3-day view of Berlin: a more elaborate approach

Day 1

• Begin your day by making a long walk around the streets of East Berlin. Everything starts from Alexanderplatz. This large square , represents one of the most central parts of the town and is really the ideal starting point.
  
• The Berliner Rathaus (City Hall) – seat of government for the Mayor of Berlin – is located somewhat towards the back of the square and is known locally as the Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall) not because of any political tendencies but because of its red brick façade!
• In the heart of the square you will find yourself glancing with enthusiasm at the giant Fernsehturm(tv tower). Try to climb up the tower by using the elevators, but be prepared to wait because the tower is one of the most popular sites in the city. The tower offers a magnificent view of the entire city. For more information and tips in order to prepare your visit there better, click here.
• Before leaving the square, don't forget to visit the magnificent Marienkirche which is located in the shadow of the Fernsehturm. It's one of the most interesting churches in the city.The church is open every day from 10.00 to 21.00 (10.00 t0 18.00 October to March) end there is no admission fee. If you want to learn more about the history of the church, click here (most information are availlable only in German).
   
• Walk up Karl-Liebknecht Strasse in the direction of “Unter den Linden”, cross the Spree River and turn right at the next street to reach the entrance of the Berliner Dom (Berlin's Cathedral). This is a protestant church right next to the Spree River. It's really worth a visit. Opening hours here.
• If you love culture and visiting museums, you must definetely visit the Museumsinsel (museums island). You can reach this area on foot as it is just a short walk from the Berliner Dom. The Old and the New Museum, the Old National Gallery,the Boden Museum and the Pergamon Museum are the places to be for everybody who loves art. The whole area is currently under restructure and this renovating procedure will be continued till 2015. So, prepare your visit before you arrive there. For further information, click here.
• Walk again up this street (Karl-Liebknecht Str.) in the direction of “Unter den Linden”, cross the Spree River and continue on till you reach Zeughaus. This building houses the German Historical Museum ( Deutsches Historisches Museum). Access details and admission fees here.
  
• Keep on walking down Unter den Linden and on your right hand you'll see Humboldt Universitat (Humboldt University). Many famous scientists like Albert Einstein and Max Planck worked here. Try to get in and admire the interior of the building. If you are student a visit here is the best sample of what being university student in Berlin really means. In addition, the food in the students' restaurant seems delicious. Just try it!!!
  
• Just next to the university building, lies the Staatsbibliotek (Berlin's Public Library).
  
• On the opposite side of the university you will see Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Opera House), located in the heart of Bebelplatz.Bebelplatz is dominated by the curiously-shaped Dome of St. Hedwig's Cathedral, which was designed along the lines of the Pantheon in Rome This building is also impressive like most public buildings in Berlin. Information for walking tours, admission fees and performances here.
• The most impressive pedestrian street in Berlin is Unter den Linden which stretches from Schlossplatz to Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate. The feelling as you walk under the linden trees is one of the most original experiences in the whole town. This street is full of restaurants, shops and cafes. Enjoy a coffee or an ice cream here in one of the many cafes.
• Keep on walking and you'll meet Friedrichstrasse one of Berlin's most popular shopping streets. You can choose either to go shopping or to continue walking till you reach the Brandenburg Gate which is located at the end of Unter den Linden, in the heart of Pariser Platz. This gate is the absolute symbol of Berlin. Come here again to see the gate also at night, when the spectacle is really fabulous.
• The Reichstag ( German Parliament) is the ideal way to continue your day. But be prepared to wait too long if you want to visist its glass dome. For more information about your visit there click here. Use bus 100 (Berlin's sightseeing bus) in order to get there with public tranport or go on foot. It's within walking distance.
  
• A good idea would be to continue your day by using public transport and getting to Potsdamer Platz, the most central square of the former West Berlin. Here there is a fascinating variety of high-rise buildings. For access details click here.
• In the afternoon you can go shopping in Friedrichstrasse. Walk on foot down Friedrichstrasse or use the public transport in order to go to the Checkpoint Charlie,the former border crossing point between East and West Berlin. See also the only left part of the Wall.Access details here.
  
