Hattie Lloyd 05/06/18
100 Things To Do in Berlin
Last Updated: 17th May 2019
If you’re only going to do one thing while you’re in Berlin…
…make sure it’s this list of 100 things.
Because while yes it’s important to crash a karaoke showdown in the middle of a park or spend a day on an actual island of museums, you probably also don’t want to miss taking a naked techno-bath or exploring Berlin’s secret underground passages. And so from the important historical landmarks to the cutting edge of the city’s art scene, we’ve tirelessly collected all the best things to do in Berlin, whether you’re there for a day or a month.
Buckle up… –
1. TAKE A STREET ART TOUR WITH SOME LOCAL ARTISTS Mitte | €€
Viktor Nikolaienko/Unsplash
Then create your own graffiti in their abandoned factory complex. VIEW MORE INFO –
2. HAVE BREAKFAST ON THE REICHSTAG’S ROOF TERRACE Mitte | €€€
And walk around the Norman Foster-designed glass dome afterwards. VIEW MORE INFO –
3. TAKE A STROLL ALONG THE EAST SIDE GALLERY Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg | Free
Jeison Higuita/Unsplash
AKA the longest surviving piece of wall. VIEW MORE INFO –
4. VISIT THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL Mitte | Free
Giulia Gasperini/Unsplash
Sobering and important. VIEW MORE INFO –
5. SPEND A DAY ON MUSEUM ISLAND Mitte | €€
Or just admire it from afar on a river cruise. VIEW MORE INFO –
6. BROWSE THE CANALSIDE TURKISH MARKETS Neukölln | €
Treat yourself to some afternoon Delight. VIEW MORE INFO –
7. SMASH YOUR DEBUT AT BEARPIT KARAOKE IN MAUERPARK Prenzlauer Berg | Free
sfreimark/Flickr
Yep, singing to an amphitheatre of cheery strangers in a park. VIEW MORE INFO –
8. FLOAT NAKED IN A TECHNO-FILLED SALT BATH Kreuzberg | €€€
The music’s designed to be heard underwater. VIEW MORE INFO –
9. DINE IN A FADING 19th CENTURY MIRRORED SALON Mitte | €€
Wills and Kate visited. They’re very proud. VIEW MORE INFO –
10. …THEN TAKE DANCE CLASSES IN THE RETRO BALLROOM DOWNSTAIRS Mitte | €
It’s like stumbling on a 70s school disco, with an al fresco bar outside. VIEW MORE INFO –
11. FIND OUT HOW THE STASI MONITORED EVERYONE Lichtenberg | €
Fredrik Rubensson/Flickr
The Museum even offer checks to see if they held a file on you. VIEW MORE INFO –
12. …THEN LEARN HOW PEOPLE ESCAPED FROM THEM ON AN UNDERGROUND TOUR OF BERLIN Gesundbrunnen | €€
Berliner Unterwelt run tours around former smuggling tunnel networks, as well as bunkers, abandoned subway stations, and underground hospitals. VIEW MORE INFO –
13. EXPLORE AN ABANDONED SPY STATION SURROUNDED BY WILD BOAR Charlottenburg | €
You’ll recognise it by its totally undercover, inconspicuous design. VIEW MORE INFO –
14. SIT IN AN ACTUAL IVORY TOWER ON A WILD PEACOCK-INHABITED ISLAND Wannsee | €
Take the vintage buses on route 218 to get there. VIEW MORE INFO –
15. TAKE A DIP IN THE BADESCHIFF Treptow | €
Why swim in a river, when you can swim in a swimming pool in the river? VIEW MORE INFO –
16. GET YOURSELF SOME BERLIN THREADS AT THE NOWKOELLN FLEA MARKET Neukölln | €
Roman Kraft/Unsplash
Or just stock up on dozens of antique trinkets. VIEW MORE INFO –
17. TAKE A STEAMBOAT CRUISE ALONG THE TEGELER SEE Reinickendorf | €
Pascal Volk/Flickr
And visit Berlin’s oldest tree, Fat Marie, on the other side. VIEW MORE INFO –
