chloedickensonLast Updated on 20th May 2025
This 2 day Berlin itinerary contains affiliate links.
Before we spent two days in Berlin, I’d heard mixed reviews about the German capital city; some people claimed to love it and some people weren’t too impressed.
However, after spending the weekend in Berlin as part of our European interrailing adventure, I can safely say that I fall into the former camp; I absolutely love Berlin and would highly recommend adding it to your European city break bucket list!
If you’re looking for the best things to do in 2 days in Berlin, including where to stay, how to get there and what to do in Berlin, I’ve got just the post for you!
BERLIN TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Kiwi.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld
Transport: Flixbus / Trainline
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
Where to stay for two days in Berlin
We stayed at the Safestay Berlin Kurfurstendamm during our two days in Berlin and it was a great place to base ourselves for the weekend.
It’s the fourth Safestay property I’ve stayed in around the world (including York, London and Edinburgh ) and while many of the Safestay properties feel more like a hostel, the one in Berlin was very much a hotel.
The room was very sizeable with a great shower and desk area and it’s just a couple of minutes walk from Wittenbergplatz station, so it was super easy to get to all the top sights and attractions in the city.
How to get to Berlin
Located in northeastern Germany, Berlin is easy to get to from most other major cities in Germany and beyond.
By train, it’s less than two hours from Hamburg , four and a half hours from Munich and four and a half hours from Cologne . Berlin can also be reached by train from Prague (four and a half hours), Amsterdam (six and a half hours) and Zurich (eight and a half hours).
We travelled to Berlin from Nuremberg via train (3 and a half hours) as part of our interrail trip.
You can also fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport from most major cities in Europe. It’s around a 2-hour flight from London, Manchester and Edinburgh if you’re flying from the UK.
How to get around Berlin for two days
Berlin is pretty huge with many of its top sights and attractions spread out across the city, so the best way to get around is to use the S-Bahn and U-Bahn (underground and overground public transport network).
It’s super easy to navigate the subway and metro and it costs €2.20 for a short trip ticket, €6.60 for a 4-trip ticket or €9.50 for a 24-hour ticket.
While you don’t technically need to scan a ticket to enter or exit the subway or metro stations (meaning you might be able to get away without buying a ticket…), if you do get caught without a valid ticket by a conductor (sometimes they do random ticket checks), you’ll have to pay a €60 fine!
Berlin is also a very walkable city and you can see most of the sights on foot if you enjoy wandering around a new city. There are a few times when you’ll likely want to use public transport (I’ve highlighted when I’d recommend using public transport in the itinerary below), but most things can be seen on foot.
Another great way to get around Berlin is to take advantage of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour which is valid for 24 or 48 hours. There are several bus tour companies operating in Berlin; check out some of the most highly rated Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in Berlin below.
- Berlin: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Live Commentary (4.3*)
- Berlin: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour Ticket (4.1*)
- Berlin: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus with Boat Options (4.2*)
- Best of Berlin: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour Ticket (4.1*)
Day 1 highlights – Berlin 2-day itinerary
- Wander through Tiergarten
- Check out the Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate
- Pay your respects at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
- Explore parts of the Berlin Wall
- Visit the Topography of Terror Museum
- See Checkpoint Charlie
- Experience Berlin’s exciting nightlife scene on a bar crawl
Day 2 highlights – 2-day Berlin itinerary
- Go up the Berlin TV Tower (Berliner Fernsehturm)
- Admire the Berlin Cathedral
- Take a cruise along the river
- See the beautiful Staatsbibliothek
- Visit Museum Island
- Eat your way around Markthalle Neun
- Walk along the East Side Gallery (Berlin Wall)
Day 1 – 2 day Berlin itinerary map
As you can see from the map above, you’ll be spending your first day in Berlin exploring some of the city’s most famous sights such as the Reichstag Building, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
Victory Column
The first stop on your 2 days in Berlin is the Victory Column. This iconic landmark was originally intended to commemorate Germany’s victories against Denmark, Austria and France between 1864 and 1871.
