Berlin Travel Guide: How to spend 3 days in Berlin

Combining our love for city breaks and the wish to see some of the best Christmas markets, a bunch of friends and I visited Berlin over Christmas. Here’s my comprehensive Berlin travel guide that covers everything you need to know about spending 3 days in Berlin and the top things to do, places to see, where to eat, drink and stay in the capital city of Germany.

Shaped by a rich and tumultuous history marked by World Wars and the Soviet era, Berlin has emerged to be a modern, cultural and cosmopolitan city. It’s known as one of the coolest cities in Europe and has something for everyone. True for any big city, 3 days is not enough to see everything in Berlin, specially in the winters when the days are shorter. However, we did pack in a lot of attractions, went to some cool restaurants and visited the bustling Christmas markets.

---

Getting there

By Air:
Currently, there are two major airports in Berlin. Tegel Airport is in the northern region while Schönefeld airport is on the southern outskirts. There is a new airport being built called Brandenburg and in near future, it will be the only one major airport serving Berlin.

Tegel Airport is not connected to the city by train but has bus services towards City West (Zoologischer Garten) and the City Centre (Alexanderplatz via Hauptbahnhof). Click here for more details.

Schönefeld airport, on the other hand, has better connectivity with the Berlin City Centre. Schönefeld train station is a 10 minutes walk from the airport and has links to regional trains, S-Bahn and buses. Click here for more details.

---

Public Transport

Berlin has an excellent public transport system and is quite affordable too, specially when compared to London 😉 It’s divided in three tariff zones – AB, BC and ABC. A ticket allows you to travel on any public transport including the S-Bahn (overground), U-Bahn (underground), buses and trams.

Note: Tegel airport falls in Zone AB while Schönefeld airport is in Zone ABC.

Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines in train stations and also at the airports. Look out for special offers like Day Ticket (1 person) for 7€ that gives unlimited travel from the time the ticket was validated to 3 am the next day. We availed the Group Day Ticket (up to 5 people) which was only 19.90€. Make sure you validate the ticket by stamping it in the yellow/red box on train platforms and in buses/trams.

---

Where to stay

Determining where to book a hotel can be a bit daunting in big cities. There are various neighbourhoods in Berlin to choose from and you can pick based on what you are planning to do. Generally speaking, Kreuzberg is famous for street art, a vibrant, mixed culture and thriving nightlife, Charlottenburg is an upscale classy area famous for high-end shopping and Mitte is more of the city centre and great for its easy access to most of the tourist attractions.

We chose to stay in Mitte in Living Hotel Großer Kurfürst by Derag. It was a bit quiet over the Christmas and we got a great deal. The location was perfect with an underground station just a minute away and the river-facing room was spacious and well-appointed.

---

What to pack

Since we travelled during Christmas, we had to be prepared for the fact that Berlin can get very cold, rainy and windy in December. It had even snowed lightly on the day we landed. Here’s a quick look at my winter packing essentials and tips that will be perfect for staying warm in Berlin winter weather.

---

Things to do

A guided walking tour is a great way of getting familiarised with a new city while learning about its history and culture. It’s one of my favourite activities and something I always do on a city break. Rick Steves has a fantastic Berlin City Walk audio tour which you can download here (or listen via the Podcasts app if your phone has one). For a more interactive experience, you can’t go wrong with Sandeman’s New Europe tours that work on tips-only basis.

Here are the top attractions for the first time visitors in Berlin. We couldn’t see all of them as we were busy exploring the various Christmas markets too, hot mulled wine in a hand, but we made to most of them 🙂

Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz, a bustling commercial areas in Mitte, is one of the most prominent squares and transportation hubs in Berlin. Apart from shops, restaurants and cinema, there are also many tourist attractions in close vicinity. It also hosts a huge Christmas market every year.

