1 Day in Berlin: Itinerary and Best Things to Do (2025)

Wondering what to see in Berlin in one day? Here is the perfect 1 day in Berlin itinerary!

I visited Berlin before both for holidays and work trips, and always found that Berlin is full of history and culture.

Berlin is a great place to learn about the history of Germany, but it also has a great music and art scene. Depending on your preferences and what you like, Berlin has something for everyone!

If you only have one day in Berlin, some of the must-see tourist attractions are the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, TV Tower, East Side Gallery, and going on a river cruise.

Here is what to see in Berlin in 1 day!

1 Day in Berlin Itinerary

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and it has many famous landmarks and historic places. If you only have one day in Berlin, you will want to cover as many attractions as possible.

The good thing is that if you plan well ahead, then you can cover the main attractions in one day!

MORNING

To help you learn about the history of Berlin (and Germany), this one day Berlin itinerary starts off with exploring the most famous attractions in the Government District of Berlin.

The Government District in Berlin includes famous buildings such as the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Visiting these places helps you understand the history of Berlin.

Berlin is safe and the main attractions can be explored on foot, but if you want to save time, the taxis or public transport are also safe options.

Top Attractions to See in Berlin:

• Reichstag
• Brandenburg Gate
• Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
• Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral)
• TV Tower
• Alexanderplatz

REICHSTAG

The Reichstag building is a historic place in Berlin, and serves as the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Starting your trip to Berlin at the Reichstag is great as you can learn about and better understand Germany’s history.

The entry to the Reichstag building is free, but you have to reserve your ticket beforehand. You have the option to get a ticket for the Parliament building and the Dome, or just a separate visit to the Dome only.

Once you get to the Reichstag, there is an elevator that takes you up to the Dome. At the Dome, there is a small museum where you can learn about the history of the Reichstag building.

You get nice views of the city skyline on a clear day, and it is also a nice place to see the sunset.

There also some tours to the Reichstag if you want to book a tour with a guide separately.

BRANDENBURG GATE

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most famous landmarks in Berlin, and it is a must-see place.

During the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate was on the axis of East and West Berlin and at that time, the Brandenburg Gate was a symbol of division. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of peace and unity.

The Brandenburg Gate is a must-visit landmark in Berlin, and it is located close to the Reichstag. Visiting the Brandenburg place can also be done pretty quickly, after you see the gate and walk around a bit, you can continue to the next site.

They usually organize many events at the Brandenburg Gate, and they even have fireworks here on New Year’s. In general, it can get very busy, so make sure to watch out for your belongings.

If you just have a short time in Berlin, it is best to visit the Government District (Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) in the morning. However, if you have more time, it is worth checking it out in the evening too.

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MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial) is also located in the Government District in Berlin and is in close walking distance to the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate.

During the Holocaust, almost 6 million Jewish people were killed in Europe, and the memorial was set up in Berlin as a commemoration and remembrance.

The Memorial has 2 sections, one on the surface level, where they have big, concrete blocks that is memorial to the Jewish people who were killed, and underneath it, there is an underground museum.

It is an emotionally heavy place, but nevertheless, a must-visit so that you can learn about the Holocaust.

The entrance to the Memorial is free, and you can get an audio guide for the underground museum for EUR 3.

To visit both the museum and the concrete blocks memorial on the ground, you need about 1.5 hours to cover the whole place.

Then, walk on Unter den Linden to the Museum Island

MUSEUM ISLAND

From the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, you can walk down on the road, the Unter den Linden, to the Museum Island in about 30 minutes.

The Museum Island is a small island on the River Spree in Berlin and it has many famous museums and buildings.

The two most famous museums are the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. Apart from the museums, the Berlin Cathedral is also located here, which is famous for its beautiful dome.

If you only have 1 day in Berlin, you might not have enough time to visit the museum exhibitions or to go inside the Berlin Cathedral, but if you prefer art to politics, you can spend more time at the Museum Island and less time in the Government District.

TV TOWER and ALEXANDERPLATZ

From the Museum Island, you can walk to the Berlin TV Tower in just 10 minutes!

The Berlin TV Tower is 368 meters (1,207 feet) and it is the tallest building in Germany.

One day is not enough to see everything in Berlin, but if you are short on time, you can just see the Berlin Tower from the ground up.

For travellers that have more time in Berlin, it is also possible to go up to the TV Tower. There are different packages, such as a standard ticket to the Observation Deck, or a deluxe ticket that includes all the observation deck, VR experience as well as a drink.

