Visit Berlin
Introduction
With its rich and tumultuous history, the German capital Berlin is a thriving cultural hub and one of Europe’s trendiest cities. Largely rebuilt following the Second World War, modern architecture blends seamlessly with Cold War remnants, a reminder of a city once divided into East and West. An abundance of green spaces, top-notch shopping and eateries, and a burgeoning club scene help make Berlin a captivating 24-hour city.
The capital is served by the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schonefeld, around 27km to the south-east. A range of car hire companies operate from Terminals 1 and 2, with pre-booking recommended. Alternatively, bus and rail links provide connections to the city centre, with all routes taking around 30 minutes.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
Berlin has a continental climate, so expect plenty of variation in the weather. Rainfall is consistent throughout the year though, with 12-16 days of rain per month on average. The summer sees average peak temperatures of 22-23°C, while it’s cold from December to March, with temperatures averaging -1°C in January.
Top things to do in Berlin
History takes centre stage in Berlin and there are numerous reminders of the city’s turbulent past. Walk under the Brandenburg Gate or climb the dome of the Reichstag Building to uncover Second World War stories, while The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe remembers the horrors of the Holocaust. Checkpoint Charlie and the remnants of the Berlin Wall remind visitors of life in Cold War Berlin, while Potsdamer Platz is a square symbolic of a modern and unified Berlin.
Other top things to do in Berlin include visiting Tiergarten Park, a vast urban green space which hosts open-air cinema and concerts in the summer. It’s also home to Berlin Zoo, which has the highest variety of animal species of any zoo on the planet. Or stop off at Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the centre of Berlin, for the awe-inspiring Pergamon Museum (currently undergoing extensive renovations until 2027), the Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) and Neues Museum.
The festive season brings a wealth of Christmas Markets to Berlin too, each with their own charm – just be sure to wrap up warm!
Best restaurants in Berlin
Berlin’s gastronomic scene is packed full of international flavours. Alongside traditional dishes like currywurst, bratwurst and Buletten (meatballs), the city is also renowned for its Middle Eastern street food and doner kebabs. There’s also plenty of Bavarian style beer gardens to wash it all down at.
For fine dining, head to the three Michelin starred Rutz for creative cuisine from chef Marco Muller or try one of the city’s two Michelin-starred establishments. FACIL, Horvath and Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer are all known for their imaginative dishes, while Tim Raue serves up Asian-inspired fare.
For global flavours, try Vietnamese dishes in Lichtenberg at the Dong Xuan Centre – six market halls serving up food from the Asian continent. Or head to Kantstraße for oriental dishes from Japan, Taiwan and more.
What’s nearby?
Potsdam, with its UNESCO World Heritage grand palaces and royal parks, can be found 26km to the southwest of central Berlin. For longer road trips, the historic cities of Leipzig and Dresden can be found to the south, around 190km via Autobahn 9 and 195km via Autobahn 13 respectively.
Berlin is surrounded by National Reserves and National Parks too. Explore the lakes of Naturpark Barnim to the north, Markische Schweiz Nature Park to the east, or the protected wetlands and forests of Konigswald with Havel Lakes and Seeburg Agricultural Landscape to the west.
Insurance you should consider if you are travelling to Berlin and renting a car Car Hire Excess Insurance and Travel Insurance from Questor Insurance.