Four Days In Berlin
I absolutely adore Berlin. This beautiful, strong and historic city has a gritty, grainy, alternate underbelly that makes it ever so appealing. In Berlin, you’ll find heartbreaking war memorials, bizarre cafes, an amazing assortment of cuisines, loads of museums and some of the coolest street art in the world sitting side by side. You could say I have a love affair with Berlin.
Here’s a few of my top picks from my visit and how I spent Four Days In Berlin.
An itinerary for four days in Berlin
Day One – Morning
Visit the Berliner Dom
Standing staunchly and proud, with a recognisable green dome contrasting against the sky, the Berliner Dom is a pretty special cathedral. It’s uniquely identifiable when walking around the city and it’s as impressive indoors as it is out.
Specifically, the giant organ is quite astounding and although it is mostly silent these days, the sight of it alone is one to behold. There’s also some very gaudy, fancy memorials containing the remains of past royalty in wonderfully elaborate coffins.
There is also the option to make your way up to the domed roof and get a bird’s-eye view of Berlin. And underneath the ground floor is a crypt containing the remains of many former German notaries. Currently the crypt is closed for construction, but shoudl re-open in 2025.
The cost to enter the Berliner Dom is 7 euros.
Take a walk to the Brandenburg Tor
What would a trip to Berlin be without stopping by the most iconic of city sights, the majestic Brandenburg Gate? Take a leisurely 30 minute walk up the beautiful Bundesstraße past statues of former rulers and the solemn Tomb of the Unknown Soldier until the famous green chariot of the Brandenburg Tor appears.
It is hard to believe that this majestic gate used to be one of many around the city, but now it’s a lone figure marking the entrance to the city. If you are looking for the perfect photo opportunity, then early mornings are best to avoid the mass crowds. The Brandenburg Tor is also one of Europe’s common spots for pickpockets, so be sure to keep your wits about you.
Day One – Midday
Picnic in the Tiergarten for lunch
Autumn is really the best time to wander the Tiergarten of Berlin. Crunchy golden-brown leaves swallow shoes with every step only add to Germany’s answer to Central Park. As I walk through the park, cyclists whirr past and families walk behind their children playing and running through the leaves. It’s a peaceful and reflective place and one to linger in a while.
The Tiergarten is the perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch. My Deli Love is a great option nearby to grab a coffee and a bite to eat to takeaway and eat in the gardens.
Day One – Afternoon
Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
One of the starkest and most moving memorials I’ve ever visited, this square of grey concrete slabs seems endless and infinite. Wander reflectively throughout the different sized rectangles and ponder the utter human tragedy that was faced by so many in Word War Two.
A visit underneath the memorial to the Information Centre is overwhelmingly sad, but in a very beautiful touch, it focuses in on the individual stories of the persecuted people. Here, they are treated as people, rather than a collective or a number.
Learn more about Nazi history at the Topographie des Terrors
Information overload alert! The Topographie des Terrors is free and full of Nazi Germany history – from the rise of the party right up to the Nuremburg trials. This is a place where hours could be spent, so be conscious of the time if there’s a schedule.
The location of the Topographie des Terrors is actually at the site of the headquarters of the Gestapo during the Nazi rule over Germany.
The exhibition is fascinating and gives a really comprehensive understanding of what happened in Germany, however be warned that it’s heavy going and can be a little overwhelming. The Topographie des Terrors is totally free to visit and explore.
Checkpoint Charlie
Only 5 minutes walk from the Topographie des Terrors is Checkpoint Charlie, the infamous border crossing separating East and West Berlin during the Cold War. It’s here that Soviet and Allied armies faced off against each other, sometimes even with tanks.
Day One – Evening
Dinner at Sophieneck
Sophieneck is a wonderful local restaurant where you can try authentic German food. Think pork knuckle, Berlin boulettes (sausages) and schnitzels. If the weather is cold, the hearty meals at Sophieneck will warm you from top to toe. This restaurant is incredibly popular, so do try to book in advance.
Day two – full day
Day trip to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is located outside Berlin in Oranienburg, which is an hour’s train trip from the city. Being the closest former prison camp to the city, I have to say that it is absolutely worth the trek a little out of town to fully be able to comprehend the horrors of the concentration camp system. Sachsenhausen was a little unique compared to other concentration camps in that it particularly housed many political prisoners and was then taken over by the Soviets after the end of the Nazi regime.
Armed with only a camera and an audioguide, experiencing Sachsenhausen shook me to my absolute core. The crematorium where prisoners were incinerated is horrific, the cell blocks are sparse and barren and the barbed wire fences are a constant reminder that for so many, this desolate place was where they spent their final days.
