2 days in Berlin – a memorable weekend
Last Updated on October 28, 2024 by Ingrid & Alex
A perfect blend of turbulent history, creativity, technology, and rich culture, Berlin is undoubtedly a place of dreams. But spending only 2 days in Berlin is certainly not enough time to explore the city. Still, you’ll be glad to know that this “Quite Impossible” task can be completed.
Of course, you won’t be able to see absolutely everything. However, these two days spent in Berlin will help you plan your next big trip.
This article from routeprints.com will tell you how to make the most of your weekend plans for Berlin.
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Table of Contents
Where to stay in Berlin
First things first, and the one thing everyone wants to know when traveling to a new place: where to stay?
Berlin is vibrant, fun-loving, and exciting, but you’ll want to choose the right area to stay in.
Which area should you choose?
- Friedrichshain – if you’re traveling on a budget
- Mitte – when you’re traveling for the first time and want to be in the center of it all
- Kreuzberg – if you’re in Berlin for the nightlife
- Charlottenburg – when you’re looking for a family-friendly neighborhood
That being said, here are the top choices depending on your budget:
- Luxury: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. This beautiful, comfortable, modern hotel is ideally located to make the most of your visit to Berlin.
- Mid-range: Motel One Alexanderplatz has small, chic rooms in a perfect location. Guests were impressed by the excellent service and the hotel’s beautiful design.
Check out their availability here!
- Budget-friendly: MEININGER Hotel Berlin Mitte is close to the city center and a few minutes from the U-Bahn.
Day 1 of your 2 days in Berlin
Hey! Good Morning.
So, this is your first day in Berlin, and you want to capture the best of Berlin, right? After all, you’ve spent your hard-earned money on this.
Don’t worry—go through the list, and we will make it worth your while. Before you start sightseeing, visit a bakery or cafe, because the city serves some great and tempting dishes.
Brandenburg Gate
Starting with the first stop of the first day, Brandenburg Gate is a place that will help you learn a lot about Berlin’s history.
The beautiful gate is one of the prime reasons most visitors come. Earlier, people would climb the observation platform and get a beautiful glimpse beyond the Iron Curtain into East Berlin.
But now, this mind-blowing place signifies the feeling of “Unity and Hope” instead of the forced separation among people. All in all, the Brandenburg Gate is the best way to kickstart your first day.
Moreover, if you’re visiting during the fall, come here once the sun has set to admire the Festival of Light: each year in October, light installations decorate the major landmarks in Berlin at night.
Try going on a Sights and Highlights biking or walking tour. It’s always the best way to experience a city to the fullest and learn about its history.
Reichstag Dome
Are you ready to visit your next stop?
This place is home to the German parliament (Bundestag), yet another important historical landmark that you must not forget to visit.
This original dome was damaged during World War II, and it’s the beautiful glass dome that you can see today. You cannot just visit the dome but also have a great lunch at the restaurant at the top of the dome and witness the amazing panoramic views of the city.
Remember, you need to register yourself before visiting the dome. After all, you’re going to a government site, so checking is a must.
You need to register at least a month before, or even before, if possible. You can either visit https://visite.bundestag.de/ or just sign up for a guided tour, and they’ll take care of the arrangements.
Holocaust Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
You cannot leave the city without visiting this place and learning what happened in Europe during World War II.
A few minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial is where around 6 million Jewish Victims of the Nazi Holocaust are commemorated.
The place can inspire self-introspection when you wander around the blocks, wondering what they mean and represent. It might seem mournful, but it is an important site to visit.
When you want to learn more about the Jewish community, the Holocaust, and much more, don’t miss out on taking this 4-hour walking tour packed with information.
The Tiergarten
Here comes Berlin’s most famous park, just behind the Brandenburg Gate.
This huge and beautiful park includes the Berlin Zoo, which has several different species (perfect for families visiting Europe), the Victory Column, and one of the best beer gardens in Berlin.
You can easily rent a bike to roam around the park and appreciate its beauty; many bike lanes exist. Visit the place on warmer days, and you can spend some quality time with your family or friends. Maybe you can call out for a picnic.
Since there are no public drinking laws, you can quickly bring your beer bottles and spend a lovely evening.
Also, if you are there, visit Café am Neun See, a lovely beer garden with great views and atmosphere. For a better experience, get a traditional German beer with an exotic, authentic German dish. Remember, the garden remains open in late spring and closes in autumn.
Museum Island
The name suggests that you will explore various museums with various specialties, and Museum Island is the best site to visit at noon.
To save your precious time and for some recommendations, check which museum offers what, so you can book the tickets in advance and avoid the hassle of standing in a long queue.
Pergamon Museum: One of the coolest museums, this place will let you learn and appreciate the reconstruction of the Gate of Ishtar, one of the original seven wonders of the world and part of the Babylonian Empire.
Bode Museum: This is where you can see a massive collection of sculptures from the medieval period to the 18th century.
Alte Nationalgalerie: This is where you can see the iconic artwork of famous artists, including Monet, Renoir, Manet, and Friedrich. The museum is all about romanticism, impressionist, neoclassical, and early modernist art.
Neues Museum: This museum houses selected pieces from the Egyptian Museum and the Papyrus Collection. When there, you cannot miss the bust of Queen Nefertiti.
