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My Berlin Weekend Itinerary was one of the most
popular articles when the site was still alive. I did not want
to leave outdated information on the site, so I decided to close
it down. However, here's the Berlin weekend itinerary that I
like to send to my friends & family when they visit. I hope you
enjoy it, too.
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Berlin Weekend Itinerary
This itinerary assumes a minimum stay of 72 hours, from Friday morning to Monday morning. It assumes you've never been to Berlin, and that you are traveling on a mid-upper budget. Not everything on this list is particularly special or unique, but they are the things that I personally enjoy about Berlin.
Friday
- 11:00 Bus 100 Sightseeing Tour After checking into your hotel, you should get an overview of the city. I call this "sightseeing light". The Bus 100 route is a perfect way to start. Make your way to Alexanderplatz or Zoologischer Garten train station and take the Bus 100 into the opposite direction. You can hop on, hop off at different locations. A daily BVG ticket costs 8,80€ and is valid for 24 hours in any direction (in the AB zones). Points of interest on the way are the Siegessäule, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Lustgarten and the Berliner Philharmonie. Ideally, finish your tour near Alexanderplatz.
- 13:00 Explore Mitte You can stroll through Hackescher Markt and up Rosenthaler Straße (and its side-streets) to get a feeling for the east side of central Berlin. If you fancy a pastry, cake or bread, and a well-curated sortiment of food products that are made in Berlin, stop by at Sofi's Bakery. If you'd rather eat a nice brunch / lunch, stop by at District Coffee.
- 18:00 Boros Bunker If the weather is muddy, grey, cold or rainy, you should definitely visit the Boros collection. It's a magnificent collection of modern artworks, curated in an old war bunker in Mitte. The private collection is open to the public, however every tour is guided in English or in German. It's advised to book ahead of time. My recommendation stands even if you're not a big fan of art, as most of the guides will also talk about the historical implications of the bunker (and how it was used as a sex party dungeon in the 90s).
-
20:00 Dinner & Drinks There
are plenty of good restaurants in Berlin. Most people want
to eat something "German" (or "german-ish"). I'd recommend
Borchardts. The
restaurant is an institution and famous for the Wiener
Schnitzel. It's a great place to eat a nice (but still
affordable) meal, and it's also a great place to meet new
people, especially on Fridays. Ask for seating upstairs, as
the dinner quickly turns into a party after 11PM.
If you're looking for something more unique, special or high-class, consider Oukan, a vegan Japanese Fine Dining restaurant, or Otto, a modern, casual fine-dining winebar and gastro-pub for great natural wines. - 00:00 Dance at Panorama Bar / Berghain Most people will tell you to go to Berghain on Sunday afternoon. But if this is your first time in Berlin, you might not want to queue for many hours to get rejected at the door. Most people I know want a taste of the club, but don't have time for the commitment that Berghain often requires. That's okay. Save Berghain for your second visit. But Panorama Bar - the top floor in the Berghain building, often reserved for house music and softer dance genres than techno - is a valid alternative if you're looking to dance (Berghain is closed on Fridays). It's usually less crowded and more of a "typical night out" in any other city. But many people don't know that the drinks in the bar are top notch. My favorite at Panorama Bar is a Hemingway Sour.
Saturday
- 11:00 Breakfast in Kreuzberg Depending on the season, the Kiez around Reichenberger Straße in Kreuzberg is very lively and lovely. La Maison, a French café and bistro, has become a very popular weekend stop for many locals and tourists. I call it "Kreuzberg-chella", because it's very instagram. Coffee quickly turns into wine here. You must try the croissants and pastries! La Maison is outside seating only (right now), so if the weather sours, you might want to book a table at Okay Café or Kitten Deli, two breakfast/brunch spots that are excellent alternatives.
- 13:00 Take a walk around the Landwehrkanal You can take a leisurely stroll around the Canal if the weather is nice, and explore Kreuzberg and Treptow on both ends. The walk from Ohlauer Straße to Urbanhafen and back towards Neukölln (in springtime, make sure you walk the whole way around the Treptow side to see the cherry blossoms) will take you 90 minutes. In summer, you will see plenty of boats and young people on the water. If you get hungry, explore Gräfekiez on your way back; check out Goldies Smash Burgers (literally a hole in the wall) or vegan Japanese fried chicken (Kara age) at TsuTsu.
-
16:00 Feuerle Collection If
you find yourself in bad weather, I can highly recommend
visiting the
Feuerle Collection. It's yet another, private art collection that has found
its way into a telecommunications bunker. A guided visit is
an incredible experience for the senses. You do not have to
be a scholar to appreciate the ancient Chinese and South
East Asian artworks, or the spatial experience of the
bunker. You have to book your spot in advance - so keep it
in mind when you're planning your trip.
If you’re lucky enough to enjoy sun and warm weather, I recommend heading to Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport in the midst of Berlin. Bring some beers and snacks and a blanket, and watch the most incredible sunset you’ve ever seen. - 20:00 Dinner & Drinks in Neukölln Barra, Eszra and jaja are three wine bars and restaurants with contemporary cuisines that are hard to beat in style and taste (especially in Neukölln). If you find yourself in the mood for partying afterwards, Weserstraße - known for its selection of bars - is close by. My favorite is a bit off-side and a very simple, yet cozy rock bar called Du Beast. If you’re looking for a typically queer and kinky Berlin rave, see if GEGEN or Cocktail D’Amour are announced.
Sunday
- 12:00 Syrian breakfast Try Hummus and Fatteh for breakfast or lunch at Akroum Snack, a small, Syrian restaurant on Sonnenallee. Berlin has become famous for its Levantine diaspora and cuisine. If you get the chance, try Fatteh, a dish based on chickpeas, yogurt and ghee.
- 14:00 Tiergarten & Reichstag On Sundays, most shops are closed. If you feel like walking or biking, you can visit Hansaviertel for its stunning modern architecture. The buildings for the 1953 Interbau exhibition – evoking the Bauhaus and the urban-planning principles of modern architecture – were intended to mark a new beginning for urban planning and architecture. You can walk either through the big Tiergarten park or along the Spree afterwards. If the weather isn't great, consider seeing a movie at the beautiful Delphi Filmpalast, or getting last minute tickets to the Berliner Philharmonie. If there is enough time, I highly enjoyed visiting the German parliament (Reichstag), which is a museum of German history and culture. You should book ahead of time though.
- 20:00 Dinner If you want to leave Berlin on a high culinary note, try Nobelhart & Schmutzig (only locally sourced ingredients) or Kin Dee (modern Thai fine dining). If you’re looking for a dinner without fuss, stuff yourself with an excellent Köfte from at Kottbusser Tor
Monday
- 11:00 KaDeWe & City West If you have some time before your departure, go ahead and get your shopping out of the way on Ku'damm, Berlins high street in the west. KaDeWe is the oldest and most luxurious department store in Berlin. You can find plenty of high-end fashion and home goods, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. I like buying little foods and snacks as souvenirs. If you want to continue shopping, you can wander find many retail stores in the area.
Berlin guides
The definite Berlin to do list