Berlin: where the beer flows like art and the walls talk back – come for the history, stay for the party!

Destination highlights

• You're never more than five minutes away from a good currywurst

• Home to the longest open-air gallery in the world - take that, Louvre

• More museums than you'll know what to do with (but we recommend having a mooch)

• Doggo central - literally Germany's most dog-friendly city, so expect to spot a few furry friends

What are the best sights to see in Berlin?

Berlin city breaks are packed with more cool spots than Oktoberfest's packed with pretzels, and we've bratwurst-ed our way through 'em all to bring you the absolute wurst - we mean...best. Prost to that! (That's cheers in German, FYI.)

• Brandenburg Gate - if Berlin had a middle name, it'd be Brandenburg. This old-school gate is where all the heavy history went down, and now it’s selfie central. Plus, it looks pretty epic when it's all lit up at night.

• East Side Gallery - that whopper of an open-air gallery we mentioned? This is her. It's like an outdoor art exhibit, but with a little bit of extra pizzazz. The remains of the Berlin Wall are turned into an artist's paradise. It's free, it's outdoors, and it’s got more colours than your auntie's tie-dye phase.

• Reichstag Building - it’s got a glass dome on top that’s practically screaming for you to take a peek. The view’s a stunner, too – you can literally look out over the city and plan your next move. Politics was never this Instagrammable.

• Tiergarten - Berlin's answer to Central Park, but with a German twist. It's huge, green and if you're lucky - you might just spot a wild boar. No, really. Plus, it's a prime spot for a beer garden break.

• Museum Island - it’s an island...full of museums. Five of them, to be exact. Packed with ancient treasures that’ll make you feel like Indiana Jones, minus the boulder chase thank goodness.

What are the top hotels in Berlin?

We might love a classic beach holibobs, but we know our way around a swanky city break too. Here are some of our favourite Berlin beds:

Hotel AMO by AMANO | Mitte Slap bang in the trendy Mitte district, with an atmosphere as buzzing as the city streets. The bar's so good you might forget to check out the clubs — and with Museum Island and Hackescher Markt on your doorstep, you're sorted for culture too.

Hotel Riu Plaza Berlin | Ku'damm A slice of modern comfort with city views that'll make your Instagram pop. 357 rooms across 18 floors, a gym for working off the currywurst, and you're right near KaDeWe for some proper retail therapy.

InterContinental Berlin | Tiergarten Where elegance meets prime location. A Michelin-starred restaurant, lush indoor pools, and a spa that's as soothing as the plush pillows after a day exploring. Views over Tiergarten park and the zoo is just 800 metres away.

Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte | Mitte A stylish base smack dab in the middle of the action, with artsy vibes that fit perfectly with the creative atmosphere of the district. Great value for a central spot.

Hampton by Hilton Berlin City East Side Gallery | Friedrichshain Right next to the Mercedes-Benz Arena and a stone's throw from the East Side Gallery. Perfect if you're here for the nightlife — Simon-Dach-Kiez's bars and clubs are all within stumbling distance.

Berlin neighbourhoods: Where should you stay?

Berlin's not one of those cities where everything's crammed into one postcode — it's a proper patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe. Pick the right one and you'll feel like a local by day two.

Mitte | The historic heart

This is where all the big-hitters live — Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Checkpoint Charlie, the lot. It's touristy, sure, but there's a reason for that. If it's your first time in Berlin and you want to tick off the landmarks without spending half your holiday on the U-Bahn, Mitte's your spot. Grand old buildings, swanky restaurants, and that "we're in the capital" energy.

Friedrichshain | The cool one

If Berlin had a personality test, Friedrichshain would score 100% on "effortlessly cool." This is where you'll find the East Side Gallery, Simon-Dach-Straße's buzzing bar scene, and enough street art to fill a gallery. It's younger, edgier, and stays up later than most of the city. Perfect if you're here for the nightlife or just want that authentic Berlin grit.

Kreuzberg | The alternative

Kreuzberg's got that "we were cool before it was cool" attitude. Think Turkish markets, indie coffee shops, canal-side drinks, and a properly multicultural feel. It borders Friedrichshain (locals call the combo "Xberg") and shares that alternative vibe, but with more families and foodies thrown into the mix. Brilliant for wandering without a plan.

Ku'damm & City West | The classic

Before the Wall came down, this was West Berlin's answer to the Champs-Élysées. It's still got that old-school glamour — department stores like KaDeWe, the zoo, fancy cafés, and hotels that feel properly grand. Less hipster, more heritage. Great for shopping and slightly more traditional city-break vibes.

Prenzlauer Berg | The family-friendly one

Once the bohemian heart of East Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg has grown up a bit. These days it's all tree-lined streets, brunch spots, playgrounds, and young families pushing prams. Still charming, still full of gorgeous old buildings, but with a calmer, more polished feel. Perfect if you want character without chaos.

Berlin nightlife

Let's be honest — Berlin's nightlife scene is legendary. This is the city that basically invented techno, where clubs don't really get going until 2am and some don't close until Monday. Whether you're a die-hard raver or just fancy a few drinks in a cool bar, Berlin delivers.

The club scene: Berlin's clubs are world-famous, and not just because they stay open for days. Venues like Tresor, Watergate, and the infamous KitKatClub have been drawing electronic music lovers for decades. Door policies can be... selective (no stag dos, no groups of lads, no phones on the dancefloor), but that's part of the mystique. Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are ground zero for the scene.

