3 Day Berlin Itinerary for First-Timers
Brandenburg Gates in Berlin, Germany.
If you have three days in Berlin, take a look at my 3 day itinerary as first-timers. Note: some of my trip was dictated by the Berlin Card but I strongly recommend for tourists visiting for the first time and looking for discounts to museums and attractions as well as access to transportation.
Travel Day/Arrive in Mitte
After a long day of travel, I typically like to check in to the hotel, change out of my plane outfit, and do something chill for the rest of the evening. Once feeling a little refreshed, I departed the hotel in Mitte neighborhood and walked through the iconic Brandenburg Gates and down the main boulevard surrounded by the Tiergarten park.
Tiergarten
The Central Park to New York City or Hyde Park to London, Tiergarten is a patch of greenery in an otherwise bustling urban city. Though this garden has had several purposes over the centuries, it is most recently serving as a public park with memorials to the historic events that happened in Berlin. Perhaps one of the most surprising monument that we saw was the memorial to the fallen Soviets just west of the Brandenburg Gates. This memorial is flanked by Soviet tanks (replicas, I believe) and has a looming statue in the center. The surrounding the pillars written in English, Russian, and German calls memory to the Soviets who perished in the fight against the German Fascists. As an American, this sort of marker to the alliance with the Soviets if even for a short period of time would be unheard of.
Other memorials and art pieces are scattered throughout the park (its nearly 519 acres). For those who want to explore the park on two wheels, there are scooter and bike rentals parked all along the boulevard. I was especially grateful for the off-road bike lanes making travelling by two wheels safer and more relaxing. Make sure to get a closer look at the Victory Column perched between a roundabout.
A great hangout to get away from the bustling city in the beer garden.
Café Am Neuen See
One of my favorite stops was a Biergarten nestled within the Tiergarten and next to a lake. With the twinkling fairy lights hanging from mature trees, this space was absolutely beautiful. There were long tables lined with groups of people chatting over steins of beers. Conversations in a variety of languages hummed at each table.
Now I will caveat that this is not like the Oktoberfest beer garden you might envision with men in lederhosen and women in dirndls carrying multiple steins of beers. This beer garden is way more laid back. The primary building has a beer window, a dinner window (where you can order chicken, potato salad, and other German foods), and a pizza window. They also have baskets of large pretzels sitting out (a dream!). To the right, there is also ice cream and other drinks like coffee and cocktails.
Pizza was a great option for the price, so I ordered that, practicing my German even. I liked how no-fuss it was. You pick what you want, you order and bring it to the cashier. They will ring it up and you can pay in card or cash. Despite many parts of Germany being non-tipping culture, since this place is a little touristy, you may be prompted to tip. Once paid, the next task was finding a spot. I scanned the tables for a gap and rushed over to claim a seats. Don’t be afraid to make space as you are VERY likely to share a table with strangers. I didn’t mind because as we ate our pizza, it was so cool to hear the jumble of languages all around me enjoying nature, beer, and pizza.
Day 1
Morning:
Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe
Just south of the Brandenburg Gates is the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. Rows and rows of large black cement blocks take up a large portion of the space, reminiscent of a graveyard. Though the structures themselves are open to interpretation, observers are able to wander through the rows as they get smaller and smaller, lost within the columns. It is a somber reminder of the dark part of German history, in a way that is impossible to ignore. You don’t need to stay long but worth a stop as a part of your itinerary on your way to other activities.
Laser course at the German Spy Museum.
German Spy Museum (Deutsches Spionagemuseum)
Modern entertainment has heightened our fascination with spies and espionage. This museum was on the Berlin Card for a discount, and it would be a little non-traditional compared to the history or art museums on Museum Island (more on that later). At the entrance, there was a “scanner” where you were to put your arms above your head much like Americans may be familiar with going through TSA scanners. It was fake, but I appreciated the immersive experience it started with.
Without spoiling it too much, there several sample spy machines and tools along with interactive exhibits in German and English to learn more about how countries across the globe spied on each other during that time. I was mostly impressed to see all of the different spy mechanisms and inventions displayed throughout. Let’s just say there are many creative ways to hide cameras, weapons, and recording devices. Since it’s the GERMAN Spy Museum, there were specific callouts to how spies operated and were tracked throughout Berlin. Other parts of the museum highlight digital espionage and data concerns.
The highlight of the museum was the laser course. You know, like the ones that you see in movies or tv shows. You wait in line (we were in line with a bunch of kids, but I don’t even feel bad). You type in your name and difficulty level. Feeling confident, I selected hard. Then the countdown begins and you have one minute to get through the course without tripping the laser. Let’s just say, its harder than it looks. Even without kids, you will leave having learned a little bit more about life as a spy.
Midday:
Topography of Terror, an open-air museum in Berlin.
Topography of Terror (Dokumentationszentrum Topographie des Terrors)
Just a block south of the German Spy Museum was a very important historical open-air museum. Located in the remnants of an old SS bunker, the Topography of Terror is a long wall of historical information documenting the rise and fall of the Nazi Party as well as the atrocities they committed throughout history.
