I’ve been traveling for a while Berlin Every few weeks (for my job) for many years. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending a weekend exploring the city in my spare time. There is always something new, and nothing better than my old favorites—for example, since my very first visit, my top restaurant has been the Goldener Hahn in Kreuzberg.
The following is a list of a three-day city tour that I would personally plan. It includes my favorite hotels for home base, breakfast spots, and parks you shouldn’t miss.—Dennis Braatz, Head of Editorial Content at Condé Nast Traveller Germany
Where to Stay
How about waking up with the Brandenburg Gate in your view? It’s possible only in the Pariser Platz suites. Adlon Kempinski. In the same area, just a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate and Mitte’s bustling center is the Chateau Royal The hotel’s unique guest rooms are decorated by creatives from around the world. (It is modern, chic and sexy. You can still be trendy on a tight budget. The Hoxton is an affordable place to stay in West Berlin with an interior that taps into West Berlin’s Art Deco heritage—plus many great shops and boutiques are close by.
The hotel is situated in a skyscraper on the Ku’damm shopping boulevard, near Germany’s biggest department store KaDeWe. Waldorf Astoria Also has a huge gourmet food hall. The cube-shaped, ultra-modern hotel is a great place to stay. KPM Berlin Hotel Residences This 18th-century Royal Porcelain Complex is located on the site. Major sights such as Tiergarten and Berlin Zoo can be reached within 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to get away from the city then the grand landmark mansion is the perfect place. Schlosshotel Berlin Behind tall iron gates, in West Berlin’s peaceful Grunewald neighborhood, is this quaint little house.
Berlin’s first café dedicated exclusively to matcha culture offers an excellent selection of drinks and pastries. Perfect (read easy) start to a full day of exploration.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists five museums offering a mix of architecture, culture and history. You can visit the Old Museum and New Museum in one day, as well as the Pergamon Museum and Bode Museum. The Old National Gallery is nestled between Spree and Kupfergraben. There’s plenty of time for you to explore at least one collection.
The dinner might take long, but if you’re up for a nightcap—or two—Berlin is all about nightlife. The Victoria Bar will help you ease into the evening.
Are you getting a late start? Frühstück 3000 serves up eggs Benedict and pancakes well into the afternoon. (My favorite is the location in Schöneberg.) You can easily reach the next destination on our itinerary from there.
Adolf Jandorf opened the Kaufhaus des Westens at Wittenbergplatz in Berlin in 1907. It is Germany’s biggest luxury department store. It was a symbol of West German prosperity during the division of Germany, before it became a multi-level shopping icon. It’s a place you could easily spend hours in.
KaDeWe’s gourmet food hall is located on the sixth floor—Berliners often come here just for this. A single oyster and glass of champagne can quickly become two. You then move on and eat a Broiler (Berlin’s version of grilled poultry) or a Raspberry Tart. You can follow your appetite wherever it takes you.
The Friedrichstadtpalast, built between 1981 and 1985, is the best example of GDR Postmodernism. You’ll find Europe’s largest revue-theater inside. Designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier are regularly responsible for the costumes. It is best to attend a performance in the afternoon on a weekend.
Everyone should at least try the Bel Etage breakfast buffet, whether they are staying at the Adlon Hotel or somewhere else. The breakfast buffet is more extravagant than any other in the city and features three types of caviar.
Gesundbrunnen is not the most pristine station, but this is where you can find the best currywurst around. Its secret? Not one but two sauces. The first sauce, which is rich in crunchy onions and has a nice spiciness to it, is poured on top of the fruity tomato recipe.
Relaxation time! The large and small swimming halls of Stadtbad Neukölln are lined with 23-foot-high columns, walkways, and mosaics. Swimming in this pool feels like you are somewhere else. There are also saunas.
Mettigel – have you heard of it? This popular German party food from the 1950s to 1970s is made up of seasoned raw pork mince (Mett) in the shape of a hedgehog. This restaurant in the heart of Clärchen’s Ballhaus—a dance hall that has been in existence since 1913—made it cool again, and many other German dishes.