18. PLAY ARTIST-DESIGNED CRAZY GOLF ON A FORMER AIRPORT STRIP Tempelhof | €
Or bring a BBQ. Or fly a kite. Or go land-windsurfing down the runways. VIEW MORE INFO –
19. WALK ROUND THE BRUSHMAKER’S WORKSHOP THAT SAVED THE LIVES OF BLIND JEWS Mitte | Free
He said he couldn’t work without them since all the machines were custom-made for blind operators. VIEW MORE INFO –
20. SWAP SOME LITERATURE AT THE BUCHERWALD Prenzlauer Berg | Free
It’s a book shelf hidden in a tree at the Kolwitzstraße junction. –
21. EAT BURGERS IN A FORMER TRAIN STATION TOILET Kreuzberg | €
It sounds wrong, but just watch the video on their website and tell us you’re not dribbling a bit. VIEW MORE INFO –
22. TRY EVERY POSSIBLE TACTIC TO GET PAST THE DOORMAN AT BERGHAIN Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg | €€
Current theories are that the head bouncer is “seeking inspiration from the nocturnal atmosphere” (his agent) or “just being a dick” (everyone else). VIEW MORE INFO –
23. DON’T SNEAK INTO SPREEPARK Treptow-Köpenick | Free, because you’re not going.
Jaromír Kavan/Unsplash
Yes, it’s an abandoned theme park. Yes, people recommend you break in. And yes, they now leave crazed, unattended guard dogs in there to maul anyone who does. VIEW MORE INFO –
24. …BUT DO WATCH A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IT All Over Berlin | €
Or an arthouse film, or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, at this mobile cinema that pops up in places like former GDR holiday camps… VIEW MORE INFO –
25. TRY NOT TO LOSE YOUR SH*T IN THE MONSTERKABINETT Scheunenviertel | €
It’s basically a haunted artist squat filled with terrifying robots and even more terrifying actors. VIEW MORE INFO –
26. BRAVE SOME URBAN EXPLORATION
Jan Bommes
This particular abandoned hospital was left derelict when they sold it to an investor who claimed to cure AIDS with radio waves… VIEW MORE INFO –
27. VISIT BERLIN’S OLDEST BEER GARDEN Prenzlauer Berg | €
Then catch something at their open air theatre after. VIEW MORE INFO –
28. SEE A FREE PIANO CONCERT IN A BOHEMIAN GARAGE Wedding | Donations Encouraged
It’s like a much classier version of the gigs you used to do in your friend’s garage as a teenager. VIEW MORE INFO –
29. HAVE A COCKTAIL AS THE SUN SETS AT KLUNKERKRANICH Neukölln | €
It’s the Frank’s of Berlin. VIEW MORE INFO –
30. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO A TROPICAL ISLAND. IN AN AIRCRAFT HANGAR. Krausnick | €€€€
60km from Berlin is a giant, Truman Show-esque tropical bubble, where you can get a real suntan, camp in tents on the fake beach by the fake sea, take a hot air balloon ride (yes, INSIDE) and stroll through a rainforest and mangrove swamp, complete with wild flamingoes. VIEW MORE INFO –
31. VISIT A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO CURRYWURST Mitte | €€
Feat. “A spice chamber with sniffing stations, a sausage sofa to relax, and audio stations in ketchup-bottle shape with iconic songs about the Currywurst”. VIEW MORE INFO –
32. …THEN EAT SOME AT CURRY 36 Kreuzberg | €
You can order it “with or without bowel”… VIEW MORE INFO –
33. GO CLUBBING OUTDOORS Kreuzberg | €
Ipse has fancy chandeliers hanging from trees. VIEW MORE INFO –
