I moved to Germany in 2018. If at that point someone had asked me where I wanted to live, I would have, without a doubt, said Berlin. I wasn’t given a choice, though, so Berlin never happened. What happened was Nuremberg, two kids, Hamburg, and a whole lot in between. I still think Germany’s capital is amazing, but these days I prefer to spend one day in Berlin as a tourist, perhaps a few, then go home.
By this point, I have spent more than one day in Berlin, of course. It’s an obligatory stop whenever family and friends are visiting. I have walked with my parents on Unter der Linden, introduced my Sri Lankan parents-in-law to currywurst, and most recently spent one day in Berlin all by myself (which might not sound all that exciting until you learn it was my first solo trip without my husband and kids in 5 years).
All that is to say, this one day in Berlin itinerary is written after many days of exploring the city. And here are a few more important things.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
A true institution, Einstein Unter den Linden is a great place to start your one day in Berlin. First of all, it’s right in the city center, near the major attractions we are going to see next. Second, it’s a beautifully-decorated Viennese-style cafe. Think: wooden furniture, leather booths, waiters wearing white shirts and black vests. The prices are quite high, but this place is so iconic it’s worth trying out at least once (for a more budget-friendly alternative, read on!)
Breakfast here is a traditional German affair, with eggs any style (order soft-boiled if you want to go German all the way and eat it with a spoon — yes, I said that right), a variety of baked goods, a selection of cold cuts and cheeses. And since it’s a Viennese cafe, cakes are superb, too.
Einstein Unter den Linden — Unter den Linden 42
Einstein Unter den Linden opens at 8 am on weekdays, so you can start your day even earlier. On Saturdays and Sundays, though, it opens at 10. If you are traveling on the weekend, check out Steel Vintage Bikes Cafe nearby (they open at 9 daily) instead. As the name suggests, they do bike repairs, but also offer great coffee and breakfast options like French toast croissant, avocado sandwich with poached egg, and glazed maple bacon pancakes. It’s conveniently located steps away from all the major attractions you are about to see.
Steel Vintage Bikes Cafe — Wilhelmstraße 91
An 8-minute walk from Einstein Unter den Linden to Brandenburg Gate
There are a lot of popular attractions in Berlin Mitte. You will be able to cover most of them until 12.00 if you stick to admiring the sites from the outside. If you do choose to do a Reichstag tour, for example, or visit the Topography of Terror, you might have to skip something later. All of the attractions below are located within a short walk from each other.
From Einstein cafe walk on Unter den Linden, a wide historic boulevard lined with linden trees, also known as lime trees. They produce no limes, though. What a confusing name! Instead, linden tree produces the most fragrant flowers. You will feel their aroma in the air in summer. The boulevard will take you straight to the Brandenburg Gate.
Brandenburg Gate is the most iconic landmark in Berlin built in the end of the 18th century on the commission of King Frederick William II. Since then it has been a symbol of both division during the Cold War (Berlin Wall was only steps away) and unity after the fall of Berlin Wall.
Whenever major political or cultural events, such as protests or celebrations, take place, they almost always happen in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Since I’d never stepped foot in Western Europe before moving to Germany, standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate was definitely a pinch-me moment!
Home of the German parliament, Reichstag is one of the most important buildings in the country’s political life. It housed the parliament of the German Empire, survived a fire, and suffered under heavy bombing during WWII. In the 90s, the building was renovated and the Bundestag (German parliament) moved in.
One of the most striking features of the building is the glass dome, a symbol of transparency. Inside the dome, a unique spiral walkway goes all the way up to a podium from which panoramic views of Berlin open up.
Tip: if you want to visit the Reichstag, it’s free of charge, but you have to book a tour beforehand. The tickets are sold out pretty fast, so you will need to book a time slot for Reichstag first, and then plan the rest of your one day in Berlin around it.
Just behind the Brandenburg Gate is Tiergarten. What Central Park is to New York and Hyde Park to London, Tiergarten is to Berlin. The largest park in the city can easily take several hours to explore, which unfortunately we don’t have. I would take a walk through the park from Reichstag to the next attraction on our itinerary, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Located on the edge of Tiergarten, this is one of the most moving memorials in Berlin. It consists of 2711 concrete slabs that vary in height. There is no one view of what the memorial means, but the sheer size makes one pensive. You can recall the atrocities committed to Jewish people during WWII while walking between the slabs and come up with your own interpretation of this piece of art.
