5 days of wall art and late nights in Berlin

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   East Side Gallery

   A stretch of the Wall more than a kilometer long, painted in 1990 by artists from around the world, and now an open-air gallery beside the Spree. The paintings are about freedom, fear and hope. Walk it from end to end.

   Go when Morning, when the light is on the painted side and the walkway is quiet.

   Local tip Walk the painted side first, then come back along the river side, where there is a path by the water. The paintings have been restored over the years, so keep your hands off them.

   

   About 7 min walk0.6 km
2. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Oberbaum Bridge

   A double-deck brick bridge over the Spree between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, with twin towers from the 1890s. U-Bahn trains run along the upper level. It was once a border crossing, and today it is a place to stop and look along the river.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the sun lights the brick towers and the river.

   Local tip Walk to the middle and look both ways along the water. A U-Bahn train rattles across the upper level often, which is part of the view.

   

3. Lunch

   A doner kebab

   Sliced meat or falafel in a flatbread with salad and sauces, a Berlin staple that came with the Turkish community and is eaten at every hour. Quick, filling and easy to take along.

   Local tip Choose a busy stand with a queue of locals, and ask for the spicy sauce on the side.

   

   Places to try2 near Oberbaum Bridge‹›

   • Turkish, doner

     Hasir

     A Turkish restaurant on Adalbertstrasse in Kreuzberg, near Kottbusser Tor.

     1.8 km from Oberbaum Bridge
   • Turkish, grill

     Imren Grill

     A Turkish grill in Kreuzberg serving doner and grilled meats.

     2.0 km from Oberbaum Bridge

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 19 min walk1.5 km
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Kreuzberg

   A neighborhood of Turkish bakeries, secondhand shops, murals and small cafes. Start at Heinrichplatz and let the side streets decide where you go. The Landwehr Canal and its tree-lined banks are a short walk away.

   Go when Afternoon into early evening, when the cafes fill and the streets wake up.

   Local tip Look up as well as down, since murals cover whole building ends. Walk the canal bank when you want a break, and stop wherever there is a bench.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit3.4 km
5. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Tempelhofer Feld

   The old Tempelhof airport, closed to flights in 2008 and now a huge open field in the middle of the city. The runways are paths for walkers, cyclists, skaters and kite flyers, and the sky is enormous. A place for the end of the day.

   Go when Sunset (about 7:22 PM), when the runways glow and the whole field turns gold.

   Local tip Walk out to the middle of a runway and sit. There is no shade, so bring water and a layer for when the wind picks up. Check ahead when the gates close at night.

   

6. Dinner

   A picnic from the corner shop

   Late evenings here are often a picnic: bread, cheese, fruit and a bottle bought at a corner shop, eaten on a canal bank or a runway at Tempelhofer Feld.

   Local tip Buy it on your way, and take a small bag to carry it in.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from Tempelhofer FeldAbout 15 min by car or transit5.1 km

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   Berlin Cathedral

   The great domed church on Museum Island, with a rich interior and a climb up inside the dome for a wide view over the center of the city. Check ahead for what is open.

   Go when Late morning, when the light fills the dome.

   Local tip Climbing up inside the dome gives a wide view over the center of the city. Check ahead for what is open.

   

   About 7 min walk0.6 km
3. 2
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Hackesche Höfe

   A string of linked courtyards in Mitte, restored from the early 1900s. The first courtyard has a front of glazed tiles in curling Art Nouveau patterns. Behind it, quieter courtyards hold small galleries, workshops, shops and a cinema.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the day-trippers thin out and the courtyards fill with soft light.

   Local tip Walk through all the courtyards, not only the first. Hackescher Markt station is right beside them, and the lanes around have more small shops and cafes.

   

   About 7 min walk0.5 km
4. 3
   EveningPick one museum or just walk

   Museum Island

   Five museums on an island in the Spree, a World Heritage site, with colonnades, the cathedral dome and wide riverside walks. You do not have to go inside, since the bridges, the river and the open spaces are enough at the end of the day. Museums here are restored in turn, so check ahead what is open.

   Go when Sunset (about 7:22 PM), when the stone turns golden and the day-trippers have gone.

   Local tip Walk the colonnade behind the old National Gallery and cross the bridges for views of the island. If you want a museum, choose one and book ahead.

   

   About 11 min walk0.9 km
5. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Gendarmenmarkt

   A graceful square in Mitte with a concert hall in the middle and two near-twin domed churches at either side, the French and the German cathedral. A good place to sit as the evening comes on.

   Go when Early evening, when the square is lit and quiet.

   Local tip Sit on the steps of the concert hall and look at the two domed churches. The French cathedral has a tower you can climb, so check ahead.

   

6. Dinner

   Vietnamese noodle soup

   Berlin has a large Vietnamese community, and its noodle soups, rice dishes and fresh spring rolls are a favorite of the city. A warm bowl is easy at the end of a day of walking.