Rotes Rathaus is the unmissable red building that houses the town hall and is a seat of the Government. The World Clock is a 16-ton structure that can display the current time in 148 major cities. The most iconic structure on Berlin’s skyline, the TV Tower, is also located near Alexanderplatz. At 368m, it is the tallest in Germany. It has an observation deck, a rotating restaurant and Berlin’s highest bar.

Museum Island

Museum Island is a part of an island on the Spree river and houses 5 world-renowned museums – Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Altes Museum and Neues Museum. It’s not possible to visit all the museums in such a limited time so the best option would be to choose one based on your liking.

Berlin Cathedral

A historic church and an unmissable part of Berlin, Berlin Cathedral is characterised by its magnificent green dome, stunning Baroque architecture and its lovely location by the river Spree. It’s also possible to climb 270 stairs up and walk around the dome for stunning views over the historic district. Details here.

Address: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin

Gendarmenmarkt

The Gendarmenmarkt is a prominent public square and possibly the most beautiful one in Berlin. It consists of three buildings of gorgeous architecture – the Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), flanked by Französischer Dom (French Church) and the Deutscher Dom (German Church) on the sides. Deutscher Dom is not an actual cathedral or church but a museum. Französischer Dom has a church on the lower level while the upper level has a viewing platform and a museum.

Gendarmenmarkt was bombed heavily during the World War II with the three buildings being badly damaged bu they have now been lovingly restored.

Gendarmenmarkt hosts one of Berlin’s best Christmas markets.

Address: Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin

Berlin Wall

Constructed by the German Democratic Republic, the Berlin Wall divided the city into East and West Berlin from August 1961 to November 1989. Today, you can see remnants and memorials to the Berlin Wall in various locations in the city. You can also see a double row of cobblestones paved into the streets marking the route of the wall.

Reichstag

Reichstag building is the seat of Germany’s Parliament. After the reunification of Berlin, it was reconstructed under British architect Norman Foster. It has a large glass dome on the top from where one can look out to panoramic views of the city as well into the main hall of the Parliament. The dome interiors are modern, almost futuristic and environment-friendly.

Visiting the dome of the Reichstag building was my absolute favourite thing to do in Berlin and I would highly recommend it to everyone. On arrival, you get a free audio guide that gives you a tour of the dome with all the background information along with the important Berlin buildings that can be seen from Reichstag. Although the admission is free, make sure you register in advance to book a slot. You will need to show a proof of ID on arrival. Details here.

Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin

Brandenburg Tor

The Brandenburg Gate is the entry to the Unter den Linden boulevard, a major Berlin avenue lined with Linden trees. A prominent landmark on the city, this historical monument is a national symbol of peace and unity. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, hundreds of thousands of people came to Brandenburg Gate to celebrate.

Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin​

Bebelplatz

Bebelplatz is a public square located by Unter den Linden boulevard. There are various important buildings around this square such as the State Opera, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, Humboldt University, etc.

Bebelplatz was also the site where around 20,000 books were burnt by the members of the Nazi German Student Association in May 1933. When you visit the square, you can see a memorial to this unfortunate event in the form of a glass plate laid into the ground which shows empty bookcases underground, large enough to hold 20,000 books.

Address: Bebelplatz 1, 10117 Berlin

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Designed by Peter Eisenman, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a poignant memorial to the Holocaust and is located where the Berlin Wall once stood. It is spread over 19,000 sq. m. and consists of 2711 concrete slabs of various heights standing over an undulating floor, almost like a wave in some places.

Opened from all sides, there is no focal element. Instead, the grid-like pattern creates narrow alleys which are designed to disorient you, make you feel a little uneasy. As you reach the centre, the slabs get taller, dwarfing you, making you feel like you are isolated and trapped!

The overground memorial is open all the time. There is an underground Information Centre where you can find details about the victims, their locations, photographs, letters, diaries, etc. More details here.

Address: Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin

Führerbunker or Hitler’s Bunker

The Führerbunker was an underground bunker complex that was constructed to be an air raid shelter but was later used by Hitler as his offices and residence during the later stages of World War II. This is the place where Hitler and his wife of 2 days, Eva Braun committed suicide. The bunker itself is not accessible to the public. However, there is an information board at the location which explains the history and images of the bunker.

