Long Weekend in Berlin – The Essential Guide
Off for a long weekend in Berlin? I did very recently and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever had. There are loads of things you can do there. From museums to bars and restaurants, even nightclubs for techno fiends, you will always have an activity ready at hand. So, read on to plan your next visit!
Why spend a long weekend in Berlin?
Historically Significant
If you’re in Germany for the first time, Berlin is the perfect introduction to the country. It is a city that is immersed in history, which is reflected in the numerous edifices and museums.
Techno Mecca
Berlin is home to the best techno clubs, with entrances carefully scrutinised at some of them. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, young people turned to techno music as a way to unite the country. Over 30 years later, the city is rife with techno tourism, with thousands of fans making their pilgrimage to the techno capital.
Varied Gastronomy
As a foodie, trying local food is an essential part of discovering a new city or country. In a city like Berlin, food plays a huge part in showcasing the diverse population there. Thanks to the mass immigration from Turkey and Vietnam to rebuild the country in the 1960s, their cuisines are no strangers to both permanent and temporary dwellers. So, I would absolutely suggest paying local food establishments a visit.
Getting Around in Berlin
If you are exploring Berlin in a weekend, the Berlin Welcome Card is a great option. It gives you access to transport in the city, plus additional discounts and access to certain museums and landmarks.
I’ve heard good things about the public transport in Berlin, so I decided to give it a go. The system is trust-based, so people usually pay for their tickets before boarding a bus, the metro or the tram. I got my tickets through the BVG Ticket-App, which also helps you to keep track of them. As it’s all on your phone, you won’t have to worry about losing them or their validity.
You can also get train tickets from the airport to the main train station and vice versa. You can take either the FEX, which is an express train to the Berlin train station, or regional trains such as RE7 and RB14.
Things to Do in Berlin
Whether it is your first or tenth visit, it is impossible to run out of things to do in this city. As a first-timer, I’d focus on these to start:
Visit Historical Monuments
A long weekend in Berlin is incomplete without a visit to some of the city’s important landmarks. I recommend sparing about an hour for each historical stop for an in-depth tour, although it all depends on the duration of your stay.
Jewish Memorial
Architects Peter Eisenman and Buro Happold won the competition in designing this significant memorial, which commemorates one of the most significant events in human history. While the discussion continues surrounding the true meaning of its design, it was never explained. Instead, it compels visitors to contemplate on it while they walk around the area.
The Brandenburg Gate
One of the most iconic structures in the city has been around for over two centuries. This means that it was a witness in important historical events, such as the Second World War, the separation and then the reunification of Germany. It is only 5 minutes walk from the memorial, so it makes for the perfect tandem visit.
The East Side Gallery
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a momentous point in history, uniting a previously separated country and marked the beginning of modernisation in Germany. It is so significant that this portion of the wall is transformed into a modern, 1.3 kilometre-long open-air gallery, now known as the East Side Gallery.
The gallery depicts works from several artists all around the world, some of them highlighting the importance of peace. You may even have heard of the most iconic painting here, which is The Kiss.
More Places to Visit in Berlin
I could go on and on about the many notable structures you can visit in Berlin, but here’s a summary on some of the other places I visited:
Reichstag Building
The building where the German Parliament, or Bundestag, meets. The glass dome on top gives you a stunning view of the main part of the city. I would suggest booking your Reichstag Dome visit in advance to avoid long queues, especially once it starts getting warmer in the city.
Berlin Cathedral
Also known as Berliner Dom in German, it is the main Protestant church in the country. You can get entrance tickets in advance to admire the Renaissance and Baroque Revival architecture. Alternatively, it is right next to the gorgeous Lustgarten. So, on a warm spring or summer’s day, you can enjoy a lovely picnic here with a breathtaking view of the cathedral and the River Spree.
Berlin TV Tower
Fancy seeing the city’s landscapes from up above? Then, the TV Tower is the highest place you could enjoy it. A basic admission ticket gives you access to the Observation Deck and the bar. You can add on a drink or even a meal to it for a prolonged sojourn.
However, if you’d rather not splash out to get a good view of the city, head over to the Victory Column near the Tiergarten. Here, you can climb up the steps to enjoy an equally magnificent Berlin cityscape, without setting you back the price of a meal.
Checkpoint Charlie
During the Cold War, it was the crossing point between East and West Berlin, consisting of the American sector on the west side and the Soviet sector on the east. Nowadays, Checkpoint Charlie is where tourists would queue for a quick photo at the guard house. You can check out the museum to learn more about the history surrounding the Berlin Wall and the Cold War.
Check Out the Museums
Berlin’s historical past has led to the founding and development of museums dedicated to it. Again, depending on whether you are spending 48, 72 or 96 hours in the city, I’d probably start with a couple to make sure I can make the most out of my visits.
Museum Island
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where 5 museums stand, which were built during the reign of the Prussian Kings between the 19th and 20th century. Since they are all in one place, an admission ticket allows you to access all 5 museums! Although the Pergamonmuseum is currently closed for renovations until June 2027, you could still visit the other museums.
