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24 Hours in Berlin

I’ve teamed up with AccorHotels as an ambassador to promote 24 hour city visits. Discover the best things to see and do with just 24 hours in Berlin

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/
At the Brandenburg Gate – essential tourist selfie!

Berlin is one of Europe’s most magical cities – there’s no question about it. Berlin is at the heart of two worlds: at the center of Europe’s complicated 20th century history, but also the star of 21st century Europe politically, economically and culturally.

So, with just 24 hours in Berlin–how could you possibly see and do the best of both worlds?

Thankfully, much of the city’s incredible history is available everywhere—literally under your footsteps no matter where your feet might land. On the sidewalks you’ll find stolpersteine—gold stumbling block memorials left as reminders of the Holocaust—and a brick path tracing the infamous Berlin Wall.

But even with just a single day in Berlin, there’s much more than history to discover here. These days, it’s the legendary Berlin nightlife (which often goes on nonstop for entire weekends) and the rising art and culinary scene making Berlin one of Europe’s most exciting, magical cities.

Berlin For One Day - Travel Tips - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/

How to See Berlin in 24 Hours

The Essentials

Berlin Fashion - Illustration by Clairikine
Look like a Berliner with these fashion tips

First, you’re going to need a day pass for the Berlin U-Bahn. The metro system is easy to navigate and will get you around the city quickly—even if you don’t speak German! With a day pass you’ll be able to travel everywhere you need to go without worrying about buying tickets repeatedly. \

While renting a bike can be a great way to see the city (especially on a rare summer day), the U-Bahn will get you to all the major tourist hotspots—and on weekends it’s open 24 hours!

The Berlin WelcomeCard offers unlimited travel on the trams, trains and buses plus discounts on certain museums and attractions.

Also, make sure you’re dressed comfortably for a day in Berlin. You should be prepared to walk a lot, but it can be helpful to be aware of the unique Berlin style if you want to fit in with the locals (and maybe go dancing in one of Berlin’s many nightclubs).

Even for exploring the nightlife, your shoes should be flat and comfortable. There aren’t many places worth wearing high heels.

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/
Brandenburg Gate is superimposed on the windows of the Berlin U-Bahn and it’s so, so pretty

The Morning

Assuming you arrive in Berlin early, don’t expect a lot of places to open early. This is a late-night city. However, some of Berlin’s best historical monuments are all available to visit for free in the open-air, so with just a day in Berlin, start there.

Berlin’s central district, Mitte, provides a perfect base for understanding Berlin’s history and with it you can spot a number of the city’s most important memorials. There’s even a free 4-hour walking tour every day leaving in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate from 10am onwards.

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/
The Holocaust Memorial is a must-see in Berlin

If you don’t have so much time, you can hit the major sites on your own. In the area, you’ll find the Reichstag (which you can visit for free with a pre-scheduled appointment).

From there, it’s an easy walk to Brandenburg Gate and the four distinct Holocaust memorials in and around Tiergarten park.

The most famous of which is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, but you’ll also find memorials dedicated to gay and lesbian Holocaust victims, handicapped and disabled victims and the Sinti and Roma populations.

The Afternoon

From Brandenburg Gate, you can make yourself over to Potsdamer Platz—Berlin’s sprawling commercial district which today is home to a number of different attractions.

There’s the Berlin Spy Museum (great for families or James Bond geeks), the Mall of Berlin (great for shoppers), the Topography of Terrors (an historical museum detailing the history of the Gestapo and SS), the Martin-Gropis Bau (a contemporary art museum) and the world-famous Checkpoint Charlie.

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/
Autumn in Berlin is best in the Tiergarten park

While in Mitte, the area between Hackesher Markt and Rosenthaler Platz is a great place for afternoon exploration. Affordable and trendy restaurants like Shiso Burger, Cocolo Ramen, I Due Forni, Yumcha Heroes and W Der Imbiss, offer great lunch deals.

In the area, you’ll also find cool shops, trendy cafés and small museums and galleries. The magazine-only bookshop, Do You Read Me and the art bookshop Gestalten Space are as pretty as they are useful—with a diverse and unique curated collection of products.

The Evening

After exploring an introduction to Berlin’s history and the hip area of Mitte, it’s best to make your way into Berlin’s more contemporary culture.