• Τhe Nikolaiviertel. This is Berlin as it looked in the Middle Ages – with a little help from extensive renovation work. Take a stroll through the narrow alleyways and don't fail to visit the Nikolaikirche (Church).There are plenty of restaurants to tempt the palate with old Berlin specialities to be enjoyed in a rustic setting.
• Not far from here are the Hackesche Höfe, a series of ambitiously restored industrial courtyards which are now at the centre of Berlin night life. A great place to relax at the end of a long day.

Day 2

• Would you like to live like a king??? See what king life is really like by visiting Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace). It's the biggest Hohenzollern residence in Berlin and is surrounded dy a beautiful and idyllic garden. The palace is composed by two buildings: the Altes Schloss and the Neuer Flugel. Note that the Altes Schloss is closed on Monday while the Neuer Flugel is closed on Tuesday. So, if you want to see both parts of the palace prefer to visit it on another day. There is an audio guide provided.The entrance to the gardens is free.

Access details :

1. with the metro line 7 to Richard -Wagner-Platz, then use the bus to Schloss Charlottenburg or ca. 15 minutes walk
2. with the metro line 2 to Sophie Charlotte Platz and then with the bus 309 direction Sclosspark-Klinik to the palace
   
3. with the S-Bahn to Jungfernheide, then with the bus to Luisenplatz or ca. 15 minutes walk
4. Bus M 45 from Spandau which goes to Zoologischer Garten and stops also in front of the palace
   
5. Bus 109 from Zoologischer Garten direction Flughafen Tegel

For opening hours and admission fees click here. If you want to download a free pdf guide with information about all palaces in Berlin, Brandenburg and Potsdam, click here.

TIP : Ιf you don't have much time and you want to see both Potsdam palace and Charlottenburg palace in one day, then buy the Premium Day Pass. It costs 15/10 € (adult/child) and it is valid for all the SPSG palaces for one day. Tickets are only available

• at Sanssouci Palace, so you have to start your day by visiting Potsdam early in the morning and see only the basics and then return to Berlin before Charlottenburg Palace closes and visit it too. This briefly means that you won't have the opportunity to enjoy a detailed visit in Potsdam and that your day will be too exhausting. But still a good idea if you don't have much time or money to spend.

• Another notable feature of the district of Charlottenburg is the Olympic Stadium, whose role in the turbulent events of recent German history is explained in an interesting exhibition currently on show there. Not far away the imposing structure of the ICC, the International Congress Center, is located right next to the Berlin Trade Fair Halls.{The nearby Funkturm (Radio Tower) offers an excellent panoramic view over the forests of Grunewald}. Access details, admission fees and opening hours for the Olympic Stadium here and for the Funkturm here.
  

• If you love art, we suggest you to continue your day by visiting the Kulturforum, Berlin's centre of fine arts. Here you will find several fine museums, amongst others the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), where modern art and important temporary exhibitions are featured, the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery) with its wonderful permanent exhibition of European masterpieces and the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Arts-and-Crafts-Museum). At the spacious square are also the Philharmonie (concert hall of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Staatsbibliothek (National Library). For more information about the Kulturforum, visit the official website.
• If you prefer go shopping, then the Kurfurstendamm, the main shopping area of West Berlin is the right choice for you!! Start your shopping adventure by visiting the legendary KaDeWe department store. Don't forget to visit the fine food department at the sixth floor.
• Don't leave Kurfurstendamm without visiting the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche which is a memorial to the horrors of war. The entrance is free. For access details and opening hours click here.
• The Zoo is just a stone's throw from Kurfurstendamm. Take bus 100 ( part of the public transport network in Berlin, so you need only a simple ticket) from this station which offers a great tour over the most important sites in Berlin. The bus also crosses the Strasse des 17 Juni, the street where Hitler used to organize parades during the Second World War. See also the Siegessaule and the Golden Statue of Victory. Bus 100 is a two flour bus. Try to climb up the second flour. It's really an experience not to be missed.
  

Day 3

For the third we propose a day trip to Potsdam. For a compact guide on what to see in Potsdam, click here.

You may as well want to see our information about major Berlin monuments and sights or an overview of the Berlin public transport system and ways to get from the aiports to the city.

Back to our Berlin articles collection.