Essential Berlin Highlights for First-Time Visitors

Planning a trip to Berlin can be daunting – there is simply so much to see! Where should you begin? I’m here to help! Below you’ll find my recommendations for some of the best things to see in Berlin (and learn why I think they’re important), as well as some Top Tips to help you plan your visit. If it’s your first time in Berlin you can join me for a History & Highlights tour to get the best introduction to the city.

My top 5 must-see locations in Berlin

The Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is absolutely unmissable in Berlin! It’s so famous that it’s on the back of the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins minted in Germany (seriously, check your coins for it!). That said, visiting the Brandenburg Gate can be a bit…underwhelming. Many people snap a quick photo and move on without giving it a second glance. But the Brandenburg Gate has many interesting details – if you know where to look.

Get up close and look for irregularities in the stone work – small round patches and larger patches show us clearly where the Brandenburg Gate was damaged during WW2 and repaired again afterwards. Some of the smaller round patches cover up bullet holes from the Battle of Berlin.

The Brandenburg Gate was once the King’s entrance into Berlin, and one of 18 gates in Berlin’s Customs Wall constructed in the 1700s. If you look at the gate carefully you’ll notice that the middle archway is slightly bigger than the others – that’s because only the King was allowed to use it and he needed a grander entrance befitting a King.

Before the start of the Second World War 3 of these gates remained, today there is only the Brandenburg Gate left standing. As you walk through the Gate look for the round medallions up high inside the archways – they depict various battles fought by Hercules.

The TV Tower

The TV Tower was the East German way of showing off their technical capabilities during the space race era. It took just 4 years to build and can be seen from everywhere in Berlin (seriously, I can even see it from my balcony).

It’s the Eiffel Tower’s ugly step-sister and towers 368m above the city. Sometimes referred to as the ‘space asparagus’ it’s easy to understand why: the ball on top was inspired by the Russian Satellite Sputnik 1, and it’s a tall white stick, just like the famous white asparagus here in Germany.

While the TV Tower is a must-see in Berlin (and you can’t avoid seeing it!), I’d personally avoid buying a ticket to the busy viewing deck, and instead go for breakfast at the restaurant. From your table you can enjoy 360 degree views over the city, skip the crowds and visit the tower in a cost-efficient way.

Museum Island

With 5 museums you could easily spend 3 days here (and I recommend looking into the Museum Pass as an affordable way to visit Museums in Berlin if you’re planning to visit more than 2). Museum Island also houses the Humboldt Forum (a re-created 18th century Baroque Palace), and my personal favourite – the Berlin Cathedral.

Nearly all of the buildings on the island show WW2 damage (except for the Humboldt Forum which was only rebuilt in 2020), and the Berlin Cathedral is no different. The Berlin Cathedral even showcases some of Berlin’s WW1 history. If you look closely at the mosaic above the main entrance – to the right of Jesus you’ll be able to spot a war veteran on crutches.

The interior of the Cathedral is stunning, and for only €10 you can enter the Cathedral and climb up to visit the dome.

The Holocaust Memorial

Built between the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz lies the Holocaust Memorial. It was built here on purpose: so that people would have to walk past the memorial and confront this dark history everyday. Visiting the Holocaust Memorial is an absolute must if it’s your first time in Berlin, and even if you’ve been before – I find it’s different every time.

There is an information centre located underneath the memorial, that is free, and well worth a visit. The memorial itself has no information, so visiting the info centre provides the context to help understand why this memorial is so important.

I also personally recommend visiting the Jewish Museum in Berlin if you’d like to learn more. All of the best museums relating to the Holocaust, Nazi Germany and the Cold War are completely free in Berlin, and are well worth visiting.

Topography of Terror

Speaking of free museums…another favourite of mine is the Topography of Terror, which shouldn’t be missed. Covering the 12 years that the Nazis were in power, it is a powerful exhibition documenting the regime and the atrocities committed. Told mostly through photographs it is a very approachable exhibition.

While the location may seem a bit odd – right next to a fragment of the Berlin Wall, this site used to house the Gestapo Headquarters. In fact, the architects and museum decided to cover the surrounding area in stones so that people wouldn’t want to sit and picnic in this location – keeping it as a place to remember all the awful crimes committed. Look for the yellow lines on the ground which mark out the original location of the building and of some of the cells used to detain prisoners.

At the Topography of Terror not only can you learn about Nazi Germany, you can also check out the Berlin Wall and just a short 3-minute walk away is Checkpoint Charlie.

These are my top 5 sights to see in Berlin, but there is so much more and on my Highlights Tour we cover many of these spots as well as lesser-known sights. So why not join me?

Top tips for visiting Berlin’s Highlights

The best time of the year to visit Berlin

The best time of the year to visit Berlin (in my humble opinion as someone who hates the cold), is from the end of March until the end of October. June, July and August are some of the busiest and hottest months. Coming in the shoulder season means you’ll likely still have great weather, while avoiding the busiest time of the year.

The best way to get around Berlin

Public transport is the easiest way to get around the city. You can download the BVG Ticket App on your phone and buy tickets on-the-go, or buy a paper ticket at the train stations. Be sure to validate your paper tickets by stamping them in the machines at the start of your journey to avoid a fine!

How to save on food in Berlin

My top tip for traveling while on a budget is saving on food. Berlin has some of the cheapest and best food I’ve had in Western Europe. You can buy a kebab for about €7, a Turkish Pizza for the same, or dine out at a Vietnamese restaurant for €15. If you’re looking for affordable lunches, visit a supermarket. Most supermarkets have nice pre-made sandwiches or salad bars that are affordable and healthy.