34. WATCH A SILENT FILM AT MIDNIGHT IN A PRESERVED CINEMA Mitte | Free
They’re accompanied by improvised soundtracks on the original organ, which includes sound effects like car horns and telephones. VIEW MORE INFO –
35. LEARN TO TANGO ON AN URBAN BEACH Mitte | € | Spring & Summer only
Bernd Schoenberger
Then bust out your own moves when the DJs come on later. VIEW MORE INFO –
36. GO SWIMMING IN GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL-STYLE BATHS Charlottenburg | €
These ones are the oldest preserved baths in the city. VIEW MORE INFO –
37. SEE HOW BERLIN DOES DINERAMA AT STREET FOOD THURSDAYS Kreuzberg | €
Take a culinary tour of the world, from Nigerian Fufu to British pies, or head there on the third Sunday of every month for the dedicated breakfast market. VIEW MORE INFO –
38. VISIT THE DALI EXHIBITION Potsdamer Platz | €€
Look at him there. What a man. VIEW MORE INFO –
39. GO SHOPPING IN AN APARTMENT Prenzlauer Berg | €€€
BLESS boutique is also a home to several artists – but everything, even in the cupboards, is for sale. VIEW MORE INFO –
40. VOICEOVER A PORNO AT PORNO KARAOKE Prenzlauer Berg | €
Free drinks if you dress up in ‘trashy porno costume’, apparently. VIEW MORE INFO –
41. RENT A MOTORBOAT, TOUR NEW VENICE Köpenick | €€€€€ (but seats 4)
And get garden envy from all the fancy houses there. VIEW MORE INFO –
42. VISIT THE HASSELHOFF MUSEUM Mitte | €
And hassle him. Hassle him reaaaal good. VIEW MORE INFO –
43. HIT THE BEACH AT YAAM Friedrichshain | Free Entry
Caribbean food trucks, deckchairs in the sand, and club nights with sets from the likes of Roy Ayers and Princess Nokia all in one place. VIEW MORE INFO –
44. ENJOY A GOURMET DINNER INSPIRED BY ART Mitte | €€€
This guy just holds temporary exhibitions in his basement. Then gets chefs in to cook meals inspired by them. VIEW MORE INFO –
45. TAKE A TRABI TOUR FROM EAST TO WEST Potsdamer Platz | €€€€
The East Germany-produced car was described by critics as a “spark plug with a roof”. Good luck. VIEW MORE INFO –
46. GO TO AN HONESTY WINE BAR Mitte | € – €€€€€
Drink what you like, pay what you like. VIEW MORE INFO –
47. JUMP OFF A BUILDING Mitte | €€€€
…In a totally safe, controlled manner. VIEW MORE INFO –
48. TAKE A GUIDED TOUR OF A BUNKER-TURNED-ART GALLERY Mitte | €€
It’s called Sammlung Boros, and it’s excellent. VIEW MORE INFO –
49. VISIT THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN BERLIN
We’ve made our picks right here: VIEW MORE INFO –
50. …THEN HEAD FOR A NIGHTCAP AT THE CITY’S MOST INTERESTING BARS
The upside down bar in a former brothel is one of the more standard ones. VIEW MORE INFO –
51. SPEND AN EVENING EXPLORING BERLIN’S ART NOUVEAU COURTYARDS Mitte | €
The Hackesche Höfe boast galleries, theatres, boutiques and cafés, besides being completely adorable. VIEW MORE INFO –
52. EXPLORE THE BAT CAVE AT THE ZITADELLE Spandau | €
Rolf Dietrich Brecher/Flickr
Just your classic bats nesting in a Renaissance fortress. VIEW MORE INFO –
53. …OR IF YOU’RE THERE IN APRIL, GO TO THE ‘EASTER KNIGHT SPECTACULAR’ Spandau | €
Sergey Galyonkin/Flickr
Because they fill the courtyards with people in Medieval garb, jousting and fire shows. Oh, and something called mice roulette. VIEW MORE INFO –
54. HIT UP THE SMALLEST DISCO IN THE WORLD Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg | €
