Berlin Holidays

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.

Heaps of history

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.

Street art to shout about

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.

Non-stop nightlife

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.

At a glance

Eye up the graffiti-coated remnants of the Berlin Wall
Munch on currywurst from a street food stall
Snap a selfie at the Brandenburg Gate

Lakefront beaches

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.
The big beach

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.
The secret beach

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.

Bargain Buys

Bargain Buys
Every weekend, a scattering of flea markets pop up across Berlin. If bargain hunting’s your thing, you won’t want to miss them. One of the most popular markets is held at Marheinekeplatz – vendors offer up everything from vintage fashion to antiques. And you’ll find some tasty street food on offer, too.
Mid-Range Buys

Mid-Range Buys
The Alexa shopping mall houses hundreds of stores over its five floors, making it one of the biggest in Berlin. This is the place to go if you’re looking for high street fashion brands, book shops and restaurants all under one roof. You’ll find it near Alexanderplatz in the east of the city.
Designer Buys

Designer Buys
For designer stores, head to Kurfürstendamm – Berlin’s most famous shopping street. It’s home to the likes of Armani, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as the city’s biggest department store. Don’t forget to mooch around the side streets, too – you’ll find chic boutiques and swish shops tucked away there.

Laid-back evenings

Laidback evenings
In the summer, there’s no better place to be than in one of Berlin’s outdoor beer gardens. Prater Garten is said to be the city’s oldest, and it’s also one of the biggest – there’s room for up to 600 people here. So grab a cold drink, find a spot under the chestnut trees and enjoy a chilled-out evening.
Lively evenings

Lively evenings
Berlin’s vibrant clubbing scene’s been dubbed as one of the best in the world. For a taste of the action, head to one of the edgy watering holes housed inside abandoned old buildings, or hit the open-air clubs along the River Spree. You’ll find most of these in the Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts.

Currywurst

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.
Berliner Weisse Mit Schuss

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

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.
Eisbein

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.
Berliner donuts

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.