One-day tours in Berlin – Absolute Must-See + route

Saying “I’m bored” makes no sense. You live in a vast, expansive world of which you haven’t seen even one percent. – Louis CK.

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For almost three years, I’ve been living in Berlin and trying to discover it piece by piece. Berlin is filled with architectural wonders, museums, parties, restaurants offering cuisine from around the world, and a rich multicultural vibe. Today, I’d like to share my experience and the first of several one-day trips through Berlin.

A map with marked locations, along with a list of the places I visited, including addresses and ticket prices, can be found at the very bottom.

We start our journey from Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof (Main Station). I think this is also the first place you definitely have to visit. The station has several levels, and it’s not that easy to find your platform, especially when you’re in a hurry…

On the right side of the station exit, there’s a building that immediately catches your eye with its unusual shape and reflective properties. This is the 3XN Cube, a building dedicated to office space rentals.

Next, you need to cross the river. There are two bridges next to each other – the Gustav Heinemann Bridge and the Moltke Bridge. I chose the latter due to its interesting structure and sculptures. Along the river, there is also a beautiful path, which is worth taking a stroll along.

After crossing the bridge, I began heading towards the Reichstag building. On the right side, a modern building appeared, which, as it turned out, belongs to the Federal Chancellery. Opposite the chancellery is a beautiful green area with earth fountains that activate at certain times. A note when taking shortcuts!

The next stop on the journey was the Marie-Elisabeth Lüders House, another building of the parliament. It stands out with its modern architecture and location right on the Spree River. It’s a perfect place to sit, watch the boats, unwind, and relax.

In many places frequently visited by tourists, you can encounter street artists. My time by the river was made more enjoyable by one of them, playing the saxophone. However, it was at the next planned attraction in Berlin that I encountered the most of them. But first, let’s visit Strasse des 17. Juli, where military parades, the Berlin Marathon start, and the Love Parade take place. Between the lanes stands the monument Der Rufer (literally “the caller”), depicting a barefoot man in a robe, pressing his hands to his mouth as if shouting.

Opposite this unique monument stands the most famous tourist attraction in Berlin – the Brandenburg Gate. It is a symbol of freedom and peace. Regardless of the season or weather, crowds gather at this spot. Capturing the perfect photo is almost a miracle!

From the Brandenburg Gate, we head towards Gendarmenmarkt, also known as the Gendarmenmarkt Square, considered the most beautiful square in Berlin. On the square, there are three remarkable buildings – on the left, the German Cathedral, in the center, the Concert House, and on the right, the French Cathedral. The French Cathedral has an additional advantage in the form of a viewing platform, which you must visit!

The next stop is Potsdamer Platz, once the busiest square in Europe. In the area, you can see the Sony Center, an extraordinary train station, many famous shops, and a section of the Berlin Wall. There are also incredibly tall buildings, including the Kollhoff Tower, with the Panoramapunkt (Buy a ticket here!)located at a height of 90-95 meters. This is currently my favorite observation deck in Berlin.

Another attraction that can be considered the postcard of Berlin, the most famous and most desired, is the East Side Gallery. The gallery was created by artists from all over the world on the Berlin Wall. The wall is currently about 1300 meters long and features around 106 different murals. On sunny days, there are hundreds of tourists, and sometimes you have to wait in line to take a photo with the most famous paintings. On the street side of the wall, there is a typical gallery, but if you walk around to the back of the wall, you can see hundreds of graffiti. It is also one of the favorite spots for street musicians.

We are returning from the Friedrichshain district to the city center. The next stop is Museum Island, located in the northern part of Spreeinsel. It is physically impossible to visit all the museums in one day, so I recommend choosing one. I chose the Pergamon Museum (Buy a Ticket here!) , which mainly houses collections from ancient Rome and Greece, as well as Persia and Babylon.

To end the day, I recommend heading to Alexanderplatz, where outdoor events and concerts are often held. There are also many restaurants and bars in the area.

Here is the list of visited places:

1. Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) – Europaplatz 1, 10557 Berlin
2. 3XN Cube Berlin – Washingtonpl. 3, 10557 Berlin
3. Moltkebrücke – Moltkebrücke, 10557 Berlin
4. Federal Chancellery of Berlin – Willy-Brandt-Straße 1, 10557 Berlin
5. Reichstag Building – Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
6. Marie-Elisabeth Lüders House – Adele-Schreiber-Krieger-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin
7. “Der Rufer” Monument – Str. des 17. Juni 4, 10557 Berlin
8. Brandenburg Gate – Pariser Platz 1, 10117 Berlin
9. Gendarmenmarkt Square – Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin
10. German Cathedral – Gendarmenmarkt 1-2, 10117 Berlin
11. Concert House – Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin
12. French Cathedral – Gendarmenmarkt 7, 10117 Berlin (Viewpoint! Opening hours and pricing below)
13. Potsdamer Platz – Potsdamer Platz, 10785 Berlin
14. Panoramapunkt – Kollhoff Tower, Potsdamer Platz 1, 10785 Berlin (Viewpoint! Opening hours and pricing below)
15. Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery – Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin
16. Museum Island – Bodestraße, 10178 Berlin
17. Pergamon Museum – Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin
18. Alexanderplatz – Alexander Platz, 10178 Berlin

Viewpoints and museums:

1. French Cathedral
   Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 – 17:00
   Tickets: Regular – €5.50, Discounted – €4.50, Family (2 adults and max 3 children) – €16, Free entry for children under 6 years old
2. Panoramapunkt
   Open: Monday – Sunday from 11:00 – 18:00
   Tickets: Regular – €7.50, Discounted – €6, Family (2 adults, max 4 children up to 15 years old) – €17.50, Free entry for children under 6 years old (Buy a ticket here!)
3. Pergamon Museum
   Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00
   Tickets: Regular – €12, Discounted – €6 (Buy a Ticket here!)

I recommend purchasing museum tickets well in advance online. Museums are open only until 6:00 PM, and at least 1.5 hours is needed for a visit. When it comes to getting around Berlin, I suggest buying a day ticket from any of the machines. The cost of a day ticket for zones ABC is only €12! With this ticket, you can travel by tram, bus, and subway. Don’t forget to validate your ticket – without validation, the ticket is invalid!!

If my article helped you plan your route and gather the necessary information, I would be grateful for your support in making my dreams come true by buying me a coffee!