Get on the U-Bahn and visit Kreuzberg. Between the stations of Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn and Kottbusser Tor, you’ll be in the center of Berlin’s most hipster neighborhood. Street art covers the walls of buildings, bars and cafés overflow with bearded guys in baseball caps and girls in short, black dresses.

Take a walk down Oranienburger Strasse at dusk, especially on a warm, summer day, and the sights and smells are sure to overwhelm—in a good way!

Kreuzberg Berlin
Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg (Berlin) is the place to be!

This is the Berlin I know, the one that I love. Where there’s history everywhere around you, but people are still living their lives, creating new art, new movements and doing new things. Kreuzberg has been at the fringe of Berlin for a long time.

During the time of the Berlin Wall, the neighborhood was part of West Berlin, butting right against the wall—an area popular with immigrants. Much of that energy is still there today and, as a tourist, it’s easy to find it in the small, indie nightclubs, bars, budget restaurants, galleries and cafés that line the streets of Kreuzberg.

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/

The Night

If you’re looking for a taste of Berlin’s nightlife, make your way to some of my favorite Kreuzberg bars. Tante Emma and John Muir serve great, innovative cocktails.

Facciola, on the edge of the hip Görlitzer Park, serves amazing Italian food alongside affordable, top-quality wines imported from Italy. And craft beer bar Hopfenreich serves a seemingly endless supply of local and international craft beers. When the night starts to turn to morning again, the clubs will be in full swing.

Club der Visionaire is a barge located on the shores of the Landwehr canal pumping techno music all day and night on the weekends.

And the Birgit and Bier beer garden is an indoor/outdoor club open from the afternoon and regularly hosting a number of different parties and festivals.

* * *

Visiting Berlin in a single day can be a challenge—there’s just too much to see and do! Stay energized when following the above itinerary with Berlin’s local favorite drink—Club Mate.

It’s a caffeinated energy drink made from South American mate tea that tastes a bit like stale beer mixed with cigarettes and piss—but don’t let that turn you off! It’s got a kick and it’s sure to keep you on the move all day long. No Berlin itinerary would be complete without it!

Berlin in One Day - What To See & Do - https://travelsofadam.com/2016/10/24-hours-berlin/
  1. Cynthia says:

    Great itinerary! When I studied in Berlin, one of my colleagues had this thing like he was too cool to see the Brandenburger Tor, so he avoided it THE WHOLE SEMESTER! As if, he would be too much of a tourist if he saw it. Pffffftt, I say! I love to take bus or stroll down Unter den Linden once in awhile.
    By the way, Club Mate tastes like unicorns and fairy-wings, are you kidding?! I seriously love the flavor.

    • Adam says:

      Thank you Cynthia! Hahah – funny story about being a tourist! Sometimes I feel that way too, tbh… but I think I’ve now managed to see just about every major tourist site at least once!

      And GREAT description re: Club Mate! I’m 100% addicted to it haha… What are your thoughts on the newer caffeinated Mate drinks?

  2. Megan says:

    I can’t wait to call Berlin my home. Thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Kyle says:

    The more that I read about Berlin, the more excited I get … can’t wait to get there on my trip next year!

  4. I’ve never been to Berlin, but my husband has been there twice waaay back before we were even dating. He told me that I would love it there and I can’t wait to visit this lovely city!

  5. Olya says:

    Wow! What an interesting post! I believe you’ve visited all the interesting places in Berlin. The photos are amazing! I love this post

  6. Scott G. says:

    Adam, Thanks for your blog. Really enjoying getting to know Berlin through your eyes!

  7. I’ve heard so many good things about this city! Thanks for the tips. :)

  8. Chloe says:

    Love your 24 hours in Berlin! Berlin is on my bucket list!! Bookmarked this for our future trip!

    p.s. my 24 hours in NYC went live today! http://beyondblessedblog.com/24-hours-in-new-york-city/

  9. Paul says:

    This is a great post! I’m always looking for more things to do in this amazing city!!

  10. Carl Kruse says:

    Berlin in 24 hours?

    Probably enough time to fall in love with the energy of the place.

    I did and ended up moving to Berlin, which turns out to be more common than anyone outside Berlin imagines.

    Cheers Adam!

    Carl Kruse

  11. Nancy Pearson says:

    what is the best area to be in for a family of 50 year olds in Berlin for only 2 nights?

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