Paxos
City breaks to Berlin are a pick n’ mix of art, history and culture. Throw yummy street food and buzzy nightlife into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a winning city break.
Berlin’s up to its elbows in historic sites – most are reminders of its rocky 20th century. People flock from far and wide to peek at the remaining sections of the capital’s iconic Berlin Wall. And no trip would be complete without a stop at the Brandenburg Gate – at the end of the Cold War, this mighty monument became a symbol of peace and unity. Meanwhile, the UNESCO-listed Museum Island stacks up a whole bunch of ancient artefacts for history fans to get their teeth into.
This city’s got a belter of a street art scene, too. Gigantic wall murals give you something to ogle at around every corner. For a look at some of the most famous, toddle over to East Side Gallery. When the wall fell, artists flocked from all over to leave their mark on the biggest remaining section, transforming it into an open-air exhibition worthy of a spot on any Berlin city break itinerary. And over in the Kreuzberg district, there are more graffiti tags than you can shake a spray can at.
When it comes to nightlife, Berlin cranks the lively lever up a notch. The city’s jam-packed with clubs and bars – and they’re far from run-of-the-mill. The Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts are home to massive techno clubs housed inside abandoned old buildings, and riverside haunts with open-air dancefloors. And while most German cities have set closing times for nightclubs, Berlin bucks the trend, with plenty of places staying open ‘til well into the wee hours.
Despite being miles away from the sea, Berlin’s still home to a handful of waterfront beaches. Every summer, Berliners flock to the lakes in the south west of the city to swim in the clear water. Lots of the best spots are less than an hour’s drive from the city centre, so you can easily squeeze a visit into your itinerary.
Strandbad Wannsee, on the outskirts of Berlin, is less than an hour’s drive from the city centre, but it feels worlds away. The mile-long lakeside patch of sand’s popular with families thanks to its safe swimming area, deck chair rental service and children’s playground.
If you’re hoping for a beach trip without the crowds, make a beeline for Sacrower See. There’s only a tiny patch of sand here, but the lake holds some of the clearest water in the Berlin area, so it makes for a great paddling spot. Plus, it’s only around 45 minutes’ drive from the city centre.
The currywurst is the ultimate German street food – it’s so popular there’s even a museum dedicated to it. Berlin’s packed with places serving up this delicious snack. It’s a grilled sausage, traditionally chopped into bite-size pieces, then topped with a combination of ketchup, Worcester sauce and curry powder.
The Berliner Weisse Mit Schuss is the local’s go-to summer drink. It’s a cloudy German wheat beer, mixed with a shot of red raspberry or green woodruff syrup to give it a burst of flavour and a splash of colour – best enjoyed in a beer garden.
Schnitzel is a must-try German dish. It’s served up in restaurants all over Berlin, so you won’t have to look far to find it. It’s made up of a thin piece of meat – usually pork, chicken, or veal – breaded, then fried, and served with fries or a potato salad.
This Berlin speciality is a hit with locals and tourists alike. The traditional dish consists of a cured, boiled pork knuckle, served with sauerkraut, potatoes and mustard. Some places serve it up with a dollop of pureed peas on the side, too.
The Berliner donut, or Pfannkuchen, as the locals call it, is a German pastry made from deep-fried dough, with a jam or marmalade filling and a hefty sprinkling of sugar on top. You’ll find them in bakeries and street food stands across the city.
Our top deals tailored to you, straight to your inbox Sign up for offers
Holiday Types
Mid/Long haul
Short Haul
Popular Destinations
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and National Travel Health Network and Centre have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.
See gov.uk/travelaware and follow @FCDOtravelGovUK on Twitter and Facebook.com/FCDOtravel - for the latest general FCDO travel advice, including coronavirus travel guidance, security and local laws, and passport and visa information.
See gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice - for FCDO travel advice about individual destinations.
Sign up for FCDO travel advice email alerts, so you automatically receive the latest travel advice updates and travel requirements for the destinations you want to know about.
See Travel Aware page - for travel advice from First Choice.
See travelhealthpro.org.uk - for current travel health news.
The advice can change so check regularly for updates.
All the flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Some of the flights on this website are also financially protected by the ATOL scheme, but ATOL protection does not apply to all flights. This website will provide you with information on the protection that applies in the case of each flight before you make your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk. ATOL protection does not apply to the other holiday and travel services listed on this website..