Berlin in a weekend

Berlin is one of the most vibrant, lively capital cities in Europe. Full of history and culture, you’ll never get bored in Berlin. Here’s my guide to visiting Berlin in a weekend, with the top things to see and do.

Last updated: January 2025

Berlin is a great place to visit for a weekend. There’s loads to do in Berlin, but you can see some of the city’s main highlights in a weekend. Visiting Berlin in a weekend will give you a great flavour of this city and some unforgettable memories.

Berlin has lots to offer to visitors with different interests. If you’re interested in history, then a weekend in Berlin will give you the chance to explore some of the city’s famous history, especially the Berlin Wall and the city’s links to the Cold War and Holocaust. If you’re more interested in Berlin’s architecture, you can visit the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Dom for some of the most beautiful buildings in Berlin. There’s a good range of museums in Berlin as well, and you can visit several museums in a weekend in Berlin at Berlin’s Museum Island. And Berlin also offers a great range of restaurants, bars and lively nightlife.

Your itinerary for a weekend in Berlin will depend on your exact interests and priorities. You won’t be able to visit all of the best things to do in Berlin in a weekend, but you can still see some of the highlights. Here are my top things to do in Berlin in a weekend, which you can choose from to create your own perfect Berlin weekend itinerary.

1. Brandenburg Gate

One of the most iconic images of Berlin, the instantly recognisable Brandenburg Gate is a must for any visit to Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate should definitely be a top priority for your Berlin weekend itinerary. No trip to Berlin in a weekend is complete without getting some photos with this iconic sight. It looks great at night as well. It’s completely free to look at the famous gate and take photos of it from the outside.

2. Reichstag

Originally dating back to the 19th century, the Reichstag building began as an important legislative building in the German Empire. After World War Two the damaged building fell into disuse, but since German reunification it’s now the home of the German Parliament. It’s a stunning building and another of the top things to do in Berlin. You can take photos of the impressive building from the outside, or you can also go inside as well.

3. Berlin Wall museum

No visit to Berlin in a weekend is complete without exploring some of the 20th century history that has shaped this city. Through much of the second half of the 20th century, Belin was divided by the Cold War into East and West Berlin. East Berlin was part of the Soviet Union, whereas West Berlin was aligned with the USA and Western democracies. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was one of the most iconic images of the Cold War, and the reunification of Berlin was one of the key factors in bringing the Cold War to and end.

When you visit Berlin, you really get a sense of the history of this city. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this recent history. The Berlin Wall museum is educational and super interesting, but also emotional as you explore the fate of the victims. Visit the museum website for opening times and prices.

4. Checkpoint Charlie

Another of the best things to do in Berlin, as well as another great place for history-lovers, is to visit Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was one of the most well-known crossing points on the Berlin Wall between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It’s now a popular place for photos and to appreciate the history of the area. A visit to Checkpoint Charlie doesn’t take long, as it’s mainly just a place for photos now. So you can easily add a quick stop at Checkpoint Charlie into your itinerary for visiting Berlin in a weekend.

5. Berliner Dom – Berlin’s Cathedral

Like so many European cities, the Cathedral in Berlin is definitely worth a visit. Built in the late 1800s, it’s a grand structure with an impressive interior as well. Visit the website for the most up to date opening times to plan your visit.

6. Holocaust memorial

Another of the top places to visit in Berlin for a poignant reminder of the city’s history is the Holocaust memorial. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a moving memorial to another important but hugely tragic part of history. It’s a sombre and moving place, but an unmissable part of any trip to Berlin. Make sure you give yourself time to walk slowly through the memorial area and take a moment to pause and reflect.

7. Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery

Even if you’re only in Berlin for a weekend, you can see some or the original Berlin Wall. Just a short train ride from the centre of Berlin, the East Side Gallery is a stretch of the Berlin Wall that has survived and is now preserved. This part of the preserved Berlin Wall is over 1km long, with a range of painted murals. It’s a great place to walk along, remember the history, and also admire the art work. There’s some great artwork on the wall, and a lot of the pieces of art are moving and remind you of the suffering of the people who lived here at the time of the Berlin Wall.

8. Ampelmann

I definitely wasn’t expecting a traffic light signal to be such an important tourist attraction in the centre of Berlin, but encountering the unexpected is one of the great joys of travel! The image originated as the pedestrian crossing sign in East Berlin, and now the green and red man image is available on all sorts of merchandise in Ampelmann tourist shops. A weekend trip to Berlin has to include a quick visit to one of these Ampelmann shops, and they’re a great place to buy souvenirs to take home.

9. Fernsehturm – the Berlin TV Tower

The TV tower is another iconic image of Berlin, visible from lots of vantage points around the city. It’s a great place to visit in Berlin when you want a break from the historical sights. As well as seeing the Fernsehturm from the ground, you can also go to the top to the observation deck for views across the city, or to the revolving restaurant. Visit the website for the latest opening times and prices.

10. Berlin’s Museum Island

As the name suggests, Museum Island is an island near Berlin Dom which is home to six different museums. If you’re only visiting Berlin in a weekend, then you won’t have time to visit all six museums – unless you visit them quickly and don’t do much else! But even with just a weekend in Berlin, you can visit one or two of the museums that interest you the most. The most famous and most visited museum in Berlin’s Museum Island is the Pergamon Museum, which focuses on the history and artefacts from the Ancient East. Check out the Pergamon Museum website for opening times and prices.

11. World Clock – Alexanderplatz

In the middle of the big square in Berlin called Alexanderplatz is the World Clock. This clock enables you to read the time of 148 major cities from around the world on one of the 24 sides, representing the 24 time zones. It’s a bit confusing to work out, but fun to try to puzzle out as well. It’s a hugely impressive clock and definitely worth a visit.

12. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin was heavily bombed during World War Two. In 1961 it was partially rebuilt and integrated into the new memorial Church building. Part of the old tower still stands, as a haunting reminder of the destruction of war. Check out the website for opening times. It’s a good place to visit in Berlin to learn more about the destruction of the city during the war.

13. Berlin Trabi tour

For an alternative way to see the top sights in Berlin, you can book a self-guided Trabi tour. The Trabant was one of the most popular cars in East Germany, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 it became a symbol of people from East Germany crossing the border into West Germany. On a Trabi tour, you get to drive one of these iconic cars yourself, as you follow the tour leader and learn more about the sights and history of the city. Check out the website for more details about the tour.

14. Schloss Charlottenburg Palace

Schloss Charlottenberg, or Charlottenburg Palace, is only about 30 minutes outside of the centre of Berlin. You can fit it into your itnerary for a weekend in Berlin as a half-day trip. Dating back to the 17th century, it was originally the summer palace of Sophie Charlotte, the first Queen consort in Prussia. It’s definitely worth a visit, with stunning state rooms and beautiful gardens as well. Visit the website for opening times.

15. Day trip to Dresden

If you’ve got an extra day to spare after exploring Berlin, Dresden is one of the best day trips from Berlin. You can easily visit Dresden as a day trip from Berlin, with an easy, direct train journey. Dresden’s old city centre was almost completely rebuilt after heavy bombing in World War Two, but still retains the old city charm. Check out my blog on Dresden as a day trip from Berlin for more details.

Enjoy your trip to Berlin in a weekend with these top things to do in Berlin. Make sure you check out my guide to visiting Dresden from Berlin if you’ve got an extra day for a day trip. If you’re thinking of heading to Berlin at Christmas, check out my guide to the Christmas markets in Berlin, or you could head to Cologne for more great Christmas markets. Or if you fancy a trip to another nearby European capital city, how about Vienna or Prague.