Part jukebox, part photo booth, part A. VIEW MORE INFO –
55. IS IT WINTER? THEN GO TO A CHRISTMAS MARKET Mitte | €
The Gendarmenmarkt is like being inside an advent calendar. VIEW MORE INFO –
56. THEN SEE THE SIGHTS IN CHOCOLATE FORM AT THE LONGEST PRALINE BAR IN THE WORLD Mitte | €
They also have a CHOCOLATE RESTAURANT overlooking the marketplace. VIEW MORE INFO –
57. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO POTSDAM Potsdam | €
You can visit the Hobbit-style tower where Einstein developed his theory of relativity. VIEW MORE INFO –
58. …THEN SWING BETWEEN TREES IN THE NEARBY WOODS Potsdam | €€
We like to think this is where Einstein developed his theory on gravity. VIEW MORE INFO –
59. GO POP UP SHOPPING AT BIKINI BERLIN Charlottenburg | €€
…then have lunch on the roof terrace overlooking Berlin Zoo. VIEW MORE INFO –
60. PADDLEBOARD ON THE SPREE Treptow | €€
And if that’s too easy, do it at night. Or with yoga. VIEW MORE INFO –
61. TAKE A LATE NIGHT, OPEN-ROOF TRAIN RIDE TOUR THROUGH BERLIN’S SUBWAY NETWORK Mitte | €€€€
It’s like the night tube, but way, way better. VIEW MORE INFO –
62. VIEW HITLER’S ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIMENT Tempelhof | €
This massive cylinder was used to see how far large buildings would sink into the marshy soil of Berlin (quite far, as it turned out). His ultimate plan of a huge domed hall was never built, but it would have been so large that it would have had its own weather. VIEW MORE INFO –
63. RENT ROW BOATS IN THE TIERGARTEN Tiergarten | €
Akulatraxas/Flickr
Then reward yourself in the Biergarten. VIEW MORE INFO –
64. CRAM INTO A PHOTOAUTOMAT All Over Berlin | €
Simon Matzinger/Flickr
Find a map of them here: VIEW MORE INFO –
65. BIKE ALONG THE SPANDAU CANAL (SING GOLD ALL THE WAY) Spandau | Free
Combine it with a visit to this abandoned Boeing: VIEW MORE INFO –
66. CHECK OUT CONTEMPORARY ART IN A FORMER BREWERY Neukölln | €
There’s a nifty vegetarian café amongst the tanks, too. VIEW MORE INFO –
67. GRAB SOME PROPER STREET FOOD Wilmersdorf | €
Every Sunday, crowds of Thai families serve up delicious home cooking in a park. VIEW MORE INFO –
68. VISIT THE DESIGN PANOPTIKUM, GET FREAKED OUT Mitte | €
Things are about to get very weird. VIEW MORE INFO –
69. GET DINNER AND A SHOW…IN THE DARK Prenzlauer Berg | €€€€
They range from erotic poetry readings to horror shows, depending on your mood. VIEW MORE INFO –
70. CHECK OUT CHECKPOINT CHARLIE Mitte | € – €€€€
Luca Bracco/Unsplash
…or even better, from above. VIEW MORE INFO –
71. LEARN ABOUT THIRD REICH RESISTANCE AT THE BENDLERBLOCK MUSEUM Tiergarten | Free
It’s housed on the site of the attempted coup of 1944. VIEW MORE INFO –
72. FLICK THROUGH RECORDS AT THE SPACE HALL STORE Kreuzberg | €
It’s a vinyl Valhalla. VIEW MORE INFO –
73. HAVE DINNER IN THE REVOLVING TV TOWER Mitte | €€
Healthymond/Unsplash
They have a, er…rotating menu. VIEW MORE INFO –
74. VISIT THE BERLINER MEDIZINHISTORISCHES MUSEUM Mitte | €
10,000 pathological and anatomical exhibits, including iron lungs, arthritic knees, and a 19th century birthing chair. VIEW MORE INFO –
75. ACT ÜBER-LOCAL AND DRINK 60¢ BEERS OUTSIDE A SPÄTI All Over Berlin | €
Or even join a full on Späti crawl. –