Day two – Evening
Dinner at Burgermeister
Burgermeister started as a single shop and has blossomed into a burger chain across Berlin. I visited one of their stores in Alexanderplatz, right near the Mitte district and instantly fell in love with their simple, yet delicious Meisterburger with cheese fries. Burgermeister is a great option for a low-key dinner in Berlin that won’t break the bank.
Day Three – Morning
Explore the East Side Gallery, Berlin’s open air art museum
Talk about turning tragedy and oppression into creativity and power. The East Side Gallery is a long stretch of the Berlin Wall absolutely covered in murals and artwork. There is a lot of art to see here that spans 1.3km of the former opprressive wall. Some pieces will no doubt grab you more than others, but all the artwork is interesting and has a story to tell.
Some of the art is wacky, some is political and some is joyful. This wall makes a statement. It’s clear that after a difficult and brutal past, Berlin’s future is one of colour, freedom and expression.
The East Side Gallery is located a very short walk from Berlin Ostbahnhof and is totally free to visit, so explore to your heart’s content.
Day Three – Afternoon
Berliner Mauer Memorial
A trip across town from the East Side Gallery to the Berlin Wall Memorial is our next journey as part of our four day Berlin itinerary. Walking will take around an hour or the tram from Warschauer Straße to Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer will take around 30 minutes.
The last remaining strip of the entire Berlin Wall stands solemn and grey. From a viewpoint above, visitors can look down to see the full set up complete with the “death strip” – a foreboding stretch of sandy gravel where potential escapees were often shot down as they tried to escape.
The Berlin Wall Memorial is a powerful exhibition that truly hammers home the devastating history of divided Berlin from 1961 – 1987. The memorial is a fantastic opportunity to see what the Berlin Wall would have looked like during this time and the exhibitions in the complex help visitors comprehend the human cost of the exercise. Admission to the Berlin Wall Memorial is free.
Day 3 – Evening
Dinner and drinks at Brauhaus Lemke
It just wouldn’t be right not to visit a German brewhouse whilst in Berlin and luckily Lemke has local beers on tap as well as that famous hearty traditional German fare. For something different, I recommend trying the Spätzle which are egg noodles – kind of like a German pasta!
Day 4 – Morning
Explore Tränenpalast (the Palace of Tears)
In my opinion, Tränenpalast is a much better museum/checkpoint experience than the very touristy Checkpoint Charlie. This East Berlin border crossing contains incredible stories of escape and horror during the Cold War era of divided Berlin.
It is hard to imagine having to get passports and visas checked just to go from one side of the city to another and even more daunting is the reality of having to be separated from family and friends if you found yourself on the wrong side of the border.
The building itself is designed with all the Soviet functional architecture of the era and the exhibits are moving, well presented and informative. Note: cameras are not permitted inside the exhibit.
Take a walk through the Jewish Quarter
A walk through the Jewish Quarter of Berlin is poignant and devastating. Memorials to the mass-murdered and persecuted Jews are subtly placed throughout the area and buildings stand proud to the sky, riddled with bullet and shrapnel holes.
The Neue Synagoge is a feature, with it’s blue and gold dome recognisable against the clouds, a stark reminder of how this magnificent building was very nearly completely destroyed by the Nazis many years ago.
Day 4 – afternoon
Visit the Reichstag Building
The Reichstag Building is the home of the German Parliament and is a particularly famous building in Berlin. It has a huge glass domed roof and terrace area that are very popular with visitors to the city for the remarkable architecture and great views of Berlin.
Visitors who want to experience the Reichstag Building should pre-register online to avoid missing out.
Day 4 – Evening
Currywurst at Konnopke’s
An extremely budget friendly meal option, the humble currywurst sausage is adored by Berlin locals. And there just isn’t a better currywurst in the city than Konnopke’s stand that has been operating since the 1930s. It is located under the U-Bahn tracks on the corner of Danziger Strasse and Schönhauser AlleeBerlin with limited seating located under the tracks.
Other ideas for a four day itinerary for Berlin
Take a walking tour of the city
What better way to see and understand modern day Berlin than a walk with a local in some of the most significant and historic areas of the city.
I strolled through what used to be East Berlin, past the many Berlin museums, the Jewish area, the Ramones cafe, the bullet addled buildings and the many Jewish memorials along the way before arriving at the Berliner Mauer with my guide who helped point out many pockets of niche Berlin history that I otherwise never would have been aware of.
Take a boat cruise on the Spree River
Berlin has a beautiful river, the Spree, that runs through the city. A relaxing boat cruise is a great way to put your feet up and enjoy the scenery on an exploration of the city from the water.
Where to stay in Berlin
I love staying in the Mitte area of Berlin. It’s an easy walk to many of the city’s major attractions, like the Berliner Dom and it is the beautiful old heart of the city.
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