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Capital and largest city of Germany
Photo: A.Savin, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city. Within the city limits, Berlin in 2022 had a population of 3.7 million. Berlin is coming into its own again as a cosmopolitan capital of one of Europe's wealthiest nations. "Arm aber sexy" (poor but sexy), as a former mayor would have it, Berlin attracts young people, students, and a creative bohème like few other cities in the world. With architectural heritage from Prussian monarchism, Nazism, East German communism and Potsdamer Platz, filled with 1990s- and 2000s-style glass palaces after having been a "blank canvas" due to the wall, Berlin's architecture is as varied as its neighbourhoods and its people. And due to its long history as a cosmopolitan capital, it has attracted immigrants from all over the world for more than 300 years now, who continue to leave their own marks on the city.
The "heart" of Berlin has many historically important sights, abundant cafés, restaurants, museums, galleries, and clubs.
This used to be the urban heart of West Berlin with Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm) and Tauentzienstraße still major shopping areas. While the party has since moved east, there are great restaurants and hotels as well as the Olympic stadium and Schloss Charlottenburg.
Made up of historically diverse neighbourhoods, Kreuzberg was in the West but almost encircled by the wall. It drew leftists, cheapskates and malcontents, including a large squatter scene that frequently clashed with police, Friedrichshain likewise had squatters after reunification while "Prenzlberg" was a much more laid-back residential neighbourhood. Today all those areas are gentrifying, or already gentrified, but there are still numerous cafes, clubs, and bars.
Spandau and Reinickendorf are beautiful old towns, which feel much more spacious than the inner city. At times they can feel a world apart from Berlin. If you ask the average Berliner, and even many Spandauers, they'll tell you Spandau isn't "actually Berlin".
The museum at the site of the 1945 surrender to the Soviet army and the former Stasi prison are an essential visit for anyone interested in East German history. Marzahn-Hellersdorf's reputation for being a vast collection of dull high-rise apartment blocks is undeserved because it is the home of the "Gardens of the World", a large park where you can explore various ethnic styles of garden design.
The southwest corner of Berlin, a rather bourgeois and relatively sparsely populated area with easy access to Potsdam.
The rapidly-gentrifying northern parts of Neukölln now seamlessly pass over into East Central, and Tempelhof is still known as the site of "the mother of all airports" (now a park).
The southeastern corner, famous for the Hauptmann von Köpenick.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The 100 and 200 bus lines are just ordinary bus lines, but they pass by many of Berlin's famous landmarks. Both run every 5–10 minutes between S+U-station Zoologischer Garten and S+U-station Alexanderplatz. All BVG tickets are accepted.
By far the biggest boat company in Berlin. They offer tours on most lakes.
Offers different Segway Sightseeing Tours in Berlin. Start near Brandenburger Tor, for small groups up to 10 people.
Showing the city of Berlin on hand-picked architectural routes. Led by architects in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Tours from the water, on land or in a helicopter are offered. They arrange your special tour on contemporary architecture in Berlin with many exclusive visits to the interiors of buildings.
Offers the possibility of a long-term stay on the waterways of Berlin and the surrounding federal state Brandenburg.
An annual festival begun in 1999 that is dedicated to new music featuring both world premieres and music by recent composers. Concerts take place in different venues across the city and are performed by small ensembles up to big orchestras.
The city's largest cultural event and an important fixture in the global film industry's calendar (up there with Cannes). 250,000 tickets sold, 400 different films screened and a host of associated parties and events every year. In contrast to Cannes, all screenings at the Berlinale are open to the public. Tickets are inexpensive and relatively easy to get for the "International Forum of Young Film" screenings and the "Berlinale Panorama" (movies which are not in the competition).
A festival with contemporary music and performances on issues of our time, organised by Berliner Festspiele.
Worldwide Music Day
All kinds of music around the city on this day coordinating with a similar day in most French cities.
A music festival established in 2000 that features youth orchestras from around the world. The concerts take place in the Konzerthaus Berlin on Gendarmenmarkt. The festival usually runs for around 2 weeks. Concerts often feature world premieres.
Long Night of Museums
A large cultural event with many museums (around 80) open until 02:00 and extra events around the city.
Tag der offenen Tür der Bundesregierung
For one weekend, the federal government organises doors open days where most of the Federal Ministries and other governmental institutions can be accessed. Parts of the German Chancellery are also accessible, where the current chancellor will usually show up. Free transport between the locations is provided. There are security checks and they advise to avoid bringing larger objects (such as suitcases). Bring an official ID with you.
A large classical music festival marking the beginning of the season. For about 2 weeks there are concerts in many of Berlin's music venues. Renowned international and German orchestras perform. Organised by Berliner Festspiele.
A 10-day-long festival when famous buildings in Berlin are illuminated in a special way.