Address: In den Ministergärten, 10117 Berlin

Potsdamer Platz

Potsdamer Platz is a (relatively) newly developed shopping and nightlife district that used to be an empty wasteland during the time when the Berlin Wall used to run on it. Every year it hosts a lovely Christmas market, the highlight being Europe’s biggest Toboggan.

Although we did not do this, if you’re looking for great views over Berlin, Panoramapunkt is located on the 24th and 25th floor of the Kollhof Tower and has a viewing gallery and cafe. The opening hours, entry fee and other details can be found here.

Address: Potsdamer Platz, 10785 Berlin

Topographie des Terrors

The Topography of Terror is a free indoor and outdoor museum located at the site which used to be the Gestapo and SS headquarters and the Reich Security Main Office. It documents the atrocities inflicted by these entities during the Nazi regime. Next to the museum is the longest still-standing portion of the outer wall.

Unfortunately we couldn’t visit the museum but it is highly recommended to those interested in learning more about Berlin’s troubled past. The opening hours and other details can be found here.

Address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie

During the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie used to be the most famous crossing point in the Berlin Wall between the borders of East and West Berlin. Today it’s a tourist destination where you can see the replica of the checkpoint booth complete with flags, sandbags and soldiers dressed in uniforms who call out to you to get a picture taken at a 2€ fee 😀 This will be one of the quickest thing to tick off from your touristy checklist 😉

Address: Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10969 Berlin

East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery is a free, open air gallery consisting of more than 100 painted murals on a 1316 m long section of what remains of the Berlin wall. The murals signify the wall coming down and the lifting of the Iron Curtain. It’s free and open at all times.

Address: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin

Charlottenburg Palace

Another place that we gave a miss but should have gone to, Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin and one of it’s most impressive buildings. Highlights include the Baroque-style architecture, the ornate state rooms, art collection and the formal as well as informal gardens. It also hosts a lovely Christmas market. Details here.

Address: Spandauer Damm 20-24, 14059 Berlin

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was heavily damaged during an air raid in World War II but was not fully repaired. The ground floor serves as a memorial hall.

Address: Breitscheidplatz, 10789 Berlin

---

Food and Drinks

German food is quite meat-heavy but Berlin has many vegan/vegetarian friendly places. Here’s a few worth a mention.

Neni Berlin

Neni Berlin is a trendy greenhouse-style restaurant on the top floor of the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin with fabulous views over the city and the Zoological garden. A casual colourful space serving Middle-Eastern inspired dishes, we absolutely loved our lunch at Neni. A big shout out to Sima from The Curious Pixie for suggesting Neni to me!

Monkey Bar on the same floor as Neni is a great place for drinks.

Address: Budapester Str. 40, 10787 Berlin

House of Small Wonder​

House of Small Wonder is another lovely place in Berlin serving a fusion of Japanese and American cuisines using fresh, local, organic produce. The cosy interiors filled with plants and vintage accents exude a bohomian vibe. I would highly recommend it for breakfast/brunch; happy place and delish food to start your day with!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ameeta (@ayewanderful)

Address: Johannisstraße 20, 10117 Berlin

Curry at the Wall

Currywurst and Bratwurst are two typical German fast food dishes made with sausage. Vegetarians and vegans can also enjoy them now courtesy of Curry at the Wall, a no-nonsense joint serving their vegan version. Curry at the Wall provides cheap, freshly prepared and fuss-free food options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians/vegans.

Address: Zimmerstraße 97, 10117 Berlin

---

Pin for later!

---

I hope you enjoyed my city travel guide to spending 3 days in Berlin. Do you have any Berlin recommendations? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to know!

If you liked this post, don’t forget to share on Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest. After all, sharing is caring 😉

Cheers,
Ameeta xx