Top tickets for a flashback in time
Make it a trip to remember with these special Berlin must-dos
German and English
Euro (€)
+49
Central European Time (CET)
Berlin public transport is relatively easy to navigate, with tickets valid across the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and regional trains. The city is quite spread out, so you’ll be glad to have some transport to help get you from A to B. There are no ticket barriers for the metro, with residents and tourists using the honor system, but better not to risk a fine. If you’re planning three or more journeys in one day, a Day Ticket (Tageskarte) is a smart move.
When the sun shines on Berlin, a walk along the river can make you feel like you’re in the best city on earth. April to June are good months to visit, with the weather generally staying drier than in other parts of Germany. July and August can get quite hot, so if you’re planning lots of walking, try April or leave it till mid September when the crowds are more bearable too. If you’re a festival-buff, there’s always a lot happening in June.
Schnitzels and pretzels and beers, oh my! From steins to Michelin stars, Berlin is a city that provides its hungry patrons anything and everything they desire. But if it’s a hot dog you crave, (and who doesn’t?) you’re in the right place. Check out the currywurst - a dog with a ketchup/curry sauce that’s like no other. Another thing to try is “senfeier,” - hard-boiled eggs with mashed spuds, covered in a creamy mustard sauce. Just as yummy, we promise.
The former communist state might be different in 2019, but you can see exactly what it was like during those 40 years of DDR rule in this museum, which is also a house. Twice nominated as the European Museum of the Year, this incredible taster of the past lets you rummage through cupboards and drawers, be interrogated by the Stasi, get an insight into life in Socialist Germany, and appreciate your freedom like never before. You’ll even exit through a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Ever wanted to try your hand at classics like The Pong-Machine, the Giant Joystick, Donkey Kong, Asteroids and Space Invaders? Of course you have, and you can get as hands-on as you want at Berlin's Computerspielemuseum. Learn the history of games and their creators, tour with Lara Croft, meet Nimrod, witness working originals and say wow at over 300 games and computer-related items. The famous PainStation gives electric shocks when you mess up. Go on, I know you’re curious!
This UNESCO-listed World Heritage site in the middle of the Spree boasts some of Berlin’s most important museums, including the Neues Museum, proud home of an Ancient Egyptian bust of Nefertiti, and also the Pergamonmuseum, one of the world’s most important and impressive archaeological collections. The other half of Museum Island has a swimming pool, library and other everyday treasures. Make like a real Berliner and spend the day taking in the sights here in this central spot.
Demolished to the sounds of joy between June and November 1990, the Berlin Wall stood for a lot before it was knocked down. You can learn all about it on a restored stretch, which spans the southern border of Wedding and Mitte. At Checkpoint Charlie you’ll see what east-west border control was like during the Cold War - if you can picture it around the tourists. For more, walk along the Spree to the one-mile stretch known as the East Side Gallery.