Checkpoint Charlie was a border control point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. It is officially known as Checkpoint C. Charlie stands for C in the NATO phonetic alphabet (Alpha for A, Bravo for B, Charlie for C, and so on).
Today it is one of the most popular attractions in Berlin. Despite the grim history, the vibe at this place is definitely more fun than contemplative. There’s a replica of the original guardhouse with a sign “U.S. army checkpoint”. Cheerful tourists line up to take a picture right next to it, while street vendors sell trinkets and souvenirs.
Topography of Terror is a one of the most important museums in Berlin, a must for anyone who wants to learn more about Nazi Germany and WWII. The museum is built on the site where the headquarters of the Gestapo and SS once stood.
It is probably one of the most grueling and emotional exhibitions I’ve ever visited. You can explore the indoor displays that tell a story of the Nazi regime raise to power, the persecution of Jews, and the aftermath of WWII.
The outdoor exhibition includes the preserved cellar walls where political prisoners were once held. Just outside of the the museum is 80-meter-long remains of the Berlin Wall.
Tip: entrance to Topography of Terror is free. However, you need at least 1.5-2 hours to visit the exhibition. If you choose to spend time here you’ll need to skip something later in the day.
Option 1. If you feel a bit tired of walking (or maybe you are behind schedule), from Checkpoint Charlie take public transport straight to the Museum Island.
Option 2. Walk from Checkpoint Charlie to the Museum Island and see a few more attractions along the way.
Rausch is one of the oldest chocolate brands in Germany, founded in the beginning of the 20th century. Their flagship store is located right on your way to the Museum Island. Inside, you will find giant chocolate sculptures of Berlin’s popular attractions, such as Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag.
You can also make a stop at their cafe and try a variety of chocolate treats from cakes to pralines to a cup of hot chocolate. Bonus: at the cafe, you get an amazing view of Gendarmenmarkt, the next stop on our itinerary for one day in Berlin.
Gendarmenmarkt is a lovely square that houses two almost identical Baroque-style churches: the French Church (Französischer Dom) and the German Church (Deutscher Dom). During Christmas time, you will find one of the most popular Christmas markets here.
Growing up, I considered Ritter Sport the epitome of luxury. And since it’s right along the way to our next destination, why not pop in for a minute?
Here, you can craft your own chocolate by selecting from a variety of ingredients or participate in a workshop and learn more about chocolate-making process. I mean, it is, of course, a tourist trap made to get your money. But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun!
Bebelplatz is most famous for the Nazi book burning that happened here in 1933. When you walk on the square you will notice a glass plate set in the pavement. Underneath, you can see a room with empty bookshelves, a stark reminder of what happened here almost a century ago.
While you are in Bebelplatz, look around. Here are some important buildings surrounding the square: Humboldt University, one of Germany’s most prestigious universities; Berlin State Opera (I highly recommend catching a show here if you have more than one day in Berlin!); and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.
16 minutes away from Checkpoint Charlie by public transport
25-minutes away from Checkpoint Charlie on foot
The name Museum Island is quite literal. It is in fact an island on the river Spree, right in the heart of Berlin, and a home to 5 major Berlin museums: Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, and Bode Museum.
The island was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Apart from the museums, there are a few more sites that you should visit here. The Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) is one of the most important landmarks in Berlin. And Humboldt Forum is am imperial-palace-turned-exhibition-space.
How to see the museum island
If the weather allows, walk around and admire the museums (all of them are housed in beautiful buildings) and the Berlin Cathedral from outside. You have enough time to visit the cathedral (there’s an observation deck on top), but probably not the museums. One day in Berlin is not enough to cover it all.
You can stop for a light snack and a cup of coffee at Bode Museum. You don’t need a museum ticket to get in. The coffee and the food are nothing to write home about. You come here for the incredible atmosphere. It feels like you are having a cappuccino in a palace.
If you are ready for lunch, the only place on the museum island I know is Restaurant Baret inside Humboldt Forum (recommended by my friend Alesia who lives in Berlin). It is quite pricey though and you must make a reservation. If you are looking for a more casual place for lunch, read on!
A 10-minute walk from the Museum Island
Lunch comes a little late, but hopefully all the chocolates from Rausch and Ritter Sport help to keep your energy levels high.