You can climb the 285 steps to the viewing platform at the top of the tower to enjoy views of Tiergarten and all the way to the Brandenburg Gate.
Tiergarten – 2 day Berlin itinerary
Tiergarten Park is Berlin’s answer to New York’s Central Park or London’s Hyde Park. It’s one of the most beautiful and popular outdoor spaces in the city and it can be enjoyed all year round.
It’s arguably best experienced during the spring and summer months as the trees and grass were a little sparse when we visited Berlin in the winter, but it still made for a lovely place to stroll through to get to our next stops.
Soviet War Memorial Tiergarten
There are many Soviet War memorials throughout the city, but your next stop on day 1 of this Berlin itinerary is the one located in Tiergarten.
It was completed just after the end of World War II and was constructed on the orders of the Red Army. Its location is particularly prominent as it resides just in front of the landscaped grounds where more than 2,000 fallen soldiers are buried.
The Reichstag Building
The Reichstag Building is a historic government building that’s home to the German Bundestag (German Parliament).
It’s a wonderful building to admire from the outside, but it’s also possible to take a tour of the Government Quarter and the iconic Reichstag Dome as well!
Brandenburg Gate – how to spend 2 days in Berlin
From the Reichstag Building, it’s just a 5-minute walk to one of the city’s most iconic sites; the Brandenburg Gate.
The famous monument was built on the orders of Prussian King Frederick William II in the 18th century, but it eventually came to be a symbol of the division between East and West Germany during the Cold War.
Today, it symbolises the unity of Germany and Berlin and it’s one of the most important and memorable sites in the city.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
During your 2 days in Berlin, you’ll likely come across many important sites and memorials dedicated to the wars of Germany, including the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; a commemorative site to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, located just over the road from the Brandenburg Gate.
The memorial is an incredibly sombre and peaceful part of the city; the 2,700 steel blocks that comprise the site are worth wandering through while you pay your respects.
Potsdamer Platz
As well as seeing many memorials to World War II throughout the city, you’ll also notice many different parts of the remnants of the Berlin Wall which fell in November 1989.
Potsdamer Platz is one of the most popular areas of the city to see some of the remains of the Berlin Wall that divided East and West Germany (and consequently, Berlin) for almost 30 years from 1961 to 1989.
Be sure to look out for the remains of the cobblestone border that can still be found in many parts of the city.
Topography of Terror Museum
The Topography of Terror is an indoor and outdoor museum with various exhibitions showing the terror caused by the Gestapo, SS and Reich Security Main Office in World War II.
The outdoor exhibition is situated next to a former part of the Berlin Wall and it addresses the National-Socialist politics in Berlin between 1933 and 1945.
The museum is completely free to visit and you can spend as little or as long as you want to check out the different exhibitions and sites.
Berlin Hi-Flyer – 2 day Berlin itinerary
Situated between the Topography of Terror and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, you’ll find the Berlin Hi-Flyer; a landmark helium balloon shaped like the Earth that floats to 150m in the air to boast views of the city.
The “ride” lasts for approximately 15 minutes and costs €29 per person (€12 for kids aged 3-10). Check the weather before you book tickets as the balloon doesn’t operate in poor weather conditions.
Read more: Interrail Budget For 6 Weeks – How Much Does Interrailing Cost?
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is another one of the city’s most iconic landmarks as it was the most well-known crossing point on the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.
During the war, there were several crossing points between the border, with Checkpoint Charlie being the most famous as it was manned and operated by Western Allies, including the UK and France, but it was primarily a US Army checkpoint. It was named as such due to the NATO alphabet (there were other checkpoints known as “Alpha” and “Bravo” etc).
Today, you can still see the booth where the official border crossing point resided, as well as a gallery, museum and gift shop.
