Planning a 2-day Berlin itinerary was an impossible task for a traveler with FOMO like myself. It’s one of the best European destinations for solo female travelers, a cultural empire packed with fascinating museums, home to countless historical landmarks, and the queen of hipster cafes, trendy bars, and nightclubs.
Ideally, I would have loved to see more of this city and take more day trips to discover some hidden gems in Germany, but I think I made the most of the time I had. If you’re wondering how many days in Berlin you should spend, I’d recommend 3-4.
It’s with a heavy heart that I had to narrow down my bucket list for the German city, and here’s how my trip turned out.
*I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables.
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GETTING TO BERLIN
Apart from daily international flights, you can also get to Berlin by public transportation from other cities in the country. From a 4-hour ride on a train from Cologne to Berlin to a 2-hour journey from Dresden, there are plenty of easy ways to get to the German capital.
WHERE TO STAY FOR 2 NIGHTS IN BERLIN
Currently, it is not possible to book the apartment I stayed in. You can check out other highly-rated hotels with a perfect location for this itinerary, such as The Student Hotel, Grimm’s Berlin Mitte, and ARCOTEL John F Berlin.
2 DAYS IN BERLIN – MAP
Click here to access the My Maps interactive map of this itinerary.
HIGHLY-RATED TOURS IN BERLIN
If you’re looking for some alternative things to do in Berlin in 2 days, check out these highly-rated, unique tours:
- Mystical Berlin
- Neighborhood tour of Neukölln
- Jewish history tour
- Hidden backyards tour
- Beer tour
- Alternative Berlin tour
- Berlin is one of the best cities for street art lovers, so take this street art tour
You can also try this FREE walking tour!
2-DAY BERLIN ITINERARY – DAY 1 – MITTE DISTRICT
It’s impossible to see all of the districts of Berlin in two days, so this itinerary focuses on Mitte and Kreuzberg.
BREAKFAST
If you love uniquely decored cafes, you’ll adore The Greens (Am Krögel 2), a paradise for plant addicts.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and a light breakfast (you’ll also find some vegan options) in this beautiful setting before starting your day.
If you’re looking for a place with a more diverse menu, head to Father Carpenter (Münzstraße 21) instead.
NIKOLAIVIERTEL
In the middle of the city’s urban landscape, you’ll find Nikolaiviertel, a little old quarter that will make you feel like strolling through a German village and one of the most instagrammable places in Berlin.
Although the buildings standing today were reconstructed after World War II, the quarter’s history goes all the way back to the Middle Ages.
While here, wander through the beautiful streets, admire St. Nicholas Church, and grab a second cup of coffee at one of the local cafes.
BERLINER DOM
Only a couple of minutes away, you’ll get to one of Berlin’s top must-visits – Museum Island, a complex housing some of Europe’s most important museums and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s also where you’ll see the Berliner Dom, Berlin’s iconic cathedral. The current building dates back to the 19th century, but the original was built almost 500 years earlier.
PERGAMON MUSEUM
There are plenty of museums in Berlin to visit on and around Museum Island, but with only two days in the city, prioritizing is key, and you can’t go wrong with the Pergamon Museum.
Boasting a highly important collection of archeological artifacts, this is where you’ll find impressive pieces of history, including the Pergamon Altar, Market Gate of Miletus, and Ishtar Gate. Trust me when I say that they will make your jaw drop.
Get your ticket to the Pergamon Museum here.
If you want to explore more of Museum Island, get a Museum Island pass or get individual tickets to the Bode Museum, Altes Museum, Neues Museum, and Alte Nationalgalerie.
BOAT TOUR
Depending on how much time you spend at the museum, I recommend trying to squeeze in a 1-hour boat tour along the Spree River before lunch.
The meeting point is not too far from the museum, and the boat ride is extremely scenic, so this is a perfect little addition to your Berlin itinerary (and surprisingly, it was one of the highlights of my trip).
Book your boat tour here.
LATE LUNCH
I love immersing myself in the local cuisine, but German food is not exactly suitable for someone who doesn’t eat meat.
Luckily, in this area, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes for everyone (in general, it’s easy to find vegetarian and vegan places to eat in Berlin).
UNTER DEN LINDEN
Walking alongside the Unter den Linden boulevard is a must.
Situated between the Berliner Dom and the Brandenburg Gate, it grew to be one of the most famous and important streets in the city, home to quite a few of Berlin’s biggest landmarks.
These include the Zeughaus (the boulevard’s oldest building that houses the German Historical Museum), Neue Wache, Berlin State Opera, the statue of King Frederick II of Prussia, and many more.
Near the opera, you can add a quick stop at Bebelplatz, a famous beautiful square that was one of the sites of the 1933 book burnings in Germany.
Only a few minutes away, you should also check out Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt Berlin and Rausch Schokoladenhaus, two incredible chocolate shops.