   Local tip Try the neighborhoods around Mitte, and order a soup to share.

   

   Places to try3 near Gendarmenmarkt‹›

   • Vietnamese

     Monsieur Vuong

     A small Vietnamese restaurant on Alte Schönhauser Strasse in Mitte, serving noodle soups and rice dishes.

     1.0 km from Gendarmenmarkt
   • Vietnamese

     Soy

     A Vietnamese restaurant on Oranienburger Strasse in Mitte.

     0.6 km from GendarmenmarktPhoto: 維基小霸王, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • Vietnamese

     Co Co Banh Mi and Pho

     A Vietnamese cafe in Berlin serving banh mi sandwiches and pho.

     1.0 km from Gendarmenmarkt

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Brandenburg Gate

   The neoclassical gate at the head of Unter den Linden, crowned with a chariot and four horses. For nearly three decades it stood in the closed border zone, and today people walk through it freely. Go early, when the square is quiet.

   Go when Early morning, when the square is nearly empty and the sun is on the columns.

   Local tip Walk through to the west side, then turn back for the view down the avenue. Crowds and street performers fill the square later, so take your photos first.

   

   About 9 min by car or transit2.2 km
2. 2
   MorningWorth the time, quietly

   Berlin Wall Memorial

   Bernauer Strasse was split by the border, with apartment buildings on one side and the pavement on the other. The memorial keeps a stretch of the border strip as it was, with a section of the wall, and remembers by name the people who died at the border. Walk the strip, then climb the viewing platform at the visitor center.

   Go when Morning, when it is quieter and you can read at your own pace.

   Local tip Give it a slow hour or two. The open-air strip is the heart of it, and the documentation center and the Chapel of Reconciliation are close by. A tram stops right at the memorial.

   

3. Lunch

   Street food from the stalls

   On weekends in the warmer months, food stalls and carts around the park serve dumplings, sausages, falafel and cake. Eat on the grass.

   Local tip Check ahead whether the stalls are out that day, and bring a blanket.

   Places to try2 near Berlin Wall Memorial‹›

   • Vegan, small plates

     Lucky Leek

     A vegan restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg, a short walk from Mauerpark.

     1.3 km from Berlin Wall Memorial
   • Vegan donuts

     Brammibal's Donuts

     A vegan donut shop near Rosenthaler Platz.

     1.4 km from Berlin Wall MemorialPhoto: Mitch Altman, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 10 min by car or transit2.5 km
4. 3
   MiddayWorth the time, in quiet

   Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

   A field of more than two thousand concrete slabs of different heights, set on sloping ground in the center of the city, remembering the Jews murdered in Europe. Walk in slowly and quietly. An information center under the field tells individual stories.

   Go when Any hour, but it is calmer in the morning. Come with time to walk slowly.

   Local tip Walk into the middle, where the slabs rise above your head and the street noise falls away. The information center below tells personal stories, so check ahead for entry and give it time.

   

   About 12 min by car or transit3.7 km
5. 4
   MiddayWorth the time

   Mauerpark

   A long, grassy park laid over the old border strip, with a stretch of the Wall along its edge that is painted over again and again. Locals come for picnics, football and long afternoons. On many weekends in the warmer months there is also a flea market and open-air music.

   Go when Afternoon or early evening, when the park fills and the light is warm.

   Local tip Walk along the painted wall, then find a slope on the grass. It is busiest on weekends in the warmer months, so go on a weekday for a quieter park.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from MauerparkAbout 19 min by car or transit7.7 km

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Charlottenburg Palace

   The largest palace in Berlin, a baroque royal residence from the late 1600s with a long garden behind it and a small mausoleum in the grounds. Take the U-Bahn or a bus to the west of the city.

   Go when Morning, when the garden is calm.

   Local tip The long garden behind the palace is a good place to walk even if you skip the rooms. Check ahead for visits inside.

   

   About 15 min by car or transit5.4 km
3. 2
   AfternoonCheck ahead, registration needed

   Reichstag Building

   The seat of the German parliament, with a glass dome added in the 1990s. A spiral ramp climbs inside it to a wide view over the Tiergarten and the roofs of the city. Registration is needed, so check ahead and book your slot before you travel.

   Go when A slot near sunset (about 7:22 PM) if you can get one, for the view over the Tiergarten as the lights come on.

   Local tip Check ahead what to bring and how to register. Take the ramp slowly, with an audio guide, and stop wherever the view is good.

   

4. Lunch

   Currywurst

   Berlin’s street food classic: a sliced sausage under a sweet and spicy curry ketchup, served with a bread roll or fries from a small stand.

   Local tip Eat it standing at a counter. Order it with or without the casing, and ask for a roll to mop up the sauce.

