Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in the world. While evidence of its tumultuous history is everywhere, this forward-thinking metropolis is beckoning tourists and expats due to its place as a technology and cultural hot spot. A long weekend is a perfectly adequate amount of time to get to know this vibrant city, though you could spend a week here and feel that you have just scratched the surface.
Potsdamer Platz now boasts buildings designed by some of the world’s leading architects. The Museumsinsel (Museum Island) is the cultural heart of the city, and the Pergamon Museum is its centerpiece with an astonishing collection of classical antiquities. The wing housing the immense Pergamon Altar is closed for renovations until 2019, but the museum also includes Babylon’s blue-tiled Ishtar Gate. Round out your visit with visits to iconic Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.
Our itineraries are for your inspiration. Please contact a travel advisor to customize this itinerary to fit your needs.
Arrive at Berlin’s Tegel Airport and transfer to your hotel of choice in the heart of the city. For stunning views of Brandenburg Gate, check in at Hotel Adlon Kempinski, a grand landmark hotel on the Unter den Linden promenade that is near many cultural and historic sites.
After settling in, stroll out the front door to view the 18th-century arch built on a former city gate. It is spectacular at night, and considerably less crowded then, so make a mental note to stop by later in the evening.
Have your concierge make arrangements for dinner at one of the emerging restaurants serving New German cuisine (options listed below), in which chefs reinterpret traditional dishes for modern palates.
Grand landmark hotel facing the Brandenburg Gate on the famous Unter den Linden promenade near many cultural and historic sites.
Chic 78-room hotel within a limestone structure that was formerly the Royal Danish Embassy, tucked away on a quiet lane on the western edge of Berlin’s Tiergarten.
Architecturally stunning luxury hotel in a converted 19th-century former bank headquarters on historic Bebelplatz, off Unter den Linden a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate.
Begin your day by ascending the Norman Foster-designed spiraling glass dome atop the Reichstag, home of the German Parliament. Alternately, it’s fun to reserve a table for lunch at the Käfer Dachgarten-Restaurant on the roof adjacent to the dome.
Next, make your way to Potsdamer Platz, dubbed "Europe's largest construction site" during the 1990s. Visit nearby Checkpoint Charlie, the famous crossing point between East and West Berlin, and explore the quirky museum dedicated to it.
Spend the afternoon enjoying one of the many outdoor activities the city has to offer — strolling through Tiergarten park, lunching at a riverfront café or relaxing on a river cruise through the heart of downtown.
Afterward, travel to Museum Island and explore the Pergamon Museum at your leisure. In the evening, visit the Berlin Cathedral with its vast dome. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb to the top and watch the sun set over the city.
On your way back to your hotel, stop for a nightcap at the roof terrace atop the Hotel de Rome.
Enjoy a day of sightseeing at the Charlottenburg Palace with a private guide. Dating from 1695, the vast and beautiful palace was restored to its original elegance following World War II, and is now home to the most richly decorated interiors and artifacts in Berlin.
In the evening, venture to the boutique hotel Das Stue. Cozy up to the hotel bar with an inventive cocktail and then enjoy a meal of tuna escabeche and morel mushroom rice with pork ribs and shrimp at Cinco, the excellent restaurant of Michelin-starred Catalan chef Paco Pérez.
After a leisurely brunch at your hotel, spend your last afternoon in Berlin experiencing the city's craft beer movement at one of the new independent brewpubs (listed below). Or sit back and enjoy a tour of the Berlin Wall by taxi.
In the evening, transfer to the Berlin Airport by private vehicle and board your flight home.
Contact a travel advisor to book your custom itinerary. Fill out the form or call (630) 734-4610.
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