The Perfect Berlin Weekend Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Get ready to see (and hear… and smell) East German Trabants!
So you’ve booked a weekend in Berlin, congratulations! I’ve designed a pretty fool-proof itinerary for a great weekend Friday through Sunday, and whilst this can only ever be the tip of the iceberg, it’s going to leave you with a great sense of why people love it here and prepare you for your second trip, because I know you’re going to catch the Berlin bug!
Friday Night in Berlin
You’ve arrived, successfully made it from the airport following these handy tips, and well, how to begin? First things first, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go to a club. Berlin’s nightlife can precede it in an extremely intimidating way. If it tickles your fancy, I would certainly recommend it, have low expectations if going to places with an infamously strict door policy (looking at you, Berghain).
So, before we get to dancing, how about some dinner first? Berlin’s international food scene is vast and doesn’t break the bank. Make your way to Hackescher Markt and wander up to Rosenthaler Platz, it’s lively in the evenings with a lot of food and drink options, vegan and otherwise. You’ll pass loads of places, so take your pick! And do not miss Hokey Pokey ice cream boutique afterwards for dessert.
In the area you can also find Berlin’s historic Babylon Kino Cinema showing classic movies old and new, many in English with German subtitles. The Kino dates back to 1929 where originally it held an orchestra pit for musicians to play alongside silent movies. They still show silent films to this day, with live organ accompaniment - the only place in Germany where you can still see this. If there’s a better way to watch Nosferatu, I don’t want to know about it!
You can’t visit Berlin and not see the sights!
Saturday Morning - Exploring Berlin’s History
Where to start? You’ve dined like a local but you’re still getting your bearings, why not tick off all the things you need to say you’ve seen with a walking tour? Now look, I’m biased, speaking as a historical tour guide in Berlin, but if you were going to go on a walking tour of any city in the world, it’s this one. You won’t believe what we can fit in and just how much context this will give you about the city’s history and a solid idea of where everything is! Don’t hesitate, do the walking tour! Our 3-Hour highlights tour is designed to be the perfect introduction to Berlin. Book a private guide to meet you at your hotel, or relax, plug in and do it on your own time with an audio tour.
Important tip for visiting Berlin!
Bring cash. Many venues and some restaurants and cafes accept cash payments only. Some swankier new cafes only take card payments. Be prepared. Have options. Berlin service ranges from the delightful to the truly appalling. Lower your expectations and enjoy it, it’ll be a good story later!
Saturday Afternoon - Relax & Learn in Museum or Gallery
During your tour, one of Berlin’s many museums and galleries may have caught your eye. Have a think about what you would really like to go back and check out in detail.
Really old world history: The Neues Museum with the bust of Queen Nefertiti is spectacular.
The Berlin Wall: The Tränenpalast museum next to Friedrichstrasse station is free and packed with a really evocative collection of stories.
The Nazi Era in all its horrible depth: The Topography of Terror is also free and has more information on the SS and the Third Reich era. (It is incredibly interesting, but very dark and worth reflecting on if this is what you’re in the mood for.)
Contemporary Art: Hamburger Bahnhof, a really broad selection of exhibitions in a very cool setting - a beautiful former train station - and usually not hugely busy.
Pick your favourite and dive in, you’ve only got one weekend after all!
“M;y God, please help me to survive this deadly love” by Dmitry Vrubel. The most famous image on the East Side Gallery!
If you’re not in the mood for museums this weekend, head out to the East Side Gallery. (You can also do this after your museum visit, energy levels depending!) Starting from the Warschauer Strasse station end, walk along the world’s longest open air gallery. After the fall of the wall in 1989 a group of international artists formed a collective and painted this section of the wall, which spans 1.3km and is a protected monument. Once you’ve come to the end, keep wandering down to Holzmarkt cultural centre. Inside you can find some really delicious treats at the cafe, outdoor musical events, and a bar when you can get a great beer or do as the locals do and enjoy an Aperol spritz as you sit by the Spree watching the boats float by (best enjoyed in the summer months, but with the right clothing not impossible when still a bit chilly).
Sunset by the Oberbaumbrücke in Kreuzberg
Saturday Evening - Kreuzberg, Jazz, and Cocktails
Wow, you’re still going, you champs! Just over the river from Holzmarkt you’ll find the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg with a lot of fantastic choices for dinner, like Hasir for some traditional Turkish food, mexican diner Santa Maria, or Burgermeister for…well you guessed it, burgers (they’re so good!). Don't be afraid to check around where you're staying though, every neighbourhood (or 'Kiez' as the Berliners say) is different, and there are always some hidden gems
For those with unlimited sources of energy there are a lot of options when it comes to entertainment. Berlin has a brilliant jazz scene, dating all the way back to the wild days of the ‘Golden Twenties’. Put yourself in a Cabaret state of mind with some live music at the B Flat jazz club near Alexanderplatz. It’s got a low key, laid back vibe, and you’ll be more than welcome. A slightly more upmarket option in the jazz scene is the A Trane in Schoneberg, tickets most likely needed for events. Sticking with our theme of grand old Berlin, at the Chameleon Theatre you can see a circus show extravaganza, located centrally at Hackescher Markt, in an Art Nouveau style ballroom. For comedy, Cosmic Comedy hosts a Showcase night not too far from Rosa Luxemburg Platz at the Kookaburra club. And if the only entertainment you need is each other, then grab a nice cocktail at Tor Bar or Mr. Susan in Mitte (central/East Berlin), or Monkey Bar or Quasimodo near Zoologischer Garten (West Berlin).
Would you be brave enough to sing in front of this crowd?
Sunday Morning in Berlin - Flea Markets & Friedrichshain
Still some things to do, (gonna need a holiday from this holiday am I right?!) Sunday is flea market day in Berlin, and the world famous Mauerpark Market (named for ‘Die Mauer’ or The Wall, where the Berlin Wall formerly ran through) hosts everything from award winning food trucks, artisanal knick-knacks, vintage clothing and very niche antiques. You can quite easily come across a box of photographs taken 60 years ago on one of the stalls alongside an old wedding dress and get philosophical about the lives of these people who’ve lived in this city. And you can of course go and witness a Berlin institution: Bear-Pit karaoke - you can even take part if you’re brave enough! Alternatively there’s usually some great live musicians setting up and playing at the market too. It’s like a tiny festival every week!
A smaller flea market option can be found on Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain. It has more of a local feeling and there’s also a range of cafes and restaurants in the area. Try Sugarclan for authentic Berliner donuts, Mutzenbacher for great Austrian food (think schnitzel), Silo Coffee for a hipster coffee treat, or doen doen kebap for one of Berlin’s all-time best kebabs (yes, even though it’s vegan).
And with that, Sunday evening is here and it’s time to head to the airport.
Enjoy, goodbye, and see you next time!
