The perfect Day in Berlin. You would like to explore Germany’s capital but do not have a lot of time? I put together the ideal One-Day Itinerary to explore Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower, Charlottenburg Palace, the Berlin Wall, and the East Side Gallery are not to be missed.

After World War 2, Germany was divided into four occupation zones. This resulted in two German states in 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany in the west and the German Democratic Republic (DDR) in the east. The western part of Berlin belonged to the Federal Republic, the eastern region to the DDR. Today you can find traces of this time all over the city.

The Morning in Berlin: History meets today’s Politics

Start your day in Berlin with one of the city’s most important landmarks: the Brandenburg Gate. Walk through the arch from the Pariser Platz. The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most historically significant sights and, therefore, a must for your One-Day Intinerary to explore Berlin.

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the gate stood directly on the border and symbolized the East-West separation. In 1989, thousands of DDR and FRG citizens celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall here, which today is considered a symbol of the reunification of Germany.

Now make your way to the Reichstag building, which is very close by.

This is where the parliament, the German Bundestag, meets. You can visit the Bundestag as part of a tour. However, it can get very crowded here, especially on weekends. That’s why it’s best to register on the German Bundestag page so you can get in for sure.

The visit is definitely worth it. You can enjoy the panoramic view over all of Berlin from the walkable dome. There is also the possibility of having breakfast on the dome. The German Bundestag is the only parliament building in the world to house a public restaurant. The roof garden breakfast costs 24,50€ per person. It is mandatory to book in advance. Here you can find the website, and this is the email address: berlin@feinkost-kaefer.de

It is only a few minutes of a walk from the Bundestag to the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe. The Memorial consists of 2,711 concrete steles of varying heights on an area of 19,000 square meters.

You can enter and take in the Memorial from all sides 24 hours a day. The permanent exhibition “Place of Information” offers you a deeper insight. Please be careful not to climb on the pillars and treat this place respectfully.

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Noon: The Potsdamer Platz and A variety of sights

Life pulsates at the famous Potsdamer Platz. You can discover many delicious restaurants and go on a culinary journey.

Here is a small selection:

• The Barn – Cafe (Alte Potsdamer Straße 5)
• Ki-Nova – Healthy Fast Food (Potsdamer Straße 2)
• Brammibal’s – Vegan Donuts (Alte Potsdamer Straße 7)
• Peking Duck – Asian Dumplings ( Voßstraße 1)

After your refreshment, continue exploring the center of Berlin. If you follow the boulevard “Unter den Linden,” you will automatically pass many sights.

The Museum Island is another highlight. The following museums can be found here:

• In the Pergamon Museum, you feel like you are in the ancient Orient. Especially impressive are the Ishtar Gate from Babylon and the Market Gate of Miletus.

• In the Bode Museum, you can find works of art and exhibits from various eras. Highlights include the Byzantine collection with art from the 3rd to 15th centuries, the sculpture collection, and the coin cabinet.

• The New Museum is devoted to cultural history. 9,000 objects from ancient Egypt, antiquity, prehistory, and early history find their place here. One highlight found here is the famous Nefertiti bust.

• In the Alte Nationalgalerie, you can see paintings and sculptures from the 19th century. Many famous artists such as the German Romantic Caspar David Friedrich, French Paul Cézanne, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir will be found.

• The Ancient Museum exhibits works of the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans. Here you will get a good overview of life and culture in the ancient world.

On Museum Island, you will also find the Berlin Cathedral. Even from a distance, you can see the magnificent dome of the oldest church in the city. Don’t miss a look at the richly decorated and adorned interior. There are also guided tours of the church interior every 20 minutes, which are already included in the entrance fee.

Just across the street, the Humboldt Forum opened its gates in 2020: State-of-the-art interactive exhibitions await for you on around 30,000 square meters and spread over five floors.

Continue your exploration of Berlin by heading to Rotes Rathaus. The mayor’s seat owes its name to the red bricks on its exterior facade. And this historic building also welcomes visitors: the exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Directly on this street is also the Bebelplatz. Here you can see many of Berlin’s important buildings, for example, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, and the Prinzessinnenpalais. Under the square, a monument commemorates the Burning of the Books.

Evening: Panoramic view from the TV tower with an amazing dinner

End the day with an extraordinary highlight. Go in the direction of Alexanderplatz. In addition to various shopping opportunities, you will also find another landmark of the metropolis: the Berlin TV Tower. Don’t miss the breathtaking 360-degree panorama from the rotating observation deck!

Enjoy your dinner with a beautiful view. Here you can buy the ticket for the TV Tower and at the same time have a reservation for the restaurant with a window seat. If you would like something exceptional, I can recommend this highlight. A 3-course menu with a concert and a 360-degree panoramic view over the roofs of Berlin.

If you still have not had enough, you can still explore the Hackesche Höfe, only a few minutes away from the Berlin TV tower. Here is always something going on in the evening. End this beautiful day with a drink in a bar or stroll around a bit on the busy streets of Berlin.

Wrapping up

After exploring Berlin’s top attractions, you’ll definitely want to indulge in some delicious German cuisine. Check out this guide to the top things to eat in Germany for some inspiration on what to try. From classic dishes like schnitzel and bratwurst to lesser-known specialties like currywurst and spätzle, Germany has a rich culinary tradition that’s not to be missed. So take a break from sightseeing and treat yourself to some delicious German food – you won’t regret it!

I hope you enjoyed this One-Day Itinerary to explore Berlin. In my opinion, one day is not enough to fully explore Germany´s Capital. You need at least two or three days to fully appreciate the city. But if you just do not have that much time, this Itinerary covers all of the most important highlights in Berlin.

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