The plaques are written in German and English, and it is an important stop of your first trip to Berlin to read the history. I appreciated how Germany is unafraid to show this horrific part of their history so that we do not repeat it. It is not an easy museum to read through, but I was very glad I took the time to go.
Tip: I went during midday when the sun is beating down on the uncovered area so if you choose to go midday, wear sunscreen or plan to go at a different time in the day.
View of Checkpoint Charlie facing American Sector.
Checkpoint Charlie
Another common point of interest is Checkpoint Charlie. What was once a checkpoint for West/East Berlin divide, this shack has now become a tourist destination. In the middle of the street, this structure sits with a face of an American soldier looking towards East Berlin and on the other side is a Soviet soldier to reflect who you would be facing if looking in that direction during the separation of the city. Tourists flocked around this small island in the center of the road, sometimes causing traffic issues. I snapped a few photos but was unimpressed for the most part. I was also laughing at the irony of the location of American food chains like KFC and McDonalds on the “American sector” of Checkpoint Charlie.
Tip: If you don’t have time, I say skip this.
Day 2
Morning:
Street Art on Alternative Berlin Walking Tour.
Alternative Berlin Walking Tour
As I had already done several of the key monuments on our own, I opted for an Alternative Berlin Walking tour that showcased street art and counterculture in Berlin. Take a look at my full blog post on it here.
Midday:
My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love by Dmitri Vrubel is sometimes known as the “Fraternal Kiss”
East Side Gallery
The tour ended at the open-air African space called YAAM. I walked around as they were preparing jerk chicken and smoked meats for the crowds that would start arriving later that evening. Next, was the East Side Gallery. The longest portion of intact Berlin Wall has been covered with commissioned artwork that you may recognize. I walked along portions of the wall, amazed at the sheer size of the wall and thinking about how for decades, it separated families and friends from each other.
Of course the artwork is often making a political or social statement, calling out things like capitalism, climate change, colonialism, and violence. Note here, while it is tempting to take photographs, this was one of the few places within Berlin where I was especially aware of pickpockets or petty scams. Better safe than sorry!
Oberbaum Bridge (Oberbaumbrücke)
This red-stoned bridge is famous for its double deck and two towers. I snapped a few photos before trying a Doner Kebab at a stand below the train station. Even with my awkward German, the server continued to speak exclusively in German. I appreciated it in some ways, because we still got it figured out even without English. Plus, my Doner Kebab was delicious.
Outside of Computer Game Museum in Berlin.
Computer Game Museum (Computerspiele Museum)
This was an alternative museum choice. I stopped in the Computer Game museum for a taste of nostalgia as I played a variety of video games from history. It was fun to try games I haven’t played in a long time and learn some that I had never played before. You could spend a few hours here just trying different games and learning about the history of video games over the years. Playing games works up an appetite so stop for kaffee or eis at a nearby café.
Evening:
Reichstag building in Berlin.
Reichstag
That evening, I grabbed some Currywurst and headed over to the Reichstag. If you really want, you can reserve time to go into the building itself and admire the architecture and the viewing deck. Note, you do need to reserve in advance as they will do a check on your credentials (it’s a federal building). I just wanted to see the outside and it was pretty impressive. Then I went to a central city beer garden for some schnitzel and beer. It was along the Museum Island so although I didn’t prioritize any of those museums, the external architecture was still pretty impressive.
Day 3
Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany.
Day Trip to Potsdam
I am a huge fan of day trips. Even though there was so much more that I could have done in Berlin, I thought it would be good to get away from the big city for a little bit. With the ABC transit card, I was able to take the train to Potsdam, an hour southwest of the city. This quaint town is home to the Sanssouci (San-soo-see) palace among other Prussian era palaces and buildings. This palace was the summer home of Frederick the Great, the former king of Prussia. Plus, it was another discount location thanks to the Berlin Card.
If you can, I suggest getting here early, not for the crowds but more so you have enough time to do stuff. There are well-manicured gardens with notable buildings scattered throughout that you can tour with the day pass. Once done touring the palace grounds, go through the other Brandenburg Gate into the o a cute walking district where you can enjoy shops and cafes. Just know that it is a bit touristy in this area but still pleasant to walk along. The Dutch quarters feels a little bit like Amsterdam with the red brick buildings lined up along the water.
Note: if you opt out of the day trip, you can take the day to spend on Museum Island and tour the various museums. You could also consider going to the Berlin Zoo, if that is your thing.
Day 1 notable attractions
Memorial for Murdered Jews of Europe
German Spy Museum
Topography of Terror
Day 2 notable attractions
Alternative Berlin Walking Tour
YAAM
East Side Gallery
Oberbaum Bridge
Computer Game Museum
Reichstag
Day 3 notable attractions
Sanssouci Palace
New Palace (Neues Palais)
Dutch Quarter (Hollandisches Viertel)
Filmpark Babelsberg
Notable Berlin foods:
Café Am Neuen See
Brauhaus GEORGBRAEU
Curry Wolf
Mundis Kebap - Chicken – Burger