Altes Museum: Here, you can learn and love the art and sculpture from the Roman Empire and ancient Greece.
So, now that you have a brief of these fabulous museums, selecting one that interests you the most would be a breeze.
Or when you want to see more, the Museum Pass Berlin will help you save money!
Plan to use public transportation and visit museums? Save with the Berlin Welcome Card! It provides free public transportation for 72 hours and free entrance to all museums on Museum Island.
Alexanderplatz
One of the prettiest places to visit in Berlin has to be Alexanderplatz, the site of the TV tower, the second-tallest structure in the European Union.
Let yourself soak up in the eye-catching panoramic views of the buildings.
You’ll also get to see the Fountain of Friendship, World Clock, and a lot of shopping.
Make the most of your stop and skip the lines with a priority ticket to the Berlin Tower, topped with a window-seat restaurant ticket.
Day 2 of your Berlin 2 day itinerary
Explore the Best of the Neighborhoods in Berlin
Start your day in Neukölln, full of great vintage stores, alleyways covered with graffiti, and pleasantly old-fashioned cafes where you can spend quality time with loved ones.
Take a neighborhood tour and travel from the Middle Ages to the present.
Next, you can make it to the Pequod Books, a shop for second-hand books written in 25 beautiful languages. The best part about the bookshop is its owner, who only keeps the books he likes for sale, so you can always have trust or faith that you’re getting the right gem.
BLUB Spassbad can be your most loved spot. It is a closed swimming pool covered with outstanding graffiti. This place is also used for photoshoots and some great underground parties.
If you have a soft spot for vintage shops, you’ll adore Weserstraße. You can even visit the small local boutiques. If you’re visiting the vicinity during the evening, hop into the bar, which features vintage furniture, great lighting for the perfect mood, and cozy sofas.
Eastside Gallery
Check out one of the nicest places in Berlin, which will also help you get some lit Instagrammable pictures. It is situated in the Mühlenstraße in the Berlin Friedrichshain district. You’ll be amazed to know that this place is the world’s longest (1.3km long) open-air gallery, painted and made by 112 skillful artists from 21 countries. Sounds amazing, right?
Also, see the artwork carefully because each picture narrates a story or has a message.
Recommendation: Visit the café Veganz Berlin-Friedrichshain, just next to the gallery. It is a great place for those who love vegan food or want to grab a quick cup of coffee and cake before heading towards the gallery.
Where can you eat in Berlin
With such an abundance of restaurants, café, coffee shops, bars, and street food options, choosing the best one might look daunting. So, here’s a quick review of the best place you can check out during your weekend in the city.
Currywurst is a must-visit place in Berlin, and you cannot return home without trying Curry 36. Here, you can have the best organic and gluten-free sausages.
Brammibal’s Donuts can be an ideal pick for an exotic brunch and the most delicious, beautiful, and decorated donuts you’ve ever tried. They even make excellent coffee.
The Bird is undoubtedly a place to visit for a tasty burger. Their burgers are made of quality, fresh ground meat and are perfectly grilled.
When you’re feeling more adventurous, take a 3.5-hour food tour and discover a vibrant food scene.
Where to drink in Berlin
Berlin offers many unique places to enjoy an evening and relax. Check these places out of the many options available and see if they can help you in any way.
Tarantino’s Bar can be your place if you’re a die-hard fan of Quentin Tarantino. The place is covered with his movie posters, and he has autographed most of them.
Department is a place for you if you love dancing until sunrise. It is a captivating restaurant/club where you can stay until late evening and enjoy yourself at your best.
Monkey Bar is a nice rooftop bar with views of the zoo, Tiergarten, and beautiful Berlin. Take some pictures as a return ticket to the moment you spent there. Remember that the place is a bit expensive, so check your budget.
Germans love their beer, and you shouldn’t leave Berlin without going on a Craft and German Beer Tour.
Don’t worry. Berlin will never disappoint you, whether only one day, two days, or a week.
Other Germany travel resources
- Spend 2 days in Munich with my ultimate itinerary
- Check out my ultimate list of the best places to stay in Munich based on my countless travels to the city
- Take the prettiest pictures in the most Instagrammable places in Munich
- Drive Germany’s Romantic Road and be enchanted by castles and vineyards
- Find out the best things to do in Munich during winter
- One day in Nuremberg
- One day in Frankfurt
Other City Break Options
- Spend 4 days and discover Hong Kong
- The Ultimate 4 days in London
- 2 days in Vienna
- 3 days in Budapest
- Ho Chi Minh Itinerary: Discover Vietnam’s largest city.
- 3 days in Seoul: A Complete Itinerary.
- 2 days in Lisbon
- Unusual things to do in Amsterdam
- Love at first sight: 3 days in Stockholm
- Things to do in Barcelona
- One Day in Bologna
- 3 days in Thessaloniki
- Your perfect 2 days in Rome
- 2 days in Athens
PIN FOR LATER!
This is the best travel review I’ve ever seen. I love how you split up accommodations by budget, and how there are so many quick tips about actually being there, what the experience is like. Your writing is fun and clear and it feels like I’m about to head to Berlin myself! (Well, when social distancing is over, anyway.)
Amazing experience. Great photos! You wrote in such detail and “tasty”! Your post inspires a trip to Berlin. I hope I can do it after quarantine! Thanks!