76. JOIN A COOKING CLASS THAT SUPPORTS DISPLACED INDIVIDUALS Schöneberg | €€€€
They appear as guest chefs to swap skills and meet the community. VIEW MORE INFO –
77. SEE THE BERLIN WALL FROM ABOVE Mitte | Free
This museum shows you a hidden patch of preserved East Berlin behind the wall. VIEW MORE INFO –
78. VISIT THE DDR MUSEUM Mitte | €
You can get hands on with all of the exhibits, from ministerial limousines to bugging devices. VIEW MORE INFO –
79. OR CALL IN AT AN UNTOUCHED DDR APARTMENT Hellersdorf | Free
The manager will be able to tell you some first-hand stories, too. VIEW MORE INFO –
80. GET COMPETITIVE AT THE COMPUTER GAMES MUSEUM Friedrichshain | € And try out everything from Pong to state of the art VR. VIEW MORE INFO –
81. WATCH SOME EDGY PERFORMANCE ART
We don’t know what’s happening here, but we like it. VIEW MORE INFO –
83. SPEND A SATURDAY STOCKING UP AT THE WINTERFELDMARKT Schöneberg | €€
Lots of places are shut on Sunday – which is a good excuse for an all-day BBQ in Tempelhof park. VIEW MORE INFO –
84. VISIT THE WILD WEST, COMPLETE WITH COWBOY CLUB, LEATHER WORKSHOPS AND OLD SALOONS Spandau | € According to the website, “Weapons may only be used with permission.” VIEW MORE INFO –
85. GO WINDOW SHOPPING AT KADEWE Charlottenburg | Free/€€€€€
It’s the Harrods of Berlin. VIEW MORE INFO –
86. MEDITATE AT THE BRANDENBURG GATE Mitte | Free
Ricardo Gomez Angel/Unsplash
The Room of Silence is a peaceful space for thinking. And, you know, for running away from ALL THE CROWDS. VIEW MORE INFO –
88. MUCK IN AT THE PRINZESSINNENGARTEN Kreuzberg | Free
It’s a guerilla gardening project on former wasteland. VIEW MORE INFO –
89. TAKE HIGH TEA IN THE TAJIKISTAN TEAROOMS Mitte | €€
Or an atmospheric two-course meal with live music and storytelling. VIEW MORE INFO –
90. …THEN CONTINUE YOUR WORLD TOUR AT THE GÄRTEN DER WELT Marzahn | €
From the comfort of a WOODLAND BOBSLEIGH. VIEW MORE INFO –
91. PLAY BLACKLIGHT CRAZY GOLF Kreuzberg | €
And make relentless ‘shot in the dark’ jokes. VIEW MORE INFO –
92. WALK AROUND THE MEDIEVAL STREETS OF SPANDAU’S ALTSTADT Spandau | Free
It’s the perfect spot to… –
93. ORDER A NEON BEER
Berliner Weisse beers come in red or green flavour. –
94. VISIT THE JEWISH MUSEUM Kreuzberg | €
Hannah Rosen/Flickr
It covers 2 millennia of Jewish-German history. VIEW MORE INFO –
96. SEE A FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT AT THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIE Tiergarten | Free
Get your culture on. VIEW MORE INFO –
97. HAVE A NOSE AROUND THE BAUHAUS MUSEUM Charlottenburg | €
The permanent museum is closed for renovations, but there’s a great pop up exhibition in its place. VIEW MORE INFO –
98. CLIMB THE TOWER OF THE ZIONSKIRCHE FOR AMAZING VIEWS Rosenthaler Vorstadt | € | Every Sunday
Gregor Klar/Flickr
…also, they keep bees. VIEW MORE INFO –
99. SPEND ALL NIGHT ON YOUR PHONE Mitte | €
This retro cabaret bar has phones on every table, so guests could flirt from afar. VIEW MORE INFO –
100. EAT ALL THE DONUTS AT BÄCKEREI SIEBERT Prenzlauer Berg | €
Ina Seidenschnur/Instagram
Bist du ein Berliner? VIEW MORE INFO
Last Updated: 19th November 2018
Now check out Berlin’s best hotels for a well-deserved rest…
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