) or a crafted negroni in the amber-lit ORA, a bar in a restored 19th‑century pharmacy.

Day 4: Charlottenburg, Kurfürstendamm, and Tiergarten

Morning: Tour Charlottenburg Palace, Prussia’s baroque showpiece. Don’t miss the porcelain cabinet and stroll the formal gardens to the Belvedere. Coffee and a slice of Bienenstich at Café Einstein Stammhaus, a Viennese‑style institution in a historic villa.

Afternoon: Explore Kurfürstendamm and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (bombed spire left as anti‑war memorial). Ride up to KaDeWe’s gourmet floor for small plates—oyster bar, Bavarian pretzels, and German cheeses—then wander Tiergarten’s shaded paths to the Victory Column.

Evening: Splurge at Rutz (3 Michelin stars; German terroir cuisine with an outstanding wine cellar) or opt for Savignyplatz’s bistros—12 Apostel for thin‑crust Roman‑style pizza under vaulted ceilings. Sunset cocktail at the 25hours Bikini’s Monkey Bar overlooking the zoo.

Day 5: Friedrichshain to Neukölln—Markets, Tempelhofer Feld, and Rooftops

Morning: Breakfast at Silo Coffee in Friedrichshain (Aussie‑leaning brunch—sweetcorn fritters, excellent filter coffee). If it’s Saturday, browse the Boxhagener Platz market for produce and vintage finds. Tram or cycle to Tempelhofer Feld; bike the runways or picnic on the grass where planes once taxied.

Afternoon: Cruise the Landwehr Canal in Kreuzberg and, if it’s Tuesday or Friday, graze the Turkish Market at Maybachufer (pide, gözleme, olives, and fresh juice). Fast, iconic lunch: Burgermeister at Schlesisches Tor (double Meisterburger) or Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap on Mehringdamm (expect a line; ask for extra chili flakes).

Evening: In Neukölln, choose CODA Dessert Dining (two‑star, desserts as dinner—savory‑sweet courses, thoughtful beverage pairings) or Barra (modern neighborhood spot with sharing plates; book ahead). End at Klunkerkranich, a rooftop bar atop a parking garage with a DIY vibe and sweeping skyline views.

Day 6: Day Trip to Potsdam’s Palaces and Parks

Morning: Take the RE1 or S7 from Berlin Hbf to Potsdam Hbf (~30–40 min; check fares on Omio (trains)). Grab a Berlin ABC day ticket if you’ll use local transport. Walk or bus to Sanssouci Park; tour Sanssouci Palace (Frederick the Great’s rococo retreat) and the picture‑perfect terraced vineyard.

Afternoon: Continue to the Neues Palais (grand state rooms, Grotto Hall) and stroll past the Chinese House and Orangerie. Lunch near the Historic Mill at Zur Historischen Mühle (classic German dishes, shady terrace) or in the Dutch Quarter back in town—brick gables, cafés, and boutiques.

Evening: Return to Berlin. Casual craft beer dinner at BRLO Brwhouse by Gleisdreieck (smoked cauliflower, house brews), or go hyper‑local at Nobelhart & Schmutzig (produce‑driven tasting menu, phones discouraged to keep you present). Nightcap at Green Door (ring the bell; try their seasonal sour).

Day 7: Sunday Markets, Contemporary Culture, and Farewell

Morning: If it’s Sunday, hit the Mauerpark Flea Market—vinyl, vintage cameras, and street food—plus legendary open‑air karaoke in the amphitheater when weather permits. Otherwise, visit the Futurium (free museum exploring future tech and society) or the interactive DDR Museum for everyday life in East Germany.

Afternoon: Farewell bites: classic currywurst at Curry 36 (order “mit Darm” or “ohne Darm”) or at Konnopke’s under the Eberswalder Straße U‑Bahn. Pick up last‑minute gifts at Hackesche Höfe courtyards—indie design, stationery—before heading to BER. For rides to/from other European cities, compare on Omio (trains) or Omio (flights); long‑haul options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com.

Evening: Departure day—if you have a late flight, stroll one last time through Tiergarten or along the Spree, then grab pastries at Albatross (legendary Berlin bakery; card only) for the journey.

Coffee and breakfast favorites to mix in during the week: Five Elephant (Kreuzberg; cheesecake is a cult item), The Barn (roastery with several cafés), Father Carpenter (courtyard brunch), Sofi (heritage grains), Commonground (buzzy mornings at Rosenthaler Platz).

Extra tips: Reserve Reichstag early; carry a small amount of cash for markets; buses 100/200 are scenic routes between major sights; cyclists should use dedicated lanes and mind tram tracks.

Seven days in Berlin gives you time to see the icons and discover the city’s softer, everyday magic—courtyards, canals, and conversations over great coffee. With this itinerary, you’ll leave knowing the stories behind the stones and the flavors behind the headlines—and likely planning your return.