Berlin City Breaks
A city full of surprises
With iconic sights, quirky bars, and more than enough history to keep you captivated, Berlin City is an ever-popular holiday destination. Cutting-edge architecture and spirited culture are just a few strings to Berlin’s bow, so there’s plenty for tourists to enjoy in the German capital.
A visit to Berlin wouldn’t be complete without dipping into its excellent foodie scene. From Michelin starred restaurants to zero-waste cooking, the city is setting trends for sustainable eating. Here, you’ll find some of the best organic vegan and vegetarian dishes, highly regarded by gourmets worldwide. Fear not, there are still choices for the meat-lovers – make for the currywurst, burger and wiener stands in the street food markets and you won’t be disappointed.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to uncover something a little different, Berlin is the city to do it in. Immerse yourself in its contemporary art scene, visit Germany’s oldest zoo, or take in the spectacular sights of what remains of the Berlin Wall.
A visit to Berlin wouldn’t be complete without dipping into its excellent foodie scene. From Michelin starred restaurants to zero-waste cooking, the city is setting trends for sustainable eating. Here, you’ll find some of the best organic vegan and vegetarian dishes, highly regarded by gourmets worldwide. Fear not, there are still choices for the meat-lovers – make for the currywurst, burger and wiener stands in the street food markets and you won’t be disappointed.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to uncover something a little different, Berlin is the city to do it in. Immerse yourself in its contemporary art scene, visit Germany’s oldest zoo, or take in the spectacular sights of what remains of the Berlin Wall.
Explore our map of Berlin City
Your Berlin City questions, answered
Berlin City is well-known for combining big city living with urban recreation. Discover beautiful green parks, gardens, rivers and canals throughout the city.
Absolutely. If you love soaking up history and culture, you’ll really enjoy a city break to Berlin. There’s so much to see, from the famous Brandenburg Gate to the exhibition-packed buildings on Museum Island. Want to spend time exploring the shops? Berlin has everything from the designer stores of Kurfurstendamm, to the quaint and quirky shops of Hackescher Markt and Akazienstrasse. And with so many cafes and restaurants to choose from, you won’t go hungry either.
The U-Bahn subway and above-ground S-Bahn will get you everywhere you need to go. There's also a tram, bus and plenty of bike rentals.
Many people spend between two and four days on a city break. But you can take as long as you want. Berlin is a city packed with more than 100 museums. And it has a good number of other attractions too: the TV Tower, zoo and parliament building, for example. You don’t need to restrict yourself to just a couple of days. However, if you only have two or three days, you could take in some of these highlights on a sightseeing tour.
There’s no bad time to visit, but bear in mind that winters are really cold with temperatures that drop below freezing.
Berlin is a good place for a city break, whatever your budget. It’s a surprisingly affordable city with hotels and restaurants to suit every pocket. If you’re planning on a lot of sightseeing, it may be worth buying a Berlin Welcome Card to use on transport and gain discounts to attractions. You could also take a self-guided walking tour or enjoy a picnic lunch in one of the parks. Berlin is also a good place for a luxury city break, with plenty of stylish hotels and restaurants with fine dining.
Berlin’s nightlife is considered among the best in Europe. You have a wide choice of bars, clubs and festivals. Berlin is a city of culture, so there’s always plenty of night-time events, whether it's live music, theatre or food that you love the most. And if you’re ready to hit the nightclubs, you could easily be dancing until breakfast time. There’s no specific area that’s best for nightlife. Every district has its own atmosphere. So, wherever you head, you’re sure to find a bar or club you like.
Berlin is not only delightfully flat and easy to get around, but it has lots of attractions that families will love: two zoos, and so many child-friendly museums. The Natural History Museum and Museum of Technology are full of fascinating exhibits for any age. And the hands-on Spy Museum will be fun for the whole family. There are plenty of welcoming cafes too, perfect for refuelling between attractions with a quick bite to eat or a slice of cake.
Berlin is a city that welcomes visitors from all over the globe, so hotels and major attractions will have English speaking staff to help you. Many of the big museums have audio guides or will have exhibition descriptions in English. Some of the restaurants will also have English menus. But don’t let that put you off having a go at speaking a little German while you’re there.