Berlin

Canal markets, street art & underground nights

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Berlin is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Maybachufer, Graffiti Wall of Fame and Stroll Along the Spree. Food lovers should not miss Mama Bar and Konnopke's Imbiss. Below you will find 49 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Berlin at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Maybachufer and Graffiti Wall of Fame
Where to stay: Neukolln and Mitte
Local picks: 49 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Berlin

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Berlin: Best Neighborhoods for First-TimersWhere to stay in Berlin? A local guide to the best neighbourhoods, from central Mitte and foodie Kreuzberg to charming…

Local tips3 Days in Berlin: The Perfect First-Timer’s ItineraryA local's perfect 3-day Berlin itinerary: Museum Island and the Reichstag, the Wall and Kreuzberg food, plus parks, street art…

Where to stay in Berlin

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Prenzlauer Berg

Hotel Oderberger

A characterful hotel built around a magnificently restored 1900s public swimming hall – you can still swim under the vaulted ceiling. On one of Prenzlauer Berg’s prettiest streets, near Mauerpark.

★ 4.6

Kreuzberg

Jewish Museum Berlin

Daniel Libeskind’s jagged, unforgettable building houses two millennia of German-Jewish history, with voids and the haunting “Memory Void” that speak as powerfully as the exhibits. Moving and architecturally extraordinary.

★ 4.6

Prenzlauer Berg

Konnopke’s Imbiss

A Berlin institution under the elevated U-Bahn tracks, slinging the city’s definitive currywurst since 1930. Grab one with pommes and a beer at a standing table – a rite of passage.

★ 4.6

Neukolln

Mama Bar

A Neukolln institution with the worn-in living-room look of the neighbourhood’s best bars – an easy mix of artsy and mainstream, international and local, with affordable drinks and Balkan/African/world beats. Often packed, so come early for a seat. Tip: the tap beer, including an unpasteurised Czech brew, is the owner’s pride.

★ 4.5

Kreuzberg

Markthalle Neun

A beautifully restored 19th-century market hall and a heart of Berlin’s food scene – producers, bakeries and stalls, plus the famous Street Food Thursday when the world’s cuisines set up shop. Come hungry.

★ 4.5

Prenzlauer Berg

Mauerpark

A scruffy, joyous park on the former death strip, famous for its huge Sunday flea market and the legendary open-air “Bearpit Karaoke” in the amphitheatre. Sunday afternoons here are peak Berlin.

★ 4.4

Kreuzberg-Neukolln

Maybachufer

A lovely, vibrant canal-side promenade straddling Kreuzberg and Neukolln – a true Berlin mix of locals, newcomers, families and night-outers strolling past old buildings by the Landwehr Canal. There’s a lively market at weekends and, in summer, everyone spills onto the banks with a beer.

★ 4.5

Mitte

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Peter Eisenman’s field of 2,711 grey concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate – disorienting and deeply affecting to walk through. The free underground information centre gives the human stories behind it. Visit with respect.

★ 4.7

Friedrichshain

Michelberger Hotel

A witty, design-your-own-adventure indie hotel in Friedrichshain, beloved by the creative crowd, with a buzzy courtyard, great food and its own record label energy. Quintessential east Berlin cool.

★ 4.5

Kreuzberg

Mustafa’s Gemuse Kebap

The most famous kebab in Berlin – a doner piled with grilled vegetables, feta and herbs that draws a permanent queue on Mehringdamm. Worth the wait once; go off-peak if you can.

★ 4.5

Museum Island

Neues Museum

A beautifully restored museum on Museum Island whose star is the 3,000-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti, alongside a superb Egyptian and prehistory collection. The David-Chipperfield restoration is a marvel in itself.

★ 4.6

Prenzlauer Berg

Nouri

A standout Levantine restaurant where the kitchen lifts family recipes with modern fermentation – vivid mezze, charcoal-grilled plates and clever vegetables. Refined but warm; book ahead.

★ 4.7

Friedrichshain

Oberbaum Bridge

The double-decker brick bridge over the Spree linking Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain – once a border crossing, now a symbol of the reunited districts, best at sunset with the U-Bahn rattling across the top.

★ 4.6

Museum Island

Pergamon Museum

The star of Museum Island, home to monumental ancient reconstructions like the Ishtar Gate and Market Gate of Miletus. It’s under a long phased renovation, so check which wings are open before you book.

★ 4.6

Day trip

Potsdam & Sanssouci Day Trip

A short hop from Berlin to Potsdam, the Prussian royal seat, and the rococo palace and vine-terraced gardens of Sanssouci – the “Versailles of Germany.” Guided day trips cover the highlights and the history.

★ 4.7

Mitte

Reichstag Dome

Norman Foster’s glass dome crowning the German parliament, with a spiralling ramp and a 360-degree view over the city. Entry is free but you must register online in advance – do it early, especially for sunset slots.

★ 4.7

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Book your trip to Berlin

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Berlin travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Berlin?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Berlin at a relaxed pace. See our Berlin itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Berlin?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Berlin guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Berlin?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Berlin?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Berlin is worth visiting year-round.