How to rock a whirlwind one day trip to Berlin, Germany

How to rock a whirlwind one day trip to Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany is one of Europe’s most iconic cities, the heartbeat of Germany, and an intoxicating blend of old meets new where grand, historic buildings blend seamlessly with glittering skyscrapers.

While known for its long history city and towering monuments, the city never wavers from its effortlessly cool, edgy vibe seen in the colourful street art, trendy cafes and fashion favoured by its younger residents. 

While at least several days are needed to discover the ins-and-outs of the city and really get a feel for it, sometimes the only option is to do a day trip to Berlin.

Berliner Dom, Berlin, Germany
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

Whether you’re swinging through town on a European backpacking or bus tour, have a quick airport layover or are visiting during a cruise like I did, one day in Berlin might be all you’ve got time for.

Here’s a step-by-step guide of how to make the most of less than 24 hours in Berlin.

One day trip to Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

Transportation tips: How to get around during 1 day in Berlin

You’re going to need wheels to get around such a big city (and fast!), so rent a bicycle. Prices are typically €10-20/day, and bike lanes link most major thoroughfares.

 

 

Alternatively, book this hop on-hop off bus tour (the same one I used and was happy with) which will shuttle you directly to all of these main sites you’ll want to squeeze in during a day in Berlin:

 Potsdamer Platz. Berlin, Germany
Potsdamer Platz

How to rock a day trip to Berlin: Morning

Brandenburg Gate

To see the best of Berlin in a day, start at the city’s most recognizable landmark: Brandenburg Gate.

Built in the 18th century, the sandstone gate pays tribute to the Acropolis in Athens and frames Parser Platz which is home to Germany’s parliament.

The picture-perfect square is a tourist magnet, so try to get there first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Brandenburg Gate. Berlin, Germany
Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate just so happens to be smack dab in the middle of all the action, so no matter which direction you head now you’ll hit another landmark.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

One option is to head south just a couple of blocks to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas), a sobering tribute to the six million Jewish people killed during the Holocaust.

Made up of nearly three thousand concrete slabs in a grid pattern, visitors are welcome to walk through the rows, then visit the nearby information centre which includes biographies of some of the victims.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas). Berlin, Germany
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

It’s impressive to see how instead of trying to gloss over its dark history, the city has turned the remnants of those years into learning opportunities, demonstrating how far Berlin has come in just a few generations.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas). Berlin, Germany
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Kurfürstendamm and Charlottenburg Palace

Take the scenic route west to ensure you pass through the Kurfürstendamm, one of Berlin’s swankiest streets. Home to luxury fashion houses along with high-end hotels and restaurants, the three-kilometre strip is the place to see and be seen.

Eventually you’ll end up at Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg), a baroque wonder that was built in the 17th century as a summer home for Sophie Charlotte, Prussia’s first queen. The palace is the largest one still standing in Berlin, despite being badly damaged during World War II.

Note: It takes about 30 minutes by car to get from the Holocaust Memorial to Charlottenburg Palace, so those tight on time may need to nix this stop and stay in the city centre instead.

Victory Column

Wander through the residence and the impeccably manicured grounds, then head back towards the city centre along Straße des 17. Juni which is one of Berlin’s main arteries.

The roadway leads directly to the golden-gilded Victory Column (Siegessäule), which sits in the middle of a roundabout and stretches nearly 30 feet towards the sky.

Admire it from a distance, or head up 300 steps to its viewing platform which has wonderful views of a number of landmarks and the foliage of the Tiergarten, Berlin’s most popular park.

Victory Column (Siegessäule). Berlin, Germany
Victory Column

Reichstag

Continue back towards Brandenburg Gate, then head north to the glorious Reichstag.

Today it serves as the seat of German parliament, and visitors are welcome to tour the interior, which has a unique, 360-degree vantage point of the other government buildings and soaring skyscrapers surrounding its expansive grounds.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin in 1 day: Mid-day break

Hackescher Markt

Chances are you’re more than ready for lunch at this point, and there are a couple of great options. Hackescher Markt is in Berlin’s Mitte neighbourhood, and a popular, trendy shopping area known for its galleries, boutiques, elegant architecture and street art.

Small cafes, bars and restaurants are found inside the Hackesche Höfe, a maze of eight courtyards accessed through Rosenthalerstraße 40’s main entrance. 

Gendarmenmarkt

A closer option is to head south to Gendarmenmarkt which is one of Berlin’s prettiest squares.

Framed by a towering trifecta made up of a concert hall, French and German churches, the sandstone buildings have been beautifully restored despite the heavy damage they were subjected to during the war.

Gendarmenmarkt. Berlin, Germany
Gendarmenmarkt

Gendarmenmarkt. Berlin, Germany

Today, a handful of restaurants have claimed a spot on the cobblestone square in front, making Gendarmenmarkt a wonderful spot to soak in the scenery while enjoying Berlin specialities like beer and currywurst.