Berlin bar crawl
Berlin is renowned for being one of the best nightlife cities in the world, with some of the best and most famous nightclubs and bars residing in the city.
Therefore, it’s only fitting that you experience the city’s nightlife scene during your 2 days in Berlin and one of the best ways to do so is to embark on a Berlin Bar Crawl.
By joining a specific bar crawl, you can enjoy free shots at each location, as well as entry to one of the city’s biggest and most prestigious clubs; Matrix.
We headed on a bar crawl in Berlin and the only downside is that you have to pay for drinks in each bar/club and some of the bars are a little far away from each other, but it’s a great way to meet new people in the city and experience some of Berlin’s highly coveted nightlife!
Day 2 – Berlin map itinerary
Day two of your Berlin itinerary includes a visit to the top of the iconic TV Tower (Fernsehturm), a river cruise to see some of the city’s best highlights from the water, a wander around Museum Island and a long stroll along the East Side Gallery.
Berlin TV Tower (Berliner Fernsehturm)
The two pictures above were taken within 20 minutes of each other – the weather changed so quickly!
The Berliner Fernsehturm, also known as the TV Tower, is a 368m-tall structure with an observation deck 203m in the air, offering panoramic views of the city for miles around. There are 240 plaques located underneath the windows at the observation platform, explaining all the sights that you can see in a 360° direction.
There’s also a bar and restaurant at the top of the viewing platform where you can enjoy the remarkable views accompanied by a delicious lunch or dinner.
From the top of the tower, you can see all the way to Tiergarten and the Brandenburg Gate, as well as the Cathedral and parts of the Berlin Wall. It’s worth checking the weather before you go up the tower as poor weather conditions make it difficult to see things in the distance.
Once at the top of the tower, you’ll likely spend between 45-60 minutes reading all the plaques and admiring the impressive views.
Tickets for the observation deck start at £21.55 for fast-track entrance (I’d recommend getting this type of ticket if you’re spending 2 days in Berlin in the summer as it can get booked up quickly).
Berlin Cathedral – 2 day Berlin itinerary
The original structure dates back to the 15th century, but the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) was transformed into a neo-classical building by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the early 1900s.
You have to pay to go inside the Cathedral (€10), but you can get a discounted ticket of €6.50 with the Berlin Welcome Card!
River cruise from Friedrichstraße
If you have time on your 2-day Berlin itinerary, I’d recommend taking a 1-hour river cruise through the city to enjoy the sights from a different vantage point.
The river cruise usually departs from Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel and takes you past the Reichstag, the Cathedral, Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace), the Victory Column, Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and more.
Staatsbibliothek
Once you’ve disembarked from your river cruise, head inside Staatsbibliothek to check out the city’s beautiful library.
The exterior of the library is beautiful in itself, but the inside reminded me somewhat of the New York Public Library, so it’s definitely worth having a little nosey around!
Top tip: there are also free toilets inside the Staatsbibliothek, so you don’t have to pay for the public ones outside!
Bebelplatz – 2 day Berlin itinerary
Just over the road from Staatsbibliothek, you’ll find the iconic Bebelplatz. It’s most famous for being the site where the Nazis burned more than 20,000 books in one day in 1933.
Despite its turbulent history, Bebelplatz is now one of the most beautiful parts of the city and there is now a memorial dedicated to the terrible fate of the books in 1933.
St. Hedwig’s Cathedral
From Bebelplatz, you can see the stunning Berlin State Opera and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. Unfortunately, the cathedral was undergoing restoration work when we spent 2 days in Berlin in March 2023, so we couldn’t go inside, but hopefully, it’s all finished for when you visit the city!
It’s still a gorgeous building to admire from the outside, however, and as it’s so close to Bebelplatz and Museum Island, it would be rude not to check it out!
Französischer Dom & Deutscher Dom
We accidentally stumbled across Französischer Dom & Deutscher Dom in the historical Gendarmenmarkt square and I was incredibly confused at first to discover that these churches are almost completely identical!