The TV Tower is a great place to see the sunset, and although this itinerary includes the TV Tower for a morning visit, if you switch up the activities in this itinerary, you could also see the sunset from here.

The TV Tower is right next to the Alexanderplatz, which is famous place in Berlin. The Alexanderplatz is full of restaurants, cafes and shops, and they even have a Christmas market here during winter.

As Alexanderplatz has many restaurants, it is the perfect place to finish your morning tour in Berlin, and have lunch before continuing the sightseeing in the afternoon.

AFTERNOON

EAST SIDE GALLERY

Visiting the East Side Gallery is a must for anyone visiting Berlin. The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km (0.8 miles) long surviving section of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin between 1961-1989 and it was built to prevent people fleeing from East Germany to West Germany.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, artists from all over the world came together to paint a section of the Wall, which became the East Side Gallery.

The East Side Gallery is now the longest open-air gallery in the world, and over the years, efforts were put into maintaining and preserving the paintings.

Some of the most famous paintings are Birgit Kinders’ Trabant breaking through the wall, Dmitri Vrubel’s Fraternal Kiss, and Kani Alavi’s It Happened in November.

EVENING

BERLIN BOAT TOUR

Going on a Berlin River Cruise is a relaxing and scenic way to finish your 1 day itinerary in Berlin.

There are many river cruises in Berlin all throughout the day, but going for a boat tour in the evening is the best option as you can see the sunset and then the city with the lights on.

Some of the famous attractions you can see from the boat are the Reichstag, Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, TV Tower, and the Bellevue Palace.

The Berlin river cruises are usually between 1-2.5 hours and you can choose between ones that also include dinner and drinks.

The shorter, 1-hour boat tours cost around EUR 23 (USD 24), and the boat tours that include dinner are around EUR 80 (USD 83).

✅ Book a Berlin Boat Tour Here!

Other Activities

Berlin is a big city with many famous attractions and places to see, so visiting all places in one day is not possible.

The above itinerary is planned so that you can visit the most famous places and best things to do in Berlin in 1 day, but there are many additional activities that you can do in Berlin.

So, depending on your preferences, you may add or skip activities. Below are some additional places and activities that are fun to do in case you have more time, or want to include it in your itinerary.

Other Places to Visit in Berlin:

• Checkpoint Charlie
• Tiergarten Park
• Potsdamer Platz
• Charlottenburg Palace and Gardens
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
• Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
• Trabi Safari Tour
• Brewery tour and beer tasting
• Hidden Backyards Tour for an off-the-beaten-path experience of Berlin
• RAW-Gelande
• Kurfürstendamm shopping street
• Berlin Zoological Garden

What to Eat in Berlin

Even if you only have 1 day in Berlin, you have to try German dishes. Some of the most traditional dishes to try in Berlin are:

• Currywurst (sausages with fries)
• Schnitzel (thin, breaded fried meat)
• Bratwurst (grilled sausages served with sauerkraut, mustard and bun)
• Kebab (popular due to Turkish influence)
• Pfannkuchen (like pancakes)

🥘 Follow your stomach and join a Secret Berlin Food Tour here!

Hotels in Berlin

Not sure where to stay in Berlin? Check out the top 3 hotels in Berlin for every budget:

FAQs: 1 Day in Berlin: Itinerary and Best Things to Do

Is one day enough for Berlin?

It is not possible to cover all the landmarks in Berlin in one day, but you can visit the most famous attractions.

If you only have 24 hours in Berlin, some of the must-see attractions are the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, TV Tower, East Side Gallery, and going on a river cruise.

Where to spend a day in Berlin?

If you are not sure what to do in Berlin in one day, there are many famous attractions that you can check out.

Some of the most important landmarks in Berlin include the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, and the East Side Gallery.

How to visit Berlin in one day?

To visit Berlin in one day, you have to focus on the must-see sights you really want to see in Berlin. There are many attractions, so you have to decide which places are the ones you want to visit.

The must-see attractions in Berlin include the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, TV Tower, and the East Side Gallery. Going on a boat tour on the Spree River is also a nice and scenic activity.

What is worth to see in Berlin?

There are many historic sites in Berlin that are worth seeing. The most famous attractions in Berlin are the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, and the East Side Gallery.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Berlin is the capital of Germany and it has many famous landmarks and historic places. If you only have 24 hours in Berlin, you will want to cover as many attractions as possible.

Berlin is a great place to learn about the history of Germany, but it also has a great music and art scene. Depending on your preferences and what you like, Berlin has something for everyone!

If you only have one day in Berlin, some of the must-see tourist attractions are the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Museum Island, TV Tower, East Side Gallery, and going on a river cruise.