- In the Neue Nationalgalerie, you can find the famous bust of Nefertiti
- The Alte Nationalgalerie is known for a variety of 19th-century paintings and sculptures
- The Altes Museum houses antiquities and classical sculptures from ancient Rome and Greece
- At The Bode Museum, you can admire different works from artists all across Europe throughout different time periods
- The Pergamonmuseum is closed for renovations, but it’s famous for artefacts from ancient history and collections of Islamic art
The DDR Museum
Ever wondered what life was like in East Germany? Well, a visit to the DDR Museum gives you a glimpse of that. It opened its doors nearly 20 years ago and continues to be one of the best museums in Berlin.
The museum showcases, among others, the history behind the division of Germany, the prices for everyday goods in East Germany, as well as jobs and professions available to people living there (one of which was spying on your neighbour for the Soviet government). My personal highlight, though, is the layout of a flat in East Germany that they built within the museum. Get tickets
Berlin Spy Museum
The city’s eventful history made way for the creation of this museum. A visit to the Spy Museum gives you an inside look at espionage and all things spy-related throughout Germany’s history. You’ll get to see cool artifacts and interactive exhibits which display the gadgets and gizmos used throughout the World Wars, as well as spies as shown in movies.
Join a Berlin walking tour
As a first-timer in Berlin, I had no idea which landmark or historical site to visit. So I decided to join a walking tour instead of getting bogged down by overwhelm.
I learned a lot about the city through the Sandemans Free Walking Tour. The tour is available in English and Spanish, and comes with comprehensive information before and throughout the duration of the tour. The way it works is you sign up for it and pay your tour guide at the end of the tour. The price you pay is entirely up to you and is based on the information you received throughout the walking tour.
With that said, the Berlin self guided walking tour is a popular alternative if you prefer to see the city at your own pace. I would recommend this option if you have lots of time to spare.
Best food in Berlin
After World War II, Germany sought help from immigrants from countries like Turkey and Vietnam to help rebuild the (then) two sides of the country. In turn, this has transformed the city and developed it into a place of widely varied gastronomy. Here are some of the food I had during my long weekend in Berlin (and would highly suggest getting)
Döner
This Berlin staple is a must-have when you’re here. The döner consists of a pita bread filled with thinly sliced grilled meat and fresh vegetables. You then add sauce on top and voila — you have a filling and complete meal. The best part is, it is also one of the best cheap eats in Berlin at around €10 each.
You can pair it with either beer or ayran, which is a great accompaniment if you had it extra spicy. Our tour guide recommended a few places to get döner, so we went for Mustafa’s on Warschauer Strasse.
Pho
As the temperature drops to single digits throughout the day (you can expect this even well into April), nothing feels like a warm hug more than a piping hot bowl of pho. In your bowl, you’ll find rice noodles served in beef or chicken broth, topped with your meat of choice, plus lots of fresh and crunchy vegetables.
Since I was in Berlin for a long weekend, I had limited time to scour through the long list of highly-rated pho restaurants there. I decided on Madame Ngo in the end, a cosy Vietnamese spot in the eastern part of the city. Did I mention that it is also listed in the Michelin Guide?
While it’s slightly on the pricier side compared to other pho places, it was definitely worth it. Although make sure to plan ahead and reserve as early as you can, because it’s very popular.
Currywurst
Currywurst is a classic Berlin street food you need to try. The seemingly simple dish contains a traditional German sausage (there are also vegan options) with special sauce and curry powder. It comes with a piece of bread to mop up the leftover sauce with.
We got ours from Curry 61 from Alexanderplatz as soon as we arrived. Despite claims that it’s touristy, there were actually many local residents queuing up for it, too.
Southern Germany cuisine
You might skip this if you had been to Berlin before, or if you are also heading to south Germany on your trip. Otherwise, I would recommend popping over to a German beer hall.
You can expect huge steins of beer alongside popular Bavarian dishes like Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), schnitzel (breaded pork or chicken), apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and more.
It might seem like a tourist trap, but there were a lot of locals when we went there. With that said, it is slightly on the pricier side, but you get huge portions of food for what you pay.
Malaysian food
As a Malaysian, it is my unofficial duty to check out Malaysian eateries whenever I am abroad. In Berlin’s case, I can happily confirm that it’s got my Malaysian seal of approval.
We went to Ma-Makan as our Malaysian pit stop in Berlin, and I was very impressed. They serve hawker-style Malaysian and Singaporean dishes, but they take it to the next level. The decor, stainless steel tables and plastic stools, and even the plates make you feel like you are dining at a kopitiam (coffee shop) in Southeast Asia.
While it might be unconventional to try a completely different cuisine on your long weekend in Berlin, it definitely makes the trip all the more interesting.
Food market
What better place to try different cuisines than at a food market? Berlin is home to a handful of these, but one that stood out to me is Markthalle Neun. The market is well-known for its weekly event, Street Food Thursday.
When I mentioned the opportunity of trying a variety of food here, I was serious. From Asian to Latin American to African food, Street Food Thursday has it all. Have a wander here, especially if you don’t know what to eat in Berlin.
As you have read, there are loads that you can pack into a long weekend in Berlin. Whether it’s museums or food that you are after, the city continues to surprise you at every turn with its history and charm.