   Places to try3 near Reichstag Building‹›

   • Currywurst, sausage stand

     Curry 36

     A currywurst stand on Mehringdamm in Kreuzberg, serving sausage with curry sauce and fries.

     1.3 km from Reichstag Building
   • Organic currywurst

     Witty's

     A currywurst stand at Wittenbergplatz that serves organic sausages with curry sauce.

     1.0 km from Reichstag Building
   • Currywurst, sausage stand

     Curry 61

     A currywurst stand on Oranienburger Strasse in Mitte.

     1.9 km from Reichstag Building

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 11 min by car or transit3.2 km
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

   The broken tower of a church bombed in 1943, left standing as a memorial to war, beside a modern church of blue glass. Step into the new church for the color of the light.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the sun comes through the blue glass of the new church.

   Local tip Look at the broken tower first, then step into the new church beside it for the color of the light. The tower hall holds a small exhibit, so check ahead.

   

   About 23 min walk1.8 km
6. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Tiergarten

   The big central park, once a royal hunting ground, with wide lawns, shaded paths, ponds and little bridges. It starts just west of the Brandenburg Gate. Walk without a plan and let the evening go slowly.

   Go when Sunset (about 7:22 PM), when the paths empty and the light comes low through the trees.

   Local tip Pick a path and follow it with no destination. Stations of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn ring the park, so you can leave whenever you like.

   

7. Dinner

   A beer garden supper

   Berlin loves to eat outside under the trees: pretzels, grilled sausage, potato salad and a cold drink at a long wooden table.

   Local tip Go early for a table, and bring a layer for when the air cools after sunset.

   

   Places to try2 near Tiergarten‹›

   • Beer garden, German

     Café am Neuen See

     A beer garden and restaurant beside a small lake in the Tiergarten, with tables under the trees.

     1.0 km from Tiergarten
   • Beer garden, German

     Schleusenkrug

     A beer garden by the Landwehr Canal lock at the west end of the Tiergarten, near the zoo.

     1.6 km from Tiergarten

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Drive from TiergartenAbout 38 min by car24.9 km

   Where Day 4 ended.
2. 1
   MorningBook ahead, a short visit

   Sanssouci Palace

   Frederick the Great’s yellow summer palace, set at the top of a terraced vineyard in a big park. Its name is French for without a care. Visits inside are by timed entry, so book ahead.

   Go when The first entry you can get, before the terraces fill.

   Local tip Even if you skip the inside, the terraces and the view back down the garden are the point. Book ahead if you want to go in, and check what you may take inside.

   

   About 5 min walk0.4 km
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Sanssouci Park

   A huge royal park of gardens, avenues, fountains and small palaces, part of a World Heritage site. Wander without a plan: the Chinese House, with its gilded figures, and the Roman Baths are tucked among the trees.

   Go when Midday, with a picnic on the grass.

   Local tip The park is big, so choose one loop and leave the rest. Paths are long and flat, and there is somewhere to sit down almost everywhere.

   

4. Lunch

   A picnic in the park

   Buy bread, cheese, cold cuts and fruit at the station or a bakery before you head out, and eat on the grass in Sanssouci Park.

   Local tip Pick a spot on the lawns away from the paths, with a view of the trees.

   About 15 min walk1.2 km
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   New Palace

   A grand baroque palace at the western end of the park, built by Frederick the Great after the Seven Years’ War. Walk the long avenue to it, and sit on the grass in front, from where you can see the whole front.

   Go when Afternoon, on the walk along the main avenue to the end of the park.

   Local tip The avenue from Sanssouci is a long, straight walk. If you are tired, sit on the grass in front of it instead. Check ahead if you want to go inside.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit3.1 km
6. 4
   EveningWorth a short stop

   Dutch Quarter

   More than a hundred red-brick houses with white-framed windows and gabled fronts, built in the 1700s for Dutch craftsmen. Today the lanes hold small cafes, shops and galleries, and it is calm at the end of the day.

   Go when Early evening, when the lanes are calm and the brick glows.

   Local tip Walk the lanes and look into the courtyards. Trains back to Berlin run into the evening, but check the last one ahead.

   

7. Dinner

   German home cooking

   The brick lanes hold small restaurants serving hearty plates: potatoes, dumplings, sausages and fish from the lakes around Potsdam.

   Local tip Book ahead for a weekend table, and check the last train back before you order dessert.

   

   Places to try2 near Dutch Quarter‹›

   • German, Brandenburg

     Zum Fliegenden Holländer

     A traditional German tavern in a Dutch-style house on Benkertstrasse, inside the Dutch Quarter.

     under 0.1 km from Dutch Quarter
   • Italian

     Il Teatro

     An Italian restaurant on Hegelallee in Potsdam, close to the Dutch Quarter.

     1.0 km from Dutch Quarter

   Hours change, so check before you go.