Currywurst is an absolute must-try if you have only one day in Berlin. Traditionally, it’s a pork sausage, sliced and served with curry sauce (usually tomato-based with addition of curry powder). Order French fries to make it a more filling meal. By the way, Germans eat French fries with mayo, just so you are prepared because my jaw definitely dropped when I saw it for the first time.
Curry 61, conveniently located just steps away from the museum island, is one of the most popular spots for currywurst in Berlin. It’s a small and unassuming joint where you have to eat standing up.
Curry 61 — Oranienburger Str. 6
Tip: if you prefer a proper meal at a nice restaurant Oranienburger Straße, where Curry 61 is located, has a great number of amazing restaurants.
15 minutes away from Curry 61 by public transport
After lunch at Curry 61, take S-Bahn to the Ostbahnhof station. From there it’s a short walk to the start of the East Side Gallery, the largest open art gallery in the world, where murals are painted over the remains of the Berlin Wall. There are over a hundred murals in total, created by local and international artists.
Probably, the most famous one is The Mortal Kiss by Dmitri Vrubel, which depicts the kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Erich Honecker.
It will take you between 30 minutes and an hour to walk the whole length of the wall, which is about 1.3 kilometers along the Spree River.
A few-minutes walk from the East Side Gallery
When you come to the end of the East Side Gallery (near Warschauer Straße), make a short stop near Oberbaumbrücke, one of Berlin’s most iconic bridges. You can take a look at it from the outside or walk through to the other side. It crosses the Spree River and connects Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg neighborhoods of Berlin.
It’s a double-deck bridge, with U-Bahn trains going on the upper level, while the lower level is made for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
Even if you have only one day in Berlin, exploring one of the residential neighborhoods is a must, to my mind. It gives a great counterpoint to Berlin Mitte and shows what life really looks like for people who live in Berlin.
Option 1. If you haven’t crossed the Oberbaumbrücke you can go further into Friedrichshain neighborhood. Here are my favorite spots for dinner in Friedrichshain.
The food here is so good, it truly doesn’t matter whether you are vegan or not. On their Instagram page, they describe themselves as Vegan Vietnamese Tapas. A line of people outside, waiting at all times, is a testament to how delicious the food is.
1990 Vegan Living — Krossener Str. 19
A little Syrian restaurant serving such classics as stuffed vine leaves, falafel, and lamb. For dessert, do try their baklava.
Aleppo Supper Club — Wühlischstraße 21
Finish your one day in Berlin with amazing gelato at Peggy Bee. The cafe is located less than 15 minutes away from the restaurants I recommend above and is open till 8-9 pm. Their chocolate gelato was one of the best I’ve ever tried.
Peggy Bee — Weichselstraße 13
Option 2. Cross the Oberbaum Bridge and you will find yourself in Kreuzberg. One of the coolest places to visit in Kreuzberg is Markthalle Neun, a food market. It closes at 18.00 every day, so if you are ahead of schedule, do make a stop here.
Unfortunately, I haven’t tried a lot of places in Kreuzberg yet, but here are a few that are on my list.
Buya Ramen and Cocolo Ramen X-berg are great places for ramen.
Ora is a restaurant and wine bar located in a former pharmacy that offers seasonal plates and an extensive list of wines.
If the weather is nice, take a boat tour to see Berlin from a new perspective.
Do a day trip to see Charlottenburg Palace, located about 30 minutes away from Berlin city center.
If you are feeling adventurous, swing at the height of 120 meters!
Visit one of the many museums in Berlin, like DDR museum that shows the life in East Germany in an interactive way.
Take a guided walking tour dedicated to the history of the Third Reich and the Cold War.
On my last solo trip to Berlin I stayed at Motel One Berlin — Hauptbahnhof. It’s a simple modern hotel with clean rooms. Located about 5 minutes away from Berlin Central Station, it’s a convenient option if you travel by train. Reichstag is about 20 minutes away on foot. S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and bus stations are within a few minutes walk.
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
@2025 That’s What She Had - Food and Travel Blog | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
Designed by wpauthors.com
thanks for this, it seems comprehensive and full of tips. very grateful for you!
Aw! Makes me happy my blog was useful! Thank you, Jennifer!
Really useful! Thank you
I am glad I could help! Enjoy Berlin, Taz!