BRANDENBURG GATE & HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
At the end of Unter den Linden, you’ll get to Pariser Platz and the iconic 18th-century Brandenburg Gate – one of the only surviving city gates, a symbol of the city’s division after WWII, and a modern-time symbol of peace and unity.
A stone’s throw away, you’ll also find the Holocaust Memorial. Consisting of 2,711 concrete slabs of different heights, it is essentially a field of cubes that aims to provoke a sense of uncertainty and confusion when you walk through it.
It is a powerful thing to witness, especially since my grandparents are Holocaust survivors.
REICHSTAG BUILDING
A 2-day Berlin itinerary would not be complete without a visit to the Reichstag, the German parliament building since the late 19th century (though it was damaged in a fire in 1933 and wasn’t used during the Nazi rule).
Whether you want to book a guided tour or just visit the building’s iconic glass dome, you have to reserve your spot about one month in advance.
The tour starts at 5 PM, so depending on how your day goes, you might want to visit the Reichstag first and then spend some time at the Brandenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial.
DINNER
Go back to Unter den Linden, in one of the parallel streets, you’ll find Cookies Cream (Behrenstraße 55), a well-known gourmet vegetarian restaurant. Be sure to make a reservation, and enjoy a unique experience in Berlin.
2-DAY BERLIN ITINERARY – DAY 2 – KREUZBERG DISTRICT
BREAKFAST
Before starting your day in the Kreuzberg neighborhood, devour a yummy breakfast at Yada Yada Breakfast Club (Köpenicker Str. 93).
HOLZMARKT 25
I’m not even sure how to describe what the quirky Holzmarkt 25 is, but this is a place to hang out, eat, drink, and attend all kinds of cultural events.
Even though there’s not much action here in the morning, it’s definitely worth exploring this colorful offbeat spot for a little while.
EAST SIDE GALLERY
On to another colorful sight, walk alongside the East Side Gallery, the famous series of more than 100 murals painted on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. You can also take this free Berlin Wall tour.
OBERBAUM BRIDGE
At the end of the wall, you’ll get to Oberbaum Bridge, the gorgeous double-deck bridge that links the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, which were divided by the wall.
MARKTHALLE NEUN
I love strolling through local markets when I’m traveling, and this indoor food market is an absolute delight to visit.
Dating back to the late 19th century, it has a lot to offer, from vegetables and cheeses to fresh pasta and baked goods to wines and beer.
LUNCH
You can grab lunch at the market or try one of the restaurants in the nearby area like Obermaier (Erkelenzdamm 17) or the infamous Burgermeister (Skalitzer Str. 136) which also offers a vegetarian burger.
GERMAN MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY
While I can admit that I wouldn’t normally visit a technology museum, this one is not something you can skip out on easily.
It’s pretty difficult not to be impressed by the German Museum of Technology’s collection of aircraft, trains, old cars, old cameras, old computers, and much more. I know it sounds super nerdy, but it really is a cool museum.
Since it closes relatively early (5:30 PM), it’s better to get here straight after lunch to have enough time to enjoy it before our next stops. You can either walk or take the U-Bahn (metro) to save some time.
JEWISH MUSEUM / BERLINISCHE GALERIE / BERLIN STORY BUNKER
Your next stop could be either the Jewish Museum, the Berlinische Galerie, or the Berlin Story Bunker.
They all close a bit later than the technology museum, and that’s why you should visit it first even though it might seem weird when looking at the map.
I always love to learn more about my Jewish heritage, but if modern art is more up your alley, visit the gallery instead, and if you want to learn about the city’s history, head to the Berlin Story Bunker.
You can get your tickets to the Jewish Museum and Berlin Story Bunker in advance.
VICTORIA PARK
If the sun hasn’t set yet (depending on when you’re visiting Berlin), head to the waterfall at Victoria Park, a surprising scenic spot in the city.
BEER GARDEN
Enjoying Berlin’s beer gardens (a type of open-air pub) is a must, so not too far from the waterfall, you’ll be glad to find Golgatha Biergarten, an ideal place to end your second day. Grab dinner with a beer or a cocktail, and let the time go by.
BERLIN IN 2 DAYS – OTHER NOTES AND TIPS
When to visit and what to pack: I visited in April. It’s very convenient to pack for spring in Europe, but Berlin can be slightly chillier than other destinations, so add some extra warming layers.
Day trips: I did have one more day in the city, but I decided to take a day trip to Potsdam, the city of UNESCO-listed palaces and gardens. I got there by train (RE1 or S7 get from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Potsdam Central Station in about 30 minutes).
You can also book a tour from Berlin to Potsdam.
For more options, check out these day trips to Dresden or Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Getting around: Most of this itinerary is walkable, so be sure to wear comfortable sneakers.
Other places to visit: I would have also loved to visit the Charlottenburg Palace, Spandau Citadel, Checkpoint Charlie, and many other sites, but there’s only so much you can see in two days in Berlin.
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