Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the beautiful city in Europe. Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science. It is one of the famous historical city as well. While roaming in Berlin, one can get through the history of Berlin in detail. If you are looking for city travel, then Berlin is your next city to explore. It owns everything a traveler would want like monuments, zoo, museums, architecture, adventure, wildlife, etc.
We started our journey from Oslo, Norway on Saturday morning so that we can reach Berlin as early as possible. After we reached the airport, we started looking for the Berlin Tourist Information Center which you can easily find as there are many signboards at the airport. We opted for the Berlin Welcome card which will provide us access to all sort of transportation and discounts on entries on many of the tourist attractions and restaurants.
How to travel around Berlin?
Berlin offers its Welcome Card which has multiple variants. The Berlin Welcome Card has over 200 sights and attractions as discount partners. I would advise getting the Welcome card to ease your travel and is also cost-effective. Get more information regarding the Berlin Welcome Card on this link.
Places to visit in Berlin
1. Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin. It was built at the end of the 17th century and was expanded during the 18th century. The palace is beautifully designed.
2. Berlin Zoological Garden
The Berlin Zoological Garden is one of the largest zoos in the world. It was opened in 1844 and it covers around 35 hectares. With about 1,380 different species and over 20,200 animals, the zoo presents one of the most comprehensive collections of species in the world.
The experience of visiting such a zoo along with the aquarium is extraordinary. We got a discount on our zoo tickets as we had a welcome card. The zoo is spread in a large area and needs quite a lot of time to explore. It took our whole day, but it was worth visiting.
3. Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate is one of the major tourist attraction in Berlin. It is also one of the favourite places of locals, and many of the events take place here.
We also witness one of their events to create awareness regarding climate change and global warming.
After this, we had our dinner on our way back to our hostel. Next morning we started our day early so that we can cover the rest of the places.
4. Alexanderplatz
It is the largest public square in Berlin. Many of the day tours like segway tour, walking tour, etc. starts from here.
We started our day here and explored the surroundings. Then from here only, we found our next destination.
5. Berliner Fernsehturm
The Fernsehturm is a television tower in central Berlin. It is very close to Alexanderplatz. The total height of the tower is 368 meter which gives you the 360 view of the Berlin city. Two high speed lifts transport visitors to the sphere of the tower within 40 seconds.
The view from the top is amazing. One can have a look at the whole of Berlin city from this tower.
6. Rotes Rathaus
The Rotes Rathaus is the City Hall of Berlin located near Alexanderplatz.
7. Berlin Cathedral
Berlin Cathedral, also known as Berlin Dom is located on Museum Island in the Mitte borough. The current building was finished in 1905 and is a major work of Historicist architecture of the "Kaiserzeit". It is a beautiful piece of architecture alongside the Spree river.
8. Museum Island
Museum Island an island in the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin. It is famous for the complex of internationally significant museums, all part of the Berlin State Museums.
a.) The Altes Museum is a museum building on Museum Island in Berlin, Germany. Since restoration work in 2010–11, it houses the antiquities collection of the Berlin State.
b.) The Bode Museum is one of the groups of museums on the Museum Island in Berlin, Germany. It was designed by architect Ernst von Ihne and completed in 1904.
c.) The Pergamon Museum, was constructed in 1930 and it contains multiple reconstructed immense and historically significant buildings such as the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.
d.) The Neues Museum
e.) The Alte Nationalgalerie
f.) The Humboldt Forum
9. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is an open-air gallery on the banks of Spree river in Berlin. It is a 1.3 km long wall painted beautifully by a number of artists. It is the longest section of the Berlin wall still in existence.
10. Spree
Spree is a river that flows through Berlin. The riverside near the East side Gallery is beautiful.
We took a break near the Spree river to watch an artist who was playing music there. The surroundings were soothing and peaceful.
11. Oberbaum Bridge
The Oberbaum Bridge is one of the landmarks. It is a double-decker bridge crossing Berlin's Spree river.
12. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie (or "Checkpoint C") was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. This is a famous landmark in Berlin and is also a US army checkpoint.
13. Wall Museum
It is located near Checkpoint Charlie. A piece of the Berlin Wall is still kept there.
14. Topography of Terror
The Topography of Terror is an outdoor and indoor history museum in Berlin, Germany.
15. Victory Column
The Victory Column is a major tourist attraction in the city of Berlin. Its viewing platform, for which a ticket is required, offers a view over Berlin.
16. Reichstag Building
This building is beautifully constructed and has a glass dome which provides the 360 view of the city.
17. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is also known as the Holocaust Memorial. It is a memorial in Berlin to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
18. Tiergarten
It is also known as Berlin's green lung. This place is full of greenery.After a tiring day, we sat for a few minutes in a lush green garden.
19. Gendarmenmarkt
The Gendarmenmarkt is a square in Berlin and the site of an architectural ensemble including the Berlin concert hall and the French and German Churches.
We covered the above-mentioned places in just 2 days. There are many places to visit in Berlin but if you manage your time and start your day early you can easily visit them all.
There are some other places that you can include in your plan in case you have one more day:
1. Soviet War Memorial
2. Tempelhof
3. Mouerpark
4. Berlin War Memorial
Where to Stay?
It depends on the kind of traveler you are. There are multiple options available. You can have a look in booking.com and Airbnb. If you are going with family prefer Airbnb and if you are going with friends you can book hostels through booking.com.
We had our booking in Amstel hostel. It was a nice and cheapest option available.
Where to eat?
With your Berlin Welcome card, you get good discounts on many of the restaurants. So you can select anyone from them. Also if you have less time you can prefer food joints like Mac D etc which are way cheaper and faster.
What not to do in Berlin?
There are many people on the streets of Berlin gambling money for small games. Do not stop by them, they will forcibly ask you to play and gamble.
Cost of the trip:
Oslo-Berlin-Oslo - Flight tickets -38.50 Euros
Berlin Welcome Card - 20 Euros
Stay (Amstel Hostel) - 34.50 Euros
Tickets - 30 Euros
Food- 12 Euros
Total cost- 135 Euros
Berlin is a wonderful city to explore. One can easily roam around the city due to the excellent transportation system. Backpacking in Berlin is waiting.
Love, Laugh, Live and Travel!!
Follow our journey on instagram at @trawheeling