As a lot of people came to Berlin from the southern or western area of Germany where Fasching, Fastnacht or Karneval is celebrated, a carnival parade was also established in Berlin. It grew bigger and bigger (about 500,000 to 1 million people watching), but the costumes and cars are rather boring and the people are not as dressed up as in the "original" big carnival parades (Cologne, Mainz, Düsseldorf). Since 2007 the traditional route across Kurfürstendamm was chosen. People from Berlin themselves don't care a bit about Karneval; this is mostly an event for people coming from the regions of Germany that have a Karneval. In fact, most Berliners will be laughing at you if you mention that you went to Karneval - it isn't a Berlin tradition, but a post-1990 institution.
Carnival of Cultures
Berlin's Pride is one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQIA+ events in the world. While it remains a serious political demonstration for equal rights and protection against discrimination, it is equally famous for its massive, carnival-like atmosphere. Even for those not involved in the movement, the parade is a spectacular sight, featuring elaborate floats, wild costumes, and techno beats that turn the city center into a giant open-air party.
It was founded in 1997 as a counter-movement to the commercialized Love Parade, and has evolved into an annual political demonstration for the preservation of Berlin's underground club culture and against gentrification. Unlike mainstream techno events, this parade focuses on extreme electronic music such as Gabber, Hardcore, and Breakcore. It remains strictly non-commercial, featuring political speeches and a convoy of "sound trucks" that protest the displacement of subcultural spaces. It usually takes place in late summer.
The Hanfparade is Europe's largest political demonstration for the legalization and normalization of cannabis. Even after Germany's partial legalization in 2024, it remains a massive annual event focused on further reforms and full commercial integration. While the atmosphere regarding consumption has become much more relaxed, visitors should stay mindful of public consumption rules (especially staying away from minors).
Alba Berlin, known as The Albatross are consistently among the best basketball teams in Germany, and one of the best in Europe. Their erstwhile dominance of the German league has been challenged by the upstart Bayern Munich basketball division flush with cash from the soccer division of the same club. Expect a fierce atmosphere and a packed hall for games against Munich or their traditional rival Bamberg. With fans crazier than most in the NBA, Albatross games at the o2 World arena are an exciting way to take in one of the world's greatest sports.
Can be found around the city. Check out BBB for pool listings and opening times.
The Berlin Eisbären (Polar Bears) play this fast, exciting and very physical sport during the winter. The excitement is heightened by the singing and chanting of the crowds, who are fueled by the copious quantities of wurst and beer available.
The Berlin Crocodiles host regular matches in the summer.
By train
The central station Berlin Hauptbahnhof together with Südkreuz (Southern Cross, formerly Papestraße) and Ostbahnhof (Eastern Station) — plus minor Gesundbrunnen in the north and Spandau in the west —…
By bus
By car
Berlin's "capital beltway", the A10 Berliner Ring, extends up to 30 km outside the city limits and actually only touches Berlin itself in the Northeast.
By ship
Being some 200 km inland, Berlin does not have a seaport.
By bicycle
The 700-km Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route and the 340-km Berlin-Usedom Cycle Route both end in Berlin.
By public transport
As Berlin is a major metropolis with pretty decent public transit, you should take buses, trains and trams whenever possible as those cover most of the city and are often the fastest way to get to…
By train
If you need to get around the city quickly, take the S-Bahn.
By U-Bahn
The Berlin U-Bahn (commonly understood to be short for Untergrundbahn - "underground railway") is a network of nine lines across the city. They are numbered from 1 to 9 with the prefix "U" ().
By tram (streetcar)
The trams (Straßenbahn) are mostly found in East Berlin, as the West Berlin tram network was shut down in the 1960s in an effort to make the city more car friendly.
By bus
Berlin's buses are a very important form of public transportation, as they complement the light rail systems wherever they were removed (trams in the West) or remain incomplete.
By bicycle
Berlin has no steep hills and offers many bicycle paths (Radwege) throughout the city (although not all are very smooth).
By e-hailing
By taxi
Taxi services are easy to use and a bit less expensive than in many other big Central European cities.
By car
Driving around Berlin can be expensive and time consuming compared to a combination of walking and public transport, but compared to other European cities with dense old towns and narrow streets,…
By ferry
Despite not being a maritime city like Hamburg or Venice, Berlin does have usable waterways and the BVG run a couple of ferries, which can be accessed with regular BVG tickets.
By gondola lift
In the course of the 2017 international gardening exhibition in Berlin/East, Berlin received its first gondola lift, which stayed in operation after the exhibition closed.
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Articles and travel topics about Berlin and Germany.
Travel tipsNavigate German rail travel with confidence. Compare the flat-rate regional Deutschlandticket with high-speed ICE trains, seat booking, and delays.
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Culture & historyTrace the scars of divided Germany in Berlin. Visit the authentic Bernauer Straße wall memorial, explore historic quarters, and avoid tourist traps.
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ItinerariesPlan your Bavarian Alps escape. Master Neuschwanstein Castle timed ticket booking, cruise alpine Lake Königssee, and reach Germany's highest peak at Zugspitze.
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ItinerariesThe Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer) was a concrete barrier separating Western and Eastern parts of Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It is regarded as one of the symbols of the Cold War.
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