Something more chilled: Not everyone wants to queue at 4am in the cold. Berlin's got brilliant cocktail bars (try Buck and Breck if you can find it — no sign, just a doorbell), rooftop spots with views over the city, and enough craft beer halls to keep you busy for a week. The Simon-Dach-Straße strip in Friedrichshain is perfect for bar-hopping without the intensity.

Beer gardens: When the weather's good, Berliners head outside. Tiergarten's Café am Neuen See is a proper classic — think fairy lights, lake views, and a cold Pilsner as the sun goes down. Prater Garten in Prenzlauer Berg is the city's oldest beer garden and still absolutely heaving on summer evenings.

Live music: From jazz clubs to indie venues to the Berlin Philharmonic (if you're feeling fancy), there's live music every night of the week. Check out SO36 in Kreuzberg for punk and alternative, or Quasimodo for jazz.

🚂 Day trips from Berlin

Berlin's brilliant, but sometimes you need a breather from all that history and techno. These are all doable in a day and give you a completely different side of Germany.

🏰 Potsdam & Sanssouci Palace | 40 mins by train

Just hop on the S-Bahn and you're in Frederick the Great's backyard. Sanssouci Palace is basically the German Versailles — all ornate rococo, terraced gardens, and "I can't believe one bloke lived here" energy. The surrounding park is massive and gorgeous, perfect for a wander. The town itself is pretty swish too.

🕯️ Sachsenhausen Memorial | 45 mins by train

A sobering but important visit. This former concentration camp is now a memorial and museum, and it's an incredibly moving experience. Free to enter, and there are excellent audio guides available. Not one for the kids, but essential if you're interested in understanding Germany's history.

🛶 The Spreewald | 1 hour by train

Fancy something completely different? The Spreewald is a UNESCO biosphere reserve full of canals, forests, and traditional Sorbian villages. Hire a kayak or take a punt boat through the waterways, eat pickled gherkins (it's a thing, trust us), and pretend you're in a completely different country.

🏊 Lake swimming | Various

Berliners are obsessed with their lakes, and in summer the city empties out to beaches at Wannsee, Müggelsee, and dozens of smaller spots. Pack a picnic, rent a paddleboard, and do as the locals do. It's one of the best free things about a Berlin summer.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to do for families in Berlin

Berlin might have a reputation as a party city, but there's loads for families too. The Berlin Zoo is one of the oldest and most famous in Europe, home to pandas, penguins, and pretty much every animal your kids have seen on TV. Right next door, the Aquarium Berlin has sharks, crocodiles, and enough fish to keep little ones mesmerised.

For something more interactive, the Deutsches Technikmuseum is a massive hit — planes, trains, boats, and hands-on experiments that'll keep even the most easily bored teenagers occupied. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Potsdamer Platz is another winner for younger kids, especially on rainy days.

When everyone needs fresh air, Tiergarten is perfect for running around, and in summer the Kinderbad Monbijou is a free outdoor paddling pool right in the city centre. And if the kids have earned a treat, the currywurst stands are waiting.

💑 Things to do for couples in Berlin

Berlin's got a romantic side — you just have to know where to look. Start with a sunset stroll along the River Spree, where the city's lights start twinkling and the pace slows down. Museum Island is gorgeous in the evening light, and you can grab dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants nearby.

For something special, book a table at one of Berlin's rooftop bars — Solar or Klunkerkranich both have killer views for that golden-hour drink. Art lovers should hit up the Hamburger Bahnhof contemporary gallery or get lost in the bohemian courtyards of Hackesche Höfe, where boutique shops and cosy cafés are tucked around every corner.

Want an experience? Take a Spree River cruise at sunset, or book a couples' treatment at one of the city's thermal spas — Liquidrom is properly atmospheric, with underwater music and candlelit pools. And if you're both into history, the East Side Gallery is actually quite romantic in a "we're standing at one of history's turning points" kind of way.

👯 Things to do for groups in Berlin

Berlin and group trips go together like currywurst and chips. The nightlife alone makes it a top-tier destination for mates' holidays — but even before the clubs open, there's loads to get stuck into.

Start with a guided bike tour to see the sights without wearing out your legs, or go full tourist and do a Trabant safari (yes, you actually drive the cars). Escape rooms are everywhere if you fancy some competitive team bonding, and if your group's into history, the bunker tours and Cold War sites are genuinely fascinating.

For something more active, there's go-karting, indoor surfing at Wellenwerk, or table tennis bars where you can play while you drink. And when evening hits, the bar crawls basically organise themselves — Friedrichshain's Simon-Dach-Straße and Kreuzberg's Oranienstraße are both brilliant for hopping between spots.

🍴 Things to do for foodies in Berlin

Berlin's food scene has come a long way from currywurst and doner kebabs (though both are still essential). These days the city's packed with Michelin stars, street food markets, and some of the best international cuisine in Europe.

Start at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg — a beautifully restored market hall with food stalls selling everything from Vietnamese bánh mì to proper German sausages. Thursday night is Street Food Thursday, and it gets absolutely heaving. For something more upmarket, restaurants like CODA (dessert-only, two Michelin stars) and Nobelhart & Schmutzig (hyper-local, one star) are doing seriously exciting things.

The Turkish food scene is legendary — Berlin has the largest Turkish population outside Turkey, and Kreuzberg's Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap has queues round the block for good reason. Dim sum in Mitte, Vietnamese pho in Prenzlauer Berg, and incredible brunch spots everywhere... you won't go hungry.

And yes, you absolutely should try a currywurst. Curry 36 and Konnopke's Imbiss are the classics, but honestly, any street stand will sort you out.