Beer and currywurst. Berlin, Germany
Beer and currywurst are the perfect Berlin combo!

Berlin day trip: Afternoon

Museum Island

Once you’ve gotten your fill, head east to Museum Island, a true masterpiece for history buffs. Its crown jewel is the Berlin Cathedral Church (Berliner Dom), which is an architectural marvel—particularly when viewed from the waterfront.

Home to five museums, Museumsinsel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses a range of exhibitions, from Egyptian treasures to displays detailing what life was like in East Germany.

Continuing east, you’ll find yourself in ultra-urban Berlin, which includes the TV Tower (Fernsehturm), which soars a dizzying 365 metres high.

TV Tower (Fernsehturm). Berlin, Germany
TV Tower

Alexanderplatz Square is just a block further, which holds bragging rights as the largest square in the country and is now a major transportation hub thanks to its post-war revival.

The Berlin Wall

From Fernsehturm it’s less than 10 minutes by bike or car to the final stops of the day including the city’s most infamous site: the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall.. Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

Originally built by the government in 1961 with the help of the Soviets to keep east Germans from moving to the city’s more developed west side, the concrete wall once stretched for more than 80 miles, tearing families apart for decades.

It finally fell on November 9, 1989 and has since been reduced to little more than ruins across the city.

The larger pieces that do remain have been transformed into colourful murals, which are on display at the East Side Gallery. There, more than one kilometre’s worth of the concrete slabs have been transformed into vibrant artwork expressing freedom and creativity—a perfect contrast to why the walls were erected in the first place.

The Berlin Wall.. Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

Visitors can wander along the colourful stretch before crossing back over the river and making their way back to the city centre, tracing the path of the Berlin Wall or taking part in an underground bunker tour.

The Berlin Wall.. Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

Crumbling, untouched remains mark the route, along with the historical monuments found at Stralauer Platz and the memorial dedicated to Peter Fechter who was one of the first people who died trying to escape over the wall.

The Berlin Wall.. Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

For a more in-depth experience, book a Berlin wall tour:

 

 

The Berlin Wall.. Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Wall.

Checkpoint Charlie

The final stop on this whirlwind Berlin day trip comes to an end at what just might be Berlin’s most underwhelming yet important landmark: Checkpoint Charlie.

“Checkpoint C” has historical significance as the crossing point for foreigners when the Berlin Wall was erected, but visitors could be forgiven for thinking it looks like little more than a toll booth.

Regardless, it’s well worth a visit, particularly to learn about some of the daring escapes made through it.

Checkpoint Charlie. Berlin, Germany
Checkpoint Charlie

And there you have it—all of the best places to visit in Berlin in one day.

No worries if you couldn’t make it to all the stops–now you have the perfect excuse to make a return visit to this iconic city.

Berlin one day tours

If that all seems a bit overwhelming to fit the best things to do in Berlin, book one of these days tours for a more manageable pace that still hits most of the highlights:  

 

 

 

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18 thoughts on “How to rock a whirlwind one day trip to Berlin, Germany”

  1. Excellent tour of the city, I made it to most of these attractions but would love to come back on a sunnier day – does that ever happen in Berlin?

  2. I was just reading another article about Berlin and am fascinated to see such unique things to do here. Not that I would expect anything less from a city with such interesting history but most people overlook some of the places you’ve mentioned and directly talk about the Berlin Wall. The city of Berlin has some of the most interesting architecture I’ve seen. It’s funny how in one place you’ll see a very modern building and in another an almost gothic inspired building!

  3. What an informative post for anyone with just a day to spend in Berlin. When time is limited, it really helps to be prepared with the information about what you want to see and to have a plan. The architecture of Berlin is striking and the memorial to the holocaust victims seems so poignant. I hope to get to Berlin someday soon!

  4. Germany is the only West European country that I haven’t been to and I really don’t know why. However, lately I’ve been reading more and more about it and been wanting to go there. Berlin is surely top of the list for me now, and the list here sure would come in handy!

  5. Very detailed tour of Berlin. While I have not yet been, this gives me a great overview of what to expect. Top of my list would be to see the Berlin wall. Strangely enough, Los Angeles (my former hometown) has a couple of bricks from the wall. So seeing the original wall would be amazing. Your pictures do a great job of bringing Berlin to life.

    1. Hi Rosemary, yes I believe they’ve brought pieces of the wall to cities around the world (I believe there are some in Montreal as well), and it’s definitely worth seeing in person as it was such an important part of history.

  6. There are so many gradiose buildings to see in Berlin. Even if you didn’t know what they all were, you’d have a really cool walking tour. This sounds like a very doable way to see Berlin in a short time, especially since many things are near the Bradenburg Gate.

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