A weekend Berlin: Great destinations for an ideal short holiday

A weekend is not nearly enough time to experience everything Berlin has to offer, but you can still squeeze in a few can’t-miss landmarks of the city to give you a taste of what it’s like to live in the German capital. Because of the ease of public transport and the relative concentration of many attractions in Berlin, you can hit the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building, the Holocaust Memorial, and more to make your weekend in Berlin unforgettable. Take a trip back in time with a visit to Museum Island or visit the last section of the Berlin Wall

Whether you're viewing the last remains of the Berlin Wall or strolling through the lush paths of the historic Tiergarten park, riding an open-top boat down the Spree River, or just exploring offbeat neighborhood streets, Berlin is sure to fascinate.

Table of Contents

• Discover Berlin’s Historic Architecture
• Museums and Galleries in Berlin to visit
• Berlin's Theatre and Opera Venues
• Berlin Forests, Parks, and Gardens
• Alternative Berlin
• Frequently Asked Questions

Discover Berlin’s Historic Architecture

First, visitors should check out some of Berlin's historical architecture. The Brandenburg Gate, a Neoclassical structure with six columns topped with a four-horse chariot, is perhaps the city's most famous monument. Many Berliners consider the Brandenburg Gate the centerpiece of the city. Cars are not allowed to drive near it, and it has become a public square that boasts firework shows, broadcasts of sporting events, and a place of national celebration. At night, the Brandenburg Gate glows with beautiful lights. The Brandenburg Gate has been standing for centuries and has been visited and hosted speeches by some of the world’s most famous leaders, including Napoleon himself.

The Berlin Cathedral showcases New Baroque architecture and has a 75-meter high dome that provides superb views. The interior includes the Imperial Staircase, decorated with paintings. The Cathedral is one of the finest examples of New Baroque architecture in the city and offers tours throughout this magnificent building. You can also visit the cathedral on your own and marvel from the inside on the ornate square surrounding the cathedral, and of course from the inside. 

The Victory Column, a monument set in the middle of a roundabout, is a 70-meter high structure topped with a gold Victoria statue. Visitors can climb to the top of the monument for some great views over the Tiergarten. The impressive bronze statue is of the Roman Goddess of Victory and hails the triumph of Prussia’s victories in the unification wars that brought all of the German states under one flag in the mid-19th century. Today, it’s a reminder of the fragmented past of Germany and the bloodshed that finally resulted in one unified Germany. It's a significant landmark to include in your plans for a weekend in Berlin.

Museums and Galleries in Berlin to visit

Museum Island includes some of the city's most notable museums. The Bodes Museum displays Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance art in an ornate setting. Bodes houses some of the oldest artwork and artifacts of any collection in Europe. It is often considered the historic center of Berlin and has been standing for over 100 years. 

The Altes Museum houses the antiquities collection and showcases a vast collection of decorative arts. The museum's standard tickets are also 10 euros.

The Pergamon also exhibits antiquities and is most notable for housing original, reconstructed monuments, including the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate of Miletus. While the Pergamon Museum is currently closed for renovations, you can still admire the Stripped Classicism style. Built in 1930, the Pergamon is undergoing an ambitious remodel to showcase its original majesty.

The Currywurst Museum is, of course, devoted to Germany's signature currywurst (sausage with a curry-ketchup sauce). The museum covers the history of fast food, the currywurst war, and Germany's sausage industry.

The German Museum of Technology exhibits a technical artifact collection. It showcases trains and aircraft, such as the Junker Ju 52 and the Messerschmitt Bf 110. 

Berlin's Theatre and Opera Venues

Perhaps the most notable of Berlin's many theatre and opera venues is the Konzerthaus concert hall. The concert hall includes shows from the Konzerthausorchester Berlin symphony orchestra.

The Komische Oper Berlin is a great opera and ballet venue, which includes modern musical theatre productions in its program.

Note that most of Berlin's theatrical productions are in German with English subtitles. However, one notable exception is the Berlin English Theatre, the city's only English theatre with German subtitles. The theatre includes international guest productions along with the company's shows, making it a perfect highlight for a weekend in Berlin

Berlin Forests, Parks, and Gardens

There are expansive gardens and forests in and around Berlin, like the 32-square-kilometre Grunewald, to the city's west. The forest has an abundance of wildlife and three lakes that are great for water sports.

The Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden is a 104-acre botanical garden. The gardens include thousands of plant species and an arboretum with further trees and shrubs. Visitors can also check out the Botanical Museum, which houses more than two million plants.

A visit to Tempelhofer Feld is also a great idea -- the site of the former airport is now a giant, expansive flat park where visitors can stroll right down the runway.

Alternative Berlin

Besides its historical sites and high culture venues, Berlin is known for its counterculture. Take a walk around emerging neighborhoods in the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts and explore a variety of cafes, tiny boutiques, small parks, and pleasant bars. Even if you’re short on time, you won’t need to look far to find dance clubs, restaurants, and bars welcoming revelers from all over the world. 

Berlin’s only airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Europe Shuttle provides airport transfers to various destinations. From the airport, visitors can take the S-Bahn train, though regional trains may be a quicker alternative. Note that the Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof are the primary rail stations in Berlin.

Easily reached and with plenty of cultural and historical alternatives to see, these are just a few of the locations recommended for a weekend in Berlin.

If you have an opportunity to spend any amount of time in Berlin, you’re in for a cornucopia of food, music, history, architecture, and just about anything else you’re interested in. Be sure to hit the largest and most famous landmarks to learn what this old and great city is all about. When searching for accommodations, consider NH Hotels’ wide range of boutique hotels in and around Berlin to round out your experience in the German capital.

Planning your trip to Berlin? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Berlin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to shop in Berlin? 

Kurfürstendamm Street offers a wide range of high-quality products from the world’s most famous brands. You can also visit several high-end department stores found throughout the city.

Where should I stay for a quick weekend in Berlin? 

NH Hotels has a variety of boutique-style hotels all offering top-notch amenities and services, each with quick, easy access to different vibrant neighborhoods in the city.

What’s the top destination in Berlin that I cannot miss?

If you’re on a limited schedule in Berlin, we recommend at least visiting the Brandenburg Gate to take in the spiritual center of the city.

Author: David Rickerson-Seidel

Guest Relations Manager at NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse

My name is David Rickerson-Seidel and I have been part of the NH Hotel Group since September 2015 when the first NH Collection Hotel opened in Germany. After 16 years of hotel experience, I was offered a great chance to meet people from all over the world and each time I was able to learn from them – this is one of the reason why I love my position as a Guest Relation Manager. My daily task is to fulfil our guest’s needs before they actually asking for it. With my passion for my job it is always a great pleasure to see our guests happy and smiling before they leave the hotel and I know that we have done the job right. I always say that the only thing that a guest can’t buy and book in advance is our smiling receptionist with a warm welcoming, the friendly breakfast host who would like to know if you slept well, and our elusive room maid, who is preparing the room so that it feels like home – our employees make the difference – this is why you are not checking into your room at a terminal. Whatever you need – we are always there for you.