The earliest parts of Französischer Dom date back to the early 1700s, whereas the Deutscher Dom (Neue Kirche – New Church) was constructed a few dozen years later. Again, unfortunately, the area around Gendarmenmarkt was undergoing a lot of construction work so we couldn’t get close to either church, but it was still awesome to see the almost identical buildings.
Museum Island – 2 day Berlin itinerary
Loop back to Museum Island (Museumsinsel) to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising five of Berlin’s top museums, including the Pergamon Museum, Altes Museum (Old Museum), Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) and Bode Museum.
You probably won’t have time to explore every single museum, but if you have the Berlin WelcomeCard, you can enjoy discounts of up to 50% at all five museums on Museumsinsel, so you’ll be able to choose which one/s you’d most like to visit.
Markthalle Neun
By now, you’ll have likely worked up quite the appetite, so I’d recommend taking the U-Bahn or the bus to Markthalle Neun (you can walk from Museum Island, but it will take around 40 minutes).
One of my favourite things about most German cities is that they all have some kind of market hall which houses a vast variety of different food vendors and market stalls (Freiburg and Munich are amongst my favourites).
Berlin’s Markthalle Neun boasts some great places to eat, including Mani Pasta and Martin’s Creperie; we ate at both of these places and were thoroughly impressed, especially by the pasta!
East Side Gallery
Conclude your two days in Berlin by visiting one of the most iconic sights in the city; the East Side Gallery on the remains of a huge section of the Berlin Wall.
It’s the longest surviving section of the wall and runs between the Berlin Ostbahnhof and the Oberbaumbrücke along the River Spree. Spanning 1.3km, the open-air gallery showcases artworks from 118 artists from 21 countries, some memorialising the events of the Cold War, while some are simply there for decorative purposes.
You don’t have to walk the entire 1.3km, but I would recommend checking out sections of it as it’s incredibly cool and such an important part of Berlin’s history.
Best places to eat in Berlin
There are so many great places to eat in Berlin, but as you only have two days, it will be tricky to narrow it down to just a few restaurants! I’d highly recommend trying a classic German Döner kebab while you’re in Berlin as they’re some of the best kebabs I’ve ever eaten, but there are also plenty of other great restaurants to experience, too.
Here are some of my recommendations for the best places to eat in Berlin in 2 days:
- BBQ Kitchen (excellent ribs and chicken!)
- Fugger Imbiss (one of the best kebabs I ate in Germany!)
- Da Lucia (delicious pasta dishes)
- Markthalle Neun (many food stalls to choose from – I’d recommend Mani Pasta)
- It’s Berlin (another delicious kebab place with great views of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church)
- Hasty Pastry (super cool pizza flatbreads that are much more filling than they look!)
- Coffee Stop Wittenbergplatz (great coffee stand with delicious toasties and smoothies)
- My Deli Love (brilliant vegan food – I’m not usually one for vegan dishes but the sandwiches and wraps here are incredible!)
Is 2 days in Berlin enough?
If you’re wondering how many days you need to spend in Berlin, I think two days is the perfect amount of time to see most of the top sights and attractions in the city. In two days, you can explore Museum Island, head to the top of the TV tower, check out the Berlin Wall, pay your respects at the Holocaust Memorial and so much more.
Is Berlin worth visiting?
After visiting Berlin for the first time and spending two days there, I’m happy to say that I fell in love with the capital and would definitely recommend visiting Berlin!
The architecture is so much more beautiful than I anticipated and there are so many great sights and attractions to enjoy. The food was also incredible (although I am a huge fan of German food anyway!) and the whole city just had a great vibe to it.
Berlin is definitely somewhere I’d recommend visiting for 2-3 days!
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Would you like to spend a weekend in Berlin? Let me know in the comments or in my Interrail Facebook Group!
