One Day in Berlin: A Self-Guided, Car-Free, Budget Itinerary
One Day in Berlin: A Self-Guided, Car-Free, Budget Itinerary
Sarah J.
Passing through Berlin on your way to another city and want to explore its rich history? Or maybe this city is the highlight of your trip? Either way, this is the guide for you! Conveniently discover the highlights of Berlin in one day, all without a car. Even if you have more than a day in Berlin, I'd recommend this guide to distinguish the top sights and get a feel for their costs. Please note that I am not someone who enjoys clubbing, so I have not included any clubbing/drinking attractions in this guide.
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I travelled to Berlin by train, which I highly recommend due to the station's convenient location.
As always, I highly recommend dropping off your bags at your accommodation before doing the majority of sightseeing to avoid overexertion. If you aren't spending the night in Berlin, there are automated luggage storage lockers at Berlin Hbf, which I found useful as the online luggage storage services did not meet my scheduling needs.
Now that you have dropped off your luggage, it's time to begin exploring!
Using a combination of public transport and walking, you'll be able to see:
Reichstag Building
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This building is important in German history, which can be guessed by its proximity to the Brandenburg Gate. Nowadays, it is the seat of the German Bundestag and the meeting place of the Federal Convention. Free access can be obtained to visit the top of the dome, which provides spectacular views of the city. Make sure you book in advance, and be aware you will have to go through a security clearance to enter the building.
Price: Free
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Brandenburg Gate
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Throughout history, this monument has been the site for numerous historical events. Most notably, it was used as a party symbol by the Nazis and was located in East Berlin, right next to the border for West Berlin. Currently, there is a marker where the Berlin Wall once stood, which is a reminder of the city's harrowing past.
Price: Free
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Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
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As implied by the name, this memorial is dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The blocks are meant to be positioned in a confusing, yet orderly, manner.
Price: Free
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Historical location of the "Führerbunker
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This was the location of an air raid shelter during World War II, and was also used by Hitler as the Führer Headquarters. It is currently an apartment complex, but there is a plaque with some interesting information.
Price: Free
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Bebelplatz
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This was the location of an infamous Nazi book-burning ceremony, meant to instill Nazi propaganda by destroying resources for other ideologies.
Price: Free
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Marx-Engels-Forum
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This park has statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the authors of the Communist Manifesto and two of the most influential figures in the socialist movement.
Price: Free
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Museum Island
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There are five museums here: Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, and Altes Museum. Do your research beforehand and see which ones you're interested in, as some offer discounted tickets if you go to multiple!
Price: €9-19
Included in some museum discount passes
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Berlin Cathedral
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The exterior of this cathedral was beautiful! I chose not to go inside, but you can look at pictures online and make that decision for yourself.
Price: €7.50-10
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Neues Museum
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I really enjoyed this museum and am glad I went. In full transparency, I loved ancient Egypt growing up and went primarily to see the Bust of Nefertiti, which was stunning. I was considering not going as it wasn't super cheap, but seeing an artifact I'd seen in textbooks growing up was worth it.
Price: 0-17 Free, €7-14
Included in various discounted museum passes
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Checkpoint Charlie
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You can't visit Berlin without coming here! During the Cold War, this was a border crossing between East and West Berlin. My mom actually crossed through this checkpoint to visit East Berlin in the 1980s, so that made it extra fun to visit! There were huge masses of people getting pictures right next to it, so I just took a picture from far away as people were switching out and called it a day.
Price: Free
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Topography of Terror
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This museum is located on the site that between 1933 and 1945, was the headquarters of the Gestapo. There are various exhibitions that highlight different aspects of German history, with the goal to prevent it from repeating itself. There is also a large segment of the Berlin wall that was preserved on the outside of the exhibit.
Price: Free
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Food!
Ditsch
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I've been told that this is a fast food version of a pretzel, but I didn't care because it was delicious! There is one of these in Berlin Hbf and I went when I arrived and also when I left, a perfect snack! I recall they only accepted card for purchases over a certain limit, so make sure you have cash on hand.
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Lidl
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My favorite supermarket in Europe, and the best place to find local snacks and pastries at reliable prices. Lots of locations in many cities.
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If I had more time in Berlin...
Tiergarten
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I wish I had had time to go to this park, but it was raining very hard when I was in Berlin so I spent a lot of my day inside. It has many famous landmarks, including the Victory Column.
Price: Free
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Berliner Fernsehturm
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If I had more than one day in Berlin I likely would have gone here, but had limited time and a strict budget! I've heard lots of people enjoy it.
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Berlin Zoological Garden
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Who doesn't love a good zoo?? This one has pandas, which is a huge bonus!!
Price: €9-17.50
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah J.
I am a solo female traveler who likes to explore on a moderate budget; I think it's important to recognize that some opportunities when travelling will never arise again, and it's worth shelling out for them! I prefer to travel very fast-paced, and my guides will reflect that. In order to accomplish this, I have done lots of research about every place I have visited to ensure I use my time wisely. I have only travelled around Europe so far, but I am hoping to expand my horizons in the coming years :)
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