Berlin
What you need to know before you go
Berlin bowls over visitors with its trailblazing arts scene, edgy street fashion and alluringly carefree vibe. Its nightlife is the envy of the world, with all manner of thumping techno clubs, bohemian bars and raucous live music venues to explore. The city isn't all about free-wheeling hedonism, though.
With cutting-edge galleries, hip independent cinemas and sobering historical museums like the Topography of Terror, it's also one of Europe's undisputed cultural capitals. Foodies can feast on hearty German staples like braised pork knuckle, or venture off the beaten track with vegan haute cuisine or riverside street food.
What to see & do in Berlin
Featured stories & fun stuffBerlin has seen more than its fair share of action and intrigue. The city wears history on its sleeve and makes a fascinating to explore. The rugged local charm of Berliners, combined with the ever-changing architecture, ensures Germany’s capital is a giant casserole of culture. Enjoy a day of sightseeing, starting from luxurious West Berlin, through the touristy centre, ending up at the bohemian streets of East Berlin. Highlights... Read more
12 Best Things to Do in Berlin
The best things to do in Berlin include seeing the impressive landmarks of one of the most iconic cities in Europe. Established during the 12th century, the capital city of Germany has a long and turbulent history, but is now...10 Iconic Buildings and Places in Berlin
This guide to iconic buildings and places in Berlin takes you on a journey into German history. The capital dates...10 Most Popular Streets in Berlin
The most popular streets in Berlin to enjoy a stroll include historical promenades and thriving entertainment strips. As Germany’s capital...10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Berlin
The best things to do for couples in Berlin combine the buzz and energy of a modern metropolis with the...10 Most Instagrammable Places in Berlin
Berlin is the German capital and home to a variety of sights and photo opportunities that just might land you...10 Best Family Things to Do in Berlin
For the best family things to do in Berlin, there are seemingly endless opportunities to choose from. A fun day...10 Best Free Things to Do in Berlin
The list of free things to do in Berlin is heavily weighted towards museums in this city full of history...10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Berlin
Berlin is a cosmopolitan city full of interesting sights to see, including a treasure trove of lesser-known gems to...10 Best Road Trips Near Berlin
The best road trips near Berlin include exciting journeys to stately palaces, haunting WWII sites and stunning natural parks. While...
Where & what to eat in Berlin
10 Best Local Dishes from Berlin
Berlin is home to a thriving culinary scene where you'll be able to taste some positively German creations as well as unique international flavours. Dining in Berlin is defined by powerful flavours whether you're enjoying a simple kebab or having...10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Berlin
These places where locals love to eat in Berlin answer to avid foodies looking for authentic flavours in the German...10 Best Food Markets in Berlin
Berlin is home to a unique blending of cuisines, allowing you to enjoy a bit of everything when looking through...
Where to shop & what to buy in Berlin
10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Berlin
Are you looking for the best places to go shopping in Berlin? Prepare to be wowed. The German capital is positively brimming with all sorts of retail opportunities, whether you want a straight-laced mall with high-street names or...10 Best Markets in Berlin
Markets in Berlin are part of the local culture and are found in just about every neighbourhood offering everything from...5 Best Outlet Shops in Berlin
Outlet shops in Berlin offer visitors the chance to grab big-name, speciality and boutique brands from clothing and accessories...
Where to go & what to do at night in Berlin
10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Berlin
The best things to do after dinner in Berlin range from the cultural to the downright hedonistic, giving you plenty of options for a fun-filled evening. The city at daytime offers shopping up and down the Unter den Linden...The Ultimate Clubbing Guide to Berlin
Berlin’s clubbing scene is fiercely creative and fun. You can go wild for days in this liberal city thanks to...10 Best Rooftop Bars in Berlin
Berlin is a buzzing, modern city with incredible places to go. Travellers who want a bird’s-eye view of the...
Useful information
No matter what type of holiday you’re in Berlin for, having a bit of basic knowledge about the city is helpful for a stress-free experience in Germany’s enigmatic capital. Thanks to the city’s extensive subway and tramway systems, Berlin is one of the most convenient cities in Europe to hop around from place to place. Whether you’re a regular visitor or travelling to the German capital for the first... Read more
10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Berlin
The mistakes people make when visiting Berlin are not usually enough to ruin a trip here, but they could potentially mean that you’re not getting the best out of your visit. Or they could mean you get quite a big...10 Best Festivals in Berlin
Berlin is a thrilling and vibrant city packed full of people who are eager to host celebrations showing off some...Berlin Travel Essentials
Our Berlin Travel Essentials lays out the essential information you need to help you plan your trip to one of...
More information about Berlin
From grand boulevards bankrolled by Prussian royals to exuberant parties in canalside bars - a Berlin city break reveals thrilling extremes. Book a Berlin hotel to discover a shape-shifting city that mirrors the past and passionately embraces the future.
Get your bearings
The meandering Spree River splits Berlin into two. In its central district, Mitte, Unter den Linden boulevard unfolds past sleek restaurants and theatres from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island. The evergreen Tiergarten unfurls west from Mitte to elegant Charlottenburg, where bistro dining and chic boutiques await. Dip south to dynamic Kreuzberg for one-of-a-kind shops, Turkish cafés and late-night parties. East of Mitte, Friedrichshain flaunts its urban credentials next to stretches of Berlin Wall art. Bohemian Prenzlauer Berg further north is where families frequent brunch cafés and young Berliners hang out in local bars.
Eclectic dining
Inventive and wallet-friendly, Berlin's gastro scene reflects its worldly locals. Street food is very Berlin. Hit Kreuzberg's bustling hole-in-the-wall joints for mustard-slathered Currywurst (curried sausage) and Turkish kebabs, or chomp pan-fresh falafel in the arty Scheunenviertel. Mitte serves Michelin-starred French cuisine in refined surrounds, and hearty Berlin fare like Eisbein (pork knuckles) in wood-panelled taverns. The elegant Charlottenburg neighbourhood is peppered with intimate Italian and French bistros. Rise late at your Berlin hotel in time for brunch in one of Prenzlauer Berg's bohemian cafés.
Historic journeys
A walk through Berlin tracks the rise and fall of the city's rollercoaster history. Poke around cobbled lanes in the lovingly restored medieval Nikolaiviertel, or relive Prussia's heyday in the gilded splendour of baroque palace Schloss Charlottenburg. Open Berlin's darkest chapter at the Topography of Terror on the site of former Gestapo and SS headquarters, and in the chilling and moving Jewish Museum. Be catapulted back to Communist times as you rev a Trabant at the hands-on DDR Museum before tracing the once-divided city at the remaining Berlin Wall.
Speciality shopping
Buy local on your Berlin city break. Nose around the graceful Art Nouveau Hackesche Höfe courtyards for homespun fashion and jewellery, and the nearby Heckmann Höfe for old-fashioned bonbons made while you wait. Berlin creatives in youthful Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg kit shoppers out with urban streetwear, bold accessories and quirky home design. Explore Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg for speciality stores, selling everything from homemade toys and perfume to mustard and marzipan.
Party hotspots
Berlin has been partying ever since that Wall came down. Begin an evening with good vibes and cold beers in chestnut-shaded beer gardens in Tiergarten, Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg. If it's warm, relax on one of Berlin's urban beaches where locals sip cocktails and DJs work the decks. Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg are packed with attitude-free 1930s-style bars and late-night cafés and über-cool cocktail bars. Revisit the glitz and glamour of the roaring 1920s on cabaret mile Friedrichstrasse.